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CORIOLANUS.

Com.
Our spoils he kick'd at ;
And look'd upon things precious, as they were
The common muck o'the world: he covets less
Than misery' itself would give; rewards
His deeds with doing them; and is content
To spend the time, to end it.

Men.

Let him be call'd for.

1 Sen.

He's right noble ;

Call for Coriolanus.

Re-enter Coriolanus.

Off. He doth appear.

Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd

To make thee consul.

Cor.

My life, and services.
Men.

I do owe them still

It then remains,

That you do speak to the people.

Cor.

I do beseech you,
Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot
Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,
For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please

you,

That I may pass this doing.

Sic.

Sir, the people Must have their voices; neither will they bate One jot of ceremony.

Men.

Put them not to't :Pray you, go fit you to the custom: and Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honour with your form.

It is a part

Cor.
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.

Mark you that?

Bru.
Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ;-
Show them the unaching scars which I should
hide,

As if I had received them for the hire
Of their breath only:-

Men.

Do not stand upon't.-
We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them;-and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.

Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
[Flourish. Then exeunt Senators.
Bru. You see how he intends to use the people.
Sic. May they perceive his intent! He that will
require them,

As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give.

[about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured: 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 should be at once to all the points o'the 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 wedged up in a block-head: but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.

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never a worthier man.

Enter Coriolanus and 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 ones, by twos, and by threes. 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.

[Exeunt.

Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not
known

The worthiest men have done it?
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 the noise of our own drums.

O me, the god's!
Men.
You must not speak of that; you must desire them
To think upon you.

Cor.

Think upon me? hang 'em! Bru. Come, we'll inform them I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which our divines lose by them. Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, You'll mar all; [Exeunt. Men. I know they do attend us, I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to them, I pray you [Exit. Enter In wholesome manner.

SCENE III.-The same. The Forum. several Citizens.

1 Cit. 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 ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them; so, if he tell 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 ourselves 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 (1) Avarice.

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Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consul- give him jɔy, and make him good friend to the ship?

1 Cit. The price is, sir, to ask it kindly. Cor.

Kindly?

Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have wounds to show you,
Which shall be yours in private.—Your good voice,

sir;

What say you?

2 Cit. You shall have it, worthy sir.

Cor. A match, sir :

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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.

people!

All. Amen, Amen.—
God save thee, noble consul!
Cor.

[Exeunt Citizens.
Worthy voices!
Re-enter Menenius, with Brutus, and Sicinius.

Men. You have stood your limitation; and the
tribunes

Endue you with the people's voice: Remains,
That, in the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate.

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There, Coriolanus.
Cor. May I then change these garments?

Sic.
You may, sir.
Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself
again,

Repair to the senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along?
Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic.

Fare you well. Cor. You should account me the more virtuous [Exeunt Cor. and Menen. that I have not been common in my love. I will, He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, sir, flatter my sworn brother the people, to earn a 'Tis warm at his heart. dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they ac- Bru. With a proud heart he wore count gentle and since the wisdom of their choice His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? is rather to have my hat 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.

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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 vouches? Custom calls me to't:
What custom wills, in all things should we do't,
The dust on antique time would lie unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heap'd
For truth to over-peer.'-Rather than fool it so,
Let the high offices and the honour go
To one that would do thus.-I am half through;
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Enter three other 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 odd; battles thrice six
I have seen and heard of; for your voices, have
Done many things, some less, some more: your
voices:

Indeed, I would be consul.

$ C. He has done nobly, and cannot go with out any honest man's voice.

6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The gods (1) Over-look.

Re-enter Citizens.

Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose this

man?

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2 Cit. Not one amongst us save yourself, but
says,

He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his country.
Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.
Cil.

No; no man saw 'em. [Several speak. $ Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could show in private;

And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be consul, says be: 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 no further with you-Was not this
mockery?

Sic. Why, either, you were ignorant to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To vield your voices?

Біль
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; ever spake against
Your liberties, and the charters that you bear
the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency, and sway o`the state,
¡If he should stil malignantly remain

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Fast foe to the plebeii,' your voices might
Be curses to yourselves? 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 towards 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 pluck'd
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

Tving him to aught; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

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
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 have 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 a safer judgment, all revoke
Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride,
And his old hate unto 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 the inveterate hate he bears you.
Bru.

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 as guided
By your own true affections: and that, your minds
Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do
Than what you should, 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 o'the Marcians; 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,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, darling of the people,

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This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;-
Men. Not now, not now.
1 Sen.

Not in this heat, sir, now.
Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends,
I crave their pardons :-
For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and
Therein behold themselves: 1
say again,

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and
scatter'd,

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that

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O good, but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his péremptory shall, being but
The horn and noise o'the monsters, wants not spirit
To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,
When both your voices blended, the greatest taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece! By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take
The one by the other.

Com.

Well-on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Grecee,

Men.
Well, well, no more of that.
Cor. (Though there the people had more abso
lute power,)

I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed
The ruin of the state.

Bru.

Why, shall the people give

One, that speaks thus, their voice?
Cor.

I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know, the

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Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native'
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express

Bru.
Seize him, ædiles.
Cit. Down with him, down with him!

2 Sen.

[Several speak. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about Coriolanus.

What's like to be their words:-We did request it; Tribunes, patricians, citizens !-what ho!—

We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands:-Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble

Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope
The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows
To peck the eagles.-
Men.

Come, enough.

Bru. Enough, with over-measure.
Cor.
No, take more:
What may be sworn by, both divine and human,
Seal what I end withal!-This double worship,
Where one part does disdain with cause, the other
Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wis-
dom,

Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance,-it must omit
Real necessities, and give way the while

To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows,
Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech

you,

You that will be less fearful than discreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,
More than you doubt the change of't; that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish
To jump a body with a dangerous physic
That's sure of death without it,-at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour
Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become it;
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth control it.

Bru.

He has said enough. Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall an

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Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens !

Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace!
Men. What is about to be ?-I am out of breath;
Confusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, tribunes
To the people,-Coriolanus, patience :-
Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.
Hear me, people ;-Peace.
Cit. Let's near our tribune:-Peace. Speak,
speak, speak.

Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties:
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,
Whom late you have nam'd for consul.
Men.

Fie, fie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

1 Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat. Sic. What is the city, but the people? Cit.

The people are the city.

True,

Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd
The people's magistrates.
Cit.

You so remain.
Men. And so are like to do.
Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation;
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruins.

Sic.

This deserves death.

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That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent:-Lay hands upon him, And bear him to the rock.

Cor.

No; I'll die here. [Drawing his sword. There's some among you have beheld me fighting; Come, try upon yourselves what you have scen me. Men. Down with that sword;-Tribunes, withdraw a while.

Bru. Lay hands upon him.
Men.

Help, Marcius! help, You that be noble; help him, young, and old! Cit. Down with him, down with him! [In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the diles, and the People, are all beat in. Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone away, All will be naught else. 2 Sen. Cor.

Get you gone.

Stand fast;

We have as many friends as enemies.

(5) From whence criminals were thrown, and dashed to pieces.

2 R

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