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[Enter seven or eight 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 colored;
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 of 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 blockhead: 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 behavior:
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 honor, in giving him our own voices
with our own tongues, therefore follow me, and I direct you how you shall go
by him.
ALL
Content, content.
[Exeunt Citizens]
MENENIUS
, ,
, ,
,
O sir,| you are / not right:| have you | not
known
, 2
, x
The worth|iest men | have done it? \\
CORIOLANUS
, ,
T T T
What must | I say,| I pray sir?
,
, , ,
Plague u|pon it,| I can|not bring (tetra
with prev)
,
, , , ,
My tongue | to such | a pace.| Look sir,| my
wounds,
, ,
, ,
,
I got | them in | my count|ry's serv|ice, when
,
, , ,
,
Some cert|ain of | your breth|ren roared,| and
ran
2
, , ,
From the noise | of our / own drums. \\
MENENIUS
,
, , ,
,
O me | the gods,| you must | not speak | of
that,
,
, , ,
,
You must | desire | them to | think u|pon you.
CORIOLANUS
, ,
,
Think u|pon me?| Hang 'em, \\
, ,
, ,
, ->
I would | they would | forget | me, like | the
vir||tues
, 2
, ,
Which | our divines | lose by |'em.
MENENIUS
, ,
You'll / mar all,
, ,
, 2
, ,
I'll leave | you: pray | you speak | to 'em, I /
pray you
, ,
In whole|some man|ner.
[Exit]
CORIOLANUS
x , ,
Bid them | wash their | faces,
, ,
T T T
2 ,
And keep | their teeth | clean: so, here |
comes^a brace, ??
, ,
, , ,
You know | the cause |(sir) of | my stand|ing
here.
THIRD CITIZEN
We do sir, tell us what hath brought you to it.
CORIOLANUS
Mine own desert.
SECOND CITIZEN
Your own desert.
CORIOLANUS
Aye, but not mine own desire.
THIRD CITIZEN
How not your own desire?
CORIOLANUS
No sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.
THIRD CITIZEN
You must think if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.
CORIOLANUS
Well then I pray, your price of the consulship.
FIRST CITIZEN
The price is, to ask it kindly.
CORIOLANUS
Kindly sir, I pray let me have it: I have wounds to show you, which shall
be yours in private: Your good voice sir, what say you?
SECOND CITIZEN
You shall have it worthy sir.
CORIOLANUS
A match sir, There's in all two worthy voices begged: I have your alms,
adieu.
THIRD CITIZEN
But this is something odd.
SECOND CITIZEN
And 'twere to give again: but 'tis no matter.
[Exeunt the three Citizens. Enter two other 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.
FOURTH CITIZEN
You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.
CORIOLANUS
Your enigma.
FOURTH 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
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 further.
BOTH CITIZENS
The gods give you joy sir heartily.
[Exeunt]
CORIOLANUS
Most sweet voices:
, ,
, , ,
Better | it is | to die,| better | to starve,
,
, ,
, ,
Than crave | the hire,| which first | we do |
deserve.
,
, ,
, ,
Why in | this wool|vish tongue | should I |
stand^here,
,
, , , ,
To beg | of Hob | and Dick,| that does | appear
, , , , x
Their need|less vouch|es: cust|om calls | me to
it.
,
, ,
, x
What cust|om wills | in all | things, should | we
do it?
, . T T
T ,
,
The dust | on^antique time | would lie | unswept,
, 2 ,
, , ,
And mount|ainous er|ror be / too high|ly heaped,
, .
T T T 2
, ,
For truth | to ore-peer. Rath|er than fool | it
so,
,
, , ,
,
Let the | high of/fice and | the hon|or go
, ,
, ,
,
To one | that would | do thus.| I am / half
through,
, , ,
, 2 ,
The one | part suf/fered, the | other | will I
do.
T T
T ,
Here come more | voices. \\
, ,
, , ,
Your voi|ces? For | your voi|ces I | have fought,
,
, , ,
,
Watched for | your voi|ces: for | your voi|ces,
bear
. T T T
, Tx
T T
Of wounds, two doz|en odd:| battles thrice six
, , ,
, ,
I have | seen and | heard of:| for your | voices,
T T T
, , ,
Have done man|y things,| some less,| some more:|
, ,
, ,
,
Your voi/ces? In|deed 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.
CITIZENS
Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul.
[Exeunt]
CORIOLANUS
Worthy voices.
[Enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS]
MENENIUS
,
, , ,
You have | stood your | limi|tation:
<- , T
T . T ,
, ,
And the || tribunes endue | you with | the
peo|ple's voice,
, , 2
, ,
, ->
Remains,| that in | the offi|cial marks |
invest||ed,
, ,
, ,
3
You | anon | do meet | the sen|ate.
CORIOLANUS
3 ,
Is this done?
SICINIUS
, ,
, ,
,
The cust|om of | request | you have | discharged:
,
, , ,
, 2->
The peo|ple do | admit | you and | are
sum||moned
, ,
, , , ->
To meet | anon,| upon | your ap|proba||tion.
CORIOLANUS
,
2 , ,
Where?| At the sen|ate-house?
SICINIUS
, , ,
There, Co|rio|lanus. (tri with prev)
CORIOLANUS
, ,
,
May I | change these | garments?
SICINIUS
T T T
You may, sir.
CORIOLANUS
,
T T T ,
, , ->
That I'll | straight do: and | knowing | myself
|| again,
, 2
, , oo
Repair | to the sen|ate-house.|
MENENIUS
,
, , ,
,
I'll keep | you comp|any.| Will you | along?
BRUTUS
, ,
,
We stay | here for | the peo|ple.
SICINIUS
, ,
Fare | you well.
[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS]
, ,
, ,
,
He has | it now:| and by | his looks,| methinks,
, 2
,
'Tis warm | at his heart. \\
BRUTUS
, ,
, ,
,
With a / proud heart | he wore | his hum|ble
weeds:
, 2
, ,
Will you dis|miss the | people? \\
[Enter Citizens]
SICINIUS
,
, , , ,
How now,| my mast|ers, have | you chose | this
man?
FIRST CITIZEN
, ,
,
He has | our voi|ces, sir. \\
BRUTUS
,
, , ,
,
We pray | the gods,| he may | deserve | your
loves.
SECOND CITIZEN
, , 2
, , ,
Amen,| sir: to my | poor un|worthy | notice,
, ,
, ,
He mocked | us, when | he begged | our voi|ces.
THIRD CITIZEN
<- , , ,
, ,
Cer||tainly,| he flout|ed 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
,
, ,
,
x
He used | us scorn|fully:| he should | have
showed us
,
x
, , 2
,
His marks | of merit,| wounds re|ceived for
his | country.
SICINIUS
, ,
2 ,
Why so | he did | I am sure. \\
CITIZENS
T T T
, 2
No, no: no | man* saw | 'em.
THIRD CITIZEN
,
2 ,
He said | he had wounds,
,
, ,
Which he | could show | in priv|ate:
\\
, ,
, ,
,
And with | his hat,| thus wav/ing it | in scorn,
, 2
, ,
, ,
I would be | consul,| says he:| aged | custom,
, 2
, , ,
,
But by your | voices,| will not | so per|mit me.
, ,
, ,
,
Your voi|ces there|fore: when | we grant|ed that,
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Here was,| I thank | you for your | voices,|
thank you
2
, , , 2
, ,
Your most^sweet | voices:| now you have | left
your | voices
x ,
2 ,
, , 2
I have no | further with | you. Was | not this |
mockery?
SICINIUS
,
, ,
, x
Why eith|er were | you ig|norant | to see it?
, 2
, ,
, ,
Or see|ing it, of / such child|ish friend|liness,
, ,
To yield | your voi|ces?
BRUTUS
, , ,
->
Could | you not | have told || him,
, 2
, , ,
x
As | you were les|soned: when | he had | no
power,
, ,
, ,
,
But was | a pet|ty serv|ant to | the state,
,
, , 2 ,
,
He was | your en|emy,| ever spake | against
, ,
2 , ,
,
Your lib|erties,| and the chart|ers that | you
bear
2 ,
, ,
, , 2->
In the bo|dy of | the weal:| and now | arriv||ing
, ,
, ,
2 ,
A place | of pot|ency,| and sway | of the state,
, ,
, ,
,
If he | should still | malig|nantly | remain
, ,
2 , ,
,
Fast foe / to the ple|beii,| your voi|ces might
,
, , ,
,
Be curs|es to | yourselves.| You should | have
said,
,
, ,
, ,
That as | his worth|y deeds | did claim | no less
,
, , 2
, ,
Than what | he stood | for: so his | gracious |
nature
, ,
, ,
Would think | upon | you, for | your voi|ces,
<- ,
, , ,
, ,
And || translate | his mal|ice towards | you,
in|to love,
,
, ,
Standing | your friend|ly lord.
SICINIUS
, ,
Thus to | have said,
, ,
, , x
As you | were fore-|advised,| had touched | his
spirit,
, ,
, ,
,
And tried | his in|clina|tion: from | him plucked
,
, , ,
,
Either | his gra|cious prom|ise, which | you
might
, ,
, , ,
As cause | had called | you up,| have held | him
to;
,
, 2
, ,
,
Or else | it would have | galled his | surly |
nature,
, , ,
, ,
Which eas|ily | endures | not^art|icle,
, 2
, ,
, ,
Tying him | to aught,| so put|ting him | to rage,
,
, 2 ,
, ,
2->
You should | have tane | the advant|age of | his
chol||er,
, , ,
And passed | him un|elec|ted.
BRUTUS
, 2 ,
Did | you perceive,
, ,
, ,
,
He did | soli|cit you | in free | contempt,
,
, , ,
,
When he | did need | your loves:| and do | you
think,
, 2
, ,
, ,
That his con|tempt shall | not be | bruising | to
you,
, 2
x ,
, ,
When he hath | power to | crush? Why,/ had your |
bodies
, ,
, 2 ,
,
No heart | among | you? Or | had you tongues,| to
cry
, ,
, , o
Against | the rec|torship | of judg|ment?
SICINIUS
, ,
, ,
o
Have you,| ere now,| denied | the ask|er:
,
, , ,
, , ->
And now | again,| of him | that did | not ask,||
but mock,
, , ___
___
Bestow | your sued-|for | tongues?
THIRD CITIZEN
,
, , ,
,
He's not | confirmed,| we may | deny | him yet.
SECOND CITIZEN
, ,
And will | deny | him: \\
, , , ,
,
I'll^have | five^hun|dred voi|ces of | that
sound.
FIRST CITIZEN
, ,
, 2 ,
,
I* twice | five hund/red, and their | friends,
to | piece 'em.
BRUTUS
, , , , ,
Get you | hence inst/antly*,| and tell |
those^friends,
2 ,
x , T T T
They have chose | a consul,| that will |
from them take ??
, ,
, 2 T T
T
Their lib|erties,| make them of | no more voice
, ,
, , ,
2->
Than dogs,| that are | as of|ten beat | for
bark||ing,
, ,
,
As there|fore kept | to do | so. \\
SICINIUS
, 2 , , 2 ,
,
Let them as|semble;| 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 hum|ble
weed,
,
, ,
, ,
How in | his suit | he scorned | you: but | your
loves,
,
, , 2
, ,
Thinking | upon | his serv|ices, took | from you
, , ,
2 , ,
The ap|prehen|sion of his | present | portance,
, , ,
, , ,
Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
????
, 3 3 , ,
,
After the in|veterate | hate he | bears you.
BRUTUS
, , ,
,
Lay a | fault on | us, your | tribunes,
(tetra with prev)
,
, , ,
2 ,
That we | labored |(no im|pediment | between)
, ,
, 2 ,
,
But that | you must | cast your e|lection | on
him.
SICINIUS
,
, , 2 ,
,
Say you | chose him,| more after | our
com|mandment,
2 ,
, , , ,
,
Than as guid|ed by | your own | true
af|fections,| and that
, ,
, , 2
, ,
Your minds | preoc|cupied | with what you |
rather | must do, (hex with prev)
, ,
, ,
,
Than what | you should,| made you | against | the
grain
, ,
, ,
,
To voice | him cons|ul. lay | the fault | on us.
BRUTUS
T T
. T ,
, 2 ,
Aye, spare us not:| say, we | read* lec|tures to
you,
, , 2
, ,
,
How young|ly he be|gan to | serve his | country,
,
, , ,
x
How long | contin|ued, and | what stock | he
springs of,
x
, , ,
,
The noble | house of | the Mar|cians: from /
whence came
, ,
, ,
,
That Anc|us Mar|tius, Num|a's daught|er's son:
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Who^aft|er great | Hostil|ius here | was king,
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Of the / same house | Publius | and Quint|us
were,
2 ,
, ,
, 2 ,
That our best | water,| brought by | conduits |
hither,
, ,
, ,
,
And nob|ly named,| so twice | being | censor,
2 ,
, ,
Was his great | ancest/or.
SICINIUS
, ,
One^|thus de|scended,
, ,
, ,
,
That hath | beside | well in | his pers|on
wrought,
, ,
, ,
,
To be / set high | in place,| we did | commend
,
, ,
, ,
To your | remem|brances:| but you | have found,
,
, ,
, ,
Scaling | his pres|ent bear|ing with | his past,
, ,
, , 2 ,
That he's | your fix|ed en|emy;| and revoke
,
, ,
Your sud|den ap|proba|tion.
BRUTUS
2 , x
Say^you nere | had done it,
,
, ,
, ,
(Harp on | that still)| but by | our put|ting on:
, , ,
2 , ,
And pres|ently,| when you have | drawn your |
number,
, 2 , ,
Repair | to the Cap|itol. \\
ALL
We will so: almost all repent in their election.
[Exeunt Citizens]
BRUTUS
,
,
Let them | go on: \\
, ,
x , ,
This mut|iny | were better | put in | hazard,
,
, ,
Than stay | past^doubt,| for great|er: \\
,
, , , ,
If, as | his na|ture is,| he fall | in rage
,
, ,
, ,
2->
With their | refus|al, both | observe | and
ans||wer
, ,
, 3
The vant|age of | his ang|er.
SICINIUS
3
, 2 ,
To the Cap|itol, come:
x ,
, , 2
,
We will be | there be|fore the | stream of the |
people:
, , ,
, ,
And this | shall seem,| as part|ly 'tis,|
their^own,
, , ,
Which we | have goad|ed on|ward. \\
[Exeunt]