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C. MARCIUS

CORIOLANUS.

VOL. XI.

I

Dramatis Perfona.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman, bated by the common People.

Titus Lartius,} Generals against the Volfcians, and Friends to

Cominius,

Coriolanus.

Menenius Agrippa, Friend to Coriolanus.

Sicinius Velutus,

Junius Brutus,

Tribunes of the People, and enemies to
Coriolanus.

Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians.

Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus.

Confpirators with Aufidius.

Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus.

Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend to Virgilia.

Roman and Volfcian Senators, Ediles, Lillors, Soldiers, Common People, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

The 'SCENE, is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians, and Antiates.

CORIOLANU S.

ACT

I.

SCENE, a Street in Rome.

Enter a Company of mutinous Citizens, with Staves, Clubs, and other Weapons.

B

I CITIZEN.

EFORE we proceed any further, hear me speak.

All. Speak, fpeak.

1 Cit. You are all refolved rather to die than to famish?

All. Refolved, refolved.

I Git. First, you know Caius Marcius is the chief enemy to the people.

All. We know't, we know't.

I Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?

All. No more talking on't, let't be done; away, away.

2 Cit. One word, good citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians good; what authority furfeits on would relieve us; if they would yield us but the fuperfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear; the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our mifery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes;

for the gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

2. Cit. Would you proceed efpecially against Caius Marcius?

All. Against him firft, he's a very dog to the commonalty.

z Cit. Confider you what fervices he has done for his country?

Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.

All. Nay, but speak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famoufly, he did it to that end; though foft-confcienced men can be content to fay it was for his country; he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you muft in no way say he is covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are those? the other fide of the city is rifen; why ftay we prating here? to the Capitol!

All. Come, come.

1 Cit. Soft, who comes here?

Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.

1 Cit. He's one honeft enough; 'would all the reft were fo!

Men. What work's my countrymen in hand? where go you,

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