The grave of your deserving: Rome must know To hear themselves remember'd. Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, horses, Lurt. Hence, and shut your gates upon us. And tent themselves with death. Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct [Exeunt. SCENE VIII-A field of battle between the Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Worse than a promise-breaker Auf. We hate alike: Not Arric owns a serpent, I abhor More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot. Awf. If 1 flv, Marcius, Haio me the a bare. Mir. Within these three hours, Tullus, Akne I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my Wherein thou seest me mask'd for thy revenge, Auf. Wert thou the Hector, ¡They fight and certain Volsces come to [Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX-The Roman Camp. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, COMINIUS and Romans; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans. Comm. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's Thon"it not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine ho nours, a say, against their hearts-We thank the fur Beme hath such a soldier !Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Having fully dined before. Of all the (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,) of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! be Mur. May these same instruments, which you Here's many else have done,) you shout me forth As if I loved my little should be dleted Com. Too modest are you; For what he did before Corioli, call him, [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you : Ester TITUS LARTIUS, with his power,** from To undercrest your good addition, I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times, the pursuit. To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent: Where, ere we do repose us, we will write I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, 1 Sol. He's the devil. Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My our's poison'd, Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry ple beians would the noble Marcius. Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear Men. He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you. Both Trib. Well, Sir. Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that you two have not in abundance? Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all. Sic. Especially, in pride. Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o'the right hand file? Do you ? Both Trib. Why, how are we censured? Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will you not be angry? Both trib. Well, well, Sir, well. Men. Why 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob yon of a great deal of patience: give your disposition the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud? Bru. We do it not alone, Sir. Men. I know you can do very little alone ; for your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: Oh! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! Oh! that you could! Bru. What then, Sir? Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, (alias, fools) as any in Rome. Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tyber in't; said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint hasty, and tinder-like, upon too trivial val-motion: one that converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning. What I think, I utter; and spend my malice in my breath: Meeting two such weals+men as you are, (I cannot call you Lycurguses) if the drink you gave me, touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot say, your worships have delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables: and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my mycrocosm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too. With only suffering stain by him; for him Learn how 'tis held; and what they are, that 1 Sol. Will not you go? Auf. I am attended 5 at the cypress grove: ('Tis sonth the city mills,) bring me word thither 1 Sol. I shall, Sir. ACT II. [Exeunt. Bru. Come, Sir, come, we know you well enough. Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitions for poor knaves caps and legs; § you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a cause between an orangewife and a fosset-seller; and then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience.-When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the cholic, you make faces like mummers; set up the bloody flag against all patience; and, roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing all the peace you make in their cause is, calling both the parties knaves: You are a pair of strange ones. Bru. Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table, than a ueces. sary bencher in the Capitol. ↑ Strike. Waited for. Under my brother's Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpese, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a trave, as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be estombed in an ass's pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcins is proud; who, in a cheap estration, is worth all your predecessors, since Descalion; though, peradventure, some of the best of them were hereditary hangmen. Good e'en to your worships; more of your conversaLon would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take may leave of you. Bsc. and Sic. retire to the back of the Scene. Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA, &c. How now, my as fair as noble ladies, (and the Box, were she earthly, no nobler) whither do you follow your eyes so fast? Fol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcias coming home? Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperoas approbation. Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee: -Hoo! Martins coming boine ? Two Ladies. Nay, 'tis true. Vol. Look, here's a letter from him; the state kath another; his wife another; and I think, Care's one at home for you. Ms. I will make my very house reel to-night: - letter for me? Ver. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; 1 Fr. 05! no, no, no. 4. Gal be is wounded, I thank the gods for? Men. So do I to, if it be not too much :-Brings a victory in his pocket?-The wounds bec me bra. Fol. On's brows, Menenius: he comes the tard time bome with the oaken garland. Man. Has be disciplined Aufidius soundly? Taus Lartius writes, they fought together, her &adars got uff. Mes. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him at an he had staid by him, I would not bare been so fiinsed for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the senate pusarmed of this? Tal Good Fadies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the wrate has letters from the general, wherein beres my son the whole name of the war: be tach in this action outdone his former deeds - In troth, there's wondrous things spoke Mes. Wondrous ? ay, I warrant you, and not at his true purchasing, Fr. The godds grant them true! Pol. True! pow, wow. Min. Frue! I'll be sworn they are true: # urre is be wounded?-God save your good resign!! To the Tribunes, who come forward.] tur.is is coming home: he has more cause to Ipad. —W here is he wounded? Id the shoulder, and i'the left arm: There maš ne large cicatrices to show the people, when b- shall stand for his place. He received in Qe Trpulse of Tarquin, seven hurts i'the body. Vea. One in the neck, and two in the thigh,Dere's nine that i know. 12. He bad, before this last expedition, try-Live wounds upon him. • Informed. Men. Now its twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave: [A Shout and Flourish.J Hark! the trumpets. Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him [tears; He carries noise, and behind him he leaves Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie; Which being advanc'd, declines, and then men die. A Sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS and TITUS LARTIUS; between them CORIOLANUS, crowned with an oaken Garland; with Captains, Soldiers, and a Herald. Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these (Flourish. All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Corio. lanus ! Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart; Pray now, no more. Com. Look, Sir, your mother,——— You have I know, petition'd all the gods [Kneels, Vol. Nay, my good soldier, up; Cor. My gracious silence, hail! Would'st thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home, That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear, Men. Now the gods crown thee! And welcome, general;-And you are welcome all. weep, Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could [come: And I could laugh: I am light and heavy: WelA curse begin at very root of his heart, That is not glad to see thee!--You are three, That Rome should dote on yet, by the faith of 10 While she chats him: the kitchen malkin * pins Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd In earnestness to see him: selds-shown fla- Do press among the popular throngs, and puff Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother, Sic. On the sudden, I warrant him consul. Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. Sic. He cannot temperately trausport his ho nours From where he should begin, and end; but will Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not the commoners, for whom we But they, upon their ancient malice, will Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended, Bru. Let's to the Capitol; And carry with ns ears and eyes for the time, Sic. Have with you. an [Exeunt SCENE II.-The same.-The Capitol. Enter two OFFICERS, to lay Cushions. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here How many stand for consulsbips? 2 Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought o every one Coriolanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's ven geance proud, and loves not the common people. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many grea men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore: so that if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't. 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their Which that he'll give them, make as little ques-bate with greater devotion than they can render As he is proud to do't. nours; Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he [tion Bru. It was his word: Oh! he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to [him; And the desire of the nobles. Sic. I wish no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it Bru. 'Tis most like he will. Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good A sure destruction. Bru. So it must fall out [wills; # To him, or our authorities. For an end, Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world, Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows Sic. This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love. 2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury: to report otherwise were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it. 1 Off. No more of him; he is a worthy man : Make way, they are coming. A Sennet. Enter, with LICTORS, before them, Men. Having determin'd of the Volsces, and Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please you, Most reverend and grave elders, to desire Shall teach the people, (which time shall not The present consul, and last general In our well-found successes, to report 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think, 'Tis Than we to stretch it out. Masters o'the people, That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen blind To hear him speak: The matrons flung their Sic. We are convented Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts • Maid. A kind of cheap linen. 4 Soiled with Seldom. sweat and smoke. He had rather venture all his limbs for honour, That I shall blush in acting, and might well Shomid not be utter'd feebly.—It is held, The man I speak of cannot in the world I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers; & tesarj Bader sail, so men obey'd, [stamp,) and by the din of war 'gan pierce Ha trat sense: then straight his doubled spirit Becmien'd what in flesh was fatigate, d to the battle came he; where he did km rek ng o'er the lives of men, as if w a perpetual spoil; and, till we call'd Be a Grant and city ours, he never stood Is came but breast with panting. Men. Worthy man! Bru. Mark you that! Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ; Show them the unaching scars which I should hide, Men. Do not stand upon't. We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them;-and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honour. Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! [Flourish. Then exeunt SENATORS. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people Sic. May they perceive his intent! He that will require them, As if he did contemn' what he requested Bru. Come, we'll inform them SCENE III.-The same.-The Forum. Enter several CITIZENS. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will. 3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous: and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which, we, being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve for once, when we stood up about the corn, be himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. 3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our beads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversly coloured: and truly I think, if all our • Avarico. |