Vol. Nicanor? No. Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour is well appeared 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 di vision. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 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 glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Vol. Coriolanus banished? Rom. Banished, sir. Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. To bitterest enmity. So, fellest foes, T W N To take the one the other, by some chance, 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 well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country. 1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? 2 Serv. Where's Cotus? my master calls for him. Vol. A most royal one: the centurions, and their Vol. You take my part from me, sir; I have the [Exeunt. 1 Seru. What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here's no place for you: pray, go to the door. Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, In being Coriolanus. Re-enter second Servant. 2 Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out! Cor. Away! Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not; 2 Serv. Away? Get you away! Cor. Now thou art troublesome. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, talked Enter a third Servant. The first meets him. 3 Serv. What fellow's this? 1 Serv. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o'the house. Pr'ythee, call my master to him. Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, On a dissention of a doit, break out 3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house! Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. 3 Serv. A marvellous poor one. up some 3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take Cor. Follow your function, go! [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. v. Where dwellest thou? 3 Serv. Where's that? Cor. I'the city of kites and crows. 3 Serv. I'the city of kites and crows? - What an ass it is! - Then thou dwellest with daws too? Cor. No, I serve not thy master. - master? Serv. How, sir! Do you meddle with my Thou prat'st; and prat'st; serve with thy trenchet, hence! [Beats him away. Enter AUFIDIOs and the second Servant. Auf. Where is this fellow? 2 Serv. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within. T C A Auf. Whence comest thou? What wouldest thou? Than when I first my wedded mistress saw Why speak'st not? Speak, man! What's thy name? Auf. What is thy name? [Servants retire. Cor. A name unmusical to the Volcians' ears, And harsh in sound to thine. Auf. Say, what's thy name? Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face Auf. I know thee not!-Thy name? Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done Shed for my thankless country, are requited But with that surname; a good memory, And witness of the malice and displeasure Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee, Cor. You bless me, gods! Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have Which thou should'st bear me: only that name re- Whether to knock against the gates of Rome, mains; The cruelty and envy of the people, Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest; I had fear'd death, of all the men i'the world And make my misery serve thy turn; so use it, As benefits to thee; for I will fight Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast, It be to do thee service. Auf. O Marcius, Marcius! Or rudely visit them in parts remote, 1 Serv. [Advancing.] 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 turned me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top. 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 hanged, 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 than he, you wot one. 2 Serv. Who? my master? 1 Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that. 1 Serv. Nay, not so neither; but I take him to be the greater soldier. 2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that: for the defence of a town, our general is Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my excellent. heart A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter Should from you cloud speak divine things, and say, 'Tis true; I'd not believe them more, than thee, All noble Marcius! O, let me twine Mine arms about that body, where against And scar'd the moon with splinters! Here I clip 1 Serv. Ay, and for an assault too. Re-enter third Servant. 3 Serv. O, slaves, I can tell you news; news, you rascals! 1. 2. Serv. What, what, what? let's partake 3 Serv. I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lieve be a condemned man. 3 Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack 1 Serv. Why do you say, thwack our general? 3 Serv. I do not say, thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him. 2 Serv. Come, we are fellows, and friends: he was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so | But with his friends: the common-wealth doth stand; 1 Serv. He was too hard for him directly, to say the truth on't: before Corioli, he scotch'd him and notch'd him like a carbonado. 2 Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he might as if 3 Serv. Why, he is so made on here within, he were son and heir to Mars: set at upper end o'the table: no question asked him by any of the senators, but they stand bald before him. Our general himself makes a mistress of him; sanctifies himself with's hand, and turns up the white o'the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i'the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle the porter of Rome gates by the cars. He will mow down all before him, and leave his passage poll'd. 2 Serv. And he's as like to do't, as any man I can imagine. He could have temporiz'd. 3 Serv. Do't? he will de't: for, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which friends, sir, (as it were,) durst not (look you, sir,) show themselves (as we term it,) his friends, whilst he's in directitude. 1 Serv. Directitude! what's that? Sic. Where is he, hear you? Men. Nay, I hear nothing; his mother and his wife 3 Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with him. 1 Serv. But when goes this forward? 3 Serv. To-morrow; to-day; presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips. Enter three or four Citizens, Cit. The gods preserve you both! Are bound to pray for you both. 2 Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours! We wish'd Corio- Had lov'd you as we did. Bru. Caius Marcius was A worthy officer i'the war; but insolent, Sic. And affecting one sole throne, Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation, Aed. Worthy tribunes, There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports, - the Volces with two several powers Are enter'd in the Roman territories; 1 Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace, And with the deepest malice of the war as far as day does night; it's spritely, waking, aud-Destroy what lies before them. ible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, Men. 'Tis Aufidius, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, of more bastard children, than wars a destroyer of Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; Which were inshell'd, when Marcius stood for Rome, And durst not once peep out. Sic. Come, what talk you of Marcius? men. 2 Serv. 'Tis so; and as wars, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher; so it cannot be denied, but peace is a great maker of cuckolds. 1 Serv. Ay, and it makes men hate one another. 3 Serv. Reason; because they then less need one another. The wars, for my money. I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volcians. They are rising, they are rising. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. -Rome. A public place. Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him; Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes: his raising The slave's report is seconded; and more, Sic. What more fearful? He A U Mess. It is spoke freely out of many mouths, Sic. This is most likely! Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish He and Aufidius can no more atone, Enter another Messenger. Mers. You are sent for to the senate: A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius, Associated with Aufidius, rages Upon our territories; and have already And is Aufidius with him?-You are they That made the air unwholesome, when you cast O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and took Your stinking, greasy caps, in hooting at What lay before them. Enter COMINIUS. Com. O, you have made good work! Men. What news? what news? Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming; And not a hair upon a soldier's head, Which will not prove a whip; as many coxcombs, Com. You have holp to ravish your own daugh- And pay you for your voices. "Tis no matter; To melt the city leads upon your pates; To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses; Com. Your temples burned in their cement; and Your franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd Into an augre's bore. Men. Pray now, your news? If he could burn us all into one coal, We have deserv'd it. Cit. 'Faith, we hear fearful news. 1 Cit. For mine own part, When I said, banish him, I said, 'twas pity. 2 Cit. And so did I. 3 Cit. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did, we did for the best: You have made fair work, I fear me: -pray, your and though we willingly consented to his banishnews? ment, yet it was against our will. Com. You are goodly things, you voices! Men. You have made Good work, you and your cry!-Shall us to the Com. O, ay; what else? [Exeunt Com. and Men. 1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home. I ever said, we were i'the wrong, when we banish'd him. 2 Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home! Bru. I do not like this news. Did shake down mellow fruit. You have made fair Sic. Nor I. work! Bru. But is this true, sir? Com. Ay; and you'll look pale Before find it other. All the regions you Do smilingly revolt; and, who resist, Are only mock'd for valiant ignorance, And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? The noble man have mercy. Com. Who shall ask it? The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they Men. 'Tis true: If he were putting to my house the brand That should consume it, I have not the face [Exeunt Citizens. Bru. Let's to the Capitol. 'Would, half my wealth Enter AUFIDIUS, and his Lieutenant. Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman? Auf. I cannot help it now; Unless, by using means, I lame the foot To say, 'Beseech you, eease.— You have made fair What cannot be amended. hands, You, and your crafts! you have crafted fair! Com. You have brought Lieu. Yet I wish, sir, (I mean for your particular,) you had not but Had borne the action of yourself, or else To him had left it solely. Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure, When he shall come to his account, he knows not What I can urge against him. Although it seems, And so he thinks, and is no less apparent To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly, And shows good husbandry for the Volcian state; Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon, As draw his sword: yet he hath left undone That, which shall break his neck, or hazard mine, Whene'er we come to our account. Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome? The senators, and patricians, love him too: To one whom they had punish'd. To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome, Even with the same austerity and garb Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard Men. For one poor grain Or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Rights by rights fouler, strength by strengths, do fail. Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [Exeunt. АСТ V. You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt SCENE I.- Rome. A public place. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and Others. Men. No, I'll not go: you hear, what he hath said, Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him In a most dear particular. He call'd me, father: But what o'that? Go, you that banish'd him, A mile before his tent fall down, and kneel The way into his mercy. Nay, if he coy'd To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home. Com. He would not seem to know me. Men. Do you hear? Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name: He would not answer to: forbade all names; Men. Why, so; you have made good work: Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon, When it was less expected. He replied, It was a bare petition of a state Men. No; I'll not meddle. Bru. Only make trial what your love can do Men. Well, and say that Marcius Return me, as Cominius is return'd, Unheard, what then? But as a discontented friend, grief-shot Sic. Yet your good will Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure Men. I'll undertake it: I think, he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip, Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, Men. Good faith, I'll prove him, Of my success. Com. He'll never hear him. Sic. Not? [Ex. Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Unless his noble mother, and his wife; SCENE II. 1 G. Stay! Whence are you? 2 G. Stand, and go back! Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave, I am an officer of state, and come A I |