I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me; If e'er again I meet him beard to beard, He is mine, or I am his.-Mine emulation 1 Sol. He's the devil. Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: my valour's Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city; 1 Sol. Will not you go? Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove: I pray you ('Tis south the city mills), bring me word thither How the world goes; that to the pace of it I may spur, on my journey. [exeunt. I'the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, SCENE 1. ROME. A PUBLIC PLACE. ACT II. Enter Menenius, Sicinius, and Brutus. Men. The augurer tells me, we shall have news to night. Bru. Good or bad? Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud? Bru. We do it not alone, sir Men. I know, you can do very little alone; for your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infantlike, for doing much alone. You talk of pride; O, that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry ple- your good selves! O, that you could! beians would the noble Marcius. Bru. He's a lamb, indeed, that baes like a bear. Men. He's a bear, indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you. Both Tri. Well, sir. Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that you two have not in abundance? Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stored with Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Both Tri. Why, how are we censured? Bru. What then, sir? Men. Why then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy, magistrates (alias, fools,) as any in Rome. Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tyber in't; said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint: hasty, and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion; one that converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning. What I think, utter; and spend my malice in my breath. Meeting two such weals-men as you are (I cannot call you Lycurguses), if the drink you give me, Men. Because you talk of pride now, will you touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face not be angry? Both Tri. Well, well, sir, well. Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your disposition the reins, and be at it. I cannot say, your worships have delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables: and, though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly, that tell, you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too? Bru. Come, sir, come, we know you well enough. Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs; you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a cause between an orange-wife and a fosset-seller; and then rejourn the controversy of threepence to a second day of audience.-When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the cholic, you make faces like mummers; set up the bloody flag against all patience; and, in roaring for a chamberpot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing: all the peace you make in their cause, is, calling both the parties knaves. You are a pair of strange ones. Bru. Come, come, you are well understood, to be a perfecter giber for the table, than a necessary bencher in the Capitol. you are. Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as When you speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave, as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be entombed in an ass's pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcius is proud; who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors, since Deucalion; though, peradventure, some of the best of them were hereditary hangmen. Good e'en to your worships; more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you. [Bru. and Sic. retire to the back of the scene. "Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, Valeria, &c. How now, my as fair as noble ladies, (and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler,) whither do you follow your eyes so fast? Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcius coming home? Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous approbation. Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee: -Hoo! Marcius coming home? Two Ladies. Nay, 'tis true. Vol. Look, here's a letter from him; the state hath another, his wife another; and, I think, there's one at home for you. Men. I will make my very house reel to-night: -A letter for me! Vir. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; I saw it. Men. A letter for me! It gives me an estate of seven years' health; in which time, I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutick, and, to this preservative, of no better report than a horsedrench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded. Vir. O, no, no, no. Men. So do I too, if it be not too much.-Brings' a victory in his pocket!-The wounds become him. Vol. On's brows, Menenius: he comes the third time home with the oaken garland. Men. Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly? Vol. Titus Lartius writes,-they fought together, but Aufidius got off. Men. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that: an he had staid by him, I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the senate possessed of this? Vol. Good ladies, let's go.-Yes, yes, yes; the senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly. Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him. Men. Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing. Vir. The gods grant them true! Men. True? I'll be sworn they are true.— Where is he wounded?—God save your good worships! [to the tribunes, who come forward] Marcius is coming home: he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded? Vol. I'the shoulder, and i'the left arm: there will be large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall stand for his place. He received, in the repulse of Tarquin, seven hurts i'the body. Men. One in the neck, and two in the thigh,there's nine that I know. Vol. He had, before this last expedition twentyfive wounds upon him. Men. Now it's twenty-seven; every gash was an enemy's grave, [a shout and flourish.] Hark! the trumpets. Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him He carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears; Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie; Which, being advanced, declines; and then men die. A sennet; trumpets sound: enter Cominius and Titus Lartius; between them, Coriolanus, crowned Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight Com. Look, sir, your mother.. You have, I know, petition'd all the gods Vol. Nay, my good soldier, up; [kneels. Cor. My gracious silence, hail! [home, Wouldst thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd Vol. O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for't. That weep'st to see me triumph? Ay, my dear, Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear, And mothers that lack sons. And I could laugh. I am light and heavy: wel- men, [not We have some old crab-trees here at home, that will Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: We call a nettle but a nettle; and The faults of fo. Is, but folly. Com. Ever right. Cor. Menenius, ever, ever. Her. Give way there, and go on. Cor. Your hand, and yours: [to his wife and mother. Ere in our own house I do shade my head, From whom I have received not only greetings, Vol. I have lived To see inherited my very wishes, And the buildings of my fancy: only there Is one thing wanting, which I doubt not, but Cor. Know, good mother, I had rather be their servant in my way, Com. On, to the Capitol. [flourish; cornets: exeunt in state, as before; the tribunes remain. Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurse Into a rapture lets her baby cry, While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd Sic. On the sudden, I warrant him consul. Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Lose those that he hath won. But they, upon their ancient malice, will Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he [rather Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it, Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to him, And the desire of the nobles. Sic. I wish no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it In execution. Bru. 'Tis most like, he will. Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills A sure destruction. For an end, Bru. So it must fall out Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world, Sic. This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence Shall teach the people (which time shall not want, As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire Enter a Messenger. Bru. What's the matter. Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought, That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind To hear him speak: the matrons flung their gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended, As to Jove's statue; and the commous made A shower, and thunder, with their caps and shouts: I never saw the like. Bru. Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, Sic. Have with you. SCENE II. THE SAME. THE CAPITOL. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions. [exeunt. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here: how many stand for consulships? 2 Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people. ́ 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er loved them. and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better ground: therefore, E for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't. 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love. 2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report; but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it. 1 Off. No more of him; he is a worthy man: Make way, they are coming. A sennet. Enter, with lictors before them, Cominius the consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, many other senators, Sicinius and Brutus. The senators take their places; the tribunes take theirs also by themselves. Men. Having determin'd of the Volces, and By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out of length, and make us think, Rather our states defective for requital, Than we to stretch it out. Masters o' the people, Sic. We are convented Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts Bru. Which the rather We shall be bless'd to do, if he remember A kinder value of the people, than He hath hereto prized them at. Men. That's off, that's off; I would you rather had been silent: please you To hear Cominius speak? Bru. Most willingly; But yet my caution was more pertinent, Men. He loves your people; But tie him not to be their bedfellow;— Worthy Cominius, speak.-Nay, keep your place. [Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away. 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. Your honours' pardon; I had rather have my wounds to heal again, My words disbench'd you not. When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. Men. Pray now, sit down. Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i'the When the alarum were struck, than idly sit [sun, To hear my nothings monster'd. [ exit Coriolanus. Men. Masters o' the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, [see. (That's thousand to one good one,) when you now He had rather venture all his limbs for honour, Than one of his ears to hear it?-- Proceed, Cominius. Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus An o'er-press'd Roman, and i'the consul's view I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers And fell below his stem: his sword (death's stamp) Men. Worthy man! That I shall blush in acting, and might well Bru. Mark you that? Men. Do not stand upon't. We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them; and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honour. Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! [flourish; then exeunt senators. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Sic. May they perceive his intent! He, that will require them, As if he did contemn what he requested Bru. Come, we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, I know, they do attend us. SCENE III. THE SAME. THE FORUM. Enter several citizens. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of. a little help will serve: for once, when we stood up about the corn, he himself struck not to call usthe many-headed multitude. 3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured, and truly, I think, if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points of the compass. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge my wit would fly. Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head: but, if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward. 2 Cit. Why that way? 3 Cit. To lose itself in a fog; where, being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience' sake, to help to get thee a wife. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks.You may, you may. 3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it I say, if he would incline to the people there was never a worthier man. Enter Coriolanus and Menenius. Here he comes and in the gown of humility; mark his behaviour. We are not to stay altogether, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by par ticular; wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues. therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him. All. Content, content. [exeunt, Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not The worthiest men have done it? [knowa Cor. What must I say?— I pray, sir,-plague upon't! I cannot bring I got them in my country's service, when Men. O me, the gods! You must not speak of that: you must, desire them To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em! [exeunt. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, sir, if we will. 3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for, if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous and for the multitude to be ingrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which, we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members. I'll leave you pray you, speak to them, I pray In wholesome manner. |