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Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell
thee

We have a power on foot; and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,
Or lose mine arm for't: Thou hast beat me out
Twelve several times, and I have nightly since
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;
We have been down together in my sleep
Unbuckling helins, fisting each other's throat,
And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy
Marcius,

Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that
Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy; and, pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,

Like a bold flood o'er-beat. O come, go in,
And take our friendly senators by the hands;
Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,
Who am prepar'd against your territories,
Though not for Rome itself.

Cor. You bless me, gods!

2 Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too. 1 Serv. But more of thy news?

3 Serv. Why, he is so made on here within, as if he were son and heir to Mars: set at upper end o'the table: no question asked him by any of the senators, but they stand bald before him: Our general himself makes a mistress of him; sanctifies himself with's band, and turns But the up the white o'the eye to his discourse. bottom of the news is, our general is cut i'the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday; for the other was half, by the entreaty, and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle" the porter of Rome gates by the ears : He will mow down all before him, and leave his passage polled.+

2 Serv. And he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine.

3 Serv. Do't? he will do't: For, look you, Sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which

Auf. Therefore, most absolute Sir, if thou friends, Sir, (as it were,) durst not (look you,

wilt have

The leading of thine own revenges, take
The one half of my commission; and set down—
As best thon 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;
Yet, Marcins, that was much. Your hand! Most
welcome !

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 conies after rain, and revel all with him.

1 Serv. But when goes this forward?

3 Serv. To-morrow; to-day; presently. You shali 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

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. 1 Serv. [Advancing.] Here's a strange altera-makers. tion !

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. 1 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?

Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that.
Serv. Worth six of him.

1 Serv. Nay, not so neither; but I take him to be the greater soldier.

2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that: for the defence of a town, our geveral is excellent.

1 Serv. Ay, and for an assault too.

Re-enter third SERVANT.

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 Serr. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general,-Caius Marcius.

1 Serv. Why do you say thwack our general ? 3 Sern. I do not say, thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him.

2 Serv. Come, we are fellows and friends: he 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.]]

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1 Serv. Let me have war, say I: it exceeds peace, as far as day does night; it's spritely, 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.

2 Serv. 'Tis so: and as wars, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds. 1 Serv. Ay, and it makes men bate 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
And quietness o'the people, which before
Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends
Blush, that the world goes well; who rather had,
Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestering streets, than see
Our tradesmen singing in their shops, and going
About their functions friendly.

Enter MENENIUS.

Bru. We stood to't in good time. Is this
Menenius?

Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he: Oh! he is grown most
Of late. Hail, Sir !
[kind

Men. Hail to you both?

Sic. Your Coriolanus, Sir, is not much miss'd, But with his friends; the common-wealth doth stand; And so would do, were he more angry at it. Men. All's well; and might have been much better, if

He could have temporiz'd.

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Upon our territories; and have already, O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and

Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd What lay before them.

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Enter COMINIUS.

Com. Oh! you have made good work! Men. What news? what news?

[took

Com. You have holp to ravish your own daugh ters, and

To melt the city leads upon your pates;
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses--
Men. What's the news? what's the news?
Com. Your temples burn'd in their cement;
and

Your franchises, whereon you stood confin'd
Into an augre's bore. +

Men. Pray now, your news?—

You have made fair work, I fear me :-Pray, your news?

If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,-
Com. If!

He is their god; he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than nature,
That shapes man better; and they follow him,
Against us brats, with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.

Men. 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. He will shake

Your Rome about your ears.
Men. As Hercules

Did shake down mellow fruit: You have made

fair work!

Bru. But is this true, Sir ?

Com. Ay; and you'll look pale

Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It can- Before you find it other. All the regions

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They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,
The second name of men, obeys his points
As if he were his officer :-Desperation
Is all the policy, strength, and defence,
That Rome can make against them.

Enter a troop of CITIZENS.

Men. Here comes the clusters.

And is Aufidius with him ?-You are they

Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you be'll carry

Rome?

Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down = And the nobility of Rome are his :

The senators and patricians love him too :

The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people

Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty

To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome,
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it

That made the air unwholesome, when you cast By sovereignty of nature. First he was

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 np, 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. 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

A noble servant to them; but he could not
Carry his honours even whether 'twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgement,
To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From the casque to the cushion, but cominand-
ing peace

Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controll'd the war; but, one of these
(As he hath spices of them all, not all,
For I dare so far free him,) made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: But he has a merit,
So our virtues
To choke it in the utterance.

Lie in the interpretation of the time:
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evideut as a chair

Good work, you and your cry! -Shall us to the To extol what it hath done.

Capitol ?

Com. Oh! ay; what else?

[Exeunt Co. 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. [Exeunt CITIZENS. Bru. I do not like this news. Sic. Nor I. Bru. Let's to the Capitol :-'Would half my wealth

Would buy this for a lie!

Sic. Pray, let us go.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII-A Camp, at a small distance
from Rome.

Enter AUFIDIUS and his LIEUTENANT.
Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman ?
Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him;
but

Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;
And you are darken'd in this action, Sir,
Even by your own.

Auf. I cannot help it now;
Unless, by using means, I lame the foot

Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier
Even to my person, than I thought he would,
When first I did embrace him: Yet his nature
In that's no changeling; and I must excuse
What cannot be amended.

Lieu. Yet I wish, Sir,

(I mean for your particular,) you had not
Join'd in commission with him; but either
Had borne the action of yourself, or else
To him had left it solely.

Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure,
When he shall come to his account, he knows

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One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do fail.

Come, let's away. When, Cains, Rome is thine, Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE 1.-Rome.-A Public Place. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS and others.

Men. No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath
said,

Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him
In a most dear particular. He call'd me, father:
But what o'that? Go, you that banish'd him,
A mile before his tent fall down, and kneel
The way into his mercy: Nay, if he coy'd |
To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.
Com. He will not seem to know me.
Men. Do you hear?

Com. Yet one time he did call me by my

name:

I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to forbad all names:
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forg'd himself a name i'the fire
Of burning Rome.

Men. Why, so; you have made good work:
A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome,
To make coals cheap: A noble memory! **

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. Very well:
Could he say less?

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 noise the offence.

Men. For one poor grain
or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife,
His child, and this brave fellow too, we are the
grains :

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You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt
Above the moon: We must be burnt for you.
Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your
aid

In this so never-heeded help, yet do not
Upbraid us with our distress. But sure, if you
Would be your country's pleader, your good
tongue,

More than the instant army we can make,

Might stop our countryman.

Men. No; I'll not meddle.

Sie. I pray yon, go to him.

Men. What should I do?

1 G. Be it so; go back: the virtue of your naine Is not here passable.

Men. I tell thee, fellow,

Thy general is my lover: I bave been

The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified;
For I have ever verified + my friends,

(Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that
verity t

Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,

I have tumbled past the throw; and, in his
praise,

Bru. Only make trial what your love can do Have almost stamp'd the leasing: || Therefore, For Rome towards Marcius.

Men. Well, and say that Marcius

Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard; what then?--

Est as a discontented friend, grief-shoi
With his unkindness? Say't be so ?
Sic. Yet your good will

Must have that thanks from Rome, after the mea

sure,

As you intended well.

Men. Pil undertake it:

I think be'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip,
And bum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.
He was not taken well; be had not din'd:
The veins untill'd, the blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd
These pipes and these conveyances of our blood
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch

him

Till be be dieted to my request,

And then I'll set upon him.

fellow,

I must have leave to pass.

1 G. 'Faith, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have uttered words in your own, you should not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.

Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.

2 G. Howsoever you have been his liar, (as you say you have) I am one that, telling true under him, must say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.

Men. Has he dined, can'st thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner. 1 G. You are a Roman, are you? Men. I am as thy general is.

1 G. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to frout his revenges with the easy groans

Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, of old women, the virginal palms of your daughAnd cannot lose your way.

Mes. Good faith, I'll prove him,

Speed how it will. I shall ere long have know. ledge

Of my saccess.

Coun. He'll never hear him.
Sie. Not!

Exit.

Cum. I tell you; he does sit in gold his eye
Red as wald barn Rome; and his injury
The jaier to his pity. I kneel'd before him;
'Twas very faintly he said, Rise; dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand: What he would do,
He sent in writing after me; what he could not,
Beed with an oath, to yield to his conditions :
So that all bope is vain,

Uniess his noble mother, and his wife,
Whe, as I bear, mean to solicit him
For currey to his country-Therefore, let's hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.

[Exeunt.

ters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant ¶ as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; therefore back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemned, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

2 G. Come, my captain knows you not.
Men. I mean, thy general.

1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go, lest I let forth your half pint of blood; -back,-that's the utmost of your having :

back.

Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,—

Enter CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS.
Cor. What's the matter?

Men. Now you companion, ** I'll say an er. SCENE II-An advanced Post of the Vol-rand for you; you shall know now that I am in arian Camp, before Rome. The GUARD at estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack t thear Stations.

Enter to them, MENENIUS,

1 G. Stay: Whence are you?

1 G. Stand, and go back.

guardant cannot office me from my son Corio. laims guess, but by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i'the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering: behold now presently, and

Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by swoon for what's to come upon thee.-The gloyour leave,

I am an officer of state, and come

Je speak with Coriolanus.

16. From whence ?

Mea. From Rome.

rious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particnlar prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son! my on! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come

1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our to thee; but being assured none but myself general

W to more hear from thence.

could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs and conjure thee to pardon

G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen.

Before

Toesprak with Coriolanus.

Men. Good my friends,

I have heard your general talk of Rome,
Amet of his friends there, it is lots to blanks,
By name hath touch'd your ears: it is Mene

mius.

Prizes.

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Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not.
affairs

Are servanted to others: Though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lies
In Volscian breasts. That we have been
miliar,

My [ In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volsces
Plough Rome and harrow Italy; I'll never
fa- Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand
As if a man were author of himself,
And knew no other kin.

Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger, than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for I lov'd
thee,

Take this along: I writ it for thy sake,

nenius,

[Gives a Letter.

Vir. My lord and busband!

Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in
Rome.

Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd
Makes you think so.

Cor. Like a dull actor now,

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And would have sent it. Another word, Me-I have forgot my part, and I am out,
Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For that, Forgive our Romans.-Oh, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I prate,
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i'the earth;
[Kneels.

I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st-
Auf. You keep a constant temper.
[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFID.
1 G. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius?
2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power:
You know the way home again.

1 G. Do you hear how we are shent + for keeping your greatness back?

2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to

swoon?

Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general for such things as you, I can scarce Think there's any, you are so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another. Let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are long; and your misery increase with your age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [Exit.

1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: He is the rook, the oak not to be wind-sbaken.

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The first conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept, to grace him only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits,
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Ha! what shont is this?
[Shout within.

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.-
Enter in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VO-
LUMNIA, leading young MARCIUS, VALERIA,

and ATTENDANTS.

My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd
mould

Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of nature, break!
Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.-
What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn -1 melt, and

am not

Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows;
As if Olympus to a molehill should

• Because. ↑ Reprimanded. * Openly.

Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sons.

Vol. Oh! stand up bless'd!
Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint
I kneel before thee; and unproperly
Show duty, as mistaken all the while
Between the child and parent.

Cor. What is this?

[Kneels.

Your knees to me? to your corrected son
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun;
Murd'ring impossibility, to make
What cannot be, slight work.

Vol. Thou art my warrior:

I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?
Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,
The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle
That's curded by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's temple: Dear Valeria!
Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours,
Which, by the interpretation of full time,
May show like all yourself.

Cor. The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may's

prove

To shame unvulnerable, and stick i'the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw, t
And saving those that eye thee!

Vol. Your knee, Sirrah.

Cor. That's my brave boy.

Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself Are suitors to you.

Cor. I beseech you, peace :

Or, if you'd ask, remember this before:
The things I have forsworn to grant, may never
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate
Again with Rome's mechanics: Tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural : Desire not
To allay my rages and revenges, with
Your colder reasons.

Vol. Oh! no more, no more!
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
You have said, you will not grant us any thing
Which you deny already: Yet we will ask,
That, if you fail in our request, the blame
May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; fo
we'll
[quest

Hear nought from Rome in private.-Your re
Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, ou

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