Where he was to begin, and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge; 38) making a treaty, where There was a yielding; This admits no excuse. Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him.
Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colours; a Crowd of Citizens with him.
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 peace,|| With no less honour to the Antiates,
Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver, Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o'the senate, what We have compounded on. Auf.
Read it not, noble lords;
But tell the traitor, in the highest degree He hath abus'd your powers. Cor. Traitor! How now?
Auf. Cor. 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, 39) 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.
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 forc'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion (Who wears my stripes impress'd on him; that must
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, Volces; men and lads, Stain all your edges on me. Boy! False hound!
[AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFIDIUS stands on him.
Hold, hold, hold, hold. Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak. 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. 43) 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 pikes. 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.—44) Assist.
[Exeunt, bearing the Body of CORIOLANUS. A Dead March sounded.
Conspirators against Julius
FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, Tribunes. ARTEMIDORUS, a Sophist of Cnidos. A Soothsayer. CINNA, a Poet.
LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and VOLUMNIUS; Friends to Brutus and Cassius. || VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS, DarDANIUS; Servants to Brutus.
PINDARUS, Servant to Cassius.
CALPHURNIA, Wife to Cæsar.
PORTIA, Wife to Brutus.
Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c.
during a great part of the Play, at Rome: afterwards at Sardis; and near Philippi.
SCENE I. Rome. A Street.
Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of
Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?
What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, HENCE; home, you idle creatures; get you home; Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft
Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk, Upon a labouring day, without the sign Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou? 1 Cit. Why, sir, a carpenter. Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? You, sir; what trade are you?
2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.
Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2 Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soals.
Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?
2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow?
2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you.
Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
2 Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Cæsar, and to rejoice in his triumph.
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The live-long day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome; And when you saw his chariot but appear, Have you not made an universal shout, That Tyber trembled underneath her banks, To hear the replication of your sounds, Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now strew flowers in his way, That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone;
Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague That needs must light on this ingratitude. Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r ') their basest metal be not mov'd; They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness. Go you down that way towards the Capitol; This way will I: Disrobe the images, If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies. 2) Mar. May we do so?
You know, it is the feast of Lupercal.
Flav. It is no matter; let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, And drive away the vulgar from the streets:
Casca. Bid every noise be still: - Peace yet again. [Music ceases. Cas. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry, Cæsar: Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cas.
What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March.
Cas. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: Look upon
Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness, And show of love, as I was wont to have: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand 5) Over your friend that loves you.
Bru. Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am,
Of late, with passions of some difference, ') Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours: But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd; (Among which number, Cassius, be you one ;) Nor construe any further my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; 7)
By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? Bru. No, Cassius: for the eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things. Cas. 'Tis just;
And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors, as will turn Your hidden worthiness into your eye, That you might see your shadow. I have heard, Where many of the best respect in Rome, And groaning underneath this age's yoke, (Except immortal Cæsar,) speaking of Brutus, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me?
Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: And, since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus: Were I a common laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love 8) To every new protester; if you know That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, And after scandal them; or if you know That I profess myself in banqueting To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. [Flourish, and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well: But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye, and death i'the other, And I will look on both indifferently: For, let the gods so speed me, as I love The name of honour more than I fear death. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell, what you and other men Think of this life: but, for my single self, I had as lief not be, as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: We both have fed as well; and we can both Endure the winter's cold, as well as he. For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tyber chafing with her shores, Cæsar said to me, Dar'st thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point? Upon the word, Accouter'd as I was, I plunged in, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. The torrent roar'd: and we did buffet it With lusty sinews; throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy. But ere we could arrive the point propos'd, Cæsar cry'd, Help me, Cassius, or I sink. I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tyber Did I the tired Cæsar: And this man
Is now become a god; and Cassius is
A wretched creature, and must bend his body, If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain, And, when the fit was on him, I did mark,
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake: His coward lips did from their colour fly; And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan: Aye, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans Mark him, and write his speeches in their books, Alas! it cried, Give me some drink, Titinius, As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me, A man of such a feeble temper ") should So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone.
Bru. Another general shout!
I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world, Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus, and Cæsar: What should be in that Cæsar? Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well: Weigh them, it is as heavy: conjure with them, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. [Shout. Now in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd: Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! When went there by an age, since the great flood, But it was fam'd with more than with one man? When could they say, till now, that talk'd of Rome, That her wide walks encompass'd but one man? Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, When there is in it but one only man. O! you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once, 10) that would have brook'd The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, As easily as a king.
Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim;11) How I have thought of this, and of these times, I shall recount hereafter; for this present, I would not, so with love I might entreat you, Be any further mov'd. What you have said, I will consider: what you have to say,
I will with patience hear: and find a time Both meet to hear, and answer, such high things. Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this; 12) Brutus had rather be a villager, Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us.
Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
Re-enter CESAR, and his Train.
Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded, worthy note, to-day.
Bru. I will do so:- But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferret 13) and such fiery eyes, As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cas. Antonius.
I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; He is a great observer, and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music: Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort,
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit That could be mov'd to smile at any thing. Such men as he be never at heart's ease, Whiles they behold a greater than themselves; And therefore are they very dangerous. I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd, Than what I fear, for always I am Cæsar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
[Exeunt CESAR and his Train. Casca stays behind. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; Would you speak with me?
Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to day, That Cæsar looks so sad?
Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a' shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too.
Cas. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too.
Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other: and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted.
Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony.
Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; - yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets; and, as I told you, he put it by once; but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell down at it: And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air.
Cas. But, soft, I pray you: What? Did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless.
Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure, Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. 14)
Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat to cut. An I had been a man of any occupation, 15) if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues: and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done, or said, any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, Alas, good soul! and forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less.
Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Casca. Ay.
Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect?
Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'the face again: But those, that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads: but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I
Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca. No, I am promised forth.
Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow?
Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth 20)
Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Have riv'd the knotty oaks; and I have seen The ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam, To be exalted with the threat'ning clouds: But never till to-night, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven; Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction.
Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Casca. A common slave (you know him well by sight,)
Held up his left hand, which did flame, and burn Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd. Besides, (I have not since put up my sword,) Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glar'd 21) upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me: And there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore, they saw Men, all on fire, walk up and down the streets. And, yesterday, the bird of night did sit, Even at noon-day upon the market-place, Hooting, and shrieking. When these prodigies Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, These are their reasons, They are natural; For, I believe, they are portentous things
Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and Unto the climate that they point upon.
your dinner worth the eating.
Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so; Farewell, both.
Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school.
Of any bold or noble enterprize,
Cas. So is he now, in execution
However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words With better appetite.
Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, I will come home to you; or, if you will, Come home to me, and I will wait for you. Cas. I will do so:- - till then, think of the world. [Exit BRUTUS.
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos'd: 16) Therefore 'tis meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes: For who so firm, that cannot be seduc'd? Cæsar doth bear me hard: 7) But he loves Brutus: If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, He should not humour me. 18) I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending to the great opinion That Rome holds of his name: wherein obscurely Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at: And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit.
SCENE III.
The same. A Street.
Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Casca, with his Sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: Brought you Cæsar home?19) Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?
Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose 22) of the things themselves. Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you, he would be there to-morrow. Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. Casca.
Farewell, Cicero. [Exit CICERO. Enter CASSIUS.
C'as. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Cas. Those, that have known the earth so full of faults.
For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night; And thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone: 23) And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it.
Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.
Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the heavens: Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, But if you would consider the true cause, Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; 24) Why old men, fools, and children calculate: 25) Why all these things change, from their ordinance,
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