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Well, Men. Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them?—I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them?

Vol.
You are too absolute;
Though therein you can never be too noble,
But when extremities speak. I have heard you say,
Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends,

I' the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me,
In peace, what each of them by th' other lose,
That they combine not there.

Cor.

Men.

Tush, tush! A good demand. Vol. If it be honour in your wars, to seem The same you are not, (which, for your best ends, You adopt your policy,) how is it less or worse, That it shall hold companionship in peace With honour as in war; since that to both It stands in like request?

Cor.
Why force you this?
Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak
To the people; not by your own instruction,
Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you to,

But with such words that are but roted in
Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables
Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a town 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 honour: I am in this,
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles
And you will rather show our general lowts 7
How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them,
For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard
Of what that want might ruin.

Men.

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Noble lady! Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so, Not what is dangerous present, but the loss Of what is past.

Vol. I pr'ythee, now, my son, Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand; And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,) Thy knee bussing the stones, (for in such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant More learned than the ears,) waving thy head, Which often thus correcting thy stout heart, That humble, as the ripest mulberry, Now will not hold the handling: Or, say to them, Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils, Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess, Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,

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Com. I have been i' the market place: and, sir, 'tis fit

You make strong party, or defend yourself
By calmness, or by absence, all's in anger.
Men. Only fair speech.
Com.

I think, 'twill serve, if he

Can thereto frame his spirit.
Vol.

He must, and will: -
Pr'ythee now, say, you will, and go about it.
Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd sconce ?8
Must I,

With my base tongue, give to my noble heart
A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single plot to lose,
This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it,
And throw it against the wind. To the market-
place:
You have put me now to such a part, which never
I shall discharge to the life.
Com.
Come, come, we'll prompt you.
Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet son; as thou hast said,
My praises made thee first a soldier, so,
To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou hast not done before.

Cor.
Well, I must do't:
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a voice
That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent 9 in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd
knees,

Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms !- I will not do't:
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.
Vol.

At thy choice then :
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me;
But owe thy pride thyself.

Cor.

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Pray, be content; Mother, I am going to the market-place; Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going: Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; Or never trust to what my tongue can do I'the way of flattery, further. Vol.

8 Unshaven head.

Do your will. [Exit.

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Bru.

Very well.

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,
When we shall hap to give't them.
Go about it.
[Exit Edile.
Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth

Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks
What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, and Patricians.

Sic. Well, here he comes.
Men.

Calmly, I do beseech you. Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume.-The honour'd

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If you submit you to the people's voices,
Allow their officers, and are content
To suffer lawful censure for such faults
As shall be prov'd upon you?

Cor.

I am content.

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Nay; temperately: Your promise. Cor. The fires i' the lowest hell fold in the people! Call me their traitor! - Thou injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say, Thou liest, unto thee, with a voice as free As I do pray the gods.

Sic.

Mark you this, people? Cit. To the rock with him; to the rock with him! Sic. Peace.

We need not put new matter to his charge:
What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,
Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him; even this,
So criminal, and in such capital kind,
Deserves the extremest death.

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Know,

The promise that you made your mother?

Com.

I pray you,

Cor. I'll know no further: Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, Vagabond exile, flaying; Pent to linger But with a grain a day, I would not buy

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Their mercy at the price of one fair word;
Nor check my courage for what they can give,
To have't with saying, Good morrow.
Sic.
For that he has
(As much as in him lies) from time to time
Envied against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power; as now at last
Given hostile strokes, and that not 6 in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distribute it; In the name o' the people,
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city;

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It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd,
And so it shall be.

Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends;

Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing. Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show from 7 Rome, Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country's good, with a respect more tender, More holy, and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife's estimate 8, than if I would Speak that

We know your drift: Speak what?

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As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcasses of unburied men
That do corrupt my air, I banish you;
And here remain with your uncertainty!
Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!
Your enemies with nodding of their plumes,
Fan you into despair! have the power still
To banish your defenders; till, at length,
Your ignorance, (which finds not, till it feels,)
Making not reservation of yourselves,
(Still your own foes,) deliver you, as most
Abated captives, to some nation

That won you without blows! despising,
For you, the city, thus I turn my back:
There is a world elsewhere.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, MENENIUS, Senators, and Patricians. Ed. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!

[The people shout, and throw up their Caps. Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite ; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city.

Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates;

come:

Sic.
Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banished, The gods preserve our noble tribunes! -
As enemy to the people, and his country:
It shall be so.

Come. [Exeunt

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I'll do well yet. - Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime general
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft bebeld
Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women,
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,
As 'tis to laugh at them. My mother, you wot
well,

:

My hazards still have been your solace and
Believe't not lightly, (though I go alone
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen,
Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen,) your son
Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous 4 baits and practice.

Vol.

My first 5 son, Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee a while: Determine on some course, More than a wild exposture 6 to each chance That starts i' the way before thee.

O the gods!

Cor. Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us, And we of thee: so if the time thrust forth A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send O'er the vast world, to seek a single man And lose advantage, which doth ever cool I' the absence of the needer. Cor.

Fare well:

ye

Farewell, my wife! my Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full

6 Not only. 7 For. 8 Value.

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Sic.

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Let's not meet her.

SCENE III.

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Bru.

Why?

Sic. They say, she's mad.
Bru.

They have ta'en note of us :

Keep on your way.

[Exeunt.

A Highway between Rome and
Antium.

Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting.
Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me:

Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague your name, I think, is Adrian.
o' the gods
Requite your love!

Men.
Peace, peace; be not so loud.
Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should
hear,

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Nay, and you shall hear some.. - Will you be gone?
[To BRUTUS.
Vir. You shall stay too: [To SICIN.] I would,
I had the power
To say so to my husband.

Sic.

Are you mankind?
Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame?—Note but this
fool.

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome,
Than thou hast spoken words?
Sic.
O blessed heavens!
Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words;
And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; -

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Vol. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.
Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as
you are, against them: Know you me yet?
Vol. Nicanor? No.
Rom. The same, sir.

Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour 8 is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol. Coriolanus banished?

Rom. Banished, sir.

Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

8 Countenance.

Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.

Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.

Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

Vol. A most royal one: the centurions, and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment 9, and to be on foot at an hour's warning.

Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present

action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of

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In puny battle slay me. — Save you, sir.
Cit. And you.
Cor.

Direct me, if it be your will, Where great Aufidius lies: Is he in Antium? Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state, At his house this night.

Cor.

Which is his house, 'beseech you? Cit. This, here, before you. Cor.

Thank you, sir; farewell. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love Unseparable, shall within this hour,

On a dissension of a doit 1, break out
To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes,

Whose passions and whose plots have broke their

sleep

To take the one the other, by some chance,
Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends,
And interjoin their issues.
So with me: —
My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon
This enemy town. -I'll enter: if he slay me,
He does fair justice: if he give me way,
I'll do his country service.

[Exit.

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Enter another Servant.

2 Serv. Where's Cotus? my master calls for him. Cotus! [Exit.

Enter CORIOLANUS.

Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I Appear not like a guest.

Re-enter the first Servant.

1 Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here's no place for you: Pray, go to the door. Cor. I have deserved no better entertainment, In being Coriolanus.

Re-enter second Servant.

2 Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out. Cor. Away!

2 Serv. Away? Get you away. Cor. Now thou art troublesome.

1 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon.

Enter a third Servant. The first meets him.

3 Serv. What fellow's this?

1 Serv. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o' the house; Pr'ythee, call my master to him.

3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.

Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.

3 Serv. What are you?

Cor. A gentleman.

3 Serv. A marvellous poor one.

Cor. True, so I am.

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3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here. 2 Serv. And I shall.

3 Serv. Where dwellest thou. Cor. Under the canopy.

3 Serv. Under the canopy? Cor. Ay.

3 Serv. Where's that?

Cor. I' the city of kites and crows.

[Exit.

3 Serv. I' the city of kites and crows? What an Then thou dwellest with daws too?

ass it is!-
Cor. No, I serve not thy master.

3 Serv. How, sir! Do you meddle with my master?

Cor. Thou prat'st, and prat'st; serve with thy trencher, hence! [Beats him away.

Enter AUFIDIUS, and the second Servant. Auf. Where is this fellow?

2 Serv. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within.

Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldest thou?

Thy name?

Why speak'st not? Speak, man: What's thy name?

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