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Pray you speak to 'em； I pray you； In wholesome manner。 Exit
Re…enter three of the citizens
CORIOLANUS。 Bid them wash their faces And keep their teeth
clean。 So； here comes a brace。 You know the cause； sir； of my standing
here。 THIRD CITIZEN。 We do； sir； tell us what hath brought you to't。
CORIOLANUS。 Mine own desert。 SECOND CITIZEN。 Your own desert？
CORIOLANUS。 Ay； 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 o' th' consulship？ FIRST CITIZEN。 The price is to ask it
kindly。 CORIOLANUS。 Kindly； sir； I pray let me ha't。 I have wounds to
show you； which shall be yours in private。 Your good voice； sir； what say
you？ SECOND CITIZEN。 You shall ha' it； worthy sir。 CORIOLANUS。 A
match； sir。 There's in all two worthy voices begg'd。 I have your alms。
Adieu。 THIRD CITIZEN。 But this is something odd。 SECOND CITIZEN。
An 'twere to give again… but 'tis no matter。 Exeunt the three citizens
Re…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
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CORIOLANUS
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 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。 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。
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CORIOLANUS
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 I' th' body of the weal； and now；
arriving A place of potency and sway o' th' state； If he sh