CORIOLANUS. 217 Volscian state, to find you out there: You have | Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insur-On a dissension of a doit, break out Unseparable, shall within this hour, rection: the people against the senators, patricians, To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes, and nobles. Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike prepara- To take the one the other, by some chance, tion, and hope to come upon them in the heat of Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear their division. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small And interjoin their issues. So with me :friends, thing would make it flame again. For the nobles My birth-place hate I, and receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy This enemy town.-I'll enter: if he slay me, my love's Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take He does fair justice; if he give me way, all power from the people, and to pluck from them I'll do his country service. their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent break- SCENE V.-The same. ing out. Vol. Coriolanus banished? Rom. Banished, sir. Vol. 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. upon [Exil. house. Music within. Enter a Servant. A hall in Aufidius' Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here? I think our fellows are asleep. [Exit. Enter another Servant. 2 Serv. Where's Cotus? my master calls for him. [Exit. Cotus? Enter Coriolanus. Cor. A goodly house: the feast smells well : but I Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, Appear not like a guest. thus accidentally to encounter you: ended my business, and I will merrily accompany You have you home. Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. ready, say you? Have you an army 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, 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. [Exeunt. Enter Coriolanus, in mean apparel, disguised Before Aufidius's house. and muffled. Cor. A goodly city is this Antium: City, 'Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not; Enter a Citizen. In puny battle slay me.-Save you, sir. Cit. And you. Cor. Cor. Which is his house, 'beseech you? Thank you, sir; farewell. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, 8 In pay. (2) A small coin. Having derived that name from Corioli. 3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid: come. And batten" on cold bits. [Pushes him away. master what a strange guest he has here. 2 Serv. And I shall. 3 Serv. Where dwellest thou? 3 Serv. Under the canopy? 3 Serv. Where's that? [Exit. 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. 3 Serv. How, sir! Do you meddle with my master? 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? Auf. I know thee not:-Thy name? 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 It be to do thee service. A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that Like a bold flood o'erbeat. O, come, go in, Cor. You bless me, gods! Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have The leading of thine own revenges, take Which thou should'st bear me: only that name re- The one half of my commission; and set down, 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, Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes (1) Memorial. (2) Resentment. (3) Injuries. Infernal. 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 Say, yea, to thy desires. A thousand welcomes ! And more a friend than e'er an enemy; Yes, Marcius, that was much. Your hand! Most [Exeunt Cor. and Auf. 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. welcome! 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? 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. 1. 2. Serv. Wherefore? wherefore? 3 Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general,-Caius Marcius. 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: hel was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself. 1 Serv. He was too hard for him directly, to say the truth on't: before Corioli, he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.' 2 Serv. An had he been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too. I Serv. But more of thy news? 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 Volscians. They are rising, they are rising. All. In, in, in, in. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Rome. A public place. Enter Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him; His remedies are tame i'the present peace Hail to you both! Sic. Your Coriolanus, sir, is not much miss'd, But with his friends; the commonwealth doth stand; 3 Serv. Why, he is so made on here within, as And so would do, were he more angry at it. Sic. is, our general is cut i'the middle, and but one half Hear nothing from him. 2 Serv. And he is as like to do't, as any man can imagine. I 3 Serv. Do't? he will do'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? 3 Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like coneys 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. 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. 1 Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace, as far as day does night; it's sprightly, waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled,' deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children, than war's a destroyer of men. Enter three or four Citizens. Cit. The gods preserve you both! Sic. Good-e'en, our neighbours. Bru. Good-e'en to you all, good-e'en to you all. 1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, Are bound to pray for you both. Sic. Live, and thrive! Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours; we wish'd Coriolanus Had lov'd you as we did. Cit. Now the gods keep you! Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. (Exe. Citizens. Sic. This is a happier and more comely time, Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying, Confusion. Bru Caius Marcius was A worthy officer i'the war; but insolent, O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, Self-loving,Sic. And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance. Men. I think not so. Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so. Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome Sits safe and still without him. Ædi. Enter Edile. Worthy tribunes, 2 Serv. 'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, be said to be a ravisher; so it cannot be denied, Reports,-the Volces with two several powers. (4) Vigour. (5) Part. (6) Rumour. (8) Suffrage. Softened 2 S Are entered in the Roman territories; And with the deepest malice of the war Destroy what lies before them. Men. 'Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world: If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians, Com. He is their god; he leads them like a thing Which were inshell'd, when Marcius stood' for Than boys pursuing summer butterflies, Rome, And durst not once peep out. Sic. Of Marcius? Come, what talk you Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd.-It cannot be, The Volces dare break with us. Men. Cannot be! We have record, that very well it can ; Sic. I know, this cannot be. Bru. Tell not me: Not possible. Enter Cominius. Com. O, you have made good work! To melt the city leads upon your pates; (1) Stood up in its defence. (2) Talk. (3) Changes. (4) Unite. Or butchers killing flies. Men. If! You have made good work, You, and your apron men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation, and The breath of garlic-eaters! Com. Your Rome about your ears. Men. Did shake down mellow fruit: work! Bru. But is this true, sir? He will shake As Hercules You have made fair Ay; and you'll look pale Before you find it other. All the regions And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? Com. The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people Who shall ask it? Deserve such pity of him, as the wolf Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they Should say, Be good to Rome, they charg'd him even As those should do that had deserv'd his hate, And therein show'd like enemies. Men. "Tis true: If he were putting to my house the brand You, and your crafts! you have crafted fair! Com. A trembling upon Rome, such as was never So incapable of help. Tri. Say not, we brought it. Men. How! Was it we? We lov'd him; but like beasts, And cowardly nobles, gave way to your clusters, Who did hoot him out o'the city. Com. But, I fear, They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, Men. Enter a troop of Citizens. Here come the clusters.And is Aufidius with him ?-You are they That made the air unwholesome, when you cast Your stinking, greasy caps, in hooting at Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming; And not a hair upon a soldier's head, Which will not prove a whip; as many coxcombs, As you threw caps up, will he tumble down, And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter; 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. (5) A small round hole: an augre is a carpen ter's tool. (6) Mechanics. (7) Revolt with pleasure. 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: and though we willingly consented to his banishment, 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 Capitol? Com. O ay; what else? [Exe. Com. and Men. Sic. Go, masters, get you home, be not dismay'd; These are a side, that would be glad to have This true, which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear. 1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home. I ever said, we were i'the wrong, when we banished him. 2 Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home. Bru. I do not like this news. Would buy this for a lie! Auf Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier Lieu. Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure, Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome ? Auf All places yield to him ere he sits down ; The senators, and patricians, love him too: To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome, (1) Pack, alluding to a pack of hounds. (3) Helmet. (4) The chair of civil authority. peace To fail in the disposing of those chances One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; ACT V. SCENE I-Rome. A public place. Enter Mene- 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 To one whom they had punish'd. Men. Could he say less? Very well: Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard For his private friends: His answer to me was, He could not stay to pick them in a pile Of noisome, musty chaff: He said, 'twas folly, For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt, And still to nose the offence. Men. For one poor grain Or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt Upbraid us with our distress. But, sure, if you No; I'll not meddle. |