5 [Exeunt. Cor. This last old man, Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome, Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow -- 10 Even to a full disgrace.-Best of my flesh, Of the deep duty more impression shew Vol. O, stand up blest! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, 15I kneel before thee; and unproperly Shew duty, as mistaken all the while [Kn Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Mar- am not Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows; Virg. My lord and husband! Cor. These eyes are not the samelwore in Rome. Virg. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so. Cor. Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part, and I am out, Cor. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform prove 40 To shame invulnerable, and stick i' the wars Cor. That's my brave boy. Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and Cor. I beseech you, peace: Vol. Oh, no more, no more! You have said, you will not grant us any th 3: Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment And state of bodies would bewray what life We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself, How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should [comforts, Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with 'Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow; Making the mother, wife, and child, to sce With manacles thorough our streets; or else These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee Virg. Ay, and mine, More bound to his mother; yet 'Like one i' the stocks. Thou 20 Shew'd thy dear mother any co When she, (poor hen !) fond of Has cluck'd thee to the wars, a Loaden with honour. Say, my r And spurn me back: But, if it b 25 Thou art not honest; and the gods That thou restrain'st from me th To a mother's part belongs.-H Down, ladies; let us shame him To his surname Coriolanus 'long 30 Than pity to our prayers. Dow This is the last:-So we will hom And die among our neighbours. This boy, that cannot tell what h But kneels, and holds up hands, Does reason our petition with n Than thou hast to deny 't.-Com This fellow had a Volce to his mo His wife is in Corioli, and this ch Like him by chance:-Yet give 35 That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name 4 I am hush'd until our city be afir Living to time. Boy. He shall not tread on me; I'll run away 'till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Cor. Not of a woman's tenderness to be, Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. I have sat too long. Fol. Nay, go not from us thus. [us, And then I'll speak a little. [Holds her by th If it were so, that our request did tend "This we receiv'd;" and each in either side son, The end of war's uncertain; but this certain, That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit 55 Cor. I dare be sworn, you were: And, sir, it is no little thing, to ma Mine eyes to sweat compassion. What peace you'll make, advise me [60]I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you: 1 That is, constrains the eye to weep, and the heart to shake. much, and yet be merciful. i. e. argue for. 2 The meaning i. e. keeps me in a state of ignoininy, talking t Stand to me in this cause.-O mother! wife! honour At difference in thee: out of that I'll work Aside. 5 peace. SCENE IV. The Forum in Rome. Enter Menenius and Sicinius. 10 [Exeunt. 13 Enter another Messenger. Sic. What's the news? The Volces are dislodg'd, and Marcius gon Sic. Friend, Art thou certain, this is true; is it most certai [Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all toget Men. See you yon coign o' the Capitol; yon 20 will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia corner-stone? Sic. Why, what of that? Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome,especially his mother, may prevail with him. 25 But, I say, there is no hope in 't; our throats are sentenc'd, and stay upon execution. Sic. Is 't possible, that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? Men. There is difference between a grub, and 30 a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing. Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly. Men. Sadid he me: and he no more remembers 35 his mother now, than an eight-year old horse'. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his 40 hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tiger; and that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you. Sic. The gods be good unto us! Men.No,in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banish'd him, we respected not them: aud, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Enter a Messenger. I will take advantage of this cons 145 50 Is worth, of consuls, senators, patricians, Sic. They are near the city? Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.[Exeur Enter two Senators, with the Ladies passing or the stage, &c. &c. Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them: Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius, [A Flourish with drums and trumpets SCENE V. A public Place in Antium. Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants. Enterthreeor four Conspirators of Aufidius' faction. 60 Auf. Even so, As with a man by his own alms impoison'd, You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you Auf. Sir, I cannot tell; We must proceed, as we do find the people, 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst "Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. Auf. I know it; And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd When he did stand for consul, which he lost Auf. That I would have spoke of: Being banish'd for 't, he came unto my hearth; 1 Con. So he did, iny lord; The marvell'd at it. And, in the last, Auf. There was it ; 1 Lord. And grieve to hear it. 10 What faults he made before the Might have found easy fines: b Where he was to begin; and giv The benefit of our levies, answe With our own charge3; making a 15 There was a yielding; This adn Auf. He approaches, you sha Enter Coriolanus, with drums Commons being with Cor. Hail, lords! I am retur 20 No more infected with my cour Than when I parted hence; but Under your great command. Y That prosperously I have attem With bloody passage led your w 25 The gates of Rome. Our spoil, home, Doth more than counterpoise, a The charges of the action. We With no less honour to the Anti 30 Than shame to the Romans: And Subscribed by the consuls and Together with the seal o'the se We have compounded on. Auf. Read it not, noble lords 35 But tell the traitor, in the highes He hath abus'd your powers. Forwhich my sinews shail be stretch'd upon him 2.40 [Drums and trumpets sound,with great shouts 45 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise, 2 Con. And patient fools, Whose childrenhehath slain, theirbase throats tear,| 3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage, Cor. Traitor'-How now? Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Mar You lords and heads of the state He has betray'd your business, a For certain drops of salt, your c (I say, your city) to his wife and Breaking his oath and resolution A twist of rotten silk; never adı Counsel o' the war; but at his n 50 He whin'd and roar'd away you That pages blush'd at him, and Look'd wondering each at other Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars?Auf Name not the god, thou Cor. Ha! With what he would say, let him feel your sword, 55 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is, He prescribed to me with an air of aut me his countenance for my wages; thought me sufficiently rewarded with good looks. point on which I will attack him with my utmost abilities. That is, rewarding expences. Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion (Who wears my stripes imprest upon him; that Must bear my beating to his grave) shall join To thrust the lie unto him. 1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces, men and lads, Stain all your edges in me.-Boy! False hound! If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, That, like an eagle on a dove-cote, I Flutter'd your Volces in Corioli: Alone I did it.-Boy! Auf. Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears? All Con. Let him die for't. 5 10 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters al Put up your swords. Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as ir 1 Lord, Bear from hence his body, And mourn you for him: let him be regarde As the most noble corse, that ever herald Did follow to his urn. 2 Lord. His own impatience Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. Let's make the best of it. Auf. My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow.-Take him up: Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one. Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully: Trail your steel pikes.-Though in this city he 30 Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury; Yet he shall have a noble memory Assist. All Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [Aufidius and the Conspirators draw, and kill[35] i, e. his fame overspreads the world. [Exeunt, bearing the body of Marcius. A de march sounded. 2 Memory, as before, for memorial. |