Bru. Keep on your way. Requite your love! They have ta'en note of us : Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague o' th' [gods Men. Peace, peace; be not so loud. Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,— Nay, and you shall hear some.- -Will you be gone? [To BRUTUS. Vir. You shall stay too: [TO SICINIUS.] I would, To say so to my husband. [I had the power Sic. Are you mankind?' Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a shame?-Note but this fool. Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship Sic. O blessed heavens! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what;-Yet go:Nay, but thou shalt stay too:-I would my son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. Sic. Vir. What then? What then? He'd make an end of thy posterity. Vol. Bastards, and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! Men. Come, come, peace. Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country, As he began; and not unknit himself The noble knot he made. Bru. I would he had. Vol. I would he had! 'Twas you incens'd the rabble: Sicinins asks Volumnia if she be mankind, intending to upbraid her strong masculine powers. She takes mankind for a human creature, and accordingly cries out, Note but this fool. Was not a man my father? [COR. 77] Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth, Bru. Pray, let us go. Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone: hear this: The meanest house in Rome: so far, my son, Sic. Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her wits? Vol. Take my prayers with you. I would the gods had nothing else to do, [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. Men. You have told them home, And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, [me? And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go: Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-A highway between Rome and Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting. Rom. I know you well, sir, and you your name, I think, is Adrian. know me: Vol. It is, so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against them: Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor? No. Rom. The same, sir. [COR. 78] 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 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 This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. ever. Vol. Coriolanus banished? Rom. Banished, sir. Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. Rom. The day serves well for them now. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country. 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? 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. 2 ' STEEVENS Would read,-Your favour is well approved by your tongue.-i. e. Your tongue strengthens the evidence of your face. ⚫ entertainments, receipt of pay. [COR. 79] 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. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Antium. Before Aufidius's house. Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled. Cor. A goodly city is this Antium: City, 'Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir Of these fair edifices for my wars 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.- Save you, sir. Cit. And you. Cor. Cor. Which is his house, 'beseech you? Cit. This, here, before you. Cor. Thank you, sir; farewell. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love Unseparable, shall within this hour, On a dissension of a doit, break out To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes, Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, [COR. 80] Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends, [Exit. SCENE V.-The same. A hall in Aufidius's house. 1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep. Enter another Servant. [Exit. 2 Serv. Where's Cotus! my master calls for him. Cotus! Enter CORIOLANUS. [Exit. Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I Appear not like a guest. Re-enter the first Servant. 1 Serv. 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! 2 Serv. Away? Get you away. Cor. Now thou art troublesome. 2 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon. 1 companions, fellows. [COR. 81] Y 5 |