Better it is to die, better to starve,

Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish gown 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 over-peer.-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.

Enter Three other Citizens.

Here come more 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.

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

6 Cit. 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!

Cor.

[Exeunt Citizens. Worthy voices!

Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS, and SICINIUS.

Men. 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.

Cor.

Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd:
The people do admit you; and are summon'd
To meet anon, upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the senate-house?
Sic.

There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I then change these garments?

Sic.

You may, sir. Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself

again,

Repair to the senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company.-Will
Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic.

you along?

Fare you well.

[Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN.

With a proud heart he wore

He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, "Tis warm at his heart.

Bru.

His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people?

Re-enter Citizens.

Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose this

man?

1 Cit. He has our voices, sir.

Bru. We pray the gods, he may deserve your

loves.

2 Cit. Amen, sir: To my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices.

3 Cit.

He flouted us down-right.

Certainly,

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

mock us.

2 Cit. 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 his country, Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.

Cit.

No; no man saw 'em. [Several speak.

3 Cit. 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,
Herewas,- Ithank 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?
Sic. Why, either, you were ignorant to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness.

To yield your voices?

Bru.
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.

Sic
Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd his inclination; from him pluck'd
Either his gracious promise, which you might,

6

ignorant to see't?] Were you ignorant to see it, is, did you want knowledge to discern it?

7 Would think upon you] Would retain a grateful remem-brance of you, &c.

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.

Bru.

He did solicit

you

Did you perceive,

8 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?

Sic. Have you, Ere now, deny'd the asker? and, now again, On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow Your su❜d-for tongues?

3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 2 Cit. And will deny him:

I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. 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."

Let them assemble;

Sic.
And, on a safer judgment, all revoke

Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride,"
And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not

8 free contempt,] That is, with contempt open and unrestrained.

-9 --

objection.

Enforce his pride,] Object his pride, and enforce the

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
The apprehension of his present portance,1
Which gibingly, ungravely he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.

Bru.

Lay

A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd (No impediment between) but that you must Cast your election on him.

Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided By your own true affections: and that, your minds Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do

Than what you should, made you against the grain To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us.

Bru. 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, being censor twice,
Was his great ancestor.

Sic.
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,2
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke

1

L

his present portance,] i. e. carriage.

Scaling his present bearing with his past,] That is, weighing his past and present behaviour.