Sic. Assemble presently the people hither: I' the right and strength o' the commons, be it either Of what we chance to sentence. Very well. Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to give't them. Bru. Go about it. [Exit Edile. Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, Men. A noble wish. Amen, amen! Re-enter Edile, with Citizens. Sic. Draw near, ye people. Cor. Say then; 'tis true, I ought so. Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take For which you are a traitor to the people, Men. Nay; temperately your promise. Sic. We need not put new matter to his charge: Bru. Serv'd well for Rome, Cor. But since he hath Cor. What, do you prate of service? Bru. I talk of that, that know it. You? Is this Know, Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, Sic. Ed. List to your tribunes; audience: Peace, I say. To pluck away their power; as now at last It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd, And so it shall be. Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends; Sic. He's sentenc'd; no more hearing. Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can shew from Rome, Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country's good with a respect more tender, More holy and profound, thar mine own life, My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase, And treasure of my loins, then if I would Speak that Sic. We know your drift: Speak what? Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd, As enemy to the people, and his country: It shall be so. Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so. Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcases 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! Despising, For you, the city, thus I turn my back: There is a world elsewhere. [Exeunt CORICEANUS, COMINIUS, MENENIUS, Senators, and Patricians. Ed. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! [The people shout, and throw up their caps. Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city. Cit.Come,come, let us see him out at gates; come:The gods preserve our noble tribunes!-Come. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-The same. Before a Gate of the City. With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother, : Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,-- Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish! Cor. What, what, what! As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot well Vol. :1 Cor. Fare ye well:Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and My friends of noble touch, when I am forth, Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come. While I remain above the ground, you shall Hear from me still; and never of me aught But what is like me formerly. Men. That's worthily As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.If I could shake off but one seven years From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'd with thee every foot. Cor. Come. Give me thy hand: [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Street near the Gate. Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an Edile. Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further. The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided Bru. Sic. Bid them home: Sic. Are you mankind? [fool.Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a shame ?—Note but this Was not a man my father. Hadst thou foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, Than thou hast spoken words? Sic. O blessed heavens ! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-Yet go! Nay, but thou shalt stay too :-I would my son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. He'd make an end of thy posterity. Vol. Bastards, and all. What then! Vol. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against them Know you me yet? but Vol. Nicanor? No. Rom. The same, sir. Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; your favour is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Vol. Coriolanus banished? Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no re Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! quest of his country. Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country, Bru. I would he had. Vol. I would he had! 'Twas you incens'd the Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth, [rabble: As I can of those mysteries which heaven Will not have earth to know. Bru. Pray, let us go. The meanest house in Rome: so far, my son, You have told them home, SCENE III. [Exeunt. A Highway between Rome and Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting. Your Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? Vol. A most royal one: the centurions, and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning. Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of am the man, I think, that shall set them in present your company. Vol. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours. Rom. Well, let us go together. [Exeunt. Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me: O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, your name, I think, is Adrian. Whose double bosoms seem to wear oue heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends, [Exit. SCENE V.-The same. A Hail in Aufidius's House. 1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep. Enter another Servant. [Exit. 2 Serv. Where's Cotus! my master calls for him. Cotus! [Exit. Enter CORIOLANUS. Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I Appear not like a guest. Re-enter the first Servant. 1 Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here's no place for you: Pray, go to the door. Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, In being Coriolanus. Re-enter second Servant. 2 Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out. Cor. Away! 2 Serv. Away? Get you away. Cor. Now thou art troublesome. [with anon. 2 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked Enter a third Servant. The first meets him. 3 Serv. What fellow's this? 1 Serv. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o'the house: Pr'ythee, call my master to him. 3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house. Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. 3 Serv. What are you? Cor. A gentleman. 3 Serv. A marvellous poor one. Cor. True, so I am. : 3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you; pray you, Cor. Follow your function, go! [avoid come. [Pushes him away. 3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here. And batten on cold bits. 2 Serv. And I shall. 3 Serv. Where dwellest thou? Cor. Under the canopy. 3 Serv. Under the canopy? Cor. Ay 3 Serv. Where's that? Cor. I' the city of kites and crows. [Exit. Enter AUFIDIUS and the second Servant. 2 Serv. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within. Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldest thou? Why speak'st not? Speak, man: What's thy name? Auf. What is thy name? [Servants retire. [yet? Say, what's thy name? I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world iuf. Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and say, 3 Serv. I' the city of kites and crows ?-What an Mine arms about that body, where against ass it is Then thou dwellest with daws too? Cor. No, I serve not thy master. My grained ash an hundred times hath broke, 3 Serv. How, sir! Do you meddie with my master? The anvil of my sword; and do contest |