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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 bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you I |
may be consul. |
FIFTH CITIZEN. We hope to find you our friend; and 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 so trouble you no farther. |
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 suffered, the other will I do. |
Re-enter three citizens more |
Here come moe 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. |
SIXTH CITIZEN. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest |
man's voice. |
SEVENTH CITIZEN. Therefore 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! |
Exeunt citizens |
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 th' 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 th' 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's 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 mock'd 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 receiv'd 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, |
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 |
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