The Tragedie of Coriolanus.
3
The rabble should haue first vnroo'st the City
Ere so preuayl'd with me; it will in time
Win vpon power, and throw forth greater Theames
For Insurrections arguing.
Ere so preuayl'd with me; it will in time
Win vpon power, and throw forth greater Theames
For Insurrections arguing.
Menen.
This is strange.
This is strange.
Mar.
Go get you home you Fragments.
Go get you home you Fragments.
Enter a Messenger hastily.
Mess.
Where's Caius Martius?
Where's Caius Martius?
Mar.
Heere: what's the matter?
Heere: what's the matter?
Mes.
The newes is sir, the Volcies are in Armes.
The newes is sir, the Volcies are in Armes.
Mar.
I am glad on't, then we shall ha meanes to vent
Our mustie superfluity. See our best Elders.
I am glad on't, then we shall ha meanes to vent
Our mustie superfluity. See our best Elders.
Enter Sicinius Velutus, Annius Brutus Cominius, Titus
Lartius, with other Senatours.
Lartius, with other Senatours.
1. Sen.
Martius 'tis true, that you haue lately told vs,
The Volces are in Armes.
Martius 'tis true, that you haue lately told vs,
The Volces are in Armes.
Mar.
They haue a Leader,
Tullus Auffidius that will put you too't:
I sinne in enuying his Nobility:
And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me onely he.
They haue a Leader,
Tullus Auffidius that will put you too't:
I sinne in enuying his Nobility:
And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me onely he.
Com.
You haue fought together?
You haue fought together?
Mar.
Were halfe to halfe the world by th'eares, & he
vpon my partie, I'de reuolt to make
Onely my warres with him. He is a Lion
That I am proud to hunt.
Were halfe to halfe the world by th'eares, & he
vpon my partie, I'de reuolt to make
Onely my warres with him. He is a Lion
That I am proud to hunt.
1. Sen.
Then worthy Martius,
Attend vpon Cominius to these Warres.
Then worthy Martius,
Attend vpon Cominius to these Warres.
Com.
It is your former promise.
It is your former promise.
Mar.
Sir it is,
And I am constant: Titus Lucius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus face.
What art thou stiffe? Stand'st out?
Sir it is,
And I am constant: Titus Lucius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus face.
What art thou stiffe? Stand'st out?
Tit.
No Caius Martius,
Ile leane vpon one Crutch, and fight with tother,
Ere stay behinde this Businesse.
No Caius Martius,
Ile leane vpon one Crutch, and fight with tother,
Ere stay behinde this Businesse.
Men.
Oh true-bred.
Oh true-bred.
Sen.
Your Company to'th'Capitoll, where I know
Our greatest Friends attend vs.
Your Company to'th'Capitoll, where I know
Our greatest Friends attend vs.
Tit.
Lead you on: Follow Cominius, we must followe
you, right worthy your Priority.
Lead you on: Follow Cominius, we must followe
you, right worthy your Priority.
Com.
Noble Martius.
Noble Martius.
Sen.
Hence to your homes, be gone.
Hence to your homes, be gone.
Mar.
Nay let them follow,
The Volces haue much Corne: take these Rats thither,
To gnaw their Garners. Worshipfull Mutiners,
Exeunt.Your valour puts well forth: Pray follow.
Nay let them follow,
The Volces haue much Corne: take these Rats thither,
To gnaw their Garners. Worshipfull Mutiners,
Exeunt.Your valour puts well forth: Pray follow.
Citizens steale away. Manet Sicin. & Brutus.
Sicin.
Was euer man so proud as is this Martius?
Was euer man so proud as is this Martius?
Bru.
He has no equall.
He has no equall.
Sicin.
When we were chosen Tribunes for the people.
When we were chosen Tribunes for the people.
Bru.
Mark'd you his lip and eyes.
Mark'd you his lip and eyes.
Sicin.
Nay, but his taunts.
Nay, but his taunts.
Bru.
Being mou'd, he will not spare to gird the Gods.
Being mou'd, he will not spare to gird the Gods.
Sicin.
Bemocke the modest Moone.
Bemocke the modest Moone.
Bru.
The present Warres deuoure him, he is growne
Too proud to be so valiant.
The present Warres deuoure him, he is growne
Too proud to be so valiant.
Sicin.
Such a Nature, tickled with good successe, disdaines
the shadow which he treads on at noone, but I do
wonder, his insolence can brooke to be commanded
vnder Cominius?
Such a Nature, tickled with good successe, disdaines
the shadow which he treads on at noone, but I do
wonder, his insolence can brooke to be commanded
vnder Cominius?
Bru.
Fame, at the which he aymes,
In whom already he's well grac'd, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd then by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the Generals fault, though he performe
To th'vtmost of a man, and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Martius: Oh, if he
Had borne the businesse.
Fame, at the which he aymes,
In whom already he's well grac'd, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd then by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the Generals fault, though he performe
To th'vtmost of a man, and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Martius: Oh, if he
Had borne the businesse.
Sicin.
Besides, if things go well,
Opinion that so stickes on Martius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
Besides, if things go well,
Opinion that so stickes on Martius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
Bru.
Come: halfe all Cominius Honors are to Martius
Though Martius earn'd them not: and all his faults
To Martius shall be Honors, though indeed
In ought he merit not.
Come: halfe all Cominius Honors are to Martius
Though Martius earn'd them not: and all his faults
To Martius shall be Honors, though indeed
In ought he merit not.
Sicin.
Let's hence, and heare
How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion
More then his singularity, he goes
Vpon this present Action.
Let's hence, and heare
How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion
More then his singularity, he goes
Vpon this present Action.
Bru.
Exeunt.Let's along.
Exeunt.Let's along.
Enter Tullus Auffidius with Senators of Coriolus.
1. Sen.
So, your opinion is Auffidius,
That they of Rome are entred in our Counsailes,
And know how we proceede.
So, your opinion is Auffidius,
That they of Rome are entred in our Counsailes,
And know how we proceede.
Auf.
Is it not yours?
What euer haue bin thought one in this State
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
Had circumuention: 'tis not foure dayes gone
Since I heard thence, these are the words, I thinke
I haue the Letter heere: yes, heere it is;
They haue prest a Power, but it is not knowne
Whether for East or West: the Dearth is great,
The people Mutinous: And it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Martius your old Enemy
(Who is of Rome worse hated then of you)
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three leade on this Preparation
Whether 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you:
Consider of it.
Is it not yours?
What euer haue bin thought one in this State
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
Had circumuention: 'tis not foure dayes gone
Since I heard thence, these are the words, I thinke
I haue the Letter heere: yes, heere it is;
They haue prest a Power, but it is not knowne
Whether for East or West: the Dearth is great,
The people Mutinous: And it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Martius your old Enemy
(Who is of Rome worse hated then of you)
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three leade on this Preparation
Whether 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you:
Consider of it.
1. Sen.
Our Armie's in the Field:
We neuer yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer vs.
Our Armie's in the Field:
We neuer yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer vs.
Auf.
Nor did you thinke it folly,
To keepe your great pretences vayl'd, till when
They needs must shew themselues, which in the hatching
It seem'd appear'd to Rome. By the discouery,
We shalbe shortned in our ayme, which was
To take in many Townes, ere (almost) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.
Nor did you thinke it folly,
To keepe your great pretences vayl'd, till when
They needs must shew themselues, which in the hatching
It seem'd appear'd to Rome. By the discouery,
We shalbe shortned in our ayme, which was
To take in many Townes, ere (almost) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.
2. Sen.
Noble Auffidius,
Take your Commission, hye you to your Bands,
Let vs alone to guard Corioles
If they set downe before's: for the remoue
Bring vp your Army: but (I thinke) you'l finde
Th'haue not prepar'd for vs.
Noble Auffidius,
Take your Commission, hye you to your Bands,
Let vs alone to guard Corioles
If they set downe before's: for the remoue
Bring vp your Army: but (I thinke) you'l finde
Th'haue not prepar'd for vs.
Auf.
O doubt not that,
I speake from Certainties. Nay more,
Some parcels of their Power are forth already,
And onely hitherward. I leaue your Honors.
If we, and Caius Martius chance to meete,
'Tis sworne betweene vs, we shall euer strike
Till one can do no more.
O doubt not that,
I speake from Certainties. Nay more,
Some parcels of their Power are forth already,
And onely hitherward. I leaue your Honors.
If we, and Caius Martius chance to meete,
'Tis sworne betweene vs, we shall euer strike
Till one can do no more.
All.
The Gods assist you.
The Gods assist you.
Auf.
And keepe your Honors safe.
And keepe your Honors safe.
1. Sen.
Farewell.
Farewell.
2. Sen.
Farewell.
Farewell.
All.
Exeunt omnes.Farewell.
Exeunt omnes.Farewell.
Enter
