Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Corio-
lanus

Should not be utter'd feebly.—It is held,
That valour is the chiefest virtue, and
Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Reme, he fought
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin he drove
The bristled lips before him: he bestrid
An o'er-press'd Roman, and i'the consul's view
Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self be met,
And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene,
He prov'd best man i̇'the field, and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch'd all swords o'the garland. For this last,
Before and in Corioli, let me say,

I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers;
And, by his rare example, made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as waves before
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd,
And fell below his stem: hissword (death's stamp)
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd
The mortal gate o'the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden reinforcement struck

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. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Sic. May they perceive his intent! He, that will require them,

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 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.

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 showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

Beth Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! [Exeunt.

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 :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 comes 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.

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. 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
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, '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 downright.

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

mock us.

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 received for his country.

[Several speak.

Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.
Cit. No; no man saw 'em.
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,—thank
you,

Your most sweet voices :-now you have left your voices,

I have no further with you:-Was not this mockery?

Sic. Why, either, you were ignorant to see't;

Cor. Worthy voices !

Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICI

NIUS.

Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes

Endue you with the people's voice: Remains,

To yield your voices?

Bru. 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,

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 yet.

2 Cit. And will deny him;

I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. 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.

Sic. 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 The apprehension of his present portance,

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, being censor twice,
Was his great ancestor.

Sic. 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.

Bru. 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.

Cit. We will so: almost all Repent in their election.

Bru. Let them go on;

[Several speak. [Exeunt Citizens.

SCENE I.-The same. A street. Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, CoMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Senators, and Patricians.

Lart. He had, my lord; and that it was, which caus'd

Our swifter composition.

Cor. So then the Volces stand but as at first; Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road

Bru. Not to them all.

Com. They are worn, lord consul, so,

That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.

Cor. Saw you Aufidius ?

Lart. On safeguard he came to me; and did

curse

Against the Volces, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium.
Cor. Spoke he of me?
Lart, He did, my lord.
Cor. How? what?

Lart. How often he had met you, sword to sword:

That, of all things upon the earth, he hated Your person most: that he would pawn his for

tunes

Cor. Have you inform'd them since ?
Bru. How! I inform them!

Cor. You are like to do such business.
Bru. Not unlike,

Each way, to better yours.

Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon clouds,

Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow-tribune.

Sic. You show too much of that,
For which the people stir: If you will pass
To where you are bound, you must inquire your

way,

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be so noble as a consul,
Nor yoke with him for tribune.

This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;— Men. Not now, not now.

1 Sen. Not in this heat, sir, now.

Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends, I crave their pardons :

For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: I say again,
In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd
and scatter'd,

commons?

Bru. Cominius, no.

Cor. Have I had children's voices?

1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place.

Bru. The people are incens'd against him.
Sic. Stop,

Or all will fall in broil.

Cor. Are these your herd ?—

Must these have voices, that can yield them now, And straight disclaim their tongues?—What are your offices?

You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?

Have you not set them on?

Men. Be calm, be calm.

:

Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot, To curb the will of the nobility Suffer it, and live with such as cannot rule, Nor ever will be rul'd.

Bru. Call't not a plot :

The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late, When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd; Scandal'd the suppliants for the people; call'd them Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.

Cor. Why, this was known before.