Men. There was a time, when all the body's cularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain | think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, an't please yon, deliver. ere we become rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 1 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcins ? Cit. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country? 1 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. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done! famously, he did it to that end; though soft-conscienc'd men can be content to say 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 say he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o'the city is risen: Why stay 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 so! Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, 1 them Against the Roman state; whose course will on You are transported by calamity Men. Either you must Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, 1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, Sir; yet you must not ⚫ Thin as rakes. † A hint. t Spread it. members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :- instruments the other Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 1 Cit. Well, Sir, what answer made the belly? Men. Sir, I shall tell you.-With a kind of smile, Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus, 1 Cit. Your belly's answer: What! 'Fore me, this fellow speaks !-what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the sink o'the body, Men. Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? Men. I will tell you; If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little,) Patience, a while, you'll hear the belly's answer. 1 Cit. You are long about it. Men. Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd. True is it, my incorporate friends, quoth he, That I receive the general food at first, Which you do live upon and fit it is; Because I am the store-house, and the shop Of the whole body: But if you do remember, I send it through the rivers of your blood, Even to the court, the heart,-to the seat o'the brain; And, through the cranks § and offices of man, The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins, From me receive that natural competency Whereby they live And though that all at Deserves your hate: and your affections are Which would increase his evil. He that depends With every minute you do change a mind; That in these several places of the city 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 'the Capitol who's like to rise, Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and give out Conectaral marriages; making parties strong, Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,+ Men. Nay, these are almost, thoroughly persuaded : For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech at says the other troop? [you, Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said they were an hungry sigh'd forth proverbs [eat; That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must That meat was made for mouths; that the gods 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, Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make and he Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Tit. No, Caius Marcius; [other, I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the Ere stay behind this business. Men. Oh! true bred! 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! * 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 † 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 Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- ⚫ For insurgents to debate upon. + Shows itself Gibe. Will then cry out of Marcius, Oh! if he Sic. Besides, if things go well, Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed, Sic. Let's hence, and hear bodied, and the only son of my womb: when 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: Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when 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. SCENE III-Rome.-An Apartment in Vol. Then his good report should have been my son: I therein would have fonnd 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 Vol. Indeed, you shall not. Come on, you cowards, you were got in jear, 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 Val. My ladies both, good day to you. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. 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 mammockedj Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit i • Demerits and merits had anciently the same mean- Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stichery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. 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. 1 Tore it. Boy. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreaouably: 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. Vel. 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 spuu in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I wold your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Fir. No, good madam, pardon me; I will not forth. indeed, 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 ariny 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 bar; 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 oar better mirth. Fat. 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. as yet. Lart. So, the good horse is mine. Mar. I'll buy him of you. Lert. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you him, I will, For half a bandred years.-Summon the town. Mar. Then shall we hear their larum, and they ours. New, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work: That we, with smoking swords, may march from bence, [blast To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy They sound a parley.-Enter on the walls, some SENATORS, and others. Tallus Antidius, 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; Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders hol 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. Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you! [plagues You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd Further than seen, and one infect another Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, That bear the shapes of men, how have you [hell! From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, run on: Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, And make my wars on you; look to't: Come [wives, If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their As they us to our trenches followed. Another Alarum. The VOLSCES and ROMANS re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The VOLSCES retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates. 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 1. 3 Sol. See, they Have shut him in. (Alarum continues. All. To the pot, I warrant him. 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, Lart. O noble fellow ! 1 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 drachin! Cushions, leaden spoons, And hark, what noise the general makes! To There is the man of my sonl's hate, Aufidius, Lart. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight. Mar. Sir, praise me not: [haste [well. My work hath yet not warn'd me: Fare you I will appear, and fight. Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in love 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 struck, Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Enter a MESSENGER. May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news? Com. Though thou speak'st truth, Act I. He has the stamp of Marcius; 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, How is't with Titus Lartius? Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Com. Where is that slave, Which told me they had beat you to your trenches! Mar. Let him alone, He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think Where is the enemy? Are you lords o'the field? Com. Marcius, We have at disadvantage fought, and did Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on They have plac'd their men of trust? Com. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates, Mar. I do beseech yon, By all the battles wherein we have fought, rectly Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates: Com. Though I conld wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, Mar. Those are they That most are willing :-If any such be here, Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't Wave thus [waving his hand] to express his disposition, And follow Marcius, [They all shout and wave their swords ; take O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? • Front. + Soldiers of Antium. |