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art 3. Scene 3.]

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
Supply'd with worthy men! plant love among us!
Throng our large temples with the shews of peace,
And not our streets with war!

1 Sen. Amen, amen!

Men. A noble wish.

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What you have seen him do, and heard him spea
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,
Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him; even th
5 So criminal, and in such capital kind,
Deserves the extremest death.

10

[sent? 15

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

Must all determine here?

Sic. I do demand,

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:

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?

[mothe

Men. Is this the promise that you made yo
Com. Know, I pray you-

Cor. I'll know no further:

Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeïan death,
Vagabond exile, flaying: Pent to linger
But with a grain a day, I would not buy
Their mercy at the price of one fair word;
Nor check my courage for what they can give
20 To have't with saying, Good morrow.
Sic. For that he has

(As much as in him lies) from time to time
Envy'd against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power; as 'now at last

The warlike service he has done, consider; think 25 Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presenc Upon the wounds his body bears, which shew

Like graves i' the holy church-yard.

[only.

Cor. Scratches with briers,scars to move laughter
Men. Consider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a soldier: Do not take
His rougher accents for malicious sounds;
But, as I
say, such as become a soldier,

2

Rather than envy you.

Com. Well, well, no more.

Cor. What's the matter,

That being past 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. [take
Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to
From Rome all season'd' office, and to wind
Yourself into a power tyrannical;
For which, you are a traitor to the people.
Cor, How! Traitor?

Men. Nay; temperately: Your promise.
Cor. The fires i' the lowest hell fold in the people!
Call me their traitor!-Thou injurious tribune!
Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,
In thine hands clutch'd as many millions, in
Thy lying tongue both numbers; I would say,
Thou liest, unto thee, with a voice as free
As I do pray the gods.

Sic. Mark you this, people?

All.To the rock with him! to the rock with him!
Sic. Peace.

We need not lay new matter to his charge;

Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distribute it; In the name o' the peopl
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city;
30 In peril of precipitation

From off the rock Tarpeïan, never more
To enter our Rome gates: I' the people's nam
I say, it shall be so.

All. It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away
35 He's banish'd, and it shall be so. [friends;
Com. Hear me, my masters, and my commo
Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing.
Com. Let me speak:

I have been consul, and can shew from Rome,
40 Her enemies' marks upon me.
I do love

My country's good, with a respect more tende
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
45 Speak that-

50

Sic. We know your drift: Speak what?
Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish
As enemy to the people, and his country:
It shall be so.

[ha

All. It shall be so, it shall be so.
Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath
As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcasses of unburied men
That do corrupt my air, I banish you;
55 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

2

i. e. would bear being called a knave as often as would fill out a volume. Envy is here take at large for malignity, or ill intention. i. e. all office established and settled by time. i. e. behav

with signs of hatred to the people

5 Ae in this instance would seem to have the nower of na my

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Cor. What, what, what!

30

Cor. O the gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee
Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us,
And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth
A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vast world, to seek a single man;
And lose advantage, which doth ever cool
I' the absence of the needer.

Cor. Fare ye well:

Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the war's surfeits, to go rove with one
35 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
40 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
45 From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

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! my mother!
I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's, [ral,
And venomous to thine eyes.--My sometime gene-
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft behield 50
Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women,
'Tis fond' to wail inevitable strokes,
As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot
My hazards still have been your solace: and
Believe 't not lightly, (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

[wel!,

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Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen) your
Will, or exceed the common, or be caught

Cor. Give me thy hand :-Come.

SCENE II.
A Street.

[Exeunt.

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The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided 55 In his behalf.

Bru. Now we have shewn our power,
Let us seem humbler after it is done,
Than when it was a-doing,

3 i. e. foolish.

calls this

'Abated is dejected, subdued, depressed in spirits. 2 The sense is, When fortune strikes her hardest blows, to be wounded, and yet continue calm, requires a generous policy. He calmness cunning, because it is the effect of reflection and philosophy. artful and false tricks, and treason. First, i. e. noblest, and most eminent of men. true metal unallay'd: a metaphor taken from trying gold on the touchstone.

by

4 i. e.
❝ i. e. of

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Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague
Requite your love!
Men. Peace,

peace; be not so loud. [hear;-
Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should 15
Nay,and you shall hear some.-Will you be gone:
[To Brutus.

Vir. [To Sicin.] You shall stay too: I would,
I had the power

To say so to my husband.

Sic. Are you mankind1?

[fool.

Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a shame ?—Note but this Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship2 To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, Than thou hast spoken words?

Sic. O blessed heavens!

[words;

Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-Yet go;

Nay, but thou shalt stay too:-I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.

Sic. What then?

Vir. What then?

He'd make an end of thy posterity.

Vol. Bastards, and all.

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Men. Come, come, peace,

Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country,
As he began; and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.

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25

30

Fol, Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding.-Cone, let's go:
Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,
La anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Men. Fie, fie, fie!

SCENE

III.

Between Rome and Antium.

[Exeunt.

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Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volcian state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 35 thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies 40 glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol. Coriolanus banish'd?
Rom. Banish'd, sir.

Vol. You will be welcome with this intelli45/gence, Nicanor.

Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear 50well in these wars, his great opposer Coriolanus being now in no request of his country.

Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accom55pany you home.

Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you more strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

1 Dr. Johnson here remarks, that the word mankind is used maliciously by the first speaker, and taken perversely by the second. A mankind woman is a woman with the roughness of a man, and, in an aggravated sense, a woman ferocious, violent, and eager to shed blood. In this sense Sicinius asks Volumnia, if she be mankind. She takes mankind for a human creature, and accordingly cries out: "Note but this fool.-Was not a man my father?" 2 i. e. cunning enough.

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Vol. A most royal one: the centurions, and] their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment', and to be on foot at an hour's warning.

Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, 5 and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

Vol. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours. Rom. Well, let us go together.

SCENE IV.

Antium.

Before Aufidius's House.

10

[Exeunt.

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Enter Coriolanus, in mean apparel, disguis'd and 15 with anon.

muffled.

Cor, A goodly city is this Antium: City, "Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir Of these fair edifices for my wars

Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not; 20 Lest that thywives with spits, and boys with stones, Enter a Citizen.

In puny battle slay me.-Save you, sir.

Cit. And you.

Cor. Direct me, if it be your will,
Where great Aufidius lies; Is he in Antium?

Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state

At his house this ni..ht.

Cor. Which is his house, 'beseech you?
Cit. This, here, before you.

Cor. Thank you, sir; farewell. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast

sworn,

[sleep

Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart,
Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise,
Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love
Inseparable, shall within this hour,
On à dissention of a doit, break out
To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes,
Whose passions and whose plots have broke their
To take the one the other, by some chance,
Some trick notworth an egg,shallgrowdear friends,
And interjoin their issues. So with me:
My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon
This enemy town.-I'll enter: if he slay me,
He does fair justice; if he give me way,
I'll do his country service,

SCENE V.

A Hall in Aufidius's House. Music plays. Enter a Serving-man,

25

Enter a third Servant. The first meets him. 3 Serv. What fellow's this?

1 Serv. A strange one as ever I look'd on: I cannot get him out o' the house: Pr'ythee, call my master to him.

3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow ? Pray you, avoid the house. [hearth,

Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your 3 Serv. What are you?

Cor. A gentleman.

3 Serv. A marvellous poor one.

Cor. True, so I am.

3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station: here's no place for you;

30 pray you, avoid: come.

35

401

45

[Exit.

1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep.

Enter another Serving-man.

[Exit.

50

2 Ser. Where's Cotus? my master calls for 55 him. Cotus! [Exit.

Enter Coriolanus.

Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I

Appear not like a guest.

Cor. Follow your function, go,

And batten on cold bits,

[Pushes him away.

3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

2 Serv. And I shall.

3 Serv. Where dwell'st thou?

Cor. Under the canopy.

3 Serv. Under the canopy?

Cor. Ay.

3 Serv. Where's that?

Cor. I' the city of kites and crows.

[Exit,

3 Serv. I' the city of kites and crows?-What an ass it is!Then thou dwell'st with daws too? Cor. No, I serve not thy master,

[ter? 3 Serv. How,sir! Do you meddle with my masCor. Ay; 'tis an honester service, than to meddle with thy mistress:

Thou prat'st,and prat'st; serve with thy trencher, hence! [Beats him away. Enter Aufidius, with the second Serving-man. Auf. Where is this fellow?

2 Serv. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a Jog, but for disturbing the lords within.

Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldest

thou? Thy name?

Why speak'st not: Speak, man: What's thy name?
Cor. If, Tullus,

Not yet thou know'st me, and seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity

60 Commands me name myself.

That is, though not actually encamped, yet already in pay.-To entertain an army is to take them into pay. Companion was formerly used in the same sense as we now use the word fellow.

Auf.

Auf. What is thy name?

Cor. A name unimusical to the Volces' ears, And harsh in sound to thine.

Auf. Say, what's thy name?

Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in't: though thy tackle's torn,
Thou shew'st a noble vessel: What's thy name?
Cor. Prepare thy brow to frown: Know'st thou
Auf. I know thee not:-Thy name? [me yet?
Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volces,
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname, Coriolanus: The painful service,
The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country, are requited
But with that surname; a good memory',
And witness of the malice and displeasure [mains:
Which thou shouldst bear me, only that name re-
The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who

Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest;
And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be
Whoop'd out Rome. Now, this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth: Not out of hope,
Mistake me not, to save my life; for if

I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world
I would have 'voided thee: but in mere spite,
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge
Thine own particular wrongs, and stop those maims
Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee
straight,

[tunes

And make my misery serve thy turn; so use it,
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits to thee; for I will fight
Against my canker'd country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But if so be
Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more for-
Thou art tir'd, then, in a word, I also am
Longer to live most weary, and present
My throat to thee, and to thy ancient malice:
Which not to cut would shew thee but a fool;
Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast,
And cannot live but to thy shame, unless
It be to do thee service.

Auf. O Marcius, Marcius,

[heart

Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter

10

Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here,
Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart,
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell
thee,

We have a power on foot; and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,
Or lose mine arm for 't: Thou hast beat me out
Twelve several times, and I have nightly since
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;
We have been down together in my sleep,
Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat,
And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy
Marcius,

15 Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that
Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy; and, pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,
Like a bold flood o'er-beat.

O, come, go in,

20 And take our friendly senators by the hands; Who now are here, taking their leaves of me, Who am prepar'd against your territories, Though not for Rome itself.

25

30

Cor. You bless me, gods!

[have

Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt The leading of thine own revenges, take The one half of my commission, and set down,As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st Thy country's strength and weakness,-thine own

ways:

Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,
Or rudely visit them in parts remote,

To fright them, ere destroy. But come in: Let me commend thee first to those, that shall 35 Say, yea, to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! And more a friend than e'er an enemy; Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: Most welcome! [Exeunt.

40

1 Serv. Here's a strange alteration!

2 Serv. By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me, his clothes made a false report of him.

1 Serv. What an arm he has! He turn'd me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would 45 set up a top.

[say, 50

Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and
'Tis true; l'ă not believe them more than thee,
All-noble Marcius.--Let me twine
Mine arms about that body, where against
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke,
And scarr'd the moon with splinters! Here I clip
The anvil of my sword; and do contest
As hotly and as nobly with thy love,
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I lov'd the maid I marry'd; never man

1 Memory for memorial. territory.

2 Serv. Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him: He had, sir, a kind of face, methought, I cannot tell how to term it.

1 Serv. He had so; looking, as it were,Would I were hang'd, but I thought there was more in him than I could think.

2 Serv. So did I, I'll be sworn: He is simply the rarest man i' the world.

1 Serv. I think he is: but a greater soldier

55 than he, you wot one.

2 Serv. Who? my master?

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

60 be the greater soldier.

2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how

? i. e. resentment or revenge,

i. e, disgraceful diminutions of

to

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