Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would he had continued to his country 30 As he began, and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

Bru.

I would he had.

Vol. 'I would he had!' 'Twas you incensed 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- 40 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.

Vol.

Why stay we to be baited

With one that wants her wits?

Take my prayers with you.
[Exeunt 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.

with me?

You'll sup

Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,

50

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.
[Exeunt Vol. and Vir.

Men. Fie, fie, fie!

[Exit.

SCENE III

A highway between Rome and Antium.
Enter a Roman and a Volsce, meeting.
Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me:
your name, I think, is Adrian.

Vols. 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?
Vols. Nicanor? no.

Rom. The same, sir.

Vols. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favor is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I 10 have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there: you have well saved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome strange in

surrection; the people against the senators,
patricians and nobles.

Vols. 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 peo-
ple, and to pluck from them their tribunes
for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you,

and is almost mature for the violent break-
ing out.

Vols. Coriolanus banished!

Rom. Banished, sir.

Vols. 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.

Vols. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate,

thus accidentally to encounter you: you have
ended my business, and I will merrily ac-
company 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?

20

30

40

Vols. A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in 50

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.

Vols. You take my part from me, sir; I have
the most cause to be glad of yours.
Rom. Well, let us go together.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV

Antium. Before Aufidius's house.

Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.

Cor. A goodly city is this Antium. City,
"Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir
Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars

Have I heard groan and drop: then know me
not;

Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with

stones,

In puny battle slay me.

Enter a Citizen.

Save you, sir.

Cit. And you.

Cor.

Direct me, if it be your will,

Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium?

« ZurückWeiter »