Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed]

Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power, from the

[blocks in formation]

Here is the steed, we the caparison 15:

Hadst thou beheld

Mar.

Pray now, no more: my mother,

Who has a charter to extol her blood,
When she does praise me, grieves me.
As have done;
you
As you have been; that's for my country:
He, that has but effected his good will,
Hath overta'en mine act.

I have done, that's what I can; induc'd

Com.

You shall not be

The grave of your deserving; Rome must know
The value of her own: 'twere a concealment
Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,
To hide your doings; and to silence that,
Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd,
Would seem but modest: Therefore, I beseech you,
(In sign of what you are, not to reward

What you have done,) before our army hear me.

Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they

smart

To hear themselves remember'd.

Com.

Should they not,

Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,

And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,) of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city,

We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,
Before the common distribution, at

Your only choice.

Mar.

I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe, to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

1

[A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Marcius! cast up their caps and lances:

Cominius and Lartius stand bare.

Mar. May these same instruments, which you

profane,

Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be Made all of false-fac'd soothing! When steel grows Soft as the parasite's silk, let him 16 be made

An overture for the wars! No more,

I say;

For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled,

Or foil'd some debile wretch,-which, without note,
Here's many else have done,-you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;

As if I lov'd my little should be dieted

In praises sauc'd with lies.

Too modest are you;

Com. More cruel to your good report, than grateful To us that give you truly: by your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you (Like one that means his proper harm,) in manacles, Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it known,

As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this time,
For what he did before Corioli, call him,

With all the applause and clamour of the host,
Caius Marcius Coriolanus.-Bear

The addition nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.

All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus!

Cor. I will go wash;

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive

Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you:

I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,

To undercrest your good addition,

To the fairness of my power.

Com.

[ocr errors]

So, to our tent:

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write

To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome

The best, with whom we may articulate17,
For their own good, and ours.

Lart.

I shall, my lord.

Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg

Of my lord general.

Com.

Take it: 'tis yours.-What is't?

Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli,
At a poor man's house; he us'd me kindly:

He cry'd to me; I saw him prisoner;

« AnteriorContinua »