תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

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 known,

The worthieft Men have done't?

Cor. What must I say?

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

My tongue to fuch a pace! Look, Sir,-my wounds-
I got them in my Country's fervice, when

Some certain of your Brethren roar'd, 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.

I would, they would forget me, like the Virtues
Which our Divines lofe by 'em.

Men. You'll mar all.

I'll leave you: pray you, fpeak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholesome 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 desert..

2 Cit. Your own defert ?

Cor. Ay, not mine own defire.

1 Cit. How! not your own defire ?

Cor. 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' Confulship? 1 Cit. The price is, to ask it kindly.

Cor.

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 fay you?

2 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.

1 Cit. But this is something odd.

2 Cit. An 'twere to give again :-but tis no matter.

Two other Citizens.

[Exeunt

Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be Conful, I have here the cuftomary Gown.

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

Cor. You should 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 eftimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and fince the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my cap than my heart, I will practife the infinuating nod, and be off to them moft counterfeitly: that is, Sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of fome popular Man, and give it bountifully to the Defirers: therefore, befeech 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 fear your knowledge with fhewing them. I will make much of your voices, and fo trouble. you no further.

Beth. The Gods give you joy, Sir, heartily!

[Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

. Cor. Moft fweet voices

Better it is to die, better to ftarve,

Than crave the hire, which first we do deferve.
Why in this woolvish Gown fhould 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 lie 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

To one that would do thus. I am half through; The one part fuffer'd, the other will I do.

Three Citizens more.

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: battels thrice fix
I've feen, and heard of: for your voices, have
Done many things, fome lefs, fome more :

voices:

Indeed, I would be Conful.

your

1 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 Tribunes Endue you with the people's voice. Remains,

That in th' official marks invefted, you

Anon do meet the Senate.

Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The Cuftom of Request you have discharg'd:

The

The people do admit you, and are fummon'd
To meet anon, upon your approbation.
at the Senate-house?

Gor. Where

Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May 1 change thefe garments ?
Sic. You may, Sir.

Cor. That I'll ftraight do: and, knowing my felf again,

Repair to th' Senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along?
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 difmils the people?

Enter Plebeians.

deferve

Sic. How now, my masters, have you chofe this man? 1 Cit. He has our voices, Sir. Bru. We pray the Gods, he loves! 2 Cit. Amen, Sir: to my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices.

may

your

3 Cit. Certainly, he flouted us down-right.

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

us.

2 Cit. Not one amongst us, fave your felf, but
fays,

He us'd us fcornfully: he should have fhew'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's Country.
Sir. Why, fo he did, I am fure.

All. No, no man saw 'em.

[ocr errors]

3 Cit. He faid, he'd wounds, which he could fhew
in private ;

And with his cap, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be Conful, fays he: aged Cuftom,
But by your voices, will not fo permit me;
Your voices therefore: when we granted that,

Here

[blocks in formation]

I have nothing further with you. Wa'n't this mockery?
Sic. Why, either, were you ignorant to fee't?
Or, feeing it, of fuch childish friendliness
To yield your voices ?

Bru. Could you not have told him,

As you were leffon'd; when he had no Power,
But was a petty fervant to the State,
He was your enemy; ftill fpake against
Your liberties, and charters that you bear
I'th' body of the weal: and now arriving
At place of potency, and fway o'th'State,
If he fhould ftill malignantly remain

Faft foe to the Plebeians, your voices might
Be curfes to your felves. You fhould have faid,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for; fo his gracious Nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Tranflate his malice tow'rds you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.

Sic. Thus to have faid,

As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his fpirit,
And try'd his inclination; from him pluckt
Either his gracious promife, which you might,
As caufe 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'en th' advantage of his choler,
And pafs'd him unelected..

Bru. Did you perceive,

He did follicit you in free contempt,

When he did need your loves? and do you think,
That his contempt fhall not be bruifing to you,
When he hath power to crush? why, had your bodies
No heart among you? or had you tongues, to cry

Againft

« הקודםהמשך »