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2 Sen. So did we woo

Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message, and by promis'd means:
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

1 Sen. These walls of ours

Were not erected by their hands, from whom
You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such,
That these great towers, trophies, and schools should
fall

For private faults in them.

2 Sen. Nor are they living,

Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
By decimation, and a tithed death,

(If thy revenges hunger for that food,

Have seal'd thy full desire.
Alcib. Then there's my glove;
Descend, and open your uncharged ports:
Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be remedied, to your public laws
At heaviest answer.

Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken.
Alcib. Descend, and keep your words!

The Senators descend, and open the gates.
Enter a Soldier.

Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead;
Entomb'd the
upon very hem o'the sea:
And, on his grave stone, this insculpture; which

Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth; With wax I brought away, whose soft impression

And by the hazard of the spotted die,

Let die the spotted.

1 Sen. All have not offended;

For those that were, it is not square to take,
On those that are, revenges; crimes, like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin,

Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd,'
Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth,
But kill not altogether.

1 Sen. What thou wilt,

Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile,
Than hew to't with thy sword.

1 Sen. Set but thy foot

Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say, thou'lt enter friendly.

2 Sen. Throw thy glove,

Or token of thine honour else,
any

That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion, all thy powers

Shall make their harbour in our town, till we

Interprets for my poor ignorance.

Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft:

Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiff's left!

Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate;

Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay net
here thy gait.

These well express in thee thy latter spirits:
Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,
Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our droplets

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CORIOLANU S.

Persons of the rama.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman.
TITUS LARTIUS,

generals against the Volscians.

COMINIUS,
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.
A Citizen of Antium.

Two Volscian Guards.

VOLUMNIA, mother to Coriolanus.
VIRGILIA, wife to Coriolanus.
VALERIA, friend to Virgilia.
Gentlewoman attending Virgilia.

Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Aediles,
Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Ser
vants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-partly in Rome; and partly in the territories of the Volscians and Antiates.

ACT I.

SCENE I. · Rome. A street.

Enter a Company of mutinous Citizens,
staves, clubs, and other weapons.

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1 Cit. First you know, Caius Marcins is chief

1 Cit. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. Jenemy to the people.

Cit. We know't, we know't.

1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?

Cit. No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!

2 Cit. One word, good citizens.

1 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 sufferance 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.

Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty.

2 Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country?

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

2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft conscienc'd men can be content to say, it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no way say, he is

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2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.

1 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!
1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate;
they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we in-
tend 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 neighbours,

Will you undo yourselves?

1 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
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 impediment: for the dearth,
The gods, not the patricians, make it; and
Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack,
You are transported by calamity

Thither where more attends you; and you slander
The helms o'the state, who care for you like fathers,
When you curse them as enemies.

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1 Cit. Care for us! - True, indeed! They ne'er
cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their
store-houses crammed with grain; make edicts for
usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any whole-
some act established against the rich; and provide
more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us.
Men. Either you must

Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd 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 scale't a little more.

1 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 mem-
bers

Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :-
That only like a gulf it did remain

'the midst o'the body, idle and inactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest; where the other instru-

ments

Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answer'd,
1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
Men. Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile,
Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus,
(For, look you, I may make the belly smile,
As well as speak,) it tauntingly replied
To the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly
As you malign our senators, for that
They are not such as you.

1 Cit. Your belly's answer: What!
The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,
With other muniments and petty helps
In this our fabric, if that they
Men. What then? -
'Fore me, this fellow speaks!
then?

what then? what

1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the sink o'the body,Men. Well, what then?

1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain,
What could the belly answer?
Men. I will tell you;

If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little)
Patience, a while, you'll hear the belly's answer.
1 Cit. You are long about it.
Men. Note me this, good friend;
Your most grave belly was deliberate,
Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd.
True is it, my incorporate friends, quoth he,
That I receive the general food at first,
Which you do live upon: and fit it is;
Because I am the storehouse, and the shop
Of the whole body: but if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood,
Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o'the brain;
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

1 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 flower of all,
And leave me but the brun. What say you to't?
1 Cit. It was an answer. How apply you this?
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?

1 Cit. I the great toc? Why the great toe?
Men. For that being one o'the lowest, basest, poor-
est,

Of this most wise rebellion, thon 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. Hail, noble Marcius!
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

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Mar. They are dissolv'd: Hang 'em!
They said, they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth pro-

Mar. Thanks! What's the matter, you dissen-
tious rogues,

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

1 Cit. We have ever your good word.

verbs;

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Mar. He, that will give good words to thece, will flatter

And a petition granted them, a strange one,
(To break the heart of generosity,

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you

curs,

And make bold power look pale,) they threw their caps
As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon,
Shouting their emulation.

Men. What is granted them?

Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice. One's Junias Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath!
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,
Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time
Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection's arguing.

That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts you,
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,
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 favours, swims with fins of lead,

And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust
ye?

Men. This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!
Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Where's Caius Marcins?
Mar. Here. What's the matter?

Mess. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms.
Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to

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Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.
Enter COMINICS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators;
JUNILS BRUTUS, and SiCINIUS VELUTES.
1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us ;
The Volces are in arms.

With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble, that was now your hate,
Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter,
That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another?- What's their seeking?
Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say,
The city is well stor'd.

Mar. Hang 'em! They say?

Mar. They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to’t.
I sin in envying his nobility:
And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me only he.

They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know
What's done i'the Capitol: who's like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and
give out

Conjectural marriages: making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain
enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,

And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

Com. You have fought together.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he
Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make
Only my wars with him: he is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

1 Sen. Then worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Com. It is your former promise.
Mar. Sir, it is;

And I am constant.

Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face:
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius;

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other,
Ere stay behind this business.

Men. O, true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know. Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit. Lead you on:

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Com. Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence! to your homes, be gone!
[To the Citizens.

Mar. Nay, let them follow:
The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners.
Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow!
[Exeunt Senators, Com. Mar. Tit. and

Menen. Citizens steal away.

Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,

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cannot

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he is well grac'd,.-
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he
Had borne the business!

Sic. Besides, if things go well,

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
Bru. Come:

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,
In aught he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, More than in singularity, he goes

Upon his present action.

Bru. Let's along.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. - Corioli. The Senate-House. Enter TITUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators. 1 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 hath 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;
The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,
(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,)
And Titas Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation,
Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you:
Consider of it.

1 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
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.

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And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike,
Till one can do no more.

All. The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honours safe! 1 Sen. Farewell!

2 Sen. Farewell! All. Farewell!

SCENE III.

Rome.

[Exeunt.

An apartment in MARCIUS' house.

Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA: they sit 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 honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tenderbodied, 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 be

holding; I, considering how honour 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 bearing 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?

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, cach in my love alike, and none less dear, than thine and my good Marcins, 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.
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 Volces 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 suckie Hector, look'd not lovelier,
Than flector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords contending. - 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.

Re-enter Gentlewoman, with VALERIA and her
Usher.

Val. My ladies both, good day to you!
Vol. Sweet madam,-

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifest house

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keepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot,
in good faith. How does your little sou?
Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam!
Pol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum,
than look upon his school-master.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy?
Mess. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
Lart. So, the good horse is mine.
Mar. I'll buy him of you.

Lart. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you him,
I will,

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For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie these armies?
Mess. Within this mile and half.
Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they

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: he has such a
confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gild-
ed 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 Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work;
his teeth, and tear it; 0, I warrant, how he mam-That we with smoking swords may march from
mocked it!

Vol. One of his father's moods.

Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, madam.

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.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over
the threshold, till my lord return from the wars.
Val. Fye, you confine yourself most unreasonably.
Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her
with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.
Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, not that I want love.
Val. You would be another Penelope: yet, they
say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did
but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your
cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might
leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go

with us.

Vir. No, good madam, pardon me! indeed, I will
not forth.

Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you ex-
cellent news of your husband.

ours.

hence,

To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast!
They sound a parley. Enter, on the walls, some
Senators, and Others.

Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet.
Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came
news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, madam?

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less, than he;
That's lesser, than a little. Hark, our drums
[Alarums afar off.

Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates,
Are bringing forth our youth. We'll break our walls,
Which yet seem shut, we have but pian'd with
rushes;

They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off;
[Other alarums.
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.
Mar. O, they are at it!
Lart. Their noise be our instruction!-Ladders, ho!

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: The Volces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartins, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us!

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

The Volces enter, and pass over the stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields.

brave Titus:

Advance,

They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.- Come on, my fellows!

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

Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting.
The Romans are beaten back to their trenches.
Re-enter MArcius.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you,
Boils and
You shames of Rome! you herd of
plagues

Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd
Further than seen, and one infect another
Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you ran
From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and hell!
All hurt belrind; backs red, and faces pale
With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home,
Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe,
Val. In troth, I think, she would. -Fare you well And make my wars on you: look to't. Come ou;
then!-Come, good sweet lady!- Pr'ythee, Vir-If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,
gilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, and go along
with us.

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

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