Indeed, I would be consul.

Sixth Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.

Seventh 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! 150

Cor. Worthy voices!

[Exeunt.

Re-enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.

Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes

Cor.

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

Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have discharged: The people do admit you, and are summon'd To meet anon upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the senate-house?

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.

[Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius. He has it now; and, by his looks, methinks

With a proud heart he wore

'Tis warm at 's heart.

Bru.

His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?

Re-enter Citizens.

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

man?

First Cit. He has our voices, sir.

169

Bru. We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. Sec. Cit. Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.

Third Cit.

He flouted us downright.

Certainly

First Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech; he did not

mock us.

Sec. Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but

says

He used us scornfully: he should have show'd

us

His marks of merit, wounds received for's country.

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

Citizens. No, no; no man saw 'em.

Third Cit. He said he had wounds which he could

show in private;

180

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

voices,

have left your

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?

Bru.

Sic.

192

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,

200

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.

Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advised, 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;

188. “ignorant”; that is, why did you lack the wit to discern it?— H. N. H.

Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article

210

Tying him to aught: so, putting him to rage, You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,

Bru.

Sic.

And pass'd him unelected.

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?
Have you,

Ere now, denied the asker? and now again, 220
Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow
Your sued-for tongues?

Third Cit. He's not confirm'd; we may deny him

yet.

Sec. Cit. And will deny him:

I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. First Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,

Sic.

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.

Let them assemble;

And, on a safer judgment, all revoke

232

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 most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.

Bru.

Sic.

Lay 240 A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labor'd, No impediment between, but that you must Cast your election on him.

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.

Bru. Aye, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you,

How youngly he began to serve his country, 250 How long continued; and what stock he springs of,

251-259. “and what stock," etc.; Pope supplied this verse, which the context evidently requires, and which is warranted by the narration in Plutarch, from whence this passage is taken: "The house of the Martians at Rome was of the number of the patricians, out of which hath sprong many noble personages, whereof Ancus Martius was one, King Numaes daughter's sonne, who was king of Rome after Tullus Hostilius. Of the same house were Publius and Quintus, who brought to Rome their best water they had by con