Neither supreme, how soon confusion CHARACTER OF CORIOLANUS. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth: What his breast forges that his tongue must vent; And, being angry, does forget that ever He heard the name of death. HONOUR AND POLICY. I have heard you say, Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends, ` THE METHOD TO GAIN POPULAR FAVOUR. Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand; Now will not hold the handling: Or, say to them, CORIOLANUS's ABHORRENCE OF FLATTERY. Away, my disposition, and possess me Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd, Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice. Tent* in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up I VOLUMNIA'S RESOLUTION ON THE PRIDE OF At thy choice then: To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour, CORIOLANUS'S DETESTATION OF THE VULGAR. You common cryt of curse! whose breath I hate As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men That do corrupt my air, I banish you; And here remain with your uncertainty! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into despair; have the power still To banish your defenders; till, at length, Your ignorance (which finds not till it feels,) Making not reservation of yourselves, (Still your own foes,) deliver you, as most Abated|| captives, to some nation That won you without blows! ACT IV. PRECEPT AGAINST ILL FORTUNE. You were us'd To say, extremity was the trier of spirits: * Dwell. † Own. Pack § Vapour. Subdued. That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike Show'd mastership in floating: fortune's blows, When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves A noble cunning: you were us’d to load me ON COMMON FRIENDSHIPS. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, On a dissention of a doit,* break out Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends And interjoin their issues. Let me twine MARTIAL FRIENDSHIP. Mine arms about that body, where against thee, We have a power on foot; and I had purpose A small coin. † Embrace. Arm. § Full. Twelve several times, and I have nightly since ACT V. THE SEASON OF SOLICITATION. He was not taken well: he had not din'd: The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then We pout upon the morning, are unapt To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd These pipes and these conveyances of our blood With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him Till he be dieted to my request. OBSTINATE RESOLUTION. My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection: All bond and privilege of nature, break! Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate. What is that court'sey worth, or those doves' eyes, Which can make gods forsworn?-I melt, and am not Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows, In supplication nod: and my young boy And knew no other kin. RELENTING TENDERNESS. Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part, and I am out, * A young goose. Forgive my tyranny; but do not say, CHASTITY. The noble sister of Publicola, The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle, CORIOLANUS'S PRAYER FOR HIS SON. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may'st prove VOLUMNIA'S PATHETIC SPEECH TO HER SON CORIOLANUS. Think with thyself, How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with com forts, Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow; Making the mother, wife, and child, to see |