Forum.
Enter seven or eight Citizens.
1 Cit.
(20) note
Once, if he do require our voices, we
ought not to deny him.
2 Cit.
We may, Sir, if we will.
3 Cit.
We have Power in our selves 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 our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude
is monstrous; and for the multitude to be ingrateful,
were to make a monster of the multitude; of the
which, we being Members, should bring our selves to
be monstrous Members.
1 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
multitude.
-- 49 --
3 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 diversly 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?
3 Cit.
Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another
man's will, 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a blockhead:
but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.
2 Cit.
Why that way?
3 Cit.
To lose it self in a fog; where being three
parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would
return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a Wife.
2 Cit.
You are never without your tricks—you
may, you may—
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.
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.
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
-- 50 --
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.
(21) note
I would they would forget me, like the Virtues
Which our Divines lose by 'em.
Men.
You'll mar all.
I'll leave you: pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholsome manner.
[Exit.
Citizens approach.
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.
Cor.
Mine own desert.
2 Cit.
Your own desert?
Cor.
Ay, not mine own desire.
1 Cit.
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.
-- 51 --
Two other Citizens.
Cor.
Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune
of your voices, that I may be Consul, I have here the
customary Gown.
1 Cit.
You have deserved nobly of your Country,
and you have not deserved nobly.
Cor.
Your ænigma.—
1 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; I will, Sir, flatter
my sworn Brother, the People, to earn a dearer
estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle:
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 give it bountifully to the Desirers:
therefore, beseech you, I may be Consul.
2 Cit.
We hope to find you our Friend; and therefore
give you our voices heartily.
1 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!
[Exe.
Cor.
Most sweet voices—
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire, which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish Gown should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needless Voucher? Custom calls me to't—
What Custom wills in all things, should we do't,
The dust on antique time would lye unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heapt,
For truth to o'er-peer.—Rather than fool it so,
Let the high Office and the Honour go
-- 52 --
To one that would do thus.—I am half through;
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Three Citizens more.
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: battels thrice six
I've seen, and heard of: for your voices, have
Done many things, some less, some more:—your voices:—
Indeed, I would be Consul.
1 Cit.
He has done nobly, and cannot go without
any honest man's voice.
2 Cit.
Therefore let him be Consul, the Gods give
him joy, and make him a good friend to the People.
All.
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.
Cor.
Where? at the Senate-house?
Sic.
There, Coriolanus.
Cor.
May I change these garments?
Sic.
You may, Sir.
Cor.
That I'll straight do: and knowing my self 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,
-- 53 --
'Tis warm at's heart.
Bru.
With a proud heart he wore
His humble Weeds: will you dismiss the people?
Enter Plebeians.
Sic.
How now, my masters, have you chose this man?
1 Cit.
He has our voices, Sir.
Bru.
We pray the Gods, he may deserve your loves!
2 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.
1 Cit.
No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us.
2 Cit.
Not one amongst us, save your self, 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.
All.
No, no man saw 'em.
3 Cit.
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,
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.
Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd; when he had no Power,
But was a petty servant to the State,
He was your enemy; still spake against
Your liberties, and charters that you bear
-- 54 --
I'th' body of the weal: and now arriving
At place of potency, and sway o'th' State,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the Plebeians, your voices might
Be curses to your selves. You should have said,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for; so his gracious Nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Translate his malice tow'rds you, into love,
Standing your friendly lord.
Sic.
Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd his inclination; from him pluckt
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature;
Which easily endures not article,
Tying him to ought; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en th' advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.
Bru.
Did you perceive,
He did sollicit 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
Your su'd-for tongues?
3 Cit.
He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet.
2 Cit.
And will deny him:
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.
1 Cit.
I, 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,
-- 55 --
As therefore kept to do so.
Sic.
Let them assemble;
And on a safer Judgment all revoke
Your ignorant election: enforce his Pride,
And his old hate to you: besides, forget not,
With what contempt he wore the humble Weed;
How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
The apprehension of his present portance;
Which gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After th' inveterate hate he bears to you.
Bru.
Nay, lay a fault on us, your Tribunes, that
We labour'd (no impediment between)
But that you must cast your election on him.
Sic.
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 what you should do,
Made you against the grain to voice him Consul.
Lay the fault on us.
Bru.
Ay, spare us not: say, we read lectures to you,
How youngly he began to serve his Country,
How long continued; and what stock he springs of,
The noble House of Marcius; from whence came
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was King:
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,(22) note
-- 56 --
That our best water brought by conduits hither.
And Censorinus, darling of the people,
(And nobly nam'd so for twice being Censor)
Was his great Ancestor.
Sic.
One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought,
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances; but you have found,
Scaling his present Bearing with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.
Bru.
Say, you ne'er had don'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 so; almost all repent in their election.
[Exeunt Plebeians.
Bru.
Let them go on:
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay past doubt for greater:
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
-- 57 --
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.
Sic.
To th' Capitol, come;
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.
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
