The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Vol. Ay, and burn too.

Enter MENENIUS and SENATORS.

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

Vol. I pr'ythee now, my soll,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hard; And thus far having stretch'd it (here be with them,)

ness

Thy knee bussing the stones, for in such busi-
[rant
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the igno-
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,
In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou hast power aud person.

Men. This but done,

Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were

yours:

Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free

something too rough;

You must return, and mend it.

1 Sen. There's no remedy;

Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst, and perish.

Vol. Pray be counsel'd:

I have a heart as little apt as yours,

But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.

Men. Well said, noble woman:

Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that
The violent fit o'the time craves it as physic
For the whole state, I would put mine armour on
Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do?

Meg. Return to the tribunes.
Cor. Well,

What then? what then?

Men. Repeat what you have spoke.

Cor. For them ?-I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them?

Fol. 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. Tusb, tush!

Men. A good demand.

Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to see The same you are not, (which, for your best ads, 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 our 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
1 should do so in honour; I am, in this,
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;

• Wandez. + Rank. ↑ Urge. 6 Subduc.

As words to little purpose.

Vol. Pr'ythee now,

Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou hadst

rather

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius.

Enter COMINIUS.

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? 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
[place :-
And throw it against the wind.-To the market-
You have put me now to such a part, which never
I shall discharge to the life.

grind it,

Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet sou, 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 pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls asleep! The siniles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boy's tears take
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue [up
Make motion through my lips; and my arin'd

knees,

Which bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms 1-1 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

Bru. In this point charge.him home-that he That when he speaks not like a citizen,

affects

Tyrannical power: if he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy + to the people; And that the spoil, got on the Antiates, Was ne'er distributed.—

Enter an Edile.

What, will he come!

Ed. He's coming.

Bru. How accompanied?

Ed. With old Meuenias, and those senators

That always favour'd him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd

Set down by the poll?

Ed. I have: 'tis ready, here.

Sic. Have you collected them by tribes?
Ed. I have.

Sic. Assemble presently the people hither: And when they hear me say, It shall be so I'the right and strength o'the commons, be either

For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them, If I say fine, cry fine; if death, cry death; Insisting on the old prerogative

And power i'the truth o'the cause.

Ed. I shall inform them.

Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry,

Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

Ed. Very well.

That being pass'd for cousul with full voice,

I am so dishonour'd, that the very hour

You take it off again?

Sic. Answer to us.

Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so.

Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take

From Rome all season'd office, and to wind
Yourself into a power tyrannical;

For which, you are a traitor to the people.
Cor. How! Traitor?

Men. Nay, temperately: Your promise.
Cor. The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the

We need not put new matter to his charge:
What you have seen him do, and heard hun speak,
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying

hint,

When we shall hap to give't them.
Bru. 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.

Src. 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 gods

Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice

Those whose great power must try him; even So criminal, and in such capital kind, [this, Deserves the extremest death.

(As much as in him lies) from time to time.
Eavied against the people, seeking means.
To pluck away their power: as now at last
Given hostile strokes, and that not 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;
In peril of precipitation

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more

To enter our Rome gates: l'the people's name,
I say it shall be so.

Cit. It shall be so,

It shall be so; let hun 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 Rome,
Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love

My country's good, with a respect more tender,
More holy, and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's estimate,+ her womb's increase,
And treasure of my loins; then if I would
Speak that-

Sic. We know your drift: Speak what?

A noble cuuming you were us'd to load me'n
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens!.!
Cor. Nay, I pr'ythee, woman→→

Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades
in Rome,

And occupations perish!

Cor. What, what, what

I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius,
Droop not; adieu :-Farewell, my wife my mo

ther!

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 sometia.e
general,

I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld
Heart-hard'ning spectacles: tell these sad women,
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes, ✓ [well,
As 'tis to laugh at them. My mother, you wot
My hazards still have been your solace and
Believe't not lightly, (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is Makes fear'd) and talk'd of more than seen your

I hate

As reok o'the rotten feus, whose love 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,
(Sull your own foes,) deliver yon, as inost
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.
Sie. 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 as through the city.

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

come :

The gods preserve our noble tribunes !—Come.
[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE 1.-The same. Before a Gate of the
City.

Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA,
MENENIUS, COMINIUS, and several young
PATRICIANS.

Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:
-the beast ¶

With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say, extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, ali boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating: fortune's blows,
When most struck home, being gentle wounded,

son

Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cantelous + baits and practice.

Vol. My first son,

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

Cor. O the gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of

SCENE II.-The same.-A Street near the
Gate.

Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an ÆDILE.!
Sic. Bid them all heme: he's gone, and we'll
no farther.-

The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided
In his behalf.

Bru. Now we have shown our power,-
Let us seem humbler after it is done,
Than when it was a doing.

Sic. Bid them home:

Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.

Bru. Dismiss them home. [Exit ÆDILE.
Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS.
Here comes his mother.

Sic. Let's not meet her.

• Foolish.

Requite your love!

Men. Peace, peace: be not so loud.

Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,--

Nay, and you shall hear some.-Will you be gone? [To BRUTUS. Fir. 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;

you; but your favour 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 bauished?
Rom. Banished, Sir.

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

Rom. The day serves well for them now. I

And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-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 coun-> try.

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

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for pany you home.

Rome!

Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country As he began; and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

Bru. I would he had.

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

Vol. I would he had! 'Twas you incens'd the entertainment, + and to be on foot at an hour's

rabble:

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth, As I can of those mysteries which heaven will not have earth to know.

Bru. Pray, let us go.

Vol. Now pray, Sir, get you gone :

warning.

Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set theni in present action. So, Sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

Vol. You take my part from me, Sir; I have

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear the most cause to be glad of yours.

this:

As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome, so far my son,
(This lady's husband here, this, do you see,)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic. Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits ?
Vol. Take my prayers with you.-

I would the gods had nothing else to do,

[Exeunt TRIBUNES. But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them But once a day, it would unclog my heart Of what lies heavy to't.

Men. You have told them home, And by my troth, you have cause. with me?

You'll sup

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Rom. Well, let us go together.

[Exeunt,

SCENE IV.-Antium.-Before AUFIDIUS's House.

Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.

Cor. A goodly city is this Autium: City,
"Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir
Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars
Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not
Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with stones,
Enter a CITIZEN.

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.

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Cor. A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears,
And harsh in sound to thine.

Auf. Say, what's thy name?
Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in't: though thy tackle's torn,

2 Ser. Where's Cotus! my master calls for Thou show'st a noble vessel. What's thy name? bim. Cotus!

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 deserv'd 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 companious? Pray, get you out. Cor. Away!

2 Serv. Away? Get you away.

Cor. Now thou art troublesome.

Cor. Prepare thy brow to frown: Know'st
thou me yet?

Auf. I know thee not :-Thy name?
Cor. My name is Caius Marcins, who hath
done

To thee particularly, and to all the Volsces,
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname, Coriolanus: The painful service,
The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country, are requited
But with that surname; a good memory,*
And witness of the malice and displeasure
Which thou should'st bear me: only that name
remains :

The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest;
And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be
Whoop'd out of Rome. Now, this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth; not out of hope,
Mistake me not, to save my life; for if

2 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked I had fear'd death, of all the men i'the world 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 bearth.

a Serv. What are you? Cor. A gentleman.

3 Sere. A marvellous poor one.

Cor. True, so I am.

3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid come.

Cor. Follow your function, go!

And batten + on cold hits. (Pushes him away. 3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

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 ass it is! Then thou dwellest with daws too? Cor. No, 1-serve not thy master.

3 Serv. How, Sir! do you meddle with my master?

Cor. Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress:

Thou prat'st, and prat'st; serve with thy trencher,
hence!
[Beats him away.
Enter AUVIDIUS and the second SERVANT.
Auf. Where is this fellow?

• Having derived that name from Corioli.
Fellows.

Feed.

I would have 'voided thee: but in mere spite,
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that will revenge
Thine own particular wrongs, aud stop those
maims t

Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee
straight,

And make my misery serve thy turn: so use it,
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits to thee; for I will fight
Against my canker'd country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But if so be
Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more for.
tunes

Thou art tir'd, then, in a word, I also am
Longer to live most weary, and present
My throat to thee, and to thy ancient malice,
Which, not to cut, would show thee but a fool;
Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast
And cannot live but to thy shame, unless
It be to do thee service.

Auf. O Marcius, Marcius,

Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from
my heart

A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
(say,
Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and
'Tis true, I'd not believe them more than thee,
All noble Marcius.-Oh! let me twine
Mine arms about that body, where against
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke,
And scar'd the moon with splinters! Here

clip

The anvil of my sword; and do contest,
As hotly and as nobly with thy love,
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I lov'd the maid I married; never man
Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here,
Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart,
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw

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