DRAMATIS PERSONA. CAIUS MARCIUS, afterwards Caius Marcius | A Citizen of Antium. Coriolanus. TITUS LARTIUS, Generals against the Vol COMINIUS, scians. MENENIUS AGRIPPA, Friend to Coriolanus. YOUNG MARCIUS, Son to Coriolanus. A Roman Herald. TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volscians. Conspirators with Aufidius. NICANOR, a Roman. ADRIAN, a Volsce. VOLUMNIA, Mother to Coriolanus. Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, SCENE.-Rome and the Neighbourhood; Corioli and the Neighbourhood; Antium. Sec. Cit. One word, good citizens. First Cit. We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us. If they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularise their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 26 Sec. Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? First Cit. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty. First Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for 't, but that he pays himself with being proud. Sec. Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 36 First Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though softconscienced men can be content to say 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. 42 Sec. Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous. 45 First Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations: he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o' the city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol! All. Come, come. First Cit. Soft! who comes here? 52 Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Sec. Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people. First Cit. He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so! 56 Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you. First Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em The helms o' the state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies. First Cit. Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us yet: suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. Who is the sink o' the body,- Well, what then? 128 First Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? 137 And, through the cranks and offices of man, The strongest nerves and small inferior veins From me receive that natural competency 145 Whereby they live. And though that all at once, You, my good friends,'-this says the belly, mark me, First Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 108 "Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each, Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flour of all, And leave me but the bran.' What say you to 't? 149 First Cit. It was an answer: how apply you this? 153 Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members; for, examine Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly 156 Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find No public benefit which you receive But it proceeds or comes from them to you, And no way from yourselves. What do you think, 160 You, the great toe of this assembly? First Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? Men. For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest, Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: 164 Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run, But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs: Enter CAIUS MARCIUS. Hail, noble Marcius! Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 173 First Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you, The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, 176 Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice, Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is, To make him worthy whose offence subdues him, 180 And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness Deserves your hate; and your affections are Upon your favours swims with fins of lead With every minute you do change a mind, 188 They have a leader, And were I anything but what I am, 236 I would wish me only he. Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make 240 First Sen. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims, Sic. Come: And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou What! art thou stiff? stand'st out? Ere stay behind this business. 248 12 They have press'd a power, but it is not known First Sen. Our army's in the field: let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. 19 Vir. But had he died in the business, madam; 16 how then? Vol. Then, his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each To answer us. Take your commission; hie you to your bands; If they set down before's, for the remove Auf. 28 in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. 28 Gen. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not. 32 Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum, O! doubt not that; Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus: I speak from certainties. Nay, more; Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: they set them down on two low stools and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I would freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honour would become such a person, that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to brow |