The Complete Tragedies of William Shakespeare - All 12 Books in One Edition. William Shakespeare

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,