CAIUS MARCIUS, afterwards CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS.

TITUS LARTIUS, generals against the VolCOMINIUS,

scians.

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.

SCENE-Rome and the neighborhood;
ACT I.

SCENE I. Rome. A strect.

Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons. First Cit. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

All Speak, speak.

than to famish?

All. Resolved, resolved.

First Cit. First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.

All. We know't, we know't.

11

First Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict? All. No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!

Sec. Cit. One word, good citizens.

First 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 suffrance 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.

Sec. Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

All. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonality. 29 Sec. Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country?

First Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.

Sec Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. First Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though softconscienced men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother,

All. Come, come.

First Cit. Soft! who comes here?

50

Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Sec. Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.

First Cit. He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so!

Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand?

where go you

With bats and clubs? The matter? speak, I pray you.

First 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 honest neighbors,

Will you undo yourselves?

First 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 69 Strike at the 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 mpediment. For the dearth,
The gods, not the patricians, make it, and
Your knees to them, notarms, must help. Alack,
You are transported by calamity
Thither where more attends you, and you slander

Men. Either you must

90

Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you
A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it;
But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture
To stale 't a little more.

First 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 accused it: too
That only like a gulf it did remain

I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labor with the rest, where the other instru-

And, through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live: and though that all at once,
You, my good friends,'-this says the belly,
mark me,-

First Cit. Ay, sir; well, well.
Men.

"Though 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 flour of all, And leave me but the bran. What say you to't? First Cit. It was an answer: how apply you this? 151 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?

First Cit. I the great toe! why the great toe? Men. For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest, 161

Of 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.

Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

Hail, noble Marcius! Mar. Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?

First Cit. We have ever your good word. 170 Mar. He that will give good words to thee will flatter

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you

curs,

That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights [you

you,

The other makes you proud. He that trusts to
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is
To make him worthy whose offence subdues him
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves
greatness
180

Deserves your hate; and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favors swims with fins of lead,

SCENE II. Corioli The Senate-house. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain Senators.

First Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels
And know how we proceed.
Auf.
Is it not yours?
What ever have been thought on in this state,
That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think
I have the letter here; yes, here it is.
[Reads] They have press'd a power, but it is
not known

Whether for east or west: the dearth is great; 10
The people mutinous; and it is rumor'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,
Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you:
Consider of it.'

First 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 20 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.

Sec. Sen.

Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: Let us alone to guard Coriolí:

If they set down before's, for the remove Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find They've not prepared for us.

Auf.

O, doubt not that; 30 I speak from certainties. Nay, more, Some parcels of their power are forth already, And only hitherward. I leave your honors. If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, "Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more. All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honors safe! First Sen. Farewell.

SCENE III. Rome. A room in Marcius' house.

1

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: they set them 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 honor 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 honor 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 seek danger where he was like to find fame. To 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.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam how then?

19

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 myself.

30

Vol. Indeed, you shall not. Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum, See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair, As children from a bear, the Volsces 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 bloody
brow

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 sword, contemning. 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. 50

Enter VALERIA, with an Usher and Gentle

woman.

Val. My ladies both, good day to you.

Vol. Sweet madam.

fine ispot, in good faith. How does your little

son?

madam.

SCENE IV. Before Corioli.

61

Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: 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 mammocked it!

Vol. One on 's father's moods.
Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack, madam.

71

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.

80

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, 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 honor; and so, I pray, go with us.

Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will abey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady: as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then. Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door, and go along with us.

121

Vir. No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must
I wish you much mirth.
Vai. Well, then, farewell.

not.

[Exeunt.

Mar. Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.

Lart. My horse to yours, no.

Mar.

Lart.

'Tis done.

A greed. Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy? Mess. They lie in view; but have not spoke

Mar. How far off lie these armies ?
Mess.

Within this mile and half.

Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.

Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, 10 That we with smoking swords may march from hence,

To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast. They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? First Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,

That's lesser than a little.

Hark! our drums

[Drums 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. [Alarum afar off.】 Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes 20
Amongst your cloven army.

Mar.
O, they are at it!
Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Lad-
ders, ho!

Enter the army of the Volsces.
Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth theircity.
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.

He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce,
And he shall feel mine edge.

Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS, cursing. Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you, 35

You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and plagues

Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd
Farther than seen, and one infect another
Against the wind a mile!
You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!