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In the same time 'tis made? I will not.

Enter, in mourning Habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUM-
NIA, leading young MARCIUS, VALERIA, and
Attendants.

My wife comes foremost; then, the honor'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
Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows,
As if Olympus to a molehill should

In supplication nod; and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great nature cries, "Deny not."-Let the Volsces
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never
Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand
As if a man were author of himself,

And knew no other kin.

Vir. My lord and husband! Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so.

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!
Now, by the jealous a queen of heaven, that kiss
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;

Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sons.

[Kneels.

Vol. O, stand up bless'd! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, I kneel before thee, and unproperly Show duty, as 'mistaking all this while Between the child and parent.

[Kneels.

What is this?

Cor.
Your knees to me? to your corrected son?
Then, let the pebbles on the hungry beach
C 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.

[Rising and raising her.
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 curdled 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.

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

Vol.

Your knee, sirrah.

Cor. That's my brave boy! Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you.

Juno.- Sterile. Strike.- Gust; storm.

Cor.

I beseech you, peace;

Or, if you'd ask, remember this before:
The things I have forsworn to grant may never
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
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;
That, if we fail in our request, the blame
May hang upon your hardness. Therefore, hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private. 5[Takes his
seat.]-Your request?

[row;

Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our 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 Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with com forts, Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sor Making the mother, wife, and child, to see The son, the husband, and the father, tearing His country's bowels out; and so poor we, Thine enemies most capital. Thou barr'st us Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort That all but we enjoy; for how can we, Alas! how can we, for our country pray, Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory, Whereto we are bound? Alack! or we must lose The country, our dear nurse; or else thy person, Our comfort in the country. We must find An evident calamity, though we had

Our wish, which side should win; for either thou
Must, as a foreign recreant, be led

With manacles through our streets, or else
Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin,
And bear the palm, for having bravely shed
Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,
I purpose not to wait on fortune, till

These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee
Rather to show a noble grace to both parts,
Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner
March to assault thy country, than to tread
(Trust to't, thou shalt not) on thy mother's womb,
That brought thee to this world.

Vir.
Ay, and mine,
That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name
Living to time.

Boy.

He shall not tread on me: I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Cor. Not of a woman's tenderness to be, [Aside. Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. I have sat too long. Vol.

[Rising. Nay, go not from us thus. If it were so, that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn os, As poisonous of your honor: no; our suit Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volsces May say, "This mercy we have show'd;" the Romans, "This we receiv'd;" and each in either side Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, "Be bless'd For making up this peace!" Thou know'st, great sua, The end of war's uncertain; but this certain, That if thou conquer Rome, the benefit

• Conclude; end.

Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name,
Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses,
Whose chronicle thus writ,-"The man was noble,
But with his last attempt he wip'd it out,
Destroy'd his country, and his name remains
To each ensuing age abhorr'd." Speak to me, son!
Thou hast affected the fine strains of honor,
To imitate the graces of the gods;

To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air,
And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt
That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?
Think'st thou it honorable for a noble man
Still to remember wrongs?-Daughter, speak you;
He cares not for your weeping.-Speak thou, boy:
Perhaps, thy childishness will move him more
Than can our reasons. There is no man in the world
More bound to's mother; yet here he lets me prate
Like one i' the stocks.-Thou hast never in thy life
Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy ;

When she, (poor hen!) fond of no second brood,
Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home,
Loaden with honor. Say, my request's unjust,
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.

[All kneel.

To his surname, Coriolanus, 'longs more pride,
Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;
This is the last;-so we will home to Rome,
And die among our neighbors.-Nay, behold us:
This boy, that cannot tell what he would have,
But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship,
Does reason our petition with more strength
Than thou hast to deny't.-Come, let us go.
This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;
His wife is in Corioli, and his child
Like him by chance.-Yet give us our despatch:
I am hush'd until our city be afire,
And then I'll speak a little.

[He holds VOLUMNIA by the hand, long, and
self-struggling.

Cor. 40 mother, mother! What have you done? Behold! the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene They laugh at. O my mother! mother! O! You have won a happy victory to Rome; But, for your son,-believe it, O! believe it,Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd, If not most mortal to him. But let it come.Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, Were you in my stead, would you have heard A mother less, or granted less, Aufidius? Auf. I was mov'd withal. 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, I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you, Stand to me in this cause.-O mother! wife!

Auf. [Aside.] I am glad, thou hast set thy
mercy and thy honor

At difference in thee: out of that I'll work
Myself a firmer fortune.7

[The Ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS.

Cor. Ay, by and by; [TO VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, &c. But we will drink together; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we

a Argue.

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Sic. Why, what of that?

Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him: but I say, there is no hope in't. Our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution.

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

hem! 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 house. The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, And Thale him up and down; all swearing, if The Roman ladies bring not comfort home, They'll give him death by inches.

Enter another Messenger.

Sic.
What's the news?
Mess. Good news, good news!-The ladies have
prevail'd,

The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone.
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

Sic.

Friend,

Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?
Mess. As certain, as I know the sun is fire:
Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!
[Shouts, Trumpets and Hautboys sounded, and
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,
Drums beaten, all together.10
Make the sun dance. Hark you! [Shouting again.
Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,

9

Angle.-"Stay upon," i. e., wait but for.-d " State," i. e., chair of state." As a thing made for," i. e., as one made to resemble.-Drag.

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SCENE V.-Antium. A Public Place.
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants.
Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here.
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to the market-place; where I,
Even in theirs' and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends t' appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words. Despatch.
[Exeunt Attendants.
2 Enter Conspirators of AUFIDIUS' Faction.
Most welcome!

1 Con. How is it with our general?
Auf.

Even so,

As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,
And with his charity slain.

2 Con.

Most noble sir,

If you do hold the same intent, wherein
You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

Sir, I cannot tell:

Auf.
We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst
'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either
Makes the survivor heir of all.
Auf.
I know it;
And my pretext to strike at him admits
A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd
Mine honor for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing so my friends; and to this end
He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unswayable, and 3 fierce.
3 Con. Sir, his stoutness,

When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping,-
Auf.

1 Con.

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 labor
Of our great action: therefore shall he die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

e

[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.

Here come the lords.

Say no more.

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Lords.

1 Lord.

We have.

And grieve to bear 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
The benefit of our levies, answering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding; this admits no excuse.
Auf. He approaches: you shall hear him.
Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colors; &
crowd of Citizens with him.
Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd 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 peace,
With no less honor to the Antiates,

Than shame to the Romans; and we here deliver,
Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal o' the senate, what
We have compounded on.
Auf.

Read it not, noble lords;
That I would have spoke of. But tell the traitor in the highest degree
He hath abus'd your powers.

Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth;
Presented to my knife his throat: I took him;
Made him joint-servant with me; gave him way

Recall." Him," i. e., he whom.- Gates.

"Waged me with his countenance,” i. e., rewarded me with good looks. Tears." Answering us with our ow charge," i, e., rewarding us with our own expenses; making the cost of the war its recompense.

Cor. Traitor!-How now!-
Auf.
Cor.

Ay, traitor, Marcius. Marcius! Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius. Dost thou think I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name Coriolanus in Corioli?

You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously
He has betray'd your business, and given up
For certain drops of salt your city, Rome;
I say your city, to his wife and mother,
Breaking his oath and resolution, like
A twist of rotten silk; never admitting
Counsel o' the war, but at his nurse's tears
He whin'd and roar'd away your victory,
That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart
Look'd wondering each at other.

Cor.

Hear'st thou, Mars? Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears. Cor.

Auf. No more.

Ha!

Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

I was fore'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords,
Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion
(Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him, that
Must bear my beating to his grave) shall join
To thrust the lie unto him.

1 Lord.
Peace both, and hear me speak.
Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me.-Boy! False hound!
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,

That like an eagle in a dove-cote, I

Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli:
Alone I did it.-Boy!

Why, noble lords,

Auf.
Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,
Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,
'Fore your own eyes and ears?

All Con. Let him die for't.

All People. 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!

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Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this Provok'd by him, you cannot) the great danger Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it your honors To call me to your senate, I'll deliver Myself your loyal servant, or endure Your heaviest censure.

1 Lord.

Bear from hence his body,
And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded,
As the most noble corse that ever herald
Did follow to his urn.

2 Lord.
His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.

Auf.
My rage is gone,
And I am struck with sorrow.-Take him up :-
Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.—
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully;
Trail your steel spikes.-Though in this city he
Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory.-
Assist. [Exeunt, bearing the Body of CORIOLANUS.
A dead March, while they pass round
the Stage.

1

"Folds in this orb o' the earth," i, e., overspreads the

Tears.-b"No more," i. e., no more than a 'boy of tears.' I world.-d Judicial.

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Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

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The Tomb of the Andronici appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Capitol. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers, on one side; and BASSIANUS and his Followers, on the other; with Drum and Colors.

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my successive a title with your swords.
I am the first-born son, of him the last
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome:
Then, let my father's honors live in me,

"My successive title," i. e., my title to the succession.

[right,

Nor wrong mine bage with this indignity.
Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favorers of my
If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol;
And suffer not dishonor to approach
Th' imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, conscience, and nobility,
But let desert in pure election shine;
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.
Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the Crown.
Mar. Princes, that strive by factions, and by friends,
Ambitiously for rule and empery,

Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
A special party, have by common voice
In election for the Roman e
c empery,

b"Mine age," i. e., my seniority in point of age.-Empire; sovereignty.

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