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The grave of your deserving: Rome must know
The value of her own: 'twere a concealment
Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,
To hide your doings; and to silence that,
Which to the spire and top of praises vouch'd
Would seem but modest: Therefore, I beseech
(In sign of what you are, not to reward
[you
What you have done) before our army hear me.
Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they
smart

To hear themselves remember'd.
Com. Should they not,

Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,

horses,

Lurt. Hence, and shut your gates upon us. And tent themselves with death. Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct [Exeunt.

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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

Auf. We hate alike:

Not Arric 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 !

Awf. If 1 flv, Marcius,

Haio me the a bare.

Mir. Within these three hours, Tullus, Akne 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,
To she ald'st not 'scape me here.-

¡They fight and certain Volsces come to
the aid of AUFIDIUS.
Officinus, 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.

Comm. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's
work,

Thon"it not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it,
Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles;
Were great patricians shall attend, and shrug,
1de end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted,
And gindly quak'd, ¶ bear more; where the dull
Tribunes,

That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine ho
[gods,

nours,

a say, against their hearts-We thank the fur Beme hath such a soldier !Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast,

Having fully dined before.

Of all the

(Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,)

of all

The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city,
We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,
Before the common distribution, at
Your only choice.

Mar. I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

[A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius!
Marcius! cast up their caps and lances:
COMINIUS and LARTIUS stand bare.

be

Mur. May these same instruments, which you
profane,
[shall
Never sound more! When drums and trumpets
I'the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities
[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
In acclamations hyperbolical;

As if I loved my little should be dleted
In praises sauc'd with lies.

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,
With all the applause and clamour of the host,
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS.-
Bear the addition_nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums.
All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus !
Cor. 1 will go wash;

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you :

Ester TITUS LARTIUS, with his power,** from To undercrest your good addition,

I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,

the pursuit.

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To the fairness of my power.

Com. So, to our tent:

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write
To Rome of our success.-Yon, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome
The best, with whom we may articulate,
For their own good, and ours.

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I would I were a Roman; for I cannot,
Being a Volsce, be that I am.-Condition!
What good condition can a treaty find
'the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius,
I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat
me;
[counter
And, would'st do so, I think, should we en-
As often as we eat.-By the elements,
If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,
He is mine, or I am his: Mine emulation
Hath not that honour in't, it had; for where⚫
I thought to crush him in an equal force,
(True sword to sword,) Pll potch + at him some
Or wrath, or craft, may get him.
[way;

1 Sol. He's the devil.

Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My our's poison'd,

Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry ple beians would the noble Marcius.

Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear Men. He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

Both Trib. Well, Sir.

Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that you two have not in abundance?

Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

Sic. Especially, in pride.

Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o'the right hand file? Do you ?

Both Trib. Why, how are we censured? Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will you not be angry?

Both trib. Well, well, Sir, well.

Men. Why 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob yon of a great deal of patience: give your disposition the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud?

Bru. We do it not alone, Sir.

Men. I know you can do very little alone ; for your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: Oh! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! Oh! that you could!

Bru. What then, Sir?

Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, (alias, fools) as any in Rome.

Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tyber in't; said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint hasty, and tinder-like, upon too trivial val-motion: one that converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning. What I think, I utter; and spend my malice in my breath: Meeting two such weals+men as you are, (I cannot call you Lycurguses) if the drink you gave me, touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot say, your worships have delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables: and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my mycrocosm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too.

With only suffering stain by him; for him
Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep, nor sanctuary,
Being naked, sick, nor fane, nor Capitol,
The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up
Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst
My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it
At home, upou my brother's guard, even there
Against the hospitable canon, would I
Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to
the city;

Learn how 'tis held; and what they are, that
Be hostages for Rome.
[must

1 Sol. Will not you go?

Auf. I am attended 5 at the cypress grove:
I pray you

('Tis sonth the city mills,) bring me word thither
How the world goes; that to the pace of it
I may spur on my journey.

1 Sol. I shall, Sir.

ACT II.

[Exeunt.

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Bru. Come, Sir, come, we know you well enough.

Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitions for poor knaves caps and legs; § you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a cause between an orangewife and a fosset-seller; and then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience.-When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the cholic, you make faces like mummers; set up the bloody flag against all patience; and, roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing all the peace you make in their cause is, calling both the parties knaves: You are a pair of strange ones.

Bru. Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table, than a ueces. sary bencher in the Capitol.

↑ Strike. Waited for.

Under my brother's

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Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpese, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a trave, as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be estombed in an ass's pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcins is proud; who, in a cheap estration, is worth all your predecessors, since Descalion; though, peradventure, some of the best of them were hereditary hangmen. Good e'en to your worships; more of your conversaLon would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take may leave of you.

Bsc. and Sic. retire to the back of the Scene. Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA, &c. How now, my as fair as noble ladies, (and the Box, were she earthly, no nobler) whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

Fol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcias coming home?

Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperoas approbation.

Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee: -Hoo! Martins coming boine ?

Two Ladies. Nay, 'tis true.

Vol. Look, here's a letter from him; the state kath another; his wife another; and I think, Care's one at home for you.

Ms. I will make my very house reel to-night: - letter for me?

Ver. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; 1

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Fr. 05! no, no, no.

4. Gal be is wounded, I thank the gods for?

Men. So do I to, if it be not too much :-Brings a victory in his pocket?-The wounds bec me bra.

Fol. On's brows, Menenius: he comes the tard time bome with the oaken garland. Man. Has be disciplined Aufidius soundly?

Taus Lartius writes, they fought together, her &adars got uff.

Mes. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him at an he had staid by him, I would not bare been so fiinsed for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the senate pusarmed of this?

Tal Good Fadies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the wrate has letters from the general, wherein beres my son the whole name of the war: be tach in this action outdone his former deeds

- In troth, there's wondrous things spoke Mes. Wondrous ? ay, I warrant you, and not at his true purchasing, Fr. The godds grant them true! Pol. True! pow, wow.

Min. Frue! I'll be sworn they are true: # urre is be wounded?-God save your good resign!! To the Tribunes, who come forward.] tur.is is coming home: he has more cause to Ipad. —W here is he wounded?

Id the shoulder, and i'the left arm: There maš ne large cicatrices to show the people, when b- shall stand for his place. He received in Qe Trpulse of Tarquin, seven hurts i'the body. Vea. One in the neck, and two in the thigh,Dere's nine that i know.

12. He bad, before this last expedition, try-Live wounds upon him.

• Informed.

Men. Now its twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave: [A Shout and Flourish.J Hark! the trumpets.

Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him [tears; He carries noise, and behind him he leaves Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie; Which being advanc'd, declines, and then men die.

A Sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS and TITUS LARTIUS; between them CORIOLANUS, crowned with an oaken Garland; with Captains, Soldiers, and a Herald. Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight

With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these
Within Corioli' gates: where he hath won,
In honour follows, Coriolanus:
Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus !

(Flourish. All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Corio. lanus !

Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart; Pray now, no more.

Com. Look, Sir, your mother,———
Cor. Oh!

You have I know, petition'd all the gods
For my prosperity.

[Kneels,

Vol. Nay, my good soldier, up;
My gentle Marcius, worthy Cains, and
By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd,
What is it? Coriolanus, must I call thee?
But oh! thy wife.-

Cor. My gracious silence, hail! Would'st thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home,

That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,
And mothers that lack sons.

Men. Now the gods crown thee!
Cor. And live you yet?-O my sweet lady,
pardon.
[TO VALERIA.
Vol. I know not where to turn-O welcome
home;

And welcome, general;-And you are welcome all.

weep,

Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could [come: And I could laugh: I am light and heavy: WelA curse begin at very root of his heart, That is not glad to see thee!--You are three, That Rome should dote on yet, by the faith of

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While she chats him: the kitchen malkin * pins
Her richest lockram + 'bout her reecby neck,
Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks,
windows,

Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
With variable complexions; all agreeing

In earnestness to see him: selds-shown fla-
mens ||

Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station: ¶ our veil'd dames
Commit the war of white and damask, in
Their nicely-gawded ** cheeks, to the wanton
spoil

Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god who leads him,
Were slyly crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful posture.

Sic. On the sudden,

I warrant him consul.

Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately trausport his ho

nours

From where he should begin, and end; but will
Lose those that he hath won.

Bru. In that there's comfort.

Sic. Doubt not the commoners, for whom we
stand,

But they, upon their ancient malice, will
Forget with the least cause these his new ho-

Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended,
As to Jove's statue; and the commons made
A shower, and thunder, with their caps
[shouts
I never saw the like.

Bru. Let's to the Capitol;

And carry with ns ears and eyes for the time,
But hearts for the event.

Sic. Have with you.

an

[Exeunt

SCENE II.-The same.-The Capitol.

Enter two OFFICERS, to lay Cushions.

1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here How many stand for consulsbips?

2 Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought o every one Coriolanus will carry it.

1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's ven geance proud, and loves not the common people. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many grea men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore: so that if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't.

1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their Which that he'll give them, make as little ques-bate with greater devotion than they can render As he is proud to do't.

nours;

Bru. I heard him swear,

Were he to stand for consul, never would he
Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put
The napless ++ vesture of humility;
Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds
To the people, beg their stinking breaths.
Sic. 'Tis right.

[tion

Bru. It was his word: Oh! he would miss it,

rather

Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to [him; And the desire of the nobles.

Sic. I wish no better,

Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it
In execution.

Bru. 'Tis most like he will.

Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good A sure destruction.

Bru. So it must fall out

[wills; #

To him, or our authorities. For an end,
We must suggest the people, in what hatred
He still hath held them; that, to his power, he
would
[and
Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders,
Dispropertied their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world,
Than camels in their war; who have their
provand $5

Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them.

Sic. This, as you say, suggested

At some time when his soaring insolence

it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury: to report otherwise were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

1 Off. No more of him; he is a worthy man : Make way, they are coming.

A Sennet. Enter, with LICTORS, before them,
COMINIUS the Consul, MENENIUS, CORIO-
LANUS, many other SENATORS, SICINIUS,
and BRUTUS. The SENATORS take their
places; the TRIBUNES take theirs also by
themselves.

Men. Having determin'd of the Volsces, and
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,
As the main point of this our after-meeting,
To gratify his noble service, that

Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please

you,

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire

Shall teach the people, (which time shall not The present consul, and last general

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In our well-found successes, to report
A littie of that worthy work perform'd
By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom
We meet here, both to thank, and to remember
With honours like himself.

1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius:

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think,
Rather our state's defective for requital,

'Tis Than we to stretch it out. Masters o'the people,
We do request your kindest ears: aud, after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
To yield what passes here.

That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen
The dumb men throng to see him, and the
[gloves,

blind

To hear him speak: The matrons flung their
Ladies, and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,

Sic. We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts
Inclinable to honour and advance
The theme of our assembly.
Bru. Which the rather

• Maid. A kind of cheap linen. 4 Soiled with
ད Cott,
I Priests.
tt Thread-bare
Provender.

Seldom.
Adorned.

sweat and smoke.
mon standing-place.
11 "As our safety demands."

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He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,
Than one of his cars to hear it?-Proceed, Co-Be taken from the people.

That I shall blush in acting, and might well

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Shomid not be utter'd feebly.—It is held,
That valur is the chiefest virtue, and
Mst dignites the baver:† if it be,

The man I speak of cannot in the world
Bedly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Targum made a head for Rome, he fought
Brond the mark of others; our then dictator,
Whail praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin he drove
The bristed hips before him: he bestred
An o'er press'd Koman, and i'the consul's view
Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met
And struck zum on his knee: ¶ in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene,
Be priv'd best man i'the field, and for his meed
Was tre bound with the oak. His pupil age
Manered thus, he waxed like a sea;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He area'd all swords o'the garland. For this
Before and in Conoh, let me say,
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I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers;
At this rare example, made the coward
T.rs terror into sport: as waves before

& tesarj Bader sail, so men obey'd, [stamp,)
And fri belew his stem: his sword (death's)
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
he was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Watard) with dying cries! alone he enter'd
The as gate o'the city, which he painted
maless destiny, aidless came off,
A2 a sadden re-enforcement struck
C, like a planet: now all's his :

and by the din of war 'gan pierce

Ha trat sense: then straight his doubled spirit Becmien'd what in flesh was fatigate, d to the battle came he; where he did km rek ng o'er the lives of men, as if w a perpetual spoil; and, till we call'd Be a Grant and city ours, he never stood Is came but breast with panting. Men. Worthy man!

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Bru. Mark you that!

Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ;

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Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,
As if I had received them for the hire
Of their breath only :-

Men. Do not stand upon't.

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them;-and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honour.

Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! [Flourish. Then exeunt SENATORS. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people

Sic. May they perceive his intent! He that will require them,

As if he did contemn' what he requested
Should be in them to give.

Bru. Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here: on the market-place,
I know they do attend us.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same.-The Forum.

Enter several CITIZENS.

1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will.

3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous: and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which, we, being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.

1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve for once, when we stood up about the corn, be himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our beads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversly coloured: and truly I think, if all our

• Avarico.

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