The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

the war,

Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, They would not thread the gates: this kind of service

Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusa-
tion

Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native +
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words :-We did request
it ;

We are the greater poll,‡ and in true fear
They gave us our demands:-Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time break

Sen. & Pat. We'll surety him.

Com. Aged Sir, hands off.

Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy

bones

Out of thy garments.

Sic. Help, ve citizens.

Re-enter BRUTUS, with the EDILES, und a
Rabble of CITIZENS.

Men. On both sides more respect.
Sic. Here's he, that would
Take from you all your power.
Bru. Seize him, Ediles.

Cit. Down with him, down with him!

[Several speak.

2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about CORIOLANUS. Tribunes, patricians, citizens !-what ho! Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens ! Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace! Men. What is about to be ?-1 am out of breath: [bunes Confusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, triTo the people,-Coriolanus, patience :Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic. Hear me, people ;-Peace.
Cit. Let's hear our tribune:-Peace.

speak, speak.

Speak,

Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties : Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, Whom late you have nam'd for consul. Men. Fie, tie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

1 Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat. Sic. What is the city, but the people? Cit. True,

The people are the city.

Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd The people's magistrates.

Cit. You so remain.

Men. And so are like to do.

Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat; To bring the roof to the foundation; And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges, In heaps and piles of ruins.

Sic. This deserves death.

Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Or let us lose it :-We do here pronounce, Upon the part o'the people, in whose power We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy Of present death.

Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him ;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.

Bru. Ediles, seize him.
Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield.
Men. Hear me one word.

'Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.
Edi. Peace, peace.

Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend,

And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.

Bru. Sir, those cold ways,

That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent :-Lay hands upon And bear him to the rock.

[him,

Cor. No: I'll die here. [Drawing his Sword. There's some among you have beheld me fighting; [me.

Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen Men. Down with that sword,-Tribunes, withdraw a while.

Bru. Lay hands upon him.
Men. Help, Marcius! help,

You that be noble; help him, young and old!
Cit. Down with him, down with him!
[In this Mutiny, the TRIBUNES, the EDIles,
and the People are all beat in.
Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone,
All will be naught else.
[away,

2 Sen. Get you gone.

From whence criminals were thrown, and dashed to

violently agitate. Į pieces.

Cor. On fair ground,

I could beat forty of them.
Men. I could myself

Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes.

Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabric.-Will you hence, Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear What they are used to bear.

Men. Pray you, be gone :

I'll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little: this must be With cloth of any colour. [patch'd Com. Nay, come away. [Exeunt COR. Com. and others. 1 Pat. This man has marr'd his fortune. Men. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth: [vent; What his breast forges, that his tongue must And being angry, does forget that ever

He heard the name of death. [A noise within. Here's goodly work!

2 Pat. I would they were a-bed?

The which shall turn you to no further harm,
Than so much loss of time.

Sic. Speak briefly then;

For we are peremptory to despatch

This viperous traitor: to eject him hence,
Were but one dauger; and, to keep him here,
Our certain death; therefore it is decreed,
He dies to-night.

Men. Now the good gods forbid
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserved children is enroll'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!

Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away.
Men. Oh! he's a limb, that has but a disease;
Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy.
What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death?
Killing our enemies? The blood he hath lost,
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath,
By many an ounce,) he dropp'd it for his coun-
And, what is left, to lose it by his country, [try:
Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it,

A brand to the end o'the world.
Sic. This is clean kam. +

Bru. Merely awry: when he did love his country,

It honour'd him.

Men. The service of the foot,

Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was ?

Bru. We'll hear no more :

Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further.

Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by pro

cess;

Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And sack great Rome with Romans.

Bru. If it were so,

Sic. What do ye talk?

Have we not had a taste of his obedience?

Men. I would they were in Tyber !-What, the Our Ediles smote ? ourselves resisted?-Come :

With modest warrant.

Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you

Have holp to make this rescue ?

Men. Hear me speak :

As I do know the consul's worthiness,

So can I name his faults:-

Sic. Consul !-what consu ?
Men. The consul Coriolanus.
Bru. He a consul!

Cit. No, no, no, no, no.

Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,

1 may be heard, I'd crave a word or two;

The lowest of the populace, tag, rag, and bobtail. The signal for slaughter. 1 Be sure on't.

Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him.

[Exeunt

Vol. Ay, and burn too.

Enter MENENIUS and SENATORS.

Come, go with us; speak fair: yon may salve so,
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss
Of what is past.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, my son,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hard; And thus far having stretch'd it (here be with. them,)

ness

Thy knee bussing the stones, for in such busi-
[rant
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the igno-
More learned than the ears,) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart,
That humble, as the ripest inulberry,
Now will not hold the haudling: Or, say to them,
Thou art their soldier, and, being bred in broils,
Hast not the soft way which, thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,

In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou hast power and person.

Men. This but done,

Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were

yours:

Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, For they have pardons, being ask’d, as free

something too rough;

You must return, and mend it.

1 Sen. There's no remedy;

Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst, and perish.

Vol. Pray be counsel'd:

I have a heart as little apt as yours,

But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.

Men. Well said, noble woman:

Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that
The violent fit o'the time craves it as physic
For the whole state, I would put mine arinour on
Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do?

Men. Return to the tribunes.
Cor. Well,

What then? what then?

Men. Repent what you have spoke.

Cor. For them ?-I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them?

Vol. You are too absolute;

Though therein you can never be too noble,
But when extremities speak. I have heard you

Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem The same you are not, (which, for your best ends, You adopt your policy,) how is it less, or worse, That it shall hold companionship in peace With honour, as in war; since that to both It stands in like request?

Cor. Why force you this?

Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak
To the people; not by our own instruction,
Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you
to,

But with such words that are but roted in
Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables
Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a town with gentle words,
Which else would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.-

I would dissemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at stake, requir'd
I should do so in honour: I am, in this,
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
+ Rank. ↑ Urge 6 Subdue.

• Wonder.

As words to little purpose.

Vol. Pr'ythee now,

Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou hadst rather

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius.

Enter CоMINIUS.

Com. I have been i'the market-place: and,
Sir, tis fit

You make strong party, or defend yourself
By calmness, or by absence: all's in anger.
Men. Only fair speech.

Com. I think 'twill serve, if he
Can, thereto frame his spirit.

Vol. He must, and will:

Pr'ythee, now, say you will, and go about it.
Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd
sconce?+ Must I,

With my base tongue, give to my noble heart
A lie that it must bear ? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single plot to lose,
This mould of Marcius, they to dust should
[place :-
And throw it against the wind.-To the market-
You have put me now to such a part, which never
I shall discharge to the life.

grind it,

Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.
Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet sou, as thou hast

said,

My praises made thee first a soldier, so
To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou hast not done before.

Cor. Well, I must do't:
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boy's tears take
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue [up
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd

knees,

Which bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms-I will not do't:
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

Vol. At thy choice then:

To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come ali to ruin : let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
Unshaven head. 1 Dwell.
D

Common clown.

Supplied with worthy men! plant love among us
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,
And not our streets with war ?

1 Sen. Amen, amen!
Men. A noble wish.

Re-enter ÆDILE, with CITIZENS.

Sic. Draw near, ye people.

Ed. List to your tribunes: audience: Peace,
I say.

Cor. First, hear me speak.

Both Tri. Well, say.-Peace, ho.

Cor. Shall I be charg'd no further than this present?

Must all determine?

Sic. I do demand here,

If you submit you to the people's voices
Allow their officers, and are content

To suffer lawful censure for such faults
As shall be prov'd upon you?
Cor. I am content.

Men. Lo, citizens, he says, he is content :
The warlike service he has done, consider;
Think on the wounds his body bears, which show
Like graves i'the holy churchyard.

Cor. Scratches with briers.
Scars to move laughter only.

Men. Consider further,

Bru. In this point charge him home-that he That when he speaks not like a citizen,

affects

Tyrannical power if he evade us there,
Enforce him with his envy to the people;
And that the spoil, got on the Antiates,
Was ne'er distributed.-

Enter an EDILE.

What, will be come!

Ed. He's coming.

Bru. How accompanied?

Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators

That always favour'd him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

Of all the veices that we have procur'd

Set down by the poll?

Ed. I have: 'tis ready, here.

Sic. Have you collected them by tribes?
Ed. I have.

Sic. Assemble presently the people hither:
And when they hear me say, It shall be so
Pthe right and strength o'the commons, be
either

For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I say fine, cry fine; if death, cry death;
Insisting on the old prerogative

And power i'the truth o'the cause.

Ed. I shall inform them.

Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry,

Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

Ed. Very well.

You find him like a soldier: Do not take
His rougher accents for malicious sounds,
But, as I say, such as become a soldier,
Rather than envy you.

Com. Well, well, no more.

Cor. What is the matter,

That being pass'd for consul with full voice,

I am so dishonour'd, that the very hour
You take it off again?

Sic. Answer to us.

Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so.

Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to

take

Sic. Peace.

We need not put new matter to his charge:
What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying hint,

When we shall hap to give't them.
Bru. Go about it.-
[Exit EDILE.
Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth
Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks
What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS,
SENATORS, and PATRICIANS.

Sre. Well, here he comes.
Men. Calmly, I do beseech you.

Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest
piece

Will bear the knave by the volume.-The honour'd gods

Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice

Those whose great power must try him; even
So criminal, and in such capital kind, (this,
Deserves the extremest death.

Bru. But since he hath

Serv'd well for Rome,

Cor. What do you prate of service?
Bru. I talk of that, that know it.
Cor. You?

Men. Is this

(As much as in him lies) from time to time
Envied against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power: as now at last
Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distribute it--In the name o'the people,
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city;
In peril of precipitation

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more

To enter our Rome gates: l'the people's name,
I say it shall be so.

Cit. It shall be so,

It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd;
And so it shall be.

Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common
friends-

Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing
Com. Let me speak:

Rome,

I have been consul, and can show from
Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love
My country's good, with a respect more tender,
More holy, and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's estimate, + her womb's increase,
And treasure of my loins; then if I would
Speak that-

Sic. We know your drift: Speak what?

A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens !
Cor. Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,—

Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome,

And occupations perish!

Cor. What, what, what!

I shall be lov❜d when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius,
Droop not; adieu :-Farewell, my wife! iny mo
ther!

I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometia.e
general,

I have seen thee stern, and thon hast oft beheld
Heart-hard'ning spectacles: tell these sad women,
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes, [well,
As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot
My hazards still bave been your solace: and
Believe't not lightly, (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is Makes fear'd) and talk'd of more than seen your

banish'd,

As enemy to the people and his country:

It shall be so.

Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so.

Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath
I hate

As reok o'the rotten fens, whose love I prize
As the dead carcasses of unburied men
That do corrupt my air, I banish you;
And here remain with your uncertainty!
Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!
Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,
Fan you into despair! Have the power still
To banish your defenders; till, at length,
Your ignorance (which finds not till it feels,)
Making not reservation of yourselves,
(Still your own foes,) deliver you, as most
Abated captives, to some nation
That won you without blows! Despising,
For you, the city, thus I turn my back:
There is a world elsewhere.
[Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, MENENIUS,
SENATORS, and PATRICIANS,
Ed. The people's enemy is gone, is gone!
Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo!

hoo!

[The people shout and throw up their Caps.
Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him!
As he hath follow'd you, with all despite :
Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard
Attend us through the city.

Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates;

come:

The gods preserve our noble tribunes !-Come.
[Exeunt.

ACT IV.
SCENE I.-The same.-Before a Gate of the
City.

Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA,
MENENIUS, COMINIUS, and several young
PATRICIANS.

Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:
-the beast ¶

With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say, extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, ali boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating fortune's blows,
When most struck home, being gentle wounded,

craves

son

Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous + baits and practice.

Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too
Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.-
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch, when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me aught
But what is like me formerly.

Men. That's worthily

As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.-
If I could shake off but one seven years
From these old arins and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Cor. Give me thy hand :-
Come.

[Exeunt.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare, المجلد 10