The Tragedy of Coriolanus

1Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

2Speak, speak.

3You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

4Resolved. resolved.

5First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.

6We know't, we know't.

7Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price.

8Is't a verdict?

9No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!

10One word, good citizens.

11We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good.

12What authority surfeits on would relieve us: if they

13would yield us but the superfluity, while it were

14wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely;

15but they think we are too dear: the leanness that

16afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an

17inventory to particularise their abundance; our

18sufferance is a gain to them Let us revenge this with

19our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know I

20speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

21Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

22Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

23Consider you what services he has done for his country?

24Very well; and could be content to give him good

25report fort, but that he pays himself with being proud.

26Nay, but speak not maliciously.

27I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did

28it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be

29content to say it was for his country he did it to

30please his mother and to be partly proud; which he

31is, even till the altitude of his virtue.

32What he cannot help in his nature, you account a

33vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

34If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations;

35he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition.

36What shouts are these? The other side o' the city

37is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!

38Come, come.

39Soft! who comes here?

40Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved

41the people.

42He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so!

43What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you

44With bats and clubs? The matter? speak, I pray you.

45Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have

46had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do,

47which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor

48suitors have strong breaths: they shall know we

49have strong arms too.

50Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours,

51Will you undo yourselves?

52We cannot, sir, we are undone already.

53I tell you, friends, most charitable care

54Have the patricians of you. For your wants,

55Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well

56Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them

57Against the Roman state, whose course will on

58The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs

59Of more strong link asunder than can ever

60Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,

61The gods, not the patricians, make it, and

62Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack,

63You are transported by calamity

64Thither where more attends you, and you slander

65The helms o' the state, who care for you like fathers,

66When you curse them as enemies.

67Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us

68yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses

69crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to

70support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act

71established against the rich, and provide more

72piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain

73the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and

74there's all the love they bear us.

75Either you must

76Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,

77Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you

78A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it;

79But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture

80To stale 't a little more.

81Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to

82fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an 't please

83you, deliver.

84There was a time when all the body's members

85Rebell'd against the belly, thus accused it:

86That only like a gulf it did remain

87I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive,

88Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

89Like labour with the rest, where the other instruments

90Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,

91And, mutually participate, did minister

92Unto the appetite and affection common

93Of the whole body. The belly answer'd--

94Well, sir, what answer made the belly?

95Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile,

96Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus--

97For, look you, I may make the belly smile

98As well as speak--it tauntingly replied

99To the discontented members, the mutinous parts

100That envied his receipt; even so most fitly

101As you malign our senators for that

102They are not such as you.

103Your belly's answer? What!

104The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye,

105The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,

106Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter.

107With other muniments and petty helps

108In this our fabric, if that they--

109What then?

110'Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? what then?

111Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,

112Who is the sink o' the body,--

113Well, what then?

114The former agents, if they did complain,

115What could the belly answer?

116I will tell you

117If you'll bestow a small--of what you have little--

118Patience awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer.

119Ye're long about it.

120Note me this, good friend;

121Your most grave belly was deliberate,

122Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd:

123'True is it, my incorporate friends,' quoth he,

124'That I receive the general food at first,

125Which you do live upon; and fit it is,

126Because I am the store-house and the shop

127Of the whole body: but, if you do remember,

128I send it through the rivers of your blood,

129Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o' the brain;

130And, through the cranks and offices of man,

131The strongest nerves and small inferior veins

132From me receive that natural competency

133Whereby they live: and though that all at once,

134You, my good friends,'--this says the belly, mark me,--

135Ay, sir; well, well.

136'Though all at once cannot

137See what I do deliver out to each,

138Yet I can make my audit up, that all

139From me do back receive the flour of all,

140And leave me but the bran.' What say you to't?

141It was an answer: how apply you this?

142The senators of Rome are this good belly,

143And you the mutinous members; for examine

144Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly

145Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find

146No public benefit which you receive

147But it proceeds or comes from them to you

148And no way from yourselves. What do you think,

149You, the great toe of this assembly?

150I the great toe! why the great toe?

151For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest,

152Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:

153Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,

154Lead'st first to win some vantage.

155But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs:

156Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;

157The one side must have bale.

158Hail, noble Marcius!

159Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,

160That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,

161Make yourselves scabs?

162We have ever your good word.

163He that will give good words to thee will flatter

164Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,

165That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you,

166The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,

167Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;

168Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,

169Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

170Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is

171To make him worthy whose offence subdues him

172And curse that justice did it.

173Who deserves greatness

174Deserves your hate; and your affections are

175A sick man's appetite, who desires most that

176Which would increase his evil. He that depends

177Upon your favours swims with fins of lead

178And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust Ye?

179With every minute you do change a mind,

180And call him noble that was now your hate,

181Him vile that was your garland. What's the matter,

182That in these several places of the city

183You cry against the noble senate, who,

184Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

185Would feed on one another? What's their seeking?

186For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say,

187The city is well stored.

188Hang 'em! They say!

189They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know

190What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise,

191Who thrives and who declines; side factions

192and give out

193Conjectural marriages; making parties strong

194And feebling such as stand not in their liking

195Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's

196grain enough!

197Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,

198And let me use my sword, I'll make a quarry

199With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high

200As I could pick my lance.

201Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;

202For though abundantly they lack discretion,

203Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,

204What says the other troop?

205They are dissolved: hang 'em!

206They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs,

207That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat,

208That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not

209Corn for the rich men only: with these shreds

210They vented their complainings; which being answer'd,

211And a petition granted them, a strange one--

212To break the heart of generosity,

213And make bold power look pale--they threw their caps

214As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon,

215Shouting their emulation.

216What is granted them?

217Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,

218Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus,

219Sicinius Velutus, and I know not--'Sdeath!

220The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,

221Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time

222Win upon power and throw forth greater themes

223For insurrection's arguing.

224This is strange.

225Go, get you home, you fragments!

226Where's Caius Marcius?

227Here: what's the matter?

228The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.

229I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' means to vent

230Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.

231Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us;

232The Volsces are in arms.

233They have a leader,

234Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.

235I sin in envying his nobility,

236And were I any thing but what I am,

237I would wish me only he.

238You have fought together.

239Were half to half the world by the ears and he.

240Upon my party, I'ld revolt to make

241Only my wars with him: he is a lion

242That I am proud to hunt.

243Then, worthy Marcius,

244Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

245It is your former promise.

246Sir, it is;

247And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou

248Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.

249What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

250No, Caius Marcius;

251I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other,

252Ere stay behind this business.

253O, true-bred!

254Your company to the Capitol; where, I know,

255Our greatest friends attend us.

256[To COMINIUS] Lead you on.

257Right worthy you priority.

258Noble Marcius!

259[To the Citizens] Hence to your homes; be gone!

260Nay, let them follow:

261The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither

262To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners,

263Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

264Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?

265He has no equal.

266When we were chosen tribunes for the people,--

267Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

268Nay. but his taunts.

269Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.

270Be-mock the modest moon.

271The present wars devour him: he is grown

272Too proud to be so valiant.

273Such a nature,

274Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow

275Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder

276His insolence can brook to be commanded

277Under Cominius.

278Fame, at the which he aims,

279In whom already he's well graced, can not

280Better be held nor more attain'd than by

281A place below the first: for what miscarries

282Shall be the general's fault, though he perform

283To the utmost of a man, and giddy censure

284Will then cry out of Marcius 'O if he

285Had borne the business!'

286Besides, if things go well,

287Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall

288Of his demerits rob Cominius.

289Come:

290Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius.

291Though Marcius earned them not, and all his faults

292To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed

293In aught he merit not.

294Let's hence, and hear

295How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion,

296More than his singularity, he goes

297Upon this present action.

298Lets along.

1So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

2That they of Rome are entered in our counsels

3And know how we proceed.

4Is it not yours?

5What ever have been thought on in this state,

6That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome

7Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone

8Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think

9I have the letter here; yes, here it is.

10'They have press'd a power, but it is not known

11Whether for east or west: the dearth is great;

12The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd,

13Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

14Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,

15And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,

16These three lead on this preparation

17Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you:

18Consider of it.'

19Our army's in the field

20We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready

21To answer us.

22Nor did you think it folly

23To keep your great pretences veil'd till when

24They needs must show themselves; which

25in the hatching,

26It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery.

27We shall be shorten'd in our aim, which was

28To take in many towns ere almost Rome

29Should know we were afoot.

30Noble Aufidius,

31Take your commission; hie you to your bands:

32Let us alone to guard Corioli:

33If they set down before 's, for the remove

34Bring your army; but, I think, you'll find

35They've not prepared for us.

36O, doubt not that;

37I speak from certainties. Nay, more,

38Some parcels of their power are forth already,

39And only hitherward. I leave your honours.

40If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,

41'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike

42Till one can do no more.

43The gods assist you!

44And keep your honours safe!

45Farewell.

46Farewell.

47Farewell.

1I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a

2more comfortable sort: if my son were my husband, I

3should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he

4won honour than in the embracements of his bed where

5he would show most love. When yet he was but

6tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when

7youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when

8for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not

9sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering

10how honour would become such a person. that it was

11no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if

12renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek

13danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel

14war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows

15bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not

16more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child

17than now in first seeing he had proved himself a

18man.

19But had he died in the business, madam; how then?

20Then his good report should have been my son; I

21therein would have found issue. Hear me profess

22sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love

23alike and none less dear than thine and my good

24Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their

25country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

26Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.

27Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.

28Indeed, you shall not.

29Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum,

30See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair,

31As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:

32Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:

33'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear,

34Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow

35With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes,

36Like to a harvest-man that's task'd to mow

37Or all or lose his hire.

38His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!

39Away, you fool! it more becomes a man

40Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,

41When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier

42Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood

43At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria,

44We are fit to bid her welcome.

45Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!

46He'll beat Aufidius 'head below his knee

47And tread upon his neck.

48My ladies both, good day to you.

49Sweet madam.

50I am glad to see your ladyship.

51How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers.

52What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good

53faith. How does your little son?

54I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

55He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than

56look upon his school-master.

57O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear,'tis a

58very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o'

59Wednesday half an hour together: has such a

60confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded

61butterfly: and when he caught it, he let it go

62again; and after it again; and over and over he

63comes, and again; catched it again; or whether his

64fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his

65teeth and tear it; O, I warrant it, how he mammocked

66it!

67One on 's father's moods.

68Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.

69A crack, madam.

70Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play

71the idle husewife with me this afternoon.

72No, good madam; I will not out of doors.

73Not out of doors!

74She shall, she shall.

75Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the

76threshold till my lord return from the wars.

77Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come,

78you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

79I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with

80my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

81Why, I pray you?

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

83You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all

84the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill

85Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric

86were sensible as your finger, that you might leave

87pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

88No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

89In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you

90excellent news of your husband.

91O, good madam, there can be none yet.

92Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from

93him last night.

94Indeed, madam?

95In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it.

96Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against

97whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of

98our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set

99down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt

100prevailing and to make it brief wars. This is true,

101on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.

102Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every

103thing hereafter.

104Let her alone, lady: as she is now, she will but

105disease our better mirth.

106In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then.

107Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy

108solemness out o' door. and go along with us.

109No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish

110you much mirth.

111Well, then, farewell.

1Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.

2My horse to yours, no.

3'Tis done.

4Agreed.

5Say, has our general met the enemy?

6They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.

7So, the good horse is mine.

8I'll buy him of you.

9No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will

10For half a hundred years. Summon the town.

11How far off lie these armies?

12Within this mile and half.

13Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.

14Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work,

15That we with smoking swords may march from hence,

16To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.

17Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

18No, nor a man that fears you less than he,

19That's lesser than a little.

20Hark! our drums

21Are bringing forth our youth. We'll break our walls,

22Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates,

23Which yet seem shut, we, have but pinn'd with rushes;

24They'll open of themselves.

25Hark you. far off!

26There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes

27Amongst your cloven army.

28O, they are at it!

29Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

30They fear us not, but issue forth their city.

31Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight

32With hearts more proof than shields. Advance,

33brave Titus:

34They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,

35Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows:

36He that retires I'll take him for a Volsce,

37And he shall feel mine edge.

38All the contagion of the south light on you,

39You shames of Rome! you herd of--Boils and plagues

40Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd

41Further than seen and one infect another

42Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,

43That bear the shapes of men, how have you run

44From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!

45All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale

46With flight and agued fear! Mend and charge home,

47Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe

48And make my wars on you: look to't: come on;

49If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,

50As they us to our trenches followed.

51So, now the gates are ope: now prove good seconds:

52'Tis for the followers fortune widens them,

53Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.

54Fool-hardiness; not I.

55Nor I.

56See, they have shut him in.

57To the pot, I warrant him.

58What is become of Marcius?

59Slain, sir, doubtless.

60Following the fliers at the very heels,

61With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,

62Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone,

63To answer all the city.

64O noble fellow!

65Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,

66And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius:

67A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,

68Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier

69Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible

70Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and

71The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,

72Thou madst thine enemies shake, as if the world

73Were feverous and did tremble.

74Look, sir.

75O,'tis Marcius!

76Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.

1This will I carry to Rome.

2And I this.

3A murrain on't! I took this for silver.

4See here these movers that do prize their hours

5At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons,

6Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would

7Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,

8Ere yet the fight be done, pack up: down with them!

9And hark, what noise the general makes! To him!

10There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,

11Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take

12Convenient numbers to make good the city;

13Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste

14To help Cominius.

15Worthy sir, thou bleed'st;

16Thy exercise hath been too violent for

17A second course of fight.

18Sir, praise me not;

19My work hath yet not warm'd me: fare you well:

20The blood I drop is rather physical

21Than dangerous to me: to Aufidius thus

22I will appear, and fight.

23Now the fair goddess, Fortune,

24Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms

25Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman,

26Prosperity be thy page!

27Thy friend no less

28Than those she placeth highest! So, farewell.

29Thou worthiest Marcius!

30Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;

31Call thither all the officers o' the town,

32Where they shall know our mind: away!

1Breathe you, my friends: well fought;

2we are come off

3Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,

4Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs,

5We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,

6By interims and conveying gusts we have heard

7The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods!

8Lead their successes as we wish our own,

9That both our powers, with smiling

10fronts encountering,

11May give you thankful sacrifice.

12Thy news?

13The citizens of Corioli have issued,

14And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:

15I saw our party to their trenches driven,

16And then I came away.

17Though thou speak'st truth,

18Methinks thou speak'st not well.

19How long is't since?

20Above an hour, my lord.

21'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:

22How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,

23And bring thy news so late?

24Spies of the Volsces

25Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel

26Three or four miles about, else had I, sir,

27Half an hour since brought my report.

28Who's yonder,

29That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods

30He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have

31Before-time seen him thus.

32[Within] Come I too late?

33The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabour

34More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue

35From every meaner man.

36Come I too late?

37Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,

38But mantled in your own.

39O, let me clip ye

40In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart

41As merry as when our nuptial day was done,

42And tapers burn'd to bedward!

43Flower of warriors,

44How is it with Titus Lartius?

45As with a man busied about decrees:

46Condemning some to death, and some to exile;

47Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other;

48Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,

49Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,

50To let him slip at will.

51Where is that slave

52Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?

53Where is he? call him hither.

54Let him alone;

55He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,

56The common file--a plague! tribunes for them!--

57The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge

58From rascals worse than they.

59But how prevail'd you?

60Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.

61Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?

62If not, why cease you till you are so?

63Marcius,

64We have at disadvantage fought and did

65Retire to win our purpose.

66How lies their battle? know you on which side

67They have placed their men of trust?

68As I guess, Marcius,

69Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,

70Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius,

71Their very heart of hope.

72I do beseech you,

73By all the battles wherein we have fought,

74By the blood we have shed together, by the vows

75We have made to endure friends, that you directly

76Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates;

77And that you not delay the present, but,

78Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,

79We prove this very hour.

80Though I could wish

81You were conducted to a gentle bath

82And balms applied to, you, yet dare I never

83Deny your asking: take your choice of those

84That best can aid your action.

85Those are they

86That most are willing. If any such be here--

87As it were sin to doubt--that love this painting

88Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear

89Lesser his person than an ill report;

90If any think brave death outweighs bad life

91And that his country's dearer than himself;

92Let him alone, or so many so minded,

93Wave thus, to express his disposition,

94And follow Marcius.

95O, me alone! make you a sword of me?

96If these shows be not outward, which of you

97But is four Volsces? none of you but is

98Able to bear against the great Aufidius

99A shield as hard as his. A certain number,

100Though thanks to all, must I select

101from all: the rest

102Shall bear the business in some other fight,

103As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;

104And four shall quickly draw out my command,

105Which men are best inclined.

106March on, my fellows:

107Make good this ostentation, and you shall

108Divide in all with us.

1So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties,

2As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch

3Those centuries to our aid: the rest will serve

4For a short holding: if we lose the field,

5We cannot keep the town.

6Fear not our care, sir.

7Hence, and shut your gates upon's.

8Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us.

1I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee

2Worse than a promise-breaker.

3We hate alike:

4Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor

5More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot.

6Let the first budger die the other's slave,

7And the gods doom him after!

8If I fly, Marcius,

9Holloa me like a hare.

10Within these three hours, Tullus,

11Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,

12And made what work I pleased: 'tis not my blood

13Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge

14Wrench up thy power to the highest.

15Wert thou the Hector

16That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny,

17Thou shouldst not scape me here.

18Officious, and not valiant, you have shamed me

19In your condemned seconds.

1If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work,

2Thou'ldst not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it

3Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles,

4Where great patricians shall attend and shrug,

5I' the end admire, where ladies shall be frighted,

6And, gladly quaked, hear more; where the

7dull tribunes,

8That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours,

9Shall say against their hearts 'We thank the gods

10Our Rome hath such a soldier.'

11Yet camest thou to a morsel of this feast,

12Having fully dined before.

13O general,

14Here is the steed, we the caparison:

15Hadst thou beheld--

16Pray now, no more: my mother,

17Who has a charter to extol her blood,

18When she does praise me grieves me. I have done

19As you have done; that's what I can; induced

20As you have been; that's for my country:

21He that has but effected his good will

22Hath overta'en mine act.

23You shall not be

24The grave of your deserving; Rome must know

25The value of her own: 'twere a concealment

26Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,

27To hide your doings; and to silence that,

28Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd,

29Would seem but modest: therefore, I beseech you

30In sign of what you are, not to reward

31What you have done--before our army hear me.

32I have some wounds upon me, and they smart

33To hear themselves remember'd.

34Should they not,

35Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,

36And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses,

37Whereof we have ta'en good and good store, of all

38The treasure in this field achieved and city,

39We render you the tenth, to be ta'en forth,

40Before the common distribution, at

41Your only choice.

42I thank you, general;

43But cannot make my heart consent to take

44A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it;

45And stand upon my common part with those

46That have beheld the doing.

47May these same instruments, which you profane,

48Never sound more! when drums and trumpets shall

49I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be

50Made all of false-faced soothing!

51When steel grows soft as the parasite's silk,

52Let him be made a coverture for the wars!

53No more, I say! For that I have not wash'd

54My nose that bled, or foil'd some debile wretch.--

55Which, without note, here's many else have done,--

56You shout me forth

57In acclamations hyperbolical;

58As if I loved my little should be dieted

59In praises sauced with lies.

60Too modest are you;

61More cruel to your good report than grateful

62To us that give you truly: by your patience,

63If 'gainst yourself you be incensed, we'll put you,

64Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles,

65Then reason safely with you. Therefore, be it known,

66As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius

67Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,

68My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,

69With all his trim belonging; and from this time,

70For what he did before Corioli, call him,

71With all the applause and clamour of the host,

72CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS! Bear

73The addition nobly ever!

74Caius Marcius Coriolanus!

75I will go wash;

76And when my face is fair, you shall perceive

77Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thank you.

78I mean to stride your steed, and at all times

79To undercrest your good addition

80To the fairness of my power.

81So, to our tent;

82Where, ere we do repose us, we will write

83To Rome of our success. You, Titus Lartius,

84Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome

85The best, with whom we may articulate,

86For their own good and ours.

87I shall, my lord.

88The gods begin to mock me. I, that now

89Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg

90Of my lord general.

91Take't; 'tis yours. What is't?

92I sometime lay here in Corioli

93At a poor man's house; he used me kindly:

94He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;

95But then Aufidius was with in my view,

96And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you

97To give my poor host freedom.

98O, well begg'd!

99Were he the butcher of my son, he should

100Be free as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.

101Marcius, his name?

102By Jupiter! forgot.

103I am weary; yea, my memory is tired.

104Have we no wine here?

105Go we to our tent:

106The blood upon your visage dries; 'tis time

107It should be look'd to: come.

1The town is ta'en!

2'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition.

3Condition!

4I would I were a Roman; for I cannot,

5Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition!

6What good condition can a treaty find

7I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius,

8I have fought with thee: so often hast thou beat me,

9And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter

10As often as we eat. By the elements,

11If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,

12He's mine, or I am his: mine emulation

13Hath not that honour in't it had; for where

14I thought to crush him in an equal force,

15True sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way

16Or wrath or craft may get him.

17He's the devil.

18Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd

19With only suffering stain by him; for him

20Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary,

21Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol,

22The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice,

23Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up

24Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst

25My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it

26At home, upon my brother's guard, even there,

27Against the hospitable canon, would I

28Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city;

29Learn how 'tis held; and what they are that must

30Be hostages for Rome.

31Will not you go?

32I am attended at the cypress grove: I pray you--

33'Tis south the city mills--bring me word thither

34How the world goes, that to the pace of it

35I may spur on my journey.

36I shall, sir.

1The augurer tells me we shall have news to-night.

2Good or bad?

3Not according to the prayer of the people, for they

4love not Marcius.

5Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.

6Pray you, who does the wolf love?

7The lamb.

8Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the

9noble Marcius.

10He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear.

11He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two

12are old men: tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

13Well, sir.

14In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that you two

15have not in abundance?

16He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

17Especially in pride.

18And topping all others in boasting.

19This is strange now: do you two know how you are

20censured here in the city, I mean of us o' the

21right-hand file? do you?

22Why, how are we censured?

23Because you talk of pride now,--will you not be angry?

24Well, well, sir, well.

25Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of

26occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience:

27give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at

28your pleasures; at the least if you take it as a

29pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for

30being proud?

31We do it not alone, sir.

32I know you can do very little alone; for your helps

33are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous

34single: your abilities are too infant-like for

35doing much alone. You talk of pride: O that you

36could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks,

37and make but an interior survey of your good selves!

38O that you could!

39What then, sir?

40Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting,

41proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as

42any in Rome.

43Menenius, you are known well enough too.

44I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that

45loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying

46Tiber in't; said to be something imperfect in

47favouring the first complaint; hasty and tinder-like

48upon too trivial motion; one that converses more

49with the buttock of the night than with the forehead

50of the morning: what I think I utter, and spend my

51malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as

52you are--I cannot call you Lycurguses--if the drink

53you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a

54crooked face at it. I can't say your worships have

55delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in

56compound with the major part of your syllables: and

57though I must be content to bear with those that say

58you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that

59tell you you have good faces. If you see this in

60the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known

61well enough too? what barm can your bisson

62conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be

63known well enough too?

64Come, sir, come, we know you well enough.

65You know neither me, yourselves nor any thing. You

66are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs: you

67wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a

68cause between an orange wife and a fosset-seller;

69and then rejourn the controversy of three pence to a

70second day of audience. When you are hearing a

71matter between party and party, if you chance to be

72pinched with the colic, you make faces like

73mummers; set up the bloody flag against all

74patience; and, in roaring for a chamber-pot,

75dismiss the controversy bleeding the more entangled

76by your hearing: all the peace you make in their

77cause is, calling both the parties knaves. You are

78a pair of strange ones.

79Come, come, you are well understood to be a

80perfecter giber for the table than a necessary

81bencher in the Capitol.

82Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall

83encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When

84you speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the

85wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not

86so honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher's

87cushion, or to be entombed in an ass's pack-

88saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcius is proud;

89who in a cheap estimation, is worth predecessors

90since Deucalion, though peradventure some of the

91best of 'em were hereditary hangmen. God-den to

92your worships: more of your conversation would

93infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly

94plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you.

95How now, my as fair as noble ladies,--and the moon,

96were she earthly, no nobler,--whither do you follow

97your eyes so fast?

98Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for

99the love of Juno, let's go.

100Ha! Marcius coming home!

101Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous

102approbation.

103Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo!

104Marcius coming home!

105Nay,'tis true.

106Look, here's a letter from him: the state hath

107another, his wife another; and, I think, there's one

108at home for you.

109I will make my very house reel tonight: a letter for

110me!

111Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; I saw't.

112A letter for me! it gives me an estate of seven

113years' health; in which time I will make a lip at

114the physician: the most sovereign prescription in

115Galen is but empiricutic, and, to this preservative,

116of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he

117not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded.

118O, no, no, no.

119O, he is wounded; I thank the gods for't.

120So do I too, if it be not too much: brings a'

121victory in his pocket? the wounds become him.

122On's brows: Menenius, he comes the third time home

123with the oaken garland.

124Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?

125Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but

126Aufidius got off.

127And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that:

128an he had stayed by him, I would not have been so

129fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold

130that's in them. Is the senate possessed of this?

131Good ladies, let's go. Yes, yes, yes; the senate

132has letters from the general, wherein he gives my

133son the whole name of the war: he hath in this

134action outdone his former deeds doubly

135In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.

136Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his

137true purchasing.

138The gods grant them true!

139True! pow, wow.

140True! I'll be sworn they are true.

141Where is he wounded?

142God save your good worships! Marcius is coming

143home: he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded?

144I' the shoulder and i' the left arm there will be

145large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall

146stand for his place. He received in the repulse of

147Tarquin seven hurts i' the body.

148One i' the neck, and two i' the thigh,--there's

149nine that I know.

150He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five

151wounds upon him.

152Now it's twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave.

153Hark! the trumpets.

154These are the ushers of Marcius: before him he

155carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears:

156Death, that dark spirit, in 's nervy arm doth lie;

157Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die.

158Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight

159Within Corioli gates: where he hath won,

160With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these

161In honour follows Coriolanus.

162Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

163Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

164No more of this; it does offend my heart:

165Pray now, no more.

166Look, sir, your mother!

167O,

168You have, I know, petition'd all the gods

169For my prosperity!

170Nay, my good soldier, up;

171My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and

172By deed-achieving honour newly named,--

173What is it?--Coriolanus must I call thee?--

174But O, thy wife!

175My gracious silence, hail!

176Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd home,

177That weep'st to see me triumph? Ay, my dear,

178Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,

179And mothers that lack sons.

180Now, the gods crown thee!

181And live you yet?

182O my sweet lady, pardon.

183I know not where to turn: O, welcome home:

184And welcome, general: and ye're welcome all.

185A hundred thousand welcomes. I could weep

186And I could laugh, I am light and heavy. Welcome.

187A curse begin at very root on's heart,

188That is not glad to see thee! You are three

189That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men,

190We have some old crab-trees here

191at home that will not

192Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors:

193We call a nettle but a nettle and

194The faults of fools but folly.

195Ever right.

196Menenius ever, ever.

197Give way there, and go on!

198[To VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA] Your hand, and yours:

199Ere in our own house I do shade my head,

200The good patricians must be visited;

201From whom I have received not only greetings,

202But with them change of honours.

203I have lived

204To see inherited my very wishes

205And the buildings of my fancy: only

206There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but

207Our Rome will cast upon thee.

208Know, good mother,

209I had rather be their servant in my way,

210Than sway with them in theirs.

211On, to the Capitol!

212All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights

213Are spectacled to see him: your prattling nurse

214Into a rapture lets her baby cry

215While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins

216Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck,

217Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks, windows,

218Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges horsed

219With variable complexions, all agreeing

220In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens

221Do press among the popular throngs and puff

222To win a vulgar station: or veil'd dames

223Commit the war of white and damask in

224Their nicely-gawded cheeks to the wanton spoil

225Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother

226As if that whatsoever god who leads him

227Were slily crept into his human powers

228And gave him graceful posture.

229On the sudden,

230I warrant him consul.

231Then our office may,

232During his power, go sleep.

233He cannot temperately transport his honours

234From where he should begin and end, but will

235Lose those he hath won.

236In that there's comfort.

237Doubt not

238The commoners, for whom we stand, but they

239Upon their ancient malice will forget

240With the least cause these his new honours, which

241That he will give them make I as little question

242As he is proud to do't.

243I heard him swear,

244Were he to stand for consul, never would he

245Appear i' the market-place nor on him put

246The napless vesture of humility;

247Nor showing, as the manner is, his wounds

248To the people, beg their stinking breaths.

249'Tis right.

250It was his word: O, he would miss it rather

251Than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him,

252And the desire of the nobles.

253I wish no better

254Than have him hold that purpose and to put it

255In execution.

256'Tis most like he will.

257It shall be to him then as our good wills,

258A sure destruction.

259So it must fall out

260To him or our authorities. For an end,

261We must suggest the people in what hatred

262He still hath held them; that to's power he would

263Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders and

264Dispropertied their freedoms, holding them,

265In human action and capacity,

266Of no more soul nor fitness for the world

267Than camels in the war, who have their provand

268Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

269For sinking under them.

270This, as you say, suggested

271At some time when his soaring insolence

272Shall touch the people--which time shall not want,

273If he be put upon 't; and that's as easy

274As to set dogs on sheep--will be his fire

275To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze

276Shall darken him for ever.

277What's the matter?

278You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought

279That Marcius shall be consul:

280I have seen the dumb men throng to see him and

281The blind to bear him speak: matrons flung gloves,

282Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers,

283Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended,

284As to Jove's statue, and the commons made

285A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts:

286I never saw the like.

287Let's to the Capitol;

288And carry with us ears and eyes for the time,

289But hearts for the event.

290Have with you.

1Come, come, they are almost here. How many stand

2for consulships?

3Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one

4Coriolanus will carry it.

5That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and

6loves not the common people.

7Faith, there had been many great men that have

8flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and there

9be many that they have loved, they know not

10wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why,

11they hate upon no better a ground: therefore, for

12Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate

13him manifests the true knowledge he has in their

14disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets

15them plainly see't.

16If he did not care whether he had their love or no,

17he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither

18good nor harm: but he seeks their hate with greater

19devotion than can render it him; and leaves

20nothing undone that may fully discover him their

21opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and

22displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he

23dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

24He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his

25ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who,

26having been supple and courteous to the people,

27bonneted, without any further deed to have them at

28an into their estimation and report: but he hath so

29planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions

30in their hearts, that for their tongues to be

31silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of

32ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a

33malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck

34reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

35No more of him; he is a worthy man: make way, they

36are coming.

37Having determined of the Volsces and

38To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

39As the main point of this our after-meeting,

40To gratify his noble service that

41Hath thus stood for his country: therefore,

42please you,

43Most reverend and grave elders, to desire

44The present consul, and last general

45In our well-found successes, to report

46A little of that worthy work perform'd

47By Caius Marcius Coriolanus, whom

48We met here both to thank and to remember

49With honours like himself.

50Speak, good Cominius:

51Leave nothing out for length, and make us think

52Rather our state's defective for requital

53Than we to stretch it out.

54Masters o' the people,

55We do request your kindest ears, and after,

56Your loving motion toward the common body,

57To yield what passes here.

58We are convented

59Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts

60Inclinable to honour and advance

61The theme of our assembly.

62Which the rather

63We shall be blest to do, if he remember

64A kinder value of the people than

65He hath hereto prized them at.

66That's off, that's off;

67I would you rather had been silent. Please you

68To hear Cominius speak?

69Most willingly;

70But yet my caution was more pertinent

71Than the rebuke you give it.

72He loves your people

73But tie him not to be their bedfellow.

74Worthy Cominius, speak.

75Nay, keep your place.

76Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear

77What you have nobly done.

78Your horror's pardon:

79I had rather have my wounds to heal again

80Than hear say how I got them.

81Sir, I hope

82My words disbench'd you not.

83No, sir: yet oft,

84When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.

85You soothed not, therefore hurt not: but

86your people,

87I love them as they weigh.

88Pray now, sit down.

89I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun

90When the alarum were struck than idly sit

91To hear my nothings monster'd.

92Masters of the people,

93Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter--

94That's thousand to one good one--when you now see

95He had rather venture all his limbs for honour

96Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius.

97I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus

98Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held

99That valour is the chiefest virtue, and

100Most dignifies the haver: if it be,

101The man I speak of cannot in the world

102Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years,

103When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought

104Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,

105Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,

106When with his Amazonian chin he drove

107The bristled lips before him: be bestrid

108An o'er-press'd Roman and i' the consul's view

109Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,

110And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,

111When he might act the woman in the scene,

112He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed

113Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age

114Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea,

115And in the brunt of seventeen battles since

116He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,

117Before and in Corioli, let me say,

118I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers;

119And by his rare example made the coward

120Turn terror into sport: as weeds before

121A vessel under sail, so men obey'd

122And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp,

123Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot

124He was a thing of blood, whose every motion

125Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd

126The mortal gate of the city, which he painted

127With shunless destiny; aidless came off,

128And with a sudden reinforcement struck

129Corioli like a planet: now all's his:

130When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce

131His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit

132Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,

133And to the battle came he; where he did

134Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if

135'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd

136Both field and city ours, he never stood

137To ease his breast with panting.

138Worthy man!

139He cannot but with measure fit the honours

140Which we devise him.

141Our spoils he kick'd at,

142And look'd upon things precious as they were

143The common muck of the world: he covets less

144Than misery itself would give; rewards

145His deeds with doing them, and is content

146To spend the time to end it.

147He's right noble:

148Let him be call'd for.

149Call Coriolanus.

150He doth appear.

151The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased

152To make thee consul.

153I do owe them still

154My life and services.

155It then remains

156That you do speak to the people.

157I do beseech you,

158Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot

159Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them,

160For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you

161That I may pass this doing.

162Sir, the people

163Must have their voices; neither will they bate

164One jot of ceremony.

165Put them not to't:

166Pray you, go fit you to the custom and

167Take to you, as your predecessors have,

168Your honour with your form.

169It is apart

170That I shall blush in acting, and might well

171Be taken from the people.

172Mark you that?

173To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;

174Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,

175As if I had received them for the hire

176Of their breath only!

177Do not stand upon't.

178We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,

179Our purpose to them: and to our noble consul

180Wish we all joy and honour.

181To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!

182You see how he intends to use the people.

183May they perceive's intent! He will require them,

184As if he did contemn what he requested

185Should be in them to give.

186Come, we'll inform them

187Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace,

188I know, they do attend us.

1Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

2We may, sir, if we will.

3We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a

4power that we have no power to do; for if he show us

5his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our

6tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if

7he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him

8our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is

9monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful,

10were to make a monster of the multitude: of the

11which we being members, should bring ourselves to be

12monstrous members.

13And to make us no better thought of, a little help

14will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he

15himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

16We have been called so of many; not that our heads

17are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald,

18but that our wits are so diversely coloured: and

19truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of

20one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south,

21and their consent of one direct way should be at

22once to all the points o' the compass.

23Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would

24fly?

25Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's

26will;'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head, but

27if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.

28Why that way?

29To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts

30melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return

31for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.

32You are never without your tricks: you may, you may.

33Are you all resolved to give your voices? But

34that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I

35say, if he would incline to the people, there was

36never a worthier man.

37Here he comes, and in the gown of humility: mark his

38behavior. We are not to stay all together, but to

39come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and

40by threes. He's to make his requests by

41particulars; wherein every one of us has a single

42honour, in giving him our own voices with our own

43tongues: therefore follow me, and I direct you how

44you shall go by him.

45Content, content.

46O sir, you are not right: have you not known

47The worthiest men have done't?

48What must I say?

49'I Pray, sir'--Plague upon't! I cannot bring

50My tongue to such a pace:--'Look, sir, my wounds!

51I got them in my country's service, when

52Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran

53From the noise of our own drums.'

54O me, the gods!

55You must not speak of that: you must desire them

56To think upon you.

57Think upon me! hang 'em!

58I would they would forget me, like the virtues

59Which our divines lose by 'em.

60You'll mar all:

61I'll leave you: pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you,

62In wholesome manner.

63Bid them wash their faces

64And keep their teeth clean.

65So, here comes a brace.

66You know the cause, air, of my standing here.

67We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

68Mine own desert.

69Your own desert!

70Ay, but not mine own desire.

71How not your own desire?

72No, sir,'twas never my desire yet to trouble the

73poor with begging.

74You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to

75gain by you.

76Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?

77The price is to ask it kindly.

78Kindly! Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to

79show you, which shall be yours in private. Your

80good voice, sir; what say you?

81You shall ha' it, worthy sir.

82A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices

83begged. I have your alms: adieu.

84But this is something odd.

85An 'twere to give again,--but 'tis no matter.

86Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your

87voices that I may be consul, I have here the

88customary gown.

89You have deserved nobly of your country, and you

90have not deserved nobly.

91Your enigma?

92You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have

93been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed loved

94the common people.

95You should account me the more virtuous that I have

96not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my

97sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer

98estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account

99gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is

100rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise

101the insinuating nod and be off to them most

102counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the

103bewitchment of some popular man and give it

104bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you,

105I may be consul.

106We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give

107you our voices heartily.

108You have received many wounds for your country.

109I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I

110will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

111The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

112Most sweet voices!

113Better it is to die, better to starve,

114Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.

115Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here,

116To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,

117Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't:

118What custom wills, in all things should we do't,

119The dust on antique time would lie unswept,

120And mountainous error be too highly heapt

121For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it so,

122Let the high office and the honour go

123To one that would do thus. I am half through;

124The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.

125Here come more voices.

126Your voices: for your voices I have fought;

127Watch'd for your voices; for Your voices bear

128Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six

129I have seen and heard of; for your voices have

130Done many things, some less, some more your voices:

131Indeed I would be consul.

132He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest

133man's voice.

134Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy,

135and make him good friend to the people!

136Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul!

137Worthy voices!

138You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes

139Endue you with the people's voice: remains

140That, in the official marks invested, you

141Anon do meet the senate.

142Is this done?

143The custom of request you have discharged:

144The people do admit you, and are summon'd

145To meet anon, upon your approbation.

146Where? at the senate-house?

147There, Coriolanus.

148May I change these garments?

149You may, sir.

150That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,

151Repair to the senate-house.

152I'll keep you company. Will you along?

153We stay here for the people.

154Fare you well.

155He has it now, and by his looks methink

156'Tis warm at 's heart.

157With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.

158will you dismiss the people?

159How now, my masters! have you chose this man?

160He has our voices, sir.

161We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.

162Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice,

163He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.

164Certainly

165He flouted us downright.

166No,'tis his kind of speech: he did not mock us.

167Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says

168He used us scornfully: he should have show'd us

169His marks of merit, wounds received for's country.

170Why, so he did, I am sure.

171No, no; no man saw 'em.

172He said he had wounds, which he could show

173in private;

174And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,

175'I would be consul,' says he: 'aged custom,

176But by your voices, will not so permit me;

177Your voices therefore.' When we granted that,

178Here was 'I thank you for your voices: thank you:

179Your most sweet voices: now you have left

180your voices,

181I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery?

182Why either were you ignorant to see't,

183Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness

184To yield your voices?

185Could you not have told him

186As you were lesson'd, when he had no power,

187But was a petty servant to the state,

188He was your enemy, ever spake against

189Your liberties and the charters that you bear

190I' the body of the weal; and now, arriving

191A place of potency and sway o' the state,

192If he should still malignantly remain

193Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might

194Be curses to yourselves? You should have said

195That as his worthy deeds did claim no less

196Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature

197Would think upon you for your voices and

198Translate his malice towards you into love,

199Standing your friendly lord.

200Thus to have said,

201As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit

202And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd

203Either his gracious promise, which you might,

204As cause had call'd you up, have held him to

205Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,

206Which easily endures not article

207Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage,

208You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler

209And pass'd him unelected.

210Did you perceive

211He did solicit you in free contempt

212When he did need your loves, and do you think

213That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,

214When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies

215No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry

216Against the rectorship of judgment?

217Have you

218Ere now denied the asker? and now again

219Of him that did not ask, but mock, bestow

220Your sued-for tongues?

221He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet.

222And will deny him:

223I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

224I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em.

225Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,

226They have chose a consul that will from them take

227Their liberties; make them of no more voice

228Than dogs that are as often beat for barking

229As therefore kept to do so.

230Let them assemble,

231And on a safer judgment all revoke

232Your ignorant election; enforce his pride,

233And his old hate unto you; besides, forget not

234With what contempt he wore the humble weed,

235How in his suit he scorn'd you; but your loves,

236Thinking upon his services, took from you

237The apprehension of his present portance,

238Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion

239After the inveterate hate he bears you.

240Lay

241A fault on us, your tribunes; that we laboured,

242No impediment between, but that you must

243Cast your election on him.

244Say, you chose him

245More after our commandment than as guided

246By your own true affections, and that your minds,

247Preoccupied with what you rather must do

248Than what you should, made you against the grain

249To voice him consul: lay the fault on us.

250Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you.

251How youngly he began to serve his country,

252How long continued, and what stock he springs of,

253The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came

254That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,

255Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;

256Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,

257That our beat water brought by conduits hither;

258And [Censorinus,] nobly named so,

259Twice being [by the people chosen] censor,

260Was his great ancestor.

261One thus descended,

262That hath beside well in his person wrought

263To be set high in place, we did commend

264To your remembrances: but you have found,

265Scaling his present bearing with his past,

266That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke

267Your sudden approbation.

268Say, you ne'er had done't--

269Harp on that still--but by our putting on;

270And presently, when you have drawn your number,

271Repair to the Capitol.

272We will so: almost all

273Repent in their election.

274Let them go on;

275This mutiny were better put in hazard,

276Than stay, past doubt, for greater:

277If, as his nature is, he fall in rage

278With their refusal, both observe and answer

279The vantage of his anger.

280To the Capitol, come:

281We will be there before the stream o' the people;

282And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,

283Which we have goaded onward.

1Tullus Aufidius then had made new head?

2He had, my lord; and that it was which caused

3Our swifter composition.

4So then the Volsces stand but as at first,

5Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road.

6Upon's again.

7They are worn, lord consul, so,

8That we shall hardly in our ages see

9Their banners wave again.

10Saw you Aufidius?

11On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse

12Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely

13Yielded the town: he is retired to Antium.

14Spoke he of me?

15He did, my lord.

16How? what?

17How often he had met you, sword to sword;

18That of all things upon the earth he hated

19Your person most, that he would pawn his fortunes

20To hopeless restitution, so he might

21Be call'd your vanquisher.

22At Antium lives he?

23At Antium.

24I wish I had a cause to seek him there,

25To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home.

26Behold, these are the tribunes of the people,

27The tongues o' the common mouth: I do despise them;

28For they do prank them in authority,

29Against all noble sufferance.

30Pass no further.

31Ha! what is that?

32It will be dangerous to go on: no further.

33What makes this change?

34The matter?

35Hath he not pass'd the noble and the common?

36Cominius, no.

37Have I had children's voices?

38Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place.

39The people are incensed against him.

40Stop,

41Or all will fall in broil.

42Are these your herd?

43Must these have voices, that can yield them now

44And straight disclaim their tongues? What are

45your offices?

46You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?

47Have you not set them on?

48Be calm, be calm.

49It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot,

50To curb the will of the nobility:

51Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule

52Nor ever will be ruled.

53Call't not a plot:

54The people cry you mock'd them, and of late,

55When corn was given them gratis, you repined;

56Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, call'd them

57Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.

58Why, this was known before.

59Not to them all.

60Have you inform'd them sithence?

61How! I inform them!

62You are like to do such business.

63Not unlike,

64Each way, to better yours.

65Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds,

66Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me

67Your fellow tribune.

68You show too much of that

69For which the people stir: if you will pass

70To where you are bound, you must inquire your way,

71Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit,

72Or never be so noble as a consul,

73Nor yoke with him for tribune.

74Let's be calm.

75The people are abused; set on. This paltering

76Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus

77Deserved this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely

78I' the plain way of his merit.

79Tell me of corn!

80This was my speech, and I will speak't again--

81Not now, not now.

82Not in this heat, sir, now.

83Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends,

84I crave their pardons:

85For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them

86Regard me as I do not flatter, and

87Therein behold themselves: I say again,

88In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate

89The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,

90Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd,

91and scatter'd,

92By mingling them with us, the honour'd number,

93Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that

94Which they have given to beggars.

95Well, no more.

96No more words, we beseech you.

97How! no more!

98As for my country I have shed my blood,

99Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs

100Coin words till their decay against those measles,

101Which we disdain should tatter us, yet sought

102The very way to catch them.

103You speak o' the people,

104As if you were a god to punish, not

105A man of their infirmity.

106'Twere well

107We let the people know't.

108What, what? his choler?

109Choler!

110Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,

111By Jove, 'twould be my mind!

112It is a mind

113That shall remain a poison where it is,

114Not poison any further.

115Shall remain!

116Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you

117His absolute 'shall'?

118'Twas from the canon.

119'Shall'!

120O good but most unwise patricians! why,

121You grave but reckless senators, have you thus

122Given Hydra here to choose an officer,

123That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but

124The horn and noise o' the monster's, wants not spirit

125To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,

126And make your channel his? If he have power

127Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake

128Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,

129Be not as common fools; if you are not,

130Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,

131If they be senators: and they are no less,

132When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste

133Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate,

134And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,'

135His popular 'shall' against a graver bench

136Than ever frown in Greece. By Jove himself!

137It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches

138To know, when two authorities are up,

139Neither supreme, how soon confusion

140May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take

141The one by the other.

142Well, on to the market-place.

143Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth

144The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas used

145Sometime in Greece,--

146Well, well, no more of that.

147Though there the people had more absolute power,

148I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed

149The ruin of the state.

150Why, shall the people give

151One that speaks thus their voice?

152I'll give my reasons,

153More worthier than their voices. They know the corn

154Was not our recompense, resting well assured

155That ne'er did service for't: being press'd to the war,

156Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,

157They would not thread the gates. This kind of service

158Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i' the war

159Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd

160Most valour, spoke not for them: the accusation

161Which they have often made against the senate,

162All cause unborn, could never be the motive

163Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?

164How shall this bisson multitude digest

165The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express

166What's like to be their words: 'we did request it;

167We are the greater poll, and in true fear

168They gave us our demands.' Thus we debase

169The nature of our seats and make the rabble

170Call our cares fears; which will in time

171Break ope the locks o' the senate and bring in

172The crows to peck the eagles.

173Come, enough.

174Enough, with over-measure.

175No, take more:

176What may be sworn by, both divine and human,

177Seal what I end withal! This double worship,

178Where one part does disdain with cause, the other

179Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom,

180Cannot conclude but by the yea and no

181Of general ignorance,--it must omit

182Real necessities, and give way the while

183To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd,

184it follows,

185Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you,--

186You that will be less fearful than discreet,

187That love the fundamental part of state

188More than you doubt the change on't, that prefer

189A noble life before a long, and wish

190To jump a body with a dangerous physic

191That's sure of death without it, at once pluck out

192The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick

193The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour

194Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state

195Of that integrity which should become't,

196Not having the power to do the good it would,

197For the in which doth control't.

198Has said enough.

199Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer

200As traitors do.

201Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee!

202What should the people do with these bald tribunes?

203On whom depending, their obedience fails

204To the greater bench: in a rebellion,

205When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,

206Then were they chosen: in a better hour,

207Let what is meet be said it must be meet,

208And throw their power i' the dust.

209Manifest treason!

210This a consul? no.

211The aediles, ho!

212Let him be apprehended.

213Go, call the people:

214in whose name myself

215Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,

216A foe to the public weal: obey, I charge thee,

217And follow to thine answer.

218Hence, old goat!

219Senators, & C We'll surety him.

220Aged sir, hands off.

221Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones

222Out of thy garments.

223Help, ye citizens!

224On both sides more respect.

225Here's he that would take from you all your power.

226Seize him, AEdiles!

227Down with him! down with him!

228Senators, & C Weapons, weapons, weapons!

229'Tribunes!' 'Patricians!' 'Citizens!' 'What, ho!'

230'Sicinius!' 'Brutus!' 'Coriolanus!' 'Citizens!'

231'Peace, peace, peace!' 'Stay, hold, peace!'

232What is about to be? I am out of breath;

233Confusion's near; I cannot speak. You, tribunes

234To the people! Coriolanus, patience!

235Speak, good Sicinius.

236Hear me, people; peace!

237Let's hear our tribune: peace Speak, speak, speak.

238You are at point to lose your liberties:

239Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,

240Whom late you have named for consul.

241Fie, fie, fie!

242This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

243To unbuild the city and to lay all flat.

244What is the city but the people?

245True,

246The people are the city.

247By the consent of all, we were establish'd

248The people's magistrates.

249You so remain.

250And so are like to do.

251That is the way to lay the city flat;

252To bring the roof to the foundation,

253And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,

254In heaps and piles of ruin.

255This deserves death.

256Or let us stand to our authority,

257Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce,

258Upon the part o' the people, in whose power

259We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy

260Of present death.

261Therefore lay hold of him;

262Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence

263Into destruction cast him.

264AEdiles, seize him!

265Yield, Marcius, yield!

266Hear me one word;

267Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.

268Peace, peace!

269[To BRUTUS] Be that you seem, truly your

270country's friend,

271And temperately proceed to what you would

272Thus violently redress.

273Sir, those cold ways,

274That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous

275Where the disease is violent. Lay hands upon him,

276And bear him to the rock.

277No, I'll die here.

278There's some among you have beheld me fighting:

279Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.

280Down with that sword! Tribunes, withdraw awhile.

281Lay hands upon him.

282Help Marcius, help,

283You that be noble; help him, young and old!

284Down with him, down with him!

285Go, get you to your house; be gone, away!

286All will be naught else.

287Get you gone.

288Stand fast;

289We have as many friends as enemies.

290Sham it be put to that?

291The gods forbid!

292I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house;

293Leave us to cure this cause.

294For 'tis a sore upon us,

295You cannot tent yourself: be gone, beseech you.

296Come, sir, along with us.

297I would they were barbarians--as they are,

298Though in Rome litter'd--not Romans--as they are not,

299Though calved i' the porch o' the Capitol--

300Be gone;

301Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;

302One time will owe another.

303On fair ground

304I could beat forty of them.

305I could myself

306Take up a brace o' the best of them; yea, the

307two tribunes:

308But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic;

309And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands

310Against a falling fabric. Will you hence,

311Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend

312Like interrupted waters and o'erbear

313What they are used to bear.

314Pray you, be gone:

315I'll try whether my old wit be in request

316With those that have but little: this must be patch'd

317With cloth of any colour.

318Nay, come away.

319This man has marr'd his fortune.

320His nature is too noble for the world:

321He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,

322Or Jove for's power to thunder. His heart's his mouth:

323What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent;

324And, being angry, does forget that ever

325He heard the name of death.

326Here's goodly work!

327I would they were abed!

328I would they were in Tiber! What the vengeance!

329Could he not speak 'em fair?

330Where is this viper

331That would depopulate the city and

332Be every man himself?

333You worthy tribunes,--

334He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock

335With rigorous hands: he hath resisted law,

336And therefore law shall scorn him further trial

337Than the severity of the public power

338Which he so sets at nought.

339He shall well know

340The noble tribunes are the people's mouths,

341And we their hands.

342He shall, sure on't.

343Sir, sir,--

344Peace!

345Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt

346With modest warrant.

347Sir, how comes't that you

348Have holp to make this rescue?

349Hear me speak:

350As I do know the consul's worthiness,

351So can I name his faults,--

352Consul! what consul?

353The consul Coriolanus.

354He consul!

355No, no, no, no, no.

356If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,

357I may be heard, I would crave a word or two;

358The which shall turn you to no further harm

359Than so much loss of time.

360Speak briefly then;

361For we are peremptory to dispatch

362This viperous traitor: to eject him hence