The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

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

Vol. 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 and show them my unbarb'd sconce? Must I,

[it,

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 grind
And throwit against thewind.-Tothe market-place:
You have put me now to such a part, which never
I shall discharge to the life.

Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.
Vol. I pr'ythee, sweet son; 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-boys' tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees,
Who 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 all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
With as big a heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from
But owe thy pride thyself.

Cor. Pray, be content;

[me;

Mother, I am going to the market-place;
Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,
Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going:
Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul;

Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I'the way of flattery, further.

Vol. Do your will.

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 he come?

Edi. He's coming.
Bru. How accompanied?

Edi. With old Menenius, and those senators That always favoured him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by the poli!

Edi. I have; 'tis ready, here.

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

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

Edi. I shall inform them.

Bru. And when such time they have begun to Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd [cry, Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.
Edi. Very well.

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this 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.

Sic. 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 Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice [gods 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 Edile, with citizens. Sic. Draw near, ye people.

[exit.

Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arın yourself

To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd
With accusations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet.

Cor. The word is, mildly:-pray you, let us go:
Let them accuse me by invention, I
Will answer in mine honour.

Men. Ay, but mildly.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly. [exeunt.

SCENE III. THE SAME. THE FORUM.

Enter Sicinius and Brutus.

Bru. In this point charge him home, that he Tyrannical power: if he invade us there, [affects

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: i'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.

[friends Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing.

Com. Let me speak:

I have been consul, and can show from Rome,
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! [ish'd,
Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is ban-
As enemy to the people, and his country:
It shall be so.

[hate

Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so.
Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I
As reeks o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcases 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.

Edi. 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.

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

[exeunt.

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, all boats alike

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, [ther!
Droop not: adieu:-Farewell, my wife! my mo-
I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's, [eral,
And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime gen-
I have seen thee stern, and thou 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 have been your solace; and
Believe't not lightly (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen
Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen,) your
Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous baits and practice.

Vol. My first son,

[son

Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee a-while: Determine on some course,
More than a wild exposure to each chance
That starts i'the way before thee.

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 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 alve the ground, you shall
Hear from me sti; and never of me aught
But what is like me formerly.

Men. That's worthily

Sic. They say, she's mad.

Bru. They have ta'en note of us:
Keep on your way.

Vol. O, you're well met the hoarded plague
Requite your love!
[o'the gods
Men. Peace, peace; be not so loud. [hear,-
Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should
Nay, and you shall hear some.Will you be gone?
[to Brutus.
Vir. You shall stay too: [to Sic.] I would, I
To say so to my husband. [had the power
Sic. Are you mankind?
[fool.-
Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame?—Note but this
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou fox-ship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome,
Than thou hast spoken words?

Bru. Pray, let us go.

[this:

Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son
(This lady's husband here, this, do you see,)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic. Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
Vol. Take my prayers with you.—
[exeunt. I would the gods had nothing else to do,

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

Cor. Give me thy hand.
Come.

SCENE 11. THE SAME. A STREET NEAR THE GATE.

Enter Sicinius, Brutus, and an Ædile.

Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll
no further.

The cobility are vexed, who, we see, have sided
In his behalf.

[exeunt Tribunes.
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.

[me?

Men. You have told them home,
And by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with

Volce. 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.

Volce. 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 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.

Volce. Coriolanus banished?

Rom. Banished, sir.

Volce. You will be welcome with this intelligence, 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 well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.

Volce. 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?

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

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

Volce. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

Rom. Well, let us go together.

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

In puny battle slay me.

Cit. And you.

Save you, sir.

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 night.

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

Cor. Thank you, sir; farewell.

[exit Cit.

O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast

2 Serv. Away? get you away.
Cor. Now thou art troublesome.

2 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talk'd with anon.

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 [exeunt. master to him.

3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? | I would have 'voided thee: but in mere spite, Pray you, avoid the house.

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? 3 Serv. How, sir! Do you meddle with my Cor. 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 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.

Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldest thou?
Thy name?

Why speak'st not? Speak, man: What's thy name?
Cor. If, Tullus,
[unmuffling.
Not yet thou know'st me, and seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.

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
Bears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn,
Thou show'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
Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name
The cruelty and envy of the people, [remains;
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 of 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

To be full quit of those my banishers,

Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that will revenge
Thine own particular wrongs, and stop those maims
Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee
straight,

And make my misery serve thy turn; so use it,
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits thee; for I will fight

Against my canker'd country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But, if so be [tunes
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 show 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.

[heart

Auf. O, Marcius, Marcius, Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter [say, Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and 'Tis true; I'd not believe them more than thee, All-noble Marcius.-O, let me twine Mine arms about that body, where against My grained ash an hundred times hath broke, And scar'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 married; never man 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 [thee, Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell 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 MarHad we no quarrel else to Rome, but that [cius, 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, 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.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: From the Text of Johnson ..., Band 5