The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare. With a Glossary

Com. The people are abus'd:-Set on.-This palBecomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus [t'ring Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely I'the plain way of his merit. Cor.

Tell me of corn!

This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;-
Men. Not now, not now.
1 Sen.

Not in this heat, sir, now.
Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends,
I crave their pardons :-

For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: I say again,

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,

Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and scatter'd,

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given to beggars.

Men.

Well, no more.

O good, but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory shall, being but

The horn and noise o'the monsters, wants not spirit
To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,

And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,

Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators and they are no less,
When, both your voices blended, the greatest taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece! By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take
The one by the other.

Com.
Well, on to the market-place.
Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth
The corn o'the storehouse gratis, as 'twas us'd
Sometime in Greece,

Men.

Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed [power) The ruin of the state. Bru. Why, shall the people give One, that speaks thus, their voice? Cor. I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know,the corn Was not our recompense; resting well assur'd They ne'er did service for't: Being press'd to the war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, They would not thread the gates: this kind of service Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war, Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusation Which they have often made against the senate, All cause unborn, could never be the motive Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? How shall this bosom multiplied digest The senate's courtesy.? Let deeds express

What's like to be their words :- We did request it;
We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands:-Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope
The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows
To peck the eagles.--
Come, enough.
Bru. Enough, with over-measure.

Men.

Cor.

No, take more : What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal!-This double worship,Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom, Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no Of general ignorance,-it must omit Real uecessities, and give way the while. To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseechi You that will be less fearful than discreet; [you,That love the fundamental part of state, More than yon doubt the change of't; that prefer A noble life before a long, and wish To jump a body with a dangerous physic That's sure of death without it,-at once pluck out The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should become it; Not having the power to do the good it would, For the ill which doth control it.

Bru.

He has said enough. Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do.

Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee !What should the people do with these bald tribunes? On whom depending, their obedience fails

To the greater bench: In a rebellion,

When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,
Then were they chosen; in a better hour,
Let what is meet, be said, it must be meet,
And throw their power i'the dust.

Men. On both sides more respect.
Sic.
Take from you all your power.
Bru.

Seize him, sediles. Cit. Down with him, down with him!

2 Sen.

[Several speak. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about Coriolanus. Tribunes, patricians, citizens !--what, bo!-Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens !

Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace!
Men. What is about to be ?-I am out of breath;
Confusion's near I cannot speak :-You, tribunes
To the people.-Coriolanus, patience :--
Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.
Hear me, people ;- Peace.
Cit. Let's hear our tribune :-Peace. Speak, speak,
speak.

Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties:
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,
Whom late you have nam'd for consul.

Men. Fie, fie, fie! This is the way to kindle, not to quench. 1 Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat. Sic. What is the city, but the people? Cit. True,

The people are the city.

Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd The people's magistrates.

Cit.

You so remain.

Men. And so are like to do.

Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat;

Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield.
Men.

Hear me one word.
Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.
Edi. Peace, peace.

Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend,
And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.

Bru.

Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous
Where the disease is violent :-Lay hands upon him,
And bear him to the rock.
Cor.
No; I'll die here.
[Drawing his Sword.
There's some among you have beheld me fighting;
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.
Men. Down with that sword;-Tribunes, withdraw
Bru. Lay hands upon him.
[awhile.
Men.
Help Marcius! help,
You that be noble; help him, young, and old!
Cit. Down with him, down with him!
[In this Mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles, and
the People, are all beat in.

Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone, away,
All will be naught else.

2 Sen. Cor.

Get you gone.

We have as many friends as enemies.

Men. Shall it be put to that? 1 Sen.

people,

I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two;
The which shall turn you to no further harm,
Than so much loss of time.
Sic.
Speak briefly then;
For we are peremptory to despatch
This viperous traitor: to eject him hence,
Were but one danger; and, to keep him here,
Our certain death; therefore, it is decreed,
He dies to-night.
Men.
Now the good gods forbid,
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserved children is enroll'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!

Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away.
Men. O, he's a limb, that has but a disease;
Stand fast; Mortal, to cut it off: to cure it, easy.
What has he done to Rome that's worthy death?
Killing our enemies? The blood he hath lost
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath,
By many an ounce), he dropp'd it for his country:
And, what is left, to lose it by his country,
Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it,
A brand to the end o'the world.
Sic.

The gods forbid !

I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause.

Men.

For 'tis a sore upon us.
You cannot tent yourself: Be gone, 'beseech you.
Com. Come, sir, along with us.

Cor. I would they were barbarians (as they are,
Though in Rome litter'd), not Romans (as they are not,
Though calv'd i'the porch o'the Capitol),-
Men.

Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;
One time will owe another.

Cor.

I could beat forty of them.
Men.

Be gone,

On fair ground,

I could myself [bunes.
Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tri-
Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic;
And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands
Against a falling fabric.-Will you hence,
Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear
What they are used to bear.
Men.
Pray you, be gone :
I'll try, whether my old wit be in request
With those that have but little; this must be patch'd
With cloth of any colour.
Com.

Nay, come away.
[Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, and others.
1 Pat. This man has marr'd his fortune.
Men. His nature is too noble for the world:
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,
Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his
mouth:

What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent;
And being angry, does forget that ever
He heard the name of death.
Here's goodly work!
2 Pat.

(A Noise within. I would they were a-bed!

If it were so,

Sic. What do ye talk?
Have we not had a taste of his obedience?
Our ædiles smote ? ourselves resisted?-Come :-
Men. Consider this ;-He has been bred i'the wars
Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd
In boulted language; meal and bran together
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him
Where he shall answer, by a lawful form
(In peace), to his utmost peril.
1 Sen.
Noble tribunes,
It is the humane way: the other course
Will prove too bloody; and the end of it
Unknown to the beginning.
Noble Menenius,

Well, Men. Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them ?-I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them?

Vol.

You are too absolute; Though therein you can never be too noble, But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends, I'the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, In peace, what each of them by th' other lose, That they combine not there. Tush, tush!

Cor. Men. A good demand. Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem The same you are not (which, for your best ends, Yon adopt your policy), how is it less, or worse, That it shall hold companionship in peace With honour, as in war; since that to both It stands in like request?

Cor.
Why force you this?
Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak
To the people; not by your own instruction,
Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you to,
But with such words that are but rooted in
Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables
Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a town with gentle words,
Which else would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.-

I would dissemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at stake, requir'd,
I should do in honour: I am in this,

Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you will rather show our general louts

How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them,
For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard
Of what that want might ruin.

Men.

Noble lady!

Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so,
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss
Of what is past.

Vol.

I pr'ythee now, my son, Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand; And thus far having stretch'd it (here be with them), Thy knee bussing the stones (for in such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant More learned than the ears), waving thy head, Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart, Now humble, as the ripest mulberry, That will not hold the handling: Or, say to them, Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils, Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess, Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim, In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far As thou hast power, and person.

Men.

This but done, Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours; For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free As words little purpose. Vol.

Pr'ythee now,

Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius.

Can thereto frame his spirit.
Vol.
He must, and will:-
Pr'ythee, now say, you will, and go about it.
Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd sconce ?
Must I,
With my base tongue, give to my noble heart
A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single plot to lose,
This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it,
And throw it against the wind.-To the market-
place :-

You have pot me now to such a part, which never
I shall discharge to the life.
Com.

Come, come, we'll prompt you.
Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet son; as thou hast said,
My praises made thee first a soldier, so,
To have my praise for this, perform a part,
Thou hast not done before.

Cor.

Well, I must do't:

Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees,
Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms-I will not do't:
Lest surcease to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

Vol.
At thy choice then:
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
With as big a heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me ;
But owe thy pride thyself.

Cor.

Pray, be content; Mother, I am going to the market-place; Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going: Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; Or never trust to what my tongue can do I'the way of flattery, further.

Vol.

[self

Do your will. [Exit. Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm yourTo answer mildly; for they are prepar'd With accusations, as I hear, more strong Than are upon you yet.

Cor. The word is, mildly :-Pray you, let us go: Let them accuse me by invention, I Will answer in mine honour.

Men.

Ay, but mildly.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly. [Exeunt.

Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procur'd, Set down by the poll? Edi. I have; 'tis ready, here. Sic. Have you collected them by tribes ? Edi.

I have.

Sic. Assemble presently the people hither:
And when they hear me say, it shall be so
I'the right and strength o'the commons, be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I say, fine, cry fine; if death, cry death:
Insisting on the old prerogative

And power i'the truth o'the cause.
Edi.

I shall inform them.
Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry,
Let them not cease, but with a dia confus'd
Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.
Adi.

Bru.

Very well.

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,
When we shall hap to give't them.
Go about it.
[Exit Edile.
Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd
Ever toreonquer, and to have his worth
Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temperance; then be speaks
What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.
Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Senators,
and Patricians.

Sic. Well, here he comes.
Men.

Calmly, I do beseech you. Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume.-The honour'd

gods

Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice Supplied with worthy men! plant love among us! Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, And not our streets with war!

Amen, amen!

Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so.

Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take i

From Rome all season'd office, and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical;

For which, you are a traitor to the people. Cor. How! traitor ?

Men.

Nay; temperately; your promise. Cor. The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the people! Call me their traitor?--Thon injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say, Thon liest, unto thee, with a voice as free As I do pray the gods. Sic.

Mark you this, people?

Cit. To the rock with him; to the rock with him!
Sic.
Peace.

We need not put new matter to his charge:
What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,
Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him; even this,
So criminal, and in such capital kind,

Deserves the extremest death..

Is this Know,

Men.

The promise that you made your mother?
Com.
I pray you,
Cor.

I'll know no further:
Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,
Vagabond exile, flaying; Pent to linger
But with a grain a day, I would not buy
Their mercy at the price of one fair word;
Nor check my courage for what they can give,
To have't with saying, Good morrow.

Sic.
For that he has
(As much as in him lies) from time to time
Envied against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power; as now at last
Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distribute it; In the name o'the people,
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city;
From off the rock Tarpeian, never more
In peril of precipitation
To enter our Rome gates: Í'the people's name,
I say, it shall be so.
It shall be so,

Cit.

It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd,
And so it shall be.

Com. Hear me, my masters, and mycommon friends;-
Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing.
Com.
Let me speak:

I have been consul, and can show from Rome,
Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love
My country's good, with a respect more tender,
More holy, and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase,
And treasure of my loins: then if I would
Speak that-

Sic.
We know your drift: Speak what!
Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd,
As enemy to the people, and his country:
It shall be so.

Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so. Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men That do corrupt my air, I banish you; And here remain with your uncertainty! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into despair! Have the power still To banish your defenders; till, at length, Your ignorance (which finds not, till it feels), Making not reservation of yourselves (Still your own foes), deliver you, as most Abated captives, to some nation That won you without blows! Despising, For you, the city, thus I turn my back: There is a world elsewhere.

[Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, Menenius, Senators, and Patricians, Edi. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! [The People shout, and throw up their Caps, Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him,

Sic. They say, she's mad.
Bru.

They have ta'en note of us :

SCENE 1. The same. Before a Gate of the City. Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, and several young Patricians.

Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:-
the beast

With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say, extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating: fortune's blows,
When moststruck home, being gentle wounded, craves
A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens !
Cor.

Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,

Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in And occupations perish!

[Rome,

Cor.
What, what, what!
I shall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius,

Keep on your way.

Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague o'the
Requite your love.
[gods
Men.
Peace, peace; be not so loud.
Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should
hear,-

Nay, and you shall hear some.-Will you be gone?
[To Brutus.
Vir. You shall stay too: [To Sic.] I would I had
To say so to my husband.
[the power
Are you mankind?
Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame ?-Note but this,
fool.-

Sic.

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome,
Than thou hast spoken words?

Sic.

O blessed heavens !
Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words;
And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what;-Yet go:-
Nay, but thou shalt stay too I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.

Sic.

Vir.

What then?

Droop not; adieu:-Farewell, my wife! my mother! He'd make an end of thy posterity.

I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,

And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime general,
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld,
Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women,
"Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at them.--My mother, you wot well,
My hazards still have been your solace: and
Believe't not lightly (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen), your son
Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous baits and practice.

Vol.
My first son,
Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee awhile: Determine on some course,
More than a wild exposture to each chance
That starts i'the way before thee.

Cor.

O the gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee.
Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us,
And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth
A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vast world, to seek a single man;
And lose advantage, which doth ever cool
I'the absence of the needer.

Cor.

Fare ye well:-
Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd; bring me but out at gate.-
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch, when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me aught
But what is like me formerly.

Men.
'That's worthily
As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.-
If I could shake off but one seven years
From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone :
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son
(This lady's husband here, this, do you see),
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic.

Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
Take my prayers with you.-
I would the gods had nothing else to do,

Vol.

[Exeunt Tribunes.

But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.
Men.

You have told them home,
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go :
Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Men. Fie, fie, fie!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Highway between Rome and Antium.
Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting.
Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me:
your name, I think, is Adrian.

Volce. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.
Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you
are, against them: Know you me yet?

Volce. Nicanor? No.

Rom. The same, sir.

Volce. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian's state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Volce. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

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