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diff --git a/2259-0.txt b/2259-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40c90a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/2259-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5075 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2259 *** + + +Executive Director's Notes: + +In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all +the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have +been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they +are presented herein: + + Barnardo. Who's there? + Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold +your selfe + + Bar. Long liue the King + + * * * * * + +As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words +or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the +original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling +to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions +that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, +above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming +Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . . + +The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a +time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in +place of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, +as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend +more on a wider selection of characters than they had to. + +You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I +have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an +extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a +very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read an +assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University +in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the +purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available +. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes, +that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a +variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous +for signing his name with several different spellings. + +So, please take this into account when reading the comments below +made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors +that are "not" errors. . . . + +So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors, +here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play. + +Michael S. Hart +Project Gutenberg +Executive Director + + * * * * * + +Scanner's Notes: + +What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of +Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in +ASCII to the printed text. + +The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the +conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, +punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed +text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put +together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of +the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified +spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded +abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within +brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you +can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer +Shakespeare. + +Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are +textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So +there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) +between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the +printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of +copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type +and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown +away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the +way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 +different First Folio editions' best pages. + +David Reed + +===================================================================== + + + + +The Tragedie of Coriolanus + + +Actus Primus. Scoena Prima. + + +Enter a Company of Mutinous Citizens, with Staues, Clubs, and +other +weapons. + + 1. Citizen. Before we proceed any further, heare me speake + + All. Speake, speake + + 1.Cit. You are all resolu'd rather to dy then +to famish? + All. Resolu'd, resolu'd + + 1.Cit. First you know, Caius Martius is chiefe enemy +to the people + + All. We know't, we know't + + 1.Cit. Let vs kill him, and wee'l haue Corne at our own +price. Is't a Verdict? + All. No more talking on't; Let it be done, away, away + 2.Cit. One word, good Citizens + + 1.Cit. We are accounted poore Citizens, the Patricians +good: what Authority surfets one, would releeue +vs. If they would yeelde vs but the superfluitie while it +were wholsome, wee might guesse they releeued vs humanely: +But they thinke we are too deere, the leannesse +that afflicts vs, the obiect of our misery, is as an inuentory +to particularize their abundance, our sufferance is a +gaine to them. Let vs reuenge this with our Pikes, ere +we become Rakes. For the Gods know, I speake this in +hunger for Bread, not in thirst for Reuenge + + 2.Cit. Would you proceede especially against Caius +Martius + + All. Against him first: He's a very dog to the Commonalty + + 2.Cit. Consider you what Seruices he ha's done for his +Country? + 1.Cit. Very well, and could bee content to giue him +good report for't, but that hee payes himselfe with beeing +proud + + All. Nay, but speak not maliciously + + 1.Cit. I say vnto you, what he hath done Famouslie, +he did it to that end: though soft conscienc'd men can be +content to say it was for his Countrey, he did it to please +his Mother, and to be partly proud, which he is, euen to +the altitude of his vertue + + 2.Cit. What he cannot helpe in his Nature, you account +a Vice in him: You must in no way say he is couetous + + 1.Cit. If I must not, I neede not be barren of Accusations +he hath faults (with surplus) to tyre in repetition. + +Showts within. + +What showts are these? The other side a'th City is risen: +why stay we prating heere? To th' Capitoll + + All. Come, come + + 1 Cit. Soft, who comes heere? +Enter Menenius Agrippa. + + 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath alwayes +lou'd the people + + 1 Cit. He's one honest enough, wold al the rest wer so + + Men. What work's my Countrimen in hand? +Where go you with Bats and Clubs? The matter +Speake I pray you + + 2 Cit. Our busines is not vnknowne to th' Senat, they +haue had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, w +now wee'l shew em in deeds: they say poore Suters haue +strong breaths, they shal know we haue strong arms too + + Menen. Why Masters, my good Friends, mine honest +Neighbours, will you vndo your selues? + 2 Cit. We cannot Sir, we are vndone already + + Men. I tell you Friends, most charitable care +Haue the Patricians of you for your wants. +Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well +Strike at the Heauen with your staues, as lift them +Against the Roman State, whose course will on +The way it takes: cracking ten thousand Curbes +Of more strong linke assunder, then can euer +Appeare in your impediment. For the Dearth, +The Gods, not the Patricians make it, and +Your knees to them (not armes) must helpe. Alacke, +You are transported by Calamity +Thether, where more attends you, and you slander +The Helmes o'th State; who care for you like Fathers, +When you curse them, as Enemies + + 2 Cit. Care for vs? True indeed, they nere car'd for vs +yet. Suffer vs to famish, and their Store-houses cramm'd +with Graine: Make Edicts for Vsurie, to support Vsurers; +repeale daily any wholsome Act established against +the rich, and prouide more piercing Statutes daily, to +chaine vp and restraine the poore. If the Warres eate vs +not vppe, they will; and there's all the loue they beare +vs + + Menen. Either you must +Confesse your selues wondrous Malicious, +Or be accus'd of Folly. I shall tell you +A pretty Tale, it may be you haue heard it, +But since it serues my purpose, I will venture +To scale't a little more + + 2 Citizen. Well, +Ile heare it Sir: yet you must not thinke +To fobbe off our disgrace with a tale: +But and't please you deliuer + + Men. There was a time, when all the bodies members +Rebell'd against the Belly; thus accus'd it: +That onely like a Gulfe it did remaine +I'th midd'st a th' body, idle and vnactiue, +Still cubbording the Viand, neuer bearing +Like labour with the rest, where th' other Instruments +Did see, and heare, deuise, instruct, walke, feele, +And mutually participate, did minister +Vnto the appetite; and affection common +Of the whole body, the Belly answer'd + + 2.Cit. Well sir, what answer made the Belly + + Men. Sir, I shall tell you with a kinde of Smile, +Which ne're came from the Lungs, but euen thus: +For looke you I may make the belly Smile, +As well as speake, it taintingly replyed +To'th' discontented Members, the mutinous parts +That enuied his receite: euen so most fitly, +As you maligne our Senators, for that +They are not such as you + + 2.Cit. Your Bellies answer: What +The Kingly crown'd head, the vigilant eye, +The Counsailor Heart, the Arme our Souldier, +Our Steed the Legge, the Tongue our Trumpeter, +With other Muniments and petty helpes +In this our Fabricke, if that they- + Men. What then? Fore me, this Fellow speakes. +What then? What then? + 2.Cit. Should by the Cormorant belly be restrain'd, +Who is the sinke a th' body + + Men. Well, what then? + 2.Cit. The former Agents, if they did complaine, +What could the Belly answer? + Men. I will tell you, +If you'l bestow a small (of what you haue little) +Patience awhile; you'st heare the Bellies answer + + 2.Cit. Y'are long about it + + Men. Note me this good Friend; +Your most graue Belly was deliberate, +Not rash like his Accusers, and thus answered. +True is it my Incorporate Friends (quoth he) +That I receiue the generall Food at first +Which you do liue vpon: and fit it is, +Because I am the Store-house, and the Shop +Of the whole Body. But, if you do remember, +I send it through the Riuers of your blood +Euen to the Court, the Heart, to th' seate o'th' Braine, +And through the Crankes and Offices of man, +The strongest Nerues, and small inferiour Veines +From me receiue that naturall competencie +Whereby they liue. And though that all at once +(You my good Friends, this sayes the Belly) marke me + + 2.Cit. I sir, well, well + + Men. Though all at once, cannot +See what I do deliuer out to each, +Yet I can make my Awdit vp, that all +From me do backe receiue the Flowre of all, +And leaue me but the Bran. What say you too't? + 2.Cit. It was an answer, how apply you this? + Men. The Senators of Rome, are this good Belly, +And you the mutinous Members: For examine +Their Counsailes, and their Cares; disgest things rightly, +Touching the Weale a'th Common, you shall finde +No publique benefit which you receiue +But it proceeds, or comes from them to you, +And no way from your selues. What do you thinke? +You, the great Toe of this Assembly? + 2.Cit. I the great Toe? Why the great Toe? + Men. For that being one o'th lowest, basest, poorest +Of this most wise Rebellion, thou goest formost: +Thou Rascall, that art worst in blood to run, +Lead'st first to win some vantage. +But make you ready your stiffe bats and clubs, +Rome, and her Rats, are at the point of battell, +The one side must haue baile. +Enter Caius Martius. + +Hayle, Noble Martius + + Mar. Thanks. What's the matter you dissentious rogues +That rubbing the poore Itch of your Opinion, +Make your selues Scabs + + 2.Cit. We haue euer your good word + + Mar. He that will giue good words to thee, wil flatter +Beneath abhorring. What would you haue, you Curres, +That like nor Peace, nor Warre? The one affrights you, +The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, +Where he should finde you Lyons, findes you Hares: +Where Foxes, Geese you are: No surer, no, +Then is the coale of fire vpon the Ice, +Or Hailstone in the Sun. Your Vertue is, +To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him, +And curse that Iustice did it. Who deserues Greatnes, +Deserues your Hate: and your Affections are +A sickmans Appetite; who desires most that +Which would encrease his euill. He that depends +Vpon your fauours, swimmes with finnes of Leade, +And hewes downe Oakes, with rushes. Hang ye: trust ye? +With euery Minute you do change a Minde, +And call him Noble, that was now your Hate: +Him vilde, that was your Garland. What's the matter, +That in these seuerall places of the Citie, +You cry against the Noble Senate, who +(Vnder the Gods) keepe you in awe, which else +Would feede on one another? What's their seeking? + Men. For Corne at their owne rates, wherof they say +The Citie is well stor'd + + Mar. Hang 'em: They say? +They'l sit by th' fire, and presume to know +What's done i'th Capitoll: Who's like to rise, +Who thriues, & who declines: Side factions, & giue out +Coniecturall Marriages, making parties strong, +And feebling such as stand not in their liking, +Below their cobled Shooes. They say ther's grain enough? +Would the Nobility lay aside their ruth, +And let me vse my Sword, I'de make a Quarrie +With thousands of these quarter'd slaues, as high +As I could picke my Lance + + Menen. Nay these are almost thoroughly perswaded: +For though abundantly they lacke discretion +Yet are they passing Cowardly. But I beseech you, +What sayes the other Troope? + Mar. They are dissolu'd: Hang em; +They said they were an hungry, sigh'd forth Prouerbes +That Hunger-broke stone wals: that dogges must eate +That meate was made for mouths. That the gods sent not +Corne for the Richmen onely: With these shreds +They vented their Complainings, which being answer'd +And a petition granted them, a strange one, +To breake the heart of generosity, +And make bold power looke pale, they threw their caps +As they would hang them on the hornes a'th Moone, +Shooting their Emulation + + Menen. What is graunted them? + Mar. Fiue Tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms +Of their owne choice. One's Iunius Brutus, +Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. Sdeath, +The rabble should haue first vnroo'st the City +Ere so preuayl'd with me; it will in time +Win vpon power, and throw forth greater Theames +For Insurrections arguing + + Menen. This is strange + + Mar. Go get you home you Fragments. +Enter a Messenger hastily. + + Mess. Where's Caius Martius? + Mar. Heere: what's the matter! + Mes. The newes is sir, the Volcies are in Armes + + Mar. I am glad on't, then we shall ha meanes to vent +Our mustie superfluity. See our best Elders. +Enter Sicinius Velutus, Annius Brutus Cominius, Titus Lartius, +with other +Senatours. + + 1.Sen. Martius 'tis true, that you haue lately told vs, +The Volces are in Armes + + Mar. They haue a Leader, +Tullus Auffidius that will put you too't: +I sinne in enuying his Nobility: +And were I any thing but what I am, +I would wish me onely he + + Com. You haue fought together? + Mar. Were halfe to halfe the world by th' eares, & he +vpon my partie, I'de reuolt to make +Onely my warres with him. He is a Lion +That I am proud to hunt + + 1.Sen. Then worthy Martius, +Attend vpon Cominius to these Warres + + Com. It is your former promise + + Mar. Sir it is, +And I am constant: Titus Lucius, thou +Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus face. +What art thou stiffe? Stand'st out? + Tit. No Caius Martius, +Ile leane vpon one Crutch, and fight with tother, +Ere stay behinde this Businesse + + Men. Oh true-bred + + Sen. Your Company to'th' Capitoll, where I know +Our greatest Friends attend vs + + Tit. Lead you on: Follow Cominius, we must followe +you, right worthy your Priority + + Com. Noble Martius + + Sen. Hence to your homes, be gone + + Mar. Nay let them follow, +The Volces haue much Corne: take these Rats thither, +To gnaw their Garners. Worshipfull Mutiners, +Your valour puts well forth: Pray follow. + +Exeunt. + +Citizens steale away. Manet Sicin. & Brutus. + + Sicin. Was euer man so proud as is this Martius? + Bru. He has no equall + + Sicin. When we were chosen Tribunes for the people + + Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes + + Sicin. Nay, but his taunts + + Bru. Being mou'd, he will not spare to gird the Gods + + Sicin. Bemocke the modest Moone + + Bru. The present Warres deuoure him, he is growne +Too proud to be so valiant + + Sicin. Such a Nature, tickled with good successe, disdaines +the shadow which he treads on at noone, but I do +wonder, his insolence can brooke to be commanded vnder +Cominius? + Bru. Fame, at the which he aymes, +In whom already he's well grac'd, cannot +Better be held, nor more attain'd then by +A place below the first: for what miscarries +Shall be the Generals fault, though he performe +To th' vtmost of a man, and giddy censure +Will then cry out of Martius: Oh, if he +Had borne the businesse + + Sicin. Besides, if things go well, +Opinion that so stickes on Martius, shall +Of his demerits rob Cominius + + Bru. Come: halfe all Cominius Honors are to Martius +Though Martius earn'd them not: and all his faults +To Martius shall be Honors, though indeed +In ought he merit not + + Sicin. Let's hence, and heare +How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion +More then his singularity, he goes +Vpon this present Action + + Bru. Let's along. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Tullus Auffidius with Senators of Coriolus. + + 1.Sen. So, your opinion is Auffidius, +That they of Rome are entred in our Counsailes, +And know how we proceede, + Auf. Is it not yours? +What euer haue bin thought one in this State +That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome +Had circumuention: 'tis not foure dayes gone +Since I heard thence, these are the words, I thinke +I haue the Letter heere: yes, heere it is; +They haue prest a Power, but it is not knowne +Whether for East or West: the Dearth is great, +The people Mutinous: And it is rumour'd, +Cominius, Martius your old Enemy +(Who is of Rome worse hated then of you) +And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, +These three leade on this Preparation +Whether 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you: +Consider of it + + 1.Sen. Our Armie's in the Field: +We neuer yet made doubt but Rome was ready +To answer vs + + Auf. Nor did you thinke it folly, +To keepe your great pretences vayl'd, till when +They needs must shew themselues, which in the hatching +It seem'd appear'd to Rome. By the discouery, +We shalbe shortned in our ayme, which was +To take in many Townes, ere (almost) Rome +Should know we were a-foot + + 2.Sen. Noble Auffidius, +Take your Commission, hye you to your Bands, +Let vs alone to guard Corioles +If they set downe before's: for the remoue +Bring vp your Army: but (I thinke) you'l finde +Th'haue not prepar'd for vs + + Auf. O doubt not that, +I speake from Certainties. Nay more, +Some parcels of their Power are forth already, +And onely hitherward. I leaue your Honors. +If we, and Caius Martius chance to meete, +'Tis sworne betweene vs, we shall euer strike +Till one can do no more + + All. The Gods assist you + + Auf. And keepe your Honors safe + + 1.Sen. Farewell + + 2.Sen. Farewell + + All. Farewell. + +Exeunt. omnes. + +Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius: They set +them +downe on two lowe stooles and sowe. + + Volum. I pray you daughter sing, or expresse your selfe +in a more comfortable sort: If my Sonne were my Husband, +I should freelier reioyce in that absence wherein +he wonne Honor, then in the embracements of his Bed, +where he would shew most loue. When yet hee was but +tender-bodied, and the onely Sonne of my womb; when +youth with comelinesse pluck'd all gaze his way; when +for a day of Kings entreaties, a Mother should not sel him +an houre from her beholding; I considering how Honour +would become such a person, that it was no better then +Picture-like to hang by th' wall, if renowne made it not +stirre, was pleas'd to let him seeke danger, where he was +like to finde fame: To a cruell Warre I sent him, from +whence he return'd, his browes bound with Oake. I tell +thee Daughter, I sprang not more in ioy at first hearing +he was a Man-child, then now in first seeing he had proued +himselfe a man + + Virg. But had he died in the Businesse Madame, how +then? + Volum. Then his good report should haue beene my +Sonne, I therein would haue found issue. Heare me professe +sincerely, had I a dozen sons each in my loue alike, +and none lesse deere then thine, and my good Martius, I +had rather had eleuen dye Nobly for their Countrey, then +one voluptuously surfet out of Action. +Enter a Gentlewoman. + + Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you + + Virg. Beseech you giue me leaue to retire my selfe + + Volum. Indeed you shall not: +Me thinkes, I heare hither your Husbands Drumme: +See him plucke Auffidius downe by th' haire: +(As children from a Beare) the Volces shunning him: +Me thinkes I see him stampe thus, and call thus, +Come on you Cowards, you were got in feare +Though you were borne in Rome; his bloody brow +With his mail'd hand, then wiping, forth he goes +Like to a Haruest man, that task'd to mowe +Or all, or loose his hyre + + Virg. His bloody Brow? Oh Iupiter, no blood + + Volum. Away you Foole; it more becomes a man +Then gilt his Trophe. The brests of Hecuba +When she did suckle Hector, look'd not louelier +Then Hectors forhead, when it spit forth blood +At Grecian sword. Contenning, tell Valeria +We are fit to bid her welcome. + +Exit Gent. + + Vir. Heauens blesse my Lord from fell Auffidius + + Vol. Hee'l beat Auffidius head below his knee, +And treade vpon his necke. +Enter Valeria with an Vsher, and a Gentlewoman. + + Val. My Ladies both good day to you + + Vol. Sweet Madam + + Vir. I am glad to see your Ladyship + + Val. How do you both? You are manifest house-keepers. +What are you sowing heere? A fine spotte in good +faith. How does your little Sonne? + Vir. I thanke your Lady-ship: Well good Madam + + Vol. He had rather see the swords, and heare a Drum, +then looke vpon his Schoolmaster + + Val. A my word the Fathers Sonne: Ile sweare 'tis a +very pretty boy. A my troth, I look'd vpon him a Wensday +halfe an houre together: ha's such a confirm'd countenance. +I saw him run after a gilded Butterfly, & when +he caught it, he let it go againe, and after it againe, and ouer +and ouer he comes, and vp againe: catcht it again: or +whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, hee did so set +his teeth, and teare it. Oh, I warrant how he mammockt +it + + Vol. One on's Fathers moods + + Val. Indeed la, tis a Noble childe + + Virg. A Cracke Madam + + Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery, I must haue you +play the idle Huswife with me this afternoone + + Virg. No (good Madam) +I will not out of doores + + Val. Not out of doores? + Volum. She shall, she shall + + Virg. Indeed no, by your patience; Ile not ouer the +threshold, till my Lord returne from the Warres + + Val. Fye, you confine your selfe most vnreasonably: +Come, you must go visit the good Lady that lies in + + Virg. I will wish her speedy strength, and visite her +with my prayers: but I cannot go thither + + Volum. Why I pray you + + Vlug. 'Tis not to saue labour, nor that I want loue + + Val. You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all +the yearne she spun in Vlisses absence, did but fill Athica +full of Mothes. Come, I would your Cambrick were sensible +as your finger, that you might leaue pricking it for +pitie. Come you shall go with vs + + Vir. No good Madam, pardon me, indeed I will not +foorth + + Val. In truth la go with me, and Ile tell you excellent +newes of your Husband + + Virg. Oh good Madam, there can be none yet + + Val. Verily I do not iest with you: there came newes +from him last night + + Vir. Indeed Madam + + Val. In earnest it's true; I heard a Senatour speake it. +Thus it is: the Volcies haue an Army forth, against who[m] +Cominius the Generall is gone, with one part of our Romane +power. Your Lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down +before their Citie Carioles, they nothing doubt preuailing, +and to make it breefe Warres. This is true on mine +Honor, and so I pray go with vs + + Virg. Giue me excuse good Madame, I will obey you +in euery thing heereafter + + Vol. Let her alone Ladie, as she is now: +She will but disease our better mirth + + Valeria. In troth I thinke she would: +Fare you well then. Come good sweet Ladie. +Prythee Virgilia turne thy solemnesse out a doore, +And go along with vs + + Virgil. No +At a word Madam; Indeed I must not, +I wish you much mirth + + Val. Well, then farewell. + +Exeunt. Ladies. + +Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Drumme and Colours, with +Captaines and +Souldiers, as before the City Corialus: to them a Messenger. + + Martius. Yonder comes Newes: +A Wager they haue met + + Lar. My horse to yours, no + + Mar. Tis done + + Lart. Agreed + + Mar. Say, ha's our Generall met the Enemy? + Mess. They lye in view, but haue not spoke as yet + + Lart. So, the good Horse is mine + + Mart. Ile buy him of you + + Lart. No, Ile nor sel, nor giue him: Lend you him I will +For halfe a hundred yeares: Summon the Towne + + Mar. How farre off lie these Armies? + Mess. Within this mile and halfe + + Mar. Then shall we heare their Larum, & they Ours. +Now Mars, I prythee make vs quicke in worke, +That we with smoaking swords may march from hence +To helpe our fielded Friends. Come, blow thy blast. + +They Sound a Parley: Enter two Senators with others on the Walles +of +Corialus. + +Tullus Auffidious, is he within your Walles? + 1.Senat. No, nor a man that feares you lesse then he, +That's lesser then a little: + +Drum a farre off. + +Hearke, our Drummes +Are bringing forth our youth: Wee'l breake our Walles +Rather then they shall pound vs vp our Gates, +Which yet seeme shut, we haue but pin'd with Rushes, +They'le open of themselues. Harke you, farre off + +Alarum farre off. + +There is Auffidious. List what worke he makes +Among'st your clouen Army + + Mart. Oh they are at it + + Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders hoa. +Enter the Army of the Volces. + + Mar. They feare vs not, but issue forth their Citie. +Now put your Shields before your hearts, and fight +With hearts more proofe then Shields. +Aduance braue Titus, +They do disdaine vs much beyond our Thoughts, +which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on my fellows +He that retires, Ile take him for a Volce, +And he shall feele mine edge. + +Alarum, the Romans are beat back to their Trenches Enter Martius +Cursing. + + Mar. All the contagion of the South, light on you, +You Shames of Rome: you Heard of Byles and Plagues +Plaister you o're, that you may be abhorr'd +Farther then seene, and one infect another +Against the Winde a mile: you soules of Geese, +That beare the shapes of men, how haue you run +From Slaues, that Apes would beate; Pluto and Hell, +All hurt behinde, backes red, and faces pale +With flight and agued feare, mend and charge home, +Or by the fires of heauen, Ile leaue the Foe, +And make my Warres on you: Looke too't: Come on, +If you'l stand fast, wee'l beate them to their Wiues, +As they vs to our Trenches followes. + +Another Alarum, and Martius followes them to gates, and is shut +in. + +So, now the gates are ope: now proue good Seconds, +'Tis for the followers Fortune, widens them, +Not for the flyers: Marke me, and do the like. +Enter the Gati. + + 1.Sol. Foole-hardinesse, not I + + 2.Sol. Nor I + + 1.Sol. See they haue shut him in. + +Alarum continues + + All. To th' pot I warrant him. + +Enter Titus Lartius + + Tit. What is become of Martius? + All. Slaine (Sir) doubtlesse + + 1.Sol. Following the Flyers at the very heeles, +With them he enters: who vpon the sodaine +Clapt to their Gates, he is himselfe alone, +To answer all the City + + Lar. Oh Noble Fellow! +Who sensibly out-dares his sencelesse Sword, +And when it bowes, stand'st vp: Thou art left Martius, +A Carbuncle intire: as big as thou art +Weare not so rich a Iewell. Thou was't a Souldier +Euen to Calues wish, not fierce and terrible +Onely in strokes, but with thy grim lookes, and +The Thunder-like percussion of thy sounds +Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the World +Were Feauorous, and did tremble. +Enter Martius bleeding, assaulted by the Enemy. + + 1.Sol. Looke Sir + + Lar. O 'tis Martius. +Let's fetch him off, or make remaine alike. + +They fight, and all enter the City. + +Enter certaine Romanes with spoiles. + + 1.Rom. This will I carry to Rome + + 2.Rom. And I this + + 3.Rom. A Murrain on't, I tooke this for Siluer. + +Exeunt. + +Alarum continues still a-farre off. + +Enter Martius, and Titus with a Trumpet. + + Mar. See heere these mouers, that do prize their hours +At a crack'd Drachme: Cushions, Leaden Spoones, +Irons of a Doit, Dublets that Hangmen would +Bury with those that wore them. These base slaues, +Ere yet the fight be done, packe vp, downe with them. +And harke, what noyse the Generall makes: To him +There is the man of my soules hate, Auffidious, +Piercing our Romanes: Then Valiant Titus take +Conuenient Numbers to make good the City, +Whil'st I with those that haue the spirit, wil haste +To helpe Cominius + + Lar. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st, +Thy exercise hath bin too violent, +For a second course of Fight + + Mar. Sir, praise me not: +My worke hath yet not warm'd me. Fare you well: +The blood I drop, is rather Physicall +Then dangerous to me: To Auffidious thus, I will appear and fight + + Lar. Now the faire Goddesse Fortune, +Fall deepe in loue with thee, and her great charmes +Misguide thy Opposers swords, Bold Gentleman: +Prosperity be thy Page + + Mar. Thy Friend no lesse, +Then those she placeth highest: So farewell + + Lar. Thou worthiest Martius, +Go sound thy Trumpet in the Market place, +Call thither all the Officers a'th' Towne, +Where they shall know our minde. Away. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with soldiers. + + Com. Breath you my friends, wel fought, we are come off, +Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, +Nor Cowardly in retyre: Beleeue me Sirs, +We shall be charg'd againe. Whiles we haue strooke +By Interims and conueying gusts, we haue heard +The Charges of our Friends. The Roman Gods, +Leade their successes, as we wish our owne, +That both our powers, with smiling Fronts encountring, +May giue you thankfull Sacrifice. Thy Newes? +Enter a Messenger. + + Mess. The Cittizens of Corioles haue yssued, +And giuen to Lartius and to Martius Battaile: +I saw our party to their Trenches driuen, +And then I came away + + Com. Though thou speakest truth, +Me thinkes thou speak'st not well. How long is't since? + Mes. Aboue an houre, my Lord + + Com. 'Tis not a mile: briefely we heard their drummes. +How could'st thou in a mile confound an houre, +And bring thy Newes so late? + Mes. Spies of the Volces +Held me in chace, that I was forc'd to wheele +Three or foure miles about, else had I sir +Halfe an houre since brought my report. +Enter Martius. + + Com. Whose yonder, +That doe's appeare as he were Flead? O Gods, +He has the stampe of Martius, and I haue +Before time seene him thus + + Mar. Come I too late? + Com. The Shepherd knowes not Thunder fro[m] a Taber, +More then I know the sound of Martius Tongue +From euery meaner man + + Martius. Come I too late? + Com. I, if you come not in the blood of others, +But mantled in your owne + + Mart. Oh! let me clip ye +In Armes as sound, as when I woo'd in heart; +As merry, as when our Nuptiall day was done, +And Tapers burnt to Bedward + + Com. Flower of Warriors, how is't with Titus Lartius? + Mar. As with a man busied about Decrees: +Condemning some to death, and some to exile, +Ransoming him, or pittying, threatning th' other; +Holding Corioles in the name of Rome, +Euen like a fawning Grey-hound in the Leash, +To let him slip at will + + Com. Where is that Slaue +Which told me they had beate you to your Trenches? +Where is he? Call him hither + + Mar. Let him alone, +He did informe the truth: but for our Gentlemen, +The common file, (a plague-Tribunes for them) +The Mouse ne're shunn'd the Cat, as they did budge +From Rascals worse then they + + Com. But how preuail'd you? + Mar. Will the time serue to tell, I do not thinke: +Where is the enemy? Are you Lords a'th Field? +If not, why cease you till you are so? + Com. Martius, we haue at disaduantage fought, +And did retyre to win our purpose + + Mar. How lies their Battell? Know you on w side +They haue plac'd their men of trust? + Com. As I guesse Martius, +Their Bands i'th Vaward are the Antients +Of their best trust: O're them Auffidious, +Their very heart of Hope + + Mar. I do beseech you, +By all the Battailes wherein we haue fought, +By th' Blood we haue shed together, +By th' Vowes we haue made +To endure Friends, that you directly set me +Against Affidious, and his Antiats, +And that you not delay the present (but +Filling the aire with Swords aduanc'd) and Darts, +We proue this very houre + + Com. Though I could wish, +You were conducted to a gentle Bath, +And Balmes applyed to you, yet dare I neuer +Deny your asking, take your choice of those +That best can ayde your action + + Mar. Those are they +That most are willing; if any such be heere, +(As it were sinne to doubt) that loue this painting +Wherein you see me smear'd, if any feare +Lessen his person, then an ill report: +If any thinke, braue death out-weighes bad life, +And that his Countries deerer then himselfe, +Let him alone: Or so many so minded, +Waue thus to expresse his disposition, +And follow Martius. + +They all shout and waue their swords, take him vp in their Armes, +and cast +vp their Caps. + +Oh me alone, make you a sword of me: +If these shewes be not outward, which of you +But is foure Volces? None of you, but is +Able to beare against the great Auffidious +A Shield, as hard as his. A certaine number +(Though thankes to all) must I select from all: +The rest shall beare the businesse in some other fight +(As cause will be obey'd:) please you to March, +And foure shall quickly draw out my Command, +Which men are best inclin'd + + Com. March on my Fellowes: +Make good this ostentation, and you shall +Diuide in all, with vs. + +Exeunt. + +Titus Lartius, hauing set a guard vpon Carioles, going with Drum +and +Trumpet toward Cominius, and Caius Martius, Enters with a +Lieutenant, +other Souldiours, and a Scout. + + Lar. So, let the Ports be guarded; keepe your Duties +As I haue set them downe. If I do send, dispatch +Those Centuries to our ayd, the rest will serue +For a short holding, if we loose the Field, +We cannot keepe the Towne + + Lieu. Feare not our care Sir + + Lart. Hence; and shut your gates vpon's: +Our Guider come, to th' Roman Campe conduct vs. + +Exit + +Alarum, as in Battaile. + +Enter Martius and Auffidius at seueral doores. + + Mar. Ile fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee +Worse then a Promise-breaker + + Auffid. We hate alike: +Not Affricke ownes a Serpent I abhorre +More then thy Fame and Enuy: Fix thy foot + + Mar. Let the first Budger dye the others Slaue, +And the Gods doome him after + + Auf. If I flye Martius, hollow me like a Hare + + Mar. Within these three houres Tullus +Alone I fought in your Corioles walles, +And made what worke I pleas'd: 'Tis not my blood, +Wherein thou seest me maskt, for thy Reuenge +Wrench vp thy power to th' highest + + Auf. Wer't thou the Hector, +That was the whip of your bragg'd Progeny, +Thou should'st not scape me heere. + +Heere they fight, and certaine Volces come in the ayde of Auffi. +Martius +fights til they be driuen in breathles. + +Officious and not valiant, you haue sham'd me +In your condemned Seconds. + +Flourish. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Enter at one Doore +Cominius, with +the Romanes: At another Doore Martius, with his Arme in a +Scarfe. + + Com. If I should tell thee o're this thy dayes Worke, +Thou't not beleeue thy deeds: but Ile report it, +Where Senators shall mingle teares with smiles, +Where great Patricians shall attend, and shrug, +I'th' end admire: where Ladies shall be frighted, +And gladly quak'd, heare more: where the dull Tribunes, +That with the fustie Plebeans, hate thine Honors, +Shall say against their hearts, We thanke the Gods +Our Rome hath such a Souldier. +Yet cam'st thou to a Morsell of this Feast, +Hauing fully din'd before. +Enter Titus with his Power, from the Pursuit. + + Titus Lartius. Oh Generall: +Here is the Steed, wee the Caparison: +Hadst thou beheld- + Martius. Pray now, no more: +My Mother, who ha's a Charter to extoll her Bloud, +When she do's prayse me, grieues me: +I haue done as you haue done, that's what I can, +Induc'd as you haue beene, that's for my Countrey: +He that ha's but effected his good will, +Hath ouerta'ne mine Act + + Com. You shall not be the Graue of your deseruing, +Rome must know the value of her owne: +'Twere a Concealement worse then a Theft, +No lesse then a Traducement, +To hide your doings, and to silence that, +Which to the spire, and top of prayses vouch'd, +Would seeme but modest: therefore I beseech you, +In signe of what you are, not to reward +What you haue done, before our Armie heare me + + Martius. I haue some Wounds vpon me, and they smart +To heare themselues remembred + + Com. Should they not: +Well might they fester 'gainst Ingratitude, +And tent themselues with death: of all the Horses, +Whereof we haue ta'ne good, and good store of all, +The Treasure in this field atchieued, and Citie, +We render you the Tenth, to be ta'ne forth, +Before the common distribution, +At your onely choyse + + Martius. I thanke you Generall: +But cannot make my heart consent to take +A Bribe, to pay my Sword: I doe refuse it, +And stand vpon my common part with those, +That haue beheld the doing. + +A long flourish. They all cry, Martius, Martius, cast vp their Caps +and +Launces: Cominius and Lartius stand bare. + + Mar. May these same Instruments, which you prophane, +Neuer sound more: when Drums and Trumpets shall +I'th' field proue flatterers, let Courts and Cities be +Made all of false-fac'd soothing: +When Steele growes soft, as the Parasites Silke, +Let him be made an Ouerture for th' Warres: +No more I say, for that I haue not wash'd +My Nose that bled, or foyl'd some debile Wretch, +Which without note, here's many else haue done, +You shoot me forth in acclamations hyperbolicall, +As if I lou'd my little should be dieted +In prayses, sawc'st with Lyes + + Com. Too modest are you: +More cruell to your good report, then gratefull +To vs, that giue you truly: by your patience, +If 'gainst your selfe you be incens'd, wee'le put you +(Like one that meanes his proper harme) in Manacles, +Then reason safely with you: Therefore be it knowne, +As to vs, to all the World, That Caius Martius +Weares this Warres Garland: in token of the which, +My Noble Steed, knowne to the Campe, I giue him, +With all his trim belonging; and from this time, +For what he did before Corioles, call him, +With all th' applause and Clamor of the Hoast, +Marcus Caius Coriolanus. Beare th' addition Nobly euer? +Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. + + Omnes. Marcus Caius Coriolanus + + Martius. I will goe wash: +And when my Face is faire, you shall perceiue +Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thanke you, +I meane to stride your Steed, and at all times +To vnder-crest your good Addition, +To th' fairenesse of my power + + Com. So, to our Tent: +Where ere we doe repose vs, we will write +To Rome of our successe: you Titus Lartius +Must to Corioles backe, send vs to Rome +The best, with whom we may articulate, +For their owne good, and ours + + Lartius. I shall, my Lord + + Martius. The Gods begin to mocke me: +I that now refus'd most Princely gifts, +Am bound to begge of my Lord Generall + + Com. Tak't, 'tis yours: what is't? + Martius. I sometime lay here in Corioles, +At a poore mans house: he vs'd me kindly, +He cry'd to me: I saw him Prisoner: +But then Auffidius was within my view, +And Wrath o're-whelm'd my pittie: I request you +To giue my poore Host freedome + + Com. Oh well begg'd: +Were he the Butcher of my Sonne, he should +Be free, as is the Winde: deliuer him, Titus + + Lartius. Martius, his Name + + Martius. By Iupiter forgot: +I am wearie, yea, my memorie is tyr'd: +Haue we no Wine here? + Com. Goe we to our Tent: +The bloud vpon your Visage dryes, 'tis time +It should be lookt too: come. + +Exeunt. + +A flourish. Cornets. Enter Tullus Auffidius bloudie, with two or +three +Souldiors. + + Auffi. The Towne is ta'ne + + Sould. 'Twill be deliuer'd backe on good Condition + + Auffid. Condition? +I would I were a Roman, for I cannot, +Being a Volce, be that I am. Condition? +What good Condition can a Treatie finde +I'th' part that is at mercy? fiue times, Martius, +I haue fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me: +And would'st doe so, I thinke, should we encounter +As often as we eate. By th' Elements, +If ere againe I meet him beard to beard, +He's mine, or I am his: Mine Emulation +Hath not that Honor in't it had: For where +I thought to crush him in an equall Force, +True Sword to Sword: Ile potche at him some way, +Or Wrath, or Craft may get him + + Sol. He's the diuell + + Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: my valors poison'd, +With onely suff'ring staine by him: for him +Shall flye out of it selfe, nor sleepe, nor sanctuary, +Being naked, sicke; nor Phane, nor Capitoll, +The Prayers of Priests, nor times of Sacrifice: +Embarquements all of Fury, shall lift vp +Their rotten Priuiledge, and Custome 'gainst +My hate to Martius. Where I finde him, were it +At home, vpon my Brothers Guard, euen there +Against the hospitable Canon, would I +Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to th' Citie, +Learne how 'tis held, and what they are that must +Be Hostages for Rome + + Soul. Will not you go? + Auf. I am attended at the Cyprus groue. I pray you +('Tis South the City Mils) bring me word thither +How the world goes: that to the pace of it +I may spurre on my iourney + + Soul. I shall sir. + +Actus Secundus. + + +Enter Menenius with the two Tribunes of the people, Sicinius & +Brutus. + + Men. The Agurer tels me, wee shall haue Newes to +night + + Bru. Good or bad? + Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for +they loue not Martius + + Sicin. Nature teaches Beasts to know their Friends + + Men. Pray you, who does the Wolfe loue? + Sicin. The Lambe + + Men. I, to deuour him, as the hungry Plebeians would +the Noble Martius + + Bru. He's a Lambe indeed, that baes like a Beare + + Men. Hee's a Beare indeede, that liues like a Lambe. +You two are old men, tell me one thing that I shall aske +you + + Both. Well sir + + Men. In what enormity is Martius poore in, that you +two haue not in abundance? + Bru. He's poore in no one fault, but stor'd withall + + Sicin. Especially in Pride + + Bru. And topping all others in boasting + + Men. This is strange now: Do you two know, how +you are censured heere in the City, I mean of vs a'th' right +hand File, do you? + Both. Why? how are we censur'd? + Men. Because you talke of Pride now, will you not +be angry + + Both. Well, well sir, well + + Men. Why 'tis no great matter: for a very little theefe +of Occasion, will rob you of a great deale of Patience: +Giue your dispositions the reines, and bee angry at your +pleasures (at the least) if you take it as a pleasure to you, in +being so: you blame Martius for being proud + + Brut. We do it not alone, sir + + Men. I know you can doe very little alone, for your +helpes are many, or else your actions would growe wondrous +single: your abilities are to Infant-like, for dooing +much alone. You talke of Pride: Oh, that you could turn +your eyes toward the Napes of your neckes, and make +but an Interiour suruey of your good selues. Oh that you +could + + Both. What then sir? + Men. Why then you should discouer a brace of vnmeriting, +proud, violent, testie Magistrates (alias Fooles) +as any in Rome + + Sicin. Menenius, you are knowne well enough too + + Men. I am knowne to be a humorous Patritian, and +one that loues a cup of hot Wine, with not a drop of alaying +Tiber in't: Said, to be something imperfect in fauouring +the first complaint, hasty and Tinder-like vppon, to +triuiall motion: One, that conuerses more with the Buttocke +of the night, then with the forhead of the morning. +What I think, I vtter, and spend my malice in my breath. +Meeting two such Weales men as you are (I cannot call +you Licurgusses,) if the drinke you giue me, touch my Palat +aduersly, I make a crooked face at it, I can say, your +Worshippes haue deliuer'd the matter well, when I finde +the Asse in compound, with the Maior part of your syllables. +And though I must be content to beare with those, +that say you are reuerend graue men, yet they lye deadly, +that tell you haue good faces, if you see this in the Map +of my Microcosme, followes it that I am knowne well enough +too? What harme can your beesome Conspectuities +gleane out of this Charracter, if I be knowne well enough +too + + Bru. Come sir come, we know you well enough + + Menen. You know neither mee, your selues, nor any +thing: you are ambitious, for poore knaues cappes and +legges: you weare out a good wholesome Forenoone, in +hearing a cause betweene an Orendge wife, and a Forfetseller, +and then reiourne the Controuersie of three-pence +to a second day of Audience. When you are hearing a +matter betweene party and party, if you chaunce to bee +pinch'd with the Collike, you make faces like Mummers, +set vp the bloodie Flagge against all Patience, and +in roaring for a Chamber-pot, dismisse the Controuersie +bleeding, the more intangled by your hearing: All the +peace you make in their Cause, is calling both the parties +Knaues. You are a payre of strange ones + + Bru. Come, come, you are well vnderstood to bee a +perfecter gyber for the Table, then a necessary Bencher in +the Capitoll + + Men. Our very Priests must become Mockers, if they +shall encounter such ridiculous Subiects as you are, when +you speake best vnto the purpose. It is not woorth the +wagging of your Beards, and your Beards deserue not so +honourable a graue, as to stuffe a Botchers Cushion, or to +be intomb'd in an Asses Packe-saddle; yet you must bee +saying, Martius is proud: who in a cheape estimation, is +worth all your predecessors, since Deucalion, though peraduenture +some of the best of 'em were hereditarie hangmen. +Godden to your Worships, more of your conuersation +would infect my Braine, being the Heardsmen of +the Beastly Plebeans. I will be bold to take my leaue of +you. + +Bru. and Scic. Aside. + +Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria. + +How now (my as faire as Noble) Ladyes, and the Moone +were shee Earthly, no Nobler; whither doe you follow +your Eyes so fast? + Volum. Honorable Menenius, my Boy Martius approches: +for the loue of Iuno let's goe + + Menen. Ha? Martius comming home? + Volum. I, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous +approbation + + Menen. Take my Cappe Iupiter, and I thanke thee: +hoo, Martius comming home? + 2.Ladies. Nay, 'tis true + + Volum. Looke, here's a Letter from him, the State hath +another, his Wife another, and (I thinke) there's one at +home for you + + Menen. I will make my very house reele to night: +A Letter for me? + Virgil. Yes certaine, there's a Letter for you, I saw't + + Menen. A Letter for me? it giues me an Estate of seuen +yeeres health; in which time, I will make a Lippe at +the Physician: The most soueraigne Prescription in Galen, +is but Emperickqutique; and to this Preseruatiue, of no +better report then a Horse-drench. Is he not wounded? +he was wont to come home wounded? + Virgil. Oh no, no, no + + Volum. Oh, he is wounded, I thanke the Gods for't + + Menen. So doe I too, if it be not too much: brings a +Victorie in his Pocket? the wounds become him + + Volum. On's Browes: Menenius, hee comes the third +time home with the Oaken Garland + + Menen. Ha's he disciplin'd Auffidius soundly? + Volum. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but +Auffidius got off + + Menen. And 'twas time for him too, Ile warrant him +that: and he had stay'd by him, I would not haue been so +fiddious'd, for all the Chests in Carioles, and the Gold +that's in them. Is the Senate possest of this? + Volum. Good Ladies let's goe. Yes, yes, yes: The +Senate ha's Letters from the Generall, wherein hee giues +my Sonne the whole Name of the Warre: he hath in this +action out-done his former deeds doubly + + Valer. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him + + Menen. Wondrous: I, I warrant you, and not without +his true purchasing + + Virgil. The Gods graunt them true + + Volum. True? pow waw + + Mene. True? Ile be sworne they are true: where is +hee wounded, God saue your good Worships? Martius +is comming home: hee ha's more cause to be prowd: +where is he wounded? + Volum. Ith' Shoulder, and ith' left Arme: there will be +large Cicatrices to shew the People, when hee shall stand +for his place: he receiued in the repulse of Tarquin seuen +hurts ith' Body + + Mene. One ith' Neck, and two ith' Thigh, there's nine +that I know + + Volum. Hee had, before this last Expedition, twentie +fiue Wounds vpon him + + Mene. Now it's twentie seuen; euery gash was an +Enemies Graue. Hearke, the Trumpets. + +A showt, and flourish. + + Volum. These are the Vshers of Martius: +Before him, hee carryes Noyse; +And behinde him, hee leaues Teares: +Death, that darke Spirit, in's neruie Arme doth lye, +Which being aduanc'd, declines, and then men dye. + +A Sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter Cominius the Generall, and Titus +Latius: +betweene them Coriolanus, crown'd with an Oaken Garland, with +Captaines and +Souldiers, and a Herauld. + + Herauld. Know Rome, that all alone Martius did fight +Within Corioles Gates: where he hath wonne, +With Fame, a Name to Martius Caius: +These in honor followes Martius Caius Coriolanus. +Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus. + +Sound. Flourish. + + All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus + + Coriol. No more of this, it does offend my heart: pray +now no more + + Com. Looke, Sir, your Mother + + Coriol. Oh! you haue, I know, petition'd all the Gods +for my prosperitie. + +Kneeles. + + Volum. Nay, my good Souldier, vp: +My gentle Martius, worthy Caius, +And by deed-atchieuing Honor newly nam'd, +What is it (Coriolanus) must I call thee? +But oh, thy Wife + + Corio. My gracious silence, hayle: +Would'st thou haue laugh'd, had I come Coffin'd home, +That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah my deare, +Such eyes the Widowes in Carioles were, +And Mothers that lacke Sonnes + + Mene. Now the Gods Crowne thee + + Com. And liue you yet? Oh my sweet Lady, pardon + + Volum. I know not where to turne. +Oh welcome home: and welcome Generall, +And y'are welcome all + + Mene. A hundred thousand Welcomes: +I could weepe, and I could laugh, +I am light, and heauie; welcome: +A Curse begin at very root on's heart, +That is not glad to see thee. +You are three, that Rome should dote on: +Yet by the faith of men, we haue +Some old Crab-trees here at home, +That will not be grafted to your Rallish. +Yet welcome Warriors: +Wee call a Nettle, but a Nettle; +And the faults of fooles, but folly + + Com. Euer right + + Cor. Menenius, euer, euer + + Herauld. Giue way there, and goe on + + Cor. Your Hand, and yours? +Ere in our owne house I doe shade my Head, +The good Patricians must be visited, +From whom I haue receiu'd not onely greetings, +But with them, change of Honors + + Volum. I haue liued, +To see inherited my very Wishes, +And the Buildings of my Fancie: +Onely there's one thing wanting, +Which (I doubt not) but our Rome +Will cast vpon thee + + Cor. Know, good Mother, +I had rather be their seruant in my way, +Then sway with them in theirs + + Com. On, to the Capitall. +Flourish. Cornets. + +Exeunt. in State, as before. + +Enter Brutus and Scicinius + + Bru. All tongues speake of him, and the bleared sights +Are spectacled to see him. Your pratling Nurse +Into a rapture lets her Baby crie, +While she chats him: the Kitchin Malkin pinnes +Her richest Lockram 'bout her reechie necke, +Clambring the Walls to eye him: +Stalls, Bulkes, Windowes, are smother'd vp, +Leades fill'd, and Ridges hors'd +With variable Complexions; all agreeing +In earnestnesse to see him: seld-showne Flamins +Doe presse among the popular Throngs, and puffe +To winne a vulgar station: our veyl'd Dames +Commit the Warre of White and Damaske +In their nicely gawded Cheekes, toth' wanton spoyle +Of Phoebus burning Kisses: such a poother, +As if that whatsoeuer God, who leades him, +Were slyly crept into his humane powers, +And gaue him gracefull posture + + Scicin. On the suddaine, I warrant him Consull + + Brutus. Then our Office may, during his power, goe +sleepe + + Scicin. He cannot temp'rately transport his Honors, +From where he should begin, and end, but will +Lose those he hath wonne + + Brutus. In that there's comfort + + Scici. Doubt not, +The Commoners, for whom we stand, but they +Vpon their ancient mallice, will forget +With the least cause, these his new Honors, +Which that he will giue them, make I as little question, +As he is prowd to doo't + + Brutus. I heard him sweare, +Were he to stand for Consull, neuer would he +Appeare i'th' Market place, nor on him put +The Naples Vesture of Humilitie, +Nor shewing (as the manner is) his Wounds +Toth' People, begge their stinking Breaths + + Scicin. 'Tis right + + Brutus. It was his word: +Oh he would misse it, rather then carry it, +But by the suite of the Gentry to him, +And the desire of the Nobles + + Scicin. I wish no better, then haue him hold that purpose, +and to put it in execution + + Brutus. 'Tis most like he will + + Scicin. It shall be to him then, as our good wills; a +sure destruction + + Brutus. So it must fall out +To him, or our Authorities, for an end. +We must suggest the People, in what hatred +He still hath held them: that to's power he would +Haue made them Mules, silenc'd their Pleaders, +And dispropertied their Freedomes; holding them, +In humane Action, and Capacitie, +Of no more Soule, nor fitnesse for the World, +Then Cammels in their Warre, who haue their Prouand +Onely for bearing Burthens, and sore blowes +For sinking vnder them + + Scicin. This (as you say) suggested, +At some time, when his soaring Insolence +Shall teach the People, which time shall not want, +If he be put vpon't, and that's as easie, +As to set Dogges on Sheepe, will be his fire +To kindle their dry Stubble: and their Blaze +Shall darken him for euer. +Enter a Messenger. + + Brutus. What's the matter? + Mess. You are sent for to the Capitoll: +'Tis thought, that Martius shall be Consull: +I haue seene the dumbe men throng to see him, +And the blind to heare him speak: Matrons flong Gloues, +Ladies and Maids their Scarffes, and Handkerchers, +Vpon him as he pass'd: the Nobles bended +As to Ioues Statue, and the Commons made +A Shower, and Thunder, with their Caps, and Showts: +I neuer saw the like + + Brutus. Let's to the Capitoll, +And carry with vs Eares and Eyes for th' time, +But Hearts for the euent + + Scicin. Haue with you. + +Exeunt. + +Enter two Officers, to lay Cushions, as it were, in the Capitoll. + + 1.Off. Come, come, they are almost here: how many +stand for Consulships? + 2.Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of euery one, +Coriolanus will carry it + + 1.Off. That's a braue fellow: but hee's vengeance +prowd, and loues not the common people + + 2.Off. 'Faith, there hath beene many great men that +haue flatter'd the people, who ne're loued them; and there +be many that they haue loued, they know not wherefore: +so that if they loue they know not why, they hate vpon +no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neyther to +care whether they loue, or hate him, manifests the true +knowledge he ha's in their disposition, and out of his Noble +carelesnesse lets them plainely see't + + 1.Off. If he did not care whether he had their loue, or +no, hee waued indifferently, 'twixt doing them neyther +good, nor harme: but hee seekes their hate with greater +deuotion, then they can render it him; and leaues nothing +vndone, that may fully discouer him their opposite. Now +to seeme to affect the mallice and displeasure of the People, +is as bad, as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for +their loue + + 2.Off. Hee hath deserued worthily of his Countrey, +and his assent is not by such easie degrees as those, who +hauing beene supple and courteous to the People, Bonnetted, +without any further deed, to haue them at all into +their estimation, and report: but hee hath so planted his +Honors in their Eyes, and his actions in their Hearts, that +for their Tongues to be silent, and not confesse so much, +were a kinde of ingratefull Iniurie: to report otherwise, +were a Mallice, that giuing it selfe the Lye, would plucke +reproofe and rebuke from euery Eare that heard it + + 1.Off. No more of him, hee's a worthy man: make +way, they are comming. + +A Sennet. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of the People, +Lictors +before them: Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the Consul: +Scicinius and +Brutus take their places by themselues: Coriolanus stands. + + Menen. Hauing determin'd of the Volces, +And to send for Titus Lartius: it remaines, +As the maine Point of this our after-meeting, +To gratifie his Noble seruice, that hath +Thus stood for his Countrey. Therefore please you, +Most reuerend and graue Elders, to desire +The present Consull, and last Generall, +In our well-found Successes, to report +A little of that worthy Worke, perform'd +By Martius Caius Coriolanus: whom +We met here, both to thanke, and to remember, +With Honors like himselfe + + 1.Sen. Speake, good Cominius: +Leaue nothing out for length, and make vs thinke +Rather our states defectiue for requitall, +Then we to stretch it out. Masters a'th' People, +We doe request your kindest eares: and after +Your louing motion toward the common Body, +To yeeld what passes here + + Scicin. We are conuented vpon a pleasing Treatie, and +haue hearts inclinable to honor and aduance the Theame +of our Assembly + + Brutus. Which the rather wee shall be blest to doe, if +he remember a kinder value of the People, then he hath +hereto priz'd them at + + Menen. That's off, that's off: I would you rather had +been silent: Please you to heare Cominius speake? + Brutus. Most willingly: but yet my Caution was +more pertinent then the rebuke you giue it + + Menen. He loues your People, but tye him not to be +their Bed-fellow: Worthie Cominius speake. + +Coriolanus rises, and offers to goe away. + +Nay, keepe your place + + Senat. Sit Coriolanus: neuer shame to heare +What you haue Nobly done + + Coriol. Your Honors pardon: +I had rather haue my Wounds to heale againe, +Then heare say how I got them + + Brutus. Sir, I hope my words dis-bench'd you not? + Coriol. No Sir: yet oft, +When blowes haue made me stay, I fled from words. +You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but your People, +I loue them as they weigh- + Menen. Pray now sit downe + + Corio. I had rather haue one scratch my Head i'th' Sun, +When the Alarum were strucke, then idly sit +To heare my Nothings monster'd. +Exit Coriolanus + + Menen. Masters of the People, +Your multiplying Spawne, how can he flatter? +That's thousand to one good one, when you now see +He had rather venture all his Limbes for Honor, +Then on ones Eares to heare it. Proceed Cominius + + Com. I shall lacke voyce: the deeds of Coriolanus +Should not be vtter'd feebly: it is held, +That Valour is the chiefest Vertue, +And most dignifies the hauer: if it be, +The man I speake of, cannot in the World +Be singly counter-poys'd. At sixteene yeeres, +When Tarquin made a Head for Rome, he fought +Beyond the marke of others: our then Dictator, +Whom with all prayse I point at, saw him fight, +When with his Amazonian Shinne he droue +The brizled Lippes before him: he bestrid +An o're-prest Roman, and i'th' Consuls view +Slew three Opposers: Tarquins selfe he met, +And strucke him on his Knee: in that dayes feates, +When he might act the Woman in the Scene, +He prou'd best man i'th' field, and for his meed +Was Brow-bound with the Oake. His Pupill age +Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea, +And in the brunt of seuenteene Battailes since, +He lurcht all Swords of the Garland: for this last, +Before, and in Corioles, let me say +I cannot speake him home: he stopt the flyers, +And by his rare example made the Coward +Turne terror into sport: as Weeds before +A Vessell vnder sayle, so men obey'd, +And fell below his Stem: his Sword, Deaths stampe, +Where it did marke, it tooke from face to foot: +He was a thing of Blood, whose euery motion +Was tim'd with dying Cryes: alone he entred +The mortall Gate of th' Citie, which he painted +With shunlesse destinie: aydelesse came off, +And with a sudden re-inforcement strucke +Carioles like a Planet: now all's his, +When by and by the dinne of Warre gan pierce +His readie sence: then straight his doubled spirit +Requickned what in flesh was fatigate, +And to the Battaile came he, where he did +Runne reeking o're the liues of men, as if 'twere +A perpetuall spoyle: and till we call'd +Both Field and Citie ours, he neuer stood +To ease his Brest with panting + + Menen. Worthy man + + Senat. He cannot but with measure fit the Honors +which we deuise him + + Com. Our spoyles he kickt at, +And look'd vpon things precious, as they were +The common Muck of the World: he couets lesse +Then Miserie it selfe would giue, rewards his deeds +With doing them, and is content +To spend the time, to end it + + Menen. Hee's right Noble, let him be call'd for + + Senat. Call Coriolanus + + Off. He doth appeare. +Enter Coriolanus. + + Menen. The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd to make +thee Consull + + Corio. I doe owe them still my Life, and Seruices + + Menen. It then remaines, that you doe speake to the +People + + Corio. I doe beseech you, +Let me o're-leape that custome: for I cannot +Put on the Gowne, stand naked, and entreat them +For my Wounds sake, to giue their sufferage: +Please you that I may passe this doing + + Scicin. Sir, the People must haue their Voyces, +Neyther will they bate one iot of Ceremonie + + Menen. Put them not too't: +Pray you goe fit you to the Custome, +And take to you, as your Predecessors haue, +Your Honor with your forme + + Corio. It is a part that I shall blush in acting, +And might well be taken from the People + + Brutus. Marke you that + + Corio. To brag vnto them, thus I did, and thus +Shew them th' vnaking Skarres, which I should hide, +As if I had receiu'd them for the hyre +Of their breath onely + + Menen. Doe not stand vpon't: +We recommend to you Tribunes of the People +Our purpose to them, and to our Noble Consull +Wish we all Ioy, and Honor + + Senat. To Coriolanus come all ioy and Honor. +Flourish Cornets. Then Exeunt. Manet Sicinius and Brutus. + + Bru. You see how he intends to vse the people + + Scicin. May they perceiue's intent: he wil require them +As if he did contemne what he requested, +Should be in them to giue + + Bru. Come, wee'l informe them +Of our proceedings heere on th' Market place, +I know they do attend vs. +Enter seuen or eight Citizens. + + 1.Cit. Once if he do require our voyces, wee ought +not to deny him + + 2.Cit. We may Sir if we will + + 3.Cit. We haue power in our selues to do it, but it is +a power that we haue no power to do: For, if hee shew vs +his wounds, and tell vs his deeds, we are to put our tongues +into those wounds, and speake for them: So if he tel +vs his Noble deeds, we must also tell him our Noble acceptance +of them. Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the +multitude to be ingratefull, were to make a Monster of +the multitude; of the which, we being members, should +bring our selues to be monstrous members + + 1.Cit. And to make vs no better thought of a little +helpe will serue: for once we stood vp about the Corne, +he himselfe stucke not to call vs the many-headed Multitude + + 3.Cit. We haue beene call'd so of many, not that our +heads are some browne, some blacke, some Abram, some +bald; but that our wits are so diuersly Coulord; and truely +I thinke, if all our wittes were to issue out of one Scull, +they would flye East, West, North, South, and their consent +of one direct way, should be at once to all the points +a'th Compasse + + 2.Cit. Thinke you so? Which way do you iudge my +wit would flye + + 3.Cit. Nay your wit will not so soone out as another +mans will, 'tis strongly wadg'd vp in a blocke-head: but +if it were at liberty, 'twould sure Southward + + 2 Cit. Why that way? + 3 Cit. To loose it selfe in a Fogge, where being three +parts melted away with rotten Dewes, the fourth would +returne for Conscience sake, to helpe to get thee a Wife + + 2 Cit. You are neuer without your trickes, you may, +you may + + 3 Cit. Are you all resolu'd to giue your voyces? But +that's no matter, the greater part carries it, I say. If hee +would incline to the people, there was neuer a worthier +man. +Enter Coriolanus in a gowne of Humility, with Menenius. + +Heere he comes, and in the Gowne of humility, marke +his behauiour: we are not to stay altogether, but to come +by him where he stands, by ones, by twoes, & by threes. +He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein euerie +one of vs ha's a single Honor, in giuing him our own voices +with our owne tongues, therefore follow me, and Ile +direct you how you shall go by him + + All. Content, content + + Men. Oh Sir, you are not right: haue you not knowne +The worthiest men haue done't? + Corio. What must I say, I pray Sir? +Plague vpon't, I cannot bring +My tongue to such a pace. Looke Sir, my wounds, +I got them in my Countries Seruice, when +Some certaine of your Brethren roar'd, and ranne +From th' noise of our owne Drummes + + Menen. Oh me the Gods, you must not speak of that, +You must desire them to thinke vpon you + + Coriol. Thinke vpon me? Hang 'em, +I would they would forget me, like the Vertues +Which our Diuines lose by em + + Men. You'l marre all, +Ile leaue you: Pray you speake to em, I pray you +In wholsome manner. + +Exit + +Enter three of the Citizens. + + Corio. Bid them wash their Faces, +And keepe their teeth cleane: So, heere comes a brace, +You know the cause (Sir) of my standing heere + + 3 Cit. We do Sir, tell vs what hath brought you too't + + Corio. Mine owne desert + + 2 Cit. Your owne desert + + Corio. I, but mine owne desire + + 3 Cit. How not your owne desire? + Corio. No Sir, 'twas neuer my desire yet to trouble the +poore with begging + + 3 Cit. You must thinke if we giue you any thing, we +hope to gaine by you + + Corio. Well then I pray, your price a'th' Consulship + + 1 Cit. The price is, to aske it kindly + + Corio. Kindly sir, I pray let me ha't: I haue wounds to +shew you, which shall bee yours in priuate: your good +voice sir, what say you? + 2 Cit. You shall ha't worthy Sir + + Corio. A match Sir, there's in all two worthie voyces +begg'd: I haue your Almes, Adieu + + 3 Cit. But this is something odde + + 2 Cit. And 'twere to giue againe: but 'tis no matter. + +Exeunt. Enter two other Citizens. + + Coriol. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune +of your voices, that I may bee Consull, I haue heere the +Customarie Gowne + + 1. You haue deserued Nobly of your Countrey, and +you haue not deserued Nobly + + Coriol. Your aenigma + + 1. You haue bin a scourge to her enemies, you haue +bin a Rod to her Friends, you haue not indeede loued the +Common people + + Coriol. You should account mee the more Vertuous, +that I haue not bin common in my Loue, I will sir flatter +my sworne Brother the people to earne a deerer estimation +of them, 'tis a condition they account gentle: & since +the wisedome of their choice, is rather to haue my Hat, +then my Heart, I will practice the insinuating nod, and be +off to them most counterfetly, that is sir, I will counterfet +the bewitchment of some popular man, and giue it +bountifull to the desirers: Therefore beseech you, I may +be Consull + + 2. Wee hope to finde you our friend: and therefore +giue you our voices heartily + + 1. You haue receyued many wounds for your Countrey + + Coriol. I wil not Seale your knowledge with shewing +them. I will make much of your voyces, and so trouble +you no farther + + Both. The Gods giue you ioy Sir heartily + + Coriol. Most sweet Voyces: +Better it is to dye, better to sterue, +Then craue the higher, which first we do deserue. +Why in this Wooluish tongue should I stand heere, +To begge of Hob and Dicke, that does appeere +Their needlesse Vouches: Custome calls me too't. +What Custome wills in all things, should we doo't? +The Dust on antique Time would lye vnswept, +And mountainous Error be too highly heapt, +For Truth to o're-peere. Rather then foole it so, +Let the high Office and the Honor go +To one that would doe thus. I am halfe through, +The one part suffered, the other will I doe. +Enter three Citizens more. + +Here come moe Voyces. +Your Voyces? for your Voyces I haue sought, +Watcht for your Voyces: for your Voyces, beare +Of Wounds, two dozen odde: Battailes thrice six +I haue seene, and heard of: for your Voyces, +Haue done many things, some lesse, some more: +Your Voyces? Indeed I would be Consull + + 1.Cit. Hee ha's done Nobly, and cannot goe without +any honest mans Voyce + + 2.Cit. Therefore let him be Consull: the Gods giue him +ioy, and make him good friend to the People + + All. Amen, Amen. God saue thee, Noble Consull + + Corio. Worthy Voyces. +Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Scicinius. + + Mene. You haue stood your Limitation: +And the Tribunes endue you with the Peoples Voyce, +Remaines, that in th' Officiall Markes inuested, +You anon doe meet the Senate + + Corio. Is this done? + Scicin. The Custome of Request you haue discharg'd: +The People doe admit you, and are summon'd +To meet anon, vpon your approbation + + Corio. Where? at the Senate-house? + Scicin. There, Coriolanus + + Corio. May I change these Garments? + Scicin. You may, Sir + + Cori. That Ile straight do: and knowing my selfe again, +Repayre toth' Senatehouse + + Mene. Ile keepe you company. Will you along? + Brut. We stay here for the People + + Scicin. Fare you well. + +Exeunt. Coriol. and Mene. + +He ha's it now: and by his Lookes, me thinkes, +'Tis warme at's heart + + Brut. With a prowd heart he wore his humble Weeds: +Will you dismisse the People? +Enter the Plebeians. + + Scici. How now, my Masters, haue you chose this man? + 1.Cit. He ha's our Voyces, Sir + + Brut. We pray the Gods, he may deserue your loues + + 2.Cit. Amen, Sir: to my poore vnworthy notice, +He mock'd vs, when he begg'd our Voyces + + 3.Cit. Certainely, he flowted vs downe-right + + 1.Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock vs + + 2.Cit. Not one amongst vs, saue your selfe, but sayes +He vs'd vs scornefully: he should haue shew'd vs +His Marks of Merit, Wounds receiu'd for's Countrey + + Scicin. Why so he did, I am sure + + All. No, no: no man saw 'em + + 3.Cit. Hee said hee had Wounds, +Which he could shew in priuate: +And with his Hat, thus wauing it in scorne, +I would be Consull, sayes he: aged Custome, +But by your Voyces, will not so permit me. +Your Voyces therefore: when we graunted that, +Here was, I thanke you for your Voyces, thanke you +Your most sweet Voyces: now you haue left your Voyces, +I haue no further with you. Was not this mockerie? + Scicin. Why eyther were you ignorant to see't? +Or seeing it, of such Childish friendlinesse, +To yeeld your Voyces? + Brut. Could you not haue told him, +As you were lesson'd: When he had no Power, +But was a pettie seruant to the State, +He was your Enemie, euer spake against +Your Liberties, and the Charters that you beare +I'th' Body of the Weale: and now arriuing +A place of Potencie, and sway o'th' State, +If he should still malignantly remaine +Fast Foe toth' Plebeij, your Voyces might +Be Curses to your selues. You should haue said, +That as his worthy deeds did clayme no lesse +Then what he stood for: so his gracious nature +Would thinke vpon you, for your Voyces, +And translate his Mallice towards you, into Loue, +Standing your friendly Lord + + Scicin. Thus to haue said, +As you were fore-aduis'd, had toucht his Spirit, +And try'd his Inclination: from him pluckt +Eyther his gracious Promise, which you might +As cause had call'd you vp, haue held him to; +Or else it would haue gall'd his surly nature, +Which easily endures not Article, +Tying him to ought, so putting him to Rage, +You should haue ta'ne th' aduantage of his Choller, +And pass'd him vnelected + + Brut. Did you perceiue, +He did sollicite you in free Contempt, +When he did need your Loues: and doe you thinke, +That his Contempt shall not be brusing to you, +When he hath power to crush? Why, had your Bodyes +No Heart among you? Or had you Tongues, to cry +Against the Rectorship of Iudgement? + Scicin. Haue you, ere now, deny'd the asker: +And now againe, of him that did not aske, but mock, +Bestow your su'd-for Tongues? + 3.Cit. Hee's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet + + 2.Cit. And will deny him: +Ile haue fiue hundred Voyces of that sound + + 1.Cit. I twice fiue hundred, & their friends, to piece 'em + + Brut. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends, +They haue chose a Consull, that will from them take +Their Liberties, make them of no more Voyce +Then Dogges, that are as often beat for barking, +As therefore kept to doe so + + Scici. Let them assemble: and on a safer Iudgement, +All reuoke your ignorant election: Enforce his Pride, +And his old Hate vnto you: besides, forget not +With what Contempt he wore the humble Weed, +How in his Suit he scorn'd you: but your Loues, +Thinking vpon his Seruices, tooke from you +Th' apprehension of his present portance, +Which most gibingly, vngrauely, he did fashion +After the inueterate Hate he beares you + + Brut. Lay a fault on vs, your Tribunes, +That we labour'd (no impediment betweene) +But that you must cast your Election on him + + Scici. Say you chose him, more after our commandment, +Then as guided by your owne true affections, and that +Your Minds pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do, +Then what you should, made you against the graine +To Voyce him Consull. Lay the fault on vs + + Brut. I, spare vs not: Say, we read Lectures to you, +How youngly he began to serue his Countrey, +How long continued, and what stock he springs of, +The Noble House o'th'Martians: from whence came +That Ancus Martius, Numaes Daughters Sonne: +Who after great Hostilius here was King, +Of the same House Publius and Quintus were, +That our best Water, brought by Conduits hither, +And Nobly nam'd, so twice being Censor, +Was his great Ancestor + + Scicin. One thus descended, +That hath beside well in his person wrought, +To be set high in place, we did commend +To your remembrances: but you haue found, +Skaling his present bearing with his past, +That hee's your fixed enemie; and reuoke +Your suddaine approbation + + Brut. Say you ne're had don't, +(Harpe on that still) but by our putting on: +And presently, when you haue drawne your number, +Repaire toth' Capitoll + + All. We will so: almost all repent in their election. + +Exeunt. Plebeians. + + Brut. Let them goe on: +This Mutinie were better put in hazard, +Then stay past doubt, for greater: +If, as his nature is, he fall in rage +With their refusall, both obserue and answer +The vantage of his anger + + Scicin. Toth' Capitoll, come: +We will be there before the streame o'th' People: +And this shall seeme, as partly 'tis, their owne, +Which we haue goaded on-ward. + +Exeunt. + + +Actus Tertius. + +Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentry, Cominius, +Titus +Latius, and other Senators. + + Corio. Tullus Auffidius then had made new head + + Latius. He had, my Lord, and that it was which caus'd +Our swifter Composition + + Corio. So then the Volces stand but as at first, +Readie when time shall prompt them, to make roade +Vpon's againe + + Com. They are worne (Lord Consull) so, +That we shall hardly in our ages see +Their Banners waue againe + + Corio. Saw you Auffidius? + Latius. On safegard he came to me, and did curse +Against the Volces, for they had so vildly +Yeelded the Towne: he is retyred to Antium + + Corio. Spoke he of me? + Latius. He did, my Lord + + Corio. How? what? + Latius. How often he had met you Sword to Sword: +That of all things vpon the Earth, he hated +Your person most: That he would pawne his fortunes +To hopelesse restitution, so he might +Be call'd your Vanquisher + + Corio. At Antium liues he? + Latius. At Antium + + Corio. I wish I had a cause to seeke him there, +To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. +Enter Scicinius and Brutus. + +Behold, these are the Tribunes of the People, +The Tongues o'th' Common Mouth. I do despise them: +For they doe pranke them in Authoritie, +Against all Noble sufferance + + Scicin. Passe no further + + Cor. Hah? what is that? + Brut. It will be dangerous to goe on- No further + + Corio. What makes this change? + Menen. The matter? + Com. Hath he not pass'd the Noble, and the Common? + Brut. Cominius, no + + Corio. Haue I had Childrens Voyces? + Senat. Tribunes giue way, he shall toth' Market place + + Brut. The People are incens'd against him + + Scicin. Stop, or all will fall in broyle + + Corio. Are these your Heard? +Must these haue Voyces, that can yeeld them now, +And straight disclaim their toungs? what are your Offices? +You being their Mouthes, why rule you not their Teeth? +Haue you not set them on? + Mene. Be calme, be calme + + Corio. It is a purpos'd thing, and growes by Plot, +To curbe the will of the Nobilitie: +Suffer't, and liue with such as cannot rule, +Nor euer will be ruled + + Brut. Call't not a Plot: +The People cry you mockt them: and of late, +When Corne was giuen them gratis, you repin'd, +Scandal'd the Suppliants: for the People, call'd them +Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to Noblenesse + + Corio. Why this was knowne before + + Brut. Not to them all + + Corio. Haue you inform'd them sithence? + Brut. How? I informe them? + Com. You are like to doe such businesse + + Brut. Not vnlike each way to better yours + + Corio. Why then should I be Consull? by yond Clouds +Let me deserue so ill as you, and make me +Your fellow Tribune + + Scicin. You shew too much of that, +For which the People stirre: if you will passe +To where you are bound, you must enquire your way, +Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit, +Or neuer be so Noble as a Consull, +Nor yoake with him for Tribune + + Mene. Let's be calme + + Com. The People are abus'd: set on, this paltring +Becomes not Rome: nor ha's Coriolanus +Deseru'd this so dishonor'd Rub, layd falsely +I'th' plaine Way of his Merit + + Corio. Tell me of Corne: this was my speech, +And I will speak't againe + + Mene. Not now, not now + + Senat. Not in this heat, Sir, now + + Corio. Now as I liue, I will. +My Nobler friends, I craue their pardons: +For the mutable ranke-sented Meynie, +Let them regard me, as I doe not flatter, +And therein behold themselues: I say againe, +In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our Senate +The Cockle of Rebellion, Insolence, Sedition, +Which we our selues haue plowed for, sow'd, & scatter'd, +By mingling them with vs, the honor'd Number, +Who lack not Vertue, no, nor Power, but that +Which they haue giuen to Beggers + + Mene. Well, no more + + Senat. No more words, we beseech you + + Corio. How? no more? +As for my Country, I haue shed my blood, +Not fearing outward force: So shall my Lungs +Coine words till their decay, against those Meazels +Which we disdaine should Tetter vs, yet sought +The very way to catch them + + Bru. You speake a'th' people, as if you were a God, +To punish; Not a man, of their Infirmity + + Sicin. 'Twere well we let the people know't + + Mene. What, what? His Choller? + Cor. Choller? Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, +By Ioue, 'twould be my minde + + Sicin. It is a minde that shall remain a poison +Where it is: not poyson any further + + Corio. Shall remaine? +Heare you this Triton of the Minnoues? Marke you +His absolute Shall? + Com. 'Twas from the Cannon + + Cor. Shall? O God! but most vnwise Patricians: why +You graue, but wreaklesse Senators, haue you thus +Giuen Hidra heere to choose an Officer, +That with his peremptory Shall, being but +The horne, and noise o'th' Monsters, wants not spirit +To say, hee'l turne your Current in a ditch, +And make your Channell his? If he haue power, +Then vale your Ignorance: If none, awake +Your dangerous Lenity: If you are Learn'd, +Be not as common Fooles; if you are not, +Let them haue Cushions by you. You are Plebeians, +If they be Senators: and they are no lesse, +When both your voices blended, the great'st taste +Most pallates theirs. They choose their Magistrate, +And such a one as he, who puts his Shall, +His popular Shall, against a grauer Bench +Then euer frown'd in Greece. By Ioue himselfe, +It makes the Consuls base; and my Soule akes +To know, when two Authorities are vp, +Neither Supreame; How soone Confusion +May enter 'twixt the gap of Both, and take +The one by th' other + + Com. Well, on to'th' Market place + + Corio. Who euer gaue that Counsell, to giue forth +The Corne a'th' Store-house gratis, as 'twas vs'd +Sometime in Greece + + Mene. Well, well, no more of that + + Cor. Thogh there the people had more absolute powre +I say they norisht disobedience: fed, the ruin of the State + + Bru. Why shall the people giue +One that speakes thus, their voyce? + Corio. Ile giue my Reasons, +More worthier then their Voyces. They know the Corne +Was not our recompence, resting well assur'd +They ne're did seruice for't; being prest to'th' Warre, +Euen when the Nauell of the State was touch'd, +They would not thred the Gates: This kinde of Seruice +Did not deserue Corne gratis. Being i'th' Warre, +There Mutinies and Reuolts, wherein they shew'd +Most Valour spoke not for them. Th' Accusation +Which they haue often made against the Senate, +All cause vnborne, could neuer be the Natiue +Of our so franke Donation. Well, what then? +How shall this Bosome-multiplied, digest +The Senates Courtesie? Let deeds expresse +What's like to be their words, We did request it, +We are the greater pole, and in true feare +They gaue vs our demands. Thus we debase +The Nature of our Seats, and make the Rabble +Call our Cares, Feares; which will in time +Breake ope the Lockes a'th' Senate, and bring in +The Crowes to pecke the Eagles + + Mene. Come enough + + Bru. Enough, with ouer measure + + Corio. No, take more. +What may be sworne by, both Diuine and Humane, +Seale what I end withall. This double worship, +Whereon part do's disdaine with cause, the other +Insult without all reason: where Gentry, Title, wisedom +Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no +Of generall Ignorance, it must omit +Reall Necessities, and giue way the while +To vnstable Slightnesse. Purpose so barr'd, it followes, +Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore beseech you, +You that will be lesse fearefull, then discreet, +That loue the Fundamentall part of State +More then you doubt the change on't: That preferre +A Noble life, before a Long, and Wish, +To iumpe a Body with a dangerous Physicke, +That's sure of death without it: at once plucke out +The Multitudinous Tongue, let them not licke +The sweet which is their poyson. Your dishonor +Mangles true iudgement, and bereaues the State +Of that Integrity which should becom't: +Not hauing the power to do the good it would +For th' ill which doth controul't + + Bru. Has said enough + + Sicin. Ha's spoken like a Traitor, and shall answer +As Traitors do + + Corio. Thou wretch, despight ore-whelme thee: +What should the people do with these bald Tribunes? +On whom depending, their obedience failes +To'th' greater Bench, in a Rebellion: +When what's not meet, but what must be, was Law, +Then were they chosen: in a better houre, +Let what is meet, be saide it must be meet, +And throw their power i'th' dust + + Bru. Manifest Treason + + Sicin. This a Consull? No. +Enter an aedile. + + Bru. The Ediles hoe: Let him be apprehended: + Sicin. Go call the people, in whose name my Selfe +Attach thee as a Traitorous Innouator: +A Foe to'th' publike Weale. Obey I charge thee, +And follow to thine answer + + Corio. Hence old Goat + + All. Wee'l Surety him + + Com. Ag'd sir, hands off + + Corio. Hence rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones +Out of thy Garments + + Sicin. Helpe ye Citizens. +Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles. + + Mene. On both sides more respect + + Sicin. Heere's hee, that would take from you all your +power + + Bru. Seize him Aediles + + All. Downe with him, downe with him + + 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons: + +They all bustle about Coriolanus. + +Tribunes, Patricians, Citizens: what ho: +Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, Citizens + + All. Peace, peace, peace, stay, hold, peace + + Mene. What is about to be? I am out of Breath, +Confusions neere, I cannot speake. You, Tribunes +To'th' people: Coriolanus, patience: Speak good Sicinius + + Scici. Heare me, People peace + + All. Let's here our Tribune: peace, speake, speake, +speake + + Scici. You are at point to lose your Liberties: +Martius would haue all from you; Martius, +Whom late you haue nam'd for Consull + + Mene. Fie, fie, fie, this is the way to kindle, not to +quench + + Sena. To vnbuild the Citie, and to lay all flat + + Scici. What is the Citie, but the People? + All. True, the People are the Citie + + Brut. By the consent of all, we were establish'd the +Peoples Magistrates + + All. You so remaine + + Mene. And so are like to doe + + Com. That is the way to lay the Citie flat, +To bring the Roofe to the Foundation, +And burie all, which yet distinctly raunges +In heapes, and piles of Ruine + + Scici. This deserues Death + + Brut. Or let vs stand to our Authoritie, +Or let vs lose it: we doe here pronounce, +Vpon the part o'th' People, in whose power +We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy +Of present Death + + Scici. Therefore lay hold of him: +Beare him toth' Rock Tarpeian, and from thence +Into destruction cast him + + Brut. aediles seize him + + All Ple. Yeeld Martius, yeeld + + Mene. Heare me one word, 'beseech you Tribunes, +heare me but a word + + Aediles. Peace, peace + + Mene. Be that you seeme, truly your Countries friend, +And temp'rately proceed to what you would +Thus violently redresse + + Brut. Sir, those cold wayes, +That seeme like prudent helpes, are very poysonous, +Where the Disease is violent. Lay hands vpon him, +And beare him to the Rock. + +Corio. drawes his Sword. + + Corio. No, Ile die here: +There's some among you haue beheld me fighting, +Come trie vpon your selues, what you haue seene me + + Mene. Downe with that Sword, Tribunes withdraw +a while + + Brut. Lay hands vpon him + + Mene. Helpe Martius, helpe: you that be noble, helpe +him young and old + + All. Downe with him, downe with him. + +Exeunt. + +In this Mutinie, the Tribunes, the aediles, and the People are beat +in. + + Mene. Goe, get you to our House: be gone, away. +All will be naught else + + 2.Sena. Get you gone + + Com. Stand fast, we haue as many friends as enemies + + Mene. Shall it be put to that? + Sena. The Gods forbid: +I prythee noble friend, home to thy House, +Leaue vs to cure this Cause + + Mene. For 'tis a Sore vpon vs, +You cannot Tent your selfe: be gone, 'beseech you + + Corio. Come Sir, along with vs + + Mene. I would they were Barbarians, as they are, +Though in Rome litter'd: not Romans, as they are not, +Though calued i'th' Porch o'th' Capitoll: +Be gone, put not your worthy Rage into your Tongue, +One time will owe another + + Corio. On faire ground, I could beat fortie of them + + Mene. I could my selfe take vp a Brace o'th' best of +them, yea, the two Tribunes + + Com. But now 'tis oddes beyond Arithmetick, +And Manhood is call'd Foolerie, when it stands +Against a falling Fabrick. Will you hence, +Before the Tagge returne? whose Rage doth rend +Like interrupted Waters, and o're-beare +What they are vs'd to beare + + Mene. Pray you be gone: +Ile trie whether my old Wit be in request +With those that haue but little: this must be patcht +With Cloth of any Colour + + Com. Nay, come away. + +Exeunt. Coriolanus and Cominius. + + Patri. This man ha's marr'd his fortune + + Mene. His nature is too noble for the World: +He would not flatter Neptune for his Trident, +Or Ioue, for's power to Thunder: his Heart's his Mouth: +What his Brest forges, that his Tongue must vent, +And being angry, does forget that euer +He heard the Name of Death. + +A Noise within. + +Here's goodly worke + + Patri. I would they were a bed + + Mene. I would they were in Tyber. +What the vengeance, could he not speake 'em faire? +Enter Brutus and Sicinius with the rabble againe. + + Sicin. Where is this Viper, +That would depopulate the city, & be euery man himself + Mene. You worthy Tribunes + + Sicin. He shall be throwne downe the Tarpeian rock +With rigorous hands: he hath resisted Law, +And therefore Law shall scorne him further Triall +Then the seuerity of the publike Power, +Which he so sets at naught + + 1 Cit. He shall well know the Noble Tribunes are +The peoples mouths, and we their hands + + All. He shall sure ont + + Mene. Sir, sir + + Sicin. Peace + + Me. Do not cry hauocke, where you shold but hunt +With modest warrant + + Sicin. Sir, how com'st that you haue holpe +To make this rescue? + Mene. Heere me speake? As I do know +The Consuls worthinesse, so can I name his Faults + + Sicin. Consull? what Consull? + Mene. The Consull Coriolanus + + Bru. He Consull + + All. No, no, no, no, no + + Mene. If by the Tribunes leaue, +And yours good people, +I may be heard, I would craue a word or two, +The which shall turne you to no further harme, +Then so much losse of time + + Sic. Speake breefely then, +For we are peremptory to dispatch +This Viporous Traitor: to eiect him hence +Were but one danger, and to keepe him heere +Our certaine death: therefore it is decreed, +He dyes to night + + Menen. Now the good Gods forbid, +That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude +Towards her deserued Children, is enroll'd +In Ioues owne Booke, like an vnnaturall Dam +Should now eate vp her owne + + Sicin. He's a Disease that must be cut away + + Mene. Oh he's a Limbe, that ha's but a Disease +Mortall, to cut it off: to cure it, easie. +What ha's he done to Rome, that's worthy death? +Killing our Enemies, the blood he hath lost +(Which I dare vouch, is more then that he hath +By many an Ounce) he dropp'd it for his Country: +And what is left, to loose it by his Countrey, +Were to vs all that doo't, and suffer it +A brand to th' end a'th World + + Sicin. This is cleane kamme + + Brut. Meerely awry: +When he did loue his Country, it honour'd him + + Menen. The seruice of the foote +Being once gangren'd, is not then respected +For what before it was + + Bru. Wee'l heare no more: +Pursue him to his house, and plucke him thence, +Least his infection being of catching nature, +Spred further + + Menen. One word more, one word: +This Tiger-footed-rage, when it shall find +The harme of vnskan'd swiftnesse, will (too late) +Tye Leaden pounds too's heeles. Proceed by Processe, +Least parties (as he is belou'd) breake out, +And sacke great Rome with Romanes + + Brut. If it were so? + Sicin. What do ye talke? +Haue we not had a taste of his Obedience? +Our Ediles smot: our selues resisted: come + + Mene. Consider this: He ha's bin bred i'th' Warres +Since a could draw a Sword, and is ill-school'd +In boulted Language: Meale and Bran together +He throwes without distinction. Giue me leaue, +Ile go to him, and vndertake to bring him in peace, +Where he shall answer by a lawfull Forme +(In peace) to his vtmost perill + + 1.Sen. Noble Tribunes, +It is the humane way: the other course +Will proue to bloody: and the end of it, +Vnknowne to the Beginning + + Sic. Noble Menenius, be you then as the peoples officer: +Masters, lay downe your Weapons + + Bru. Go not home + + Sic. Meet on the Market place: wee'l attend you there: +Where if you bring not Martius, wee'l proceede +In our first way + + Menen. Ile bring him to you. +Let me desire your company: he must come, +Or what is worst will follow + + Sena. Pray you let's to him. + +Exeunt. Omnes. + +Enter Coriolanus with Nobles. + + Corio. Let them pull all about mine eares, present me +Death on the Wheele, or at wilde Horses heeles, +Or pile ten hilles on the Tarpeian Rocke, +That the precipitation might downe stretch +Below the beame of sight; yet will I still +Be thus to them. +Enter Volumnia. + + Noble. You do the Nobler + + Corio. I muse my Mother +Do's not approue me further, who was wont +To call them Wollen Vassailes, things created +To buy and sell with Groats, to shew bare heads +In Congregations, to yawne, be still, and wonder, +When one but of my ordinance stood vp +To speake of Peace, or Warre. I talke of you, +Why did you wish me milder? Would you haue me +False to my Nature? Rather say, I play +The man I am + + Volum. Oh sir, sir, sir, +I would haue had you put your power well on +Before you had worne it out + + Corio. Let go + + Vol. You might haue beene enough the man you are, +With striuing lesse to be so: Lesser had bin +The things of your dispositions, if +You had not shew'd them how ye were dispos'd +Ere they lack'd power to crosse you + + Corio. Let them hang + + Volum. I, and burne too. +Enter Menenius with the Senators. + + Men. Come, come, you haue bin too rough, somthing +too rough: you must returne, and mend it + + Sen. There's no remedy, +Vnlesse by not so doing, our good Citie +Cleaue in the midd'st, and perish + + Volum. Pray be counsail'd; +I haue a heart as little apt as yours, +But yet a braine, that leades my vse of Anger +To better vantage + + Mene. Well said, Noble woman: +Before he should thus stoope to'th' heart, but that +The violent fit a'th' time craues it as Physicke +For the whole State; I would put mine Armour on, +Which I can scarsely beare + + Corio. What must I do? + Mene. Returne to th' Tribunes + + Corio. Well, what then? what then? + Mene. Repent, what you haue spoke + + Corio. For them, I cannot do it to the Gods, +Must I then doo't to them? + Volum. You are too absolute, +Though therein you can neuer be too Noble, +But when extremities speake. I haue heard you say, +Honor and Policy, like vnseuer'd Friends, +I'th' Warre do grow together: Grant that, and tell me +In Peace, what each of them by th' other loose, +That they combine not there? + Corio. Tush, tush + + Mene. A good demand + + Volum. If it be Honor in your Warres, to seeme +The same you are not, which for your best ends +You adopt your policy: How is it lesse or worse +That it shall hold Companionship in Peace +With Honour, as in Warre; since that to both +It stands in like request + + Corio. Why force you this? + Volum. Because, that +Now it lyes you on to speake to th' people: +Not by your owne instruction, nor by'th' matter +Which your heart prompts you, but with such words +That are but roated in your Tongue; +Though but Bastards, and Syllables +Of no allowance, to your bosomes truth. +Now, this no more dishonors you at all, +Then to take in a Towne with gentle words, +Which else would put you to your fortune, and +The hazard of much blood. +I would dissemble with my Nature, where +My Fortunes and my Friends at stake, requir'd +I should do so in Honor. I am in this +Your Wife, your Sonne: These Senators, the Nobles, +And you, will rather shew our generall Lowts, +How you can frowne, then spend a fawne vpon 'em, +For the inheritance of their loues, and safegard +Of what that want might ruine + + Menen. Noble Lady, +Come goe with vs, speake faire: you may salue so, +Not what is dangerous present, but the losse +Of what is past + + Volum. I prythee now, my Sonne, +Goe to them, with this Bonnet in thy hand, +And thus farre hauing stretcht it (here be with them) +Thy Knee bussing the stones: for in such businesse +Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant +More learned then the eares, wauing thy head, +Which often thus correcting thy stout heart, +Now humble as the ripest Mulberry, +That will not hold the handling: or say to them, +Thou art their Souldier, and being bred in broyles, +Hast not the soft way, which thou do'st confesse +Were fit for thee to vse, as they to clayme, +In asking their good loues, but thou wilt frame +Thy selfe (forsooth) hereafter theirs so farre, +As thou hast power and person + + Menen. This but done, +Euen as she speakes, why their hearts were yours: +For they haue Pardons, being ask'd, as free, +As words to little purpose + + Volum. Prythee now, +Goe, and be rul'd: although I know thou hadst rather +Follow thine Enemie in a fierie Gulfe, +Then flatter him in a Bower. +Enter Cominius. + +Here is Cominius + + Com. I haue beene i'th' Market place: and Sir 'tis fit +You make strong partie, or defend your selfe +By calmenesse, or by absence: all's in anger + + Menen. Onely faire speech + + Com. I thinke 'twill serue, if he can thereto frame his +spirit + + Volum. He must, and will: +Prythee now say you will, and goe about it + + Corio. Must I goe shew them my vnbarb'd Sconce? +Must I with my base Tongue giue to my Noble Heart +A Lye, that it must beare well? I will doo't: +Yet were there but this single Plot, to loose +This Mould of Martius, they to dust should grinde it, +And throw't against the Winde. Toth' Market place: +You haue put me now to such a part, which neuer +I shall discharge toth' Life + + Com. Come, come, wee'le prompt you + + Volum. I prythee now sweet Son, as thou hast said +My praises made thee first a Souldier; so +To haue my praise for this, performe a part +Thou hast not done before + + Corio. Well, I must doo't: +Away my disposition, and possesse me +Some Harlots spirit: My throat of Warre be turn'd, +Which quier'd with my Drumme into a Pipe, +Small as an Eunuch, or the Virgin voyce +That Babies lull a-sleepe: The smiles of Knaues +Tent in my cheekes, and Schoole-boyes Teares take vp +The Glasses of my sight: A Beggars Tongue +Make motion through my Lips, and my Arm'd knees +Who bow'd but in my Stirrop, bend like his +That hath receiu'd an Almes. I will not doo't, +Least I surcease to honor mine owne truth, +And by my Bodies action, teach my Minde +A most inherent Basenesse + + Volum. At thy choice then: +To begge of thee, it is my more dis-honor, +Then thou of them. Come all to ruine, let +Thy Mother rather feele thy Pride, then feare +Thy dangerous Stoutnesse: for I mocke at death +With as bigge heart as thou. Do as thou list, +Thy Valiantnesse was mine, thou suck'st it from me: +But owe thy Pride thy selfe + + Corio. Pray be content: +Mother, I am going to the Market place: +Chide me no more. Ile Mountebanke their Loues, +Cogge their Hearts from them, and come home belou'd +Of all the Trades in Rome. Looke, I am going: +Commend me to my Wife, Ile returne Consull, +Or neuer trust to what my Tongue can do +I'th way of Flattery further + + Volum. Do your will. + +Exit Volumnia + + Com. Away, the Tribunes do attend you: arm your self +To answer mildely: for they are prepar'd +With Accusations, as I heare more strong +Then are vpon you yet + + Corio. The word is, Mildely. Pray you let vs go, +Let them accuse me by inuention: I +Will answer in mine Honor + + Menen. I, but mildely + + Corio. Well mildely be it then, Mildely. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Sicinius and Brutus. + + Bru. In this point charge him home, that he affects +Tyrannicall power: If he euade vs there, +Inforce him with his enuy to the people, +And that the Spoile got on the Antiats +Was ne're distributed. What, will he come? +Enter an Edile. + + Edile. Hee's comming + + Bru. How accompanied? + Edile. With old Menenius, and those Senators +That alwayes fauour'd him + + Sicin. Haue you a Catalogue +Of all the Voices that we haue procur'd, set downe by'th Pole? + Edile. I haue: 'tis ready + + Sicin. Haue you collected them by Tribes? + Edile. I haue + + Sicin. Assemble presently the people hither: +And when they heare me say, it shall be so, +I'th' right and strength a'th' Commons: be it either +For death, for fine, or Banishment, then let them +If I say Fine, cry Fine; if Death, cry Death, +Insisting on the olde prerogatiue +And power i'th Truth a'th Cause + + Edile. I shall informe them + + Bru. And when such time they haue begun to cry, +Let them not cease, but with a dinne confus'd +Inforce the present Execution +Of what we chance to Sentence + + Edi. Very well + + Sicin. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint +When we shall hap to giu't them + + Bru. Go about it, +Put him to Choller straite, he hath bene vs'd +Euer to conquer, and to haue his worth +Of contradiction. Being once chaft, he cannot +Be rein'd againe to Temperance, then he speakes +What's in his heart, and that is there which lookes +With vs to breake his necke. +Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius, with others. + + Sicin. Well, heere he comes + + Mene. Calmely, I do beseech you + + Corio. I, as an Hostler, that fourth poorest peece +Will beare the Knaue by'th Volume: +Th' honor'd Goddes +Keepe Rome in safety, and the Chaires of Iustice +Supplied with worthy men, plant loue amongs +Through our large Temples with y shewes of peace +And not our streets with Warre + + 1 Sen. Amen, Amen + + Mene. A Noble wish. +Enter the Edile with the Plebeians. + + Sicin. Draw neere ye people + + Edile. List to your Tribunes. Audience: +Peace I say + + Corio. First heare me speake + + Both Tri. Well, say: Peace hoe + + Corio. Shall I be charg'd no further then this present? +Must all determine heere? + Sicin. I do demand, +If you submit you to the peoples voices, +Allow their Officers, and are content +To suffer lawfull Censure for such faults +As shall be prou'd vpon you + + Corio. I am Content + + Mene. Lo Citizens, he sayes he is Content. +The warlike Seruice he ha's done, consider: Thinke +Vpon the wounds his body beares, which shew +Like Graues i'th holy Church-yard + + Corio. Scratches with Briars, scarres to moue +Laughter onely + + Mene. Consider further: +That when he speakes not like a Citizen, +You finde him like a Soldier: do not take +His rougher Actions for malicious sounds: +But as I say, such as become a Soldier, +Rather then enuy you + + Com. Well, well, no more + + Corio. What is the matter, +That being past for Consull with full voyce: +I am so dishonour'd, that the very houre +You take it off againe + + Sicin. Answer to vs + + Corio. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so + Sicin. We charge you, that you haue contriu'd to take +From Rome all season'd Office, and to winde +Your selfe into a power tyrannicall, +For which you are a Traitor to the people + + Corio. How? Traytor? + Mene. Nay temperately: your promise + + Corio. The fires i'th' lowest hell. Fould in the people: +Call me their Traitor, thou iniurious Tribune. +Within thine eyes sate twenty thousand deaths +In thy hands clutcht: as many Millions in +Thy lying tongue, both numbers. I would say +Thou lyest vnto thee, with a voice as free, +As I do pray the Gods + + Sicin. Marke you this people? + All. To'th' Rocke, to'th' Rocke with him + + Sicin. Peace: +We neede not put new matter to his charge: +What you haue seene him do, and heard him speake: +Beating your Officers, cursing your selues, +Opposing Lawes with stroakes, and heere defying +Those whose great power must try him. +Euen this so criminall, and in such capitall kinde +Deserues th' extreamest death + + Bru. But since he hath seru'd well for Rome + + Corio. What do you prate of Seruice + + Brut. I talke of that, that know it + + Corio. You? + Mene. Is this the promise that you made your mother + + Com. Know, I pray you + + Corio. Ile know no further: +Let them pronounce the steepe Tarpeian death, +Vagabond exile, Fleaing, pent to linger +But with a graine a day, I would not buy +Their mercie, at the price of one faire word, +Nor checke my Courage for what they can giue, +To haue't with saying, Good morrow + + Sicin. For that he ha's +(As much as in him lies) from time to time +Enui'd against the people; seeking meanes +To plucke away their power: as now at last, +Giuen Hostile strokes, and that not in the presence +Of dreaded Iustice, but on the Ministers +That doth distribute it. In the name a'th' people, +And in the power of vs the Tribunes, wee +(Eu'n from this instant) banish him our Citie +In perill of precipitation +From off the Rocke Tarpeian, neuer more +To enter our Rome gates. I'th' Peoples name, +I say it shall bee so + + All. It shall be so, it shall be so: let him away: +Hee's banish'd, and it shall be so + + Com. Heare me my Masters, and my common friends + + Sicin. He's sentenc'd: No more hearing + + Com. Let me speake: +I haue bene Consull, and can shew from Rome +Her Enemies markes vpon me. I do loue +My Countries good, with a respect more tender, +More holy, and profound, then mine owne life, +My deere Wiues estimate, her wombes encrease, +And treasure of my Loynes: then if I would +Speake that + + Sicin. We know your drift. Speake what? + Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd +As Enemy to the people, and his Countrey. +It shall bee so + + All. It shall be so, it shall be so + + Corio. You common cry of Curs, whose breath I hate, +As reeke a'th' rotten Fennes: whose Loues I prize, +As the dead Carkasses of vnburied men, +That do corrupt my Ayre: I banish you, +And heere remaine with your vncertaintie. +Let euery feeble Rumor shake your hearts: +Your Enemies, with nodding of their Plumes +Fan you into dispaire: Haue the power still +To banish your Defenders, till at length +Your ignorance (which findes not till it feeles, +Making but reseruation of your selues, +Still your owne Foes) deliuer you +As most abated Captiues, to some Nation +That wonne you without blowes, despising +For you the City. Thus I turne my backe; +There is a world elsewhere. + +Exeunt. Coriolanus, Cominius, with Cumalijs. They all shout, and +throw vp +their Caps. + + Edile. The peoples Enemy is gone, is gone + + All. Our enemy is banish'd, he is gone: Hoo, oo + + Sicin. Go see him out at Gates, and follow him +As he hath follow'd you, with all despight +Giue him deseru'd vexation. Let a guard +Attend vs through the City + + All. Come, come, lets see him out at gates, come: +The Gods preserue our Noble Tribunes, come. + +Exeunt. + + +Actus Quartus. + +Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, with +the yong +Nobility of Rome. + + Corio. Come leaue your teares: a brief farwel: the beast +With many heads butts me away. Nay Mother, +Where is your ancient Courage? You were vs'd +To say, Extreamities was the trier of spirits, +That common chances. Common men could beare, +That when the Sea was calme, all Boats alike +Shew'd Mastership in floating. Fortunes blowes, +When most strooke home, being gentle wounded, craues +A Noble cunning. You were vs'd to load me +With Precepts that would make inuincible +The heart that conn'd them + + Virg. Oh heauens! O heauens! + Corio. Nay, I prythee woman + + Vol. Now the Red Pestilence strike al Trades in Rome, +And Occupations perish + + Corio. What, what, what: +I shall be lou'd when I am lack'd. Nay Mother, +Resume that Spirit, when you were wont to say, +If you had beene the Wife of Hercules, +Six of his Labours youl'd haue done, and sau'd +Your Husband so much swet. Cominius, +Droope not, Adieu: Farewell my Wife, my Mother, +Ile do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius, +Thy teares are salter then a yonger mans, +And venomous to thine eyes. My (sometime) Generall, +I haue seene the Sterne, and thou hast oft beheld +Heart-hardning spectacles. Tell these sad women, +Tis fond to waile ineuitable strokes, +As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My Mother, you wot well +My hazards still haue beene your solace, and +Beleeu't not lightly, though I go alone +Like to a lonely Dragon, that his Fenne +Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more then seene: your Sonne +Will or exceed the Common, or be caught +With cautelous baits and practice + + Volum. My first sonne, +Whether will thou go? Take good Cominius +With thee awhile: Determine on some course +More then a wilde exposture, to each chance +That starts i'th' way before thee + + Corio. O the Gods! + Com. Ile follow thee a Moneth, deuise with thee +Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st heare of vs, +And we of thee. So if the time thrust forth +A cause for thy Repeale, we shall not send +O're the vast world, to seeke a single man, +And loose aduantage, which doth euer coole +Ith' absence of the needer + + Corio. Fare ye well: +Thou hast yeares vpon thee, and thou art too full +Of the warres surfets, to go roue with one +That's yet vnbruis'd: bring me but out at gate. +Come my sweet wife, my deerest Mother, and +My Friends of Noble touch: when I am forth, +Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you come: +While I remaine aboue the ground, you shall +Heare from me still, and neuer of me ought +But what is like me formerly + + Menen. That's worthily +As any eare can heare. Come, let's not weepe, +If I could shake off but one seuen yeeres +From these old armes and legges, by the good Gods +I'ld with thee, euery foot + + Corio. Giue me thy hand, come. + +Exeunt. + +Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus, with the Edile. + + Sicin. Bid them all home, he's gone: & wee'l no further, +The Nobility are vexed, whom we see haue sided +In his behalfe + + Brut. Now we haue shewne our power, +Let vs seeme humbler after it is done, +Then when it was a dooing + + Sicin. Bid them home: say their great enemy is gone, +And they, stand in their ancient strength + + Brut. Dismisse them home. Here comes his Mother. +Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius. + + Sicin. Let's not meet her + + Brut. Why? + Sicin. They say she's mad + + Brut. They haue tane note of vs: keepe on your way + + Volum. Oh y'are well met: +Th' hoorded plague a'th' Gods requit your loue + + Menen. Peace, peace, be not so loud + + Volum. If that I could for weeping, you should heare, +Nay, and you shall heare some. Will you be gone? + Virg. You shall stay too: I would I had the power +To say so to my Husband + + Sicin. Are you mankinde? + Volum. I foole, is that a shame. Note but this Foole, +Was not a man my Father? Had'st thou Foxship +To banish him that strooke more blowes for Rome +Then thou hast spoken words + + Sicin. Oh blessed Heauens! + Volum. Moe Noble blowes, then euer y wise words. +And for Romes good, Ile tell thee what: yet goe: +Nay but thou shalt stay too: I would my Sonne +Were in Arabia, and thy Tribe before him, +His good Sword in his hand + + Sicin. What then? + Virg. When then? Hee'ld make an end of thy posterity + Volum. Bastards, and all. +Good man, the Wounds that he does beare for Rome! + Menen. Come, come, peace + + Sicin. I would he had continued to his Country +As he began, and not vnknit himselfe +The Noble knot he made + + Bru. I would he had + + Volum. I would he had? Twas thou incenst the rable. +Cats, that can iudge as fitly of his worth, +As I can of those Mysteries which heauen +Will not haue earth to know + + Brut. Pray let's go + + Volum. Now pray sir get you gone. +You haue done a braue deede: Ere you go, heare this: +As farre as doth the Capitoll exceede +The meanest house in Rome; so farre my Sonne +This Ladies Husband heere; this (do you see) +Whom you haue banish'd, does exceed you all + + Bru. Well, well, wee'l leaue you + + Sicin. Why stay we to be baited +With one that wants her Wits. + +Exit Tribunes. + + Volum. Take my Prayers with you. +I would the Gods had nothing else to do, +But to confirme my Cursses. Could I meete 'em +But once a day, it would vnclogge my heart +Of what lyes heauy too't + + Mene. You haue told them home, +And by my troth you haue cause: you'l Sup with me + + Volum. Angers my Meate: I suppe vpon my selfe, +And so shall sterue with Feeding: come, let's go, +Leaue this faint-puling, and lament as I do, +In Anger, Iuno-like: Come, come, come. + +Exeunt. + + Mene. Fie, fie, fie. +Enter. + +Enter a Roman, and a Volce. + + Rom. I know you well sir, and you know mee: your +name I thinke is Adrian + + Volce. It is so sir, truly I haue forgot you + + Rom. I am a Roman, and my Seruices are as you are, +against 'em. Know you me yet + + Volce. Nicanor: no + + Rom. The same sir + + Volce. You had more Beard when I last saw you, but +your Fauour is well appear'd by your Tongue. What's +the Newes in Rome: I haue a Note from the Volcean +state to finde you out there. You haue well saued mee a +dayes iourney + + Rom. There hath beene in Rome straunge Insurrections: +The people, against the Senatours, Patricians, and +Nobles + + Vol. Hath bin; is it ended then? Our State thinks not +so, they are in a most warlike preparation, & hope to com +vpon them, in the heate of their diuision + Rom. The maine blaze of it is past, but a small thing +would make it flame againe. For the Nobles receyue so +to heart, the Banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that +they are in a ripe aptnesse, to take al power from the people, +and to plucke from them their Tribunes for euer. +This lyes glowing I can tell you, and is almost mature for +the violent breaking out + + Vol. Coriolanus Banisht? + Rom. Banish'd sir + + Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence Nicanor + + Rom. The day serues well for them now. I haue heard +it saide, the fittest time to corrupt a mans Wife, is when +shee's falne out with her Husband. Your Noble Tullus +Auffidius will appeare well in these Warres, his great +Opposer Coriolanus being now in no request of his countrey + + Volce. He cannot choose: I am most fortunate, thus +accidentally to encounter you. You haue ended my Businesse, +and I will merrily accompany you home + + Rom. I shall betweene this and Supper, tell you most +strange things from Rome: all tending to the good of +their Aduersaries. Haue you an Army ready say you? + Vol. A most Royall one: The Centurions, and their +charges distinctly billetted already in th' entertainment, +and to be on foot at an houres warning + + Rom. I am ioyfull to heare of their readinesse, and am +the man I thinke, that shall set them in present Action. So +sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your Company + + Volce. You take my part from me sir, I haue the most +cause to be glad of yours + + Rom. Well, let vs go together. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Coriolanus in meane Apparrell, disguisd, and muffled. + + Corio. A goodly City is this Antium. Citty, +'Tis I that made thy Widdowes: Many an heyre +Of these faire Edifices fore my Warres +Haue I heard groane, and drop: Then know me not, +Least that thy Wiues with Spits, and Boyes with stones +In puny Battell slay me. Saue you sir. +Enter a Citizen. + + Cit. And you + + Corio. Direct me, if it be your will, where great Auffidius +lies: Is he in Antium? + Cit. He is, and Feasts the Nobles of the State, at his +house this night + + Corio. Which is his house, beseech you? + Cit. This heere before you + + Corio. Thanke you sir, farewell. + +Exit Citizen + +Oh World, thy slippery turnes! Friends now fast sworn, +Whose double bosomes seemes to weare one heart, +Whose Houres, whose Bed, whose Meale and Exercise +Are still together: who Twin (as 'twere) in Loue, +Vnseparable, shall within this houre, +On a dissention of a Doit, breake out +To bitterest Enmity: So fellest Foes, +Whose Passions, and whose Plots haue broke their sleep +To take the one the other, by some chance, +Some tricke not worth an Egge, shall grow deere friends +And inter-ioyne their yssues. So with me, +My Birth-place haue I, and my loues vpon +This Enemie Towne: Ile enter, if he slay me +He does faire Iustice: if he giue me way, +Ile do his Country Seruice. + +Enter. + +Musicke playes. Enter a Seruingman. + + 1 Ser. Wine, Wine, Wine: What seruice is heere? I +thinke our Fellowes are asleepe. + +Enter another Seruingman. + + 2 Ser. Where's Cotus: my M[aster]. cals for him: Cotus. + +Exit + +Enter Coriolanus. + + Corio. A goodly House: +The Feast smels well: but I appeare not like a Guest. +Enter the first Seruingman. + + 1 Ser. What would you haue Friend? whence are you? +Here's no place for you: pray go to the doore? + +Exit + + Corio. I haue deseru'd no better entertainment, in being +Coriolanus. +Enter second Seruant. + + 2 Ser. Whence are you sir? Ha's the Porter his eyes in +his head, that he giues entrance to such Companions? +Pray get you out + + Corio. Away + + 2 Ser. Away? Get you away + + Corio. Now th'art troublesome + + 2 Ser. Are you so braue: Ile haue you talkt with anon +Enter 3 Seruingman, the 1 meets him. + + 3 What Fellowes this? + 1 A strange one as euer I look'd on: I cannot get him +out o'thhouse: Prythee call my Master to him + + 3 What haue you to do here fellow? Pray you auoid +the house + + Corio. Let me but stand, I will not hurt your Harth + + 3 What are you? + Corio. A Gentleman + + 3 A maru'llous poore one + + Corio. True, so I am + + 3 Pray you poore Gentleman, take vp some other station: +Heere's no place for you, pray you auoid: Come + + Corio. Follow your Function, go, and batten on colde +bits. + +Pushes him away from him. + + 3 What you will not? Prythee tell my Maister what +a strange Guest he ha's heere + + 2 And I shall. + +Exit second Seruingman. + + 3 Where dwel'st thou? + Corio. Vnder the Canopy + + 3 Vnder the Canopy? + Corio. I + + 3 Where's that? + Corio. I'th City of Kites and crowes + + 3 I'th City of Kites and Crowes? What an Asse it is, +then thou dwel'st with Dawes too? + Corio. No, I serue not thy Master + + 3 How sir? Do you meddle with my Master? + Corio. I, tis an honester seruice, then to meddle with +thy Mistris: Thou prat'st, and prat'st, serue with thy trencher: +Hence. + +Beats him away + +Enter Auffidius with the Seruingman. + + Auf. Where is this Fellow? + 2 Here sir, I'de haue beaten him like a dogge, but for +disturbing the Lords within + + Auf. Whence com'st thou? What wouldst y? Thy name? +Why speak'st not? Speake man: What's thy name? + Corio. If Tullus not yet thou know'st me, and seeing +me, dost not thinke me for the man I am, necessitie commands +me name my selfe + + Auf. What is thy name? + Corio. A name vnmusicall to the Volcians eares, +And harsh in sound to thine + + Auf. Say, what's thy name? +Thou hast a Grim apparance, and thy Face +Beares a Command in't: Though thy Tackles torne, +Thou shew'st a Noble Vessell: What's thy name? + Corio. Prepare thy brow to frowne: knowst y me yet? + Auf. I know thee not? Thy Name: + Corio. My name is Caius Martius, who hath done +To thee particularly, and to all the Volces +Great hurt and Mischiefe: thereto witnesse may +My Surname Coriolanus. The painfull Seruice, +The extreme Dangers, and the droppes of Blood +Shed for my thanklesse Country, are requitted: +But with that Surname, a good memorie +And witnesse of the Malice and Displeasure +Which thou should'st beare me, only that name remains. +The Cruelty and Enuy of the people, +Permitted by our dastard Nobles, who +Haue all forsooke me, hath deuour'd the rest: +And suffer'd me by th' voyce of Slaues to be +Hoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity, +Hath brought me to thy Harth, not out of Hope +(Mistake me not) to saue my life: for if +I had fear'd death, of all the Men i'th' World +I would haue voided thee. But in meere spight +To be full quit of those my Banishers, +Stand I before thee heere: Then if thou hast +A heart of wreake in thee, that wilt reuenge +Thine owne particular wrongs, and stop those maimes +Of shame seene through thy Country, speed thee straight +And make my misery serue thy turne: So vse it, +That my reuengefull Seruices may proue +As Benefits to thee. For I will fight +Against my Cankred Countrey, with the Spleene +Of all the vnder Fiends. But if so be, +Thou dar'st not this, and that to proue more Fortunes +Th'art tyr'd, then in a word, I also am +Longer to liue most wearie: and present +My throat to thee, and to thy Ancient Malice: +Which not to cut, would shew thee but a Foole, +Since I haue euer followed thee with hate, +Drawne Tunnes of Blood out of thy Countries brest, +And cannot liue but to thy shame, vnlesse +It be to do thee seruice + + Auf. Oh Martius, Martius; +Each word thou hast spoke, hath weeded from my heart +A roote of Ancient Enuy. If Iupiter +Should from yond clowd speake diuine things, +And say 'tis true; I'de not beleeue them more +Then thee all-Noble Martius. Let me twine +Mine armes about that body, where against +My grained Ash an hundred times hath broke, +And scarr'd the Moone with splinters: heere I cleep +The Anuile of my Sword, and do contest +As hotly, and as Nobly with thy Loue, +As euer in Ambitious strength, I did +Contend against thy Valour. Know thou first, +I lou'd the Maid I married: neuer man +Sigh'd truer breath. But that I see thee heere +Thou Noble thing, more dances my rapt heart, +Then when I first my wedded Mistris saw +Bestride my Threshold. Why, thou Mars I tell thee, +We haue a Power on foote: and I had purpose +Once more to hew thy Target from thy Brawne, +Or loose mine Arme for't: Thou hast beate mee out +Twelue seuerall times, and I haue nightly since +Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thy selfe and me: +We haue beene downe together in my sleepe, +Vnbuckling Helmes, fisting each others Throat, +And wak'd halfe dead with nothing. Worthy Martius, +Had we no other quarrell else to Rome, but that +Thou art thence Banish'd, we would muster all +From twelue, to seuentie: and powring Warre +Into the bowels of vngratefull Rome, +Like a bold Flood o're-beate. Oh come, go in, +And take our friendly Senators by'th' hands +Who now are heere, taking their leaues of mee, +Who am prepar'd against your Territories, +Though not for Rome it selfe + + Corio. You blesse me Gods + + Auf. Therefore most absolute Sir, if thou wilt haue +The leading of thine owne Reuenges, take +Th' one halfe of my Commission, and set downe +As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st +Thy Countries strength and weaknesse, thine own waies +Whether to knocke 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, then ere an Enemie, +Yet Martius that was much. Your hand: most welcome. + +Exeunt. + +Enter two of the Seruingmen. + + 1 Heere's a strange alteration? + 2 By my hand, I had thoght to haue stroken him with +a Cudgell, and yet my minde gaue me, his cloathes made +a false report of him + + 1 What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his +finger and his thumbe, as one would set vp a Top + + 2 Nay, I knew by his face that there was some-thing +in him. He had sir, a kinde of face me thought, I cannot +tell how to tearme it + + 1 He had so, looking as it were, would I were hang'd +but I thought there was more in him, then I could think + + 2 So did I, Ile be sworne: He is simply the rarest man +i'th' world + + 1 I thinke he is: but a greater soldier then he, +You wot one + + 2 Who my Master? + 1 Nay, it's no matter for that + + 2 Worth six on him + + 1 Nay not so neither: but I take him to be the greater +Souldiour + + 2 Faith looke you, one cannot tell how to say that: for +the Defence of a Towne, our Generall is excellent + + 1 I, and for an assault too. +Enter the third Seruingman. + + 3 Oh Slaues, I can tell you Newes, News you Rascals + Both. What, what, what? Let's partake + + 3 I would not be a Roman of all Nations; I had as +liue be a condemn'd man + + Both. Wherefore? Wherefore? + 3 Why here's he that was wont to thwacke our Generall, +Caius Martius + + 1 Why do you say, thwacke our Generall? + 3 I do not say thwacke our Generall, but he was alwayes +good enough for him + 2 Come we are fellowes and friends: he was euer too +hard for him, I haue heard him say so himselfe + + 1 He was too hard for him directly, to say the Troth +on't before Corioles, he scotcht him, and notcht him like a +Carbinado + + 2 And hee had bin Cannibally giuen, hee might haue +boyld and eaten him too + + 1 But more of thy Newes + + 3 Why he is so made on heere within, as if hee were +Son and Heire to Mars, set at vpper end o'th' Table: No +question askt him by any of the Senators, but they stand +bald before him. Our Generall himselfe makes a Mistris +of him, Sanctifies himselfe with's hand, and turnes vp the +white o'th' eye to his Discourse. But the bottome of the +Newes is, our Generall is cut i'th' middle, & but one halfe +of what he was yesterday. For the other ha's halfe, by +the intreaty and graunt of the whole Table. Hee'l go he +sayes, and sole the Porter of Rome Gates by th' eares. He +will mowe all downe before him, and leaue his passage +poul'd + + 2 And he's as like to do't, as any man I can imagine + + 3 Doo't? he will doo't: for look you sir, he has as many +Friends as Enemies: which Friends sir as it were, durst +not (looke you sir) shew themselues (as we terme it) his +Friends, whilest he's in Directitude + + 1 Directitude? What's that? + 3 But when they shall see sir, his Crest vp againe, and +the man in blood, they will out of their Burroughes (like +Conies after Raine) and reuell all with him + + 1 But when goes this forward: + 3 To morrow, to day, presently, you shall haue the +Drum strooke vp this afternoone: 'Tis as it were a parcel +of their Feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips + + 2 Why then wee shall haue a stirring World againe: +This peace is nothing, but to rust Iron, encrease Taylors, +and breed Ballad-makers + + 1 Let me haue Warre say I, it exceeds peace as farre +as day do's night: It's sprightly walking, audible, and full +of Vent. Peace, is a very Apoplexy, Lethargie, mull'd, +deafe, sleepe, insensible, a getter of more bastard Children, +then warres a destroyer of men + + 2 'Tis so, and as warres in some sort may be saide to +be a Rauisher, so it cannot be denied, but peace is a great +maker of Cuckolds + + 1 I, and it makes men hate one another + + 3 Reason, because they then lesse neede one another: +The Warres for my money. I hope to see Romanes as +cheape as Volcians. They are rising, they are rising + + Both. In, in, in, in. + +Exeunt. + +Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus. + + Sicin. We heare not of him, neither need we fear him, +His remedies are tame, the present peace, +And quietnesse of the people, which before +Were in wilde hurry. Heere do we make his Friends +Blush, that the world goes well: who rather had, +Though they themselues did suffer by't, behold +Dissentious numbers pestring streets, then see +Our Tradesmen singing in their shops, and going +About their Functions friendly. +Enter Menenius. + + Bru. We stood too't in good time. Is this Menenius? + Sicin. 'Tis he, 'tis he: O he is grown most kind of late: +Haile Sir + + Mene. Haile to you both + + Sicin. Your Coriolanus is not much mist, but with his +Friends: the Commonwealth doth stand, and so would +do, were he more angry at it + + Mene. All's well, and might haue bene much better, +if he could haue temporiz'd + + Sicin. Where is he, heare you? + Mene. Nay I heare nothing: +His Mother and his wife, heare nothing from him. +Enter three or foure Citizens. + + All. The Gods preserue you both + + Sicin. Gooden our Neighbours + + Bru. Gooden to you all, gooden to you all + + 1 Our selues, our wiues, and children, on our knees, +Are bound to pray for you both + + Sicin. Liue, and thriue + + Bru. Farewell kinde Neighbours: +We wisht Coriolanus had lou'd you as we did + + All. Now the Gods keepe you + + Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. + +Exeunt. Citizens + + Sicin. This is a happier and more comely time, +Then when these Fellowes ran about the streets, +Crying Confusion + + Bru. Caius Martius was +A worthy Officer i'th' Warre, but Insolent, +O'recome with Pride, Ambitious, past all thinking +Selfe-louing + + Sicin. And affecting one sole Throne, without assista[n]ce + Mene. I thinke not so + + Sicin. We should by this, to all our Lamention, +If he had gone forth Consull, found it so + + Bru. The Gods haue well preuented it, and Rome +Sits safe and still, without him. +Enter an aedile. + + Aedile. Worthy Tribunes, +There is a Slaue whom we haue put in prison, +Reports the Volces with two seuerall Powers +Are entred in the Roman Territories, +And with the deepest malice of the Warre, +Destroy, what lies before' em + + Mene. 'Tis Auffidius, +Who hearing of our Martius Banishment, +Thrusts forth his hornes againe into the world +Which were In-shell'd, when Martius stood for Rome, +And durst not once peepe out + + Sicin. Come, what talke you of Martius + + Bru. Go see this Rumorer whipt, it cannot be, +The Volces dare breake with vs + + Mene. Cannot be? +We haue Record, that very well it can, +And three examples of the like, hath beene +Within my Age. But reason with the fellow +Before you punish him, where he heard this, +Least you shall chance to whip your Information, +And beate the Messenger, who bids beware +Of what is to be dreaded + + Sicin. Tell not me: I know this cannot be + + Bru. Not possible. +Enter a Messenger. + + Mes. The Nobles in great earnestnesse are going +All to the Senate-house: some newes is comming +That turnes their Countenances + + Sicin. 'Tis this Slaue: +Go whip him fore the peoples eyes: His raising, +Nothing but his report + + Mes. Yes worthy Sir, +The Slaues report is seconded, and more +More fearfull is deliuer'd + + Sicin. What more fearefull? + Mes. It is spoke freely out of many mouths, +How probable I do not know, that Martius +Ioyn'd with Auffidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome, +And vowes Reuenge as spacious, as betweene +The yong'st and oldest thing + + Sicin. This is most likely + + Bru. Rais'd onely, that the weaker sort may wish +Good Martius home againe + + Sicin. The very tricke on't + + Mene. This is vnlikely, +He, and Auffidius can no more attone +Then violent'st Contrariety. +Enter Messenger. + + Mes. You are sent for to the Senate: +A fearefull Army, led by Caius Martius, +Associated with Auffidius, Rages +Vpon our Territories, and haue already +O're-borne their way, consum'd with fire, and tooke +What lay before them. +Enter Cominius. + + Com. Oh you haue made good worke + + Mene. What newes? What newes? + Com. You haue holp to rauish your owne daughters, & +To melt the Citty Leades vpon your pates, +To see your Wiues dishonour'd to your Noses + + Mene. What's the newes? What's the newes? + Com. Your Temples burned in their Ciment, and +Your Franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd +Into an Augors boare + + Mene. Pray now, your Newes: +You haue made faire worke I feare me: pray your newes, +If Martius should be ioyn'd with Volceans + + Com. If? He is their God, he leads them like a thing +Made by some other Deity then Nature, +That shapes man Better: and they follow him +Against vs Brats, with no lesse Confidence, +Then Boyes pursuing Summer Butter-flies, +Or Butchers killing Flyes + + Mene. You haue made good worke, +You and your Apron men: you, that stood so much +Vpon the voyce of occupation, and +The breath of Garlicke-eaters + + Com. Hee'l shake your Rome about your eares + + Mene. As Hercules did shake downe Mellow Fruite: +You haue made faire worke + + Brut. But is this true sir? + Com. I, and you'l looke pale +Before you finde it other. All the Regions +Do smilingly Reuolt, and who resists +Are mock'd for valiant Ignorance, +And perish constant Fooles: who is't can blame him? +Your Enemies and his, finde something in him + + Mene. We are all vndone, vnlesse +The Noble man haue mercy + + Com. Who shall aske it? +The Tribunes cannot doo't for shame; the people +Deserue such pitty of him, as the Wolfe +Doe's of the Shepheards: For his best Friends, if they +Should say be good to Rome, they charg'd him, euen +As those should do that had deseru'd his hate, +And therein shew'd like Enemies + + Me. 'Tis true, if he were putting to my house, the brand +That should consume it, I haue not the face +To say, beseech you cease. You haue made faire hands, +You and your Crafts, you haue crafted faire + + Com. You haue brought +A Trembling vpon Rome, such as was neuer +S' incapeable of helpe + + Tri. Say not, we brought it + + Mene. How? Was't we? We lou'd him, +But like Beasts, and Cowardly Nobles, +Gaue way vnto your Clusters, who did hoote +Him out o'th' Citty + + Com. But I feare +They'l roare him in againe. Tullus Affidius, +The second name of men, obeyes his points +As if he were his Officer: Desperation, +Is all the Policy, Strength, and Defence +That Rome can make against them. +Enter a Troope of Citizens. + + Mene. Heere come the Clusters. +And is Auffidius with him? You are they +That made the Ayre vnwholsome, when you cast +Your stinking, greasie Caps, in hooting +At Coriolanus Exile. Now he's comming, +And not a haire vpon a Souldiers head +Which will not proue a whip: As many Coxcombes +As you threw Caps vp, will he tumble downe, +And pay you for your voyces. 'Tis no matter, +If he could burne vs all into one coale, +We haue deseru'd it + + Omnes. Faith, we heare fearfull Newes + + 1 Cit. For mine owne part, +When I said banish him, I said 'twas pitty + + 2 And so did I + + 3 And so did I: and to say the truth, so did very many +of vs, that we did we did for the best, and though wee +willingly consented to his Banishment, yet it was against +our will + + Com. Y'are goodly things, you Voyces + + Mene. You haue made good worke +You and your cry. Shal's to the Capitoll? + Com. Oh I, what else? + +Exeunt. both. + + Sicin. Go Masters get you home, be not dismaid, +These are a Side, that would be glad to haue +This true, which they so seeme to feare. Go home, +And shew no signe of Feare + + 1 Cit. The Gods bee good to vs: Come Masters let's +home, I euer said we were i'th wrong, when we banish'd +him + + 2 Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home. + +Exit Cit. + + Bru. I do not like this Newes + + Sicin. Nor I + + Bru. Let's to the Capitoll: would halfe my wealth +Would buy this for a lye + + Sicin. Pray let's go. + +Exeunt. Tribunes. + +Enter Auffidius with his Lieutenant. + + Auf. Do they still flye to'th' Roman? + Lieu. I do not know what Witchcraft's in him: but +Your Soldiers vse him as the Grace 'fore meate, +Their talke at Table, and their Thankes at end, +And you are darkned in this action Sir, +Euen by your owne + + Auf. I cannot helpe it now, +Vnlesse by vsing meanes I lame the foote +Of our designe. He beares himselfe more proudlier, +Euen to my person, then I thought he would +When first I did embrace him. Yet his Nature +In that's no Changeling, and I must excuse +What cannot be amended + + Lieu. Yet I wish Sir, +(I meane for your particular) you had not +Ioyn'd in Commission with him: but either haue borne +The action of your selfe, or else to him, had left it soly + + Auf. I vnderstand thee well, and be thou sure +When he shall come to his account, he knowes not +What I can vrge against him, although it seemes +And so he thinkes, and is no lesse apparant +To th' vulgar eye, that he beares all things fairely: +And shewes good Husbandry for the Volcian State, +Fights Dragon-like, and does atcheeue as soone +As draw his Sword: yet he hath left vndone +That which shall breake his necke, or hazard mine, +When ere we come to our account + + Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'l carry Rome? + Auf. All places yeelds to him ere he sits downe, +And the Nobility of Rome are his: +The Senators and Patricians loue him too: +The Tribunes are no Soldiers: and their people +Will be as rash in the repeale, as hasty +To expell him thence. I thinke hee'l be to Rome +As is the Aspray to the Fish, who takes it +By Soueraignty of Nature. First, he was +A Noble seruant to them, but he could not +Carry his Honors eeuen: whether 'twas Pride +Which out of dayly Fortune euer taints +The happy man; whether detect of iudgement, +To faile in the disposing of those chances +Which he was Lord of: or whether Nature, +Not to be other then one thing, not moouing +From th' Caske to th' Cushion: but commanding peace +Euen with the same austerity and garbe, +As he controll'd the warre. But one of these +(As he hath spices of them all) not all, +For I dare so farre free him, made him fear'd, +So hated, and so banish'd: but he ha's a Merit +To choake it in the vtt'rance: So our Vertue, +Lie in th' interpretation of the time, +And power vnto it selfe most commendable, +Hath not a Tombe so euident as a Chaire +T' extoll what it hath done. +One fire driues out one fire; one Naile, one Naile; +Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do faile. +Come let's away: when Caius Rome is thine, +Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. + +Exeunt. + +Actus Quintus. + +Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus, the two Tribunes, +with +others. + + Menen. No, ile not go: you heare what he hath said +Which was sometime his Generall: who loued him +In a most deere particular. He call'd me Father: +But what o'that? Go you that banish'd him +A Mile before his Tent, fall downe, and knee +The way into his mercy: Nay, if he coy'd +To heare Cominius speake, Ile keepe at home + + Com. He would not seeme to know me + + Menen. Do you heare? + Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name: +I vrg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops +That we haue bled together. Coriolanus +He would not answer too: Forbad all Names, +He was a kinde of Nothing, Titlelesse, +Till he had forg'd himselfe a name a'th' fire +Of burning Rome + + Menen. Why so: you haue made good worke: +A paire of Tribunes, that haue wrack'd for Rome, +To make Coales cheape: A Noble memory + + Com. I minded him, how Royall 'twas to pardon +When it was lesse expected. He replyed +It was a bare petition of a State +To one whom they had punish'd + + Menen. Very well, could he say lesse + + Com. I offered to awaken his regard +For's priuate Friends. His answer to me was +He could not stay to picke them, in a pile +Of noysome musty Chaffe. He said, 'twas folly +For one poore graine or two, to leaue vnburnt +And still to nose th' offence + + Menen. For one poore graine or two? +I am one of those: his Mother, Wife, his Childe, +And this braue Fellow too: we are the Graines, +You are the musty Chaffe, and you are smelt +Aboue the Moone. We must be burnt for you + + Sicin. Nay, pray be patient: If you refuse your ayde +In this so neuer-needed helpe, yet do not +Vpbraid's with our distresse. But sure if you +Would be your Countries Pleader, your good tongue +More then the instant Armie we can make +Might stop our Countryman + + Mene. No: Ile not meddle + + Sicin. Pray you go to him + + Mene. What should I do? + Bru. Onely make triall what your Loue can do, +For Rome, towards Martius + + Mene. Well, and say that Martius returne mee, +As Cominius is return'd, vnheard: what then? +But as a discontented Friend, greefe-shot +With his vnkindnesse. Say't be so? + Sicin. Yet your good will +Must haue that thankes from Rome, after the measure +As you intended well + + Mene. Ile vndertak't: +I thinke hee'l heare me. Yet to bite his lip, +And humme at good Cominius, much vnhearts mee. +He was not taken well, he had not din'd, +The Veines vnfill'd, our blood is cold, and then +We powt vpon the Morning, are vnapt +To giue or to forgiue; but when we haue stufft +These Pipes, and these Conueyances of our blood +With Wine and Feeding, we haue suppler Soules +Then in our Priest-like Fasts: therefore Ile watch him +Till he be dieted to my request, +And then Ile set vpon him + + Bru. You know the very rode into his kindnesse, +And cannot lose your way + + Mene. Good faith Ile proue him, +Speed how it will. I shall ere long, haue knowledge +Of my successe. +Enter. + + Com. Hee'l neuer heare him + + Sicin. Not + + Com. I tell you, he doe's sit in Gold, his eye +Red as 'twould burne Rome: and his Iniury +The Gaoler to his pitty. I kneel'd before him, +'Twas very faintly he said Rise: dismist me +Thus with his speechlesse hand. What he would do +He sent in writing after me: what he would not, +Bound with an Oath to yeeld to his conditions: +So that all hope is vaine, vnlesse his Noble Mother, +And his Wife, who (as I heare) meane to solicite him +For mercy to his Countrey: therefore let's hence, +And with our faire intreaties hast them on. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard. + + 1.Wat. Stay: whence are you + + 2.Wat. Stand, and go backe + + Me. You guard like men, 'tis well. But by your leaue, +I am an Officer of State, & come to speak with Coriolanus + 1 From whence? + Mene. From Rome + + I You may not passe, you must returne: our Generall +will no more heare from thence + + 2 You'l see your Rome embrac'd with fire, before +You'l speake with Coriolanus + + Mene. Good my Friends, +If you haue heard your Generall talke of Rome, +And of his Friends there, it is Lots to Blankes, +My name hath touch't your eares: it is Menenius + + 1 Be it so, go back: the vertue of your name, +Is not heere passable + + Mene. I tell thee Fellow, +Thy Generall is my Louer: I haue beene +The booke of his good Acts, whence men haue read +His Fame vnparalell'd, happely amplified: +For I haue euer verified my Friends, +(Of whom hee's cheefe) with all the size that verity +Would without lapsing suffer: Nay, sometimes, +Like to a Bowle vpon a subtle ground +I haue tumbled past the throw: and in his praise +Haue (almost) stampt the Leasing. Therefore Fellow, +I must haue leaue to passe + + 1 Faith Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalfe, +as you haue vttered words in your owne, you should not +passe heere: no, though it were as vertuous to lye, as to +liue chastly. Therefore go backe + + Men. Prythee fellow, remember my name is Menenius, +alwayes factionary on the party of your Generall + + 2 Howsoeuer you haue bin his Lier, as you say you +haue, I am one that telling true vnder him, must say you +cannot passe. Therefore go backe + + Mene. Ha's he din'd can'st thou tell? For I would not +speake with him, till after dinner + + 1 You are a Roman, are you? + Mene. I am as thy Generall is + + 1 Then you should hate Rome, as he do's. Can you, +when you haue pusht out your gates, the very Defender +of them, and in a violent popular ignorance, giuen your +enemy your shield, thinke to front his reuenges with the +easie groanes of old women, the Virginall Palms of your +daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decay'd +Dotant as you seeme to be? Can you think to blow +out the intended fire, your City is ready to flame in, with +such weake breath as this? No, you are deceiu'd, therfore +backe to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are +condemn'd, our Generall has sworne you out of repreeue +and pardon + + Mene. Sirra, if thy Captaine knew I were heere, +He would vse me with estimation + + 1 Come, my Captaine knowes you not + + Mene. I meane thy Generall + + 1 My Generall cares not for you. Back I say, go: least +I let forth your halfe pinte of blood. Backe, that's the vtmost +of your hauing, backe + + Mene. Nay but Fellow, Fellow. +Enter Coriolanus with Auffidius. + + Corio. What's the matter? + Mene. Now you Companion: Ile say an arrant for you: +you shall know now that I am in estimation: you shall +perceiue, that a Iacke gardant cannot office me from my +Son Coriolanus, guesse but my entertainment with him: if +thou stand'st not i'th state of hanging, or of some death +more long in Spectatorship, and crueller in suffering, behold +now presently, and swoond for what's to come vpon +thee. The glorious Gods sit in hourely Synod about thy +particular prosperity, and loue thee no worse then thy old +Father Menenius do's. O my Son, my Son! thou art preparing +fire for vs: looke thee, heere's water to quench it. +I was hardly moued to come to thee: but beeing assured +none but my selfe could moue thee, I haue bene blowne +out of your Gates with sighes: and coniure thee to pardon +Rome, and thy petitionary Countrimen. The good +Gods asswage thy wrath, and turne the dregs of it, vpon +this Varlet heere: This, who like a blocke hath denyed +my accesse to thee + + Corio. Away + + Mene. How? Away? + Corio. Wife, Mother, Child, I know not. My affaires +Are Seruanted to others: Though I owe +My Reuenge properly, my remission lies +In Volcean brests. That we haue beene familiar, +Ingrate forgetfulnesse shall poison rather +Then pitty: Note how much, therefore be gone. +Mine eares against your suites, are stronger then +Your gates against my force. Yet for I loued thee, +Take this along, I writ it for thy sake, +And would haue sent it. Another word Menenius, +I will not heare thee speake. This man Auffidius +Was my belou'd in Rome: yet thou behold'st + + Auffid. You keepe a constant temper. + +Exeunt. + +Manet the Guard and Menenius. + + 1 Now sir, is your name Menenius? + 2 'Tis a spell you see of much power: +You know the way home againe + + 1 Do you heare how wee are shent for keeping your +greatnesse backe? + 2 What cause do you thinke I haue to swoond? + Menen. I neither care for th' world, nor your General: +for such things as you. I can scarse thinke ther's any, y'are +so slight. He that hath a will to die by himselfe, feares it +not from another: Let your Generall do his worst. For +you, bee that you are, long; and your misery encrease +with your age. I say to you, as I was said to, Away. + +Exit + + 1 A Noble Fellow I warrant him + + 2 The worthy Fellow is our General. He's the Rock, +The Oake not to be winde-shaken. + +Exit Watch. + +Enter Coriolanus and Auffidius. + + Corio. We will before the walls of Rome to morrow +Set downe our Hoast. My partner in this Action, +You must report to th' Volcian Lords, how plainly +I haue borne this Businesse + + Auf. Onely their ends you haue respected, +Stopt your eares against the generall suite of Rome: +Neuer admitted a priuat whisper, no not with such frends +That thought them sure of you + + Corio. This last old man, +Whom with a crack'd heart I haue sent to Rome, +Lou'd me, aboue the measure of a Father, +Nay godded me indeed. Their latest refuge +Was to send him: for whose old Loue I haue +(Though I shew'd sowrely to him) once more offer'd +The first Conditions which they did refuse, +And cannot now accept, to grace him onely, +That thought he could do more: A very little +I haue yeelded too. Fresh Embasses, and Suites, +Nor from the State, nor priuate friends heereafter +Will I lend eare to. Ha? what shout is this? + +Shout within + +Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow +In the same time 'tis made? I will not. +Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, yong Martius, with Attendants. + +My wife comes formost, then the honour'd mould +Wherein this Trunke was fram'd, and in her hand +The Grandchilde to her blood. But out affection, +All bond and priuiledge of Nature breake; +Let it be Vertuous to be Obstinate. +What is that Curt'sie worth? Or those Doues eyes, +Which can make Gods forsworne? I melt, and am not +Of stronger earth then others: my Mother bowes, +As if Olympus to a Mole-hill should +In supplication Nod: and my yong Boy +Hath an Aspect of intercession, which +Great Nature cries, Deny not. Let the Volces +Plough Rome, and harrow Italy, Ile neuer +Be such a Gosling to obey instinct; but stand +As if a man were Author of himself, & knew no other kin + Virgil. My Lord and Husband + + Corio. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome + + Virg. The sorrow that deliuers vs thus chang'd, +Makes you thinke so + + Corio. Like a dull Actor now, I haue forgot my part, +And I am out, euen to a full Disgrace. Best of my Flesh, +Forgiue my Tyranny: but do not say, +For that forgiue our Romanes. O a kisse +Long as my Exile, sweet as my Reuenge! +Now by the iealous Queene of Heauen, that kisse +I carried from thee deare; and my true Lippe +Hath Virgin'd it ere since. You Gods, I pray, +And the most noble Mother of the world +Leaue vnsaluted: Sinke my knee i'th' earth, + +Kneeles + +Of thy deepe duty, more impression shew +Then that of common Sonnes + + Volum. Oh stand vp blest! +Whil'st with no softer Cushion then the Flint +I kneele before thee, and vnproperly +Shew duty as mistaken, all this while, +Betweene the Childe, and Parent + + Corio. What's this? your knees to me? +To your Corrected Sonne? +Then let the Pibbles on the hungry beach +Fillop the Starres: Then, let the mutinous windes +Strike the proud Cedars 'gainst the fiery Sun: +Murd'ring Impossibility, to make +What cannot be, slight worke + + Volum. Thou art my Warriour, I hope to frame thee +Do you know this Lady? + Corio. The Noble Sister of Publicola; +The Moone of Rome: Chaste as the Isicle +That's curdied by the Frost, from purest Snow, +And hangs on Dians Temple: Deere Valeria + + Volum. This is a poore Epitome of yours, +Which by th' interpretation of full time, +May shew like all your selfe + + Corio. The God of Souldiers: +With the consent of supreame Ioue, informe +Thy thoughts with Noblenesse, that thou mayst proue +To shame vnvulnerable, and sticke i'th Warres +Like a great Sea-marke standing euery flaw, +And sauing those that eye thee + + Volum. Your knee, Sirrah + + Corio. That's my braue Boy + + Volum. Euen he, your wife, this Ladie, and my selfe, +Are Sutors to you + + Corio. I beseech you peace: +Or if you'ld aske, remember this before; +The thing I haue forsworne to graunt, may neuer +Be held by you denials. Do not bid me +Dismisse my Soldiers, or capitulate +Againe, with Romes Mechanickes. Tell me not +Wherein I seeme vnnaturall: Desire not t' allay +My Rages and Reuenges, with your colder reasons + + Volum. Oh no more, no more: +You haue said you will not grant vs any thing: +For we haue nothing else to aske, but that +Which you deny already: yet we will aske, +That if you faile in our request, the blame +May hang vpon your hardnesse, therefore heare vs + + Corio. Auffidius, and you Volces marke, for wee'l +Heare nought from Rome in priuate. Your request? + Volum. Should we be silent & not speak, our Raiment +And state of Bodies would bewray what life +We haue led since thy Exile. Thinke with thy selfe, +How more vnfortunate then all liuing women +Are we come hither; since that thy sight, which should +Make our eies flow with ioy, harts dance with comforts, +Constraines them weepe, and shake with feare & sorow, +Making the Mother, wife, and Childe to see, +The Sonne, the Husband, and the Father tearing +His Countries Bowels out; and to poore we +Thine enmities most capitall: Thou barr'st vs +Our prayers to the Gods, which is a comfort +That all but we enioy. For how can we? +Alas! how can we, for our Country pray? +Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory: +Whereto we are bound: Alacke, or we must loose +The Countrie our deere Nurse, or else thy person +Our comfort in the Country. We must finde +An euident Calamity, though we had +Our wish, which side should win. For either thou +Must as a Forraine Recreant be led +With Manacles through our streets, or else +Triumphantly treade on thy Countries ruine, +And beare the Palme, for hauing brauely shed +Thy Wife and Childrens blood: For my selfe, Sonne, +I purpose not to waite on Fortune, till +These warres determine: If I cannot perswade thee, +Rather to shew a Noble grace to both parts, +Then seeke the end of one; thou shalt no sooner +March to assault thy Country, then to treade +(Trust too't, thou shalt not) on thy Mothers wombe +That brought thee to this world + + Virg. I, and mine, that brought you forth this boy, +To keepe your name liuing to time + + Boy. A shall not tread on me: Ile run away +Till I am bigger, but then Ile fight + + Corio. Not of a womans tendernesse to be, +Requires nor Childe, nor womans face to see: +I haue sate too long + + Volum. Nay, go not from vs thus: +If it were so, that our request did tend +To saue the Romanes, thereby to destroy +The Volces whom you serue, you might condemne vs +As poysonous of your Honour. No, our suite +Is that you reconcile them: While the Volces +May say, this mercy we haue shew'd: the Romanes, +This we receiu'd, and each in either side +Giue the All-haile to thee, and cry be Blest +For making vp this peace. Thou know'st (great Sonne) +The end of Warres vncertaine: but this certaine, +That if thou conquer Rome, the benefit +Which thou shalt thereby reape, is such a name +Whose repetition will be dogg'd with Curses: +Whose Chronicle thus writ, The man was Noble, +But with his last Attempt, he wip'd it out: +Destroy'd his Country, and his name remaines +To th' insuing Age, abhorr'd. Speake to me Son: +Thou hast affected the fiue straines of Honor, +To imitate the graces of the Gods. +To teare with Thunder the wide Cheekes a'th' Ayre, +And yet to change thy Sulphure with a Boult +That should but riue an Oake. Why do'st not speake? +Think'st thou it Honourable for a Nobleman +Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speake you: +He cares not for your weeping. Speake thou Boy, +Perhaps thy childishnesse will moue him more +Then can our Reasons. There's no man in the world +More bound to's Mother, yet heere he let's me prate +Like one i'th' Stockes. Thou hast neuer in thy life, +Shew'd thy deere Mother any curtesie, +When she (poor Hen) fond of no second brood, +Ha's clock'd thee to the Warres: and safelie home +Loden with Honor. Say my Request's vniust, +And spurne me backe: But, if it be not so +Thou art not honest, and the Gods will plague thee +That thou restrain'st from me the Duty, which +To a Mothers part belongs. He turnes away: +Down Ladies: let vs shame him with him with our knees +To his sur-name Coriolanus longs more pride +Then pitty to our Prayers. Downe: an end, +This is the last. So, we will home to Rome, +And dye among our Neighbours: Nay, behold's, +This Boy that cannot tell what he would haue, +But kneeles, and holds vp hands for fellowship, +Doe's reason our Petition with more strength +Then thou hast to deny't. Come, let vs go: +This Fellow had a Volcean to his Mother: +His Wife is in Corioles, and his Childe +Like him by chance: yet giue vs our dispatch: +I am husht vntill our City be afire, & then Ile speak a litle + +Holds her by the hand silent. + + Corio. O Mother, Mother! +What haue you done? Behold, the Heauens do ope, +The Gods looke downe, and this vnnaturall Scene +They laugh at. Oh my Mother, Mother: Oh! +You haue wonne a happy Victory to Rome. +But for your Sonne, beleeue it: Oh beleeue it, +Most dangerously you haue with him preuail'd, +If not most mortall to him. But let it come: +Auffidius, though I cannot make true Warres, +Ile frame conuenient peace. Now good Auffidius, +Were you in my steed, would you haue heard +A Mother lesse? or granted lesse Auffidius? + Auf. I was mou'd withall + + Corio. I dare be sworne you were: +And sir, it is no little thing to make +Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But (good sir) +What peace you'l make, aduise me: For my part, +Ile not to Rome, Ile backe with you, and pray you +Stand to me in this cause. Oh Mother! Wife! + Auf. I am glad thou hast set thy mercy, & thy Honor +At difference in thee: Out of that Ile worke +My selfe a former Fortune + + Corio. I by and by; But we will drinke together: +And you shall beare +A better witnesse backe then words, which we +On like conditions, will haue Counter-seal'd. +Come enter with vs: Ladies you deserue +To haue a Temple built you: All the Swords +In Italy, and her Confederate Armes +Could not haue made this peace. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Menenius and Sicinius. + + Mene. See you yon'd Coin a'th Capitol, yon'd corner stone? + Sicin. Why what of that? + Mene. If it be possible for you to displace it with your +little finger, there is some hope the Ladies of Rome, especially +his Mother, may preuaile with him. But I say, there +is no hope in't, our throats are sentenc'd, and stay vppon +execution + + Sicin. Is't possible, that so short a time can alter the +condition of a man + + Mene. There is differency between a Grub & a Butterfly, +yet your Butterfly was a Grub: this Martius, is +growne from Man to Dragon: He has wings, hee's more +then a creeping thing + + Sicin. He lou'd his Mother deerely + + Mene. So did he mee: and he no more remembers his +Mother now, then an eight yeare old horse. The tartnesse +of his face, sowres ripe Grapes. When he walks, he moues +like an Engine, and the ground shrinkes before his Treading. +He is able to pierce a Corslet with his eye: Talkes +like a knell, and his hum is a Battery. He sits in his State, +as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids bee done, is +finisht with his bidding. He wants nothing of a God but +Eternity, and a Heauen to Throne in + + Sicin. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly + + Mene. I paint him in the Character. Mark what mercy +his Mother shall bring from him: There is no more +mercy in him, then there is milke in a male-Tyger, that +shall our poore City finde: and all this is long of you + + Sicin. The Gods be good vnto vs + + Mene. No, in such a case the Gods will not bee good +vnto vs. When we banish'd him, we respected not them: +and he returning to breake our necks, they respect not vs. +Enter a Messenger. + + Mes. Sir, if you'ld saue your life, flye to your House, +The Plebeians haue got your Fellow Tribune, +And hale him vp and downe; all swearing, if +The Romane Ladies bring not comfort home +They'l giue him death by Inches. +Enter another Messenger. + + Sicin. What's the Newes? + Mess. Good Newes, good newes, the Ladies haue preuayl'd. +The Volcians are dislodg'd, and Martius gone: +A merrier day did neuer yet greet Rome, +No, not th' expulsion of the Tarquins + + Sicin. Friend, art thou certaine this is true? +Is't most certaine + + Mes. As certaine as I know the Sun is fire: +Where haue you lurk'd that you make doubt of it: +Ne're through an Arch so hurried the blowne Tide, +As the recomforted through th' gates. Why harke you: + +Trumpets, Hoboyes, Drums beate, altogether. + +The Trumpets, Sack-buts, Psalteries, and Fifes, +Tabors, and Symboles, and the showting Romans, +Make the Sunne dance. Hearke you. + +A shout within + + Mene. This is good Newes: +I will go meete the Ladies. This Volumnia, +Is worth of Consuls, Senators, Patricians, +A City full: Of Tribunes such as you, +A Sea and Land full: you haue pray'd well to day: +This Morning, for ten thousand of your throates, +I'de not haue giuen a doit. Harke, how they ioy. + +Sound still with the Shouts. + + Sicin. First, the Gods blesse you for your tydings: +Next, accept my thankefulnesse + + Mess. Sir, we haue all great cause to giue great thanks + + Sicin. They are neere the City + + Mes. Almost at point to enter + + Sicin. Wee'l meet them, and helpe the ioy. + +Exeunt. + +Enter two Senators, with Ladies, passing ouer the Stage, with other +Lords. + + Sena. Behold our Patronnesse, the life of Rome: +Call all your Tribes together, praise the Gods, +And make triumphant fires, strew Flowers before them: +Vnshoot the noise that Banish'd Martius; +Repeale him, with the welcome of his Mother: +Cry welcome Ladies, welcome + + All. Welcome Ladies, welcome. + +A Flourish with Drummes & Trumpets. + +Enter Tullus Auffidius, with Attendants. + + Auf. Go tell the Lords a'th' City, I am heere: +Deliuer them this Paper: hauing read it, +Bid them repayre to th' Market place, where I +Euen in theirs, and in the Commons eares +Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse: +The City Ports by this hath enter'd, and +Intends t' appeare before the People, hoping +To purge himselfe with words. Dispatch. +Enter 3 or 4 Conspirators of Auffidius Faction. + +Most Welcome + + 1.Con. How is it with our Generall? + Auf. Euen so, as with a man by his owne Almes impoyson'd, +and with his Charity slaine + + 2.Con. Most Noble Sir, If you do hold the same intent +Wherein you wisht vs parties: Wee'l deliuer you +Of your great danger + + Auf. Sir, I cannot tell, +We must proceed as we do finde the People + + 3.Con. The People will remaine vncertaine, whil'st +'Twixt you there's difference: but the fall of either +Makes the Suruiuor heyre of all + + Auf. I know it: +And my pretext to strike at him, admits +A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd +Mine Honor for his truth: who being so heighten'd, +He watered his new Plants with dewes of Flattery, +Seducing so my Friends: and to this end, +He bow'd his Nature, neuer knowne before, +But to be rough, vnswayable, and free + + 3.Consp. Sir, his stoutnesse +When he did stand for Consull, which he lost +By lacke of stooping + + Auf. That I would haue spoke of: +Being banish'd for't, he came vnto my Harth, +Presented to my knife his Throat: I tooke him, +Made him ioynt-seruant with me: Gaue him way +In all his owne desires: Nay, let him choose +Out of my Files, his proiects, to accomplish +My best and freshest men, seru'd his designements +In mine owne person: holpe to reape the Fame +Which he did end all his; and tooke some pride +To do my selfe this wrong: Till at the last +I seem'd his Follower, not Partner; and +He wadg'd me with his Countenance, as if +I had bin Mercenary + + 1.Con. So he did my Lord: +The Army marueyl'd at it, and in the last, +When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd +For no lesse Spoile, then Glory + + Auf. There was it: +For which my sinewes shall be stretcht vpon him, +At a few drops of Womens rhewme, which are +As cheape as Lies; he sold the Blood and Labour +Of our great Action; therefore shall he dye, +And Ile renew me in his fall. But hearke. + +Drummes and Trumpets sounds, with great showts of the people. + + 1.Con. Your Natiue Towne you enter'd like a Poste, +And had no welcomes home, but he returnes +Splitting the Ayre with noyse + + 2.Con. And patient Fooles, +Whose children he hath slaine, their base throats teare +With giuing him glory + + 3.Con. Therefore at your vantage, +Ere he expresse himselfe, or moue the people +With what he would say, let him feele your Sword: +Which we will second, when he lies along +After your way. His Tale pronounc'd, shall bury +His Reasons, with his Body + + Auf. Say no more. Heere come the Lords, +Enter the Lords of the City. + + All Lords. You are most welcome home + + Auff. I haue not deseru'd it. +But worthy Lords, haue you with heede perused +What I haue written to you? + All. We haue + + 1.Lord. And greeue to heare't: +What faults he made before the last, I thinke +Might haue found easie Fines: But there to end +Where he was to begin, and giue away +The benefit of our Leuies, answering vs +With our owne charge: making a Treatie, where +There was a yeelding; this admits no excuse + + Auf. He approaches, you shall heare him. +Enter Coriolanus marching with Drumme, and Colours. The +Commoners being +with him. + + Corio. Haile Lords, I am return'd your Souldier: +No more infected with my Countries loue +Then when I parted hence: but still subsisting +Vnder your great Command. You are to know, +That prosperously I haue attempted, and +With bloody passage led your Warres, euen to +The gates of Rome: Our spoiles we haue brought home +Doth more then counterpoize a full third part +The charges of the Action. We haue made peace +With no lesse Honor to the Antiates +Then shame to th' Romaines. And we heere deliuer +Subscrib'd by'th' Consuls, and Patricians, +Together with the Seale a'th Senat, what +We haue compounded on + + Auf. Read it not Noble Lords, +But tell the Traitor in the highest degree +He hath abus'd your Powers + + Corio. Traitor? How now? + Auf. I Traitor, Martius + + Corio. Martius? + Auf. I Martius, Caius Martius: Do'st thou thinke +Ile grace thee with that Robbery, thy stolne name +Coriolanus in Corioles? +You Lords and Heads a'th' State, perfidiously +He ha's betray'd your businesse, and giuen vp +For certaine drops of Salt, your City Rome: +I say your City to his Wife and Mother, +Breaking his Oath and Resolution, like +A twist of rotten Silke, neuer admitting +Counsaile a'th' warre: But at his Nurses teares +He whin'd and roar'd away your Victory, +That Pages blush'd at him, and men of heart +Look'd wond'ring each at others + + Corio. Hear'st thou Mars? + Auf. Name not the God, thou boy of Teares + + Corio. Ha? + Aufid. No more + + Corio. Measurelesse Lyar, thou hast made my heart +Too great for what containes it. Boy? Oh Slaue, +Pardon me Lords, 'tis the first time that euer +I was forc'd to scoul'd. Your iudgments my graue Lords +Must giue this Curre the Lye: and his owne Notion, +Who weares my stripes imprest vpon him, that +Must beare my beating to his Graue, shall ioyne +To thrust the Lye vnto him + + 1 Lord. Peace both, and heare me speake + + Corio. Cut me to peeces Volces men and Lads, +Staine all your edges on me. Boy, false Hound: +If you haue writ your Annales true, 'tis there, +That like an Eagle in a Doue-coat, I +Flatter'd your Volcians in Corioles. +Alone I did it, Boy + + Auf. Why Noble Lords, +Will you be put in minde of his blinde Fortune, +Which was your shame, by this vnholy Braggart? +'Fore your owne eyes, and eares? + All Consp. Let him dye for't + + All People. Teare him to peeces, do it presently: +He kill'd my Sonne, my daughter, he kill'd my Cosine +Marcus, he kill'd my Father + + 2 Lord. Peace hoe: no outrage, peace: +The man is Noble, and his Fame folds in +This Orbe o'th' earth: His last offences to vs +Shall haue Iudicious hearing. Stand Auffidius, +And trouble not the peace + + Corio. O that I had him, with six Auffidiusses, or more: +His Tribe, to vse my lawfull Sword + + Auf. Insolent Villaine + + All Consp. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. + +Draw both the Conspirators, and kils Martius, who falles, +Auffidius stands +on him + + Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold + + Auf. My Noble Masters, heare me speake + + 1.Lord. O Tullus + + 2.Lord. Thou hast done a deed, whereat +Valour will weepe + + 3.Lord. Tread not vpon him Masters, all be quiet, +Put vp your Swords + + Auf. My Lords, +When you shall know (as in this Rage +Prouok'd by him, you cannot) the great danger +Which this mans life did owe you, you'l reioyce +That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honours +To call me to your Senate, Ile deliuer +My selfe your loyall Seruant, or endure +Your heauiest Censure + + 1.Lord. Beare from hence his body, +And mourne you for him. Let him be regarded +As the most Noble Coarse, that euer Herald +Did follow to his Vrne + + 2.Lord. His owne impatience, +Takes from Auffidius a great part of blame: +Let's make the Best of it + + Auf. My Rage is gone, +And I am strucke with sorrow. Take him vp: +Helpe three a'th' cheefest Souldiers, Ile be one. +Beate thou the Drumme that it speake mournfully: +Traile your steele Pikes. Though in this City hee +Hath widdowed and vnchilded many a one, +Which to this houre bewaile the Iniury, +Yet he shall haue a Noble Memory. Assist. + +Exeunt. bearing the Body of Martius. A dead March Sounded. + + +FINIS. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2259 *** |