Forum.
Enter seven or eight Citizens.
1 Cit.
Once for all, if he do require our voices,
we ought not to deny him.
2 Cit.
We may, Sir, if we will.
1 Cit.
We have power in ourselves to do it, but it
is a power that we have no power to do; for if he
shew us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are
to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for
them: so, if he tells us his noble deeds, we must
also tell him of our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude
is monstrous, and for the multitude to be
ungrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude;
of the which we being members, should bring ourselves
to be monstrous members.
2 Cit.
And to make us no better thought of, a
little help will serve; for once when we stood up
about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the
many-headed monster.
1 Cit.
We have been call'd so of many, not that
our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn,
some bald; but that our wits are so diversely
colour'd; and truly, I think, if all our wits were to
issue out of one scull, they would fly east, west,
north, south, and their consent of one direct way,
would be at once to all points o'th' compass.
2 Cit.
Think you so? which way do you judge
my wit would fly?
1 Cit.
Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another
man's will; 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a blockhead* note.
3 Cit.
Are you all resolved to give your voices;
but that's no matter, the greater part carries it: I
say, if he would incline to the people, there was
never a worthier man.
-- 259 --
Enter Coriolanus in a gown, with Menenius.
Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark
his behaviour: we are not to stay all together, but
to come by him where he stands, by one's, by two's,
and by three's. He's to make his requests by particulars,
wherein every one of us has a single honour,
in giving him our own voices with our own tongues:
therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you
shall go by him.
All.
Content, content.
[Exit Citizens.
Men.
Oh Sir, you are not right; have you not known
The worthiest men have done't?
Cor.
What must I say?
I pray, Sir,—plague upon't, I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace. Look, Sir,—my wounds—
I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran
From noise of our own drums.
Men.
Oh me, the Gods!
You must not speak of that, you must desire them
To think upon you.
Cor.
Think upon me? hang em* note.
I would they would forget me.
Men.
You'll mar all.
I'll leave you: pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholsome manners.
[Exit.
Enter 1 and 2 Citizens.
Cor.
Bid them wash their faces,
And keep their teeth clean—so here comes a brace:
You know the cause, Sirs, of my standing here.
1 Cit.
We do, Sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.
-- 260 --
Cor.
Mine own desert.
2 Cit.
Your own desert?
Cor.
Ay, not mine own desire.
1 Cor.
How, not your own desire?
Cor.
No, Sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble
the poor with begging.
1 Cit.
You must think, if we give you any thing,
we hope to gain by you.
Cor.
Well then, I pray, your price o'th' consulship?
1 Cit.
The price is, to ask it kindly.
Cor.
Kindly, Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have
wounds to shew you, which shall be yours in private:
your good voice, Sir; what say you?
2 Cit.
You shall ha't, worthy Sir.
Cor.
A match, Sir; there's in all two worthy
voices begg'd: I have your alms, adieu.
1 Cit.
But this is something odd.
2 Cit.
An 'twere to give again:—but 'tis no matter.
[Exeunt.
Enter 3 and 4 Citizens.
Cor.
Pray you, now, if it mayst and with the tune
of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the
customary gown.
3 Cit.
You have deserved nobly of your country,
and you have not deserved nobly.
Cor.
Your ænigma?
3 Cit.
You have been a scourge to her enemies;
you have been a rod to her friends; you have not
indeed loved the common people.
Cor.
You should account me the more virtuous,
that I have not been common in my love; but I will,
Sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a
dearer estimation of them: and since the wisdom of
their choice is, rather to have my cap, than my heart,
I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off to
them, most counterfeitly; that is, Sir, I will counterfeit
the bewitchment of some popular man, and
-- 261 --
give it bountifully to the desirers: therefore, 'beseech
you I may be consul.
4 Cit.
We hope to find you our friend: and
therefore give you our voices heartily.
3 Cit.
You have received many wounds for your
country.
Cor.
I will not seal your knowledge with shewing
them. I will make much of your voices, and
so trouble you no further.
Both.
The Gods give you joy, Sir, heartily!
[Exeunt.
Cor.
Most sweet voices—
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire, which first we do deserve.
Enter 5 and 6 Citizens.
Here come more voices.
Your voices—for your voices I have fought,
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices, bear
Of wounds two dozen and odd: battles thrice six
I've seen, and heard of:—your voices:
Indeed I would be consul.
5 Cit.
He has done nobly, and cannot go without
any honest man's voice.
6 Cit.
Therefore let him be consul: the Gods
give him joy, and make him a good friend to the
people!
Both.
Amen, amen, God save thee, noble consul!
[Exeunt.
Cor.
Worthy voices!
Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.
Men.
You've stood your limitation: and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice: Remains,
That in th' official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate.
Cor.
Is this done?
Sic.
The custom of request you have discharg'd:
The people do admit you, and are summon'd
To meet anon upon your approbation.
-- 262 --
Cor.
Where? at the senate-house?
Sic.
There, Coriolanus.
Cor.
May I then change these garments?
Sic.
Sir, you may.
Cor.
That I'll straight do: and knowing myself again,
Repair to th' senate-house.
Men.
I'll keep you company. Will you along?
Bru.
We stay here for the people.
Sic.
Fare you well.
[Exeunt Coriol. and Men.
He has it now, and by his looks, methinks
'Tis warm at's heart.
Bru.
With a proud heart he wore
His humble weeds: will you dismiss the people?
Enter Citizens.
Sic.
How now, my masters, have you chose this man?
2 Cit.
He has our voices, Sir.
Bru.
We pray the Gods he may deserve your loves.
1 Cit.
Amen, Sir: to my poor unworthy notice,
He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices.
3 Cit.
Certainly he flouted us, down-right.
2 Cit.
No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us.
1 Cit.
Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says
He us'd us scornfully: he should have shew'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's country.
Sic.
Why so he did, I am sure.
1 Cit.
No man saw 'em.
He said he'd wounds, which he could shew in private;
And with his cap, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be consul, says he; aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your voices, therefore: when we granted that,
Here was—I thank you for your voices—thank you—
Your most sweet voices—now you have left your voices,
-- 263 --
I have nothing further with you. Wa'n't this mockery;
Sic.
Why either were you ignorant to see't?
Or seeing it, of such childish friendliness,
To yield your voices?
Bru.
Did you perceive,
He did solicit you in free contempt,
When he did need your loves, and do you think
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,
When he hath power to crush? why had your bodies
No heart among you? or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment?
Sic.
Have you,
Ere now, deny'd the asker; and now again,
On him that did not ask, but mock, bestow'd
Your su'd-for tongues?
3 Cit.
He's not confirm'd, we may
Deny him yet.
2 Cit.
Ay, and we will deny him:
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.
1 Cit.
Ay, twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.
Bru.
Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
They've chose a consul that will from them take
Their liberties, make them of no more voice,
Than dogs that are as often beat for barking,
As therefore kept to do so.
Sic.
Let them assemble; and on safer judgment,
Revoke your ignorant election;
Enforce his pride, and his old hate to you.
Say, you chose him more after our commandment,
Than guided by your own affections,
And that your minds, pre-occupied with what
You rather must do, than with what you should do,
Made you against the grain to voice him consul.
Lay the fault on us* note.
-- 264 --
Bru.
Ay, spare us not.
Say, you ne'er had done't,
(Harp on that still) but by our putting on;
And presently, when you have drawn your number,
Repair to th' Capitol.
All.
We will; almost all
Repent in their election.
[Exeunt Citizens.
Bru.
Let 'em go on:
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay past doubt for greater:
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.
Sic.
Come; to th' Capitol.
We will be there before the stream o'th' people:
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.
[Exeunt* note.
End of the Second ACT.
John Bell [1774], Bell's Edition of Shakespeare's Plays, As they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London; Regulated from the Prompt Books of each House By Permission; with Notes Critical and Illustrative; By the Authors of the Dramatic Censor (Printed for John Bell... and C. Etherington [etc.], York) [word count] [S10401].
