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Dramatis Perfonæ.

Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman, hated by the common People..

Titus Lartius, Generals against the Volfcians, and Friends to Coriolanus.

Cominius, }

Menenius Agrippa, Friend to Coriolanus.

Sicinius Velutus,
Junius Bratus,

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Tribunes of the People, and enemies to
Coriolanus.

Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians..

Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus..

Confpirators with Aufidius.

Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus.

Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend to Virgilia.

Roman and Volfcian Senators, Ædiles, Lictors, Soldiers Common People, Sérvants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians, and Antiates.

CORIOLAN US.

A C T E

SCENE, A Street in Rome.

Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with flaves, clubs, and other weapons.

B

I CITIZEN..

Efore we proceed any further, hear me fpeak.
All. Speak, fpeak.

1 Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to die, than to famith?

All. Refolv'd, refolv'd..

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

All. 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 ?

All. No more talking on't, let 't be done ; away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good Citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor Citizens; the Patricians, good what authority furfeits on, would relieveus: if they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guefs, they relieved us humanely but they think, we are too dear; the leannels that afflicts us, the object of our mifery, is as an inventory

inventory to particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

All. Against him firft: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

2 Cit. Confider you, what fervices he has done for his country?

1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't; but that he pays himself with being proud.

All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end; though foft-confcienc'd men can be content to fay, it was for his country; he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you must in no way fay, he is

covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within ] What fhouts are thofe? the other fide o' th' city is rifen; why ftay we prating here? To the capitol.

All. Come, come.

1 Cit. Soft-who comes here?

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people.

1 Cit. He's one honest enough; 'would, all the reft were fo!

Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand ? where go you

With bats and clubs? the matter-Speak, I pray you.

2 Cit. Our bufinefs is not unknown to the Senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend

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to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in deeds: they fay, poor fuitors have strong breaths; they fhall know, we have strong arms too.

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Men. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honeft neighbours,

Will you undo yourselves?

2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already.
Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the patricians of you: For your wants,
Your fufferings in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heaven with your ftaves, as lift them
Against the Roman State; whofe courfe will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong links afunder, than can ever
Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,
The gods, not the patricians, make it; and
Your knees to them (not arms) must help. Alack,
You are transported by calamity.

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Thither, where more attends you; and you flander. The helms o' th' ftate, who care for you, like fathers, When you curfe them as enemies.

2 Cit. Care for us!-true, indeed!-they ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their store-houses cramm'd with grain: make edicts for ufury, to fupport ufurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing ftatutes daily to chain up and reftrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they

bear us.

Men. Either you' must,

Confefs yourselves wond'rous malicious,

Or be accus'd of folly. I fhall tell you
A pretty tale, (it may be, you have heard it;)
But fince it ferves my purpofe, I will venture
(1) To ftale't a little more.

2 Cit

(1) To scale't a little more.] Thus all the editions, but without any manner of sense, that I can find out. The poet must have wrote, as I have corrected the text: and then the meaning will be plainly this. Perhaps, you may have heard my tale already, but for all that, I'll venture to make it more fale and familiar to you, by telling it

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