 | The Tragedy of Coriolanus |  |
Actus Quartus.
Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, with the yong Nobility of Rome.Corio.
Come leaue your teares: a brief farwel: the beast
With many heads butts me away. Nay Mother,
Where is your ancient Courage? You were vs'd
To say, Extreamities was the trier of spirits,
That common chances. Common men could beare,
That when the Sea was calme, all Boats alike
Shew'd Mastership in floating. Fortunes blowes,
When most strooke home, being gentle wounded, craues
A Noble cunning. You were vs'd to load me
With Precepts that would make inuincible
The heart that conn'd them.
Virg.
Oh heauens! O heauens!
Corio.
Nay, I prythee woman.
Vol.
Now the Red Pestilence strike al Trades in Rome,
And Occupations perish.
Corio.
What, what, what:
I shall be lou'd when I am lack'd. Nay Mother,
Resume that Spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had beene the Wife of Hercules,
Six of his Labours youl'd haue done, and sau'd
Your Husband so much swet. Cominius,
Droope not, Adieu: Farewell my Wife, my Mother,
Ile do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy teares are salter then a yonger mans,
And venomous to thine eyes. My (sometime) Generall,
I haue seene the Sterne, and thou hast oft beheld
Heart-hardning spectacles. Tell these sad women,
'Tis fond to waile ineuitable strokes.
As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My Mother, you wot well
My hazards still haue beene your solace, and
Beleeu't not lightly, though I go alone
Like to a lonely Dragon, that his Fenne
Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more then seene: your Sonne
Will or exceed the Common, or be caught
With cautelous baits and practice.
Volum.
My first sonne,
Whether will thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee awhile: Determine on some course
More then a wilde exposture, to each chance
That start's i'th' way before thee.
Corio.
O the Gods!
Com.
Ile follow thee a Moneth, deuise with thee
Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st heare of vs,
And we of thee. So if the time thrust forth
A cause for thy Repeale, we shall not send
O're the vast world, to seeke a single man,
And loose aduantage, which doth euer coole
Ith' absence of the needer.
Corio.
Fare ye well:
Thou hast yeares vpon thee, and thou art too full
Of the warres surfets, to go roue with one
That's yet vnbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.
Come my sweet wife, my deerest Mother, and
My Friends of Noble touch: when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you come:
While I remaine aboue the ground, you shall
Heare from me still, and neuer of me ought
But what is like me formerly.
Menen.
That's worthily
As any eare can heare. Come, let's not weepe,
If I could shake off but one seuen yeeres
From these old armes and legges, by the good Gods
I'ld with thee, euery foot.
Corio.
Giue me thy hand, come.
Exeunt
Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus, with the Edile.
Sicin.
Bid them all home, he's gone: & wee'l no further,
The Nobility are vexed, whom we see haue sided
In his behalfe.
Brut.
Now we haue shewne our power,
Let vs seeme humbler after it is done,
Then when it was a dooing.
Sicin.
Bid them home: say their great enemy is gone,
And they, stand in their ancient strength.
Brut.
Dismisse them home. Here comes his Mother.
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.
Sicin.
Let's not meet her.
Brut
Why?
Sicin.
They say she's mad.
Brut.
They haue tane note of vs: keepe on your way.
Volum.
Oh y'are well met:
Th'hoorded plague a'th' Gods requit your loue.
Menen.
Peace, peace, be not so loud.
Volum.
If that I could for weeping, you should heare,
Nay, and you shall heare some. Will you be gone?
Virg.
You shall stay too: I would I had the power
To say so to my Husband.
Sicin.
Are you mankinde?
Volum.
I foole, is that a shame. Note but this Foole,
Was not a man my Father? Had'st thou Foxship
To banish him that strooke more blowes for Rome
Then thou hast spoken words.
Sicin.
Oh blessed Heauens!
Volum.
Moe Noble blowes, then euer yu wise words.
And for Romes good. Ile tell thee what: yet goe:
Nay but thou shalt stay too: I would my Sonne
Were in Arabia, and thy Tribe before him,
His good Sword in his hand.
Sicin.
What then?
Virg.
What then? Hee'ld make an end of thy posterity
Volum.
Bastards, and all.
Good man, the Wounds that he does beare for Rome!
Menen.
Come, come, peace.
Sicin.
I would he had continued to his Country
As he began, and not vnknit himselfe
The Noble knot he made.
Bru.
I would he had.
Volum.
I would he had? 'Twas you incenst the rable.
Cats, that can iudge as fitly of his worth,
As I can of those Mysteries which heauen
Will not haue earth to know.
Brut.
Pray let's go.
Volum.
Now pray sir get you gone.
You haue done a braue deede: Ere you go, heare this:
As farre as doth the Capitoll exceede
The meanest house in Rome; so farre my Sonne
Whom you haue banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru.
Well, well, wee'l leaue you.
Sicin.
Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her Wits.
Exit Tribunes.
Uolum.
Take my Prayers with you.
I would the Gods had nothing else to do,
But to confirme my Cursses. Could I meete 'em
But once a day, it would vnclogge my heart
Of what lyes heauy too't.
Mene.
You haue told them home,
And by my troth you haue cause: you'l Sup with me.
Volum.
Angers my Meate: I suppe vpon my selfe,
And so shall sterue with Feeding: Come, let's go,
Leaue this faint-puling, and lament as I do,
In Anger, Iuno-like: Come, come, come.
Exeunt
Mene.
Fie, fie, fie.
Exit.
Enter a Roman, and a Volce.
Rom.
I know you well sir, and you know mee: your
name I thinke is Adrian.
Volce.
It is so sir, truly I haue forgot you.
Rom.
I am a Roman, and my Seruices are as you are,
against 'em. Know you me yet.
Volce.
Nicanor: no.
Rom.
The same sir.
Volce.
You had more Beard when I last saw you, but
your Fauour is well appear'd by your Tongue. What's
the Newes in Rome: I haue a Note from the Volcean
state to finde you out there. You haue well saued mee a
dayes iourney.
Rom.
There hath beene in Rome straunge Insurrections:
The people, against the Senatours, Patricians, and
Nobles.
Vol.
Hath bin; is it ended then? Our State thinks not
so, they are in a most warlike preparation, & hope to com
vpon them, in the heate of their diuision
Rom.
The maine blaze of it is past, but a small thing
would make it flame againe. For the Nobles receyue so
to heart, the Banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that
they are in a ripe aptnesse, to take al power from the people,
and to plucke from them their Tribunes for euer.
This lyes glowing I can tell you, and is almost mature for
the violent breaking out.
Vol.
Coriolanus Banisht?
Rom.
Banish'd sir.
Vol.
You will be welcome with this intelligence Nicanor.
Rom.
The day serues well for them now. I haue heard
it saide, the fittest time to corrupt a mans Wife, is when
shee's falne out with her Husband. Your Noble Tullus
Auffidius well appeare well in these Warres, his great
Opposer Coriolanus being now in no request of his countrey.
Volce.
He cannot choose: I am most fortunate, thus
accidentally to encounter you. You haue ended my Businesse,
and I will merrily accompany you home.
Rom.
I shall betweene this and Supper, tell you most
strange things from Rome: all tending to the good of
their Aduersaries. Haue you an Army ready say you?
Vol.
A most Royall one: The Centurions, and their
charges distinctly billetted already in th'entertainment,
and to be on foot at an houres warning.
Rom.
I am ioyfull to beare of their readinesse, and am
the man I thinke, that shall set them in present Action. So
sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your Company.
Volce.
You take my part from me sir, I haue the most
cause to be glad of yours.
Rom.
Well, let vs go together.
Exeunt.
Enter Coriolanus in meane Apparrell, Disguisd, and muffled.
Corio.
A goodly City is this Antium Citty,
'Tis I that made thy Widdowes: Many an heyre
Of these faire Edifices fore my Warres
Haue I heard groane, and drop: Then know me not,
Least that thy Wiues with Spits, and Boyes with stones
In puny Battell slay me. Saue you sir.
Enter a Citizen.
Cit.
And you.
Corio.
Direct me, if it be your will, where great Auffidius
lies: Is he in Antium?
Cit.
He is, and Feasts the Nobles of the State, at his
house this night.
Corio.
Which is his house, beseech you?
Cit.
This heere before you.
Corio.
Thanke you sir, farewell.
Exit Citizen
Oh World, thy slippery turnes! Friends now fast sworn,
Whose double bosomes seemes to weare one heart,
Whose Houres, whose Bed, whose Meale and Exercise
Are still together: who Twin (as 'twere) in Loue,
Vnseparable, shall within this houre,
On a dissention of a Doit, breake out
To bitterest Enmity: So tellest Foes,
Whose Passions, and whose Plots haue broke their sleep
To take the one the other, by some chance,
Some tricke not worth an Egge, shall grow deere friends
And inter-ioyne their yssues. So with me,
My Birth-place haue I, and my loues vpon
This Enemie Towne: Ile enter, if he slay me
He does faire Iustice, if he giue me way,
Ile do his Country Seruice.
Exit.
Musicke playes. Enter a Seruingman.
1 Ser.
Wine, Wine, Wine. What seruice is heere? I
thinke our Fellowes are asleepe.
Enter another Seruingman.
2 Ser.
Where's Cotus: my M. cals for him: Cotus.
Exit
Enter Coriolanus.
Corio.
A goodly House:
The Feast smels well: but I appeare not like a Guest.
Enter the first Seruingman.
1 Ser.
What would you haue Friend? whence are you?
Here's no place for you: Pray go to the doore?
Exit
Corio.
I haue deseru'd no better entertainment, in being
Coriolanus.
Enter second Seruant.
2 Ser.
Whence are you sir? Ha's the Porter his eyes in
his head, that he giues entrance to such Companions?
Pray get you out.
Corio.
Away.
2 Ser.
Away? Get you away.
Corio.
Now th'ar: troublesome.
2 Ser.
Are you so braue: Ile haue you talkt with anon
Enter 3 Seruingman, the 1 meets him.
3
What Fellowes this?
1
A strange one as euer I look'd on: I cannot get him
out o'th' house: Prythee call my Master to him.
3
What haue you to do here fellow? Pray you auoid
the house.
Corio.
Let me but stand, I will not hurt your Harth.
3
What are you?
Corio.
A Gentleman.
3
A maru'llous poore one.
Corio.
True, so I am.
3
Pray you poore Gentleman, take vp some other station:
Corio.
Follow your Functiou, go, and batten on colde
bits.
Pushes him away from him.
3
What you will not? Prythee tell my Maister what
a strange Guest he ha's heere.
2
And I shall.
Exit second Seruingman.
3
Where dwel'st thou?
Corio.
Vnder the Canopy.
3
Vnder the Canopy?
Corio.
I.
3
Where's that?
Corio.
I'th City of Kites and Crowes.
3
I'th City of Kites and Crowes? What an Asse it is,
then thou dwel'st with Dawes too?
Corio.
No, I serue not thy Master.
3
How sir? Do you meddle with my Master?
Corio.
I, tis an honester seruice, then to meddle with
thy Mistris: Thou prat'st, and prat'st, serue with thy trencher:
Hence.
Beats him away
Enter Auffidius with the Seruingman.
Auf.
Where is this Fellow?
2
Here sir, I'de haue beaten him like a dogge, but for
disturbing the Lords within.
Auf.
Whence com'st thou? What woldst y
u? Thy name?
Why speak'st not? Speake man: What's thy name?
Corio.
If Tullus not yet thou know'st me, and seeing
me, dost not thinke me for the man I am, necessitie commands
me name my selfe.
Auf.
What is thy name?
Corio.
A name vnmusicall to the Volcians eares,
And harsh in sound to thine.
Auf.
Say, what's thy name?
Thou hast a Grim apparance, and thy Face
Beares a Command in't: Though thy Tackles torne,
Thou shew'st a Noble Vessell: What's thy name?
Corio.
Prepare thy brow to frowne: knowst yu me yet?
Auf.
I know thee not? Thy Name?
Corio.
My name is Caius Martius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volces
Great hurt and Mischiefe: thereto witnesse may
My Surname Coriolanus. The painfull Seruice,
The extreme Dangers, and the droppes of Blood
Shed for my thanklesse Country, are requitted:
But with that Surname, a good memorie
And witnesse of the Malice and Displeasure
Which thou should'st beare me, only that name remains.
The Cruelty and Enuy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard Nobles, who
Haue all forsooke me, hath deuour'd the rest:
And suffer'd me by th'voyce of Slaues to be
Hoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity,
Hath brought me to thy Harth, not out of Hope
(Mistake me not) to saue my life: for if
I had fear'd death, of all the Men i'th' World
I would haue voided thee. But in meere spight
To be full quit of those my Banishers,
Stand I before thee heere: Then if thou hast
A heart of wreake in thee, that wilt reuenge
Thine owne particular wrongs, and stop those maimes
Of shame seene through thy Country, speed thee straight
And make my misery serue thy turne: So vse it,
That my reuengefull Seruices may proue
As Benefits to thee. For I will fight
Against my Cankred Countrey, with the Spleene
Of all the vnder Fiends. But if so be,
Thou dar'st not this, and that to proue more Fortunes
Th'art tyr'd, then in word, I also am
Longer to liue most wearie: and present
My throat to thee, and to thy Ancient Malice:
Which not to cut, would shew thee but a Foole,
Since I haue euer followed thee with hate,
Drawne Tunnes of Blood out of thy Countries brest,
And cannot liue but to thy shame, vnlesse
It be to do thee seruice.
Auf.
Oh Martius, Martius;
Each word thou hast spoke, hath weeded from my heart
A roote of Ancient Enuy. If Iupiter
Should from yond clowd speake diuine things,
And say 'tis true; I'de not beleeue them more
Then thee all-Noble Martius. Let me twine
Mine armes about that body, where against
My grained Ash an hundred times hath broke,
And scarr'd the Moone with splinters: heere I cleep
The Anuile of my Sword, and do contest
As hotly, and as Nobly with thy Loue,
As euer in Ambitious strength, I did
Contend against thy Valour. Know thou first,
I lou'd the Maid I married: neuer man
Sigh'd truer breath. But that I see thee heere
Thou Noble thing, more dances my rapt heart,
Then when I first my wedded Mistris saw
Bestride my Threshold. Why, thou Mars I tell thee,
We haue a Power on foote: and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy Target from thy Brawne,
Or loose mine Arme for't: Thou hast beate mee out
Twelue seuerall times, and I haue nightly since
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thy selfe and me:
We haue beene downe together in my sleepe,
Vnbuckling Helmes, fisting each others Throat,
And wak'd halfe dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,
Had we no other quarrell else to Rome, but that
Thou art thence Banish'd, we would muster all
From twelue, to seuentie: and powring Warre
Into the bowels of vngratefull Rome,
Like a bold Flood o're-beate. Oh come, go in,
And take our Friendly Senators by'th' hands
Who now are heere, taking their leaues of mee,
Who am prepar'd against your Territories,
Though not for Rome it selfe.
Corio.
You blesse me Gods.
Auf.
Therefore most absolute Sir, if thou wilt haue
The leading of thine owne Reuenges, take
Th'one halfe of my Commission, and set downe
As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st
Thy Countries strength and weaknesse, thine own waies
Whether to knocke against the Gates of Rome,
Or rudely visit them in parts remote,
To fright them, ere destroy. But come in,
Let me commend thee first, to those that shall
Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes,
And more a Friend, then ere an Enemie,
Yet Martius that was much. Your hand: most welcome.
Exeunt
Enter two of the Seruingmen.
1
Heere's a strange alteration?
2
By my hand, I had thoght to haue stroken him with
a Cudgell, and yet my minde gaue me, his cloathes made
a false report of him.
1
What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his
finger and his thumbe, as one would set vp a Top.
2
Nay, I knew by his face that there was some-thing
in him. He had sir, a kinde of face me thought, I cannot
1
He had so, looking as it were, would I were hang'd
but I thought there was more in him, then I could think.
2
So did I, Ile be sworne: He is simply the rarest man
i'th' world.
1
I thinke he is: but a greater soldier then he,
You wot one.
2
Who my Master?
1
Nay, it's no matter for that.
2
Worth six on him.
1
Nay not so neither: but I take him to be the greater
Souldiour.
2
Faith looke you, one cannot tell how to say that: for
the Defence of a Towne, our Generall is excellent.
1
I, and for an assault too.
Enter the third Seruingman.
3
Oh Slaues, I can tell you Newes, News you Rascals
Both.
What, what, what? Let's partake.
3
I would not be a Roman of all Nations; I had as
liue be a condemn'd man.
Both.
Wherefore? Wherefore?
3
Why here's he that was wont to thwacke our Generall,
Caius Martius.
1
Why do you say, thwacke our Generall?
3
I do not say thwacke our Generall, but he was alwayes
good enough for him
2
Come we are fellowes and friends: he was euer too
hard for him, I haue heard him say so himselfe.
1
He was too hard for him directly, to say the Troth
on't before Corioles, he scotcht him, and notcht him like a
Carbinado.
2
And hee had bin Cannibally giuen, hee might haue
boyld and eaten him too.
1
But more of thy Newes.
3
Why he is so made on heere within, as if hee were
Son and Heire to Mars, set at vpper end o'th' Table: No
question askt him by any of the Senators, but they stand
bald before him. Our Generall himselfe makes a Mistris
of him, Sanctifies himselfe with's hand, and turnes vp the
white o'th' eye to his Discourse. But the bottome of the
Newes is, our Generall is cut i'th' middle, & but one halfe
of what he was yesterday. For the other ha's halfe, by
the intreaty and graunt of the whole Table. Hee'l go he
sayes, and sole the Porter of Rome Gates by th'eares. He
will mowe all downe before him, and leaue his passage
poul'd.
2
And he's as like to do't, as any I can imagine.
3
Doo't? he will doo't: for look you sir, he has as many
Friends as Enemies: which Friends sir as it were, durst
not (looke you sir) shew themselues (as we terme it) his
Friends, whilest he's in Directitude.
1
Directitude? What's that?
3
But when they shall see sir, his Crest vp againe, and
the man in blood, they will out of their Burroughes (like
Conies after Raine) and reuell all with him.
1
But when goes this forward:
3
To morrow, to day, presently, you shall haue the
Drum strooke vp this afternoone: 'Tis as it were a parcel
of their Feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.
2
Why then wee shall haue a stirring World againe:
This peace is nothing, but to rust Iron, encrease Taylors,
and breed Ballad-makers.
1
Let me haue Warre say I, it exceeds peace as farre
as day do's night: It's sprightly walking, audible, and full
of Vent. Peace, is a very Apoplexy, Lethargie, mull'd,
deafe, sleepe, insensible, a getter of more bastard Children,
then warres a destroyer of men.
2
'Tis so, and as warres in some sort may be saide to
be a Rauisher, so it cannot be denied, but peace is a great
maker of Cuckolds.
1
I, and it makes men hate one another.
3
Reason, because they then lesse neede one another:
The Warres for my money. I hope to see Romanes as
cheape as Volcians. They are rising, they are rising.
Both.
In, in, in, in.
Exeunt
Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus.
Sicin.
We heare not of him, neither need we fear him,
His remedies are tame, the present peace,
And quietnesse of the people, which before
Were in wilde hurry. Heere do we make his Friends
Blush, that the world goes well: who rather had,
Though they themselues did suffer by't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestring streets, then see
Our Tradesmen singing in their shops, and going
About their Functions friendly.
Enter Menenius.
Bru.
We stood too't in good time. Is this Menenius?
Sicin.
'Tis he, 'tis he: O he is grown most kind of late:
Haile Sir.
Mene.
Haile to you both.
Sicin.
Your Coriolanus is not much mist, but with his
Friends: the Commonwealth doth stand, and so would
do, were he more angry at it.
Mene.
All's well, and might haue bene much better,
if he could haue temporiz'd.
Sicin.
Where is he, heare you?
Mene.
Nay I heare nothing:
His Mother and his wife, heare nothing from him.
Enter three or foure Citizens.
All.
The Gods preserue you both.
Sicin.
Gooden our Neighbours.
Bru.
Gooden to you all, gooden to you all.
1
Our selues, our wiues, and children, on our knees,
Are bound to pray for you both.
Sicin.
Liue, and thriue.
Bru.
Farewell kinde Neighbours:
We wisht Coriolanus had lou'd you as we did.
All.
Now the Gods keepe you.
Both Tri.
Farewell, farewell.
Exeunt Citizens
Sicin.
This is a happier and more comely time,
Then when these Fellowes ran about the streets,
Crying Confusion.
Bru.
Caius Martius was
A worthy Officer i'th' Warre, but Insolent,
O'recome with Pride, Ambitious, past all thinking
Selfe-louing.
Sicin.
And affecting one sole Throne, without assistāce
Mene.
I thinke not so.
Sicin.
We should by this, to all our Lamention,
If he had gone forth Consull, found it so.
Bru.
The Gods haue well preuented it, and Rome
Sits safe and still, without him.
Enter an Ædile.
Ædile.
Worthy Tribunes,
There is a Slaue whom we haue put in prison,
Reports the Volces with two seuerall Powers
Are entred in the Roman Territories,
And with the deepest malice of the Warre,
Destroy, what lies before 'em.
Mene.
'Tis Auffidius,
Who hearing of our Martius Banishment,
Thrusts forth his hornes againe into the world
Which were In-shell'd, when Martius stood for Rome,
Sicin.
Come, what talke you of Martius.
Bru.
Go see this Rumorer whipt, it cannot be,
The Volces dare breake with vs.
Mene.
Cannot be?
We haue Record, that very well it can,
And three examples of the like, hath beene
Within my Age. But reason with the fellow
Before you punish him, where he heard this.
Least you shall chance to whip your Information,
And beate the Messenger, who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.
Sicin.
Tell not me: I know this cannot be.
Bru.
Not possible.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes.
The Nobles in great earnestnesse are going
All to the Senate-house: some newes is comming
That turnes their Countenances.
Sicin.
'Tis this Slaue:
Go whip him fore the peoples eyes: His raising,
Nothing but his report.
Mes.
Yes worthy Sir,
The Slaues report is seconded, and more
More fearfull is deliuer'd.
Sicin.
What more fearefull?
Mes.
It is spoke freely out of many mouths,
How probable I do not know, that Martius
Ioyn'd with Auffidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,
And vowes Reuenge as spacious, as betweene
The yong'st and oldest thing.
Sicin.
This is most likely.
Bru.
Rais'd onely, that the weaker sort may wish
Good Martius home againe.
Sicin.
The very tricke on't.
Mene.
This is vnlikely,
He, and Auffidius can no more attone
Then violent'st Contrariety.
Enter Messenger.
Mes.
You are sent for to the Senate:
A fearefull Army, led by Caius Martius,
Associated with Auffidius, Rages
Vpon our Territories, and haue already
O're-borne their way, consum'd with fire, and tooke
What lay before them.
Enter Cominius.
Com.
Oh you haue made good worke.
Mene.
What newes? What newes?
Com.
You haue holp to rauish your owne daughters, &
To melt the Citty Leades vpon your pates,
To see your Wiues dishonour'd to your Noses.
Mene.
What's the newes? What's the newes?
Com.
Your Temples burned in their Ciment, and
Your Franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd
Into an Augors boare.
Mene.
Pray now, your Newes:
You haue made faire worke I feare me: pray your newes,
If Martius should be ioyn'd with Volceans.
Com.
If? He is their God, he leads them like a thing
Made by some other Deity then Nature,
That shapes man Better: and they follow him
Against vs Brats, with no lesse Confidence,
Then Boyes pursuing Summer Butter-flies,
Or Butchers killing Flyes.
Mene.
You haue made good worke,
You and your Apron men: you, that stood so much
Vpon the voyce of occupation, and
The breath of Garlicke-eaters.
Com.
Hee'l shake your Rome about your eares.
Mene.
As Hercules did shake downe Mellow Fruite:
You haue made faire worke.
Brut.
But is this true sir?
Com,
I, and you'l looke pale
Before you finde it other. All the Regions
Do smilingly Reuolt, and who resists
Are mock'd for valiant Ignorance,
And perish constant Fooles: who is't can blame him?
Your Enemies and his, finde something in him.
Mene.
We are all vndone, vnlesse
The Noble man haue mercy.
Com.
Who shall aske it?
The Tribunes cannot doo't for shame; the people
Deserue such pitty of him, as the Wolfe
Doe's of the Shepheards: For his best Friends, if they
Should say be good to Rome, they charg'd him, euen
As those should do that had deseru'd his hate,
And therein shew'd like Enemies.
Me.
'Tis true, if he were putting to my house, the brand
That should consume it, I haue not the face
To say, beseech you cease. You haue made faire hands,
You and your Crafts, you haue crafted faire.
Com.
You haue brought
A Trembling vpon Rome, such as was neuer
S'incapeable of helpe.
Tri.
Say not, we brought it.
Mene.
How? Was't we? We lou'd him,
But like Beasts, and Cowardly Nobles,
Gaue way vnto your Clusters, who did hoote
Him out o'th' Citty.
Com.
But I feare
They'l roare him in againe. Tullus Auffidius,
The second name of men, obeyes his points
As if he were his Officer: Desperation,
Is all the Policy, Strength, and Defence
That Rome can make against them.
Enter a Troope of Citizens.
Mene.
Heere come the Clusters.
And is Auffidius with him? You are they
That made the Ayre vnwholsome, when you cast
Your stinking, greasie Caps, in hooting
At Coriolanus Exile. Now he's comming,
And not a haire vpon a Souldiers head
Which will not proue a whip: As many Coxcombes
As you threw Caps vp, will he tumble downe,
And pay you for your voyces. 'Tis no matter,
If he could burne vs all into one coale,
We haue deseru'd it.
Omnes.
Faith, we heare fearfull Newes.
1 Cit.
For mine owne part,
When I said banish him, I said 'twas pitty.
2
And so did I.
3
And so did I: and to say the truth, so did very many
of vs, that we did we did for the best, and though wee
willingly consented to his Banishment, yet it was against
our will.
Com.
Y'are goodly things, you Voyces.
Mene.
You haue made good worke
You and your cry. Shal's to the Capitoll?
Com.
Oh I, what else?
Exeunt both.
Sicin.
Go Masters get you home, be not dismaid,
These are a Side, that would be glad to haue
This true, which they so seeme to feare. Go home,
And shew no signe of Feare.
The Gods bee good to vs: Come Masters let's
home, I euer said we were i'th wrong, when we banish'd
him.
2 Cit.
So did we all. But come, let's home.
Exit Cit.
Bru.
I do not like this Newes.
Sicin.
Nor I.
Bru.
Let's to the Capitoll: would halfe my wealth
Would buy this for a lye.
Sicin.
Pray let's go.
Exeunt Tribunes.
Enter Auffidius with his Lieutenant.
Auf.
Do they still flye to'th' Roman?
Lieu.
I do not know what Witchcraft's in him: but
Your Soldiers vse him as the Grace 'fore meate,
Their talke at Table, and their Thankes at end,
And you are darkned in this action Sir,
Euen by your owne.
Auf.
I cannot helpe it now,
Vnlesse by vsing meanes I lame the foote
Of our designe. He beares himselfe more proudlier,
Euen to my person, then I thought he would
When first I did embrace him. Yet his Nature
In that's no Changeling, and I must excuse
What cannot be amended.
Lieu.
Yet I wish Sir,
(I meane for your particular) you had not
Ioyn'd in Commission with him: but either haue borne
The action of your selfe, or else to him, had left it soly.
Auf.
I vnderstand thee well, and be thou sure
When he shall come to his account, he knowes not
What I can vrge against him, although it seemes
And so he thinkes, and is no lesse apparant
To th'vulgar eye, that he beares all things fairely:
And shewes good Husbandry for the Volcian State,
Fights Dragon-like, and does atcheeue as soone
As draw his Sword: yet he hath left vndone
That which shall breake his necke, or hazard mine,
When ere we come to our account.
Lieu.
Sir, I beseech you, think you he'l carry Rome?
Auf.
All places yeelds to him ere he sits downe,
And the Nobility of Rome are his:
The Senators and Patricians loue him too:
The Tribunes are no Soldiers: and their people
Will be as rash in the repeale, as hasty
To expell him thence. I thinke hee'l be to Rome
As is the Aspray to the Fish, who takes it
By Soueraignty of Nature. First, he was
A Noble seruant to them, but he could not
Carry his Honors eeuen: whether 'was Pride
Which out of dayly Fortune euer taints
The happy man; whether detect of iudgement,
To faile in the disposing of those chances
Which he was Lord of: or whether Nature,
Not to be other then one thing, not moouing
From th'Caske to th'Cushion: but commanding peace
Euen with the same austerity and garbe,
As he controll'd the warre. But one of these
(As he hath spices of them all) not all,
For I dare so farre free him, made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: but he ha's a Merit
To choake it in the vtt'rance: So our Vertue,
Lie in th'interpretation of the time,
And power vnto it selfe most commendable,
Hath not a Tombe so euident as a Chaire
T'extoll what it hath done.
One fire driues out one fire; one Naile, one Naile;
Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do faile.
Come let's away: when Caius Rome is thine,
Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
exeunt
| The Tragedy of Coriolanus | |