Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians. Lieutenant to Aufidius. Confpirators with Aufidius. A Citizen of Antium. Two Volfcian Guards. Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus. Valeria, Friend to Virgilia. Gentlewoman, attending Virgilia. Roman and Volfcian Senators, Patricians, Ædiles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants. SCENE, partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians and Antiates. CORIOLANUS. ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. A Street. Enter a Company of mutinous CITIZENS, with ftaves, clubs, and other weapons. 1 CIT. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. CIT. Speak, fpeak. [feveral speaking at once. 1 CIT. You are all refolv'd rather to die, than to famish? Cır. Refolv'd, refolv'd. I CIT. First, you know, Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. Cır. We know't, we know't. 1 CIT. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict? Cır. No more talking on't; let it be done : away, away. 2 Cır. One word, good citizens. I 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 leannefs that afthe object of our mifery, is as an inventory to Alicts us, 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 especially against Caius Marcius? CIT. Against him firft; he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 CIT. Confider you what fervices he has done for his country? I CIT. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud. 2 CIT. Nay, but speak not maliciously. I CIT. I fay unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though foft-confcienc'd 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 must in no way fay, he is covetous. I CIT. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are thefe? The other fide o'the city is rifen: Why ftay we prating here? to the Capitol. CIT. 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 honest enough; 'Would all the rest were fo! MEN. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you. I CIT. Our business is not unknown to the fenate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhow 'em in deeds. They fay, poor fuitors have ftrong breaths; they shall know, we have ftrong arms too. Will MEN. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honest Thither where more attends you; and you flander I CIT. Care for us !-True, indeed!They ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their ftore-houses cramm'd with grain; make edicts for ufury, to fupport ufurers: repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. MEN. Either you must |