1 G. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius. 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again. 1 G. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back? 2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so 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! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [Exit. 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. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Tent of CORIOLANUS. Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to morrow Set down our host.--My partner in this action, You must report to the Volcian lords, how I have borne this business. Auf. Only their ends [plainlyt You have respected; stopp'd your ears against [Rome, Cor. This last old man, Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to 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, Will I lend ear to. -Ha! what shout is this? [Shout within. Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow Enter in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, leading young MARCIUS, VALERIA, and AT Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus Makes you think so. [chang'd, Cor. 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! [kiss Now by the jealous queen of heaven, that I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip Hath virgin'd it e'er since. - You gods! I prate, And the most noble mother of the world Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i'the earth; [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, I kneel before thee; and unproperly Show duty, as mistaken all the while Between the child and parent. [Kneels. Cor. What is this? I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady? Cor. I beseech you, peace: Or, if you'd ask, remember this before; The things, I have forsworn to grant, may Be held by you denials. Do not bid me Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate Again with Rome's mechanics:-Tell me not never Wherein I seem unnatural: Desire not To allay my rages and revenges, with Vol. O, no more, no more! raiment, And state of bodies would bewray what life We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself, How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither: since that thy sight which should † Ovenly. † A young goose. * Juno. Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance | Like one i'the stocks. Thou hast never in thy with comforts, Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow; Making thy mother, wife, and child, to see son, [thou Our comfort in the country. We must With manacles thorough our streets, or else thee son, The end of war's uncertain; but this certain, To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air, speak? Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man Still to remember wrongs?-Daughter, speak you: [boy: He cares not for your weeping. --Speak thou, Perhaps, thy childishness will move him more Than can our reasons. There is no man in the [prate More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me + The refinements. Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy; [life When she (poor hen!) fond of no second brood, Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home, Loaden with honour. Say, my request's un. just, And spurn me back: But, if it be not so, Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee, That thou restrain'st from me the duty, which To a mother's part belongs.-He turns away: Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees. To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride, This boy, that cannot tell what he would have, Cor. O mother, mother! [patch: [Holding VOLUMNIA by the Hands, silent. What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene fidius, Cor. I dare be sworn, you were: And, Sir, it is no little thing, to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good Sir, What peace you'll make, advise me; For my part, [you, I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife! Auf. I am glad, thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour At difference in thee: out of that I'll work Myself a former fortune. [Aside. [The ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS. [TO VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, &c. Cor. Ay, by and by; But we will drink together; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Rome. A public Place. Men. See you yond' coign* o'the Capitol: yond' corner stone? Sic. Why, what of that? Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the world • Conclude. * Angle. ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may | Great cause to give great thanks. Sic. Is't possible, that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? Men. There is differency between a grub, and a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing. Sic. He loved his mother dearly. Men. So did he me and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tiger; that shall our poor city find and all this is 'long of you. Sic. The gods be good unto us! Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, Enter another MESSENGER. Sic. What's the news? Mess. Good news, good news;-The ladies The Volces are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone: Sic. Friend, Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain? Sic. They are near the city? And help the joy. [Going. Enter the Ladies, accompanied b. SENATORS, Stage. 1 Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome: Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius, Welcome! [A flourish with Drums and Trumpets. SCENE V.-Antium. -A Public Place. Enter Three or Four CONSPIRATORS of AUFIDIUS' 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of Auf. I know it; 3 Con. Sir, his stoutness, Auf. That I would have spoke of: Being banish'd for't he came unto my hearth; In mine own person; holp to reap the fame, Stay but for it. + Chair of state. † To resemble, * Recall, I seem'd his follower, not partner; and He wag'd me with his countenance, as if 1 Con. So he did, my lord: The army marvell'd at it. And, in the last, When he had carried Rome; and that we look'd For no less spoil, than glory,— Auf. There was it; For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. At a few drops of women's rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour Of our great action; Therefore shall he die, And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark! [Drums and Trumpets sound, with great shouts of the People. 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise. 2 Con. And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear, With giving him glory. 3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage, Ere he express himself, or move the people With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury His reasons with his body. Auf. Say no more; Here comes the lords. Enter the LORDS of the City. Lords. You are most welcome home. Auf. I have not deserv'd it, Coriolanus in Corioli? You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars? 1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces; men and lads, But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd Stain all your edges on me.-Boy! False What I have written to you? Lords. We have. 1 Lord. And grieve to hear it. What faults he made before the last, I think, Might have found easy fines: but there to end, Where he was to begin; and give away Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colours; a Cor. Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier; No more infected with my country's love, Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know, That prosperously I have attempted, and With bloody passage, led your wars, even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home, Do more than counterpoise, a full third part, The charges of the action. We have made * Thought me rewarded with good look.. + Tears. People of Antium. † Rewarding us with our own expenses. hound! If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, Auf. Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears? Con. Let him die for't. [Several speak at once. Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces, do it presently. He killed my son ;my daughter;-He killed my cousin Marcus; - He killed my father. 2 Lord. Peace, ho; -no outrage; peace. The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o'the earth. His last offence to us Shall have judiciouss hearing.-Stand, AufiAnd trouble not the peace. [dius, Cor. O, that I had him, Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [AUFIDIUS and the CONSPIRATORS draw, and kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFIDIUS stands on him. Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold. 2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat val Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in | 2 Lord. His own impatience this rage, Provok'd by him, you cannot,) the great danger Which this man's life did owe you, you'll re- That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours 1 Lord. Bear from hence his body, Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. Auf. My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up: |