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Vex'd are the Nobles, who, we fee, have fided
In his behalf.

Bru. Now we have fhewn 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 ftrength.

Bru. Difmifs them home.
Here comes his Mother.

Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.

Sic. Let's not meet her.

Bru. Why?

Sic. They fay, fhe's mad.

Bru. They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way:
Vol. Oh, y'are well met:

The hoorded plague o'th' Gods requite your love!
Men. Peace, peace; be not so loud.

Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hearWill you be gone? Virg. You fhall ftay too :- I would, I had the power To fay fo to my Husband.

Nay, and you shall hear fome.

Sic. Are you mankind?

Vol. Ay, fool: is that a fhame? note but this fool. Was not a Man my Father? hadft thou foxfhip To banish him that ftruck more blows for Rome, Than thou haft fpoken words

Sic. Oh blessed heav'ns!

Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wife words,

And for Rome's good I'll tell thee what

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Nay, but thou shalt itay too

yet go

I would, my fon

Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,

His good fword in his hand.

Sic. What then?

Virg. What then? he'd make an end of thy Po fterity.

Vol. Baftards, and all.

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome !
Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would, he had continued 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 myfteries which Heav'n
Will not have Earth to know.

Bru. Pray, let us go.

Vol. Now, pray, Sir, get you gone.

You've done a brave deed: ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome; fo far my Son,
This Lady's Husband here, this, (do you fee)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic. Why ftay you to be baited
With one that wants her wits?

Vol. Take my prayers with you.

I wish, the Gods had nothing else to do,

[Exe. Tribunes

But to confirm my curfes! Could I meet 'em
But once a-day, it would unclog my heart

Of what lyes heavy to't.

Men. You've told them home,

And, by my troth, have caufe: you'll fup with me?
Vol. Anger's my meat, I fup upon my self,
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, fie, fie!

Rom.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to Antium.

I

Enter a Roman and a Volfcian.

Know you well, Sir, and you know me; your name, I think, is Adrian.

Vol. It is fo, Sir: truly, I have forgot you.

Rom. I am a Roman, but my fervices are as you are,

against 'em. Know you me yet?

Vol. Nicanor? no.

Rom.

Rom. The fame, Sir.

Vol. You had more beard when I laft faw you, bat your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a Note from the Volfcian State to find you out there. You have well fav'd me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome ftrange infurrections: the People against the Senators, Patricians, and Nobles.

Vol. Hath been! is it ended then? our State thinks not fo they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their divifion.

Rom. The main blaze of it is paft, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the Nobles receive so to heart the Banifhment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptnefs 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 ferves well for them now. I have heard it faid, the fittest time to corrupt a man's Wife, is when fhe's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in thefe wars, his great Oppofer Coriolanus being now in no request of his Country.

Vol. He cannot chuse. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my bufinefs, and I will merrily accompany you home.

Rom. I fhall between this and fupper tell you moft ftrange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their Adverfaries. Have you an army ready, fay you?

Vol. A moft royal one. The Centurions and their Charges diftinctly billetted, 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 fet them in prefent action.

So,

So, Sir, heartily well met, and moft 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.

[Exeunt.

Enter Coriolanus in mean Apparel, difguis'd and

muffled.

Cor. A goodly City is this Antium.

'Tis I, that made thy widows: Many an heir

Of these fair edifices for my wars

City,

Have I heard groan, and drop: then know Me not, Left that thy Wives with fpits, and boys with ftones, puny battle flay me. Save you, Sir."

In

Cit. And you.

Enter a Citizen.

Cor. Direct me, if it be your will, where great Aufi

dius lies:

Is he in Antium?

Cit. He is, and feafts the Nobles of the State, at his houfe this night.

Cor. Which is his houfe, I befeech you?

Cit. This, here, before you.

Cor. Thank you, Sir: Farewel.

[Exit Citizen.

Oh, world, thy flippery turns! friends now fast-fworn,

Whofe double bofoms feem to wear one heart,

Whofe hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise

Are ftill together, who twine (as 'twere) in love
Unfeparable, fhall within this hour,

On a diffenfion of a doit, break out
To bittereft enmity. So felleft foes,

Whofe paffions and whofe plots have broke their fleep
To take the one the other, by fome chance,

Some trick not worth an egg, fhall grow dear friends,
And inter-join their iffues. So, with me ;-
My birth-place have I and my lovers left;
This enemy's Town I'll enter; if he flay me,
He does fair juftice; if he give me way,
I'll do his Country service.

[Exit. SCENE

SCENE changes to a Hall in Aufidius's

1 Ser.

Houfe.

Mufick plays. Enter a Serving-man.

WINE, wine, wine! what fervice is here?

think, our fellows are asleep.

Enter another Serving-man.

[Exit.

2 Ser. Where's Cotus? my Mafter calls for him :

Cotus.

Enter Coriolanus.

Cor. A goodly houfe; the feaft fmells well; but I appear not like a guest.

Enter the firft Serving-man.

1 Ser. What would you have, friend? whence are you? here's no place for you: pray, go to the door.

[Exit. Cor. I have deferv'd no better entertainment, in being Coriolanus.

Enter fecond Servant.

[Afide.

2 Ser. Whence are you, Sir? has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions ? pray, get you out.

Cor. Away!

2 Ser. Away?

get you away.

Cor. Now thou'rt troublesom.

2 Serv. Are you fo brave? I'll have you talk'd with

anon.

3

Enter a third Servant. The firft meets him.

Serv. What Fellow's this?

1 Serv. A ftrange one as ever I look'd on: I cannot get him out o'th' house: ́pr'ythee, call my Master to

kim.

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