Coriolanus

BRUTUS. You see how he intends to use the people.
SICINIUS. May they perceive's intent! He will require them
As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give.
BRUTUS. Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here. On th' market-place
I know they do attend us. Exeunt

SCENE III. Rome. The Forum

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 call'd so of many; not that our
heads
are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that
our
wits are so diversely colour'd; 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 o' th' 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 wedg'd up in a block-head; 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 resolv'd 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.

Enter CORIOLANUS, in a gown of humility, with MENENIUS

Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his
behaviour.
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
honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues;
therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by
him.
ALL. Content, content. Exeunt citizens
MENENIUS. O sir, you are not right; have you not known
The worthiest men have done't?
CORIOLANUS. What must I say?
'I pray, sir'– Plague upon't! I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace. 'Look, sir, my wounds
I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran
From th' noise of our own drums.'
MENENIUS. O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that. You must desire them
To think upon you.
CORIOLANUS. Think upon me? Hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by 'em.
MENENIUS. You'll mar all.
I'll leave you. 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.