Enter seven or eight Citizens.FIRST CITIZEN Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.
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SECOND CITIZEN We may, sir, if we will.THIRD CITIZEN We have power in ourselves to do it, but5 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.10 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.FIRST CITIZEN And to make us no better thought of, a15 little help will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.THIRD CITIZEN We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some20 abram, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely colored; 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’ th’ compass.SECOND CITIZEN 25Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?THIRD CITIZEN 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 sure30 southward.SECOND CITIZEN Why that way?THIRD CITIZEN 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 get35 thee a wife.SECOND CITIZEN You are never without your tricks. You may, you may.
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THIRD CITIZEN Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that’s no matter; the greater part carries it. I40 say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility, with Menenius. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behavior. We are not to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos,45 and by threes. He’s to make his requests by particulars, wherein every one of us has a single honor 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 50Content, content.⌜Citizens exit.⌝MENENIUS O sir, you are not right. Have you not known The worthiest men have done ’t?CORIOLANUS What must I say? “I pray, sir?”—plague upon ’t! I cannot bring55 My tongue to such a pace. “Look, sir, my wounds! I got them in my country’s service when Some certain of your brethren roared and ran From th’ noise of our own drums.”MENENIUS O me, the gods!60 You must not speak of that. You must desire them To think upon you.CORIOLANUS Think upon me? Hang ’em! I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which our divines lose by ’em.MENENIUS 65 You’ll mar all. I’ll leave you. Pray you, speak to ’em, I pray you, In wholesome manner.He exits.CORIOLANUS Bid them wash their faces And keep their teeth clean.
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Enter three of the Citizens.70 So, here comes a brace.— You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.THIRD CITIZEN We do, sir. Tell us what hath brought you to ’t.CORIOLANUS Mine own desert.SECOND CITIZEN Your own desert?CORIOLANUS 75Ay, but ⌜not⌝ mine own desire.THIRD CITIZEN How, not your own desire?CORIOLANUS No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.THIRD CITIZEN You must think if we give you anything,80 we hope to gain by you.CORIOLANUS Well then, I pray, your price o’ th’ consulship?FIRST CITIZEN The price is to ask it kindly.CORIOLANUS Kindly, sir, I pray, let me ha ’t. I have85 wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private.—Your good voice, sir. What say you?SECOND CITIZEN You shall ha ’t, worthy sir.CORIOLANUS A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms. Adieu.THIRD CITIZEN, ⌜to the other Citizens⌝ 90But this is something odd.SECOND CITIZEN An ’twere to give again—but ’tis no matter.⌜These citizens⌝ exit.Enter two other Citizens.CORIOLANUS Pray you now, if it may stand with the95 tune of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.⌜FOURTH CITIZEN⌝ You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.CORIOLANUS Your enigma?
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⌜FOURTH CITIZEN⌝ 100You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends. You have not indeed loved the common people.CORIOLANUS You should account me the more virtuous that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir,105 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 practice the insinuating nod and be off to them most110 counterfeitly. That is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man and give it bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.⌜FIFTH CITIZEN⌝ We hope to find you our friend, and115 therefore give you our voices heartily.⌜FOURTH CITIZEN⌝ You have received many wounds for your country.CORIOLANUS I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices and so120 trouble you no farther.BOTH The gods give you joy, sir, heartily.⌜Citizens exit.⌝CORIOLANUS Most sweet voices! Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the ⌜hire⌝ which first we do deserve.125 Why in this woolvish ⌜toge⌝ should I stand here To beg of Hob and Dick that does 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 unswept130 And mountainous error be too highly heaped For truth to o’erpeer. Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honor go To one that would do thus. I am half through; The one part suffered, the other will I do.
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Enter three Citizens more.135 Here come more voices.— Your voices! For your voices I have fought; Watched for your voices; for your voices bear Of wounds two dozen odd. Battles thrice six I have seen and heard of; for your voices have140 Done many things, some less, some more. Your voices! Indeed, I would be consul.⌜SIXTH⌝ CITIZEN He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man’s voice.⌜SEVENTH⌝ CITIZEN 145Therefore 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.⌜Citizens exit.⌝CORIOLANUS Worthy voices!Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.MENENIUS 150 You have stood your limitation, and the Tribunes Endue you with the people’s voice. Remains That in th’ official marks invested, you Anon do meet the Senate.CORIOLANUS Is this done?SICINIUS 155 The custom of request you have discharged. The people do admit you, and are summoned To meet anon upon your approbation.CORIOLANUS Where? At the Senate House?SICINIUS There, Coriolanus.CORIOLANUS 160 May I change these garments?SICINIUS You may, sir.
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CORIOLANUS That I’ll straight do and, knowing myself again, Repair to th’ Senate House.MENENIUS I’ll keep you company.—Will you along?BRUTUS 165 We stay here for the people.SICINIUS Fare you well.Coriolanus and Menenius exit. He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, ’Tis warm at ’s heart.BRUTUS With a proud heart he wore170 His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?Enter the Plebeians.SICINIUS How now, my masters, have you chose this man?FIRST CITIZEN He has our voices, sir.BRUTUS We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.SECOND CITIZEN Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice,175 He mocked us when he begged our voices.THIRD CITIZEN Certainly, he flouted us downright.FIRST CITIZEN No, ’tis his kind of speech. He did not mock us.SECOND CITIZEN Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says He used us scornfully. He should have showed us180 His marks of merit, wounds received for ’s country.SICINIUS Why, so he did, I am sure.ALL No, no. No man saw ’em.THIRD CITIZEN He said he had wounds, which he could show in private,
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185 And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, “I would be consul,” says he. “Agèd 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.190 Your most sweet voices! Now you have left your voices, I have no further with you.” Was not this mockery?SICINIUS Why either were you ignorant to see ’t Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness195 To yield your voices?BRUTUS Could you not have told him As you were lessoned? When he had no power, But was a petty servant to the state, He was your enemy, ever spake against200 Your liberties and the charters that you bear I’ th’ body of the weal; and, now arriving A place of potency and sway o’ th’ state, If he should still malignantly remain Fast foe to th’ plebeii, your voices might205 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 Would think upon you for your voices, and Translate his malice towards you into love,210 Standing your friendly lord.SICINIUS Thus to have said, As you were fore-advised, had touched his spirit And tried his inclination; from him plucked Either his gracious promise, which you might,215 As cause had called you up, have held him to; Or else it would have galled his surly nature, Which easily endures not article Tying him to aught. So putting him to rage,
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You should have ta’en th’ advantage of his choler220 And passed him unelected.BRUTUS 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 you225 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?SICINIUS Have you ere now denied the asker? And now230 Again, of him that did not ask but mock, Bestow your sued-for tongues?THIRD CITIZEN He’s not confirmed. We may deny him yet.SECOND CITIZEN And will deny him.235 I’ll have five hundred voices of that sound.FIRST CITIZEN I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece ’em.BRUTUS 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 voice240 Than dogs that are as often beat for barking As therefor kept to do so.SICINIUS Let them assemble And, on a safer judgment, all revoke Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride245 And his old hate unto you. Besides, forget not With what contempt he wore the humble weed, How in his suit he scorned you; but your loves, Thinking upon his services, took from you Th’ apprehension of his present portance,250 Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion After the inveterate hate he bears you.
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BRUTUS Lay A fault on us, your tribunes, that we labored, No impediment between, but that you must255 Cast your election on him.SICINIUS Say you chose him More after our commandment than as guided By your own true affections, and that your minds, Preoccupied with what you rather must do260 Than what you should, made you against the grain To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.BRUTUS Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you, How youngly he began to serve his country, How long continued, and what stock he springs of,265 The noble house o’ th’ Martians, from whence came That Ancus Martius, 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;270 ⌜And Censorinus, that was so surnamed,⌝ And nobly namèd so, twice being censor, Was his great ancestor.SICINIUS One thus descended, That hath besides well in his person wrought275 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 fixèd enemy, and revoke Your sudden approbation.BRUTUS 280 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 th’ Capitol.ALL We will so. Almost all285 Repent in their election.Plebeians exit.BRUTUS Let them go on.
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This mutiny were better put in hazard Than stay, past doubt, for greater. If, as his nature is, he fall in rage290 With their refusal, both observe and answer The vantage of his anger.SICINIUS To th’ Capitol, come. We will be there before the stream o’ th’ people, And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own,295 Which we have goaded onward.They exit.
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