Act II, Scene iii:
Rome. The Forum.

[Enter several citizens.]

FIRST CITIZEN:

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

SECOND CITIZEN:

We may, sir, if we will.

THIRD CITIZEN:

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.

FIRST CITIZEN:

And to make us no better thought of, a 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, 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 consent of one direct way should be at once to all the

points o' the compass.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Think 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 block-head; but if it were at liberty

'twould, sure, 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 get thee a wife.

SECOND CITIZEN:

You are never without your tricks:—you may, you may.

THIRD CITIZEN:

Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter,

the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the

people, there was never a worthier man. Here he comes, and in the

gown of humility. Mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all

together, 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.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.]

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 bring

My tongue to such a pace.—'Look, sir,—my 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.'

MENENIUS:

O me, the gods!

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:

You'll mar all:

I'll leave you. Pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,

In wholesome manner.

CORIOLANUS:

Bid them wash their faces

And keep their teeth clean.

[Exit MENENIUS.]

So, here comes a brace:

[Re-enter two citizens.]

You know the cause, sirs, of my standing here.

FIRST CITIZEN:

We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

CORIOLANUS:

Mine own desert.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Your own desert?

CORIOLANUS:

Ay, not mine own desire.

FIRST CITIZEN:

How! not your own desire!

CORIOLANUS:

No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with

begging.

FIRST CITIZEN:

You must think, if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.

CORIOLANUS:

Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?

FIRST CITIZEN:

The price is to ask it kindly.

CORIOLANUS:

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?

SECOND CITIZEN:

You shall ha' it, worthy sir.

CORIOLANUS:

A match, sir.—There's in all two worthy voices begg'd.—I have

your alms: adieu.

FIRST CITIZEN:

But this is something odd.

SECOND CITIZEN:

An 'twere to give again,—but 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt two citizens.]

[Re-enter other two citizens.]

CORIOLANUS:

Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I

may be consul, I have here the customary gown.

THIRD CITIZEN:

You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not

deserved nobly.

CORIOLANUS:

Your enigma?

THIRD CITIZEN:

You 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, 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.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices

heartily.

THIRD 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 so trouble you no further.

BOTH CITIZENS:

The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

[Exeunt citizens.]

CORIOLANUS:

Most sweet voices!—

Better it is to die, better to starve,

Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.

Why in this wolvish toge 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 o'erpeer. 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.

Here come more voices.

[Re-enter other three citizens.]

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.

FIFTH CITIZEN:

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

SIXTH CITIZEN:

Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him

good friend to the people!

ALL THREE CITIZENS:

Amen, amen.—God save thee, noble consul!

[Exeunt.]

CORIOLANUS:

Worthy voices!

[Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS.]

MENENIUS:

You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes

Endue you with the people's voice:—remains

That, in the official marks invested, you

Anon do meet the senate.

CORIOLANUS:

Is this done?

SICINIUS:

The custom of request you have discharg'd:

The people do admit you; and are summon'd

To meet anon, upon your approbation.

CORIOLANUS:

Where? at the senate-house?

SICINIUS:

There, Coriolanus.

CORIOLANUS:

May I change these garments?

SICINIUS:

You may, sir.

CORIOLANUS:

That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,

Repair to the senate-house.

MENENIUS:

I'll keep you company.—Will you along?

BRUTUS:

We stay here for the people.

SICINIUS:

Fare you well.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.]

He has it now; and by his looks methinks

'Tis warm at his heart.

BRUTUS:

With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.

Will you dismiss the people?

[Re-enter citizens.]

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,

He mocked us when he begg'd 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 us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us

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

SICINIUS:

Why, so he did, I am sure.

CITIZENS:

No, no; no man saw 'em.

THIRD CITIZEN:

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?

SICINIUS:

Why either were you ignorant to see't?

Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness

To yield your voices?

BRUTUS:

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,

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.

SICINIUS:

Thus to have said,

As you were fore-advis'd, 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;

Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,

Which easily endures not article

Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage,

You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler

And pass'd 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 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?

SICINIUS:

Have you

Ere now denied the asker, and now again,

Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow

Your su'd-for tongues?

THIRD CITIZEN:

He's not confirm'd: we may deny him yet.

SECOND CITIZEN:

And will deny him:

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 voice

Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking

As therefore kept to do so.

SICINIUS:

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

Th' apprehension of his present portance,

Which, most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion

After the inveterate hate he bears you.

BRUTUS:

Lay

A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd,—

No impediment between,—but that you must

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,

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.

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—

The noble house o' the Marcians; from whence came

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, twice being censor,

Was his great ancestor.

SICINIUS:

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.

BRUTUS:

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.

CITIZENS:

We will so; almost all

Repent in their election.

[Exeunt.]

BRUTUS:

Let them go on;

This mutiny were better put in hazard

Than stay, past doubt, for greater:

If, as his nature is, he fall in rage

With their refusal, both observe and answer

The vantage of his anger.

SICINIUS:

To the Capitol,

Come: we will be there before the stream o' the people;

And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,

Which we have goaded onward.

[Exeunt.]