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 south ward. 2 Cit. Why that way? 3 Cit. To lose itself 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. Enter two other CITIZENS. Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with t tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I ha here the customary gown. 3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your co try, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma ? 3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her er mies, you have been a rod to her friends; y have not, indeed, loved the common people. Cor. You should account me the more tuous, that I have not been common in my lov 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks :—I will, Sir, flatter my sworn brother the peop You may, you may. to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a co 3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices?dition they account gentle and since the wisdo 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 and MENENIUS. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark his behaviour. We are not to stay altogether, 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. of their choice is rather to have my hat than heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, a be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, Sir, will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popul man, and give it bountifully to the desirer Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. 4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; ar therefore give you our voices heartily. 3 Cit. You have received many wounds f your country. Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with show ing them. I will make much of your voices, a so trouble you no further. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, Sir, hea [Exeun [Exeunt.tily! 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 I got them in my country's service, when Men. O me, the gods! Cor. Most sweet voices !— You must not speak of that: you must desire them To one that would do thus.-I am half through To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em! I would they would forget me, like the virtues Men. You'll mar all; Cor. No, Sir: 'Twas never my desire yet, To trouble the poor with begging. 1 Cit. You must think, if we give you any We hope to gain by you. [thing, Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship? 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; The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. Here come more voices. Your voices; for your voices I have fought; Indeed, I would be consul. 5 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go with out any honest man's voice, 6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The god give him joy, and make him good friend to th people! All. Amen, Amen,— Cor. Worthy voices ! [Exeunt CITIZENS Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS. Men. You have stood your limitation; and th Endue you with the people's voice: Remains, Sic. The custom of request you have dis The people do admit you; and are summon'd Cor. Where? at the senate-house? Cor. May I then change these garments ↑ Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing my Repair to the senate-house. Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along ? | [Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN. He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, 'Tis warm at his heart. Brs. With a proud heart he wore 1 Cit. I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em. Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those They have chose a consul, that will from them take His bumble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? As therefore kept to do so. Re-enter CITIZENS. Sic. Let them assemble; And, on a safer judgment, all revoke Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride, says He us'd as scornfully: he should have show'd us Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, you, Sie. Way, either you were ignorant to see't? And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us. How youngly he began to serve his country, Sic. One thus descended, power,That hath beside well in his person wrought Eru. Could you not have told him, 3. Thas to have said, As were fore-advis'd, had tonch'd his spirit, Tim 21m to angbt: so, putting him to rage, Bru. Did you perceive, * 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 Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't, [ber, Cit. We will so almost all [Several speak. Repent in their election. [Exeunt CITIZENS, Bru. Let them go on: This mutiny were better put in hazard, If, as his nature is, he fall in rage Sic. To the Capitol : (ple; Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the peo- Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius? Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus Lart. On safe-guard⚫ he came to me; and 'the plain way of his merit. did curse Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely Cor. Spoke he of me? Lart. He did, my lord. Cor. How? what? Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;— 1 Sen. Not in this heat, Sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My noble friends, I crave their pardons : Lart. How often he had met you, sword to For the mutable, rank-scented many, ‡ let them sword: Bru. Not unlike, Each way to better yours. Regard me as I do not flatter, and Therein behold themselves: I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate scatter'd, O good but most unwise patricians, why, spirit To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch, beians, If they be senators: and they are no less, taste Most palates theirs. They choose their magis- Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon The one by the other. clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Sic. You show too much of that, To where you are bound, you inust inquire your way, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit; Nor yoke with him for tribune. Men. Let's be calm. Cockle is a weed which grows up with corn. the corn Was not our recompence; resting well assur'd the war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, service Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war, tion Which they have often made against the senate, We are the greater poll,† and in true fear ope The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows Mea. Come, enough. Bra. Enough, with over-measure. Cer. No, take more : other What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech Yon that will be less fearful than discreet; A noble lite before a long, and wish The maititudinous tongue, let them not lick Ar. He bas said enough. Sar. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As bradors do. Thon wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee What should the people do with these bald tribunes? fs who depending, their obedience fails The greater bench: In a rebellion, Wes what's not meet, but what must be, was Then were they chosen: in a better hour, Bru. Manifest treason. Ac. This a consul? no. Era. The Ediles, ho!-Let him be appre bended. Se. Go, call the people; [Exit BRUTUS.] in whose name, myself Atach thee, as a traitorous innovator, A fue to the public weal: Obey, I charge thee, Cer. Fience, old goat i The natural pareut, or, the cause. Sen. & Pat. We'll surety him. Com. Aged Sir, hands off. Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy Out of thy garments. Sic. Help, ve citizens. Re-enter BRUTUS, with the EDILES, and a Men. On both sides more respect. Cit. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! Sic. Hear me, people ;-Peace. Cit. You so remain. Men. And so are like to do. Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat; Sic. This deserves death. Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him; Bru. Ediles, seize him. 'Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's And temperately proceed to what you would Bru. Sir, those cold ways, Cor. No: I'll die here. [Drawing his Sword. [me. There's some among you have beheld me fighting; Come, try upon yourselves what you have scen Bru. Lay hands upon him. You that be noble; help him, young and old! Cor. On fair ground, I could beat forty of them. Men. I could myself Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes. Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabric.-Will you hence, Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear What they are used to bear. Men. Pray you, be gone: I'll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little this must be With cloth of any colour. [patch'd Com. Nay, come away. [Exeunt COR. Cox, and others. 1 Pat. This inan bas marr'd his fortune. Men. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth : [vent; What his breast forges, that his tongue must And being angry, does forget that ever He heard the name of death. [A noise within. Here's goodly work! 2 Pat. I would they were a-bed? The which shall turn yon to no further harm, Than so much loss of time. Sic. Speak briefly then; For we are peremptory to despatch This viperous traitor: to eject him hence, Men. Now the good gods forbid Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. Bru. Merely awry: when he did love hi country, It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot, Being once gangren'd, is not then respected Bru. We'll hear no more : Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further. Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, wili, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by pro cess; Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And sack great Rome with Romans. Bru. If it were so, Sic. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Men. I would they were in Tyber I-What, the Our Ediles smote ? ourselves resisted ?-Come : With modest warrant. Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you Have holp to make this rescue ? Men. Hear me speak : As I do know the consul's worthiness, So can I name his faults: Sic. Consul!-what consul? Men. The consul Coriolanus. Cit. No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; • The lowest of the populace, tag, rag, and bobtail. 1 Be sure on't. The signal for slaughter. Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him. [Exeunt |