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C. MARCIUS

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CORIOLANUS.

A 2

Dramatis Perfonæ.

AIUS Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman,

Chated by the common People.

Titus Lartius,
Cominius,

Generals against the Volfcians,

and Friends to Coriolanus.

Menenius Agrippa,

Friend to Coriolanus.

Sicinius Velutus,

Junius Brutus,

Tribunes of the People, and enemies to Coriolanus.

Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians.

Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus.

Confpirators with Aufidius.

Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus.

Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend to Virgilia.

Roman and Volfcian Senators, Ediles, Lidors, Soldiers, Common People, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians, and Antiates.

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CORIOLANU S.

ACT

I.

SCENE I.

A Street in ROME.

Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with staves, clubs,

B

and other weapons.

I CITIZEN.

EFORE we proceed any farther, hear me speak.
All. Speak, fpeak.

1 Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to die than to famifh?

All. Refolv'd, refolv'd.

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

All. 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?

All. No more talking on't, let't be done; away,

away.

2 Cit. One word, good Citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor Citizens; the Patricians, good: what Authority furfeits on, would relieve us if they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholefome, we might guefs, 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 fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our Pikes, ere we become Rakes: for the Gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

2 Cit. Would you proceed especially againft Caius Marcius.

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All.

all. Against him firft: he's a very dog to the Commonalty.

2 Cit. Confider 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.

All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end; though foft confcienc'd Men can be content to fay, 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 ways fay, he

is covetous.

1 Cit. If I muft not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are those? the other fide o' th' City is rifen; why ftay we prating here? To the Capitol

All. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft

2 Cit.

-who comes here?

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WORT

WORTHY Menenius Agrippa; one that
hath always lov'd the People.

1 Cit. He's one honeft enough; 'would, all the reft were fo!

Men. What Work's, my Countrymen, in hand? where go you

With bats and clubs ? the matter-Speak, I pray you.

2 Cit. Our bufinefs is not unknown to the Senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in deeds: they fay, poor Suiters have ftrong breaths; they shall know, we have ftrong arms too.

Men.

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