1 Cit. We do, Sir; tell us what hath brought you

to't. Cor. Mine own desert. 2 Cit. Your own defert ? Cor. Ay, not mine own desire. i Cit. How! not your own desire ?

Cor. No, Sir. 'Twas never my desire 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' Consulship? i Cit. The price is, tó ask it kindly.

Cor. Kindly, Sir? I pray, let me ha't. I have wounds to shew you, which shall be yours in private. Your good voice, Sir. What say you i ?

Both Cit. You shall ha't, worthy Sir.

Cor. A match, Sir. There's in all two worthy voices begg’d. I have your alms, adieu.

i Cit. But this is something odd.
2 Cit. An 'twere to give again.-But 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt. Two other Citizens. Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be Consul. I have here the customary Gown.

i Cit. You have deserved nobly of your Country, and you have not deserved nobly.

Cor. Your ænigma.

i Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends. You have not, indeed, loved the common People.

Cor. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love. I will, Sir, fiatter 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 cap than my heart, I will practice the infinuating 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.

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

i Cit. You have received many wounds for your Country.

Cor.'' I will not seal your knowledge with Thewing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. Both. The Gods give you joy, Sir, heartily!

(Exeunt. Cor. Most sweet voices. Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave che 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 Voucher ? 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 heape, For truth to o'er-peer.-Rather than fool it so, Let the high Office and the Honour go To one that would do thus.--I am half througl ; The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.

1

9 I will not fal your know- and such others as make their aðledge) I will not strengthen or pearance here, their urrecrfjary compleat your knowledge. The votes. I rather think we thould feal is that which gives authen- read, ticity to a writing.

Their needless vouches.
Wby-lbould I pand bere, But voucher may ferve, as it
To beg of Hob and Dick, that may perhaps fignify either the

act or the agent. Their needless Voucher? ] --this wooluill Gown] SigniWhy Atand I hear in this ragged fies this rough birsute gown. apparel to beg of Hob and Dick,

Three

do appear,

Three Citizens wore.

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 and odd ; battles thrice fix
I've seen, and heard of; for your voices, have
Done many things, some less, some more ; your

voices.
Indeed, I would be Consul.

1 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest 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 save thee, noble Consul.

[Exeunt. Cor. Worthy voices !

Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.
Men. You've stood your limitation, and the Tria

bunes
Endue you with the people's voice. Remains,
That in th' 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 change these garments ?
Sic. You may, Sir.
Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing my self

again,
Repair to th' Senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along?

Bru.

Bru. We stay here for the people.
Sic. Fare you well. [Exeunt Coriol. and Men.

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 dismiss the people ?

Enter Plebeians. Sic. How now, my masters, have you chose this

man? i Cit. He has our voices, Sir. Eru. We pray the Gods, he may deserve your loves!

2 Cit. Amen, Sir. To my poor unworchy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices. 3

Cit. Certainly he flouted us down-right. i Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock

us.

2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says, Ile us'd us scornfully. He should have shew'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's Country.

Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.
All. No, no man saw 'em.
3 Cit. He said, he'd wounds, which he could shew

in private;
And with his cap, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be Conful, 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

2

- aged Culom,] This consular government; for Coricwas a strange inattention. The laxus was banished the eighteenth Rimans at this time had but late- year after the expulsion of the ly changed the regal for the kings.

WARBURTON.

Your most sweet voices-now you have left your voices,
I bave nothing further with you. Wa’n't this mockery?

Sic. Why, either, were you ’ ignorant to fee'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; still 1pake against
Your liberties, and charters chat you bear
I'th'body of the weal; and now arriving
At place of potency, and (way o'th' State,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the Plebeians, 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
Transate his malice tow'rds you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.

Sic. Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his fpirit,
And try'd his inclination ; from him pluckt
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to ;
Or else it would have gall’d his furly nature ;
Which easily endures not article
Tying him to aught ; fo putting him to rage,
You should have ta'n th' advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru. Did you perceive,

3

ignorant 10 fee'!?] The the fame meaning with impolent, Oxford Editor alters ignorant to I do not know. It has no such impolent, not knowing that ig- meaning in this place. Were norart at that time signified im, o. you ignorant to see it, is, did tent. WARBURTON

you want knowledge to discern That ignorant at any time has, it. otherwise than consequentially, VOL. VI, NA

He