Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost; But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Enter CAIUS MARCIUS. Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs ? 1 Cit. We have ever your good word, Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mes. Where's Caius Marcius? Mes. The news, is, Sir, the Volsces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us : The Volsces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, I sin in envying his nobility: To make him worthy whose offence subdues him, And were I any thing but what I am, And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness, Deserves your hate: and your affections are Which would increase his evil. He that depends Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead, With every minute you do change a mind; That in these several places of the city on seeking ? their Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stor❜d. Mar. Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i'the Capitol: who's like to rise, Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and give out Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, And feebling such as stand not in their liking, Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain enough? Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,+ Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded : For though abundantly they lack discre ion, Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said they were an hungry sigh'd forth proverbs[eat; That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs inust That meat was made for mouths; that the gods sent not Corn for the rich men only :-With these shreds They vented their complainings; which, being I would wish me only he. Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcing, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Com. It is your former promise. Mar. Sir, it is; And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face What, art thou stiff? stand'st out? Tit. No, Caius Marcius; [other, I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where I know, Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. Lead you on: Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Right worthy you priority. Com. Noble Lartius! 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. [To the CITIZENS. Mar. Nay, let then follow:" The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither, To guaw their garners: Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts + well forth: pray follow. [Exeunt SENATORS, COM. MAR. TIT. and MENEN. CITIZENS steal away. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes? Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird t the gods. Sic. Be-mock the modest moon. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is Too proud to be so valiant. [grown Sic. Such a nature Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon: But I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,In whom already he is well grac'd-cannot Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by A place below the first for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure For insurgents to debate upon. + Shows itself 1 Gibe. Will then cry out of Marcius, Oh! if he Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits rob Cominius. Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed, Sic. Let's hence, and hear bodied, and the only son of my womb: when youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way When, for a day of kings' eatreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, now in first seeing he had proved himself a Bru. Let's along. man. Vir. But had he died in the business, madam, [Exeunt. how then? known Whether for east or west: The dearth is great; 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us. Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when They needs must shew themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: If they set down before us, for the remove Auf. Oh! doubt not that: I speak from certainties. Nay, more- All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honours safe! 1 Sen. Farewell. 2 Sen. Farewell. All. Farewell. Exeunt. SOFNE III.-Rome.-An Apartment in Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit • Decherits and merits had anciently the same meaning. + Let us also learn what are his powers, &c. a fuformation of it. To subdue. Vol. Then his good report should have been my son I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: Had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a GENTLEWOMAN. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair; As children from a bear the Volsces shunning him; Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,— Come on, you cowards, you were got in fear, Though you were born in Rome: His bloody brow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes, Vir. His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood! Re-enter GENTLEWOMAN, with VALERIA and her USHER. Val. My ladies both, good day to you. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. What, are you sewing here! A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little son ? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master. Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o'Wednesday half an hour together : he has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it: Oh! I warrant how he mammocked it! Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stichery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this af ternoon. Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. Attracted universal attention. The most hon ourable crown of all---given to him who saved the life of a citizen. Tore it. Boy. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. Fir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you? Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. Vir. O good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night. Vir. Indeed, madam ? Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter. Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth. Val. In troth, I think she would :-Fare you well then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, and go along with us. Vir. No, at a word, madam: indeed, I must I wish you much mirth. not. Val. Well, then, farewell. SCENE IV.-Before Corioli. [Exeunt. Lart. So, the good horse is mine. Mar. I'll buy him of you. Lart. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you him, I will, For half a hundred years.-Summon the town. Mar. Then shall we hear their larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work: That we, with smoking swords, may march from hence, [blast To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy They sound a parley.-Enter on the walls, some SENATORS, and others. Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums [Alarums afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls, Rather than they shall pound us up our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves. There is Aufidius; list, what Amongst your cloven army, Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums. work he makes Mar. Oh! they are at it! Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ledders ho! The VOLSCES enter and pass over the Stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce, Alarum, and exeunt ROMANS and VOLSCES, fighting. The ROMANS are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS. So, now the gates are ope :-Now prove good seconds: 'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: make me, and do the like. [He enters the gates, and is shut in. 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness! not I. 2 Sol. Nor I. 3 Sol. See, they Have shut him in. [Alarum continues. All. To the pot, I warrant him. Enter TITUS LARTIUS. Lart. What is become of Marcius ? All. Slain, Sir, doubtless. 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, With them he enters: who, upon the sudden, Clapp'd-to their gates: he is himself aloue, To answer all the city. Lart. O noble fellow! Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword, A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, Were feverous and did tremble. Re-enter MARCIUS bleeding, assaulted by 1 Sol. Look, Sir. the enemy. Lart. "Tis Marcius: Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the city, When it is bent. 6 CORIOLANUS. SCENE V-Within the town.-A Street. Enter certain ROMANS, with spoils. 1 Rom. This I will carry to Rome. 2 Rom. And I this. 3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off. Enter MARCIUS, and TITUS LARTIUS, with a trumpet. Mar. See here these movers, that do prize At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, And bark, what noise the general makes! To There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, Lurt. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight. Mar. Sir, praise me not: [baste [well. My work hath yet not warn'd me: Fare you Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus I will appear, and fight. Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in lo e with thee: and her great Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, Mar. Thy friend no less Than those she placeth highest! So farewell. [Exit MARCIUS. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.--Near the Camp of COMINIUS. Enter COMINIUS and forces, retreating. Com. Breathe you, my friends; well fought, we are come off Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, struck, By interims, and conveying gusts, we have Enter a MESSENGER. May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news? Com. Though thou speak'st truth, He has the stamp of Marcias; and I have Mar. Come I too late? Com. The shepherd knows, not thunder from. More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue Mar. Come I too late? Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of [others, But mantled in your own. Mar. Oh! let me clip you In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart Com. Flower of warriors, Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Com. Where is that slave, Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? He did inform the truth: But for our geutlemen, From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you? Mur. Will the time serve to tell? I do not Where is the enemy? Are you lords o'the field? We have at disadvantage fought, and did Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on They have plac'd their men of trust? Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates, Mar. I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, rectly Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates: Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, Mar. Those are they That most are willing-If any such be here, If any think brave death outweighs bad life, Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't Wave thus [waving his hand] to express his since ? Mess. Above an hour, my lord. Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour, Mess. Spies of the Volsces Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel Enter MARCIUS. disposition, And follow Marcius, [They all shout and wave their swords; take O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? A shield as hard as his. A certain number, • Front. + Soldiers of Autium. The grave of your deserving: Rome must know To hear themselves remember'd. Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us. And tent themselves with death. Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII.—A field of battle between the Roman and the Volscian Camps. Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker Not Afric owns a serpent, I abhor More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot. Mar. Let the first budger † die the other's slave, And the gods doom him after ! Auf. If I fly, Marcius, Halloo me like a hare. Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, Aloue I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my blood, Wherein thou seest me mask'd for thy revenge, Wrench up thy power to the highest. Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, [They fight and certain Volsces come to the aid of AUFIDIUS. Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me In your condemned seconds. [Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX.-The Roman Camp. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, COMINIUS and Romans; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans. Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug, I'the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted, And gladly quak'd, ¶ hear more; where the dull Tribunes, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine ho- Shall say, against their hearts-We thank the Having fully dined before. horses, Of all the (Whereof we have ta’en good, and good store,) of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Marcius! cust up their caps and lances: COMINIUS and LARTIUS stand bare. Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane, [shall Never sound more! When drums and trumpets I'the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be [grows Made all of false-fac'd soothing: When steel Soft as the parasite's silk, let him be made An overture for the wars! No more, I say; For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled, Or foil'd some debile wretch, (which, without note, Here's many else have done,) you shout me forth As if I loved my little should be dieted Com. Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report, than grateful To us that give you truly by your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you (Like one that means his proper harm,) in manacles, [known, Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius Wears this war's garland: in token of the which My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him, With all his trim belonging; and, from this time, For what he did before Corioli, call him, [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus! Cor. I will go wash; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you : Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power,** from To undercrest your good addition, I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times, the pursuit. To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent: Where, ere we do repose ns, we will write To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius, |