Cor. Well, I must do't: Away, my disposition, and possess me Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd, Which quired with my drum, into a pipe Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves Tent' in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees, Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his That hath receiv'd an alms!-I will not do't: Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth, And, by my body's action, teach my mind A most inherent baseness. Vol. At thy choice then: To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour, Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list. Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me; But owe thy pride thyself. Cor. Pray, be content; Mother, I am going to the market-place; Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going: Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; Or never trust to what my tongue can do I'the way of flattery, further. Vol. Do your will. [Exil. Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm yourself To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd Cor. The word is, mildly :-Pray you, let us go; Men. Ay, but mildly. Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. The Forum. Enter Sicinius and Brutus. Edi. I have. Sic. Assemble presently the people hither: And when they hear me say, It shall be so l'the right and strength o'the commons, be it either For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them, Of what we chance to sentence. Very well. Go about it.[Exit Edile. Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd Ever to conquer, and to have his worth Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot Be rein'd again to temperance; therr he speaks What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks With us to break his neck. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Senators, and Patricians. Sic. Well, here he comes. Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice Men. A noble wish. Amen, amen I do demand, If you submit you to the people's voices, Allow their officers, and are content To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be prov'd upon you? Cor. I am content. Men. Lo, citizens, he says, he is content: The warlike service he has done, consider; Think on the wounds his body bears, which show Like graves i'the holy church-yard. Cor. Scars to move laughter only. Men. Scratches with briars. Consider further, That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a soldier: Do not take His rougher accents for malicious sounds, But, as I say, such as become a soldier, Rather than envy you. Com. Well, well, no more. Cor. What is the matter, (4) Will bear being called a knave. (5) Injure Sic. Answer to us. Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so. Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd, Sie. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to As enemy to the people, and his country: take Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, From off the rock Tarpeian, never more To enter our Rome gates: I'the people's name, it shall be so. It shall be so. It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd, Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends; Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing. Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show from Rome, Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country's good, with a respect more tender, More holy, and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase, And treasure of my loins; then if I would Speak that Sic. We know your drift: Speak what? It shall be so. 1 Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so. Cor. You common cry' of curs! whose breath I hate As reeks o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize [Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, Menenius, Senators and Patricians. Edi. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! The People shout, and throw up their caps. Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite ; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city. Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates, SCENE I.-The same. Before a gate of the city. Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia Menenius, Cominius, and several young P tricians. Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:the beast10 With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother, craves A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me Vir. O heavens! O heavens! Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,→ Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, Cor. What, what, what. I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. Nay, mother, Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say, If you had been the wife of Hercules, Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius, Droop not; adieu:-Farewell, my wife! my mothe I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius, (7) Pack. (8) Vapour. (9) Subdued, (10) The government of the people. Thy tears are salter than a younger man's, As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot well, Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen,) your To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, son Will, or exceed the common, or be caught With cautelous? baits and practice. Vol. My first son, Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee a while: Determine on some course, More than a wild exposture to each chance That starts i'the way before thee. Cor. O the gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us, And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send O'er the vast world, to seek a single man; And lose advantage, which doth ever cool I'the absence of the needer. Cor. Fare ye well:— Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one That's yet unbruis'd bring me but out at gate.Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and My friends of noble touch, when I am forth, Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come. While I remain above the ground, you shall Hear from me still; and never of me aught But what is like me formerly. Men. 5 That's worthily As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.If I could shake off but one seven years From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'd with thee every foot. Cor. Come. Give me thy hand: [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A street near the gate. no further. Than thou hast spoken words? And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what;-Yet I would the gods had nothing else to do, Take my prayers with you. [Exeunt Tribunes. But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them But once a day, it would unclog my heart Of what lies heavy to't. Men. You have told them home. And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me? Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go : Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. Men. Fie, fie, fie! [Exeunt. SCENE III-A highway between Rome and Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting. Rom. I know you well, and you know me; your name, I think, is Adrian. Vol. It is so, sir; truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against them: Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor? No. Rom. The same, sir. Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour' is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the (6) Mean cunning, (7) Countenance, Volscian state, to find you out there: You have | Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love well saved me a day's journey. Unseparable, shall within this hour, Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insur-On a dissension of a doit,2 break out rection: the people against the senators, patricians, To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes, and nobles. Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike prepara-To take the one the other, by some chance, tion, and hope to come upon them in the heat of Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear their division. friends, Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small And interjoin their issues. So with me :thing would make it flame again. For the nobles My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy This enemy town.-I'll enter if he slay me, Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take He does fair justice; if he give me way, all power from the people, and to pluck from them I'll do his country service. their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can [Exil. tell you, and is almost mature for the violent break- SCENE V.-The same. A hall in Aufidius' ing out. house. Music within. Enter a Servant. Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here? I think our fellows are asleep. [Exit. Enter another Servant. 2 Serv. Where's Cotus? my master calls for him. [Exit. Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's Cotus? wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country. Enter Coriolanus. Cor. A goodly house: the feast smells well: but I Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, Appear not like a guest. thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. door. Re-enter the first Servant. 1 Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you are you? Here's no place for you: Pray, go to the most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? Vol. A most royal one: the centurions, and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning. 1 Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company. Vol. You take my part from me, sir: I have the most cause to be glad of yours. Rom. Well, let us go together. [Exeunt. Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, In being Coriolanus.' Re-enter second Servant. 2 Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter 2 Serv. Away? Get you away. 2 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon. Enter a third Servant. The first meets him. 3 Serv. What fellow's this? 1 Serv. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o'the house: Pr'ythee, call my master to him. 3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house. Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. 3 Serv. What are you? Cor. A gentleman. 3 Serv. A marvellous poor one. Cor. True, so I am. 3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid: come. Cor. Follow your function, go! [Pushes him away. 3 Serv. Where dwellest thou? 3 Serv. Where's that? (4) Fellows, (5) Feed. [Exit. Enter Aufidius and the second Servant. Auf. Where is this fellow? 2 Serv. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within. Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldest thou? Why speak'st not? Speak, man: What's thy name? What is thy name? Auf. I know thee not:-Thy name? Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done To thee particularly, and to all the Volces, Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may I It be to do thee service. Auf. A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that Like a bold flood o'erbeat. O, come, go in, Cor. You bless me, gods! Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have The leading of thine own revenges, take Which thou should'st bear me: only that name re- The one half of my commission; and set down, mains; The cruelty and envy of the people, Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest; And make my misery serve thy turn; so use it, Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes Memorial. (2) Resentment, (3) Injuries. As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st Thy country's strength and weakness,-thine own ways: Whether to knock against the gates of Rome; Or rudely visit them in parts remote, To fright them, ere destroy. But come in: Let me commend thee first to those, that shall Say, yea, to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! And more a friend than e'er an enemy; Yes, Marcius, that was much. Your hand! Most welcome! [Exeunt Cor. and Auf. 1 Serv. [Advancing.] Here's a strange alteration! 2 Serv. By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me, his clothes made a false report of him. 1 Serv. What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top. 2 Serv. Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him: He had, sir, a kind of face, methought,-I cannot tell how to term it. 1 Serv. He had so: looking as it were,'Would I were hanged, but I thought there was more in him than I could think. 2 Serv. So did I, I'll be sworn: He is simply the rarest man i'the world. 1 Serv. I think, he is: but a greater soldier than he, you wot one. 2 Serv. Who? my master? (5) Embrace. (6) Arm. (7) Full. (9) Know, |