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1 Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that. 2 Serv. Worth six of him.

1 Serv. Nay, not so neither; but I take him to be the greater soldier.

2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that for the defence of a town, our general is excellent.

1 Serv. Ay, and for an assault too.

Re-enter third Servant.

3 Serv. O, slaves, I can tell you news; news, you rascals.

1. 2. Serv. What, what, what? let's partake.

a great maker of cuckolds.

but peace
is
1 Serv. Ay, and it makes men hate one another.
3 Serv. Reason; Because they then less need
one another. The wars, for my money. I hope
to see Romans as cheap as Volscians. They are
rising, they are rising.
All. In, in, in, in.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VI-Rome. A public place. Enter
Sicinius and Brutus.

Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear
him;

His remedies are tame i'the present peace

3 Serv. I would not be a Roman, of all nations;|| And quietness o'the people, which before I had as lieve be a condemned man.

1. 2. Serv. Wherefore? wherefore?

3 Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Marcius.

1 Serv. Why do you say, thwack our general? 3 Serv. I do not say, thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him.

2 Serv. Come, we are fellows, and friends: he was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.

1 Serv. He was too hard for him directly, to say the truth on't before Corioli, he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.

2 Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too.

I Serv. But, more of thy news?

3 Serv. Why, he is so made on here within, as if he were son and heir to Mars: set at upper end o'the table: no question asked him by any of the senators, but they stand bald before him: Our general himself makes a mistress of him; sanctifies himself with's hand, and turns up the white o'the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i'the middle, and but one half || of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle2 the porter of Rome gates by the ears: He will mow down all before him, and leave his passage polled.3

2 Serv. And he's as like to do't, as any man I can imagine.

3 Serv. Do't? he will do't: For, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which friends, sir, (as it were,) durst not (look you, sir,) show themselves (as we term it,) his friends, whilst he's in directitude.

1 Serv. Directitude! what's that?

3 Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood,4 they will out of their burrows, like coneys after rain, and revel all with him.

1 Serv. But when goes this forward?

3 Serv. To-morrow; to-day, presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis, as it were, a parcels of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.

2 Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.

1 Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace, as far as day does night; it's sprightly, waking, audible, and full of vent.6 Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled,7 deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children, than war's a destroyer of men.

2 Serv. 'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher; so it cannot be denied,

(1) Meat cut across to be broiled. (2) Pull. (3) Cut clear.

Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends
Blush, that the world goes well; who rather had,
Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestering streets, than see
Our tradesmen singing in their shops, and going
About their functions friendly.

Enter Menenius.

Bru. We stood to't in good time. Is this Me

nenius?

Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he: O, he is grown most kind
Of late-Hail, sir!
Men.

Hail to you both!

Sic. Your Coriolanus, sir, is not much miss'd, But with his friends; the commonwealth doth stand;

And so would do, were he more angry at it.
Men. All's well; and might have been much
better, if
He could have temporiz'd.

Sic.
Where is he, hear you?
Men. Nay, I hear nothing; his mother and his
wife
Hear nothing from him.

Enter three or four Citizens.
Cit. The gods preserve you both!
Sic.
Good-e'en, our neighbours.
Bru. Good-e'en to you all, good-e'en to you all.
1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our
knees,
Are bound to pray
for you both.
Sic.
Live, and thrive!
Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd
Coriolanus
Had lov'd you as we did.
Cit.

Now the gods keep you!
Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. [Exe. Citizens:
Sic. This is a happier and more comely time,
Than when these fellows ran about the streets,
Crying, Confusion.

Bru.

Caius Marcius was
A worthy officer i'the war; but insolent,
O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking,
Self-loving,-
Sic.

And affecting one sole throne,

Without assistance.8
Men.
I think not so.
Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation,
If he had gone forth consul, found it so.
Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome
Sits safe and still without him.

Enter Edile.

Ædi.
Worthy tribunes,
There is a slave, whom we have put in prison,
Reports,-the Volces with two several powers

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Mes. The nobles, in great earnestness, are going All to the senate-house: some news is come, That turns3 their countenances. Sic.

If!

Men. You have made good work, You, and your apron men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation,6 and The breath of garlic-eaters!

Com.

Your Rome about your ears. Men.

He will shake

As Hercules

Did shake down mellow fruit: You have made fair work!

Bru. But is this true, sir?

Com.

Ay; and you'll look pale Before you find it other. All the regions Do smilingly revolt; and, who resist, Are only mock'd for valiant ignorance, And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? Your enemies, and his, find something in him. Men. We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy.

Com.

Who shall ask it?

The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people
Deserve such pity of him, as the wolf

Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they 'Tis this slave-Should say, Be good to Rome, they charg❜d him

Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes:—his raising! Nothing but his report!

Mess.

Yes, worthy sir, The slave's report is seconded; and more, More fearful is deliver'd.

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And cowardly nobles, gave way to your clusters, Who did hoot him out o'the city.

Com. But, I fear, They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, The second name of men, obeys his points As if he were his officer :-Desperation Is all the policy, strength, and defence, That Rome can make against them. Enter a troop of Citizens.

Men.

Here come the clusters.-And is Aufidius with him?-You are they That made the air unwholesome, when you cast Your stinking, greasy caps, in hooting at Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming; And not a hair upon a soldier's head, Which will not prove a whip; as many coxcombs, As you threw caps up, will he tumble down, And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter; If he could burn us all into one coal, We have deserv'd it.

Cit. 'Faith, we hear fearful news. 1 Cit. For mine own part When I said, Banish him, I said, 'twas pity.

(5) A small round hole: an augre is a carpenter's tool. (6) Mechanics.

(7) Revolt with pleasure.

2 Cit. And so did I.

3 Cit. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us: That we did, we did for the best and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will. Com. You are goodly things, you voices! You have made Good work, you and your cry!-Shall us to the Capitol?

Men.

Com. O, ay; what else? [Exe. Com. and Men. Sic Go, masters, get you home, be not dismay'd; These are a side, that would be glad to have This true, which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear.

1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home. I ever said, we were i'the wrong, when we banished him.

2 Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home.
[Exeunt Citizens.

Bru. I do not like this news.
Sic. Nor I.
Bru. Let's to the Capitol :-'Would, half my
wealth

Would buy this for a lie!

Sic.

Pray, let us go. [Exeunt. SCENE VII-A camp; at a small distance from Rome. Enter Aufidius, and his Lieutenant. Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman?

Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him; but
Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;
And you are darken'd in this action, sir,
Even by your own.
Auf
I cannot help it now;
Unless, by using means, I lame the foot

Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier
Even to my person, than I thought he would,
When first I did embrace him: Yet his nature
In that's no changeling; and I must excuse
What cannot be amended.

Lieu.
Yet I wish, sir
(I mean for your particular,) you had not
Join'd in commission with him: but either
Had borne the action of yourself, or else
To him had left it solely.

Auf I understand thee well; and be thou sure,
When he shall come to his account, he knows not
What I can urge against him. Although it seems,
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly,
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state;
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword: yet he hath left undone
That, which shall break his neck, or hazard mine,
Whene'er we come to our account.

Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry
Rome?

Auf All places yield to him ere he sits down And the nobility of Rome are his;

The senators, and patricians, love him too:
The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty

To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome,
As is the osprey2 to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them; but he could not
Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgment,

(1) Pack, alluding to a pack of hounds.
(2) An eagle that preys on fish.

73) Helmet. (4) The chair of civil authority.

;

To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From the casque3 to the cushion, but commanding

peace

Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controll'd the war; but, one of these
(As he hath spices of them all, not all,5
For I dare so far free him,) made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: But he has a merit,
To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues
Lie in the interpretation of the time:
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair
To extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;
Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,
Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE 1-Rome. A public place. Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus, and others.

Men. No, I'll not go: you hear, what he hath said, Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him In a most dear particular. He call'd me, father: But what o'that? Go, you that banish'd him, A mile before his tent fall down, and kneel The way into his mercy: Nay, if he coy'd To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home. Com. He would not seem to know me.

Men.
Do you hear?
Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name :
I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to: forbad all names;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,

Till he had forg'd himself a name i'the fire
Of burning Rome.

Men. Why, so; you have made good work:
A pair of tribunes that have rack'd' for Rome,
To make coals cheap: A noble memory !8

Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon When it was less expected: He replied, It was a bare petition of a state To one whom they had punish'd. Men. Could he say less?

Very well :

Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard For his private friends: His answer to me was, He could not stay to pick them in a pile Of noisome, musty chaff: He said, 'twas folly, For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt,

For one poor grain

And still to nose the offence.
Men.
Or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife,
His child, and this brave fellow too, we are the grains:
You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt
Above the moon: We must be burnt for you.

Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your aid
In this so never-needed help, yet do not
Upbraid us with our distress. But, sure, if you
Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,
More than the instant army we can make,
Might stop our countryman.
Men.

No; I'll not meddle.

5) Not all in their full extent.

(6) Condescended unwillingly.

(7) Harassed by exactions. (8)Memorial.

Sic. I pray you, go to him. Men.

What should I do? Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome towards Marcius.

Men.
Well, and say that Marcius
Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard; what then?-

But as a discontented friend, grief-shot
With his unkindness? Say't be so?

Sic.
Yet your good will
Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure
As you intended well.
Men.

I'll undertake it. Yet to bite his lip,

I think, he'll hear me.
And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.
He was not taken well; he had not din'd:
The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd
These pipes and these conveyances of our blood
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch
him

Till he be dieted to my request,
And then I'll set upon him.

Bru. You know the very road into his kindness,
And cannot lose your way.
Men.

Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge Of my success. [Exit. Com.

Sic.

He'll never hear him.

Not?

Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye
Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury
The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him;
'Twas very faintly he said, Rise; dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand: What he would do,
He sent in writing after me; what he would not,
Bound with an oath, to yield to his conditions:
So, that all hope is vain,

Unless his noble mother, and his wife;
Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him

For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence, And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [Exe. SCENE II-An advanced post of the Volscian camp before Rome. The Guard at their stations. Enter to them, Menenius.

1 G. Stay: Whence are you? 2 G.

Stand, and go back.

His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified; For I have ever verified3 my friends

(Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity4 Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,

I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise Have, almost, stamp'd the leasing :6 Therefore, fellow,

I must have leave to pass.

1 G. 'Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have uttered words in your own, you should not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.

Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.

2 G. Howsoever you have been his liar (as you say, you have,) I am one that, telling true under him, must say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.

Men. Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner. 1 G. You are a Roman, are you? Men. I am as thy general is.

1 G. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant? as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; Therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemned, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

2 G. Come, my captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy general.

1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go, lest I let forth your half pint of blood;-back, -that's the utmost of your having :-back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,

Enter Coriolanus and Aufidius.
Cor. What's the matter?

Men. Now, you companion, I'll say an errand

Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by for you; you shall know now that I am in estima

your leave,

I am an officer of state, and come

To speak with Coriolanus.

1 G.

Men.

From whence?

From Rome. 1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our general

Will no more hear from thence.

tion; you shall perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son Coriclanus: guess but by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i'the state of hanging, or some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering; behold now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee.-The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no

2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, worse than thy old father Menenius does! O, my

before

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son! my son! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured, none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee. Cor. Away! Men. How! away?

(1) Prizes. (3) Proved to.

(2) Friend. (4) Truth.

(6) Lie.

(5) Deceitful.

(9) Jack in office,

(7) Dotard. (8) Fellow.

Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs In supplication nod: and my young boy
Are servanted to others: Though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lies

In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger, than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for! I lov'd thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

[Gives a letter.
And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,
I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome : yet thou behold'st-
Auf. You keep a constant temper.

[Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius. 1 G. Now, sir, is your name Menenius?

2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again.

Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volces
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never
Be such a gosling4 to obey instinct; but stand,
As if a man were author of himself,
And knew no other kin.

Vir.

Cor. These eyes are
Vir. The sorrow,
Makes you think so.

Cor.

My lord and husband! not the same I wore in Rome. that delivers us thus chang'd,

Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my part, and I am out,
Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny: but do not say,
For that, Forgive our Romans.-O, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous queen5 of heaven, that kiss

[Kneels.

1 G. Do you hear how we are shent2 for keeping|I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip your greatness back? Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I prate, 2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? And the most noble mother of the world Men. I neither care for the world, nor your gene-Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee i'the earth; ral: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so O slight. He that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another. Let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are, long and your misery increase with your age! say to you, as I was said to, Away!

[Kneels.

Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sons.
Vol.
O, stand up bless'd
Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,
[Exit.I kneel before thee; and unproperly
Show duty, as mistaken all the while
Between the child and parent.
Cor.
What is this?
Your knees to me? to your corrected son?
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun;
Murd'ring impossibility, to make
What cannot be, slight work.

[Exeunt.
Enter

1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: He is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. SCENE III-The tent of Coriolanus. Coriolanus, Aufidius, and others. Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow Set down our host.-My partner in this action, You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly

I have borne this business.

Auf.

Only their ends

You have respected: stopp'd your ears against
The general suit of Rome; never admitted
A private whisper, no, not with such friends
That thought them sure of you.

Cor.
This last old man,
Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father;
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge,
Was to send him for whose old love, I have
(Though I show'd sourly to him,) once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse
And cannot now accept, to grace him only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits,
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-- -Ha! what shout is this?
[Shout within.

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.-

Enter in mourning habits, Virgilia, Volumnia,
leading young Marcius, Valeria, and attendants.
My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of nature, break!
Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate.
What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn?—I melt, and am

not

Vol.

Thou art my warrior;
I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?
Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,

The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle,
That's curded by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's temple: Dear Valeria!
Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours,
Which by the interpretation of full time
May show like all yourself.

Čor.

The god of soldiers,
With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may'st prove
To shame invulnerable, and stick i'the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,
And saving those that eye thee!

Vol.

Your knee, sirrah.

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I beseech you, peace:
Or, if you'd ask, remember this before;
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
The things, I have forsworn to grant, may never
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate
Again with Rome's mechanics;-Tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural: Desire not
To allay my rages and
revenges, with
Your colder reasons.
Vol.
O, no more, no more!
You have said, you will not grant us any thing;
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
Which you deny already: Yet we will ask;

Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows;|| That, if you fail in our request, the blame
As if Olympus to a molehill should

(1) Because. (2) Reprimanded. (3) Openly. (4) A young goose.

May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volces, mark; for we'll

(5) Juno.

(6) Gust, storm.

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