Imatges de pàgina
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Men. There was a time, when all the body's

cularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain | think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, an't please yon, deliver. ere we become rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 1 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcins ?

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 covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o'the city is risen: Why stay we prating here? to the Capitol ! Cit. Come, come.

1 Cit. Soft; who comes here?

Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA.

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, 1

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them

Against the Roman state; whose course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong link asunder, that 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
When you curse them as enemies. [fathers,
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; nake
edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily
any wholesome 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

⚫ Thin as rakes. † A hint. t Spread it.

members

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

instruments

the other

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 answered,-

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 titly
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 !-what then? what then?

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 store-house, 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

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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?

With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble, that was now your hate,
Hun 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?

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

and give out

Conectaral marriages; making parties strong,
And feeling such as stand not in their liking,
Brive their cobbled shoes. They say, there's
grain enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,+
And let ine use my sword, I'd make a quarry t
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost, thoroughly persuaded :

For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech at says the other troop? [you,

Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said they were an hungry sigh'd forth proverbs

[eat; That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must That meat was made for mouths; that the gods

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Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us :

The Volsces are in arms.

Mar. They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidins, that will put you to't.
I sin in envying his nobility:"
And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish ine only he.

Com. You have fought together.

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

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;

[other,

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

Men. Oh! 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!

*

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Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,

Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes?
Sic. Nay; but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird † the gods.

Sic. Be-mock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him: he is Too proud to be so valiant. (grown

Sic. Such a nature

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon: But I do wonder,
His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,-
In whom already he is well grac'd-cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though be perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure

⚫ For insurgents to debate upon. + Shows itself Gibe.

Will then cry out of Marcius, Oh! 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

bodied, and the only son of my womb: when
youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way;
When, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother
should not sell him an hour from her beholding;
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 dauger 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 hearing he was a man-child, than

How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, now in first seeing he had proved himself a
More than in singularity, he goes
Upon his present action.

Bru. Let's along.

man.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam,

[Exeunt. how then?

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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 Titus 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 shew 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.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands:
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they set down before us, for the remove
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They have not prepar'd for us.

Auf. Oh! doubt not that:

I speak from certainties. Nay, more-
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
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.

Exeunt.

SCENE III-Rome.-An Apartment in
MARCIUS' House

Vol. Then his good report should have been my son: I therein would have fonnd issue. Hear me profess sincerely: Had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, 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 Volsces shunning
Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,—
him;

Come on, you cowards, you were got in jear,
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 suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector'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-keepers. What, are you sewing here !
A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little

son?

Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master. 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 gilded 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 his teeth, and tear it: Oh! I warrant how he mammockedj

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit i
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 tender-

• Demerits and merits had anciently the same mean-
ing.
+ Let us also learn what are his powers, &c.
1 fuformation of it. To subdue.

Vol. One of his father's moods.
Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack, madam.

Val. Come, lay aside your stichery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors.

• Attracted universal attention. + The most hon ourable crown of all---given to him who saved the life of a citizen. 1 Tore it. Boy.

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Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreaouably: Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

Fir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vel. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.

Val. You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spuu in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I wold your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

Fir. No, good madam, pardon me; I will not forth.

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

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?

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

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

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she

will but disease oar better mirth.

Fat. In troth, I think she would :-Fare you well then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, and go

along with us.

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as yet.

Lart. So, the good horse is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

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

For half a bandred years.-Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie these armies ↑
Mear, within this mile and half.

Mar. Then shall we hear their larum, and they ours.

New, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work: That we, with smoking swords, may march from bence, [blast To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy They sound a parley.-Enter on the walls, some SENATORS, and others.

Tallus Antidius, 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. Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls,

Rather than they shall pound us up our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with

rushes;

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Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders hol

The VOLSCES 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.—Advance,
brave Titus :
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 Volsce,
And he shall feel mine edge.

Alarum, and exeunt ROMANS and VOLSCES, fighting. The ROMANS are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you! [plagues You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and 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 [hell! From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home,

run

on:

Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, And make my wars on you; look to't: Come [wives, If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their As they us to our trenches followed. Another Alarum. The VOLSCES and ROMANS re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The VOLSCES retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates.

So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good seconds:

Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: make me, and do the like. [He enters the gates, and is shut in.

1 Sol. Fool-hardiness! not I. 2 Sol. Nor 1.

3 Sol. See, they

Have shut him in.

(Alarum continues.

All. To the pot, I warrant him.
Enter TITUS LARTIUS.
Lart. What is become of Marcius 1
All. Slain, Sir, doubtless.

1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters: who, upon the sudden,
Clapp'd-to their gates: he is himself aloue,
To answer all the city.

Lart. O noble fellow !

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6

CORIOLANUS.

SCENE V.-Within the town.-A Street.

Enter certain ROMANS, with spoils.

1 Rom. This I will carry to Rome. 2 Rom. And I this.

3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off. Enter MARCIUS, and TITUS LARTIUS, with a trumpet.

Mar. See here these movers, that do prize
their hours

At a crack'd drachin! Cushions, leaden spoons,
Irons of doit, doublets that hangmen would
Bury with those that wore thein, these base slaves,
Ere yet the fight be done, pack up :-Down with
them.

And hark, what noise the general makes! To
him:-

There is the man of my sonl's hate, Aufidius,
Piercing our Romans: Then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city;
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will
To help Cominius.

Lart. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st;

Thy exercise hath been too violent for

A second course of fight.

Mar. Sir, praise me not:

[haste

[well.

My work hath yet not warn'd me: Fare you
The blood I drop is rather physical
Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus

I will appear, and fight.

Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune,

Fall deep in love with thee and her great
charms

Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman,
Prosperity be thy page!

Mar. Thy friend no less

Than those she placeth highest! So farewell.
Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius!-

[Exit MARCIUS.
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers of the town,
Where they shall know our mind. Away.

[Exeunt. SCENE VI-Near the Camp of COMINIUS. Enter COMINIUs and forces, retreating. Com. Breathe you, my friends; well fought, we are come off

struck,

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,
Nor cowardly in retire; believe me, Sirs,
Whiles we have
We shall be charg'd again.
[heard
By interims, and conveying gusts, we have
The charges of our friends :-The Roman gods
Lead their successes as we wish our own;
That both our powers, with smiling fronts en-
countering.

Enter a MESSENGER.

May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news?
Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued,
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
1 saw our party to their trenches driven,
And then I came away.

Com. Though thou speak'st truth,

Act I.

He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have
Beforetime seen him thus.

Mar. Come I too late?

Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from
a tabor,

More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue
From every meaner man's.

Mar. Come I too late?

Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of [others, But mantled in your own.

Mar. Oh! let me clip you

In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart
As merry as when our nuptial day was done,
And tapers burn'd to bedward.

Com. Flower of warriors,

How is't with Titus Lartius?

Mar. As with a man busied about decrees:
Condemning some to death, and some to exile;
Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other;
Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,
Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
To let him slip at will.

Com. Where is that slave,

Which told me they had beat you to your trenches!
Where is he? Call him hither.

Mar. Let him alone,

He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen,
The common file, (a plague !-tribunes for them!)
The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did
budge

From rascals worse than they.

Com. But how prevail'd you?

Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not

think

Where is the enemy? Are you lords o'the field?
If not, why cease you till you are so?

Com. Marcius,

We have at disadvantage fought, and did
Retire, to win our purpose.

Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on
which side

They have plac'd their men of trust?

Com. As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates,
Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.

Mar. I do beseech yon,

By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
We have made to endure friends, that you di-

rectly

Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates:
And that you not delay the present; but,
Filling the air with swords advanc'd, and darts,
We prove this very hour.

Com. Though I conld wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath,
And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
Deny your asking: take your choice of those
That best can aid your action.

Mar. Those are they

That most are willing :-If any such be here,
(As it were sin to doubt,) that love this painting
Wherein you see me sinear'd; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;
If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him, alone, or so many, so minded,

Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't Wave thus [waving his hand] to express his

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disposition,

And follow Marcius,

[They all shout and wave their swords ; take
him up in their arms, and cast up their
caps.

O me, alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volsces? None of you but is
Able to bear against the great Autidius
A certain number,
A shield as hard as his.
Though thanks to all, must I select: the rest
Shall bear the business in some other fight,
Please you to march,
As cause will be obey'd.

• Front. + Soldiers of Antium.

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