3 Cit. To lofe itself in a fog; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for confcience fake, to help to get thee a wife.

2. Cit. You are never without your tricks. you may, you may--

3 Git. Are you all refolved to give your voices? but that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I fay, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.

Enter CORIOLANUS in a Gown, with 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 ftands, by one's, by two's, and by three's. He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein every one of us has a single họnour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you fhall go by him.

All. Content, content.

Men. Oh, Sir, you are not right; have you not The worthieft men have done't?

Cor. What must I say?

I pray, Sir,---plague upon't, I cannot bring

[known

My tongue to fuch a pace! look, Sir,---my wounds-

I

got them in my country's fervice, when

Some certain of our brethren roared, and ran
From noife of our own drums.

Men. Oh me, the gods!

You must not speak of that; you must defire them

To think upon you.

Cor. Think upon me? hang 'em.

(21) I would they would forget me, like the virtues

(11) I would they would forget me like the virtues

Which our Divines lofe by them] i. c. I wish they

Which our divines lofe by 'em.

Men. You'll mar all.

I'll leave you: pray you, fpeak to 'em, I pray you, In wholefome manner.

·Citizens approach.

Cor. Bid them wash their faces,

[Exit.

And keep their teeth clean.--So, here comes a brace. You know the caufe, Sirs, of my standing here. 1 Cit. We do, Sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

Cor. Mine own defert.

2 Cit. Your own defert?

Cor. Ay, not mine own defire.

1 Cit. How! not your own defire ?

Cer. No, Sir, 'twas never my defire 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' th' Con2 Cit. The price is, to afk it kindly. [fulfhip? Cor. Kindly, Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to fhew you, which fhall be yours in private; your good voice, Sir; what say you?

2 Cit. You fhall ha't, worthy Sir.

Cor. A match, Sir; there's in all two worthy voices begged: I have your alms, and adieu. 1-Cit. But this is fomething odd.

ter.

2 Cit. An 'twere to give again:-but 'tis no mat[Exeunt.

Two other Citizens.

Cor. Pray you now, if it may ftand with the tune

would forget me, as they do thofe virtuous precepts which the divines preach up to them; and lofe by them, as it were, by their neglecting the practice.

of your voices that I may be Conful, I have here the customary gown.

1 Cit. You have deferved nobly of your country, and you have not deferved nobly.

Cor. Your ænigma.

1 Cit. You have been a fcourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends; you have not, indeed, loved the common people.

Gor. You fhould account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love; I will, Sir, flatter my fworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and fince the wifdom of their choice is rather to have my cap than my heart, I will practise the infinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, Sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of fome popular man, and give it bountifully to the defirers: therefore, beseech you, I may be Conful.

2 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily..

1 Cit. You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor. I will not feal your knowledge with fhewing them. I will make much of your voices, and fo trouble you no further.

Both. The gods give you joy, Sir, heartily !

Cor. Moft fweet voices

Better it is to die, better to ftarve,

[Exeunt.

Than crave the hire which firft we do deferve.
Why in this woolvifh gown should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needlefs voucher? cuftom calls me to't---
What custom wills in all things, fhould we do't,
The duft on antique time would ly unfwept,

And mountainous error be too highly heapt, For truth to o'er-peer.---Rather than fool it fo, Let the high office and the honour go

The one that would do thus.--I am half through; The one part fuffered, the other will I do.

Three Citizens more.

Here comes more voices.

Your voices---for your voices I have fought, Watched for your voices: for your voices, bear Of wounds two dozen and odd: battles thrice fix I've seen, and heard of: for your voices, have, Done many things, fome lefs, fome more :---your Indeed, I would be conful.

[voices I Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honeft man's voice.

2 Cit. Therefore let him be conful: the gods give him joy, and make him a good friend to the people. All. Amen, Amen. God fave thee, noble conful. [Exeunt.

Cor. Worthy voices !

Enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS.

Men. You've food your limitation: and the tri

7

bunes Endue you with the people's voice. Remains, That in the official marks invefted, you

Anon do meet the Senate.

Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have difcharged: The people do admit you, and are fummoned To meet anon, upon your approbation. Cor. Where? at the Senate-house?

-Sic. There, Coriolanus...

Gsr. May I change thefe garments?
Sic. You may, Sir

Cor. That I'll ftraight do: and knowing myself Repair to the Senate-house. [again, Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along? Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic. Fare you well. [Exeunt Coriol. and Mǝn. He has it now, and by his looks, methinks, 'Tis warm at's heart.

Bru. With a proud heart he wore

His humble weeds. Will you difmifs the people? Enter Plebeians.

Sic. How now, my masters, have you chofe this

man?

1 Cit. He has our voices, Sir.

f [loves! Bru. We pray the gods he may deerve your 2 Cit. Amen, Sir: to my poor unworthy notice, He mocked us when he begged our voices.

3 Cit. Certainly he flouted us down-right.

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

2 Git. Not one amongst us, fave yourself, but fays He used us fcornfully: he should have fhewed us His marks of merit, wounds received for's country. Sic. Why, fo he did, I am sure.

All. No, no man faw 'em.

[in private; 3 Cit. He faid he'd wounds, which he could fhew And with his cap, thus waving it in fcorn, I would be conful, fays he: aged custom, But by your voices, will not fo 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 nothing further with you. Wa'n't this mockery?

Sic. Why, either were you ignorant to fee't?