1 Sen.

All have not offended;

For those that were, it is not square, to take,
On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin,
Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd,
Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together.

2 Sen.

What thou wilt,

Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile,
Than hew to't with thy sword.

1 Sen.

Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope; So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,

To say, thou❜lt enter friendly.

Or

2 Sen.

Throw thy glove;

any token of thine honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.

1

Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports'; Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own, Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof, Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears With my more noble meaning,

not a man

Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be remedied, to your publick laws
At heaviest answer.

Both.
'Tis most nobly spoken.
Alcib. Descend, and keep your words.

The Senators descend, and open the Gates.

* Not regular, not equitable.

Reconcile.

• Unattacked gates.

Enter a Soldier.

Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; Entomb'd upon the very hem o'the sea: And on his gravestone, this insculpture; which With wax I brought away, whose soft impression Interprets for my poor ignorance.

Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft :

Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked caitiffs left!

Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:

Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thy gait.

These well express in thee thy latter spirits: Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our droplets which

Dead

From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for
On thy low grave, on faults forgiven.
Is noble Timon; of whose memory
Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
And I will use the olive with my sword:
Make war breed peace; make peace stint 7
make each

Prescribe to other, as each other's leech®.

Let our drums strike.

7 Stop.

aye

war;

[Exeunt.

8 Physician.

CORIOLANUS.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman.

TITUS LARTIUS, } generals against the Volscians.

COMINIUS,

MENENIUS AGRIPPA, friend to Coriolanus.
SICINIUS VELUTUS, tribunes of the people.
JUNIUS BRUTUS,

}

Young MARCIUS, son to Coriolanus.
A Roman Herald.

TULLUS AUFIDIUS, general of the Volscians.
Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Conspirators with Aufidius.

A Citizen of Antium.

Two Volscian Guards.

VOLUMNIA, mother to Coriolanus.
VIRGILIA, wife to Coriolanus.

VALERIA, friend to Virgilia.

Gentlewoman, attending Virgilia.

Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Ædiles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

SCENE, partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volscians and Antiates.

CORIOLANUS.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

Rome. A Street.

Enter a Company of mutinous Citizens, with Staves, Clubs, and other Weapons.

1 Cit. BEFORE we proceed any further, hear me speak.

Cit. Speak, speak.

[Several speaking at once. 1 Cit. You are all resolved rather to die, than to famish?

Cit. Resolved, resolved.

1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.

Cit. We know't, we know't.

1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?

Cit. No more talking on't; let it be done: away,

away.

2 Cit. One word, good citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good': What authority surfeits on, would