Cor.

2 Cit.

Your own desert?

Ay, not Mine own desire.

i Cit. How! not your own desire?

Cor. No, sir: 'Twas never my desire yet, to trouble The poor with begging. i Cit. You must think, if we give you any

thing, We hope to gain by you. Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o’the con

sulship? i 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:-
There is in all two worthy voices begg’d:-
I have your alms; adieu.
i Cit.

But this is something odd. 2 Cit. An 'twere to give again,- But 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt two Citizens.

Enter 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.

i Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.

Cor. Your enigma?

i 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 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.

i Cit. You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

[Ereunt. 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 vouches? Custom calls me to't:

SVO

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 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.

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.

i 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 good friend to the people!

All. Amen, amen.--God save thee, noble consul! [Exeunt Citizens. Cor.

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
Auon 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 then change these garments:
Sic.

You may, sir. Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing my

self 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.

[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

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. i Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not 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 coun

try. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. Cit.

No; no man saw 'em.

[Several speak. 3 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 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, - thunk you,-
Your most sweet voices :—now you have left your voices,
I have no further with you :—Was not this mockery:

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

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
l'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