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 ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol.
Rom.

Coriolanus banished?

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.

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.

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 'fore my wars

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

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 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 't were, 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,

Some trick not worth an egg,

And interjoin their issues.

My birth-place hate I,

shall grow dear friends,

So with me:

and my love's upon

This enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me,
He does fair justice; if he give me way,
I'll do his country service.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

The Same. A Hall in AUFIDIUS'S House.

Music within. Enter a Servant.

1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep.

Enter a second Servant.

2 Serv. Where 's Cotus? my master calls for him. Cotus!

Enter CORIOLANUS.

[Exit.

[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, th' art troublesome.

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

3 Serv.

Enter a third Servant. The first meets him.

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 master to him.

Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you,

the house.

Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.
3 Serv. What are you?

Cor. A gentleman.

avoid

3 Serv. A marvellous poor one.

Cor. True, so I am.

3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station: here's no place of you. Pray you,

Cor. Follow your function; go,

And batten on cold bits.

avoid come.

[Pushes him away.

3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

3 Serv. Where's that?

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; 't is 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 com'st thou? what would'st 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 Volscians' 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.

Cor.

Prepare thy brow to

Auf. I know thee not.

What's thy name?

frown. Know'st thou me yet?
Thy name?

Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volsces,
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 should'st bear me. Only that name remains:
The cruelty and envy of the people,

Permitted by our dastard nobles, who

Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest;
And suffered 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
I would have 'voided thee; but in mere spite,
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 to thee; for I will fight

Against my canker'd country with the spleen

Of all the under fiends. But if so be

Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes