*;^
**^,,-Q:
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2011 witii funding from University of Toronto ■
lnttp://www.arcliive.org/details/tragedyofcorioOOsliak
EDITED BY
WILLIAM ALLAN NEILSON
AND
ASHLEY HORACE THORNDIKE
r^
v5
•y'^y^
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
NEW YORK • BOSTON - CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO
MACMILLAN & CO., Limited
LONDON • BOMBAY • CALCUTTA MELBOURNE
THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd.
TORONTO
^^ , w - will be published in forty
XTbe Uu^or SbaRcspeare volumes, including au of
the plays and poems. It is under the general editorship of \S illiam All^n NEIL80N. Ph.D.. of Harvard University, and Ashley HoaACK Thorn-dike. Ph.D.. L.H.D.. of Columbia University. The followmg volumes, each under the special editorship of an American scholar, are now ready or in preparation.
Published in 1911
Romeo and Juliet — The General Editors,
A Midsummer-Night's Dream John W. Cunliffe, D.Lit., Profes- sor of English. University of Wisconsm.
Macbeth — Arthur C. L. Bro\vn, Ph.D., Professor of English, North- western University.
Henry IV. Part I — Fr.^nk W. Chandler, Ph.D., Professor of Eng- lish and Comparative Literature. University of Cincinnati.
Troilus and Cressida — John 3. P. Tatlock, Ph.D., Professor of Eng- lish. University of Michigan.
Henry V— Lewis F. Mott. Ph.D., Professor of English. College of the City of New York.
The Merchant of Venice Harry M. Atres. Ph.D.. Assistant Pro- fessor of English, Columbia University.
As You Like It— Martha H. Shackford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English Literature. Wellesley College.
Coriolanus — Stuart P. Sherman, Ph.D.. Professor of English, Uni- versity of Illinois.
Henry VI, Part I — Louise Pou^td, Ph.D.. Assistant Prof essor of Eng- lish. University of Nebraska.
_ In Preparation
King Lear — ViBGiNiA C. GrLOERSLEEVE. Ph.D., Dean of Barnard College.
The Tempest — Herbert E. Greene, Ph.D., Professor of English, Johns Hopkins University.
Much Ado about Nothing -William W. Lawrence, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English. Columbia University.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona — Marttn W. Sampson, A.M.. Pro- fessor of English. Cornell University.
Henry VIII — Charles G. Dunlap, Litt.D., Professor of English, Uni- versity of Kansas.
Henry VI, Part II — Charles H. P ■ rxwell. Ph.D.. Professor of English, University of Alabama.
All's Well that Ends Well — John L. Lowes, Ph.D., Professor of Eng- lish, Washington University, St. Louis,
The Winter's Tale — Lauka J. Wylie, Ph,D., Professor of English, Vassar College.
Measure for Measure — Edgar C. Morris, A.M., Professor of Eng- lish, Syracuse University.
Venus and Adonis, and Lucrece — Carleton Brown, Ph.D., Pro- fessor of English, Bryn Mawr College.
Richard II — Hardin Craig, Ph.D., Professor of English, University of Minnesota.
King John — Henrt M. Belden, PkD., Professor of English, Uni- versity of rvlissouri.
The Sonnets — Raymono ]M. Alden, Ph.D., Professor of English. Universitj"^ of Illinois.
Merry Wives of Windsor — Fred P. Emery, A.M., Professor of Rhet- oric and Oratory, Dartmouth College.
Richard III — George B. Churchill, Ph.D., Professor of English, Amherst College.
Antony and Cleopatra —George Wyllys Benedict, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, Brown University.
Othello — Thomas M. Parrott, Ph.D., Professor of English, Prince- ton University.
Twelfth Night — Walter Morris Hart, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, University of California.
Titus Andronicus — Elmer E. Stoll, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English, Western Reserve University.
Love's Labour's Lost — James F. Royster, Ph.D., Professor of Eng- lish, University of North Carolina.
Cymbeline — Will D. Howe, Ph.D., Professor of English, Indiana University. '
Comedy of Errors — Frederick Morgan Padelford, Ph.D., Pro- fessor of the English Language and Literature, University of Washington.
Hamlet — George Pierce Baker, A.B., Professor of Dramatic Lit- erature, Har%'ard Universitj'.
Julius Caesar — Robert M. Lovett, A.B., Professor of English, Chicago Universitj-.
Henry IV, Part II — Elizabeth Deering Haxscom, Ph.D., Pro- fessor of English, Smith College.
Pericles — C. Alphonso Smith, Ph.D., Professor of English, Univer- sity of Virginia.
Ctiirtniir i/f'l rrio^imiur.
u/J:^ip^^
K-S^^-
IE TUDORre^iW^HAKESPEAREK^
Cl^e Cragcti^ of CoriDla nu0
EDITED BY
STUART P. SHERMAN. Ph.D.
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Z\jt Ztxt uscB is tfjc Ncilsott Ztit copgrtflfjictJ in 1906 bg SSailliam Sllan Xcilson
Cop2tigf}t, 1912 iSg C{)c IBarmillan Compang
JFirst f^Jition of tfjis issue of " Z\)c CrasftJs of Coriolanua printrti Sanuars, ldl2
9Introtiuctfon
Text. — Coriolanus was printed for the first time in the Folio of 1623. This edition, of which the readings are frequently difficult and corrupt, is the sole original author- ity, and constitutes accordingly the basis of the present text.
Date of Composition. — By the general consent of editors the date has been fixed between 1608 and 1610. The external evidence is of the filmiest. For some points of Menenius's story of the belly and the members which are not found in Plutarch it has been conjectured that Shake- speare was indebted to a version of the tale which appears in Camden's Remains^ published in 1605. Those who have supported a date prior to 1609 have relied mainly upon a supposed allusion to Coriolanus^ II. ii. 105, in Jonson's The Silent Woman, acted in 1609: " Well, Dauphine, you have lurched your friends of the better half of the garland " (V. i — Truewit's last speech). The arguments based on the dearth of 1 608-1 609, the mulberry planting of 1609, and the change of a word in the Plutarch of 161 2 are too slight independently to bear any weight. The internal evidence, however, — the closeness of struc- ture, the occasional curtness and even crabbedness of style, the abundance of lines with weak and double end- ings — points unmistakably towards a date near the end of the period of the great tragedies. vii
viii 31ntroDuction
Source of the Plot. — The ultimate source of the play lies in the uncertain twilight of legend behind the dawn of Roman history.^ According to the accepted tradition, the life of Coriolanus falls in the period following the expul- sion of the Tarquins ; and his candidacy for the consulship in the year 491 B.C. The early accounts are extremely meager, and they differ widely in important points. Fa- bius, the oldest Roman annalist, writing in the time of Hannibal, reports that Coriolanus lived on in exile into old age. Cicero, though aware of a diverse story, has him commit suicide. Livy is uncertain as to the mode of his death. In his somewhat detailed narrative, Volumnia is the wife; Veturia is the mother; and Tullus Aufidius is represented by Attius Tullus. The account of Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the Greek historian on whom Plutarch seems chiefly to depend, tallies fairly well with that of Livy.
All the records of earlier writers, however, appear but as scant and shadowy outlines beside the mellow and im- perishable masterpiece of Plutarch of Chaeronea (bom 50 A.D.). A biographer of Shakespearean insight, he grasped the central issues, breathed affluent humanity upon the scattered shreds of tradition, and created the towering Roman hero whom we know. By a double stroke of good fortune Plutarch's great collection of biographies became accessible to Shakespeare in a version which did honor to the original. The first praise for the moderniza- tion of this classic is due to Jaques Amyot, Grand Almoner of France and Bishop of Auxerre, who in 1559 published
1 For an examination of the historical sources of Plutarch see Mommsen's Romische Forschungen, Bd. II, Berhn, 1879.
3|ntroDuction ix
his French translation in a style to which Montaigne awarded the palm. In 1579 Thomas North, one of the noblest masters of Elizabethan prose, rendered Amyot's work into English. ^ Three other editions appeared in Shakespeare's lifetime — in 1595, 1603, and 1610-1612.
The relationship between the tragedy and The Life of Caius Martins Coriolanus in North's Plutarch is remarkably close. On a casual comparison one might be tempted to assert that Shakespeare merely translates his material from the biographical to the dramatic form. He adds scarcely a stroke to the richly detailed characterization of the hero, and he is anticipated in the names and at least a hint of the nattxre of virtually all the other actors. The main incidents — the struggle between the classes, the siege of Corioli and the disposition of the battle, the candi- dacy for the consulship, the banishment, the union with Tullus Aufidius, the siege of Rome, the embassy of friends and family, the compromise, the conspiracy of the Vol- scians — all these are to be found in the original. Further- more, the essence of the tragedy for Plutarch no less than for Shakespeare is moral rather than political; the strife ^* of patricians and populace is but as the soxmd of drums and cymbals accompanying the conflict in the spirit of the pro- tagonist. Finally, Shakespeare takes over from North's translation many passages almost word for word, including parts of some of the finest speeches. It is not more than
1 For a reprint of the complete work see George Wyndham'a edition in six volumes in the Tudor Translations ; see also Shakespeare's Plutarch by W. W. Skeat, and the useful edition of the Life of Coriolanits by R. H. Carr (Clarendon Press).
X 31ntroDuction
justice to say that he must share his triumph with two bril- liant coadjutors, North and Plutarch.
Yet there is a great gulf between biographical narration and dramatic action. Examined more narrowly, Coriola- nus reveals everywhere as compared with Plutarch — in suppression as well as in addition, in compression, empha- sis, and intensification — a more exigent mind controlling a far more diflBcult art, a genius of higher pitch evoking a far more complex harmony.
Thus at the beginning of the play Shakespeare condenses the three popular uprisings recorded by Plutarch into one, because that suffices for his purpose. In Plutarch the banishment of Coriolanus follows some time after his failure to secure the consulship and in consequence of his opposition to a free distribution of com. Shakespeare makes the banishment fall on his hero at the pinnacle of glory, hot on the heels of his candidacy. The omens and supernatural visions following the exile and made promi- nent by Plutarch, Shakespeare suppresses in the interest of the sternly realistic mood in which he has conceived the drama. He makes no use of " Martins Coriolanus' crafty accusation of the Volscians," perhaps thinking it inconsistent with the fiery frankness of his hero. He transfers the scene of the Volscian conspiracy from Antium to Corioli in the interest of tragic irony. His are the speeches of citizens and officers interpreting the mind of the people; the dialogue of servants in the house of Aufidius; the household scene between Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria; the effective scene in which Coriolanus reveals his poignant physical repugnance to exhibiting his scars to the
31ntroDuction xi
people; the scene in which Coriolanus's family and friends entreat him to temporize and assume himiility ; the scene in which Menenius is rebuffed. Most important of all is his development of the minor characters. Menenius, save for a hint two or three lines long, is his own creation. He re- places the vague " children " of Plutarch by the delightful sketch of the young Marcius. He subdues Valeria, who is the real heroine of the original, and brings Voltminia into the foreground, transforming her from a tearful suppliant into a matron of heroic mould and temper — such a woman as Cato would have a Roman mother. He disposes all the persons of the play in such a way that like so many mirrors they reflect the countenance of the hero and flash their light back upon his face.
The more closely th ese alterations are studied — the list is by no means exhaustive — the more indispensable they ap- pear, and the more clearly it becomes evident that Shake- speare did not, as some of the elder commentators declared, take Plutarch over bodily and exactly, but, highly as he prized his material, transformed it to his own uses, dealt with it freely, imaginatively, creatively in his own imperial way.
That there was no saving grace in the subject is suffi- ciently illustrated by the fate of the several continental plays on the same theme. Among these may^be mentioned Calderon's curiously anachronistic piece. Las Armas de la Hermosura; Alexandre Hardy's Coriolan, published in 1626; Urbain Chevreau's Coriolan, 1638 ; Le veritable Coriolan by Chapoton, 1638; Gaspard Abeille's Coriolan presented in 1676; Chaligny des Plaines' Coriolan pre- sented in 1722; and the Coriolan of La Harpe, 1784.
xii 31ntroDuctton
Relations to Contemporary Drama. — The English stage had of course long been familiar with various periods of Roman history when Coriolanus appeared. A play now lost, Julyus Sesar, performed at court two years before Shakespeare's birth, was herald to a series of attempts to present dramatically the life of the most popular hero of antiquity. In the neighborhood of 1588 Thomas Lodge drew upon North's Plutarch for The Wounds of Civil War, a play dealing in the loose style of the old chronicle history with the affairs of Marius and Sulla. An endeavor to treat classical subjects in classical form — in the fashion of Seneca — appears in the Countess of Pembroke's Tragedy of Antonie, printed in 1592, and in Daniel's com- panion piece, Cleopatra, printed in 1594. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is assigned to about the year 1600. In 1603, Heywood presented in a popular and typically Elizabethan vulgarization the ancient Roman story of the rape of Lu- crece. In the same year was produced Marston's turgid tragedy of Sophonisba, printed in 1606 with some con- temptuous allusions to the historical pedantry of honest Ben. Certain parallelisms might be shown between char- acters and situations in Sophonisba and Coriolanus. An important union of learned theory and professional stage- craft not found among aristocratic amateurs and university playwrights takes place in Jonson's Sejanus, also acted in 1603. About five years later Shakespeare was at work on Antony and Cleopatra.
Though Coriolanus is thus obviously the product of an extended dramatic evolution sustained by a popular de- mand for subjects drawn from ancient history, it would be
31ntroDuction xiii
difficult to demonstrate in this case any specific indebted- ness on Shakespeare's part to his predecessors in the Ro- man field. Having himself previously levied upon North's Plutarch for Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra, he was his own greatest predecessor in the choice of a Roman theme. Julius Caesar stands at the beginning of his great tragic period, and is not fairly to be brought into comparison with the other two plays. The notable differ- ences in handling as between the nearly contemporaneous Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus are probably to be explained rather by Shakespeare's innate and profound sense of propriety and the exigencies of his material than by any alteration in his theory or external impulse. From his fellow dramatists of the romantic tradition certainly the author of Othello had at this time little to learn of technique. It is tempting to conjectiire, though impossible to prove, that the classical precept and example of Jonson strengthened Shakespeare's movement in this period to- ward a somewhat austere realism, — helping to determine in Coriolanus the restriction of comic by-play, the severity of style, the close knitting of parts, the rigorous unity of action. His conception of tragic character, however, clearly owed nothing to the exasperated author of Sejanus and Catiline.
Stage History. — Coriolanus was resuscitated and re- modeled after the Restoration by Nahum Tate, who saw " in some Passages, no small Resemblance with the busie Faction of our own time." Tate's attempt at timeliness is visible in his alteration of the title to The Ingratitude of a Commonwealth, or the Fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus
xiv 3|ntro0ttction
(1682). The most significant changes in the play itself are in the fifth act, where the dramatist strains for crude sensation by accumulating upon the original assassination of the hero the horrors of Virgilia's suicide, the murder of Menenius, the torture of young Martins, the killing of Aufidius, and the madness of Volumnia. In the isolated fall of the hero in Shakespeare's version there is something of sacrificial solemnity; Tate's conception of terror is well characterized by a line which he puts into the mouth of the improved Coriolanus:
" Convultions! Feavers! blewest Pestilence! "
In November, 1719, the unsuccessftil version of the poetaster and criticaster John Dennis, known as The Invader of his Country or the Fatal Resentment^ was pre- sented three times on the stage of Drury Lane, the leading part being taken by Booth. Dennis endeavored to bring the old and barbarous Elizabethan tragedy of Shakespeare into conformity with the dramatic ideals of his own very polite and learned age. He held, like many critics of his time, that Shakespeare was a great genius seriously handi- capped by ignorance of the rules. He felt that Coriolanus was particularly faulty in failing to observe the principle of poetic justice: " The Good must never fail to prosper, and the Bad must be always punish' d: Otherwise the Incidents, and particularly the Catastrophe which is the grand Incident, are liable to be imputed rather to chance, than to Almighty Conduct and to Sovereign Justice. The want of this impartial Distribution of Justice makes the Coriolanus of Shakespeare to be without Moral " {On the Genius and Writings of Shakespeare^ 171 1). Besides kill-
31ntroUuctton xv
ing Aufidius to equalize the punishment, Dennis mars the political scenes, adds some low comedy, and imder- scores the love interest.
Because of its influence upon the stage versions of Shake- speare it is necessary to mention here Thomson's post- humous tragedy of Coriolanus^ brought out in 1749 at the Covent Garden Theater. This is a new play founded not on Plutarch, but on Livy and Dionysius of Halicamassus. Attius Tullus replaces Aufidius ; Veturia is the name given to Coriolanus's mother; and Volumnia is represented as his wife. Valeria does not appear. Another feature of interest is the introduction into the Volscian camp of the philosophical Galesus. Thomson's version is much more " regular " than that of Dennis. It retains no trace of the virtues of Shakespeare. All the rich variety of speech, the fulness of characterization, the vivid incidents, the shifting moods and humors are rejected in favor of a frigid de- conmi in style and persons, and an idle pomp of declama- tion. This singularly lifeless tragedy was presented ten times. The old print reproduced in the present volume ^ shows James Quin with flowing locks posing as Corio- lanus in high-plumed bonnet and a ciirious close-bodied garment with a short, stiff, widely-flaring skirt; on her knees before him Peg Woffington as Vetiuia, voluminous in crinoline.
Coriolanus or the Roman Matron^ an amalgamation of Thomson and Shakespeare attributed to Thomas Sheridan
1 Through the courtesy of the Dramatic Museum of Columbia University.
xvi 31ntroliuction
and first brought out on the Dublin stage, was produced at the Theater Royal in Covent Garden in December, 1754. Galesus, Volusius, and Veturia, which part was played by Peg Woffington, are taken over from Thomson. An edition of the tragedy published in 1780 includes a portrait of Sheridan in the character of Coriolanus.
A second combination of Thomson and Shakespeare, arranged by John Kemble under the same title, was pro- duced by him at Drury Lane in February, 1789. The first three acts deviated Uttle, except by omission, from Shake- speare. Thomson supplied the opening of the fourth, and a considerable element of the fifth act. The part of Vo- lumnia, now restored to its original position,, was as- sumed by Mrs. Siddons, and Coriolanus was taken by Kemble.
With these two great tragic actors in the leading roles, Shakespeare may be said — according to the testimony of such critics as Lamb and HazUtt — to have inherited his very wishes and the buildings of his fancy so far as stage representation is concerned. In them the grand classical style of acting culminated, and Coriolanus was probably Kemble's greatest, as it was certainly his most celebrated, impersonation. Under his management a considerable impulse was given toward propriety in costume and scenic effect. By their stateliness of bearing and sustained nobil- ity of manner, both he and his illustrious sister reminded their audiences of antique statuary. Kemble played Coriolanus at intervals for nearly thirty years, and in that character made his reluctant and triumphant farewell to the stage at Covent Garden, June 23, 181 7.
3!titroDuction xvii
On January 24, 1820, Edmund Kean, whose flexible and fiery genius broke down the classical tradition of the Kembles, appeared at Drury Lane in the first modem pro- duction of Coriolanus with the text of Shakespeare re- stored; but his temper and stature were unequal to the part. The most plausible English successor of Kemble in this role was Macready, who made his appearance as Coriolanus in 1819, and kept the play on the stage during the next generation. In America Edwin Forrest imper- sonated the ardent yet statuesque Roman with great dis- tinction and success. Edwin Booth, like Kean and Gar- rick, apparently felt himself by nature unqualified for the part. Sir Henry Irving studied the piece for many years, intending an elaborate production to be supervised by Alma Tadema ; but his costly revival, finally brought out in 1901, was unsuccessful. Since about the middle of the last century Coriolanus seems to have wanted both an actor and an audience. ^
Interpretation. — Modem readers and critics often im- consciously view the drama through a kind of historical mist interposed by the rise of republican institutions. In the light of democratic hope, not unmingled with demo- cratic cant, Coriolanus has frequently been regarded as essentially a one-sided presentation of the claims of aristocratic versus popular government. " This noble drama," Mrs. Inchbald remarks in the preface to the act- ing version included in the British Theater (1808), " has been withdrawn from the theater of late years, for some reasons of state. When the lower order of people are in good plight, they will bear contempt with cheerfulness, and
xviii 3introDuction
even with mirth ; but poverty puts them out of humour at the slightest disrespect. Certain sentences in this play are, therefore, of dangerous tendency at certain times, though at other periods they are welcomed with loud applause." Charles Gildon, a stout Whig of Queen Anne's time who believes that " the People were never in the Wrong, but once," declares that " Our Poet seems fond to lay the Blame on the People, and everywhere is repre- senting the Inconstance of the People, but this is con- trary to Truth" {Remarks on the Plays of Shakespear^ 1710). On the other hand Nahimi Tate, a man of differ- ent kidney, revives Coriolanus, as we have seen, in the time of Charles II, " to Recommend Submission and Adherence to establisht Lawful Power, which, in a word, is Loyalty."
In spite of the irresistible attraction of Coriolanus to political philosophers, it is extremely doubtful whether Shakespeare wrote the play with any political purpose whatsoever. It does not of course settle the question to point out that he presents the virtues and vices of Coriola- nus, the demagoguery of the tribunes, and the mobility of the populace substantially as they appear in Plutarch. It is a material consideration, however, that he betrays, like Plutarch, by his emphasis upon a minute characteri- zation of the hero an overwhelming interest in the specific moral and psychological problem before him. In other words, both Shakespeare and his original are profound and impartial students of human nature. In both the primary instinct is representative and artistic. The Greek biog- rapher does not write to debate the issues between the classes; he writes to depict an individual, to expose his
31ntroUuction xix
virtues, defects, and idiosjmcrasies, and to exhibit the relationship existing between the various qualities of his nature and the critical acts of his life. There, too, for Shakespeare lies the heart of the matter.
We can be certain that he felt the dramatic value of the strife between patricians and plebeians in the elucidation of his hero's personality, in the extemalization of his character; but we cannot say with assurance that he felt it to be a question of great intrinsic interest. Coriolanus, to be sure, is vehemently interested in it, and gives his views of popular government in no mincing terms. But the other side of the argument is not really presented at all. It has been urged that this omission is due to Shakespeare's aristocratic prejudices, and this would be a fair charge if he had written the play with a political purpose. It is much more likely, however, that the omission is due to artistic economy. It is not necessary to debate the issues between patricians and plebeians, because the tragedy does not turn on them. It turns in Shakespeare, as in Plutarch, not upon political issues, but upon personal defects; it turns upon the intemperate pride, the fiery choler, the inflexibility of Coriolanus. He might have secured the consulship, if he could have asked for it ingratiatingly. He might have held his political opinions as long and as stoutly as he chose, provided only that on necessary occasions he could have held his tongue. He was not, strictly speaking, overthrown by populace, trib- unes, or Volscians. The rocks on which he split were, as we say, the defects of his own qualities. He was ruined by his too steadfast valor, by his too sturdy
XX 31ntroDttction
self-respect, by the too passionate unity and sincerity of his nature.
This point deserves emphasis, for it is of the essence of the tragedy. Coriolanus is not, as a recent writer of dis- tinction declares, a tragedy of pride of birth, of a hero who never rises above the immediate emotion, " at heart the basest of human creatures." It is, on the contrary, the tragedy of the uncompromising idealist. The emotion which suffuses him is the foam and spray of the tide of opposition breaking in vain against his inviolable principles. The keynote of his character is struck in that splendid speech in which, under tremendous pressure from his friends, he has been rehearsing the never-acted scene of his submission to the people:
I will not do't, Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth And by my body's action teach my mind A most inherent baseness.
It is a serious mistake to consider birth the principal source of the pride of Coriolanus. Like Burke, he holds to the presumption that lofty bearing, political wisdom, and disinterested virtue are most likely to be found in a class elevated by fortune above the base compliances of neces- sity and long habituated to the exercise of power. So far his pride of birth extends. But like modem democrats — not demagogues — he believes that these qualities are the only qualifications for government; he does not for a moment rest his claim to esteem upon the accidents of rank and inheritance. His self-respect rests upon the fimdamentally democratic basis of his actual achievements.
3lntroDuctton xxi
It is likewise a mistake to regard Coriolanus's war against his own country as proof of a nature essentially base. An ancient commentator might have referred this terrible crime to the saying that whom the gods would destroy they first make mad. The act clearly proceeds .. not from the man's essential nature, which was noble, but y/\ from a nature temporarily transformed by blinding passion • kindled by insufferable outrage. Plutarch with pene- trating subtlety describes the mood of Coriolanus in exile as one of profound sorrow in the disguise of a kind of ecstasy of wrath: " For when sorow (as you would saye) is set a fyre, then it is converted into spite and malice. . . . And this is the cause why the choUericke man is so altered, and mad in his actions, as a man set a fyre with a burning agewe." And Shakespeare follows Plutarch here: the sullen and silent Coriolanus sitting down before the gates of Rome is a man smoldering in rage and transformed be- yond the recognition of his dearest friends. If this scene represented the essential nature of the hero, we should have no tragedy.
According to both Plutarch and Shakespeare, the tragedy of Coriolanus is the failure of a high, sincere, and splendid character who cannot discipline his virtues to live in tolerable relations with either the vices or the vir- tues of his fellows. His integrity is so complete, his con- victions so inflexible, his sincerity so perfect as to be soli- tary and unsocial. His qualities, good in the abstract and in isolation, betray in society a cutting and evil edge, and clash with other and conflicting good qualities. Curiously enough Shakespeare seems to allow the imphilosophical
xxii JlntroDuction
Aufidius to make the final scrupulously careful analysis of his hero's merits and defects, and to state the fundamental issues:
Whether 'twas pride, Which out of daily fortune ever taints The happy man; whether defect of judgement, To fail in the disposing of those chances Which he was lord of ; or whether nature, Not to be other than one thing, not moving From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace Even with the same austerity and garb As he controll'd the war; but one of these, — As he hath spices of them all — not all, — For I dare so far free him, — made him fear'd; . So, hated; and so, banish'd: but he has a merit To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues Lie in the interpretation of the time; And power, unto itself most commendable, Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair To extol what it hath done. One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths fail.
Cl^e Cragetit of Cotfolanujs
[DRAMATIS PERSON/E
C-vrcs MAHcrcs, afterwards Caius Marcius Coriolaj^^cs
Titus Lartius, ] , •.,•,-,•
^ > generals against the ^ olscians.
CoMrs-ics, J
Menenius Agrippa, friend to Coriolanus.
Sicrs'ius Velutus, 1 , .,
, T-, } tnbunes of the people.
Jcxius Brutts, j
Young Marcics, son to Coriolanus.
A Roman Herald.
TuLLCS AuFiDius, general of the Volscians.
Lieutenant to Aufidius.
Conspirators with Aufidius.
A Citizen of Antium.
Two Volscian Guards.
Volumxia, mother to Coriolanus. Virgilia, wife to Coriolanus. Valeria, friend to Virgilia. '
Gentlewoman, attending on Virgilia.
Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, ^diles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Serv^ants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.
Scene: Rome and the neighbourhood ; Corioli and the neighbourhood ; Antium.]
€]^e Ctagedt of Coriolanusi
ACT FIRST
Scene I
[RoTue. A street.]
Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, vnth staves ^ clubs, and other weapons.
1. Cit. Before we proceed any further, hear me
speak. All. Speak, speak. 1. Cit. You are all resolv'd rather to die than to
famish ? 5
All. Resolv'd, resolv'd. 1. Cit. First, you know Caius Marcius is chief
enemy to the people. All. We know 't, we know 't. 1. Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our 10
own price. Is't a verdict ? AIL No more talking on't ; let it be done. Away,
away ! S. Cit. One word, good citizens. 3
i
4 ^\)t tCragcD? of Coriolanus Act i
!J
1. Cit. We are accounted poor citizens, the pa- lb
tricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us ; if they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely ; but thej' think we are too dear. The leanness that 20 afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance ; \ I our sufiFerance is a gain to them. Let us re- jj venge this with our pikes, ere we become i rakes ; for the gods know I speak this in hun- 25 ger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.
2. Cit. Would you proceed especially against
Caius Marcius ?
All. Against him first ; he's a very dog to the commonalty.
2. Cit. Consider you what services he has done 30 for his country ?
1. Cit. Very well ; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays him- self with being proud.'
[2, Cit.] Nay, but speak'not maliciously. 35
1. Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done fa- mously, he did it to that end. Though soft- conscienc'd men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud ; which he is, even to 40 the altitude of his virtue.
Sc. I tB\)t ®rageD^ of Coriolanu0
2. Cit. WTiat he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.
1. Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations ; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. (Skoiiis unthin.) What shouts are these ? The other side o' the city is risen ; why stay we prating here ? To the Capitol !
All. Come, come. 50
1. Cit. Soft ! who comes here ?
Enter Menenius Agrippa.
2. Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath
always lov'd the people.
1, Cit. He's one honest enough ; would all the
rest were so ! ' 55
Men. What work 's, my countrymen, in hand ? "VMiere
go you With bats and clubs ? The matter ? Speak, I
pray you.
2. 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 60 deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths ; they shall know we have strong arms too.
6 W^t Cragetit' of Coriolanu0 Act i
Men. ^\Tiy, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves ? 65
2. Cit. "We cannot, sir, we are undone alread3\
Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the patricians of you. For your wants, { / Your suflfering in this dearth, you may as well ' Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them 70
Against the Roman state, whose course will on d The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs u Of more strong link asunder than can ever |
Appear in your impediment. For the dearth, f » The gods, not the patricians, make it, and 75
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 ^Mien you curse them as enemies. 80
'2. Cit. Care for us ! True, indeed ! They ne'er car'd for us yet : suffer us to famish, and their store-houses cramm'd with grain ; make edicts for usury, to support usurers ; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the 85 rich, and pro\nde 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.
Sc. I ®t)e Sl^rageo^ of Coriolanu^ 7
Men. Either you must 90
Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you A pretty tale. It may be you have heard it ; But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture To stale 't a little more. 95
S. 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 Rebell'd against the belly, thus accus'd it : 100 That only like a gulf it did remain I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive. Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing Like labour with the rest, where the other in- struments Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 105 And, mutually participate, did minister Unto the appetite and affection common Of the whole body. The belly answer'd —
2. Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the
belly .? 110
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 115 That envied his receipt ; even so most fitly
S XL\)t Cragetii? of Cortolanus? Act i
As you malign our senators for that They are not such as you.
2. Cit. Your belly's answer? ^\'^lat!
The kingly-CTowned head, the vigilant eye, The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, 120
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter. With other muniments and petty helps In this our fabric, if that they —
Men. What then ?
'Fore me, this fellow speaks ! \^1lat then ? what then?
2. Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, 1^5 ^Vho is the sink o' the body, —
Men. Well, what then ?
2. Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer ?
Men. I will tell you.
If you'll bestow a small — of what j'ou have little — 129
Patience a while, you'st hear the belly's answer.
2. Cit. Ye're long about it.
Men. Note me this, good friend ;
Your most grave belly was deliberate. Not rash like his accusers, and thus answered : "True is it, my incorporate friends," quoth he, "That I receive the general food at first 135
^\Tiich you do live upon ; and fit it is, Because I am the store-house and the shop
Sc. I tClje tETrageD^ of Coriolanus; 9
Of the whole body. But, if you do remember, I send it through the rivers of your blood, Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o' the brain ; 140
And, through the cranks and offices of man. The strongest nerves and small inferior veins From me receive that natural competency WTiereby they live. And though that all at once. You, my good friends," — this says the belly, mark me, — 145
2. Cit. Ay, sir ; well, well.
Men. "Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each. Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flour of all. And leave me but the bran." What say you to 't ? 150
2. Cit. It was an answer. How apply you this ^
Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly. And you the mutinous members ; for examine Their counsels and their cares, digest things
rightly Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find 155
No public benefit which you receive But it proceeds or comes from them to you And no v/ay from yourselves. What do you think, You, the great toe of this assembly ?
lo arije ®rageD^ of Coriolanusf Act i
2. Cit. I the great toe! Why the great toe? 160 // Men. For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest, >
Of this most wise rebelUon, thou goest foremost ;
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'st first to win some vantage.
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs ; 165
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle,
The one side must have bale.
Enter Caius Marcius.
r Hail, noble Marcius !
Mar. Thanks. 'What's the matter, you dissentious
rogues, '"
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 169
Make yourselves scabs ?
2. Cit. We have ever your good word.
Mar. He that will give good words to thee will flatter
Beneath abhorring. WTiat would you have, you
curs, That like nor peace nor war ? The one affrights
you. The other makes you proud. He that trusts to
you. Where he should find you lions, finds you hares ; 175 Where foxes, geese. You are no surer, no. Than is the coal of fiire upon the ice, Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is To make him worthy whose offence subdues him,
Sc. I ®t)e QJrageDi? of Coriolanusf n
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness 180
Deserves your hate ; and your affections are A sick man's appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends Upon your favours swims with fins of lead And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye ! Trust ye ? 185
With every nunute you do change a mind, And call him noble that was now your hate, Him vile that was your garland. WTiat's the
matter. That in these se-^^eral places of the city You cry against the noble Senate, who, 190
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another ? What's their seek-
\
Men. For corn at their own rates ; whereof, they say. The city is well stor'd. v
Mar. Hang 'em ! They say !
They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know 115 What's done i' the Capitol ; who's like to rise, Who thrives, and who declines ; side factions,
and give out Conjectural marriages ; making parties strong. And feebling such as stand not in their Uking Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain enough ! 200
13 ®t)e Crageti^ of Coriolanusf Act i
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance. Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded ; 205 For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, What says the other troop .' Mar. They are dissolv'd, hang 'em !
They said they were an-hungry ; sigh'd forth
proverbs, That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must
eat, 210
That meat was made for mouths, that the gods
sent not Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds They vented their complainings ; which being
answer'd, And a petition granted them, — a strange one To break the heart of generosity, 215
And make bold power look pale, — they threw
their caps As they would hang them on the horns o' the
moon, Shouting their emulation. Men. "VMiat is granted them ?
Mar. Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms. Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus, 220
Sc. I ari)e ®rageD^ of Coriolanu0 13
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not — 'Sdeath !
The rabble should have first unroof d the city, • |
Ere so prevail' d with me. It will in time ; Win upon power and throw forth greater themes \
For insurrection's arguing. f
Men. This is strange. 225
Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments !
Enter a Messenger, hastily.
Mess. Where's Caius Marcius ?
Mar. Here. What's the matter ?
Mess. The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't. Then we shall ha' means to vent Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders. 230
Enter Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators; Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus.
1. Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us ;
The Volsces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader,
TuUus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.
I sin in envying his nobility,
And were I anything but what I am, 235
I would wish me only he.
14 turtle tCragetj^ of Coriolanusf Act i
Com. You have fought together ?
Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears and he
Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make
Only my wars with him. He is a lion
That I am proud to hunt. 1. Sen. Then, worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars. 241
Com. It is your former promise. Mar. Sir, it is ;
And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.
\Miat, art thou stiff ? Stand'st out ? Lart. ' No, Caius Marcius ;
111 lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, 246
Ere stay behind this business. Men. O, true-bred !
[1.] Sen. Your company to the Capitol ; where, I know,
Our greatest friends attend us. Lart. [To Com.] Lead you on.
[To Mar.] Follow Cominius ; we must follow you ; 250
Right worthy you priority. Com. Noble Marcius !
[1.] Sen. [To the Citizens.] Hence to your homes ;
begone ! Mar. Nay, let them follow.
The Volsces have much corn ; take these rats thither
Sc. I ac^e ®tageU^ of Coriolanu0 15
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners. Your valour puts well forth ; pray, follow. 255 Citizens steal away. Exeunt all hut Sicinius and Brutus.
Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius ?
Bru. He has no equal.
Sic. \!\'hen we were chosen tribunes for the people, —
Bru. Mark'd you his Kp and eyes ?
Sic. Nay, but his taunts.
Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. 260
Sic. Be-mock the modest moon.
Bru. The present wars devour him ! He is grown Too proud to be so valiant.
Sic. Such a nature.
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow WTiich he treads on at noon. But I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded 266
Under Cominius.
Bru. Fame, at the which he aims.
In whom aheady he's well grac'd, cannot Better be held nor more attain'd than by A place below the jSrst ; for what miscarries 270 Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man, and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, "O, if he Had borne the business !"
Sic. Besides, if things go well.
i6 tl^^t tlTrageD^ of Coriolanusf Act i
Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall 275
Of his demerits rob Cominius. Bru. Come.
Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not, and all his faults
To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed
In aught he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear 280
How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion,
More than his singularity, he goes
Upon this present action. Bru. Let's along. Exeunt.
Scene II
[Corioli. The Senaie-house.] Enter Tullus Aufidiu^ with Senators of Corioli.
1. Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are ent'red in our counsels And know how we proceed.
Auf. Is it not yours ^
What ever have been thought on in this state, That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome 5 Had circumvention } 'Tis not four days gone Since I heard thence ; these are the words : — I
think I have the letter here ; yes, here it is : —
Sc. II tlT^e tlTrageD^ of Coriolanus? 17
[Reads.] "They have press'd a power, but it is not
known Whether for east or west. The dearth is great ; The people mutinous ; and it is rumour'd, 11
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, "VMio is of Rome worse hated than of you, And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, These three lead on this preparation 15
Whither 'tis bent. Most likely 'tis for you ; Consider of it."
J?. Sen. Our army's in the field.
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us.
Auf. Nor did you think it folly
To keep your great pretences veil'd till when 20 They needs must ,show themselves ; which in the
hatching, It seem'd, appeared to Rome. By the discovery We shall be short'ned in our aim, which was To take in many towns ere almost Rome Should know we were afoot.
S. Sen. Noble Aufidius, 25
Take your commission ; hie you to your bands ; Let us alone to guard Corioli. If they set down before 's, for the remove Bring up your army ; but, I think, you'll find They've not prepar'd for us.
Auf. O, doubt not that ;
c
i8 X!^\)t tlTraget)^ of Coriolanu0 Act i
I speak from certainties. Nay, more, 31
Some parcels of their power are forth already, And only hither ward. I leave your honours. If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike 35
Till one can do no more.
All. The gods assist you !
Auf. And keep your honours safe !
1. Sen. Farewell.
S. Sen. Farewell.
All. Farewell. Exeunt.
Scene III
[Rome. A roam in Marcius' house.]
Enter Volumnia and Virgilia: they set them down on two low stools, and sew.
Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing ; or express your- self 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 5 show most love. When yet he was but ten- der-bodied and the only son of my womb,lwhen youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his'Way, when for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her behold- 10 ing, I, considering how honour would become such a person, that it was no better than pic-
Sc. Ill ^\)t tCrageD^ of Coriolanus; 19
ture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleas'd to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him ; from whence he return' d, his 15 brows bound with oak?' I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than no-^7 in first seeing he had proved himself a man.
Vir. But had he died in the business, madam ; 20 how then ?
Vol. Then his good report should have been my son ; I therein would have found issue. [Hear me profess sincerely : had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike and none less dear than thine 25 and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one volup- tuously surfeit out of action. -
Enter a Gentlewoman.
Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. 30
Vol. Indeed, you shall not.
Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum. See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair. As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him. Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus : 35 " Come on, you cowards ! you were got in fear,
ao
tCtic tErageD^ of Conolanusf Act i
Though you were born in Rome." His bloody
brow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes. Like to a harvest-man that's task'd to mow Or all or lose his hire. 40
Vir. His bloody brow ! 0 Jupiter, no blood !
Vol. Away, you fool ! it more becomes a man
Than gUt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba, \Mien she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood 45 At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome. Exit Gent,
Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius !
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee
And tread upon his neck. 50
Enter Valeria, with an Usher and Gentlewoman.
Val. My ladies both, good day to you.
Vol. Sweet madam.
Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.
Val. How do you both ? You are manifest house- keepers. ^Miat are you sewing here ? A fine 55 spot, in good faith. How does your little
son r
Vir. I thank your ladyship ; well, good ma- -^w dam. ■
Vol. He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster.
it
Sc. Ill ^\)t ®rageU]^ of Coriolauus; 21
VcU. 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 ; has such a confirm'd countenance. I saw him run 65 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 ; catch'd it again ; or whether bis fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it. O, I warrant, how he mammock'd it !
Vol. One on 's father's moods.
Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack, madam.
Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery ; I must have 75 you play the idle housewife with me this after- noon.
Vir. No, good madam ; I will not out of doors.
Val. Not out of doors !
Vol. She shall, she shall. 80
Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience ; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.
Vcd. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably.
Come, you must go visit the good lady that 85 lies in.
Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers ; but I cannot go thither.
Vol. Why, I pray you ?
22 ®^e ®rageu^ of Coriolanusf Act i
Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want 90 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 95 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 100 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 ? 105
Val. In earnest, it's true ; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is : the Volsces have an army forth ; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius are set down be- 110 fore their city Corioli ; the}^ nothing doubt pre- vailing 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 everything hereafter. 115
Vol. Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will but disease oiu- better mirth.
Sc. IV ^\)t tErageD^ of Coriolauus? 23
Val. In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then. Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door, and go 120 along with us.
Vir. No, at a word, madam ; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.
Vol. Well, then, farewell. Exeunt.
Scene IV
Before Corioli.
Enter, with drum and colours, Marcius, Titus Lartius, Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger.
Mar. Yonder comes news. A wager they have met. Lart. My horse to yours, no. Mar. 'Tis done.
Lart. Agreed.
Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy ? Mess. They lie in view ; but have not spoke as yet. Lart. So, the good horse is mine.
Mar. I'll buy him of you. »
Lart. No, I'll nor sell nor give him ; lend you him F
I will 6 :
For half a hundred years. Summon the town. 11 Mar. How far off lie these armies ? I !
Mess. Within this mile and half .
Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.
Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, 10
34 ®t)e tCragetJ^ of Coriolanusf Act I
That we with smoking swords may march from
hence To help our fielded friends ! Come, blow thy
blast.
They sound a 'parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls.
TuUus Aufidius, is he within your walls ? 1. Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That's lesser than a little. [Drum afar off.]
Hark ! our drums 15
Are bringing forth our youth. We'll break our
walls, Rather than they shall pound us up. Our gates. Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with
rushes ; They'll open of themselves. [Alarum afar off.]
Hark you, far off ! There is Aufidius ; list, what work he makes 20 Amongst your cloven army. Mar. O, they are at it !
Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho !
Enter the army of the Volsces.
Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields. Advance,
brave Titus ! 25
Sc. IV ®^e ®rageD^ of CoriolanusJ 25
They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts. Which makes me sweat with wrath. /""Come on, my
fellows ! i^
He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce, And he shall feel mine edge. [Eacit]
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter Marcius, cursing.
Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you, 30 You shames of Rome ! you herd of — Boils and
plagues Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd Further than seen, and one infect another Against the wind a mile ! You souls of geese. That bear the shapes of men, how have you run 35 From slaves that apes would beat ! Pluto and
hell! All hurt behind ! Backs red, and faces pale With flight and agued fear ! Mend and charge
home. Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe And make my wars on you. Look to't ; come
on ! 40
If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wiv^s.
As they us to our trenches followed. if
Another alarum. [The Volsces fly,] and
Marcius follows them to the gates.
26 '^^t tE^rageu^ of Coriolanusf Act i
So, now the gates are ope ; now prove good
seconds. 'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers. Mark me, and do the like. 45
Enters the gates. 1. Sol. Fool-hardiness ; not I. 8. Sol. Nor I.
Marcius is shut in. 1. Sol. See, they have shut him in.
Alarum continues. AU. To the pot, I warrant him.^
Re-enter Titus Lartiu^.
Lart. What is become of Marcius ?
All. Slain, sir, doubtless.
1. Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters ; who, upon the sudden, 50 Clapp'd to their gates. He is himself alone. To answer all the city.
Lart. 0 noble fellow ! /
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left,
Marcius ; A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, 55
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible Only in strokes ; but, with thy grim looks and
Sc. V titlje tlPraseD^ of Coriolanusi 27
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds, Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world 60
Were feverous and did tremble.
Re-enter Marcius, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.
1. Sol. Look, sir.
Lart. O, 'tis Marcius !
Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
They fight, and all enter the city.
Scene V
[Corioli. A street.] Enter certain Romans, with spoils.
1. Rom. This will I carry to Rome.
2. Rom. And I this.
3. Rom. A murrain on't ! I took this for
silver.
Exeunt. Alarum continues still afar off.
Enter Marcius and Titus Lartius with a Trumpet. Mar. See here these movers that do prize their hours 5 At a crack' d drachma ! Cushions, leaden spoons, Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves. Ere yet the fight be done, pack up. Down with them !
28 tE^\)t tKrageD^ of Coriolanus? Act i
And hark, what noise the general makes ! To him! 10
There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,
Piercing our Romans ; then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city ;
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste
To help Cominius. Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st. 15
^ Thy exercise hath been too violent for
A second course of fight. Mar. Sir, praise me not,
My work hath yet not warm'd me ; fare you well.
The blood I drop is rather physical
Than dangerous to me. To Aufichus thus 20
I will appear, and fight. Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune,
Fall deep in love with thee ; and her great charms
Misguide thy opposers' swords ! Bold gentle- man.
Prosperity be thy page ! Mar. Thy friend no less
Than those she placeth highest ! So, farewell. 25 Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius ! [Exit Marcius.]
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place ;
Call thither all the ofl&cers o' the town,
Where they shall know our mind. Away !
Exeunt.
Sc. VI ^^e tETrageU^ of Coriolanusf 29
Scene VI
[Near the camp of Cominius.]
Enter Cominius, as it were in retire, with soldiers.
Com. Breathe you, my friends ; well fought. We
are come off Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands. Nor cowardly in retire. Beheve me, sirs, We shall be charg'd again. WTiiles we have
struck, By interims and conveying gusts we have heard The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods ! 6 Lead their successes as we wish our own. That both our powers, with smiling fronts en-
count'ring, May give you thankful sacrifice.
Enter a Messenger.
Thy news ?
Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued 10
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle.
I saw our party to their trenches driven,
And then I came away. Com. Though thou speak'st truth,
Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is't since ? Mess, Above an hour, my lord. 15
30 Ctie CragcD^ of Coriolanusf Act i
Com. 'Tis not a mile ; briefly we heard their drums. How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour, And bring thy news so late ?
Mess. Spies of the Volsces
Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel Three or four miles about, else had I, sir, 20
Half an hour since brought my report.
Enter Marciu-s. Com. Who's yonder,
That does appear as he were flay'd ? O gods !
He has the stamp of Marcius ; and I have
Before-time seen him thus. Mar. Come I too late .**
Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor 25
More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue
From every meaner man. Mar. Come I too late ?
Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
But mantled in your own. Mar. 0, let me clip ye
In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart 30
As merry as when our nuptial day was done,
And tapers burn'd to bedward ! Com. Flower of warriors.
How is't with Titus Lartius } Mar. As with a man busied about decrees :
Condemning some to death, and some to exile ; 35
Sc. VI ®lje tCrageO^ of Coriolanusf 31
Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning th^
other ; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, To let him slip at will. Com. Where is that slave
Which told me they had beat you to your trenches ? 40
/ Where is he ? Call him hither. Mar. Let him alone ;
j He did inform the truth. But for our gentle- I men, —
/ The common file — a plague ! tribunes for them ! — The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did
budge From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you ?
Mar. Will the time serve to tell "^ I do not think. 46 \\Tiere is the enemy ? Are you lords o' th' field ? If not, why cease you till you are so ? Com. Marcius,
We have at disadvantage fought, and did Retire to win our purpose. 50
Mar. How lies their battle ? Know you on which side They have plac'd their men of trust ? Cam. As I guess, Marcius,
33 ®l)e ^ragcD^ of Coriolanufi? Acti
Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates, Of their best trust ; o'er them Aiifidius, Their very heart of hope.
Mar. I do beseech you, 55
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, 60
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 65 That best can aid your action.
Mar. Those are they
That most are willing. If any such be here — As it were sin to doubt — that love this painting Wherein you see me smear'd ; if any fear Lesser his person than an ill report ; 70
If any think brave death outweighs bad life. And that his country's dearer than himself ; Let him alone, or so many so minded, Wave thus, to express his disposition. And follow Marcius. 75
They all shout and wave their swords^ take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps.
Sc. VII tKi)c tC^ragcD^ of Coriolanus; 33
O, me alone, make you a sword of me ?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volsces ? None of you but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as kis. A certain number, 80
Though thanks to all, must I select from all ; the
rest Shall bear the business in some other fight, As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march ; And four shall quickly draw out my command, Which men are best incHn'd. Com. March on, my fellows!
Make good this ostentation, and you shall 86
Divide in all with us. Exeunt.
Scene VII
[The gates of Corioli.]
Titius Lartius, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with drum and trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Marcius, enters with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers, and a Scout.
Lart. So, let the ports be guarded ; keep your duties. As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch Those centuries to our aid ; the rest will serve For a short holding. If we lose the field. We cannot keep the town.
34 ^^t tErageD^ of Coriolanutf Act i
Lieu. Fear not our care, sir.
Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon 's. 6
Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct
us. Exeunt.
Scene VIII
[A field of battle.]
Alarum as in battle. Enter Marcius and Aufidius at several doors.
Mar. I'll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee
Worse than a promise-breaker. Auf. We hate alike.
Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor
More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot. Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave, 5
And the gods doom him after ! Auf. If I fly, Marcius,
HoUoa me like a hare. Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus,
Alone I fought in your Corioli walls.
And made what work I pleas'd. 'Tis not my blood
"VMierein thou seest me mask'd ; for thy revenge 10
Wrench up thy power to the highest. Auf. Wert thou the Hector
That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny.
Sc. IX ^^e tKrageD]? of Coriolanus; 35
Thou shouldst not scape me here.
Here they fight, and certain Volsces come in the aid of Aufidius. Marcius fights till they be driven in breathless. Officious, and not valiant, you have sham'd me In your condemned seconds. [Exeunt.] 15
Scene IX
[The Roman camj).]
Flourish. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Enter, at one door, Cominius vnth the Romans; at another door, Marcius, with his arm in a scarf.
Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not beheve 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, 5 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, 10
Having fully din'd before.
36 ©tie ^u^txi^ of Coriolanus; Act i
Enter Titus Lartius, with his power, from the pursuit.
Lart. O general,
Here is the steed, we the caparison. Hadst thou beheld —
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 15
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.
Cora. You shall not be
The grave of your deserving ; Rome must know 20 The value of her own. 'Twere a concealment Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, To hide your doings, and to silence that Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd, Would seem but modest ; therefore, I beseech you — 25
In sign of what you are, not to reward What you have done — before our army hear me.
Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves rememb'red.
Com. Should they not.
Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, 30
And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses.
Sc. IX tClje tCrageD^ of Conolanus; 37
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 S5
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. 40
A long flourish. They all cry, "Marcius ! Marcius ! " cast up their caps and lances. Cominius and Lartius stand hare. May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more ! WTien drums and trumpets
shall I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be Made all of false-fac'd soothing ! |
WTien steel grows soft as the parasite's silk, 45
Let him be made a coverture for the wars ! No more, I say ! For that I have not wash'd My nose that bled, or foil'd some debile wretch, — Which, without note, here's many else have done, — You shout me forth 50
In acclamations h\T)erbolical, As if I lov'd my little should be dieted In praises sauc'd with lies.
38 tC^e ^^rageu^ of Coriolanu0 Act i
Com. Too modest are you ;
More cruel to your good report than grateful To us that give you truly. By your patience, 55 K 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put
you, Like one that means his proper harm, in man- acles, 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, 60 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, Catus IVLa.rcius Coriok^xus ! Bear 65
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 AMiether I blush or no ; howbeit, I thank you. 70 I mean to stride your steed, and at all times To undercrest your good addition To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent ;
Sc. IX tCl;e tlTrageD^ of Coriolanus? 39
Where, ere we do repose us, we will write
To Rome of our success. You, Titus Lartius, 75
Must to Corioli back, send us to Rome
The best, with whom we may articulate
For their own good and ours.
Lart. I shall, my lord.
Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I, that now
Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg 80 Of my lord genera) .
Com. Take't ; 'tis yours. "What is't .''
Cor. I sometime lay here in Corioli
At a poor man's house ; he us'd me kindly. He cried to me, — I saw him prisoner, — But then Aufidius was within my view, 85
And wrath o'erwhelmed my pity. I request you To give my poor host freedom.
Com. 0, well begg'd !
Were he the butcher of my son, he should Be free as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.
Lart. Marcius, his name ^
Cor. By Jupiter ! forgot. 90
I am weary ; yea, my memory is tir'd. Have we no wine here "t
Com. Go we to our tent.
The blood upon your visage dries ; 'tis time It should be look'd to. Come. Exeunt.
40 ®t)e Crageu^ of Coriolanusf Act i
Scene X
[The camp of the Vobces.]
A flourish. Cornets. Enter Tullus Aufidius, bloody, with two or three Soldiers.
Auf. The town is ta'en !
[1.] Sol. 'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition.
4.w/. Condition !
I would I were a Roman ; for I cannot.
Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition ! 5
What good condition can a treaty find
I' the part that is at mercy ? Five times, Marcius,
I have fought with thee ; so often hast thou beat
me, And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter As often as we eat. By the elements, 10
If e'er again I meet him beard to beard. He's mine, or I am his. Mine emulation Hath not that honour in't it had ; for where I thought to crush him in an equal force, True sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way ; 15
Or wrath or craft may get him.
[l.]Sol. ^ He's the devil.
Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd With only suff'ring stain by him ; for him
Sc. X grije ®ragcti^ of Coriolanusf 41
Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep nor sanctuary. Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol, 20
The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice, Embargements all of fury, shall lift up Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst My hate to Marcius. Where I find him, were it At home, upon my brother's guard, even there. Against the hospitable canon, would I 26
Wash my fierce hand in 's heart. Go you to the
city ; Learn how 'tis held, and what they are that must Be hostages for Rome.
[l.]Sol. Will not you go .?
Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove. I pray you — 30
'Tis south the city mills — bring me word thither How the world goes, that to the pace of it I may spur on my journey.
[1.] Sol I shall, sir.
lExeurU.]
ACT TWO
Scene I
[Rome. A public place.]
Enter Menenius, with the two Tribunes of the people^ Sicinius and Brutus.
Men. The augurer tells me we shall have news to- night. Bru. Good or bad ? Men. Not according to the prayer of the people,
for they love not Marcius. 5
Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their
friends. Men. Pray you, who does the wolf love .'* Sic. The lamb. Men. Ay, to devour him ; as the himgry plebeians 10
would the noble Marcius. Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a
bear. Men. He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb.
You two are old men : tell me one thing that 15
I shall ask you. Both. Well, sir. Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that
you two have not in abundance ? Bru, He's poor in no one fault, but stor'd with 20
aU.
4^
Sc. I ®l)e tCragetJ^ of Coriolanutf 43
Sic. Especially in pride.
Bru. And topping all others in boasting.
Men. This is strange now. Do you tv/o know how
you are censured here in the city, I mean of 25 us o' the right-hand file ? Do you ?
Both. TVTiy, how are we censur'd ?
Men. Because you talk of pride now, — will you not be angry ?
Both. Well, well, sir, well. 30
Men. TVTiy, 'tis no great matter ; for a very. little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience. Give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures ; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. 35 You blame Marcius for being proud ?
Bru. We do it not alone, sir.
Men. I know you can do very little alone, for your helps are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single ; your abilities are too 40 infant-like for doing much alone. You talk of pride : 0 that you could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks, and make but an in- terior survey of your good selves ! 0 that you could !
Both, What then, sir ? 45
Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as any in Rome.
44 ^^t tE^xuQtt}^ of Cotiolanus? Act n
Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough
too. 50
Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in't ; said to be some- thing imperfect in favouring the first complaint; hasty and tinder-like upon too trivial motion ; 55 one that converses more with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the morn- ing. What I think, I utter, and spend my malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as you are — I cannot call you Ly- 60 curguses — if the drink you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I can't say j^our worships have deliver'd the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables ; and 65 though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough too ? What harm can your bisson conspectuities 70 glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too ?
Bra. Come, sir, come, we know you well enough.
Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any- thing. You are ambitious for poor knaves' 75 caps and legs. You wear out a good whole-
Sc. I tCtie tCrageu^ of Coriolanusf 45
some forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange-wife and a faucet-seller ; and then re- journ the controversy of three pence to a sec- ond day of audience. WTien you are hearing 80 a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinch'd with the colic, you make faces like mummers ; set up the bloody flag against all patience ; and, in roaring for a chamber-p>ot, dismiss the controversy bleed- 85 ing, the more entangled by your hearing. All the peace you make in their cause is calling both the parties knaves. You are a pair of strange ones.
Bru. Come, come, you are well understood to be a 90 perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.
Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the 95 purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards ; and your beards deserve not so hon- ourable a grave as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be entomb'd in an ass's pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying Marcius is proud ; 100 who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion, though perad- venture some of the best of 'em were hereditary hangmen. God-den to your worships. More
46 tEl)e ®raseti^ of Coriolanusf Act ii
of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians. 105 I will be bold to take my leave of you.
Brutus and Siciniu^ go aside.
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria.
How now, my as fair as noble ladies, — and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler, — whither do you follow your eyes so fast .'*
Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius ap- 110 proaches. For the love of Juno, let's go.
Men. Ha ! Marcius coming home ?
Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius ; and with most pros- perous approbation.
Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, [tosses it up] and I 115 thank thee. Hoo ! Marcius coming home !
2 Ladies. Nay, 'tis true.
Vol. Look, here's a letter from him ; the state hath another, his wife another, and, I think, there's one at home for you. 120
Men. I will make my very house reel to-night. A letter for me !
Vir. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; I saw't.
Men. A letter for me ! it gives me an estate of 125 seven years' health, in which time I will make a lip at the physician. The most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic, and.
Sc. I tE^l^e ^rageti^ of Coriolanusf 47
to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded ? He was ISO wont to come home wounded.
Vir. O, no, no, no.
Vol. O, he is wounded ; I thank the gods for*t.
Men. So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings
'a victory in his pocket ? The wounds be- 135 come him.
Vol. On 's brows. Menenius, he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.
Men. Has he discipHn'd Aufidius soundly ?
Vol. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, 140 but Aufidius got off.
Men. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that. An he had stay'd by him, I would not have been so fidius'd for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the 145 Senate possess 'd of this ?
Vol. Good ladies, let's go. — Yes, yes, yes ; the Senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war. He hath in this action outdone his former deeds 150 doubly.
Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.
Men. Wondrous ! ay, I warrant you, and not with- out his true purchasing. 155
Vir. The gods grant them true !
48 tC^e CragcD^ of Coriolanu^ Act ii
Vol. True ! pow, wow.
Men. True ! I'll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded ? [To the Tribunes.] God save your good worships ! Marcius is coming 160 home ; he has more cause to be proud. — ^^^le^e is he wounded ?
Vol. T the shoulder and i' the left arm. There will be large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall stand for his place. He re- ceived in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i' 165 the body.
Men. One i' the neck, and two i' the thigh, — there's nine that I know.
Vol. He had, before this last expedition, twenty- five wounds upon him. 170
Men. Now it's twenty-seven ; every gash was an enemy's grave. Hark ! the trumpets.
[.4 shout and flourish.]
Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius ; before him
he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears. 175 Death, that dark spirit, in 's nervy" arm doth lie, "\Miich, being advanc'd, declines, and then men die.
A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter Cominius the general, and Titus Lartius ; between them, Corio- lanus, croicnd with an oaken garland; with Cap- tains and Soldiers, and a Herald.
Sc. I ^\)t tCragea^ of Coriolanusf 49
Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight Within Corioli gates ; where he hath won, 180
With fame, a name to Caius Marcius ; these In honour follows Coriolanus. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus ! Flourish.
All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus !
Cor. No more of this ; it does offend my heart. 185 Pray now, no more.
Com. Look, sir, your mother !
Cor. O,
You have, I know, petition'd all the gods For my prosperity ! Kneels.
Vol. Nay, my good soldier, up ;
My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd, — 190 What is it ? — Coriolanus must I call thee .'' — But, O, thy wife !
Cor. My gracious silence, hail !
Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd
home. That weep'st to see me triumph ? Ah, my dear. Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear, 195
And mothers that lack sons.
Men. Now, the gods crown thee !
Cor. And live you yet.^ [To Valeria.] O my sweet lady, pardon.
Vol. I know not where to turn. O, welcome home ; And welcome, general ; and you're welcome all.
50 tlT^e tlTrageU^ of Coriolanus? Act ii
Men. A hundred thousand welcomes ! I could weep And I could laugh, I am light and heavy. Wel- come ! 201 A curse begin at very root on 's heart, That is not glad to see thee ! You are three That Rome should dote on ; yet, by the faith of men, We have some old crab-trees here at home that will not 205 Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors ; We call a nettle but a nettle and The faults of fools but folly.
Com. Ever right.
Cor. Menenius ever, ever.
Her. Give way there, and go on !
Cor. [To Volumnia and Virgilia.] Your hand, and yours. 210
Ere in our own house I do shade my head, The good patricians must be visited ; From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings. But with them change of honours.
Vol. I have lived
To see inherited my very wishes 215
And the buildings of my fancy ; only There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but Our Rome will cast upon thee.
Cor. Know, good mother,
I had rather be their servant in my way Than sway with them in theirs.
Sc. I Wi^t tCrageti^ of Coriolanusf si
Com, On, to the Capitol !
Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before. Brutus and Sicinius [come forward].
Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights 221 Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurse Into a rapture lets her baby cry "VMiile she chats him ; the kitchen Malkin pins Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck, 225 Clamb'ring the walls to eye him ; stalls, bulks,
windows, Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd With variable complexions, all agreeing In earnestness to see him. Seld-shown flamens Do press among the popular throngs and pufif 230 To win a vulgar station ; our veil'd dames Commit the war of white and damask in Their nicely-gawded cheeks to the wanton spoil Of Phoebus' burning kisses ; — such a pother As if that whatsoever god who leads him 235
Were slily crept into his human powers And gave him graceful posture.
Sic. On the sudden,
I warrant him consul.
Bru. Then our office may,
During his power, go sleep.
Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours 240 From where he should begin and end, but will Lose those he hath won.
52 ®fte tETragrD^ of Coriolanus; Act u
Bru. In that there's comfort.
Sic. Doubt not
The commoners, for whom we stand, but they Upon their ancient malice will forget With the least cause these his new honours, which 245
That he will give them make I as little question As he is proud to do't.
Bru. I heard him swear.
Were he to stand for consul, never would he Appear i' the market-place, nor on him put The napless vesture of humility, 250
Nor, showing, as the manner is, his wounds To the people, beg their stinking breaths.
Sic. 'Tis right.
Bru. It was his word. O, he would miss it rather Than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him 254
And the desire of the nobles.
Sic. I wish no better
Than have him hold that purpose and to put it In execution.
Bru. 'Tis most like he will.
Sic. It shall be to him then as our good wills, A sure destruction.
Bru. So it must fall out
To him or our authorities for an end. 260
We must suggest the people in what hatred
Sc. I ^\}t arrageU^ of Coriolanug 53
He still hath held them ; that to 's power he would Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders and Dispropertied their freedoms, holding them, In human action and capacity, 265
Of no more soul nor fitness for the world Than camels in the war, who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them. Sic. This, as you say, suggested
At some time when his soaring insolence 270
Shall touch the people — which time shall not
want. If he be put upon't ; and that's as easy As to set dogs on sheep — will be his fire To kindle their dry stubble ; and their blaze Shall darken him for ever.
Enter a Messenger.
Bru. WTiat's the matter ?
Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought 276
That Marcius shall be consul. I have seen the dumb men throng to see him, and The blind to hear him speak. Matrons flung gloves. Ladies and maids their scarfs and handker- chers, 280
Upon him as he pass'd ; the nobles bended, As to Jove's statue, and the commons made
54 ^^t ®rageD^ of Cortolanu0 Act ii
A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts. I never saw the like. Bru. Let's to the Capitol ;
And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, 285 But hearts for the event. Sic. Have with you.
Exeunt. Scene II
[The same.] The Capitol. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions.
1. Off. Come, come, they are almost here. How
many stand for consulships "^
2. Off. Three, they say ; but 'tis thought of every
one Coriolanus will carry it.
l.Off. That's a brave fellow ; but he's vengeance 6 proud, and loves not the common people.
2. Off. Faith, there hath been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er loved them ; and there be many that thej' have 10 loved, they know not wherefore ; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their 16 disposition ; and out of his noble carelessness lets them plainly see't.
1. Off. If he did not care whether he had their
Sc. II ttrije tETrageo^ of Coriolanus 55
love or no, he waved indifiFerently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm ; but he seeks 20 their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him ; and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and dis- pleasure of the people is as bad as that which 25 he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.
S. Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country ; and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without any further 30 deed to have them at all into their estimation and report. But he hath so planted his hon- ours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful 35 injury; to report otherwise were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.
1. Of. No more of him ; he's a worthy man. Make
way, they are coming. 40
A sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, Cominius the consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, Senators, Sici- nius and Brutus. The Senators take their places; the Tribunes take their places by themselves. Corio- lanus stands.
56 tJTlje Crageti^ of Coriolanusf Act ii
Men. Having determin'd of the Volsces and To send for Titus Lartius, it remains, As the main point of this our after-meeting, To gratify his noble service that Hath thus stood for his country ; therefore, please you, 45
Most reverend and grave elders, to desire The present consul and last general In our well-found successes, to report A little of that worthy work perform'd By Caius Marcius Coriolanus, whom 50
We met here both to thank and to remember With honours like himself. [Coriolanus sits.]
1. Sen. Speak, good Cominius :
Leave nothing out for length, and make us think Rather our state's defective for requital Than we to stretch it out. [To the Tribunes.] Masters o' the people, 55
We do request your kindest ears, and after. Your loving motion toward the common body To yield what passes here.
Sic. We are convented
Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts Inclinable to honour and advance 60
The theme of our assembly.
Bru. Which the rather
We shall be blest to do, if he remember A kinder value of the people than He hath hereto priz'd them at.
Sc. H tEtie STragrD^ of Coriolanusi 57
Mew. That's off, that's off ;
I would you rather had l>jen silent. Please you 65
To hear Cominius speak ^ Bru. Most willingly ;
But yet my caution was more pertinent
Than the rebuke you give it. Men. He loves your people ;
But tie him not to be their bedfellow.
Worthy Cominius, speak. {Coriolanus rises and offers to go away.) Nay, keep your place. 70 1. Sen. Sit, Coriolanus ; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done. Cor. Your honours' pardon ;
I had rather have my wounds to heal again
Than hear say how I got them. Bru. Sir, I hope
My words disbench'd you not. C(yr. No, sir ; yet oft.
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. 76
You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not ; but your people,
I love them as they weigh. Men. Pray now, sit down.
Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun
WTien the alarum were struck, than idly sit 80
To hear my nothings monster'd. Exit.
Men. Masters of the people.
58 tB^t tCrageHi? of Coriolanusf Act ii
Your multiplying spawn how can lie flatter — That's thousand to one good one — when you
now see He had rather venture all his limbs for honour Than one on 's ears to hear it ? Proceed, Co-
minius. 85
Com. I shall lack voice ; the deeds of Coriolanus Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held That valour is the chiefest virtue, and Most dignifies the haver ; if it be, The man I speak of cannot in the world 90
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years, When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought Beyond the mark of others. Our then dictator, Whom with ail praise I point at, saw him fight, When with his Amazonian chin he drove 95
The bristled lips before him. He bestrid An o'er-press'd Roman, and i' the consul's view Slew three opposers. Tarquin's self he met. And struck him on his knee. In that daj^'s feats, Wlien he might act the woman in the scene, 100 He prov'd best man i' the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Man-ent'red thus, he waxed like a sea. And in the brunt of seventeen battles since He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this
last, 105
Before and in Corioli, let me say.
Sc. 11 ®^e tE^rageUi^ of Coriolanus; 59
I cannot speak him home. He stopp'd the fliers ; And by his rare example made the coward Turn terror into sport ; as weeds before A vessel under sail, so men obey'd liO
And fell below his stem. His sword, death's
stamp, Where it did mark, it took ; from face to foot He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was tim'd with dying cries. Alone he ent'red The mortal gate of the city, which he painted 115 With shunless destiny ; aidless came off, ; And with a sudden reinforcement struck Corioli like a planet ; now all's his. WTien, by and by, the din of war 'gan pierce His ready sense, then straight his doubled spirit Re-quick'ned what in flesh was fatigate, 121
And to the battle came he, where he did Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if 'Twere a perpetual spoil ; and till we call'd Both field and city ours, he never stood 125
To ease his breast with panting.
Men. Worthy man !
[1.] Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him.
Com. Our spoils he kick'd at,
And look'd upon things precious as they were The common muck of the world. He covets less 130
6o ^\)t CrageD^ of Coriolanus? Act ii
Than misery itself would give, rewards
His deeds with doing them, and is content
To spend the time to end it. Men. He's right noble.
Let him be call'd for. [1.] Sen. Call Coriolanus.
Off. He doth appear. 135
Re-enter Coriolanus.
Men. The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd
To make thee consul. Cor. I do owe them still
My life and ser\nces. Men. It then remains
That you do speak to the people. Cor. I do beseech you,
Let me o'erleap that custom ; for I cannot 140
Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them.
For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage. Please you
That I may pass this doing. Sic. Sir, the people
Must have their voices ; neither will they bate
One jot of ceremony. Men. Put them not to't. 145
Pray you, go fit you to the custom and
Take to you, as your predecessors have.
Your honour with your form.
Sc. !i ®t)e tlTrageD^ of Coriolanusf 6i
Cor. It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people. Bru Mark you that ? 150
Cor. To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus ;
Show them the unaching scars which I should hide.
As if I had receiv'd them for the hire
Of their breath only ! Men. Do not stand upon't. 154
We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them ; and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour. Senators. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour !
Flourish of cornets. Exeunt all hut Sicinius and Brutus. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Sic. May they perceive 's intent ! He will require them, 160
As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give. Bru. Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here. On the market-place,
I know> they do attend us. Exeunt.
63 or^ie ^ragen^ of Coriolanufi; Act ii
Scene in
[The same. The Forum.] Enter seven or eight Citizens.
1. Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.
^. Cit. We may, sir, if we will.
3. Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but
it is a power that we have no power to do ; 5 for if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them ; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is mon- 10 strous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude ; of the which we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.
1. Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a 15 little help will serve ; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.
3. Cit. We have been called so of many ; not that
our heads are some brown, some black, some 20 auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely colour'd ; and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would
Sc. Ill ®l^e ®raget)P of Coriolanus? 63
fly east, west, north, south, and their consent
of one direct way should be at once to all the 23
points o' the compass.
2. Cit. Think you so ? Which way do you judge
my wit would fly ?
3. Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as an-
other man's will, 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a 30 block-head ; but if it were at Hberty, 'twould, sure, southward.
2. Cit Why that way ?
3. Cit. To lose itself in a fog, where being three
parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth 35
would return for conscience' sake, to help to
get thee a wife. S. Cit. You are never without your tricks ; you
may, you may. 3. Cit. Are you all resolv'd to give your voices .' 40
But that's no matter, the greater part carries
it. I say, if he would incline to the people,
there was never a worthier man.
Enter Coriolanus in a goicn of humility, vnth Menenius.
Here he comes, and in the gown of humility ; mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all 45 together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein
64 ^\)t tETrageD^ of Coriolanusf Act ii
every one of us has a single honour, in giving
him our owti voices with our own tongues ; 50
therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how
you shall go by him. All. Content, content. [Exeunt citizens.]
Men. O sir, you are not right. Have you not known
The worthiest men have done't ? Cor. What must I say ?
I pray, sir, — Plague upon't ! I cannot bring 56
My tongue to such a pace, — look, sir, my wounds !
I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran
From the noise of our own drums. Men. O me, the gods !
You must not speak of that. You must desire them 61
To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me ! Hang 'em !
I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by 'em. Men. You'll mar all.
I'll leave you. Pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you, 65
In wholesome manner. Exit.
Re-enter three of the Citizens. Cor. Bid them wash their faces
Sc. HI artje ®rageliv of Cortolanu0 65
And keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a
brace. — You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.
3. Cit. We do, sir ; tell us what hath brought you
to't. 70
Cor. Mine own desert.
^. Cit. Your own desert !
Cor. Ay, not mine own desire.
3. Cit. How not your own desire ?
Cor. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble 75 the poor with begging.
3. Cit. You must think, if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.
Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o' the consul- ship ? 80
1. Cit. The price is to ask it kindly.
Cor. Kindly !. Sir, I pray, let me ha't. I have wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private. Your good voice, sir ; what say you ?
2. Cit. You shall ha' it, worthy sir. 85 Cor. A match, sir. There's in all two worthy
voices begg'd. I have your alms ; adieu.
3. Cit. But this is something odd.
2. Cit. An 'twere to give again, — but 'tis no 89 matter. Exeunt [the three Citizens].
Re-enter two other Citizens.
Cot. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune
F
66 ^\)t tCrageD^ of Cortolanu0 Act ii
of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.
[4.] Cit. You have deserved nobly of your coun- try, and you have not deserved nobly. 95
Cor. Your enigma ?
[4-.] Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends ; you have not indeed loved the common people.
Cor. You should account me the more virtuous 100 that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them ; 'tis a con- dition they account gentle. And since the wis- dom of their choice is rather to have my hat 105 than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly ; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitch- ment of some popular man and give it bounti- ful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. 110
[5.] Cit. We hope to find you our friend ; and therefore give you our voices heartily.
[4.] Cit. You have received many w^ounds for your country.
Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showin* 115 them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.
Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily ! [Exeunt.]
Sc. Ill tETlje tETrageo^ of Coriolanusi 67
Cofi Most sweet voices !
Better it is to die, better to starve, 120
Than crave the hire which Jfirst we do deserve. Why in this woolless toge should I stand here. To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear. Their needless vouches ? Custom calls me to't. What custom wills, in all things should we do't. The dust on antique time would lie unswept, 126 And mountainous error be too highly heapt For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go To one that would do thus. — I am half through ; 130
The one part suffered, the other will I do.
Re-enter three Citizens more.
Here come moe voices. — Your voices ! For your voices I have fought ; Watch'd for your voices ; for your voices bear Of wounds two dozen odd ; battles thrice six 135 I have seen and heard of ; for your voices have Done many things, some less, some more. Your
voices. Indeed, I would be consul.
[6'.] Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go with- out any honest man's voice. 140
[7.] Cit. Therefore let him be consul. The gods
68 tD^lje ^rageU^ of Cotiolanus Act ii
give him joy, and make him good friend to the
people ! All Cit. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul !
Exeunt. Cor. Worthy voices ! 145
Re-enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.
Men. You have stood your limitation, and the trib- unes Endue you with the people's voice. Remains That, in the official marks invested, you Anon do meet the Senate.
Cor. Is this done ?
Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd. 150 The people do admit you, and are summon'd To meet anon upon your approbation.
Cor. Where ? At the Senate-house ?
Sic. There, Coriolanus.
Cor. May I change these garments ?
Sic. You may, sir.
Cor. That I'll straight do ; and, knowing myself again, 155
Repair to the Senate-house.
Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along }
Bru. We stay here for the people.
Sic. Fare you well.
Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius,
Sc. Ill ^l)t arrageDv' of Coriolanuflf 69
He has it now, and by his looks methinks 'Tis warm at 's heart. 160
Bru. With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people ?
Re-enter Citizens.
Sic. How now, my masters ! have you chose this man ?
1. Cit. He has our voices, sir.
Bru, We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. 165
2. Cit. Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice,
He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.
3. Cit. Certainly
He flouted us downright.
1. Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech ; he did not mock us.
2. Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says 170
He us'd us scornfully. He should have show'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for 's country. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. All. No, no ; no man saw 'em.
3. Cit. He said he had wounds, which he could show
in private ; And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, 175
"I would be consul," says he ; "aged custom. But by your voices, will not so permit me ; Your voices therefore." When we granted that, Here was " I thank you for your voices ; thank
you;
70 W\)t tCragetip of Coriolanusf Act ii
Your most sweet voices. Now you have left your voices, 180
I have no further with you." Was not this mockery ?
Sic. ^Yhy either were you ignorant to see't, Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness To \-ield your voices ?
Bru. Could you not have told him
As you were lesson'd : when he had no power, 185 But was a petty servant to the state, He was your enemy, ever spake against Your liberties and the charters that you bear I' the body of the weal ; and now, arriving A place of potency and sway o' the state, 190
If he should still malignantly remain Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might Be curses to yourselves ? You should have said That as his worthy deeds did claim no less Than what he stood for. so his gracious nature 195 Would think upon you for your voices and Translate his malice towards you into love, Standing your friendly lord.
Sic. Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit And tried his inclination ; from him pluck'd 200 Either his gracious promise, which you might. As cause had call'd you up, have held him to ; Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
Sc. in ®t)e tCrageD^ of Coriolanus? 71
Which easily endures not article Tying him to aught ; so patting him to rage, £05 You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler And pass'd him unelected.
Bru. Did you perceive
He did solicit you in free contempt When he did need your loves, and do you thinkl That his contempt shall not be bruising to you, 210 When he hath power to crush ? Why, had your
bodies No heart among you ? Or had you tongues to cry Against the rectorship of judgement ?
Sic. Have you
Ere now deni'd the asker, and now again Of him that did not ask, but mock, bestow 215 Your sued-for tongues ?
S. Cit. He's not confirm'd ; we may deny him yet.
2. Cit, And will deny him.
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.
1. Cit. I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em. 220
Bru. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends. They have chose a consul that will from them take Their liberties, make them of no more voice Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking As therefore kept to do so.
Sic. Let them assemble.
And on a safer judgement all revoke 226
73 tiriie Sl^rageti^ of Coriolanusf Act ii
Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride, And his old hate unto you ; besides, forget not With what contempt he wore the humble weed. How in his suit he scorn'd you ; but your loves, 230 Thinking upon his services, took from you The apprehension of his present portance, "\Miich most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion After the inveterate hate he bears you.
Bru. Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes, that we labour'd, 235 No impediment between, but that you must Cast your election on him.
Sic. Say, you chose him
More after our commandment than as guided By your own true affections, and that your minds, Pre-occupi'd with what you rather must do 240 Than what you should, made you against the
grain To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.
Bru. Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you.
How youngly he began to serve his country.
How long continued, and what stock he springs
of, — 245
The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence
came That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son. Who, after great Hostilius, here was king ; Of the same house Publius and Quintus were.
Sc. Ill tEije ®rageO^ of Coriolanusf 73
That our best water brought by conduits hither ; 250
[And Censorinus, nobly named so. Twice being by the people chosen censor,] Was his great ancestor.
Sic. One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought To be set high in place, we did commend 255
To your remembrances ; but you have found. Scaling liis present bearing with his past. That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke Your sudden approbation.
Bru. Say, you ne'er had done't —
Harp on that still — but by our putting on ; 260 And presently, when you have drawn your number. Repair to the Capitol.
All We will so. Ahnost all
Repent in their election. Exeunt Citizens.
Bru. Let them go on ;
This mutiny were better put in hazard. Than stay, past doubt, for greater. 265
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage With their refusal, both observe and answer The vantage of his anger.
Sic. To the Capitol, come.
We will be there before the stream o' the people ; And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, 270 Which we have goaded onward. Exeunt.
ACT THIRD
Scene 1
[Rome. A street.]
Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentryy Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators.
Cor. Tullus Aufidius then had made new head ? Lart. He had, my lord ; and that it was which caus'd
Our swifter composition. Cor. So then the Volsces stand but as at first,
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road 5
Upon 's again. Com. They are worn, Lord Consul, so.
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius ?
Lart. On safe-guard he came to me, and did curse
Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely 10
Yielded the town. He is retired to Antium. Cor. Spoke he of me ? Lart. He did, my lord.
Cor. How ? What ?
Lart. How often he had met j'ou, sword to sword ; 74
Sc. I tKtie ®rageu^ of Coriolanusf 75
That of all things upon the earth he hated
Your person most ; that he would pawn his for- tunes 15
To hopeless restitution, so he might
Be call'd your vanquisher. Cor, At Antium lives he ?
Lart. At Antium. Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there,
To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. 20
Enter Sidnius and Brutus.
Behold, these are the tribunes of the people.
The tongues o' the common mouth. I do despise them.
For they do prank them in authority.
Against all noble sufferance. Sic. Pass no further.
Cor. Ha ! what is that ? 25
Bru. It will be dangerous to go on. No further. Cor. What makes this change ? Men. The matter ?
Com. Hath he not pass'd the noble and the conmion ? Bru. Cominius, no.
Cor. Have I had children's voices ? 30
[1.] Sen. Tribunes, give way ; he shall to the market- place. Bru. The people are incens'd against him.
76 tirtie tKragcD^ of Coiiolanusf Act in
Sic. Stop,
Or all will fall in broil. Cor. Are these your herd ?
Must these have voices, that can yield them now
And straight disclaim their tongues ? "What are your offices ? 35
You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth ?
Have you not set them on ? Men. Be calm, be calm.
Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot.
To curb the will of the nobility.
Suffer 't, and live with such as cannot rule 40
Nor ever will be ruled. Bru. Call 't not a plot.
The people cry you mock'd them, and of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd,
Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, call'd them
Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. 45
Cor. Why, this was known before. Bru. Not to them all.
Cor. Have you inform'd them sithence ? Bru. How ! I inform them !
Com. You are like to do such business. Bru. Not unlike.
Each way, to better yours. Cor. Why then should I be consul ? By yond clouds,
Sc. I ®t)e ®ragfD^ of Coriolanus; 77
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me 51
Your fellow tribune.
Sic. You show too much of that
For which the people stir. If you will pass To where you are bound, you must inquire your
way. Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit, 55
Or never be so noble as a consul. Nor yoke with him for tribune.
Men. Let's be calm.
Com. The people are abus'd ; set on. This palt'ring Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely 60 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. ""^.t -jSWj.^, Not in this heat, sir, now.
Cor. Now, as I live, I will. jMy nobler friends,
I crave their pardons ; \ 05
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, 70
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd,
and scatter'd. By mingling them with us, the honour'd number.
78 tCtje tCrageo^ of Coriolanus; Act iii
"VMio lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they have given to beggars. Men. Well, no more.
[1.] Sen, No more words, we beseech you. Cor. How ! no more !
As for my country I have shed my blood, 76
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay against those measles,
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them. Bru. You speak o' the people
As if you were a god to punish, not 81
A man of their infirmity. Sic. 'Twere well
We let the people know't. Men. Whsit, what ? his choler ?
Cor. Choler!
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, 85
By Jove, 'twould be my mind ! Sic. It is a mind
That shall remain a poison where it is.
Not poison any further. Cor. Shall remain !
Hear you this Triton of the minnows ? Mark you
His absolute "shall".? Com. 'Twas from the canon.
Ccyr. "ShaU"!
Sc. I ®l)e tEragtU^ of Coriolanus 79
O good but most unwise patricians ! why, 81
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 monster's, wants not spirit 95
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 learn'd, Be not as common fools ; if you are not, 100
Let them have cushions by you. You are ple- beians. If they be senators ; and they are no less, When, both your voices blended, the great'st
taste Most palates theirs. They choose their magis- trate. And such a one as he, who puts his "shall," 105 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 110
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
8o tB\)t tTrageti^ of Conolanus? Act iii
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
power, 116
I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed 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 120
Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd That 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 124
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 "VMiich they have often made against the Senate, All cause unborn, could never be the motive Of our so frank donation. Well, what then .'' 130 How shall this bisson multitude digest The Senate's courtesy ? Let deeds express "WTiat's like to be their words : "We did request
it;
Sc. I ®^e ^TrageU^ of Coriolanusi 8i
We are the greater poll, and in true fear 134
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. Men. Come, enough.
Bru. Enough, with over-measure. Cor. No, take more !
What may be sworn by, both divine and
human. 141
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 145
Of general ignorance, — it must omit Real necessities, and give way the while To unstable slightness ; purpose so barr'd, it follows Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech
you, — You that will be less fearful than discreet, 150
That love the fundamental part of state More than you doubt the change on'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 155
G
83 ^\)t (Crageu^ of Coriolanusf Act in
The multitudinous tongue ; let them not lick The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonour Mangles true judgement and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should become't, Not having the power to do the good it would, 160 For the ill which doth control't.
Bru. Has said enough.
Sic. 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 trib- unes ? 165 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, 170
And throw their power i' the dust.
B'ltt. Manifest treason !
Sic. This a consul ? No !
Bru. The sediles, ho !
Enter an Mdile.
— Let him be apprehended. Sic. Go, call the people ; [Exit JEdile] in whose name myself Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, 175
Sc. I W\)t tCrageD^ of Coriolanug 83
A foe to the public weal. Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer. Cor. Hence, old goat !
[Senators, etc.] We'll surety hinir
Com. Ag'd sir, hands off.
Cor. Hence, rotten thing ! or I shall shake thy
bones
Out of thy garments. Sic. Help, ye citizens ! 180
Enter a rabble of Citizens, with the Mdiles.
Men. On both sides more respect.
Sic. Here's he that would take from j'ou all your
power. Bru. Seize him, sediles ! [Citizens.] Down with him ! down with him ! 2. Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons ! 185
They all bustle about Coriolanus [crying,']
Tribunes ! Patricians ! Citizens ! What, ho !
Sicinius ! Brutus ! Coriolanus ! Citizens ! All. Peace, peace, peace ! Stay, hold, peace ! Men. What is about to be ^ I am out of breath ;
Confusion's near ; I cannot speak. You, trib- unes 190
To the people ! Coriolanus, patience !
Speak, good Sicinius. Sic. Hear me, people ; peace !
84 ^t)e CrageD^ of Coriolanus; Act iii
[Citizens.] 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, 195
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 ? [Citizens.] True,
The people are the city. 200
Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd
The people's magistrates. [Citizens.] You so remain.
Men. And so are like to do. Com. That is the way to lay the city flat.
To bring the roof to the foundation 205
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruin. Sic. This deserves death.
Bru. Or let us stand to our authority.
Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o' the people, in whose power 210
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death. Sic. Therefore lay hold of him ;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.
Sc. I tlP^e ®rageu^ of Coriolanusi 85
Bru. ^diles, seize him !
[Citizens.] Yield, Marcius, yield !
Men. Hear me one word ;
Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. 216 Md. Peace, peace !
Men. [To Brutus.] Be that you seem, truly your country's friend, And temperately proceed to what you would Thus violently redress. Bru. Sir, those cold ways 220
That seem like prudent helps are very poisonous Where the disease is violent. Lay hands upon him. And bear him to the rock. C(yr. 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. 225
Men. Down with that sword ! Tribunes, withdraw
a while. Bru. Lay hands upon him.
Com. Help Marcius, help ;
You that be noble, help him, young and old ! [Citizens.] Down with him, down with him !
In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Mdiles, and the People, are beat in. Men. Go, get you to your house ; begone, away ! 230 All will be nought else.
86 ar^e QTiageD^ of Coriolanusf Act iii
2. Sen. Get you gone.
Com. Stand fast ;
We have as many friends as enemies. Men. ShaU it be put to that ? [1.] Sen. The gods forbid !
I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house ;
Leave us to cure this cause. Men. For 'tis a sore upon us, 235
You cannot tent yourself. Begone, 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 calved i' the porch o' the Capitol ! [Men ] Begone !
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue ; 241
One time will owe another. Cor. On fair ground
I could beat forty of them. Men. I could myself
Take up a brace of the best of them ; yea, the two tribunes. Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic ; 245
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
WTiat they are us'd to bear ?
Sc. I ®t)e tETrageD^ of Coriolanus? 87
Men. Pray you, begone.
I'll try whether my old wit be in request 251
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]. A Patrician, This man has marr'd his fortune. Men. His nature is too noble for the world ; 255
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident.
Or Jove for 's power to thunder. His heart's his mouth ;
What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent ;
And, being angry, does forget that ever 259
He heard the name of death. A noise within.
Here's goodly work ! A Patrician. I would they were a-bed !
Men. I would they were in Tiber ! What the ven- geance !
Could he not speak 'em fair ?
Re-enter Brutus and Sicinius, with the rabble.
Sic. Where is this viper
That would depopulate the city and
Be every man himself ? Men. You worthy tribunes, —
Sic. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock 266
With rigorous hands. He hath resisted law.
88 W^t ^rageD^ of Coriolanu0 Act jii
And therefore law shall scorn him further trial
Than the severity of the public power
Which he so sets at nought. 1. Cit. He shall well know
The noble tribunes are the people's mouths, 271
And we their hands. [Citizens.] He shall, sure on't. Men. Sir, sir, —
Sic. Peace ! Men. Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt 275
With modest warrant. Sic. Sir, how comes't that you
Have holp to make this rescue ? Men. Hear me speak.
As I do know the consul's worthiness,
So can I name his faults, — Sic. Consul ! what consul ?
Men. The consul Coriolanus.
Bru. He consul ! 280
[Citizens.] No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,
I may be heard, I would 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 dispatch 286
This viperous traitor. To eject him hence
Were but one danger, and to keep him here
Sc. I ®Jie tKrageUti of Coriolanus^ 89
1 Our certain death ; therefore it is decreed
He dies to-night. Men. Now the good gods forbid 290
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. 295
Men. O, he's a limb that has but a disease ;
Mortal, to cut it off ; to cure it, easy.
WTiat 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, 300
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. This is clean kam.
Btu. Merely awry. WTien he did love his country, 305
It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot
Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was, — Btu. We'll hear no more.
Pursue him to his house and pluck him thence.
Lest his infection, being of catching nature, 310
Spread further. Men. One word more, one word.
90 ^\)t ®rageD^ of Coriolanu0 Act ni
This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will too late Tie leaden pounds to 's heels. Proceed by process, Lest parties, as he is belov'd, break out, 315
And sack great Rome with Romans.
Bru. If it were so, —
Sic. WTiat do ye talk ?
Have we not had a taste of his obedience ? Our sediles smote ? ourselves resisted ? Come.
Men. Consider this : he has been bred i' the wars 320 Since 'a could draw a sword, and is ill school'd In bolted language ; meal and bran together He throws without distinction. Give me leave ; I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him "VMiere he shall answer, by a lawful form, 325
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.
Sic. Noble Menenius,
Be you then as the people's officer. 330
Masters, lay down your weapons.
Bru. Go not home.
Sic. Meet on the market-place. We'll attend you there ; Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed In our first way.
Sc. II ®tie ©rageij^ of Coriolanufif 91
Men. I'll bring him to you.
[To the Senators.] Let me desire your company. He must come, 335
Or what is worst will follow, [1.] Sen. Pray you, let's to him.
Exeunt. Scene 11
[A room in Coriolanus's house.]
Enter Coriolanu^y with Nobles.
Cor. Let them pull all about mine ears, present me Death on the wheel or at wild horses' heels. Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, That the precipitation might down stretch Below the beam of sight, yet will I still 5
Be thus to them.
Enter Volumnia.
Nolle. You do the nobler.
Cor. I muse my mother
Does not approve me further, who was wont To call them woollen vassals, things created To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads 10 Li congregations, to yawn, be still and wonder. When one but of my ordinance stood up To speak of peace or war. — I talk of you.
[To Vol.]
92 tB\)t ^rageU^ of Coriolanusf Act iii
Why did you wish me milder ? Would you have me
False to my nature ? Rather say I play 15
The man I am. Vol. O, sir, sir, sir,
I would have had you put your power well on,
Before you had worn it out. Cor. Let go.
Vol. You might have been enough the man you are,
With striving less to be so. Lesser had been 20
The thwartings of your dispositions, if
You had not show'd them how ye were dispos'd.
Ere they lack'd power to cross you. Cor. Let them hang !
Vol. Ay, and burn too.
Enter Menenius with the Senators.
Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, some- thing too rough ; 25
You must return and mend it. [1.] Sen. There's no remedy ;
Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst, and perish. Vol. Pray, be counsell'd.
I have a heart as little apt as yours.
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger 30
To better vantage.
Sc. II ^\)t ^rageD^ of Coriolanusf 93
Men. Well said, noble woman !
Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that The violent fit o' the time craves it as physic For the whole state, I would put mine armour
on. Which I can scarcely bear.
Cor. What must I do ? 35
Men. Return to the tribunes.
Cor. Well, what then ? what then ?
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, 40 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 the other lose That they combine not there.
Ccrr. Tush, tush !
Men. A good demand.
Vol. If it be honour in your wars to seem 46
The same you are not, which, for your best ends. You 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 50
It stands in like request ?
94 ^^t tE^rageti^ of Cortolanusf Act in
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, But with such words that are but roted in 55
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, WTiich else would put you to your fortune and The hazard of much blood. 61
I would dissemble with my nature where My fortunes and my friends at stake requir'd I should do so in honour. I am in this. Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles ; 65 And you will rather show our general louts How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em 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, 70
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss Of what is past.
Vol. I prithee now, my son.
Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand ; And thus far having stretch'd it — here be with them —
Sc. II tC^ie tU^rageD^ of Coriolanu0 95
Thy knee bussing the stones — for in such busi- ness 75 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, 80 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 85 As thou hast power and person.
Men. This but done.
Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours ; For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free As words to little purpose.
Vol. Prithee now.
Go, and be rul'd ; although I know thou hadst rather 90
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf Than flatter him in a bower.
Enter Cominius.
Here is Cominius. Com. I have been i' the market-place ; and, sir, 'tis fit
96 ^\)t tn^ragcrj^ of Coriolanu^ Act iii
You make strong party, or defend yourself
By calmness or by absence. All's in anger. 95
Men. Only fair speech.
Com. I think 'twill serve, if he
Can thereto frame his spirit.
Vol. He must, and will.
Prithee 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 100 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 grmd
it And throw't against the wind. To the market- place ! You have put me now to such a part which never 105
I shall discharge to the life.
Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.
Vol. I prithee 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 111
Some harlot's spirit ! My throat of war be turn'd, WTiich choir'd with my drum, into a pipe
Sc. 11 ®t)e CrageD^ of Coriolanug 97
Small as an eunuch's, or the virgin voice That babies lull asleep ! The smiles of knaves Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys' tears take
up 116
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, 120 Lest I 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 125 Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear Thy dangerous stoutness ; for I mock at death With as big 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. 130
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 be-
lov'd Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going ; Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul ; 135
98 C^e tlTrageD^ of Coriolanus; Act iii
Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I' the way of flattery further. Vol. Do your will.
Exit Com. Away ! the tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself
To answer mildly ; for they are prepar'd
With accusations, as I hear, more strong 140
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 ! 145
Exeunt. Scene III
[The same. The Forum.]
Enter Sicinius and Brutus.
Bru. In this point charge him home, that he affects TjTannical power. If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people, And that the spoil got on the Antiates Was ne'er distributed.
Enter an uEdile.
WTiat, will he come ? 5 Md. He's coming. Bru. How accompanied ^
Sc. Ill tClje tCrageD^ of Coriolanusf 99
^d. With old Menenius, and those senators
That always favour'd him. Sic. Have you a catalogue
Of all the voices that we have procur'd
Set down by the poll ? Md. I have ; 'tis ready. 10
Sic. Have you collected them by tribes ? Md. I have.
Sic. Assemble presently the people hither ;
And when they hear me say, '' It shall be so
r the right and strength o' the commons," be it either 1-i
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. Md. I shall inform them.
Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry,
Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd 20
Enforce the present execution
Of what we chance to sentence. Md. Very well.
Sic. Make them be strong and ready for this hint,
When we shall hap to give't them. Bru. Go about it.
[Exit Mdile.]
Put him to choler straight. He hath been us'd 25
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth
loo tClie tCrageu^ of Coriolanusi Act in
Of contradiction. Being once chaf d, he cannot Be rein'd again to temperance ; then he speaks What's in his heart, and that is there which looks With us to break his neck.
Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius, with others [Senators and Patricians].
Sic. Well, here he comes.
Men. Calmly, I do beseech you. 31
Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece
Will bear the knave by the volume. The hon- our'd gods
Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice
Supplied with worthy men ! plant love among's !
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, 36
And not our streets with war ! 1. Sen. Amen, amen.
Men. A noble wish.
Re-enter ^dile, with Citizens.
Sic. Draw near, ye people.
^d. List to your tribunes. Audience ! peace, I say ! 40
Cor. First, hear me speak.
Both Tri. Well, say. Peace, ho !
Cor. Shall I be charg'd no further than this present .^
Must all determine here ? Sic. I do demand
Sc. Ill tK^e tCraget)^ of Coriolanusf loi
If you submit you to the people's voices. Allow their officers, and are content 45
To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be prov'd upon you ?
Cor. I am content.
Men. Lo, citizens, he says he is content.
The warlike service he has done, consider ; think Upon the wounds his body bears, which show 50 Like graves i' the holy churchyard.
Cor. Scratches with briers,
Scars to move laughter only.
Men. Consider further.
That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a soldier. Do not take His rougher accents for malicious sounds, 55
But, as I say, such as become a soldier Rather than envy you.
Com. Well, well, no more.
Cor. "VVTiat is the matter
That being pass'd for consul with full voice,
I am so dishonour'd that the very hour 60
You take it off again ?
Sic. Answer to us.
Cor. Say, then ; 'tis true, I ought so.
Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take From Rome all season'd office and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical ; 65
For which you are a traitor to the people.
102 tE^l)0 ®raget)^ of Coriolanus; Act iii
Cor. How ! traitor !
Men. Nay, temperately ; your promise.
Cor. The fires i' the lowest hell fold in the people ! Call me their traitor ! Thou injurious tribune ! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, 70 In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say "Thou liest" unto thee with a voice as free , As I do pray the g-ods.
Sic. Mark you this, people ?
[Citizens.] To the rock, to the rock with him !
Sic. Peace !
We need not put new matter to his charge. 76
^Miat 3' ou 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, 80
So criminal and in such capital kind, Deserves the extremest death.
Bru. But since he hath
Serv'd well for Rome, —
Cor. ^Miat do you prate of service ?
Bru. I talk of that, that know it.
Cor. You .5 85
Men. Is this the promise that you made your mother ?
Com. Know, I pray you, —
Cor. I'll know no further.
Sc. HI (K^je ^rageD^ of Cortolanu^ 103
Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death.
Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger
But with a grain a day, I would not buy 90
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 Envi'd against the people, seeking means 95
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, 100
Even from this mstant, banish him our city, In peril of precipitation From off the rock Tarpeian never more To enter our Rome gates. I' the people's name, I say it shall be so. 105
[Citizens.] It shall be so, it shall be so. Let him away ! He's banish'd, and it shall be so.
Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends, —
Sic. He's sentenc'd ; no more hearing.
Com. Let me speak.
I have been consul, and can show for Rome 110 Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country's good with a respect more tender.
I04 ®^e tKrageU^ of Coriolanusf Act ni
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 115
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.
[Citizfns.] It shall be so, it shall be so.
Cor.!; You common cry of curs ! whose breath I hate 120 lAs reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men . That do corrupt my air, I banish you ! j And here remain with your uncertainty ! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts ! 125 Your enemies, wnth 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, 130
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. 135
Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius [Menenius, Sena- tors, and Patricians]. They all shout, and throw up their caps.
Sc. ni tB\)t tErageU^ of Coriolanus? 105
^d. The people's enemy is gone, is gone !
[Citize7is.] Our enemy is banish'd ! he is gone ! Hoo !
hoo ! Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him. As he hath foUow'd you, with all despite ; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard 140
Attend us through the city. [Citizens.] Come, come ; let's see him out at gates ; come. The gods preserve our noble tribunes ! Come.
Exeunt.
ACT FOURTH Scene I
[Rome. Before a gate of the city.]
Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Co- minius, with the young Nobility of Rome.
Cor. Come, leave your tears : a brief farewell. The beast With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother, WTiere is your ancient courage ? You were us'd To say extremity was the trier of spirits ; That common chances common men could bear ; 5 That when the sea was calm all boats alike Show'd mastership in floating ; fortune's blows, When most struck home, being gentle, wounded,
craves A noble cunning. You were us'd to load me With precepts that would make invincible 10
The heart that conn'd them.
Vir. O heavens ! 0 heavens !
Cor. Xay, I prithee, woman, —
Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish ! io6
Sc. I ^\)t tCrageD^ of Coriolanu^ 107
Cor.-^^ What, what, what !
I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. ^Xy, mother, Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say, 16 If you had been the wife of Hercules, Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd Your husband so much sweat. Commius, Droop not; adieu. Farewell, my wife, my mother ; 2q
I'U do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius, Thy tears are salter than a younger man's. And venomous to thine eyes. My sometune
general, I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld Heart-hard'nmg spectacles; tell these sad women 2-
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes. As 'tis to laugh at 'em. 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 30
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.
^^^•„^. My first son,
nliither wilt thou go ? Take good Cominius With thee a while ; determine on some course 35
io8 tETlie tCrageD^ of €oriolanus( Act iv
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 mayst hear of us And we of thee ; so if the time thrust forth 40
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 j^ears upon thee, and thou art too full Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one 46
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, 50 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 55
From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'd with thee every foot.
Cor. Give me thy hand :
Come. Exeunt.
Sc. II tCbe t!>ragcDig of Coriolanu0 109
Scene II
[The same. A street near the gate.]
Enter Sidnius, Brutus, and an Mdile.
Sic. Bid them all home ; he's gone, and we'll no further.
The nobility are vexed, whom w^e see have sided
In his behalf. Bru. Now we have shown our power.
Let us seem humbler after it is done
Than when it was a-doing. Sic. Bid them home. 5
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength. Bru. Dismiss them home.
[Erit ^dile.]
Here comes his mother.
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.
Sic. Let's not meet her.
Bru. WTiy ?
Sic. They say she's mad.
Bru. They have ta'en note of us ; keep on your way. 10 Vol. O, you're well met. The hoarded plague o' the gods Requite your love !
no ®^e ^I^rageu^ of Coriolanus; Act iv
Men. Peace, peace ; be not so loud.
Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear, —
Nay, and you shall hear some. [To Brutus.] Will you be gone H Vir. [To Sicinius.] You shall stay too. I would I had the power 15
To say so to my husband. Sic. Are you mankind ?
Vol. Ay, fool ; is that a shame ? Note but this fool.
Was not a man my father ? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words ^ Sic. 0 blessed heavens !
Vol. Moe noble blows than ever thou wise words, 21
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. Wliat then ?
Vir. What then !
He'd make an end of thy posterity. 26
Vol. Bastards and all !
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome ! Men. Come, come, peace. Sic. I would he had continued to his country 30
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
Sc. H dTlie ®ragerj^ of Coriolanusf m
Bru. I would he had.
Vol. "I would he had"! 'Twas you incens'd the rabble; Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth As I can of those mysteries which heaven 35
Will not have earth to know. ;
Bru. Pray, let's go.
Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone ;
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear
this : As far as doth the Capitol exceed The meanest house in Rome, so far my son — 40 This lady's husband here, this, do you see ? — "WTiom 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 ?
Exeunt Tribunes.
Vol. Take my prayers with you.
I would the gods had nothing else to do 45
But to confirm my curses ! Could I meet 'em 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, 50
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go.
113 ®^e Cragetir of Coriolanusf Act iv
[To Virgilia.] Leave this faint puling and lament as I do.
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. Exeunt.
Men. Fie, fie, fie ! Exit.
Scene III
[A highway between Rome and Antium.] Enter a Roman and a Volsce [meeting],
Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me. Your name, I think, is Adrian,
Vob. It is so, sir. Truly, I have forgot you.
Rojn. I am a Roman ; and my services are, as you
are, against 'em. Know you me yet .'' 5
Vols. Nicanor ? No.
Rom. The same, sir.
Vob. You had more beard when I last saw you ; but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome ? I have 10 a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there. You have well saved me a day's jour- ney.
Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrec- tions ; the people against the senators, patri- cians, and nobles. 15
Vols. 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.
Sc. Ill tB\)t tETrageO^ of Coriolanu^ 113
Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 20 thing would make it flame again ; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. 25 This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.
Vols. Coriolanus banish'd !
Rom. Banish'd, sir.
Vob. You will be welcome with this intelligence, 30 Nicanor.
Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will 35 appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.
Vols. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate
thus accidentally to encounter you. You have 40 ended my business, and I will merrily accom- pany you home.
Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome ; all tend- ing to the good of their adversaries. Have you 45 an army ready, say you ?
Vols. A most royal one ; the centurions and their I ,
114 ®i)e ^ragetJ^ of Coriolanus; Act iv
charges, distinctly billeted, already in the en- tertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning. 50
Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.
Vols. You take my part from me, sir ; I have the 55 most cause to be glad of yours.
Rom. Well, let us go together. Exeunt.
Scene IV
[Antium. Before Aujldius's house.]
Enter Coriolanu^, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.
Cor. A goodly city is this Antium. City,
'Tis I that made thy widows ; many an heir
Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars
Have I heard groan and drop. Then know me
not. Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with
stones 5
In puny battle slay me,
Enter a Citizen.
Save you, sir. Cit. And yoUc
Sc. IV ®t)e ®rageD^ of Coriolanus? 115
Cot. Direct me, if it be your will,
WTiere great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium ?
Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state 9
At his house this night.
Cor. Which is his house, beseech you .^
Cit. This, here before you.
Cor. '^ Thank you, sir : farewell.
Exit Citizen. O world, thy slippery turns ! Friends now fast
sworn. Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love 15 Unseparable, shall within this hour, On a dissension of a doit, break out To bitterest enmity ; so, fellest foes, Whose passions and whose plots have broke their
sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, 20 Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear
friends And inter join their issues. So with me ; My birthplace hate I, and my love's upon This enemy town. I'll enter. If he slay me, He does fair justice ; if he give me way, 25
I'll do his country service. Exit.
ii6 W^t ^ragcD^ of Coriolanus? Act iv
Scene V
[The same. A hall in Ayfidius's house.]
Music vnthin. Enter a Servingman.
1. Serv. Wine, wine, wine ! ^Vhat service is here !
I think our fellows are asleep. Exit.
Enter a second Servingman.
2. Serv. Where's Cotus ? my master calls for him.
Cotus ! Exit.
Enter Coriolanus.
Cor. A goodly house ! The feast smells well, but 5 I appear not like a guest.
Re-enter the first Servingman.
1. Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence
are you ? Here's no place for you ; pray, go to the door. i^ Exit.
Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, ' 10 In being Coriolanus. "
Re-enter second Servingmxin.
2. Serv. Whence are you, sir ? Has the porter his
eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions ? Pray, get you out. Cor. Away ! 15
Sc. V ®tie ^ragruri of Coriolanusi n?
2. Sen. Away ! get you away. Cor. Now thou'rt troublesome.
S. Serv. Are you so brave ? I'll have you talk'd ^ with anon. *
Enter a third Sermngman. The first meets him.
3. Serv. \Miat fellow's this ? 20
1. Serv. A strange one as ever I look'd on ; I can-
not get him out o' th' house. Prithee, call my
master to him. [Retires.]
3. Serv. What have you to do here, fellow ^ Pray
you, avoid the house. 2o
C(yr. Let me but stand ; I will not hurt your
hearth. 3. Serv. What are you ? Cor. A gentleman.
3. Serv. A marvellous poor one. SO
Cor. True, so I am. 3. Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some
ether station ; here's no place for you. Pray
you, avoid. Come. Cor. Follow your function, go, and batten on cold 35
bits. Pushes him away from him.
3. Serv. What, you will not ? Prithee, tell my
master what a strange guest he has here.
2. Serv. And I shall. Exit.
3. Serv. TVTiere dwell'st thou ? 40 Cor. Under the canopy. 0 '
ii8 tlTlie ^rageD^ of Coriolanusf Act iv
3. Serv. Under the canopy ?
Cor. Ay.
S. Serv. Where's that ?
Cor. V the city of kites and crows. 45
3. Serv. T the city of kites and crows ! "VMiat an
ass it is ! Then thou dwell'st with daws
too? Cor. No, I serve not thy master. 3. Serv. How, sir ! do you meddle with my mas- 50
ter.? Cor. Ay ; 'tis an honester service than to meddle
with thy mistress.
Thou prat'st, and prat'st ; serve with thy trencher, hence !
Beats him away. [Exit third Servingman.]
Enter Aufidiu^ with the [second] Servingman.
Auf. "VMiere is this fellow ? 55
2. Serv. Here, sir. I'd have beaten him like a dog,
but for disturbing the lords within. [Retires.]
Auf. \Mience com'st thou ? \Miat wouldst thou ? Thy name ?
"VMiy speak'st not ? Speak, man : what's thy
name
Cor. If, Tullus [unmufling], not yet thou know'st 60 me, and, seeing me, dost not think me for the man I am, necessity commands me name my- self.
Sc. V ^i)t tlTrageD^ of CoriolanuflJ 119
Anf. What is thy name ?
Cor. A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears. And harsh in sound to thine.
Auf. Say, what's thy name ?
Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face 66
Bears a command in't ; though thy tackle's torn, ^ Thou show'st a noble vessel, ^^llat's thy name ?
Cor. Prepare thy brow to frown. Know'st thou me yet.?
Auf. I know thee not. Thy name ? 70
Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done ,.. To thee particularly and to all the Volsces '
Great hurt and mischief ; thereto witness may My surname, Coriolanus. The painful service. The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood 75 Shed for my thankless country are requited But with that surname ; a good memorj''. And witness of the malice and displeasure Which thou shouldst bear me. Only that name
remains. The cruelty and envy of the people, 80
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who *?
Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest ; And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be WTioop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity Hath brought me to thy hearth ; not out of hope — 85
Mistake me not — to save my life, for if
I20 ^\)t ^rageu^ of Coriolanusf Act iv
I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world I would have 'voided thee, but in mere s^e, To be full guit of those my banishers, Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast 90 A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge Thine own particular wrongs and stop those
maims Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee
straight. And make my misery serve thy turn. So use it That my revengeful services may prove 95
As benefits to thee, fgr I will fight Against my cank'red country with the spleen Of all the under fiends. But if so be Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more
fortunes Thou'rt tired, then, in a word, I also am 100
Longer to live most weary, and present My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice ; Which not to cut would show thee but a fool, Since I have ever followed thee with hate. Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast, 105 And cannot live but to thy shame, unless It be to do thee service. Auf. O Marcius, Marcius !
Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my
heart A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Sc. V t!^\)t tCraget)^ of Coriolanusf 121
Should from yond cloud speak divine things, 110 And say *"Tis true," I'd not believe them more Than thee, all noble Marcius. Let me twine Mine arms about that body, whereagainst
n /My grained ash an hundred times hath broke, ' And scarr'd the moon with splinters. Here I clip 115 The anvil of my sword, and do contest As hotly and as nobly with thy love /'
As ever in ambitious strength I did Contend against thy valour. Know thou first, I lov'd the maid I married ; never man 1:20
Sigh'd truer breath ; but that I see thee here. Thou noble thing ! more dances my rapt heart Than when I first my wedded mistress saw Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars ! I
tell thee. We have a power on foot ; and I had purpose 125 Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn, Or lose mine arm for't. Thou hast beat me out
[ Twelve several times, and I have nightly since Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me ; We have been down together in my sleep, 130
^'^'Z Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat. And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy
Marcius, Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all From twelve to seventy, and pouring war 135
122 ^\)t tCrageD^ of Coriolanusf Act iv
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome, Like a bold flood o"er-beat. O, come, go in, And take our friendly senators by the hands ; "VMio now are here, taking their leaves of me, ^Mio am prepar'd against your territories, 140
Though not for Rome itself. Cor. You bless me, gods !
Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have The leading of thine own revenges, take The one half of my commission ; and set down — As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st Thy country's strength and weakness, — thine own ways ; 146
"Whether to knock 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 150 Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes ! And more a friend than e'er an enemy ; . Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand ; most welcome !
Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius. The two Servingmen [come forward].
1. Serv. Here's a strange alteration !
2. Serv. By my hand, I had thought to have 155
strucken him with a cudgel ; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him.
Sc. V tE^je ®rageD^ of Coriolanufif 123
1. Serv. What an arm lie has ! He turn'd me
about with his finger and his thumb, as one 160 would set up a top.
S. Serv. Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him. He had, sir, a kind of face, methought, — I cannot tell how to term it.
1. Serv. He had so ; looking as it were — would I 165
were hang'd, but I thought there was more in him than I could think.
2. Serv. So did I, I'll be sworn. He is simply
the rarest man i' the world. 1. Serv. I think he is ; but a greater soldier than he 170
you wot one. S. Serv. Who ? My master ? 1. Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that. S. Serv. Worth six on him. 1. Serv. Nay, not so neither ; but I take him to be 175
the greater soldier. S. Serv. Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say
that. For the defence of a town, our general
is excellent. 1. Serv. Ay, and for an assault too. 180
Re-enter third Servingman.
3. Serv. 0 slaves, I can tell you news, — news, you
rascals ! 1. and 2. Serv. TVTiat, what, what ? Let's par- take.
124 tCtie tErageu^ of (Toriolanusi Act iv
3. Serv. I would not be a Roman, of all nations ; 185 I had as lieve be a condemn'd man.
1. and 2. Serv. \Vherefore ? wherefore ?
3. Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Marcius.
1. Serv. "\Miy do you say, "thwack our general" ? 190
3. Serv. I do not say, "thwack our gen- eral"; but he was always good enough for him.
S. Serv. Come, we are fellows and friends ; he was
ever too hard for him ; I have heard him say 195 so himself.
1. Serv. He was too hard for him directly, to say
the troth on't. Before Corioli he scotch'd , him and notch'd him like a carbonado.
S. Serv. An he had been cannibally given,* he 200 might have boil'd and eaten him too.
1. Serv. But more of thy news.
3. Serv. AMiy, he is so made on here within, as if he were son and heir to Mars ; set at upper end o' the table ; no question ask'd him by any 205 . of the senators, but they stand bald before him. ' Our general himself makes a mistress of him ; sanctifies himself with 's hand and turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i' 210 the middle and but one half of what he was yesterday ; for the other has half, by the en-
Sc. V tElje G^ragcDv of Coriolanus; 125
treaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears. He will mow all down before him, 215 and leave his passage poll'd.
2. Serv. And he's as like to do't as any man I can
imagine.
3. Serv. Do't ! he will do't ; for, look you, sir, he
has as many friends as enemies ; which friends, 220 sir, as it were, durst not, look you, sir, show themselves, as we term it, his friends whilst /
he's in directitude.
1. Serv. Directitude ! What's that ?
3. Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up 225 again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with him.
1. Serv. But w^hen goes this forward ?
3. Serv. To-morrow ; to-day ; presently ; you 230 shall have the drum struck up this afternoon. 'Tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.
e. Serv. ^yhy, then we shall have a stirring world
again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, 235 increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.
1. Serv. Let me have war, say I ; it exceeds peace as far as day does night ; it's spritely, waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apo- plexy, lethargy; mull'd, deaf, sleepy, insen- 240
126 tC^e ^ragen^ of Coriolanusf Act iv
sible ; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of men.
S. Serv. 'Tis so ; and as wars, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds. 245
1. Serv. Ay, and it makes men hate one another.
3. Serv. Reason ; because they then less need one another. The wars for my money ! I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volscians. — They are rising, they are rising. 250
1. and 2. Serv. In, in, in, in ! Exeunt.
Scene VI
[Rome. A public place.]
Enter Sicinius and Brutus.
Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him ; ; His remedies are tame. The present peace And quietness of the people, which before Were in wild hurry, here do make his friends Blush that the world goes well, who rather had, 5 Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold Dissentious numbers pest'ring streets than see Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going About their functions friendly.
Enter Menenius.
Bru. We stood to't in good time. Is this Menenius .^10
Sc. VI ®l)e ®rageti^ of Coriolanus; 127
Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he. O, he is grown most kind of late.
Hail, sir ! Men. Hail to you both !
Sic, Your Coriolanus
Is not much miss'd, but with his friends.
The commonwealth doth stand, and so would do,
Were he more angry at it. 15
Me7i. All's well ; and might have been much better, if f
He could have temporiz'd. •
Sic. Where is he, hear you ?
Men. Nay, I hear nothing ; his mother and his wife
He^r nothing from him.
Enter three or four Citizens.
[Citizens.] The gods preserve you both !
Sic. God-den, our neighbours. 20
Bru. God-den to you all, god-den to you all.
1. Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, Are bound to pray for you both.
Sic. Live, and thrive !
Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours ! We wish'd Corio- lanus 24 Had lov'd you as we did.
[Citizens.] Now the gods keep you !
Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. Exeunt Citizens.
Sic. This is a happier and more comely time
128 W\)t ®rageD^ of Coriolanus; Act iv
Than when these fellows ran about the streets,
Crymg confusion. Bru. Caius Marcius was
A worthy officer i' the war ; but insolent, 30
O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking.
Self-loving, — Sic. And affecting one sole throne,
Without assistance. Men. I think not so.
Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation.
If he had gone forth consul, found it so. 35
Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome
Sits safe and still without him.
Enter an .Edile.
Md. Worthy tribunes,
There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports the Volsces with two several powers Are ent'red in the Roman territories, iO
And with the deepest malice of the war Destroy what lies before 'em.
Men. 'Tis Aufidius,
"VMio, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world ; Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome, 45
And durst not once peep out.
Sc. VI ®t)e ®ragcD^ of Coriolanus; 129
Sic. Come, what talk you
Of Marcius ?
Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be The Volsces dare break with us.
Men. Cannot be !
We have record that very well it can ; And three examples of the like hath been 50
Within my age. But reason with the fellow. Before you punish him, where he heard this. Lest you shall chance to whip your information And beat the messenger who bids beware Of what is to be dreaded.
Sic. Tell not me ! 55
I know this cannot be.
Bru. Not possible.
Ejiier a Messenger.
Mess. The nobles in great earnestness are going
All to the Senate-house ; some news is come
That turns their countenances. Sic. 'Tis this slave, —
Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes, — his rais- ing ; 60
Nothing but his report. Mess. Yes, worthy sir,
The slave's report is seconded ; and more,
More fearful, is deliver'd. Sic. WTiat more fearful ?
I30 ^lie tETrageri^ of Coriolanuef Act iv
Mess. It is spoke freely out of many mouths —
How probable I do not know — that Marcius, 65 Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome, And vows revenge as spacious as between The young'st and oldest thing.
Sic. This is most likely !
Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish Good Marcius home again.
Sic. The very trick on't.
Men. This is unlikely. 71
He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety.
Enter [a second] Messenger.
[2.] Mess. You are sent for to the Senate.
A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius 75
Associated with Aufidius, rages Upon our territories ; and have already O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and
took What lay before them.
Enter Cominius.
Com. O, you have made good work ! Men. ^\Tiat news ? what news ?
Com. You have holp to ravish your own daughters and 81
Sc. VI tE^lie tlTrageti^ of Cortolanusf 131
To melt the city leads upon your pates,
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses, — Men. What's the news ? what's the news ? Com. Your temples burned in their cement, and 85
Your franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd
Into an auger's bore. Men. Pray now, your news ? —
You have made fair work, I fear me. — Pray, your news ?
If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians, — Com. If !
He is their god. He leads them like a thing 90
Made by some other deity than nature.
That shapes man better ; and they follow him,
Against us brats, with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies.
Or butchers killing flies. Men. You have made good work.
You and your apron-men ; you that stood so much 96
Upon the voice of occupation and
The breath of garlic-eaters ! Com. He will shake
Your Rome about your ears. Men. As Hercules
Did shake down mellow fruit. You have made fair work ! 100
Bru. But is this true, sir ?
132 tC^e Crageu^ of Coriolanus Act iv
Com. Ay ; and you'll look pale
Before you find it other. All the regions
Do smilingly revolt ; and who resists
Are mock'd for valiant ignorance,
And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him ? 105
Your enemies and his find something in him. jlen. We are all undone, unless
The noble man have mercy. Com. ^^^lo shall ask it ?
The tribunes cannot do't for shame ; the people
Deserve such pity of him as the wolf 110
Does of the shepherds. For his best friends, if they
Should say, "Be good to Rome," they charg'd him even
As those should do that had deserv'd his hate,
And therein show'd like enemies. Men. 'Tis true.
If he were putting to my house the brand 115
That should consume it, I have not the face
To say, "Beseech you, cease." You have made fair hands.
You and your crafts ! You have crafted fair ! Com. You have brought
A trembling upon Rome, such as was never
So incapable of help. [Both] Tri. Say not we brought it. 120
Sc. VI ^\)t tBtn^m of Coriolantifif 133
;'
Men. How ! Was't we ? We lov'd him ; but, like beasts And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters, WTio did hoot him out o' the city.
Com. But I fear
They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, The second name of men, obeys his points 125
As if he were his officer. Desperation Is all the polic}', strength, and defence. That Rome can make against them.
Enter a troop of Citizens.
Men. Here come the clusters.
And is Aufidius with him ? You are they That made the air unwholesome, when you cast 130 Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming ; And not a hair upon a soldier's head Which will not prove a whip. As many cox- combs As you threw caps up will he tumble down, 135 And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter ; If he could burn us all into one coal. We have deserv'd it.
[Citizens.] Faith, we hear fearful news.
1. Cit. For mine own part,
When I said, banish him, I said, 'twas pity. 140
134 tB^^e ®ragel>^ of Coriolanusf Act iv
S: at. And so did I.
3. Cit. And so did I ; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did, we did for the best ; and though we wilhngly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our 145 will.
Com. You're goodly things, you voices !
Alen. You have made
Good work, you and your cry ! Shall 's to the Capitol ?
Com. O, ay, what else ?
Exeunt Cominiiis and Menenius.
Sic. Go, masters, get you home ; be not dismay 'd. 150 These are a side that would be glad to have This true which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear.
1. Cit. The gods be good to us ! Come, mas- ters, let's home. I ever said we were i' the 155 wrong when we banish'd him.
S. Cit. So did we all. But, come, let's home.
Exeunt Citizens,
Bru. I do not like this news.
Sic. Nor I.
Bru. Let's to the Capitol. Would half my wealth 160 Would buy this for a lie !
Sic. Pray, let's go.
Exeunt.
Sc. vii tB\)t ®rageD^ of Coriolanusf 135
Scene vii
[A camp, at a small distance from Rcnne.] Enter Ayfidius with his Lievienant,
Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman ?
Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat, Their talk at table, and their thanks at end ; And you are dark'ned in this action, sir, 5
Even by your own.
Auf. I cannot help it now.
Unless, by using means, I lame the foot Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier, Even to my person, than I thought he would When first I did embrace him ; yet his nature 10 In that's no changeling ; and I must excuse WTiat cannot be amended.
Lieu. Yet I wish, sir, —
I mean for your particular, — you had not Join'd in commission with him ; but either Have borne the action of yourself, or else 15
To him had left it solely.
Auf. I understand thee well ; and be thou sure.
When he shall come to his account, he knows not What I can urge against him. Although it seems. And so he thinks, and is no less apparent 20
To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly.
136 2!^^)e ni^rageD^ of Coriolanusf Act iv
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state, Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon As draw his sword ; yet he hath left undone That which shall break his neck or hazard mine, 25 "VATiene'er we come to our account.
Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome ?
Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down, And the nobility of Rome are his. The senators and patricians love him too ; 30
The tribunes are no soldiers, and their people Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it By sovereignty of nature. First he was 35
A noble servant to them, but he could not Carry his honours even, ^^^lethe^ 'twas pride, WTiich out of daily fortune ever taints The happy man ; whether defect of judgement. To fail in the disposing of those chances 40
\Miich he was lord of ; or whether nature, Not to be other than one thing, not moving From the casque to the cushion, but commanding
peace Even with the same austerity and garb As he controll'd the war ; but one of these, — 45 As he hath spices of them all — not all, — For I dare so far free him, — made him fear'd ; So, hated ; and so, banish'd : but he has a merit
Sc. VII ^\)t ®rageu^ of Coriolanus? 137
To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues
Lie in the interpretation of the time ; 50
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair
To extol what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire ; one nail, one nail ;
Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do
fail. 55
Come, let's away. WTien, Caius, Rome is thine. Thou art poor'st of all ; then shortly art thou
mine. Exeunt.
ACT FIFTH Scene I
[Rome. A public place.]
Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus, with others.
Men. No, I'll not go. You hear what he hath said Which was sometime his general ; who lov'd him In a most dear particular. He call'd me father ; But what o' that ? Go, you that banish'd him ; A mile before his tent fall down, and knee 5
The way into his mercy. Nay, if he coy'd To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.
Com. He would not seem to know me.
Men. Do you hear ?
Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name.
I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops 10
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to ; forbade all names ;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forg'd himself a name o' the fire
Of burning Rome.
Men. V\\\y, so ; you have made good work ! 15
138
Sc. I ariie tErageU^ of Coriolanus^ 139
A pair of tribunes that have wreck'd fair Rome To make coals cheap ! A noble memory !
Com. I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon When it was less expected ; he replied. It was a bare petition of a state 20
To one whom they had pmiish'd.
Men. Very well ;
Could he say less ?
Com. I offered to awaken his regard
For 's private friends ; his answer to me was, He could not stay to pick them in a pile 25
Of noisome musty chaff. He said 'twas folly. For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt And still to nose the offence.
Men. For one poor grain or two !
I am one of those ; his mother, wife, his child. And this brave fellow too, we are the grains. 30 You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt Above the moon ; we must be burnt for you.
Sic. Nay, pray, be patient. If you refuse your aid In this so never-needed help, yet do not Upbraid 's with our distress. But, sure, if you 35 Would be your country's pleader, your good
tongue. More than the instant army we can make. Might stop our countrjTnan. Men. No, I'll not meddle.
Sic. Pray you, go to him.
I40 tCtie Crageu^ of Coriolanusi Act v
Men. WTiat should I do ?
Bru. Only make trial what your love can do 40
For Rome, towards Marcius.
Men. Well, and say that Marcius
Return me, as Cominius is return'd, Unheard ; what then ? But as a discontented friend, grief-shot With his unkindness ? Say't be so ?
Sic. Yet your good will
Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure 46
As you intended well.
Men. I'll undertake't.
I think he'll hear me. Yet, to bite his lip And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me. He was not taken well ; he had not din'd. 50
The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then We pout upon the morning, are unapt To give or to forgive ; but when we have stuff'd These pipes and these conveyances of our blood With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls 55 Than in our priest-like fasts : therefore I'll watch
him Till he be dieted to my request, And then I'll set upon him.
Bru. You know the very road into his kindness. And cannot lose your way.
Men. Good faith, I'll prove him.
Sc. 11 ®be ®rageD^ of Coriolanufli 141
Speed how it will. I shall ere long have know- ledge 61 Of my success. Exit.
Com. He'll never hear him.
Sic. Not?
Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye
Red as 'twould burn Rome ; and his injury
The gaoler to his pity. I kneerd before him ; 65
'Twas very faintly he said, "Rise" ; dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand. "What he would do.
He sent in writing after me, what he would not.
Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions ;
So that all hope is vain, 70
Unless his noble mother and his wife, —
Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him
For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence.
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.
Exeunt.
Scene II
[Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome.] The Watch on guard.
Enter to them, Menenius.
1. Watch. Stay ! Whence are you ?
2. Watch. Stand, and go back. Men. You guard like men ; 'tis well ; but, by your
leave.
142 ®^e CragcD^ of Coriolanus Act V
I am an officer of state, and come
To speak with Coriolanus. 1. Watch. From whence ?
Men. From Rome.
1. Watch. You may not pass, you must return ; our
general 5
Will no more hear from thence.
2. Watch. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire
before You'll speak with Coriolanus.
Men. Good my friends,
If you have heard your general talk of Rome And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks, 10 My name hath touch'd your ears ; it is Menenius.
1. Watch. Be it so ; go back. The virtue of your name Is not here passable.
Men. I tell thee, fellow,
Thy general is my lover. I have been The book of his good acts, whence men have read 15 His fame unparallel'd haply amplified ; For I have ever magnified my friends, Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer ; nay, sometimes. Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, 20
I have tumbled past the throw ; and in his praise Have almost stamp'd the leasing. Therefore,
fellow, I must have leave to pass.
Sc. II tB^t tlTragerj^ of Coriolanus; 143
1. Watch. Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies
in his behalf as you have uttered words in 25 your own, you should not pass here ; no, though it were as virtuous to lie as to live chastely. Therefore, go back. Men. Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Me-
nenius, always factionary on the party of your 30 general.
2. Watch. Howsoever you have been his liar, as you
say you have, I am one that, telling true under him, must say you cannot pass. Therefore, go back. 35
Men. Has he din'd, canst thou tell ? for I would not speak with him till after dinner.
1. Watch. You are a Roman, are you ?
Men. I am, as thy general is.
1. Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. 40 Can you, when you have push'd out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a vio- lent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms 45 of your daughters, or with the palsied inter- cession of such a decay'd dotant as you seem to be ? Can you think to blow out the in- tended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this ? No, you are de- 50 ceiv'd ; therefore, back to Rome, and prepare
144 ^^t tlTrageD^ of Coriolanusf Act v
for your execution. You are condemn'd, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and par- don.
Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he 55 would use me with estimation.
1. Watch. Come, my captain knows you not.
Meji. I mean, thy general.
1. Watch. My general cares not for you. Back,
I say, go ; lest I let forth your half-pint of 60 blood. Back, that's the utmost of your hav- ing ; back !
Men. Nay, but, fellow, f-ellow, —
Enter Coriolantts with Aufidius.
Cor. What's the matter ?
Men. Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for 65 you. You shall know now that I am in esti- mation ; you shall perceive that a Jack guard- ant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus. Guess but by my entertainment with him if thou stand'st not i' the state of hanging, or 70 of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering ; behold now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee. [To Cor.] The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity, and love thee 75 no worse than thy old father Menenius does !
Sc. II ar^e ^rageu^ of Coriolanu0 145
0 my son, my son ! thou art preparing fire for us ; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee ; but being assured none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with sighs ; 80 and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here, — this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee. 85
Cor. Away ! Men. How ! away !
Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are servanted to others ; though I owe My revenge properly, my remission lies 90
In Volscian breasts. That we have been fa- miliar, Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather Than pity note how much. Therefore, begone. Mine ears against your suits are stronger than Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee, 95
Take this along. I writ it for thy sake,
[Gives a letter.] And would have sent it. Another word, Menen- ius,
1 will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius, Was my belov'd in Rome ; yet thou behold'st !
146 ®^e ^raget)^ of Coriolanusf Act v
Auf. You keep a constant temper. 100
Exeunt [Coriolanus and Aufidius].
1. Watch. Now, sir, is your name Menenius ?
2. Watch. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power.
You know the way home again.
1. Watch. Do you hear how we are shent for keep-
ing your greatness back ? 105
2. Watch. ^Yhat cause do you think I have to
swoon
Men. I neither care for the world nor your gen- eral ; for such things as you I can scarce think there's any, you're so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not from 110 another. Let your general do his worst. For 3'ou, be that you are, long ; and your misery increase with your age ! I say to you, as I was said to. Away ! Exit.
1. Watch. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 115
2. Watch. The worthy fellow is our general. He's the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.
Exeunt.
Scene III
[The tent of Coriolanus.]
Enter Coriolanus, Aufidius [and others].
Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow Set dowTi our host. My partner in this action,
Sc. in m^\)t tlTrageDp of Coriolanu0 147
You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly I have borne this business.
Auf, Only their ends
You have respected ; stopp'd your ears against 5 The general suit of Rome ; never admitted A private whisper, no, not with such friends That thought them sure of you.
Cor. This last old man,
Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome, Lov'd me above the measure of a father ; 10
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge Was to send him ; for whose old love I have. Though I show'd sourly to him, once more offer'd The first conditions, which they did refuse And cannot now accept. To grace him only 15 That thought he could do more, a very little I have yielded to. Fresh embassies and suits, Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter Will I lend ear to. Ha ! what shout is this ?
Shout vnthin. Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow 20
In the same time 'tis made ? I will not.
Enter [in mourning habits] Virgilia, Volumnia [leading] young Marcius, Valeria, with Attendants.
My wife comes foremost ; then the honour'd
mould Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
i48 ^^t tErageD^ of Coriolanus Act v
The grandchild to her blood. But out, affection ! All bond and privilege of nature, break ! 25
Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. What is that curtsy worth ? or those doves' eyes, Which can make gods forsworn.' I melt, and
am not Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows, As if Olympus to a molehill should 30
In supplication nod ; and my young boy Hath an aspect of intercession which Great nature cries, "Deny not." Let the Volsces Plough Rome and harrow Italy, I'll never Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand 35 As if a man were author of himself And knew no other kin.
Vir. My lord and husband !
Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.
Vir. The sorrow that delivers us thus chang'd Makes you think so.
Cor. Like a dull actor now 40
I have forgot my part, and I am out. Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh. Forgive my tyranny ; but do not say For that, "Forgive our Romans." O, a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge ! 45
Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss I carried from thee, dear ; and my true lip Hath virgin'd it e'er since. You gods ! I prate.
Sc. Ill ®l)e ®ragrD^ of Coriolanuflf 149
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted. Sink, my knee, i' the earth ; 50
Kneels.
Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sons. Vol. 0, stand up bless'd !
Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,
I kneel before thee ; and unproperly
Show duty, as mistaken all this while 55
Between the child and parent. [Kneels.]
Cor. [Instantly raising her.] What's this ?
Your knees to me ? to your corrected son ?
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillip the stars ; then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun, 60
Murd'ring impossibility, to make
WTiat cannot be, slight work. Vol. Thou art my warrior ;
I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady ^ Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,
The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle 65
That's curded by the frost from purest snow
And hangs on Dian's temple. Dear Valeria ! Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours.
Which by the interprefation of full time
May show like all yourself. Cor. The god of soldiers.
With the consent of supreme Jove, inform 71
ISO ^\)t ^rageD^ of Coriolanus; Act v
Thy thoughts with nobleness ; that thou mayst
prove To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw. And saving those that eye thee !
Vol. Your knee, sirrah.
Cor. That's my brave boy ! "^ 76
Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you.
Cor. I beseech you, peace ;
Or, if you'd ask, remember this before : The thing I have forsworn to grant may never 80 Be held by you denials. Do not bid me Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate Again with Rome's mechanics ; tell me not Wherein I seem unnatural ; desire not To allay my rages and revenges with 85
Your colder reasons.
Vol. O, no more, no more !
You have said you will not grant us anything ; For we have nothing else to ask, but that Which you deny already. Yet we will ask, That, if you fail in our request, the blame 90
May hang upon your hardness : therefore hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark ; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private. Your re- quest ?
Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment
Sc. in ®!)e tErageUi? of Coriolanufli 151
And state of bodies would bewray what life 95
We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither ; since that thy sight, which
should Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with
comforts. Constrains them weep and shake with fear and
sorrow ; 100
Making the mother, wife, and child to see The son, the husband, and the father tearing His country's bowels out. And to poor we Thine enmity's most capital. Thou barr'st us Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort 105 That all but we enjoy ; for how can we, Alas, how can we for our country pray, Whereto we are bound, together with thj^ victory. Whereto we are bound ^ Alack, or we must lose The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, 110 Our comfort in the country. We must find An evident calamity, though we had Our wish, which side should win ; for either thou Must, as a foreign recreant, be led With manacles through our streets, or else 115
Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin. And bear the palm for having bravely shed Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son, I purpose not to wait on fortune till
153 ^¥ tCragei)^ of Coriolanus; Act v
These wars determine. If I cannot persuade thee 120
Rather to show a noble grace to both parts Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner March to assault thy country than to tread — Trust to't, thou shalt not — on thy mother's
womb. That brought thee to this world. Vir. Ay, and on mine,
That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name 126
Living to time. Young Mar. 'A shall not tread on me.
I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Cor. Not of a woman's tenderness to be,
Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. 130 I have sat too long. [Rising.]
Vol. Nay, go not from us thus.
If it were so that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy The Volsces whom you serve, you might con- demn us. As poisonous of your honour. No ; our suit 135 Is, that you reconcile them : while the Volsces May say, "This mercy we have show'd"; the
Romans, "This we receiv'd" ; and each in either side Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, "Be blest
Sc. Ill ^\)t tirrageU^ of Cortolanu0 153
For making up this peace!" Thou know'st,
great son, 140
The end of war 's uncertain, but this certain. That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses ; Whose chronicle thus writ : "The man was
noble, 145
But with his last attempt he wip'd it out ; Destroy'd his country ; and his name remains To the ensuing age abhorr'd." Speak to me,
son. Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour. To imitate the graces of the gods ; 150
To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air, And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt That should but rive an oak. WTiy dost not
speak ? Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man Still to remember wrongs ? Daughter, speak
you ; 155
He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy ; Perhaps thy childishness will move him more Than can our reasons. There's no man in the
world More bound to 's mother ; yet here he lets me prate Like one i' the stocks. — Thou hast never in thy
life 160
154 ®t)e Crageti^ of Coriolanusi Act v
Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy, TVTien she, poor hen, fond of no second brood, Has cluck'd thee to the wars and safely home, Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust. And spurn me back ; but if it be not so, 165
Thou art not honest ; and the gods will plague thee, That thou restrain'st from me the duty which To a mother's part belongs. — He turns away. Down, ladies ; let us shame him with our knees. To his surname Coriolanus longs more pride 170 Than pity to our prayers. Down ! an end ; This is the last. So we will home to Rome, And die among our neighbours. — Nay, behold 's ! This boy, that cannot tell what he would have. But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship, 175 Does reason our petition with more strength Than thou hast to deny't. —^ Come, let us go. This fellow had a Volscian to his mother ; His wife is in Corioli, and his child Like him by chance. — Yet give us our dis- patch. 180 I am hush'd until our city be a-fire. And then I'll speak a little.
He holds her by the hand, silent. Cor. O mother, mother !
What have you done ? Behold, the heavens do
ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
Sc. HI tClje CrageD^ of Coriolanusf 155
They laugh at. O my mother, mother ! O ! 185 You have won a happy victory to Rome ; But, for your son, — believe it, 0, believe it. Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd, If not most mortal to him. But, let it come. Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, 190 I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, Were you in my stead, would you have heard A mother less, or granted less, Aufidius ?
Auf. I was mov'd withal.
Cor. I dare be sworn you were ;
And, sir, it is no little thing to make 195
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, WTiat peace you'll make, advise me. For my
part, I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you ; and pray
you. Stand to me in this cause. — O mother ! wife !
[Speaks apart with them.]
Auf. [A^ide.] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour 200
At difference in thee. Out of that I'll work Myself a former fortune.
Cor. [To Volumnia, Virgilia, etc.] Ay, by and by; But we will drink together ; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have counter-seaFd. 205 Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve
156 C^e ^ragrti^ of doriolanu^ Act v
To have a temple built you. All the swords
In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this peace. Exeunt.
Scene IV [Rome. A public place.] Enter Menenius and Sicinius.
Men. See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond cor- ner-stone .^
Sic. Why, what of that ?
Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with
your little finger, there is some hope the ladies 5 of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hope in't ; our throats are sentenc'd and stay upon execu- tion.
Sic. Is't possible that so short a time can alter
the condition of a man .^ 10
Men. There is differency between a grub and a butterfly ; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon ; he has wings ; he's more than a creeping thing.
Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly. 15
Men. So did he me ; and he no more remembers his mother now than an eight-year-old horse.
Sc. IV tE^e tE^ragetJ^ of Coriolanusf 157
The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes ; when he walks, he moves Hke an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He 20 is able to pierce a corslet with his eye ; talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done is finish 'd with his bid- ding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity 25 and a heaven to throne in.
Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.
Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him. There is no more mercy in him than there is milk in 30 a male tiger ; that shall our poor city find : and all this is long of you.
Sic. The gods be good unto us !
Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good
unto us. When we banish'd him, we respected 35 not them ; and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.
Enter a Messenger.
Mess. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house. The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune And hale him up and down, all swearing, if 40
The Roman ladies bring not comfort home, They'll give him death by inches.
158 C^e tE^rageti^ of Coriolanusf Act v
Enter a second Messenger.
Sic. What's the news ?
[2.] Mess. Good news, good news ! The ladies have prevail'd, The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone. A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, 45
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.
Sic. Friend,
Art thou certain this is true ? Is't most certain ?
[2.] Mess. As certain as I know the sun is fire.
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it ? Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide, 50 As the recomforted through the gates. \Miy, hark you !
Trumpets; hautboys; drums beat; all together. The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, Tabors and cymbals and the shouting Romans, Make the sun dance. Hark you !
A shout loithin.
Men. This is good news ;
I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia 55
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians, A city full ; of tribunes, such as you, A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day. This morning for ten thousand of your throats I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy ! Sound still, with the shouts. 60
Sc. V tETlie tlTragfD^ of Coriolanufl? 159
Sic. First, the gods bless you for your tidings ; next.
Accept my thankfulness. [S.] Mess. Sir, we have all
Great cause to give great thanks. Sic. They are near the city ?
[2.] Mess. Almost at point to enter. Sic. We will meet them.
And help the joy. Exeunt. 65
Scene V
[The same. A street near the gate.]
Enter two Senators with Ladies [Volumnia, Virgilioy Valeriay etc.], passing over the stage, with other Lords.
[1.] Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome !
Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,
And make triumphant fires ! Strew flowers be- fore them !
Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius !
Repeal him with the welcome of his mother ; 5
Cry, "Welcome, ladies, welcome !" All. Welcome, ladies,
Welcome ! A flourish with drums and trumpets.
[Exeunt.]
i6o tB))t tCrageD^ of Coriolanusf Act v
Scene VI
[Corioli. A public place.]
Enter Tullus Aujidiiis, ivith Attendants.
Auf. Go tell the lords o' the city I am here ; Deliver them this paper. Having read it, Bid them repair to the market-place, where I, Even in theirs and in the commons' ears. Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse 5
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and Intends to appear before the people, hoping To purge himself with words. Dispatch.
[Exeunt Attendants.]
Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius* faction.
Most welcome ! 1. Con. How is it with our general ? Auf. Even so 10
As with a man by his own alms empoison'd.
And with his charity slain. ^. Con. Most noble sir.
If you do hold the same intent wherein
You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
Of your great danger. Auf. Sir, I cannot tell. 15
We must proceed as we do find the people.
Sc. VI ©Ije tCrageD^ of Coriolanusf i6i
3. Con. The people will remain uncertain whilst
'Twixt you there's difference ; but the fall of
either Makes the survivor heir of all.
Auf. I know it ;
And my pretext to strike at him admits 20
A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd Mine honour for his truth ; who being so height-
en'd, He watered his new plants with dews of flattery. Seducing so my friends ; and, to this end. He bow'd his nature, never known before 25
But to be rough, unswayable, and free.
3. Con. Sir, his stoutness
When he did stand for consul, which he lost By lack of stooping, —
Auf. That I would have spoke of.
Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth, 30 Presented to my knife his throat. I took him ; Made him joint-servant with me ; gave him way In all his own desires ; nay, let him choose Out of my files, his projects to accomplish. My best and freshest men ; serv'd his design- ments 35
In mine own person ; holp to reap the fame Which he did end all his, and took some pride To do myself this wrong ; till, at the last, I seem'd his follower, not partner, and
i62 tC^ie tETrageti^ of Coriolanusf Act v
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if 40
I had been mercenary.
1, Con. So he did, my lord.
The army marvell'd at it, and, in the last. When he had carried Rome and that we look'd For no less spoil than glory, —
Auf. There was it,
For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. 45
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour Of our great action. Therefore shall he die. And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark !
Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of the People.
1. Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, 50
And had no welcomes home ; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise.
2. Con. And patient fools.
Whose children he hath slain, their base throats
tear With giving him glory.
3. Con. Therefore, at your vantage,
Ere he express himself, or move the people 55
With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury His reasons with his body.
Sc. VI tCt|0 arragcD^ of Coriolanus; 163
Auf. Say no more.
Here come the lords. 60
Enter the Lords of the city.
All the Lords. You are most welcome home.
Auf. I have not deserv'd it.
But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused \Miat I have written to you ?
Lords. We have.
1. Lord. And grieve to hear't.
What faults he made before the last, I think Might have found easy fines ; but there to end 65 WTiere he was to begin, and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge, making a treaty where There was a yielding, — this admits no excuse.
Auf. He approaches ; you shall hear him. 70
Enter Coriolanus, marching with drum and colours; Commoners being icith him.
Cor. Hail, lords ! I am return'd your soldier. No more infected with my country's love Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know That prosperously I have attempted and 75
With bloody passage led your wars even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home
i64 tlT^e tlTrageD^ of Coriolanu0 Act v
Do more than counterpoise a full third part The charges of the action. We have made peace With no less honour to the Antiates 80
Than shame to the Romans ; and we here deliver, Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o' the Senate, what We have compounded on.
Auj. Read it not, noble lords ;
But tell the traitor, in the highest degree 85
He hath abus'd your powers.
Cor. "Traitor!" How now !
Auj. Ay, traitor, Marcius !
Car. ** Marcius!"
Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius ! Dost thou think I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stolen name, Coriolanus, in Corioli J 90
You lords and heads o' the state, perfidiously He has betray'd your business, and given up, For certain drops of salt, your city Rome, I say "your city," to his wife and mother ; Breaking his oath and resolution like 95
A twist of rotten silk, never admitting Counsel o' the war, but at his nurse's tears He whin'd and roar'd away your victory. That pages blush'd at him and men of heart Look'd wond'ring each at others.
Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars ?
Auf, Name not the god, thou boy of tears !
Sc. VI tC^e tCrageoi? of Coriolanusf 165
Cor. Ha! 101
Auf. No more.
Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart
Too great for what contains it. "Boy!" O
slave ! Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever 105 I was forc'd to scold. Your judgements, my grave
lords, Must give this cur the lie ; and his own notion — Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him, that Must bear my beating to his grave — shall join To thrust the lie unto him. 110
1. Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak.
Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volsces ; men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me. "Boy!" False
hound ! If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I 115
Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli ; Alone I did it. "Boy!"
AuJ. Why, noble lords.
Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, "Which was your shame, by this unholy brag- gart, 119 'Fore your own eyes and ears ?
All Consp. Let him die for't.
All the people. Tear him to pieces ! Do it pres- ently ! — He kill'd my son ! — My daughter !
i66 ®^e tlTrageD^ of Coriolanu0 Act v
— He kill'd my cousin Marcus ! — He kill'd my father !
S. Lord. Peace, ho ! no outrage : peace ! 125
The man is noble and his fame folds in This orb o' the earth. His last oflFences to us Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace.
Cor. O that I had him.
With six Aufidiuses or more, his tribe, 130
To use my lawful sword !
Auf. Insolent villain !
All Consp. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him !
Both the Conspirators draw and kill CoriolanuSy who falls: Aufidius stands on him.
Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold :
Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak.
1. Lord. O Tullus !
S. Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.
8. Lord. Tread not upon him. Masters all, be quiet ; 135
Put up your swords.
Auf. My lords, when you shall know — as in this rage, Provok'd by him, you cannot — the great danger WTiich this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours To call me to your Senate, I'll deliver 141
Sc. VI W\)t ®rageu^ of Coriolanus? 167
Myself your loyal servant, or endure Your heaviest censure.
1. Lord. Bear from hence his body ;
And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded As the most noble corse that ever herald 145
Did follow to his urn.
S. Lord. His own impatience
Takes from Aijfidius a great part of blame. Let's make the best of it.
Auf. My rage is gone.
And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up. Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers ; I'll be one. 150 Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully. Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchiided many a one. Which to this hour bewail the injury. Yet he shall have a noble memory. 155
Assist.
Exeunt, bearing the body of Coriolanus. A dead march sounded.
Act First. Scene i. The division into acts is made in the first Folio, but only the first scene division is there indicated. A list of Dramatis Personae was first given by Rowe, and the scene settings are mainly due to Rowe and Pope.
I. i. 25. rakes. " As lean as a rake " is proverbial. Cf. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, A, 287, " As lene was his hors as is a rake."
I. i. 29. he's a very dog to the commonalty. Cf. Two Gentlemen of Verona, II. iii. 11-12. *' He is a stone, a very pebble stone, and has no more pity in him than a dog."
I. i. 39. he did it to please his mother. Plutarch says, *' the only thing that made him to love honour, was the joye he sawe his mother dyd take of him." . I. i. 112. Which ne'er came from the lungs. Not a cordial but a satirical smile.
I. i. 124. 'Fore me. A very mild oath. Parliament passed an act in 1606 to prevent the abuse of God's name in stage plays. In several instances the Folio softens or omits oaths found in the quartos.
I. i. 130. You'st. A provincial or colloquial form.
I. i. 163. rascal. A lean ill-conditioned deer. Worst in blood to run. In the poorest state for running.
I. i. 178-180. Your virtue is . . . justice did it. You make a point of upholding the man who has been dis- 169
I70 j^ocefif
graced by his acts and of railing at the law under which he is adjudged guilty.
I. i. 186. With every minute you do change a mind. Cf. the marginal gloss in Plutarch, " See the fickle mindes of common people."
I. i. 197. side factions. Take part with factions.
I. i. 203. quarter'd slaves. Slaves who should be cut in quarters. For this anticipatory use of the perfect par- ticiple compare Keats's Isabella, XXVII :
So the two brothers and their murder'd man Rode past fair Florence.
I. i. 206. they lack discretion. Lacking discretion, which, according to the proverb, is the better part of valor, they might be expected to possess courage.
I. i. 209. sigh'd forth proverbs. Cf. Bobadil's ridicule of Downright in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour, 1. iv, " He has not so much as a good phrase in his belly, but all old iron, and rusty proverbs."
I. i. 215. generosity. Those of noble birth.
I. i. 219. Five tribunes. Cf. Plutarch: "These per- suasions [the arguments of Menenius] pacified the people, conditionally, that the Senate would graunte there should be yerely chosen five magistrates, which they now call Tribuni Plebis, whose office should be to defend the poore people from violence and oppression. So Junius Brutus, and Sicinius Vellutus, were the first Tribunes of the people that were chosen, who had only bene the causers and pro- curers of this sedition."
I. i. 224. Win upon power. Gain advantage over those in authority.
jpotefif 171
I. i. 233. put you to't. Call forth your utmost ability.
I. i. 281. How the dispatch is made. ^Yhat form of commission the state gives the generals for this war.
I. i. 282. More than his singularity. Apart from his characteristic behavior.
I. ii. 9. press'd a power. Levied an army.
I. ii. 15. preparation. Military force. Cf. Othello, I. iii. 221-222, *' The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus,"
I. ii. 28. set down before's. Encamp against us. — for the remove. To raise the siege.
I. iii. 16. bound with oak. Plutarch relates the inci- dent : " A Romaine souldier being throwen to the ground even hard by him, Martins straight bestrid him, and slue the enemie with his owne handes that had before over- throwen the Romaine. Here upon, after the battel! was wonne, the Dictator dyd not forget so noble an acte, and therefore first of all he crowned Martins with a garland of oken boughs. For whosoever saveth the life of a Ro- maine, it is a manner among them, to honour him with such a garland.''
I. iii. 43. Than gilt his trophy. Wright explains trophy as " the ornaments of his tomb," but the word possibly means here a gilded monument raised in honor of his triumph; cf. Henry V, V. Prologue, 21.
I. iii. 55, 56. fine spot. Valeria refers to the pattern of the embroidery. Cf. Desdemona's handkerchief " spotted with strawberries," Othello, III. iii. 435.
I. iii. 92-94. yet, they say, . . . full of moths. An example of similar levity tov.ard classical story may be found in the Tempest, II. i. 76 ff., " Not since widow Dido's
172 0ottsi
time," etc. In both cases the effect is a touch of realistic characterization.
I. iii. 117. our better mirth. Our mirth which will be better without her.
I. iv. 14. The meaning is clear, but the use of a double negative, nor and less, is confusing, and has given rise to various emendations.
I. iv. 26. They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts. *' So the Coriolans making small accompt of them that laye in campe before the cittie, made a salye out apon them, in the which at the first the Coriolans had the better, and drave the Romaines backe againe into the trenches." — Plutarch.
I. iv. 47. To the pot. To destruction. Cf . The Man in the Moone, 1609, Percy Society, No. LXXXIV, page 2: " all that hee can get, or borrow, goeth to the pot."
I. iv. 51. He is himself alone. Plutarch says, " he was entred the cittie with very fewe men to helpe him." Genest thought that Tate had made one considerable im- provement on Shakespeare in The Ingratitude of a Com- monwealth by representing Caius Marcius " as not being quite alone on this occasion."
I. iv. 53. sensibly outdares his senseless sword. He, though possessed of feeling, is braver than his sword which has no feeling.
I. iv. 57. Even to Cato's wish. In the mouth of Lar- tius this is of course an anachronism. Plutarch makes the remark on his own account : " For he was even such an- other, as Cato would have a souldier and a captaine to be : not only terrible, and fierce to laye about him, but to make the enemie afeard with the sounde of his voyce, and
ipiotejf 173
grimness of his countenaunce.*' For Cato's, the Folio has Calues.
I. V. 7. Of a doit. Worth half a farthing.
I. vi. 16. briefly. A short time ago,
I. vi. 76. O, me alone, make you a sword of me ? Many editors have considered this line obscure and in need of emendation. It makes, however, excellent and spirited sense as it stands in the Foiio : Oh me alone, make you a sword of me; with a sense of exaltation excited by the in- stant response of the soldiers to his personal appeal, Coriolanus thinks of himself, borne on the shoulders of the troops, as an animated blade, singly invincible against the enemy. " Take me alone," the line means, as printed in the Folio, "and use me like a sword." The introduction of the interrogation mark, proposed by Capell, slightly alters the mood, but not the meaning.
I. viii. 4. fame and envy. Hendiadys for envied (or hated) fame. Other cases of this figure are noise and horn, III. i. 95 ; austerity and garb, IV. vii. 46.
I. viii. 12. the whip of your bragg'd progeny. Hector was the military leader of the Trojans, who were progenitors of the Romans.
I. viii. 15. In your condemned seconds. By your damned assistance. By increasing the fighting strength of Aufidius they had added to the disgrace of his defeat.
I. ix. 41-46. May these same instruments . . . cover- ture for the wars ! Coriolanus, with characteristic dislike of popular applause, wishes martial instruments confined strictly to martial uses. If drums and trumpets, of which we expect stern sincerity, are prostituted to flattery, then let courts and cities, of which we ordinarily expect less
174 jpotesf
candor, give themselves over wholly to hypocrisy. When the adulation of the city parasite is imitated upon the field of battle, then soldiers have ceased to be themselves, and may as well wear his silk as their steel.
I. ix. 55. give you truly. Estimate your virtues cor- rectly.
I. ix. 57. means his proper harm. Intends injury to himself.
I. ix. 65. Caius Marcius Coriolanus. " And thereby it appeareth, that the first name the Romaines have, as Caius : was our Christian name now. The second as Martins : was the name of the house and familie they came of. The third, was some addition geven, either for some acte or notable service." — Plutahch.
I. ix. 72. undercrest your good addition. Wear the good title you have conferred upon me as a crest.
I. ix. 77. articulate. Draw up conditions of peace.
I. ix. 83-90. At a poor man's house, etc. Plutarch says, *' an olde friende and hoste of mine, an honest wealthie man " ; he places the incident before the surnaming of Coriolanus, which concludes this part of his narrative ; and he gives no hint for the admired stroke, " By Jupiter I forgot."
I. X. 5, 6. Condition! What good condition can a treaty find? Aufidius repeats the word in the sense in- tended by the soldier — terms; then in his question he plays on a second meaning — quality or character.
I. X. 12-24. Mine emulation ... to Marcius. Cole- ridge thought the aspect of Aufidius here depicted must be in nature because it is in Shakespeare. He could not dis- cover in himself, however, '* any germ of possible feeling.
0otti 175
which could wax and unfold itself into such sentiment as this." Its dramatic function, he points out, is the *' pre- vention of shock at the after change in Aufidius' character." — Lectures upon Shakespeare.
I. X. 25, Upon my brother's guard. Guarded by my brother.
I. X. 26. Against the hospitable canon. The law of hospitality forbids injuring an enemy who is in the posi- tion of a guest.
II. i. 26. the right-hand file. The patricians. On " the dignity of Files " see Peacham's chapter " Of Military Ob- servations " in the Compleat Gentleman, 1634.
II. i. 32. little thief of occasion. Slight provocation.
II. i. 64. the ass in compound. A pun on the last syllables of Sicinius and Brutus. Wright observes that " Shakespeare was thinking of the little Latin he learnt at school, and the * As in praesenti,' &c."
II. i. 69. map of my microcosm. My character as it presents itself to you. That the individual man images in miniature the universe was a notion worked hard by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
II. i. 70. bisson conspectuities. Blind sights. The Folio has beesome, which may be a dialectic form. Mene- nius employs this " vile phrase," composed of an archaic and provincial word plus a coinage of his own, rather to deride than to enlighten the ignorance of the tribunes.
II. i. 76. legs. Bows. Cf. Jonson's Silent Woman, II. i, " Mute makes a leg."
II. i. 128. Galen. A now obvious anachronism; Ga- len lived in the second century a.d.
II. i. 214. change of honours. Variety of honors. Cf.
176 jpotesf
Ford's Broken Heart, IV. i. " Their very dreams present 'em choice of pleasures . . . increments of honours . . . change of garments . . . votes of people."
II. i. 227, 228. hors'd with variable complexions. Be- stridden by people of various sorts.
II. i. 250. Napless vesture of humility. Plutarch says, " the custome of Rome was at that time, that suche as dyd sue for any office, should for certen dayes before be in the market place, only with a poore gowne on their backes, and without any coate underneath, to praye the cittizens to remember them at the daye of election."
II. i. 272. put upon't. Urged to it.
II. ii. 24-26. Now, to seem to affect the malice . . . to flatter them for their love. Plutarch says in his Com- parison of Alcibiades with Martius Coriolanus, " he is lesse to be blamed, that seeketh to please and gratifie his common people : then he that despiseth and disdaineth them, and therefore offereth them wrong and injurie, bicause he would not seeme to flatter them, to winne the more authoritie."
II. ii. 41. Having determin'd of the Volsces. Having come to a decision concerning them.
II. ii. 87, 88. It is held that valour is the chiefest virtue. Plutarch explains : " Xow in those days, valliantness was honoured in Rome above all other vertues : which they called Virtus, by the name of vertue selfe, as including in that generall name, all other speciall vertues besides."
II. ii. 92. made a head. Raised an army.
II. ii. 95. Amazonian chin. Chin beardless like that of the female warriors.
II. ii. 105. He lurch'd all swords of the garland. He
i^te0 177
outdid all others. For the bearing of this expression on the date of the play, see the Introduction.
II. ii. 107. Speak him home. Do him justice in words.
II. ii. 112. it took. Like a fatal disease marked by a plague spot, or like the influence of a malign spirit. Cf. Hamlet, I. i. 163, " No fairy takes."
II. ii. 115, 116. painted with shunless destiny. Wright compares the custom of painting plague-stricken houses with a red cross. Possibly there is a reminiscence also of the blood-painted doors by which the Israelites avoided the " shunless destiny " of the first-born of the Egyptians.
II. ii. 117. struck. As applied to a comet, strike has a technical sense. A comet strikes by malign influence. Cf. Hamlet, I. i. 162; Winter's Tale, I. ii. 201.
II. iii. 6.3, 64. the virtues which our divines lose by them. Our divines commend to their keeping virtues which, by forgetting, they lose.
II. iii. 102. sworn brother. Fratres jvrati were those who had taken an oath to share each other's fortunes.
II. iii. 107. be off to them. Take off my hat to them.
II. iii. 122. woolless toge. The first Folio has Wool- uish tongue, the second, Woolvish yowne. Tongue is generally agreed to be a printer's mistake for toge. If uolvish is retained, an allusion to the wolf in sheep's clothing is understood ; in which case one may detect in the word a kind of echo of the wolf that loves the lamb in II. i. 8, 9. The reading woolless is supported by the napless vesture of humility, II. i. 250.
II. iii. 227. Enforce his pride. Lay stress upon his pride.
III. i. -Z\. Against all noble sufferance. Beyond the
N
178 ^otta
endurance of the nobility. Shakespeare often uses an adjective to perform the office of the first part of a com- pound noun. Cf. Lucrece, 1096, old woes, i.e. woes of old people.
III. i. 62. This was my speech. The substance of this speech, with many particular phrases, is in Plutarch.
III. i. 89. Triton of the minnows. Spokesman of the small fry. Triton was Neptune's trumpeter,
III. i. 90. from the canon. A violation of propriety, contrary to law. The first Folio has Cannon, which is retained and defended in the Porter-Clarke edition : " That is, from the big gun — another anachronism which has lacked notice because commonly explained in the sense of canon as rule or law."
III. i. 95. The horn and noise o' the monster's. Corio- lanus unites his two figures : the tribune, Triton, is the horn through which the multitude, Hydra, blows.
III. i. 103, 104. the greafst taste Most palates theirs. The predominant flavor is plebeian.
III. i. 154. jump a body. Subject it to hazard.
III. i. 213. Bear him to the rock Tarpeian. Plutarch says, " Whereupon Sicinius, the cruellest and stowtest of the Tribunes, after he had whispered a litle with his companions, dyd openly pronounce in the face of all the people, Martins as condemned by the Tribunes to dye. Then presently he commaunded the ^Ediles to apprehend him, and carie him straight to the rocke Tarpeian, and to cast him hedlong downe the same."
III. i. 275. Do not cry havoc. Do not give the signal for indiscriminate slaughter.
III. i. 304. Clean kam. All wrong.
Jl^otetf 179
III. i. 305. Merely awry. Entirely " twisted." Merely here, as elsewhere in Shakespeare, is much more emphatic than in our present usage, meaning rather absolutely than only.
III. ii. 9. woollen vassals. A slur at their coarse clothing.
III. ii. 52. It lies you on. It is incumbent on you.
III. ii. 78. The construction is confused ; which is used loosely as a connective.
III. ii. 99. unbarb'd sconce. Unarmed head.
III. iii. 26, 27. his worth Of contradiction. His full proportion of contradiction.
III. iii. 32. the poorest piece. The smallest coin.
III. iii. 33. bear the knave. Allow himself to be called knave.
IV. i. 49. of noble touch. Of approved nobility — tried as gold is by the touchstone.
IV. iii. 48, 49. in the entertainment. Engaged for service.
IV. iv. 22. interjoin their issues. Unite their children in marriage.
IV. V. 47. daws. The daw was a proverbially foolish bird.
IV. V. 92, 93. maims Of shame. Shameful hurts.
IV. V. 115, 116. I clip the anvil of my sword. I em- brace the man whom my sword has struck as the hammer does the anvil.
IV. V. 200. cannibally given. Inclined to cannibalism.
IV. V. 203. made on. Made much of.
IV. V. 222. directitude. Evidently a wild shot on the part of the servant ; Malone proposed discreditude, which
i8o j^oteflf
is hardly necessary to bring out the lurking sense of the blunder.
IV. V. 225. in blood. In good condition.
IV. V. 238. full of vent. This disputed phrase has been explained as a hunting term, meaning/?/// of the excitement of the chase. Wright points out that spritely, waking, audible, and full of vent are the opposites in inverse order of mulVd, deaf, sleepy, insensible; and he adds that "as ' raull'd ' signifies ' flat, insipid,' ' full of vent ' would seem to be effervescent, working ready to burst the cask, or full of scent."
IV. vi. 96. apron-men. Artisans and tradespeople who wore aprons.
IV. vi. 97. the voice of occupation. The will and vote of the working classes. Cf. Peacham's Compleat Gentle- man, " Touching Mechanicall Arts and Artists, whosoever labour for their livelihood and gaine, have no share at all in Nobility or Gentry . . . Yea, if a Xoble man, borne in captivity, or constrained through any other necessity, shall exercise any manuall occupation or Art, hee by the opinion of some, looseth his Nobility Civill, but not Chris- tian, and shall at his returne be restored."
IV. vi. 100. mellow fniit. An allusion to the apples of the Hesperides sought by Hercules in one of his twelve labors.
IV. vi. 117. fair hands. A pretty piece of business.
IV. vi. 118. crafted. A nonce-word playing on crafts. Cf. fidius'd, II. i. 144.
rV. vii. 6. your own. Your own soldiers.
IV. vii. 34. osprey to the fish. The osprey was vulgarly thought to fascinate fish so that they turned up their bellies and submitted unresistingly to be taken.
0Otti i8i
IV. vii. 48, 49. he has a merit To choke it in the utter- ance. It refers to the " one of these " faults that Aufidius has just been enumerating which made Coriolanus feared, hated, and banished. Though in these special circum- stances it is a fatal defect, it is but a spice in his disposition ; to mention it, is but to remind one of his overshadowing merit. AVright says, "his merit was great enough to have prevented the sentence [of banishment] from being ut- tered " ; to which the literalist might reply that it was not. His interpretation further necessitates an understood an- tecedent for it, in place of one, which seems adequate.
IV. vii. 49-50. So our virtues ... of the time. The meaning is that we cannot be judges of our own virtues; they must be stamped with the approval of the society in which we live, before they can become current. Shake- speare seems much interested in what we may call the social sanctions of virtue in Troilus and Cressida. In the mood of Aufidius, Troilus asks : " What is aught, but as 'tis valu'd ? " (II. ii. 52). Hector replies (II. ii. 53-56) :
But value dwells not in particular will ; It holds his estimate and dignity As well wherein 'tis precious of itself As in the prizer.
Later in the play (III. iii. 95 ff.) Ulysses and Achilles discuss the same point.
IV. vii. 51-53. And power . . . extol what it hath done. A person who possesses power, though it merit commenda- tion, cannot more speedily terminate its effectiveness than by praising what he has accomplished by it. Cf. Troilus and Cressida, I. iii. 241-242:
i82 jpOtrfll
The worthiness of praise distains his worth,
If that the prais'd himself bring the praise forth.
V. i. 3. In a most dear particular. With a most per- sonal fondness.
V. i. 63. sit in gold. Plutarch says that Coriolanus received the ambassadors " set in a chayer of state, with a marvelous and an unspeakable majestic."
V. ii. 20. subtle groiind. Ground of a treacherous smoothness.
V. ii. 21, 22. I have tumbled past the throw . . . stamp'd the leasing. I have exaggerated in his praise, and have almost given currency to the lie.
V. ii. 89-91. I owe . . . Volscian breasts. Vengeance is in my own hands, but power of pardon I must receive from the Volscians.
V. iii. 41. I am out. I have forgotten my part. The expression is of frequent occurrence with reference to a speaker's slips of memory. Cf. As You Like It, IV. i. 75-76.
V. iv. 23. as a thing made for Alexander. As if made to represent Alexander the Great.
V. vi. 40. wag'd me with his countenance. Rewarded me with his favor.
V. vi. 58. After your way his tale pronounc'd. An account of his conduct given as you viiW give it.
V. vi. 67-68. answering us With our own charge. " Rewarding us with our own expences." — Johnson. In 11. 77-79 below, Coriolanus declares that the expedition has returned more than the expenses by a third.
V. vi. 107. his own notion. Knowledge, understanding.
€c)rtual ©atiantji
The text in the present edition is based on the first Folio, and the following list records the more important variants from that version.
I. i. 35. [2 Cit.] All Ff.
58. , 2 Cit.] Ff. Most modern editors change to 1 Cit. and throughout the rest of the scene. 95. stale] scale Ff. 119. crovsned] crown'd Ff. iii. 46. contemning. Tell] Contenning, tell Ff. iv. 57. [Cato's] From Plutarch. Calues Ff. vi. 59. Antiates] Antients Ff.
76. of me ?] of me Ff . ix. 46. coverture] overture Ff. X. 22. embargements] embarquements Ff. II. i. 63. can't] can Ff.
70. bisson] beesome Ff. i. 79. faucet] forset Ff.
181, etc. Caius Marcius] Martius Caius.
182. Coriolanus] Martius Caius Coriolanus Ff. 267. the] their Ff.
271. touch] teach Ff.
ii. 85. one on's] Fs ; on ones Fi, a.
iii. 21. auburn] F4; Abram Fi.
122. woolless toge] W'ooluish tongue Fi ; W'oolvish
gowne F2.
123. do] F4 ; does Fi.
163. Citizens] the Plebeians Ff. 183
i84 Xl^txtudX ^ariantsf
251-252. [And . . . censor] Globe Ed. after Plu- tarch; And Nobly nam'd, so twice being Censor, Ff.
good] God ! Ff.
reckless] wreaklesse Ff.
motive] native Ff.
bisson multitude] Bosome-multiplied Ff.
Where one] Whereon Ff.
Citizens] Plebeians Ff.
[Citizens] All Ff.
Com. ]F2 ; Corio Fi.
Cor.] Mene. Ff.
[Men.] Ff. omits
thwartings] things Ff.
herd] heart Ff.
choir'd] quier'd Ff.
Throng] Through Ff.
not] but Ff.
extremity] F2 ; extremities Fi.
hate] have Ff.
spritely, waking] sprightly walking Ff.
hurry, here do] hurry. Here do we Ff.
yield] yeelds Ff.
virtues] Vertue Ff.
falter] fouler Ff.
wreck'd fair] wrack'd for Ff.
magnified] verified Ff.
our] F4 ; your Fi.
prate] pray Ff.
holp] hope F.
Flutter'd] F3 ; Flatter'd Fi, 2.
|
II. i. |
91. |
|
92. |
|
|
129. |
|
|
131. |
|
|
143. |
|
|
181. |
|
|
184. |
|
|
237. |
|
|
238. |
|
|
240. |
|
|
ii. |
21. |
|
32. |
|
|
113. |
|
|
iii. |
36. |
|
130. |
|
|
:v. i. |
4. |
|
iv. |
23. |
|
V. |
237. |
|
vi. |
4. |
|
vii. |
28. |
|
49. |
|
|
55. |
|
|
V. i. |
16. |
|
ii. |
17. |
|
80. |
|
|
iii. |
48. |
|
63. |
|
|
vi. |
116. |
(Blosijiatr
abated, humbled; III. iii. 132.
absolute, complete, perfect ; IV. v. 142.
addition, title; I. ix. 66.
advanc'd, raised; II. i. 178.
affects, aims at, desires; III. iii. 1.
allowance, admittance, approval ; III. ii. 57.
anon, at once; II. iii. 149.
Antiates, people of Antium ; III. iii. 4.
appear'd, made apparent; IV. iii. 9.
apron-men, see note, IV. vi. 96.
aptness, readiness ; IV. iii. 24.
articulate, draw up articles ; I. ix. 77.
atone, be reconciled; IV. vi. 72.
bale, injury, wrong; I. i. 167.
battle, troops drawn up in order for combat ; I. vi. 51.
bencher, magistrate, senator; II. i. 92.
bewray, disclose ; V. iii. 95.
billeted, enrolled ; IV'. iii. 48.
bisson, purblind ; II. i. 70; III. i. 131.
bolted, sifted, choice; III. i. 322.
bonneted, took off the bonnet; II. ii. 30.
botcher's, a botcher is one who mends old clothes ; II. i. 98.
briefly, a short time since ; I. vi. 16.
bulk, projecting part of a shop ; II. i. 226.
bussing, kissing ; III. ii. 75.
carbonado, a piece of meat slashed across for cooking; IV. V. 199.
185
i86 ^los(0ar^
cautelous, crafty ; IV. i. 33.
censure, judgment; I. i. 272: condemnation; III. iii. 46.
cog, cheat; III. ii. 133.
coign, a projection from a building, a cornerstone ; V. iv. 1.
companions, fellows (in the contemptuous sense) ; IV. v. 14.
composition, agreement ; III. i. 3.
compounded, agreed ; V. vi. 84.
condition, character, quality; I. x. 6.
confound, consume; I. vi. 17.
conies, rabbits ; IV. v. 226.
conspectuities, faculties of sight ; II. i. 70.
contriv'd, plotted ; III. iii. 63.
convented, assembled ; II. ii. 58.
coy'd, disdained; V. i. 6.
crack, little rogue ; I. iii. 74.
cranks, windings; I. i. 141.
cry, pack; III. iii. 120.
dear, vitally important, coming home to one intimately ;
V. i. 3. debile, weak; I. ix. 48. demerits, deserts ; I. i. 276. determine, end; III. iii. 43; V. iii. 120. Deucalion, the classical Xoah; II. i. 102. directitude, see note, IV. v. 222. disease, disturb; I. iii. 117. disbench'd, drove from the seat ; II. ii. 75. dispropertied, abrogated; II. i. 264. doit, half a farthing ; I. v. 7. dotant, dotard ; V. ii. 47.
embargements, preventives ; I. x. 22. empiricutic, empirical ; II. i. 128. end, garner; V. vi. 37.
enforce, press hard; III. iii. 3. engine, machine; V. iv. 19. entertainment, service ; IV. iii. 49. envy, hatred ; III. iii. 3, etc. exposture, exposure; IV. i. 36.
factionary, partisan; V. ii. 30.
fatigate, fatigued; II. ii. 121.
favour, countenance; IV. iii. 9.
fidius'd, i.e. Aufidiused, beaten; II. i. 144.
flamens, priests; II. i. 229.
flaw, gust of wind; V. iii. 74.
fob off, put aside craftily ; I. i. 97.
fond, foolish ; IV. i. 26.
foxship, cunning; IV. ii. 18.
Galen, the great medical authority who lived in the second
century; II. i. 128. gave, informed ; IV. v. 157. generosity, nobility; I. i. 215. gentry, inherited rank; III. i. 144. give, represent; I. ix. 55. God-den, good even ; II. i. 103. gratify, thank, reward; II. ii. 44. grief-shot, stricken with grief; V. i. 44. guardant, on guard; V. ii. 68.
head, army; II. ii. 92. home, adequately ; II. ii. 107. horse-drench, horse medicine; II. i. 180.
Jack, impudent fellow ; V. ii. 67. jump, chance, risk; III. i. 154.
kam, crooked ; III. i. 304.
i88 ^loflffifar^
leads, lead roofs; II. i. 227.
leasing, lying ; V. ii. 22.
legs, bows; II. i. 76.
limitation, appointed time ; II. iii. 146.
lockram, a kind of linen cloth ; II. i. 225.
longs, belongs ; V. iii. 170.
lurch' d, robbed; II. ii. 105.
Malkin, wench ; II. i. 224.
mammock'd, tore to bits; I. iii. 71.
mankind, masculine; IV. ii. 16.
memory, memorial ; IV. v. 77.
merely, absolutely, entirely ; III. i. 305.
microcosm, little world ; see note, II. i. 69.
moe, more; II. iii. 132.
monster'd, made monstrous; II. ii. 81.
motion, motive, II. i. 55: interposition; II. ii. 57.
mountebank, win by the tricks of a mountebank ; III. ii. 132.
movers, loafers and thieves ; I. v. 5.
mull'd, dulled, insipid ; IV. v. 239.
mummers, masqueraders ; II. i. 83.
muniments, supports; I. i. 122.
murrain, a plague afflicting animals ; I. v. 3.
muse, wonder; III. ii. 7.
napless, threadbare; II. i. 250.
nervy, sinewy; II. i. 177.
nicely-gawded, carefully decorated or painted ; II. i. 233.
notion, understanding, knowledge; V. vi. 107.
object, sight, spectacle; I. i. 21. occupation, trade; IV. vi. 97. o'er-beat, overpower; IV. v. 137. o'er-peer, rise above; II. iii. 128.
^losfsfar^ 189
office, restrain by virtue of office ; V. ii. 68. offices, rooms used for domestic services; I. i. 141. on, on's, on't, of, of his, of it. opinion, reputation ; I. i. 275. opposite, enemy ; II. ii. 23. ordinance, rank ; III. ii. 12.
ostentation, demonstration — with no suggestion of dis- paragement ; I. vi. 86.
palates, tastes of; III. i. 104.
part, side, party; I. x. 7.
particular, personal ; IV. v. 92, etc.
passable, of power to secure admission; V. ii. 13.
passing, exceedingly ; I. i. 207.
physical, remedial, wholesome; I. v. 19.
pick, pitch; I. i. 204.
points, commands; IV. vi. 125.
poll, number; III. i. 134.
poU'd, shorn; IV. v. 215.
portance, behavior ; II. iii. 232.
ports, gates; I. vii. 1.
post, messenger; V. vi. 50.
potch, strike; I. x. 15. ^
pound up, shut in ; I. iv. 17.
power, army; I. ii. 9.
practice, plot, evil contrivance ; IV. i. 33.
preparation, military force; I. ii. 15.
press'd, forced into military service; I. ii. 9.
progeny, lineage; I. viii. 12.
proper, own ; I. ix. 57.
provand, provender; II. i. 267.
psalteries, stringed instruments resembling the zither;
V. iv. 52. putting on, instigation; II. iii. 260.
quarry, heap of the slain ; I. i. 203.
rapture, fit; II. i. 223.
rascal, deer in ill condition ; see note, I. i. 163.
receipt, what is received; I. i. 116.
reckless, heedless, foolish; III. i. 92.
rectorship, guidance; II. iii. 213.
reechy, smoky, dirty ; II. i. 225.
rejourn, adjourn; II. i. 79.
request, popularity, favor ; IV. iii. 37.
require, request; II. ii. 160.
rheum, moisture, tears ; V. vi. 46.
roted, memorized; III. ii. 55.
rub, obstacle — from the game of bowls ; III. i. 60.
sackbuts, instruments like trombones ; V. iv. 52.
scaling, weighing; II. iii. 257.
sconce, head ; III. ii. 99.
scotch'd, gashed; IV. v. 198.
season'd, established and approved bj' time; III. iii. 64.
seld-shown, seldom shown ; II. i. 229.
sensibly, being capable of feeling; I. iv. 53.
shent, reproached ; V. ii. 104.
side, faction, party; IV. vi. 151.
single, weak; II. i. 40.
sithence, since; III. i. 47.
sowl, drag by the ears ; IV. v. 214.
spices, flavors, traces; IV. vii. 46.
stem, the forward part of a vessel ; II. ii. 111.
stitchery, stitching; I. iii. 75.
stout, proud; III. ii. 78.
stoutness, stubbornness; III. ii. 127.
subtle, smooth and treacherous; V. ii. 20.
sufferance, suffering ; I. i. 23.
tag, rabble; III. i. 248.
take in, conquer; I.ii. 24; III. ii. 59.
target, shield; IV. v. 126.
tent, probe, cure ; I. ix. 31 ; III. i. 236.
tetter, infect as with a disease of the skin ; III. i. 79.
toge, toga ; II. iii. 122.
took, blasted; II. ii. 112.
touch, quality tried as by the touchstone ; IV. i. 49.
Triton, the trumpeter of Neptune ; III. i. 89.
unbarb'd, bare, unarmed; III. ii. 99. undercrest, wear as a crest ; I. ix. 72. unscann'd, unconsidered ; 111.1.313.
vail, lower; III. i. 98.
vantage, profit, opportunity; I. i. 164.
vaward, van; I. vi. 53.
vengeance, deucedly (the word is used as an adverb) ;
II. ii. 6: the deuce, III. i. 262. vent, see note, IV. v. 238. voices, votes ; II. ii. 144.
wealsmen, statesmen, politicians; II. i. 60.
well-found, fortunate ; II. ii. 48.
whip, leader; I. viii. 12.
withal, with; III. i. 142.
wot, know; IV. v. 171.
wreak, revenge; IV. v. 91.
'T^HE following pages include mention of Mac- millan books valuable for a Shakespeare Library
VALUABLE BOOKS FOR THE STUDENT'S "SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY"
Shakespeare : A Critical Study
By GEORGE BRANDES, author of « Main Currents of Nine- teenth Century Literature," etc.
Cloth, 8vo, 6qo pages and index, $2.60 net The Athewzum, London : —
" No other single work on Shakespeare includes so much, and so much that is valuable. Dr. Brandes is a good, a first-rate ' all-round man.' There is no side of his subject which he neglects. He is both an antiquary and a critic, interested in the smallest details of biography, and also taking broad and comprehensive views of Shakespeare's thought and style. His book is in its way encyclo- paedic, and v/e venture to say that there are few people — few schol- ars— who would not find themselves the better informed and the wiser for its perusal. He has equipped himself fcr his task by wide study and research ; and on all the materials he has amassed he has brought to bear a judgment well balanced and vigorous, and a mind liberal and independent. It is many years since there has been any contribution to Shakespearean hterature of such impor- tance as this,"
William Shakespeare : Poet, Dramatist, and Man
By HAMILTON W. MABIE lUustrated, $2.00 net
Also an edition unthout illustrations, uniform with the Eversley Shakespeare, $1.00 net
This work is far more than a mere life of the poet. Indeed, it is conceived on hnes so broad and executed in a spirit so generous that it is rather an mterpretation than a record. It is written through- out from the literary standpoint and stands almost alone in the fidel- ity, the sanity, and the candor of its appreciations.
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
Publishera 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
BOOKS FOR THE SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY
Shakespeare — English Men of Letters Series
By Professor WALTER RALEIGH
Blue cloth, gilt tops, 75 cents net; by mail, 85 cents Professor Dowden in the Nation: —
" Professor Raleigh has felt over again, with penetrative, imagina- tive, and fine intelligence, the beauty and the greatness of Shake- speare's poetry ; he has only placed these in their proper environ- ment, and by virtue of a rare charm of style enabled us to see with his eyes a most harmonious \'ision. ... A wise and beautiful book."
A Life of William Shakespeare New Edition Re-vised
By SIDNEY LEE, Editor of the "Dictionary of National Biography " Cloth, i2mo, 445 pages and a full index, $2.25 net
The Standard, Chicago : — "'Monumentally excellent' was the expression used by Mr.
Henry A. Clapp in speaking of Mr. Lee's recent publication.
Coming from such a source, this is high praise, indeed, but the
reader cannot fail to find it justified."
The Development of Shakespeare as a Dramatist
By GEORGE PIERCE BAKER, Professor of English in Harvard University Cloth, or. 8vo, $1.75 net; by mail, $i.qo
The book endeavors to fill a gap in the discussions of Shake- speare's art by distinguishing his debt as a dramatic writer to his predecessors or contemporaries, indicating his contribution to each of the varied forms, chronicle play, farce, melodrama, comedy of manners, high comedy, and tragedy. Professor Baker has made clear the interesting progress of the dramatist toward the mastery of his art, and has illustrated the work with views of London and of the life of the theatre in Shakespeare's day.
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
Publisherg 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
BOOKS FOR THE SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY
Shakespearean Tragedy Second Edition
Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth
By A. C BR.\DLEY, LL. D., Litt.D., Professor of Poetry in the University of Oxford
Cloth, 8vo, xii + 498 pages, $3.23 net; by mail, $3.40
The Times, London : —
" Nothing has been \vritten for many years that has done so much as these lectures will do to advance the understanding and the appreciation of the greatest things in Shakespeare's greatest plays. . . . One may well doubt whether in the whole field of English literary criticism anything has been written in the last twenty years more luminous, more masterly, more penetrating to the very centre of its subject."
Shakespeare as a Dramatic Thinker
By RICHARD G. MOULTON, Ph.D.
Cloth, inii + 381 pages, index, i2mo, $1.50 net
A new edition of Dr. Moulton's popiilar illustration of Fiction as the experimental side of Philosophy.
" One of the most sensible and illuminating works of modern liter- ary criticism and plain workaday philosophy . . . exceedingly inter- esting."— Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
" The book is in reality a thoughtful exposition of the marvellous ability of the master to depict every side of human nature and to de- velop character good and bad to its logical outcome. The author has done this in an interesting manner, and has unquestionably written a volume well worth reading." — Providence Journal.
•' While it is undoubtedly true that the world ought not to require books about books, the fact remains that young, and even older, students of Shakespeare mav learn much about the dramas and about life itself from these essays." — St. Paul Dispatch,
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
PubUshers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
BOOKS FOR THE SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY
What IS Shakespeare ? An Introduction to the Great Plays
By L. A. SHERMAN, Professor of English Literature in
the University of Nebraska
Large i2mo, cloth, xii + 414 Pages, $1.00 net
Shakespeare's Heroines
By ANNA JAMESON. With twenty-six portraits of fa- mous players in character. Cloth, 8vo, 341 pages, $2.00 The same without the illustrations. Bohn Library. $1.00 net The same. York Library Edition. Cloth, 80 cents; leather, $1.25
Shakespeare in Tale and Verse
By LOIS G. HUFFORD. Cloth, i2mo, ix+445 pages, $1.00 net The same. Standard School Library. 50 cents net
Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
By CHARLES and MARY LAMB
Illustrated by Byam Shaw, $2.^0. The same. Eversley Series, $1.30. The same. Bohn Library Edition, $/.oo «e^ The same. ^Iacmillan's Illustrated Pocket Classics for the young. Cloth, 80 cents; leather, $1.2$
Characters of Shakespeare's Plays
By WILLIAM HAZLITT aoth, $1.50
Short Sketches of Shakespeare's Plots
By C\'RIL RANSOME, Professor of Modern Literature and History in the Yorkshire College of the Victoria University
Cloth, i2mo, via + 2Qg pages, $1.00 net
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
Publighera 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
BOOKS FOR THE SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY?
A History of English Dramatic Literature to the Death of Queen Anne
By A. W. WARD Cloih, $p.oo nA
A SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
Volume I — The Origins of the English Drama. The Beginnings of the Regiilar Drama. Shakespeare's Predecessors. Shake- speare.
Volume II — Shakespeare (continued). Benjonson. The Later Elizabethans. Beaumont and Fletcher.
Volume III — The End of the Old Drama. The later Stuart Drama,
A History of English Prosody
From the Twelfth Century to the Present Day. In three volumes
By GEORGE SAINTSBURY, M.A. (Oxen.), Hon. LL.D. (Aberdeen), Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in the University of Edinburgh
Volume I — From the Origins to Spenser. Volume II —From Shakespeare to Crabbe. Volume III — From Biake to Swinburne.
The set, cloth, 8vo, $10.00 net
""WTiat strikes one is the sensibleness of the book as a whole. Not merely for enthusiasts on metrics, but for students of literature in general, it is a good augury toward the probable clearing up of this entire blurred and cloudy subject to find Omond's mild fairness and Thomson's telling simplicity followed so soon by this all-per- vading common sense. . . . The most extraordinary thing about this volume is that, unintentionally as it would appear, the author has produced the one English book now existing which is likely to be of real use to those who wish to perfect themselves in the formal side of verse composition." — The Evening Post, New York.
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
The Cambridge Shakespeare
Edited by W. ALDIS WRIGHT, LL.D.
Nine 8vo. vols^ each $3.00
The Eversley Shakespeare
Edited by Professor C. H. HERFORD
Sold only in sets of eleven volumes, including Mr. Hamilton W. Mabie's "Shakespeare: Poet, Dramatist, and Man"
Cloth, uniform with the Eversley Series, $10.00
The Victona Shakespeare
Sold in sets of three volumes, $3.00
The Globe Shakespeare in one volume
Edited by WILLIAM G. CLARK and WILLIAM A. WRIGHT Cloth, 8vo, $1.75
The standard single-volume text of Shakespeare's plays
A Complete Concordance
Or Verbal Index to Words, Phrases, and Passages in the Dra- matic Works of William Shakespeare, with a Supplementary Con- cordance to the Poems
By JOHN BARTLETT, Author of "Familiar Quotations"
In o?ie volume, medium 4to, igoo pages, $7.50 net
" No words of praise are too high for the zeal and discrimination which have produced this superb book of reference." — T/te Literary World. " A work without which no lover of Shakespeare can be content."
— The New York Times.
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York
5^'
^
PR Shakespeare, William
2805 The tragedy of Coriolanus
A2S5
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
C\J
o
CO
o
CVJ
00 TvJ
N
'CM
CXJ
CO
CXJ
C\J CXJ
o
C\J
.0)
00
T—
CO
O)
00
N
•'O
'rf
r
|
iz: — w |
^^^ |
|
|
^3~ |
) |
^- |
|
'■ — |
3 ro- |
|
|
a> |
00- |
|
|
■^ |
4^- |
|
|
- — |
-M |
01- |
|
:Er |
0)- |
|
|
:z^ |
||
|
|
N- |
|
|
— |
-00 |
00- |
|
— |
CD- |
|
|
— |
--P^ |
— L O' |
on
_QL
6
i
I
1
O