Rome. The Forum.
[Enter several citizens.] FIRST CITIZEN Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.
SECOND CITIZEN We may, sir, if we will.
THIRD CITIZEN 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.
FIRST CITIZEN And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve;
for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call
us the many-headed multitude.
THIRD CITIZEN 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 skull, 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.
SECOND CITIZEN Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?
THIRD CITIZEN 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.
SECOND CITIZEN Why that way?
THIRD CITIZEN 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.
SECOND CITIZEN You are never without your tricks:--you may, you may.
THIRD CITIZEN 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. 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.] [Enter CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.] MENENIUS O sir, you are not right; have you not known
The worthiest men have done't!
CORIOLANUS 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.'
MENENIUS O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that: you must desire them
To think upon you.
CORIOLANUS Think upon me! Hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by 'em.
MENENIUS You'll mar all:
I'll leave you. Pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholesome manner.
`481`
CORIOLANUS Bid them wash their faces
And keep their teeth clean.
[Exit MENENIUS.] So, here comes a brace:
[Re-enter two citizens.] You know the cause, sirs, of my standing here.
FIRST CITIZEN We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.
CORIOLANUS Mine own desert.
SECOND CITIZEN Your own desert?
CORIOLANUS Ay, not mine own desire.
FIRST CITIZEN How! not your own desire!
CORIOLANUS No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with
begging.
FIRST CITIZEN You must think, if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.
CORIOLANUS Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?
FIRST CITIZEN The price is to ask it kindly.
CORIOLANUS 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?
SECOND CITIZEN You shall ha' it, worthy sir.
CORIOLANUS A match, sir.--There's in all two worthy voices begg'd.--I have
your alms: adieu.
FIRST CITIZEN But this is something odd.
SECOND CITIZEN An 'twere to give again,-- but 'tis no matter.
[Exeunt two citizens.] [Re-enter other two citizens.] CORIOLANUS Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I
may be consul, I have here the customary gown.
THIRD CITIZEN You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not
deserved nobly.
CORIOLANUS Your enigma?
THIRD CITIZEN You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to
her friends: you have not indeed loved the common people.
CORIOLANUS 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 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.
FOURTH CITIZEN We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices
heartily.
THIRD CITIZEN You have received many wounds for your country.
CORIOLANUS I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make
much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.
BOTH CITIZENS The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!
[Exeunt citizens.] CORIOLANUS Most sweet voices!--
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this wolvish toge 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 o'erpeer. Rather than fool it so,
Let the high office and the honour go
To one that would do thus.--I am half through;
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Here come more voices.
[Re-enter other three citizens.] 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.
FIFTH CITIZEN He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.
SIXTH CITIZEN Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him
good friend to the people!
ALL THREE CITIZENS Amen, amen.--God save thee, noble consul!
[Exeunt.] CORIOLANUS Worthy voices!
[Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS.] MENENIUS 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.
CORIOLANUS Is this done?
SICINIUS The custom of request you have discharg'd:
The people do admit you; and are summon'd
To meet anon, upon your approbation.
CORIOLANUS Where? at the senate-house?
SICINIUS There, Coriolanus.
CORIOLANUS May I change these garments?
SICINIUS You may, sir.
CORIOLANUS That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,
Repair to the senate-house.
MENENIUS I'll keep you company.--Will you along?
BRUTUS We stay here for the people.
SICINIUS Fare you well.
[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.] He has it now; and by his looks methinks
'Tis warm at his heart.
BRUTUS With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.
Will you dismiss the people?
[Re-enter citizens.] SICINIUS How now, my masters! have you chose this man?
FIRST CITIZEN He has our voices, sir.
BRUTUS We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.
SECOND CITIZEN Amen, sir:--to my poor unworthy notice,
He mocked us when he begg'd our voices.
THIRD CITIZEN Certainly;
He flouted us downright.
FIRST CITIZEN No, 'tis his kind of speech,--he did not mock us.
SECOND CITIZEN Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says
He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us
His marks of merit, wounds received for's country.
SICINIUS Why, so he did, I am sure.
CITIZENS No, no; no man saw 'em.
THIRD CITIZEN 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 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 no further with you:'--was not this mockery?
SICINIUS Why either were you ignorant to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices?
BRUTUS 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
I' the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency and sway o' the state,
If he should still malignantly remain
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.
SICINIUS Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit
And tried 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
Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler
And pass'd him unelected.
BRUTUS 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?
SICINIUS Have you
Ere now denied the asker, and now again,
Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow
Your su'd-for tongues?
THIRD CITIZEN He's not confirm'd: we may deny him yet.
SECOND CITIZEN And will deny him:
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.
FIRST CITIZEN I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.
BRUTUS 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.
SICINIUS 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
Th' apprehension of his present portance,
Which, most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.
BRUTUS Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd,--
No impediment between,--but that you must
Cast your election on him.
SICINIUS Say you chose him
More after our commandment than as guided
By your own true affections; and that your minds,
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do
Than what you should, made you against the grain
To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.
BRUTUS 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,
And nobly nam'd so, twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.
SICINIUS 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.
BRUTUS 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 the Capitol.
CITIZENS We will so; almost all
Repent in their election.
[Exeunt.] BRUTUS 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
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.
SICINIUS To the Capitol,
Come: we will be there before the stream o' the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.
[Exeunt.]