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Lart. I shall, my lord.

Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now
Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg
Of my lord general.

Com. Take it 'tis yours.-What is't?
Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli,

At a poor man's house; he us'd me kindly:
He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;
But then Aufidius was within my view,

And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you
To give my poor host freedom.

Com. Oh! well begg'd!

Were he the hutcher of my son, he should
Be free, as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.
Lart. Marcius, his name?

Cor. By Jupiter, forgot:

I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.-
Have we no wine here ?

Com. Go we to our tent:

The blood upon your visage dries: 'tis time
It should be look'd to: come.

[Exeunt.

SCENE X.-The Camp of the Volsces.

A Flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, bloody with two or three SOLDIERS. Auf. The town is ta'en!

1 Sol. 'Twill be delivered back on good condition.

Auf. Condition !

me;

I would I were a Roman; for I cannot,
Being a Volsce, be that I am.-Condition!
What good condition can a treaty find
l'the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcins,
I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat
[counter
And, would'st do so, I think, should we en
As often as we eat.-By the elements,
If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,
He is mine, or I am his: Mine emulation
Hath not that honour in't, it had; for where⚫
I thought to crush him in an equal force,

(True sword to sword,) I'll potch at him

some

[way;

Or wrath, or craft, may get him.
1 Sol. He's the devil.
Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My val-
our's poison'd,

With only suffering stain by him; for him
Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep, nor sanctuary,
Being naked, sick, nor fane, nor Capitol,
The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up
Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst
My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it
At home, upon my brother's guard, even there
Against the hospitable canon, would I
Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to
the city;

Learn how 'tis held; and what they are, that
Be hostages for Rome.

1 Sol. Will not you go?

[inust

Auf. I am attended § at the cypress grove:

I pray you

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Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius.

Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear. Men. He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

Both Trib. Well, Sir.

Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that you two have not in abundance?

Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

Sic. Especially, in pride.

Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o'the right hand file? Do you?

Both Trib. Why, how are we censured? Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will you not be angry?

Both trib. Well, well, Sir, well.

Men. Why 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your disposition the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud?

Bru. We do it not alone, Sir.

Men. I know you can do very little alone; for your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: Oh! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! Oh! that you could!

Bru. What then, Sir?

Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, (alias, fools) as any in Rome.

Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tyber* in't; said to be

something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint: hasty and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion: one that converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning. What I think, I utter; and spend my malice in my breath: Meeting two such wealstmen as you are, (I cannot call you Lycurguses) if the drink you gave me, touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot say, your worships have delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my mycrocosm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too.

Bru. Come, Sir, come, we know you well enough.

Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitions for poor knaves' caps and legs; you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a cause between an orangewife and a fosset-seller; and then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience.-When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the cholic, you make faces like mummers; set up the bloody flag against all patience; and, roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing all the peace you make in their canse is, calling both the parties kuaves: You are a pair of strange ones.

Bru. Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table, than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.

Under my brother's

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Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him [tears; He carries noise, and behind him he leaves Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie; Which being advanc'd, declines, and then men

Men. Now its twenty-seven: every gash was Men. Our very priests must become mockers, [A Shout and Flourish if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects an enemy's grave: as you are. When you speak best unto the pur-Hark! the trumpets. pose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave, as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be entombed in an ass's pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcius is proud; who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors, since Deucalion; though, peradventure, some of the best of them were hereditary hangmen. Good e'en to your worships; more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take iny leave of you.

[BRU. and SIC. retire to the back of the Scene. Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA, &c. How now, my as fair as noble ladies, (and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler) whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcius coming home?

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Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous approbation.

Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee: -Hoo! Marcius coming hone?

Two Ladies. Nay, 'tis true.

Vol. Look, here's a letter from him; the state hath another; his wife another; and I think, there's one at home for you.

Men. I will make my very house reel to-night: -A letter for me?

Vir. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; I saw it.

Men. A letter for me? It gives me an estate of seven years' health; in which time I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign prescription of Galen is but empiricutic, aud, to this preservative, of no better report than a horsedrench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded.

Vir. Oh! no, no, no.

Vol. Oh! he is wounded, I thank the gods for't.

Men. So do I to, if it be not too much :Brings 'a victory in his pocket?-The wounds become him.

Vol. On's brows, Menenius: he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.

Men. Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly? Vol. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but Aufidius got off.

Men. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that: an he had staid by him, I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, Is the senate and the gold that's in them. possessed of this?

Vol. Good ladies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly.

Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke

of him

Men. Wondrous ? ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing,

Vir. The gods grant them true!
Vol. True? pow, wow.

Men. True? I'll be sworn they are true:Where is he wounded?-God save your good worships! [To the Tribunes, who come forward.] Marcius is coming home: he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded?

Vol. I'the shoulder, and i'the left arm: There will be large cicatrices to show the people, when He received in he shall stand for his place. the repulse of Tarquin, seven hurts i'the body. Men. One in the neck, and two in the thigh,there's nine that I know.

Vol. He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

• Informed.

die.

A Sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS
and TITUS LARTIUS; between them CORIO
LANUS, crowned with an oaken Garland;
with Captains, Soldiers, and a Herald.
Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did
fight
Within Corioli' gates: where he hath won,
With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these
In honour follows, Coriolanus:
Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

[Flourish.

All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus !

Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart;
Pray now, no more.

Com. Look, Sir, your mother,-
Cor. Oh!

You have I know, petition'd all the gods
For my prosperity.

[Kneels,

Vol. Nay, my good soldier, up;
My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and
By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd,
What is it? Coriolanus, must I call thee?
But oh thy wife.-

Cor. My gracious silence, hail!
Would'st thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd
home,

That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,
And mothers that lack sons.

Men. Now the gods crown thee!
Cor. And live you yet?-O my sweet lady,
pardon.
[To VALERIA.
Vol. I know not where to turn:-0 welcome
home;

And welcome, general;-And you are welcome

all.

Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could

[come: weep, And I could laugh: I am light and heavy: WelA curse begin at very root of his heart, That is not glad to see thee!-You are three, That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of

men;

We have some old crab-trees here at home, that
will not
Yet welcome war-
Be grafted to your relish.
[riors:
We call a nettle, but a nettle; and
The faults of fools, but folly.
Com. Ever right.

Cor. Menenius, ever, ever.
Her. Give way there, and go on.
Cor. Your hand, and yours:

[To his Wife and Mother
Ere in our own house I do shade my head,
The good patricians must be visited;
From whom I have received not only greetings,
But with them change of honours.

Vol. I have lived

To see inherited my very wishes,
And the buildings of my fancy: only there
Is one thing wanting, which I doubt not but
Our Rome will cast upon thee.

Cor. Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway with them in theirs.
Com. On to the Capitol.

[Flourish. Coronets. Exeunt in state, as
before. The Tribunes remain.
Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the
bleared sights

Are spectacled to see him: Your pratling nurse
Into a rapture + lets her baby cry,

My beautious silence, or, my silent grace

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Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
With variable complexions; all agreeing

In earnestness to see him: seldj-shown fla-
mens ||

Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station: ¶ our veil'd dames
Commit the war of white and damask, in
Their nicely-gawded ** cheeks, to the wanton
spoil

Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god who leads him,
Were slyly crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful posture.

Sic. On the sudden,

I warrant him consul.

Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately transport his ho

nours

From where he should begin, and end; but will
Lose those that he hath won.

Bru. In that there's comfort.

Sic. Doubt not the commoners, for whom we stand,

nours;

Which that he'll give them, make as little
As he is proud to do't.

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SCENE II.-The same.-The Capitol.

Enter two OFFICERS, to lay Cushions.

1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here: How many stand for consulships?

2 Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one Coriolanus will carry it.

1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people.

2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore: so that if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessuess, lets them plainly see't.

But they, upon their ancient malice, will 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their Forget with the least cause these his new ho- love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing [tion them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their ques-hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

Bru. I heard him swear,

Were he to stand for cousul, never would he
Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put
The napless ++ vesture of humility;
Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds
To the people, beg their stinking breaths.
Sic. 'Tis right.

Bru. It was his word: Oh! he would miss it,

rather

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Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it
In execution.

Bru. 'Tis most like he will.

Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good A sure destruction. [wills;

Bru. So it must fall out

To him, or our authorities. For an end,
We must suggest the people, in what hatred
He still hath held them; that, to his power, he
would
(and

Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders,
Dispropertied their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world,
Than camels in their war; who have their

provand

Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them.

Sie. This, as you say, suggested

At some time when his soaring insolence

2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury: to report otherwise were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

1 Off. No more of him; he is a worthy man : Make way, they are coming.

A Sennet. Enter, with LiCTORS, before them,
COMINIUS the Consul, MENENIUS, CORIO-
LANUS, many other SENATORS, SICINIUS,
and BRUTUS. The SENATORS take their
places; the TRIBUNES take theirs also by
themselves.

Men. Having determin'd of the Volsces, and
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,
As the main point of this our after-meeting,
To gratify his noble service, that

Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please

you,

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire

Shall teach the people, (which time shall not The present consul, and last general

want,

If he be put upon't and that's as easy,
As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire
To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze
Shall darken him for ever.

Enter a MESSENGER.

Bru. What's the matter?
Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol.
thought,

That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen

In our well-found successes, to report

A little of that worthy work perform'd
By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom
We meet here, both to thank, and to remember
With honours like himself.

1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius:

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think,
Rather our state's defective for requital,

'Tis Than we to stretch it out. Masters o'the pcople
We do request your kindest ears: and, after,
To yield what passes here.
Your loving motion toward the common body,

The dumb men throng to see him, and the [gloves,

blind

To hear him speak: The matrons flung their Ladies and maids their scarfs and bandkerchiefs, • Maid. A kind of cheap linen. 1 Soiled with sweat and smoke. Seldom. Priests. ་ (mu mon standing-place. • Adorned. + Thread-bare 11 As our safety demands." §§ Provender.

Sic. We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts
Inclinable to honour and advance
The theme of our assembly.
Bru. Which the rather

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He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,
Than one of his ears to hear it ?-Proceed, Co-Be taken from the people.

That I shall blush in acting, and might well

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Should not be utter'd feebly.—It is held,
That valour is the chiefest virtue, and
Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others; our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian ching he drove
The bristled lips before him he bestred
An o'er press'd Roman, and i'the consul's view
Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met
And struck him on his knee: ¶ in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene, **
He prov'd best man i'the field, and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-entered thus, he waxed like a sea;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch'd ++ all swords o'the garland. For this
Before and in Corioli, let me say,
[last

I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers;
And, by his rare example, made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as waves before
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd, [stamp,)
And fell below his stem: his sword (death's
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed with dying cries! alone he enter'd
The mortal gate o'the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet: now all's his :
When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce
His ready sense: then straight his doubled spirit
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil; and, till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood
To ease his breast with panting.

Men. Worthy man!

Nothing to the purpose. Possessor. Without a beard.

Bearded.

+ Summons to battle. Made him fall on his knee. Smooth-faced enough to act a woman's part. ++ Won. 11 Stroke Followed. Il Wearied.

Bru. Mark you that!

Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ;

Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,
As if I had received them for the hire
Of their breath only :-

Men. Do not stand upon't.

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them;-and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honour.

Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! [Flourish. Then exeunt SENATORS. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people

Sic. May they perceive his intent! He that will require them,

As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give.

Bru. Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here: on the market-place,
I know they do attend us.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same.-The Forum.

Enter several CITIZENS.

1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will.

3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which, we, being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.

1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve for once, when we stood up about the corn, be himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversly coloured and truly I think, if all cur

• Avarice.

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2 Cit. An 'twere to give again,-But 'ús ne matter. [Exeunt two Citizens.

Enter two other CITIZENS.

Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I have bere the customary gown.

3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your coun try, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma?

3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends; you have not, indeed, loved the common people.

Cor. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love.

2 Cit. You are never without your tricks :-I will, Sir, flatter my sworn brother the people, You may, you may.

to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a con

3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices?dition they account gentle and since the wisdom But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.

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of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, Sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily. 3 Cit. You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

Both Cit. The gods give you joy, Sir, hear[Exeunt.

tily!

Cor. Most sweet voices !Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. Why in this woolvish gown should I stand here, To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear, Their needless vouches: Custom calls me to't :What custom wills, in all things should we do't; The dust on antique time would lie unswept, And mountainous error be too highly heap'd For truth to over-peer.-Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go.

You must not speak of that: you must desire them To one that would do thus.-I am half through ; To think upon you.

Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em!

I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which our divines lose by them.

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Cor. No, Sir:

'Twas never my desire yet,

To trouble the poor with begging.

1 Cit. You must think, if we give you any We hope to gain by you.

[thing, Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship?

1 Cit. The price is, Sir, to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly?

Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have wounds to show you,

Which shall be yours in private.--Your good voice, Sir;

What say you?

2 Cit. You shall have it, worthy Sir. Cor. A match, Sir :

There is in all two worthy voices begg'd

I have your alms; adieu.

1 Cit. But this is something odd.

The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Enter three other CITIZENS.

Here come more voices.

Your voices; for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices, bear
Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six,
I have seen and heard of; for your voices, have
Done many things, some less, some more: your
voices:

Indeed, I would be consul.

5 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice,

6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people !

All. Amen, Amen,

God save thee, noble consul!

Cor. Worthy voices!

[Exeunt CITIZENS.

Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and

SICINIUS.

Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes

Endue you with the people's voice: Remains,
That, in the official marks invested, you

Anon do meet the senate.
Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have dis charg'd:

The people do admit you; and are summon'd To meet anon, upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the senate-house?

Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I then change these garments?
Sic. You may, Sir.

Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing my

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