Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.

Sic.

Vir.

What then?

What then!

He'd make an end of thy posterity.

Vol. Bastards, and all.

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country,

As he began; and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

Bru.

I would he had.

Vol. I would he had! 'Twas you incens'd the rabble: Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth,

As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.

Bru.

Pray, let us go.

Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone:

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this; As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome: so far, my son,

(This lady's husband here, this, do you see,) Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all. Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.

Vol.

Why stay we to be baited

Take my prayers with you.

I would the gods had nothing else to do,

[Exeunt Tribunes.

But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them
But once a day, it would unclog my heart

Of what lies heavy to't.

Men.

You have told them home,

And, by my troth, you have cause.

me?

You'll sup with

Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding.- Come, let's go :

Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Men. Fye, fye, fye!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Highway between Rome and Antium.

Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting.

Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian.

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?

Vol. Nicanor? No.

Rom. The same, sir.

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Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but 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.

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but your favour is well appeared by your tongue.] i. e. Your favour is fully manifested, or rendered apparent, by your tongue.

This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol. Coriolanus banished?

Rom. Banished, sir.

Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

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. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.

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 am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of 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.

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[Exeunt.

already in the entertainment,] That is, though not actually encamped, yet already in pay. To entertain an army is to take them into pay.

SCENE IV.

Antium. Before Aufidius's House.

Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean Apparel, disguised and muffled.

Cor. A goodly city is this Antium: City, "Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir

Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars

Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not; Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with stones,

Where great Aufidius lies: Is he in Antium?
Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state,
At his house this night.

Cor.

Which is his house, 'beseech you?

Cit. This, here, before you.
Cor.

O, world, thy slippery turns!

Friends now fast sworn,

Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart,

Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise,
Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love

Unseparable, shall within this hour,

On a dissention of a doit, break out

To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes,

Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance,

Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends, And interjoin their issues. So with me:

My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon

This

enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me, He does fair justice; if he give me way, I'll do his country service.

[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. 8

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.

8 In being Coriolanus.] i. e. in having derived that surname from the sack of Corioli.

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that he gives entrance to such companions?] Companion was formerly used in the same sense as we now use the word fellow.