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. I' the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, 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. But with such words that are but roted in ; I would dissemble with my nature, where Men. 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, Com. I have been i' the market place: and, sir, 'tis fit You make strong party, or defend yourself I think, 'twill serve, if he Can thereto frame his spirit. He must, and will: - With my base tongue, give to my noble heart Cor. Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his At thy choice then : Cor. Pray, be content; Mother, I am going to the market-place; Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going: Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; Or never trust to what my tongue can do I'the way of flattery, further. Vol. 8 Unshaven head. Do your will. [Exit. Bru. Very well. Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint, Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, and Patricians. Sic. Well, here he comes. 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 If you submit you to the people's voices, Cor. I am content. 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: 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 Their mercy at the price of one fair word; It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd, Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends; Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing. Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show from 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? As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize That won you without blows! despising, [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. Come. [Exeunt I'll do well yet. - Thou old and true Menenius, : My hazards still have been your solace and 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. Sic. Let's not meet her. SCENE III. Bru. Why? Sic. They say, she's mad. They have ta'en note of us : Keep on your way. [Exeunt. A Highway between Rome and Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting. Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague your name, I think, is Adrian. Men. Nay, and you shall hear some.. - Will you be gone? Sic. Are you mankind? Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship Vol. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. 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 In puny battle slay me. — Save you, sir. 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 Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, [Exit. 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. 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!- 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? 2 Feed |