CORIOLANUS. Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman. Titus Lartius, Cominius, DRAMATIS PERSONE. Generals against the Volscians. Menenius Agrippa, Friend to Coriolanus. Sicinius Velutus, Tribunes of the People. Junius Brutus, Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus. A Roman Herald. Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volscians. Lieutenant to Aufidius. Conspirators with Aufidius. A Citizen of Antium. Two Volscian Guards. Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus. Valeria, Friend to Virgilia. Gentlewoman, attending Virgilia. Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Ediles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to Aufidius, and other attendants. SCENE, partly in Rome, and partly in the territories of the Volscians and Antiates. ACT I. 1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. Cit. We know't, we know't. 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict? Laway. Cit. No more talking on't; let it be done: away, 2 Cit. One word, good citizens. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good: what authority surfeits on, would relieve us: if they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely; but they think, we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them.-Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? [commonalty. Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to the 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 conscienced 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? 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? Where go you [you. With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say, poor suitors have strong breaths, they shall know, we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine Will you undo yourselves? [honest neighbours, 1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care Have the patricians of you. For your wants, Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at heaven with your staves, as lift them Against the Roman state; whose course will on The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs Of more strong link asunder, than can ever Appear in your impediment: for the dearth, The gods, not the patricians, make it; and Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, You are transported by calamity Thither where more attends you; and you slander The helms o'the state, who care for you like fathers When you curse them as enemies. 1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. Men. Either you must Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it; 1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time, when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :- 1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? 1 Cit. Your belly's answer. What! [then? 'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be reWho is the sink o'the body,— [strain'd, 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, awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer. Cit. You are long about it. Men. Note me this, good friends; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Whereby they live: and though that all at once, You, my good friends,' (this says the belly,) mark 1 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. [me, Men. Thou all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each; Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flower of all, And leave me but the bran.' What say you to't? Cit. It was an answer. How apply you this? Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members: for, examine, Their counsels,and their cares; digest things rightly, Touching the weal o'the common; you shall find, No public benefit, which you receive, But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, And no way from yourselves-What do you think? You, the great toe of this assembly?— 1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? [est, Men. For that, being one o'the lowest, basest, poorOf this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: Thou rascal, that art worst in blood, to run Lead'st first to win some vantage,— But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Rome and her rats are at the point of battle, The one side must have bale.Hail, noble Marcius! Enter Caius Marcius. Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 1 Cit. We have ever your good word. [flatter Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you [you, curs, That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights Mar. Hang 'em! They say? [ter, [say, They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i'the capitol: who's like to rise, Who thrives and who declines: side factions, and give out Conjectural marriages: making parties strong, And feebling such as stand not in their liking, Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain Would the nobility lay aside their ruth, [enough❜ And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance. Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech What says the other troop? [you, Mar. They are dissolv'd. Hang 'em! [verbs; They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth proThat,hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods sent Corn for rich men only. With these shreds [not They vented their complainings; which being anAnd a petition granted them, a strange one [swer'd, (To break the heart of generosity, [caps And make bold power look pale,) they threw their As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon, Shouting their emulation. Men. What is granted them? [doms, Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisOf their own choice. One's Junius Brutus, 20 Sicinius Velutus, and I know not 'Sdeath! The rabble should have first unroof'd the city Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes For insurrection's arguing. Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mess. Where's Caius Marcius? Mess. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders. [to vent Enter Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other senators; Junius Brutus, and Sicinius Velutus. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately The Volces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. Com. You have fought together. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. [told us: And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou the ears, [and he Sic. Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder, His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,In whom already he is well grac'd, cannot Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by A place below the first: for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits rob Cominius. They have press'd a pow'r, but it is not known Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you: 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us.' Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was, To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome Should know we were afoot. 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: Let us alone to guard Corioli: If they set down before us, for the remove Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find They have not prepar'd for us. Auf. O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties. Nay, more, Some parcels of their powers are forth already, And only hitherward. I leave your honours. If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike, 'Till one can do no more. All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honours safe. 1 Sen. Farewell. Enter Volumnia and Virgilia: they sit down on two low stools, and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort: if my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleased to let him seck danger where he was like to find fame. a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, -I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. To Vir. But had he died in the business, madam? how then? Vol. Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely:-had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire Vol. Indeed, you shall not. [myself. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair; As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him: Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus, Come on, you cowards; you were got in fear, Though you were born in Rome. His bloodybrow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes; Like to a harvest-man, that's task'd to mow Or all, or lose his hire. Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man, Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood At Grecian swords' contending. Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome. [exit gent. Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. Re-enter gentlewoman, with Valeria and her usher Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster. Val. O'my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O'my troth, I look'd 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; O, I warrant. how he mammock'd it!os Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors?.. Vol. She shall, she shall. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience I will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you? [love. Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want Val. You would be another Penelope; yet, they say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithica full of moths. Come; I would, your cambrick were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, 1 will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. ubatna VIŠK Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night. with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city, Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter. You shames of Rome! you herd of Boils and Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd [plagues Further than seen, and one infect another Against the wind a mile! You seuls of geese, That bear the shapes of men, how have you run From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and hell! All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, but disease our better mirth. [ours. For half a hundred years.-Summon the town. To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy blast. They sound a parley: enter, on the walls, some senators, and others. Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little, Hark, our drums alarums afar off. Are bringing forth our youth. We'll break our walls, Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes: They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off: [other ularums. There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes Amongst your cloven army. [ho! Mar. O, they are at it. Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders, The Volces enter, and pass over the stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus: They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, my He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce, [fellows; And he shall feel mine edge. Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting. The Romans are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter Marcius. Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you. Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, 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 flyers: mark me, and do the like. [he enters the gates and is shut in. 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness! not I. 2 Sol. Nor I. 3 Sol. See, they Have shut him in. [alarum continues. All. To the pot, I warrant him. Lart. What is become of Marcius? 1 Sol. Following the flyers at the very heels, Lart. O, noble fellow! Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword, Lart. 'Tis Marcius: Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [they fight, and all enter the city. 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 their hours At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would. Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves, Ere yet the fight be done, pack up:-down with them.[him: And hark, what noise the general makes!—To There is a man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, Piercing our Romans.-Then, valiant Titus, take Convenient numbers to make good the city; Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will baste To help Cominius. |