Men. Note me this, good friends; 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusation; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repe-Your most grave belly was deliberate, tition. [Shouts within] What shouts are these? The other side o'the city is risen: Why stay we prating here to the Capitol. Cit. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here? Enter Menenius Agrippa. Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you. 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say, poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know, we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest Will you undo yourselves? [neighbours, 1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care Have the patricians of you. For your wants, Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at the heaven with your staves, as lift them Against the Roman state; whose course will on The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs Of more strong link asunder, than can ever Appear in your impediment: for the dearth, The gods, not the patricians, make it; and Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, You are transported by calamity Thither where more attends you; and you slander The helms o'the state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies. 1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. Men. Either you must Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it; 1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time, when all the body's members I'the midst o'the body, idle and inactive, 1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? Men. Sir, I shall tell you.-With a kind of smile, Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus (For, look you, I may make the belly smile, As well as speak), it tauntingly replied To the discontented members, the mutinous parts Your belly's answer: What! In this our fabric, if that they- What then? 'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd Who is the sink o'the body, Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? Men. Men. I will tell you; If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little), Patience, awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer. 1 Cit. You are long about it. Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd: But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, 1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? [est, But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissenti- 1 Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will flatter Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you curs, Mar. Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, What says the other troop? They are dissolv'd: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth pro Mar. verbs; That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods sent Corn for the rich men only :-With these shreds [not This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, yon fragments! 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us The Volces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, And were I any thing but what I am, You have fought together. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, O, true bred! 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Lead you on :- Com. Noble Lartias! 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. Mar. [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners :-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House. Enter Tullus Autidius, and certain Senators. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, Auf. Who is of Rome wo se hated than of you), Auf. Nor did you think it folly, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, If they set down before us, for the remove O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties. Nay, more, 1 Sen. All. Farewell. Rome. Farewell. SCENE III. An Apartment in Marcius' House. [Exeunt Senators, Cominius, Marcius, Titus, Enter Volumnia and Virgilia: They sit down on two and Menenius. Citizens steal away. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Sic. Such a nature, low Stools, and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort: If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. Bru. Come ; Bru. Vir. But had he died in the business, madam, how then? Vol. Then his good report should have been my profess sincerely:-Had I a dozen sons,-each in my KR Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; As children from a bear, the Voices shunning him: Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! [Exit Gent. Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. Mess. Within this mile and half. Re-enter Gentlewoman, with Valeria and her Usher. Tullas Aufidius, is he within your walls? Vir. 1 am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little son? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster. Val. O'my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O'my troth, I look'd upon him o'Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it: O, I warrant, how he mammocked it! Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child. Vir. A crack, madam. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle buswife with me this afternoon. Vir. No, good madam: I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors? Vol. Why, I pray you? Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would, your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night. Vir. Indeed, madam? 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums [Alarums afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes: Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums, There is Aufidias; list, what work he makes Mar. Titus : They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you, [He enters the Gates, and is shut in. All. Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces have an army forth; Have shut him in. against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter. Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth. Val. In troth, I think, she would :-Fare you well then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, and go along with us. Vir. No at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth. Lart. What is become of Marcius? Slain, sir, doubtless Lart. 3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. Alarum continues still ofar off. Enter Marcius and Titus Lartius, with a Trumpet. Mar. See here these movers, that do prize their hours At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, Marcius, And hark, what noise the general makes!-To him:-We have at disadvantage fought, and did There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Sir, praise me not: My work hath yet not warm'd me: Fare you well. Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Thy friend no less. Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Retire, to win our purpose. Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on which They have plac'd their men of trust? [side Com. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates, Of their best trust o'er them Aufidius, Their very heart of hope. I do beseech you, Mar. By all the battles wherein we have fought, By the blood we have shed together, by the vows We have made to endure friends, that you directly Set me against Aufidius, and his Antiates: And that you not delay the present; but, Filling the air with swords advanc'd, and darts, We prove this very hour. Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, And balms applied to you, yet dare I never Deny your asking; take your choice of those That best can aid your action. Mar. Those are they That most are willing:-If any such be here If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, A shield as hard as his. A certain number, Make good this ostentation, and you shall [since! Divide in all with us. May give you thankful sacritice!-Thy news? SCENE VII. The Gates of Corioli. Titos Lartius, having set a Guard upon Corioli, going with a Drum and Trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Marcius, enters with a Lieutenant, a Party of Soldiers, and a Scout. Lart. So,let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve For a short holding: If we lose the field, We cannot keep the town. Lieut. Fear not our care, sir. Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.-Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. A Field of Battle between the Roman and the Volscian Camps. Alarum. Enter Marcius and Aufidius. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate Worse than a promise-breaker. [thee Halloo me like a hare. Mar. If I fly, Mareius, Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd; 'Tis not my blood, Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge, Wrench up thy power to the highest. Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, Thou shouldst not scape me here. [They fight, and certain Volces come to the Aid Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me [Exeunt fighting, driven in by Marcius. SCENE IX. The Roman Camp. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, Cominius and Romans; at the other side Marcius, with his Arm in a Scarf, and other Romans. Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug, I'the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted, And, gladly quak'd, hear more; where the dull tribunes, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, Shall say, against their hearts-We thank the gods, Our Rome hath such a soldier! Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Enter Titus Lartius, with his Power, from the Lart. Mar. Pray now, no more: my mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise me, grieves me. I have done, As you have done; that's what I can; induc'd As you have been; that's for my country: He, that has but effected his good will, Hath overta'en mine act, Com. You shall not be The grave of your deserving; Rome must know Of all the horses Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store), of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth, Before the common distribution, at Your only choice. Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take A bribe, to pay my sword. I do refuse it; And stand upon my common part with those That have beheld the doing. [A long Flourish. They all cry, Marcins! Marcius cast up their Caps and Lances: Cominius and Lartius stand bare. Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall Or foii'd some debile wretch,-which, without note, As if I lov'd my little should be dieted Too modest are you; Com. More cruel to your good report, than grateful To us that give you truly by your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you (Like one that means his proper harm), in manacles, Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it known, As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius Wears this war's garland: in token of the which, My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him, With all his trim belonging; and, from this time, For what he did before Corioli, call him, With all the applause and clamour of the host, Caius Marcius Coriolanus.Bear the addition nobly ever! [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. All, Caius Marcius Coriolanus! Cor. I will go wash; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome Lart. I shall, my lord. Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg Of my lord general. Take it 'tis yours-What is't! Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli, He cried to me; I saw him prisoner; At a poor man's house; he us'd me kindly: Com. But then Aufidius was within my view, O, well begg'd! By Jupiter, forgot: I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.-- Com. [Exeunt. 1 Sol. Twill be deliver'd back on good condition. Auf. Condition ?- I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My valour's poison'd, With only suffering stain by him; for him Will not you go? ("Tis south the city mills), bring me word thither How the world goes; that the pace of it I may spur on my journey. |