The mortal gate' o'the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet: Now all's his :

When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce

His ready sense: then straight his doubled spirit
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate, wearied

And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and, till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood

To ease his breast with panting.

Men.

Worthy man!

1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours ' Which we devise him.

Com.
Our spoils he kick'd at;
And look'd upon things precious, as they were
The common muck o'the world; he covets less
Than misery' itself would give; rewards
His deeds with doing them; and is content
To spend the time, to end it.

Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd To make thee consul.

1

9 The mortal gate —] The gate that was made the scene of death.

1 He cannot but with measure fit the honours ] That is, no honour will be too great for him; he will show a mind equal to any elevation.

2 Than misery] Misery for avarice; because a miser signifies avaricious.

† Mr. Malone omits for.

Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot

Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,

For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you, That I may pass this doing.

Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and

Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form3.

Cor.

It is a part

That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.

Bru.

Mark you that?

Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ;Show them the unaking scars which I should hide, As if I had receiv'd them for the hire

Of their breath only:

Men.

Do not stand upon't.

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them;-and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.

Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!

[Flourish. Then exeunt Senators.

3 Your honour with your form.] Your form, may mean the form which custom prescribes to you.

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,

Our purpose to them;] We entreat you, tribunes of the people, to recommend and enforce to the plebeians, what we propose to them for their approbation; namely, the appointment of Coriolanus to the consulship.

Bru. You see how he intends to use the people.

Sic. May they perceive his intent! He will require

them,

As if he did contemn what he requested.

Should be in them to give.

Bru.

Come, we'll inform them

[Exeunt.

Of our proceedings here: on the market-place,
I know, they do attend us.

SCENE III.

The same. The Forum.

Enter several Citizens.

1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

2 Cit. We may, sir, if we will.

3 Cit. 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.

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

"for once we stood up," &c.-MALONE.

consent of one direct way should be at once to all 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 blockhead 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

you may.

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 unto 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.

[Exeunt.

Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not known The worthiest men have done't?

Cor.

What must I say?—

Look, sir;

my

I pray, sir, Plague upon't! I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace:

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.

Men.

O me, the gods !

You must not speak of that; you must desire them

To think upon you.

Cor.

I would they would forget me, like the virtues

Think upon me? Hang 'em!

You'll mar all;

Which our divines lose by them.

Men.

I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to them, I pray you,
In wholesome manner.

[Exit.

Cor.

Enter Two Citizens.

Bid them wash their faces,

And keep their teeth clean.-So, here comes a brace.
You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.

1 Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't. Cor. Mine own desert.

"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.

Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship? 1 Cit. The price is, sir, to ask it kindly.

Kindly!

Cor. 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?

I would they would forget me, like the virtues

Which our divines lose by them.] i. e. I wish they would forget me as they do those virtuous precepts, which the divines preach up to them, and lose by them, as it were, by their neglecting the practice.