SCENE 3.1 CORIOLANUS. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma? 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. 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 witchment of some popular man, and give it bouncounterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the betifully 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 shewthem. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. 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 parti-ing culars: 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. [Exeunt. All. Content, content. Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not [known The worthiest men have done't? What must I say? Cor. I pray, sir,-Plague upon't! I cannot bring I got them in my country's service, when Cor. Men. You'll mar all; I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to them, I pray you, In wholesome manner. Enter two Citizens. Exit. Bid them wash their faces, You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. Mine own desire. 2 Cit. Cor. 1 Cit. Cor. No, sir: How! not your own desire? '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. [ship? Kindly? Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! Cor. Most sweet voices!~ Done many things, some less, some more: 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 good friend to the people! All. Amen, amen.— Sic. You may, sir. Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself Repair to the senate-house. [again, Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along? Bru. We stay here for the people. Sic. Fare you well. [Exeunt Coriol. and Menen. He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, "Tis warm at his heart. Bru. With a proud heart he wore His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? Re-enter Citizens. Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose this 1 Cit. He has our voices, sir. [man? 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, [mock us. 1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not 2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says, He flouted us downright. He us'd us scornfully: he should have shew'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. [country. Cit. No; no man saw 'em. (Several speak.) 3 Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could shew 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,-[voices, Your most sweet voices:-now you have left your 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 yield your voices? Bru. Than what he stood for; so his gracious nature Sic. Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage, Bru. 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 you, How youngly he began to serve his country, Sic. Bru. Čit. 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: Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the people; And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, ACT III. SCENE I.-The same. A Street. [Exeunt. 1 Sen. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends, I crave their pardons : Not in this heat, sir, now. For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them Therein behold themselves: I say again, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Men. 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. As for my country I have shed my blood, Bru. You speak o'the people, As if you were a god to punish, not A man of their infirmity. Sic. 'Twere well, What, what? his choler? We let the people know't. Men. O good, but most unwise patricians, why, Com. Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute power,) 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 corn Was not our recompence; resting well assur'd They ne'er did service for't: Being press'd to the war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, service Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war, Confusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, tribunes Sic. Hear me, people;-Peace. Cit. Let's hear our tribune:-Peace. Speak, speak, speak. Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties: Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, What's like to be their words :-We did request it; Whom late you have nam'd for consul. We are the greater poll, and in true fear Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope Come, enough. you, [dom, You that will be less fearful than discreet; Bru. Men. Fy, fy, fy! 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; Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him; Ediles, seize him. Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's And bear him to the rock. Bru. Sir, those cold ways, That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent:-Lay hands upon [him, No; I'll die here. (Drawing his sword.) There's some among you have beheld me fighting; When what's not meet, but what must be, was law, Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee!- Then were they chosen; in a better hour, Let what is meet, be said it must be meet, And throw their power i' the dust. Re-enter BRUTUS, with the Ediles, and a rabble of You cannot tent yourself: Begone, 'beseech you. Citizens. Men. On both sides more respect. Sic. Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace! Men. The consul Coriolanus. Bru. Cit. No, no, no, no, no. He a consul! Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; Sic. Men. Sic. He's a disease that must be cut away. Men. O, he's a limb, that has but a disease; Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy. What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death? Killing our enemies? The blood he hath lost, (Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath, By many an ounce,) he dropp'd it for his country: And, what is left, to lose it by his country, Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it, A brand to the end o'the world. |