The Tragedy of Coriolanus (role extract)

The Tragedy of Coriolanus

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Third Citizen complete text

Third Citizen. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a	2.3.3
power that we have no power to do; for if he show us	2.3.4
his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our	2.3.5
tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if	2.3.6
he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him	2.3.7
our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is	2.3.8
monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful,	2.3.9
were to make a monster of the multitude: of the	2.3.10
which we being members, should bring ourselves to be	2.3.11
monstrous members.	2.3.12
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Third Citizen. We have been called so of many; not that our heads	2.3.16
are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald,	2.3.17
but that our wits are so diversely coloured: and	2.3.18
truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of	2.3.19
one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south,	2.3.20
and their consent of one direct way should be at	2.3.21
once to all the points o' the compass.	2.3.22
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Third Citizen. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's	2.3.25
will;'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head, but	2.3.26
if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.	2.3.27
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Third Citizen. To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts	2.3.29
melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return	2.3.30
for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.	2.3.31
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Third Citizen. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But	2.3.33
that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I	2.3.34
say, if he would incline to the people, there was	2.3.35
never a worthier man.	2.3.36
Enter CORIOLANUS in a gown of humility, with MENENIUS
Here he comes, and in the gown of humility: mark his	2.3.37
behavior. We are not to stay all together, but to	2.3.38
come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and	2.3.39
by threes. He's to make his requests by	2.3.40
particulars; wherein every one of us has a single	2.3.41
honour, in giving him our own voices with our own	2.3.42
tongues: therefore follow me, and I direct you how	2.3.43
you shall go by him.	2.3.44
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Third Citizen. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.	2.3.67
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Third Citizen. How not your own desire?	2.3.71
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Third Citizen. You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to	2.3.74
gain by you.	2.3.75
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Third Citizen. But this is something odd.	2.3.84
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Third Citizen. Certainly	2.3.164
He flouted us downright.	2.3.165
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Third Citizen. He said he had wounds, which he could show	2.3.172
in private;	2.3.173
And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,	2.3.174
'I would be consul,' says he: 'aged custom,	2.3.175
But by your voices, will not so permit me;	2.3.176
Your voices therefore.' When we granted that,	2.3.177
Here was 'I thank you for your voices: thank you:	2.3.178
Your most sweet voices: now you have left	2.3.179
your voices,	2.3.180
I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery?	2.3.181
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Third Citizen. He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet.	2.3.221
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Third Citizen. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very	4.6.179
many of us: that we did, we did for the best; and	4.6.180
though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet	4.6.181
it was against our will.	4.6.182
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