Men.
Having determin'd of the Volcians, 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
The present consul, and last general ^note
In our well-found sucesses, to report
A little of that worthy work perform'd
By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom
We are met here, both to thank, and to remember
With honours like himself.

1. S.
Speak, good Cominius:
Leave nothing out for length; and make us think,
Rather our state's defective for requital,
Than we to stretch it out.—Masters o'the people,
We do request your kindest ear; ^note and, after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
To yield what passes here.

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

We shall be blest to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people, than
He hath hereto priz'd them at.

Men.
That's off, that's off;
I would you rather had been silent: Please you
To hear Cominius speak?

Bru.
Most willingly:
But yet my caution was more pertinent,
Than the rebuke you give it.

Men.
He loves your people;
But tye him not to be their bedfellow.—
Worthy Cominius, speak:—Nay, keep your place. [to Cor. who rises, and is going out.

1. S.
Sit, Coriolanus ^note; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done.

Cor.
Your honours' pardon;
I had rather have my wounds to heal again,
Than hear say how I got them.

Bru.
Sir, I hope,
My words dis-bench'd you not?

Cor.
No, sir: yet oft, ^note
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: But, your people,—
I love them as they weigh.

Men.
Pray now, sit down.

Cor.
I had rather have one scratch my head i'the sun,
When the alarum were struck, than idly sit
To hear my nothings monster'd. [Exit Coriolanus.

Men.
Masters o'the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter,
(That's thousand to one good one) when you now see,
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,

Than one of's ears ^note to hear it?—Proceed, Cominius.

Com.
I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be utter'd feebly.—It is held,
That valour is the chiefest virtue, and
Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin ^note he drove
The bristl'd lips before him: he bestrid
An o'er-prest Roman, and i'the consul's view
Slew three opposers; Tarquin's self he met,
And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene,
He prov'd best man i'the field, and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age ^note
Man-enter'd thus, he waxed ^note like a sea;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch'd all swords o'the garland. For this last,
Before and in Corioli, let me say,
I cannot speak him home: He stopt the fliers;
And, by his rare example, made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as waves before ^note
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd,
And fell below his stern: ^note his sword, death's stamp,
Where it did mark, it took from face to foot:
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was tim'd with ^note dying cries: alone he enter'd14Q0975
The mortal gate o'the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny ^note; aidless came off,

And with a sudden re-inforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet: Now all's his: ^note14Q0976
When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce
His ready sense: then straight his doubl'd spirit
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking ^note o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and, 'till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood
To ease his breast with panting ^note.

Men.
Worthy man!

1. S.
He cannot but with measure fit the ^note honours
Which we devise him.

Com.
Our spoils he kick'd at;
And look'd upon things precious, as they were
The common muck o'the world: he covets less
Than misery itself would give; rewards
His deeds with doing them; and is content
To spend the time, to end it.

Men.
He's right noble;
Let him be call'd for.

1. S.
Call Coriolanus.

1. O.
He doth appear. Re-enter Coriolanus.

Men.
The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd
To make thee consul.

Cor.
I do owe them still
My life, and services.

Men.
It then remains,
That you do speak to the people.

Cor.
I do beseech you,
Let me o'er-leap that custom; for I cannot

Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,
For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you,
That I may pass this doing.

Sic.
Sir, the people
Must have their voices; neither will they bate
One jot of ceremony.

Men.
Put them not to't:—
Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and
Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form.

Cor.
It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.

Bru.
Mark you that?

Cor.
To brag unto them,—Thus I did, and thus;
Shew them the unaking scars, which I should hide,
As if I had receiv'd 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. Exeunt Senators.

Bru.
You see how he intends to use the people.

Sic.
May they perceive his intent! He 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 a Number of Citizens.

1. C.

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

2. C.

We may, sir, if we will.

3. C.

We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he shew 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. C.

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

3. C.

We have been call'd so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some ^note bald, but that our wits are so diversly colour'd: and truly, I think, if all our wits were to issue out of one scull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o'the compass.

2. C.

Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?

3. C.

Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a block-head: but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.

2. C.

Why that way?

3. C.

To lose itself in a fog; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.

2. C.

You are never without your tricks: you may, you may.

3. C.

Are you all resolv'd to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; Enter Coriolanus, and Menenius. mark his behaviour: We are not to stay all together ^note, but to come by him where he stands, by one's, by two's, and by three's ^note: he's to make his requests by particulars; wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him.

all.

Content, content.

Men.
O, sir, you are not right; Have you not known,
The worthiest men have don't?

Cor.
What must I say?—
I pray, sir,—Plague upon't! I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace:—Look, sir; my wounds;
I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran
From the noise ^note of our own drums.

Men.
O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that; you must desire them
To think upon you.

Cor.
Think upon me? Hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues14Q0977
Which our divines lose by them.

Men.
You'll mar all;

I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholsome manner. [Exit Menenius. Enter two of the Citizens.

Cor.
Bid them wash their faces,
And keep their teeth clean.—So, here comes a brace:—
You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.

1. C.
We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

Cor.
Mine own desert.

2. C.
Your own desert?

Cor.
Ay, not ^note
Mine ^note own desire.

1. C.
How! not your own desire?

Cor.
No, sir; 'twas never my desire yet
To trouble the poor with begging.

1. C.
You must think,
If we give you any thing, we hope to gain by you.

Cor.
Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship?

1. C.
The price is, sir, to ask it kindly.

Cor.
Kindly?
Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to shew you,
Which shall be yours in private.—Your good voice, sir;
What say you?

2. C.
You shall have it, worthy sir.

Cor.
A match, sir:—There's in all two worthy voices beg'd:—
I have your alms; Adieu.

1. C.

But this is something odd.

2. C.

An 'twere to give again,—But 'tis no matter.

Cor.

Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.

1. C.

You have deserv'd nobly of your country, and you have not deserv'd nobly.

Cor.

Your ænigma?

1. C.

You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends; you have not, indeed, loved the common people.

Cor.

You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountifully to the desirers: ^note Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

2. C.

We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily.

1. C.

You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor.

I will not seal your knowledge with shewing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

1. 2.

The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

Cor.
Most sweet voices!
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire ^note which first we do deserve.
Why in this wolfish gown ^note should I stand here,
To beg of Hob, and Dick, that does appear ^note,
Their needless voices ^note?14Q0978 Custom calls me to't:
What custom wills, in all things should we do't,
The dust on antique time would lye unswept,

And mountainous error be too highly heapt
For truth to over-peer Rather than fool it so,
Let the high office and the honour go
To one that would do thus. I am half through;
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. Enter other Citizens.
Here come more voices.—
Your voices: for your voices I have fought,
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices, bear
Of wounds two dozen and odd; battles thrice six
I have seen, and heard of; for your voices, have
Done many things, some less, some more: your voices:
Indeed, I would be consul.

1. C.

He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.

2. C.

Therefore let him be consul: The gods give him joy, and make him a good friend to the people!

all.
Amen, amen—God save thee, noble consul!

Cor.
Worthy voices! [Exeunt Citizens. Enter Menenius, Brutus, and Sicinius.

Men.
You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice: Remains,
That, in the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate.

Cor.
Is this done?

Sic.
The custom of request you have discharg'd:
The people do admit you; and are summon'd
To meet anon, upon your approbation.

Cor.
Where? at the senate-house?

Sic.
There, Coriolanus.

Cor.
May I then change these garments?

Sic.
You may, sir.

Cor.
That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,
Repair to the senate-house.

Men.
I'll keep you company.—Will you along?

Bru.
We stay here for the people.

Sic.
Fare you well. [Exeunt Coriolanus, and Menenius.
He has it now; and by his looks, methinks,
'Tis warm at his heart.

Bru.
With a proud heart he wore
His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? Re-enter Citizens.

Sic.
How now, my masters? have you chose this man?

1. C.
He has our voices, sir.

Bru.
We pray the gods, he may deserve your loves.

2. C.
Amen, sir: To my poor unworthy notice,
He mock'd us, when he beg'd our voices.

3. C.
Certainly,
He flouted us down-right.

1. C.
No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us.

2. C.
Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says,
He us'd us scornfully: he should have shew'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his country.

Sic.
Why, so he did, I am sure.

all.
No, no man saw them.

3. C.
He said, he had wounds, which he could shew in private;
And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be consul, says he: aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;

Your voices therefore: When we granted that,
Here was, I thank you for your voices, thank you,
Your most sweet voices: now you have left your voices,
I have no further with you:—Was not this mockery?

Sic.
Why, either, were you ignorant to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices?

Bru.
Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd,—When he had no power,
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy; ever spake against
Your liberties, and the charters that you bear
I'the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place ^note of potency, and sway o'the state,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the Plebeii, your voices might
Be curses to yourselves: You should have said,
That, as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for; so his gracious nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Translate his malice towards you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.

Sic.
Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd his inclination; from him pluck'd
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article,
Tying him to ought; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru.
Did you perceive,
He did solicit you in free contempt,
When he did need your loves; and do you think,
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,
When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies
No heart among you? Or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment?

Sic.
Have you,
Ere now, deny'd the asker? and, now again,
On him ^note, that did not ask, but mock, bestow
Your tongues unsu'd-for ^note?14Q0979

3. C.
He is not confirm'd,
We may deny him yet.

2. C.
And will deny him:
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1. C.
I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru.
Get you hence instantly; and tell those friends,—
They have chose a consul, that will from them take
Their liberties; make them of no more voice
Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking,
As therefore kept to do so.

Sic.
Let them assemble;
And, on a safer judgment, all revoke
Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride,
And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not
With what contempt he wore the humble weed;
How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
The apprehension of his present portance,
Which gibingly ^note, ungravely, he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.

Bru.
Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd,
(No impediment between) but that you must
Cast your election on him.

Sic.
Say, you chose him
More after our commandment, than as guided
By your own true affections: and that, your minds
Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do
Than what you should, made you against the grain
To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us.

Bru.
Ay, spare us not: Say, we read lectures to you,
How youngly he began to serve his country,
How long continu'd: and what stock he springs of,
The noble house o'the Marcii ^note; from whence came
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king:
Of the same house14Q0980 Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, darling of the people,
And nobly nam'd so for twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.

Sic.
One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.

Bru.
Say, you ne'er had don't,
(Harp on that still) but by our putting on:
And presently, when you have drawn your number,
Repair to the capitol.

all.
We will so: almost all
Repent in their electon. ^note [Exeunt Citizens.

Bru.
Let them go on;
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater:
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.

Sic.
To the capitol, come;
We will be there before the stream o'the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The Same. A Street. Gornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Titus Lartius, Senators, and Patricians.

Cor.
Tullus Aufidius then had made new head?

Tit.
He had, my lord; and that it was, which caus'd
Our swifter composition.

Cor.
So then the Volcians stand but as at first;
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road
Upon us again.

Com.
They are worn, lord consul, so,
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.

Cor.
Saw you Aufidius?

Tit.
On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse
Against the Volcians, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium.

Cor.
Spoke he of me?

Tit.
He did, my lord.

Cor.
How? what?

Tit.
How often he had met you, sword to sword:
That, of all things upon the earth, he hated
Your person most: that he would pawn his fortunes
To hopeless restitution, so he might
Be call'd your vanquisher.

Cor.
At Antium lives he?

Tit.
At Antium.

Cor.
I wish I had a cause to seek him there,
To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. ^note Enter Sicinius, and Brutus.
Behold! these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o'the common mouth. I do despise them:
For they do prank them in authority,
Against all noble sufferance.

Sic.
Pass no further.

Cor.
Ha! what is that?

Bru.
It will be dangerous to go on: no further.

Cor.
What makes this change?

Men.
The matter?

Com.
Hath he not pass'd the nobles ^note, and the commons? ^note

Bru.
Cominius, no.

Cor.
Have I had children's voices?

1. S.
Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place.

Bru.
The people are incens'd against him:

Sic.
Stop,
Or all will fall in broil.

Cor.
Are these your herd?—
Must these have voices, that can yield them now,

And straight disclaim their tongues?—What are your offices?
You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?
Have you not set them on?

Men.
Be calm, be calm.

Cor.
It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot,
To curb the will of the nobility:—
Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule,
Nor ever will be rul'd.

Bru.
Call't not a plot:
The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd,
Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, call'd them—
Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.

Cor.
Why, this was known before.

Bru.
Not to them all.

Cor.
Have you inform'd them since ^note?

Bru.
How! I inform them!

Cor.
You ^note are like to do such business.

Bru.
Not unlike,
Each way, to better yours.

Cor.
Why then should I be consul? By yon' clouds,
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow tribune.

Sic.
You show too much of that,
For which the people stir: If you will pass
To where you are bound, you must enquire your way,
Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be so noble as a consul,
Nor yoak with him for tribune.

Men.
Let's be calm.

Com.
The people are abus'd:—14Q0981—Set on.—This palt'ring

Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus
Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, lay'd falsly
I'the plain way of his merit.

Cor.
Tell me of corn!
This was my speech, and I will speak't again.

Men.
Not now, not now.

1. S.
Not in this heat, sir, now.

Cor.
Now, as I live, I will.—My nobler friends,
I crave their pardons:—
For the mutable, rank-scented many, ^note let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and
Therein behold themselves:—I say again,
In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plow'd for, sow'd and scatter'd,
By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they have given to beggars.

Men.
Well, no more.

1. S.
No more words, we beseech you.

Cor.
How! no more?
As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words 'till their decay, against those meazels,
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them.

Bru.
You speak o'the people,
As if you were a god to punish, not
A man of their infirmity.

Sic.
'Twere well,
We let the people know't.

Men.
What, what? his choler?

Cor.
Choler!
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,
By Jove, 'twould be my mind.

Sic.
It is a mind,
That shall remain a poison where it is,
Not poison any further.

Cor.
Shall remain!—
Hear you ^note this Triton of the minnows? mark you
His absolute shall?

Com.
'Twas from the canon.

Cor.
Shall!—
O good, ^note but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory shall, being but
The horn and noise o'the monster, wants not spirit
To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If they have ^note power,14Q0982
Let them have cushions by you; if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity: if you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Then vail your ignorance. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,
When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul askes,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supream, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take

The one by the other.

Com.
Well, on to the market-place.

Cor.
Whoever ^note gave that counsel, to give forth
The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd
Sometime in Greece,—

Men.
Well, well, no more of that.

Cor.
(Though there the people had more absolute power)
I say, they nourish'd ^note disobedience, fed
The ruin of the state:

Bru.
Why, shall the people give
One, that speaks thus, their voice?

Cor.
I'll give my reasons,
More worthier ^note than their voices. They know, the corn
Was not our recompence; resting well assur'd
They ne'er did service for't: Being press'd to the war,
Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,
They would not thread the gates: this kind of service
Did not deserve corn gratis: Being in the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they shew'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native14Q0983
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiply'd digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words: We did request it;
We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands: Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time
Break ope the locks o'the senate, and bring in

The crows to peck the eagles.

Men.
Come, enough.

Bru.
Enough, with over-measure.

Cor.
No, take more:
What may be sworn by, both divine and human,
Seal what I end withall! This double worship,—
Where one part ^note does disdain with cause, the other
Insult without all reason; ^note where gentry, title, wisdom
Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance,—it must omit
Real necessities, and give way the while
To unstable sligthness: purpose so bar'd, it follows,
Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech you,—
You that will be less fearful than discreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,
More than you doubt the change of't; ^note14Q0984 that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish
To vamp a ^note body with a dangerous physic,
That's sure of death without it,—at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: Your dishonour
Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become't;
Not having power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth controul't.

Bru.
He has said enough.

Sic.
He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer
As traitors do.

Cor.
Thou wretch! despight o'er-whelm thee!—
What should the people do with these bald tribunes?
On whom depending, their obedience fails
To the greater bench: In a rebellion,

When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,
Then were they chosen; in a better hour,
Let what is meet, be said, it must be meet,
And throw their power i'the dust.

Bru.
Manifest treason:

Sic.
This is a consul? no.

Bru.
The ædiles, ho!—Let him be apprehended.

Sic.
Go, call the people: [Exit Brutus.] in whose name, myself
Attach thee, as a traitorous innovator,
A foe to the publick weal: Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer.

Cor.
Hence, old goat.

all.
We'll surety him.

Com.
My aged sir, hands off.

Cor.
Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones
Out of thy garments.

Sic.
Help me, citizens ^note. Re-enter Brutus, with Ædiles, and a whole Rabble of Citizens.

Men.
On both sides more respect.

Sic.
Here's he, that would
Take from you all your power.

Bru.
Seize him, ædiles.

Cit.
Down with him, down with him!

2. S.
Weapons, weapons, weapons! [they all bustle about Coriolanus.

1. S.
Tribunes,14Q0985 patricians, citizens! what ho!
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

all.
Peace, peace, peace, stay, hold, peace!

Men.
What is about to be? I am out of breath;
Confusion's near ^note; I cannot speak:—You, tribunes

To the people,—Coriolanus, patience:—
Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.
Hear me, people; peace.

Cit.
Let's hear our tribune; peace:—Speak, speak, speak.

Sic.
You are at point to lose your liberties:
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,
Whom late you chose for consul.

Men.
Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

1. S.
To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.

Sic.
What is the city, but the people?

Cit.
True,
The people are the city.

Bru.
By the consent of all, we were establish'd
The people's magistrates.

Sen.
You so remain.

Men.
And so are like to do.

Cor.
That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation;
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruin.

Sic.
This deserves death.

Bru.
Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it:—We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o'the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death.

Sic.
Therefore, lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him

Bru.
Ædiles, seize him.

Cit.
Yield, Marcius, yield.

Men.
Hear me one word, beseech you,
Good tribunes, hear me but a word.

Ædi.
Peace, peace.

Men.
Be that you seem, truly your country's friend, ^note
And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.

Bru.
Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very pois'nous
Where the disease is violent:—Lay hands upon him,
And bear him to the rock.

Cor.
No; I'll die here. [drawing his Sword.
There's some among you have beheld me fighting;
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.

Men.
Down with that sword;—Tribunes, withdraw a while.

Bru.
Lay hands upon him.

Men.
Help, help Marcius! help,
You that be noble; help him, young, and old!

Cit.
Down with him, down with him! [A great Mutiny: Tribunes, Ædiles, and People are beat in.

Men.
Go, get you to your ^note house; be gone, away,
All will be naught else.

14Q0986Com.
Get you gone.

2. S.
Stand fast;
We have as many friends as enemies.

Men.
Shall it be put to that?

1. S.
The gods forbid!
I pry'thee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause.

Men.
For 'tis a sore, ^note
You cannot tent yourself: Be gone, beseech you.

Com.
Come ^note, sir, along with us.

Men.
I would they were barbarians, (as they are,
Though in Rome litter'd;) not Romans, (as they are not,
Though calv'd i'the porch o'the capitol.)—Be gone;
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;
One time will owe another.

Cor.
On ^note fair ground,
I could beat forty of them.

Men.
I could myself
Take up a brace o'the best; ^note yea, the two tribunes.

Com.
But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetick;
And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands
Against a falling fabrick.—Will you hence,
Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters, and o'er-bear
What they are us'd to bear.

Men.
Pray you, be gone:
I'll try if my ^note old wit be in request
With those that have but little; this must be patch'd
With cloth of any colour.

Com.
Nay, come away. [Exeunt Cor. Com. and Others.

1. P.
This man has mar'd his fortune.

Men.
His nature is too noble for the world:
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,
Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth:
What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent;
And, being angry, does forget that ever
He heard the name of death. [Noise within.
Here's goodly work!

1. P.
I would they were a-bed!

Men.
I would they were in Tiber! What the vengeance,

Could he not speak 'em fair? Enter Brutus, and Sicinius, with the Rabble, again.

Sic.
Where is this viper,
That would depopulate the city, and
Be every man himself?

Men.
You worthy tribunes,—

Sic.
He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock
With rigorous hands; he hath resisted law,
And therefore law shall scorn him further trial
Than the severity of the public power,
Which he so sets at nought.

1. C.
He shall well know,
The noble tribunes are the people's mouths,
And we their hands.

Cit.
He shall, sure, out. ^note14Q0987

Men.
Sirs, ^note—

Sic.
Peace.

Men.
Do not cry ^note, havock, where you should but hunt
With modest warrant.

Sic.
Sir, how comes't, that you
Have holp to make this rescue.

Men.
Hear me speak:—
As I do know the consul's worthiness,
So can I name his faults:

Sic.
Consul! what consul?

Men.
The consul Coriolanus.

Bru.
He the consul!

Cit.
No, no, no, no, no.

Men.
If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,
I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two;
The which shall turn you to no further harm,

Than so much loss of time.

Sic.
Speak briefly then;
For we are peremptory, to dispatch
This viperous traitor: to eject him hence,
Were but one danger; ^note and, to keep him here,
Our certain death; therefore, it is decreed,
He dies to-night.

Men.
Now the good gods forbid,
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserving ^note children is enrol'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!

Sic.
He's a disease, that must be cut away.

Men.
O, he's a limb, that has but a disease;
Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy.
What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death?
Killing our enemies? The ^note blood he hath lost,
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath,
By many an ounce) he drop'd it for his country:
And, what is left, to lose it by his country,
Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it,
A brand to the end o'the world.

Sic.
This is clean kam.

Bru.
Meerly awry: When he did love his country,
It honour'd him.

Men.
The service of the foot14Q0988
Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was;—

Bru.
We'll hear no more:—
Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence;
Lest his infection, being of catching nature,
Spread further.

Men.
One word more, one word.
This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find
The harm of unscan'd swiftness, will, too late,
Tye leaden pounds to's heels. Proceed by process;
Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out,
And sack great Rome with Romans.

Bru.
If it were so?

Sic.
What do ye talk?
Have we not had a taste of his obedience?
Our ædiles smot? ourselves resisted?—Come:

Men.
Consider this;—He has been bred i'the wars
Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd
In bolted language; meal and bran together
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him ^note
Where he shall answer, by a lawful form,
(In peace) to his utmost peril.

1. S.
Noble tribunes,
It is the humane way: the other course
Will prove too bloody; and the end of it
Unknown to the beginning.

Sic.
Noble Menenius,
Be you then as the people's officer:—
Masters, lay down your weapons.

Bru.
Go not home.

Sic.
Meet on the market-place:—We'll attend you there:
Where if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed
In our first way.

Men.
I'll bring him to you:—Let me
Desire your company: He must come, or what
Is worst will follow.

1. S.
Pray you, let us to him. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Hall in Coriolanus's House. Enter Coriolanus, and Patricians.

Cor.
Let them pull all about mine ears; present me
Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels;
Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock,
That the precipitation might down stretch
Below the beam of sight, yet will I still
Be thus to them. Enter Volumnia.

Pat.
You do the nobler.

Cor.
I muse, my mother
Does not approve me further, who was wont
To call them woollen vassals, things created
To buy and sell with groats; to shew bare heads
In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder,
When one but of my ordinance stood up
To speak of peace, or war:—I talk of you;
Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me
False to my nature? Rather say, I play
Nobly the man I am.

Vol.
O, sir, sir, sir,
I would have had you put your power well on,
Before you had worn it out.

Cor.
Why, let it go.

Vol.
You might have been enough the man you are,
With striving less to be so: Lesser had been
The thwartings14Q0989 of ^note your dispositions, ^note if
You had not shew'd them how you were dispos'd
Ere they lack'd power to cross you.

Cor.
Let them hang.

Vol.
Ay, and burn too. Enter Menenius, and Senators.

Men.
Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough;
You must return, and mend it.

1. S.
There's no remedy;
Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst, and perish.

Vol.
Pray, be counsel'd:
I have a heart as little apt as yours;
But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.

Men.
Well said, noble woman:
Before he should thus stoop to the herd, ^note but that
The violent fit o'the time craves it as physick
For the whole state, I would put mine armour on,
Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor.
What must I do?

Men.
Return to the tribunes.

Cor.
Well,
What then? what then?

Men.
Repent what you have spoke.

Cor.
For them? I cannot do it to the gods;
Must I then do't ^note to them?

Vol.
You are too absolute;
Though therein you can never be too noble,
But when extremities speak. I have heard you say,
Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends,
I'the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me,
In peace, what each of them by the other lose ^note,
That they combine not there?

Cor.
Tush, tush!

Men.
A good demand.

Vol.
If it be honour, in your wars, to seem
The same you are not, (which, for your best ends,
You adopt your policy) how is it less, or worse,
That it shall hold companionship in peace
With honour, as in war; since that to both
It stands in like request?

Cor.
Why force ^note you this?

Vol.
Because,
That now it lies on you to speak to the people:
Not by your own instruction, nor by the matter
Which your heart prompts you to; but ^note with such words,
That are but rooted in your tongue, but bastards,
Of no alliance ^note14Q0990 to your bosom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a town with gentle words,
Which else would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.
I would dissemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at stake, requir'd
I should do so in honour: I am in this,
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you will rather shew our general louts
How you can frown, then ^note spend a fawn upon 'em,
For the inheritance of their loves, and safe-guard
Of what that want might ruin.

Men.
Noble lady!—
Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so,
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss
Of what is past.

Vol.
I pry'thee now, my son,14Q0991
Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;

And thus far having stretch'd it, (here † be with them)
Thy knee bussing the stones, (for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears) waving thy head,
And often ^note, thus, correcting thy stout heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry,
That will not hold the handling: Or, say to them,—
Thou art their soldier, and, being bred in broils,
Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou hast power, and person.

Men.
This but done,
Even as she speaks it, why, their hearts were yours:
For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free
As words to little purpose.

Vol.
Pry'thee now,
Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou hadst rather
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,
Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius. Enter Cominius.

Com.
I have been i'the market-place: and, sir, 'tis fit
You make strong party, or defend yourself
By calmness, or by absence; all's in anger.

Men.
Only fair speech:

Com.
I think, 'twill serve, if he
Can thereto frame his spirit.

Vol.
He must, and will:—
Pry'thee now, say, you will, and go about it.

Cor.
Must I go shew them my unbarb'd sconce? Must I,
With my base tongue, give to my noble heart

A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single plot to lose,
This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it,
And throw't against the wind.—To the market-place:—
You have put me now to such a part, which never
I shall discharge to the life.

Com.
Come, come, we'll prompt you.

Vol.
I pry'thee now, sweet son; as thou hast said,
My praises made thee first a soldier, so,
To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou hast not done before.

Cor.
Well, I must do't:—
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot's spirit: My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch ^note, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls ^note asleep: The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boy's tears take up
The glasses of my sight: A beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees,
Who bow'd ^note but in my stirrop, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms:—I will not do't;
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

Vol.
At thy choice then:
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness: for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me;

But own thy ^note pride thyself.

Cor.
Pray, be content;
Mother, I am going to the market-place;
Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,
Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going:
Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul;
Or never trust to what my tongue can do,
I'the way of flattery, further.

Vol.
Do your will. [Exit.

Com.
Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm yourself
To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd
With accusations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet.

Cor.
The word is, mildly:—Pray you, let us go:
Let them accuse me by invention, I
Will answer in mine honour.

Men.
Ay, but mildly.

Cor.
Well, mildly be it then; mildly: [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. The Forum. Enter Sicinius, and Brutus.

Bru.
In this point charge him home, that he affects
Tyrannical power: If he evade us there,
Inforce him with his envy to the people;
And that the spoil, got on the Antiates,
Was ne'er distributed.— Enter an Ædile.
What, will he come?

Ædi.
He's coming.

Bru.
How accompany'd?

Ædi.
With old Menenius, and those senators

That always favour'd him.

Sic.
Have you a catalogue
Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by the poll?

Ædi.
I have; 'tis ready.

Sic.
Have you
Collected them by the tribes?

Ædi.
I have; 'tis ready. ^note

Sic.
Assemble presently the people hither:
And when they hear me say, It shall be so,
I'the right and strength o'the commons, be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I say, fine, cry, fine, if, death, cry, death;
Insisting on the old prerogative,
And power i'the truth o'the cause.

Ædi.
I shall inform them.

Bru.
And when such time they have begun to cry,
Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd
Inforce the present execution
Of what we chance to sentence.

Ædi.
Very well.

Sic.
Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,
When we shall hap to give't them.

Bru.
Go, about it.— [Exit Ædile.
Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his 'worth14Q0992
Of contradiction: being once chaf'd, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks
What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.

Sic.
Well, here he comes. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius,

Senators, and Patricians.

Men.
Calmly, I do beseech you.

Cor.
Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest ^note piece
Will bear the knave by the volume.—The honour'd gods
Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice
Supply'd ^note with worthy men! plant love among us! ^note
Throng our ^note large temples with the shews of peace,
And not our streets with war!

1. S.
Amen, amen.

Men.
A noble wish. Re-enter Ædile, with Citizens.

Sic.
Draw near, ye people.

Ædi.
List to your tribunes; audience:
Peace, I say.

Cor.
First, hear me speak.

Tri.
Well, say:—Peace, ho.

Cor.
Shall I be charg'd no further than this present?
Must all determine here?

Sic.
I do demand,
If you submit you to the people's voices,
Allow their officers, and are content
To suffer lawful censure for such faults
As shall be prov'd upon you?

Cor.
I am content.

Men.
Lo, citizens, he says, he is content:
The warlike service he has done, consider; think
Upon the wounds his body bears, which shew
Like graves i'the holy church-yard.

Cor.
Scratches with briars,
Scars to move laughter only.

Men.
Consider further,
That when he speaks not like a citizen,

You find him like a soldier: Do not take
His rougher accents ^note14Q0993 for malicious sounds;
But, as I say, such as become a soldier,
Rather than envy you.

Com.
Well, well, no more. [To Cor.

Cor.
I will:—What is the matter,
That being past for consul with full voice,
I am so dishonour'd, that the very hour
You take it off again?

Sic.
Answer to us.

Cor.
Say then: 'tis true, I ought so.

Sic.
We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take
From Rome all season'd office, and to wind
Yourself into a power tyrannical;
For which, you are a traitor to the people.

Cor.
How! Traitor?

Men.
Nay; temperately: your promise.

Cor.
The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the people!
Call me their traitor!—Thou injurious tribune,
Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,
In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in
Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say,
Thou ly'st, unto thee, with a voice as free
As I do pray the gods.

Sic.
Mark you this, people?

Cit.
To the rock with him! to the rock with him!

Sic.
Peace.
We need not put new matter to his charge:
What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,
Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him; even this,

So criminal, and in such capital kind,
Deserves the extreamest death:

Bru.
But since he hath
Ser'v well for Rome,—

Cor.
What do you prate of service?

Bru.
I talk of that, that know it.

Cor.
You?

Men.
Is this
The promise that you made your mother?

Com.
Know,
I pray you,—

Cor.
I'll know no further:
Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,
Vagabond exile, fleaing, pent to linger
But with a grain a day, I would not buy
Their mercy at the price of one fair word;
Nor check my courage for what they can give,
To have't with saying, Good morrow.

Sic.
For that he has
(As much as in him lies) from time to time
Envy'd against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power; has now ^note at last
Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distribute ^note it; In the name o'the people,
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city;
In peril of precipitation
From off the rock Tarpeian, never more
To enter our Rome gates: I'the people's name,
I say, It shall be so.

Cit.
It shall be so,

It shall be so; let him away; he's banish'd,
And it shall be so.

Com.
Hear me, my masters, and my common friends:

Sic.
He's sentenc'd: no more hearing.

Com.
Let me speak:
I have been consul, and can shew from Rome ^note14Q0994
Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love
My country's good, with a respect more tender,
More holy, and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's estimate, her womb's encrease,
And treasure of my loins: then if I would
Speak that I know,—

Sic.
We know your drift: Speak what?

Bru.
There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd,
As enemy to the people, and his country:
It shall be so.

Cit.
It shall be so, it shall be so.

Cor.
You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate
As reek o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcasses of unbury'd men
That do corrupt my air, I banish you;
And here remain with your uncertainty!
Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!
Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,
Fan you into despair! Have the power still
To banish your defenders; 'till, at length,
Your ignorance (which finds not, 'till it feels;
Making not ^note reservation of yourselves;
Still your own foes) deliver you, as most
Abated captives, to some nation
That won you without blows! Despising,
For you, the city, thus I turn my back:

There is a world elsewhere. [Exit Coriolanus: Menenius, Cominius, Sen. and Pat. follow.

Ædi.
The people's enemy is gone, is gone!

Cit.
Our enemy is banish'd! he is gone! [they all shout, and throw up their Caps.

Sic.
Go, see him out at gates, and follow him,
As he hath follow'd you, with all despight;
Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard
Attend us through the city.

Cit.
Come, come, let's see him out at gates, ^note come:—
The gods preserve our noble tribunes!—Come. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. The same. The City Gate. Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, Senators, and Patricians.

Cor.
Come, leave your tears; a brief farewel: the beast
With many heads butts me away.—Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? You were us'd
To say, extremity ^note was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike
Shew'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows14Q0995
When most strook home, being gently ^note wounded craves
A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that con'd them.

Vir.
O heavens! o heavens!

Cor.
Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,—

Vol.
Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome,

And occupations perish!

Cor.
What, what, what!
I shall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,
Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.—Cominius,
Droop not; adieu:—Farewell, my wife, my mother;
I'll do well yet.—Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are falter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes—My sometime general,
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld
Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women,
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,
As 'tis to laugh at them.—My mother, you wot well,
My hazards still have been your solace: and
Believe't not lightly, (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen
Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen) your son
Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous baits and practice.

Vol.
My first son,
Whither wilt thou go? ^note Take good Cominius
With thee a while: Determine on some course,
More than a wild exposure ^note to each chance
That starts i'the way before thee.

Cor.
O the gods!

Com.
I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee
Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us,
And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth
A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vast world, to seek a single man;

And lose advantage, which doth ever cool
I'the absence of the needer.

Cor.
Fare ye well:—
Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the war's surfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.—
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch: when I am forth,
Bid me farewel, and smile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me ought
But what is like me formerly.

Men.
That's worthily
As any ear can hear.—Come, let's not weep.—
If I could shake off but one seven years
From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Cor.
Give me thy hand:—Come. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Street, leading from the Gate. Enter Sicinius, Brutus, and Ædile.

Sic.
Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.—
The nobility are vex'd, who we see, have sided
In his behalf.

Bru.
Now we have shewn our power,
Let us seem humbler after it is done,
Than when it was a doing.

Sic.
Bid them home:
Say, their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.

Bru.
Dismiss them home. [Exit Ædile.

Here comes his mother. Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.

Sic.
Let's not meet her.

Bru.
Why?

Sic.
They say, she's mad.

Bru.
They have ta'en note of us:
Keep on your way.

Vol.
O, you're well met: The hoorded plague o'the gods
Requite your love!

Men.
Peace, peace, be not so loud.

Vol.
If that I could for weeping, you should hear;
Nay, and you shall hear some.—Will you be gone?

Vir.
You shall stay too:14Q0996 I would I had the power
To say so to my husband.

Sic.
Are you man-kind?

Vol.
Ay, fool; Is that a shame?—Note but this fool.—
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that strook more blows for Rome,
Than thou hast spoken words?

Sic.
O blessed heavens!

Vol.
More noble blows, than ever thou wise words;
And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what;—Yet go;—
Nay, but thou shalt stay too:—I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand:

Sic.
What then?

Vir.
What then?
He'd make an end of thy posterity:

Vol.
Bastards, and all.—
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Men.
Come, come, peace.

Sic.
I would he had continu'd to his country,

As he began; and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.

Bru.
I would he had.

Vol.
I would he had? 'Twas you incens'd the rabble:
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth,
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.

Bru.
Pray, let us go.

Vol.
Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son,
(This lady's husband here, this, do you see)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.

Bru.
Well, well, we'll leave you.

Sic.
Why stay we to ^note be baited,
With one that wants her wits?

Vol.
Take my prayers with you.— [Ex. Tribunes.
I would the gods had nothing else to do,
But to confirm my curses. Could I meet 'em
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.

Men.
You have told them home,
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?

Vol.
Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding.—Come, let's go:
Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.

Men.
Fie, fie, fie! [Exeunt. SCENE III. Volcian Territories. A Highway. Enter a Roman, and a Volcian, meeting.

Rom.

I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian.

Vol.

It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.

Rom.

I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em: Know you me yet?

Vol.

Nicanor? No.

Rom.

The same, sir.

Vol.

You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volcian state, to find you out there: ^note You have well saved me a day's journey.

Rom.

There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

Vol.

Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

Rom.

The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol.

Coriolanus banish'd?

Rom.

Banish'd, sir.

Vol.

You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

Rom.

The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer

Coriolanus being now in no request of his country.

Vol.

He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.

Rom.

I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

Vol.

A most royal one: the centurions,14Q0997 and their charges, distinctly billeted already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning.

Rom.

I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

Vol.

You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

Rom.

Well, let us go together.