SHAKESPEARE ON DISK. CORIOLANUS. ACT IV. SCENE I. [Rome. Before a gate of the city.] [Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, with the young NOBILITY of Rome.] CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:- the beast 4/1/1 With many heads butts me away.- Nay, mother, Where is your ancient courage? you were used To say extremity was the trier of spirits; That common chances common men could bear; That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike Show'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows, when most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves A noble cunning: you were used to load me With precepts that would make invincible 4/1/10 The heart that conn'd them. VIRGILIA. O heavens! O heavens! CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Nay, I prithee, woman,- VOLUMNIA. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish! CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. What, what, what! I shall be loved when I am lack'd. Nay, mother, Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say, If you had been the wife of Hercules, Six of his labours you'ld have done, and saved Your husband so much sweat.- Cominius, Droop not; adieu.- Farewell, my wife,- my mother: 4/1/20 I'll do well yet.- Thou old and true Menenius, Thy tears are salter than a younger man's, And venomous to thine eyes.- My sometime general, I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women, 'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes, As 'tis to laugh at '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 4/1/30 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. VOLUMNIA. My first son, Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee awhile: determine on some course, More than a wild exposure to each chance That starts i' the way before thee. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. O the gods! COMINIUS. 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 4/1/40 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. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Fare ye well: Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one That's yet unbruised: 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. 4/1/50 While I remain above the ground, you shall Hear from me still: and never of me aught But what is like me formerly. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. That's worthily As any ear can hear.- Come, let's not weep.- If I could shake off but one seven years From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'ld with thee every foot. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Give me thy hand:- Come. [Exeunt.] SCENE II. [Rome. A street near the gate.] [Enter the two tribunes, SICINIUS and BRUTUS, with the AEDILE.] SICINIUS VELUTUS. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.- 4/2/1 The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided In his behalf. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done Than when it was a-doing. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Bid them home: Say their great enemy is gone, and they Stand in their ancient strength. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Dismiss them home. [Exit AEDILE.] Here comes his mother. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Let's not meet her. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Why? SICINIUS VELUTUS. They say she's mad. JUNIUS BRUTUS. They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way. 4/2/10 [Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS.] VOLUMNIA. O, y'are well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods Requite your love! MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Peace, peace; be not so loud. VOLUMNIA. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,- Nay, and you shall hear some.- [to BRUTUS.] Will you be gone? VIRGILIA [to SICINIUS VELUTUS]. You shall stay too: I would I had the power To say so to my husband. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Are you mankind? VOLUMNIA. Ay, fool; is that a shame?- Note but this fool.- Was not a man my father? Hast thou foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome Than thou hast spoken words?- 4/2/20 SICINIUS VELUTUS. O blessed heavens! VOLUMNIA. More noble blows than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good.- I'll tell thee what;- yet go:- Nay, but thou shalt stay too:- I would my son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. SICINIUS VELUTUS. What then? VIRGILIA. What then! He'ld make an end of thy posterity. VOLUMNIA. Bastards and all.- Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Come, come, peace. SICINIUS VELUTUS. I would he had continued to his country 4/2/30 As he began, and not unknit himself The noble knot he made. JUNIUS BRUTUS. I would he had. VOLUMNIA. "I would he had"! 'Twas you incensed the rabble;- Rats, that can judge as fitly of his worth As I can of those mysteries which heaven Will not have earth to know. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Pray, let us go. VOLUMNIA. 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,- 4/2/40 This lady's husband here, this, do you see,- Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Well, well, we'll leave you. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her wits? VOLUMNIA. Take my prayers with you.- [Exeunt TRIBUNES.] I would the gods had nothing else to do But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em But once a-day, it would unclog my heart Of what lies heavy to't. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. You have told them home; And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me? VOLUMNIA. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, 4/2/50 And so shall starve with feeding.- Come, let's go: Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Fie, fie, fie! [Exeunt.] SCENE III. [A highway between Rome and Antium.] [Enter a ROMAN and a VOLSCE, meeting.] ROMAN. I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, 4/3/1 is Adrian. VOLSCE. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. ROMAN. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em: know you me yet? VOLSCE. Nicanor? no? ROMAN. The same, sir. VOLSCE. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well approved by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there: 4/3/10 you have well saved me a day's journey. ROMAN. There hath been in Rome strange insurrections; the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. VOLSCE. 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. ROMAN. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 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 4/3/20 from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. VOLSCE. Coriolanus banish'd! ROMAN. Banish'd, sir. VOLSCE. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. ROMAN. 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 fall'n out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country. 4/3/30 VOLSCE. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. ROMAN. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? VOLSCE. A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning. ROMAN. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I 4/3/40 think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company. VOLSCE. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours. ROMAN. Well, let us go together. [Exeunt.] SCENE IV. [Antium. Before Aufidius' house.] [Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.] CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. A goodly city is this Antium.- City, 4/4/1 '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, In puny battle slay me. [Enter a CITIZEN.] Save you, sir. CITIZEN. And you. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Direct me, if it be your will, Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium? CITIZEN. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state At his house this night. 4/4/10 CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Which is his house, beseech you? CITIZEN. This, here, before you. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. 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 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, 4/4/20 Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends And interjoin their issues. So with me: My birth-place 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, I'll do his country service. [Exit.] SCENE V. [Antium. A hall in Aufidius' house.] [Music plays. Enter a SERVING-MAN.] FIRST SERVING-MAN. Wine, wine, wine!- What service is here! I think our fellows 4/5/1 are asleep. [Exit.] [Enter another SERVING-MAN.] SECOND SERVING-MAN. Where's Cotus? my master calls for him.- Cotus! [Exit.] [Enter CORIOLANUS.] CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I Appear not like a guest. [Enter the first SERVING-MAN.] FIRST SERVING-MAN. What would you have, friend? whence are you? Here's no place for you: pray, go to the door. [Exit.] CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. I have deserved no better entertainment In being Coriolanus. [Enter second SERVING-MAN.] SECOND SERVING-MAN. Whence are you, sir?- Has the porter his eyes in his head, 4/5/10 that he gives entrance to such companions?- Pray, get you out. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Away! SECOND SERVING-MAN. "Away!" get you away. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Now th'art troublesome. SECOND SERVING-MAN. Are you so brave? I'll have you talk'd with anon. [Enter a third SERVING-MAN. The first meets him.] THIRD SERVING-MAN. What fellow's this? SECOND SERVING-MAN. A strange one as ever I look'd on: I cannot get him out o' the house: prithee, call my master to him. THIRD SERVING-MAN. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you avoid the house. 4/5/20 CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. THIRD SERVING-MAN. What are you? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. A gentleman. THIRD SERVING-MAN. A marvellous poor one. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. True, so I am. THIRD SERVING-MAN. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid: come. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits. [Pushes him away from him.] THIRD SERVING-MAN. What, you will not?- Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here. 4/5/30 SECOND SERVING-MAN. And I shall. [Exit.] THIRD SERVING-MAN. Where dwell'st thou? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Under the canopy. THIRD SERVING-MAN. Under the canopy! CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Ay. THIRD SERVING-MAN. Where's that? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. I' th'city of kites and crows. THIRD SERVING-MAN. I' th'city of kites and crows!- What an ass it is!- Then thou dwell'st with daws too? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. No, I serve not thy master. 4/5/40 THIRD SERVING-MAN. How, sir! do you meddle with my master? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress: thou pratest, and pratest; serve with thy trencher, hence! [Beats him away.] [Enter AUFIDIUS with the second SERVING-MAN.] TULLUS AUFIDIUS. Where is this fellow? SECOND SERVING-MAN. Here, sir: I'ld have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within. [Retires.] TULLUS AUFIDIUS. Whence comest thou? what wouldst thou? thy name? Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. If, Tullus, [Unmuffling.] Not yet thou know'st me, and, seeing me, dost not 4/5/50 Think me for the man I am, necessity Commands me name myself. TULLUS AUFIDIUS. What is thy name? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears, And harsh in sound to thine. TULLUS AUFIDIUS. Say, what's thy name? Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face Bears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn, Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Prepare thy brow to frown:- know'st thou me yet? TULLUS AUFIDIUS. I know thee not:- thy name? CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done 4/5/60 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 Shed for my thankless country, are requited But with that surname; a good memory, And witness of the malice and displeasure Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains; The cruelty and envy of the people, Permitted by our dastard nobles, who 4/5/70 Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest; And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be Whoop'd out of Rome. Now, this extremity Hath brought me to thy hearth; not out of hope- Mistake me not- to save my life; for if I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world I would have 'voided thee; but in mere spite, To be full quit of those my banishers, Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge 4/5/80 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 As benefits to thee; for I will fight Against my canker'd country with the spleen Of all the under fiends. But if so be Thou darest not this, and that to prove more fortunes Th'art tired, then, in a word, I also am Longer to live most weary, and present 4/5/90 My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice; Which not to cut would show thee but a fool, Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate, Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast, And cannot live but to thy shame, unless It be to do thee service. TULLUS AUFIDIUS. O Marcius, Marcius! Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter Should from yond cloud speak divine things, And say "'Tis true," I'd not believe them more 4/5/100 Than thee, all-noble Marcius.- Let me twine Mine arms about that body, where against My grained ash an hundred times hath broke, And scarr'd the moon with splinters: here I clip 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 loved the maid I married; never man Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here, 4/5/110 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 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, Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat, 4/5/120 And waked 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 Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome, Like a bold flood o'er-bear. O, come, go in, And take our friendly senators by the hands; Who now are here taking their leaves of me, Who am prepared against your territories, Though not for Rome itself. 4/5/130 CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. You bless me, gods! TULLUS AUFIDIUS. 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 experienced, since thou know'st Thy country's strength and weakness- thine own ways; 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 Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! 4/5/140 And more a friend than e'er an enemy; Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: most welcome! [Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS.- The two SERVING-MEN come forward.] FIRST SERVING-MAN. Here's a strange alteration! SECOND SERVING-MAN. By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him. FIRST SERVING-MAN. What an arm he has! he turn'd me about with his finger and his thumb as one would set up a top. SECOND SERVING-MAN. 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 4/5/150 term it. FIRST SERVING-MAN. He had so; looking as it were- Would I were hang'd, but I thought there was more in him than I could think. SECOND SERVING-MAN. So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply the rarest man i' the world. FIRST SERVING-MAN. I think he is: but a greater soldier than he you wot on. SECOND SERVING-MAN. Who, my master? FIRST SERVING-MAN. Nay, it's no matter for that. SECOND SERVING-MAN. Worth six on him. FIRST SERVING-MAN. Nay, not so neither: but I take him to be the greater 4/5/160 soldier. SECOND SERVING-MAN. Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that: for the defence of a town our general is excellent. FIRST SERVING-MAN. Ay, and for an assault too. [Enter the third SERVING-MAN.] THIRD SERVING-MAN. O slaves, I can tell you news,- news, you rascals! FIRST and SECOND SERVING-MEN. What, what, what? let's partake. THIRD SERVING-MAN. I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lief be a condemn'd man. FIRST and SECOND SERVING-MEN. Wherefore? wherefore? THIRD SERVING-MAN. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general,- Caius 4/5/170 Marcius. FIRST SERVING-MAN. Why do you say "thwack our general"? THIRD SERVING-MAN. I do not say "thwack our general;" but he was always good enough for him. SECOND SERVING-MAN. Come, we are fellows and friends: he was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself. FIRST SERVING-MAN. 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. SECOND SERVING-MAN. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broil'd and 4/5/180 eaten him too. FIRST SERVING-MAN. But, more of thy news? THIRD SERVING-MAN. Why, 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 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' the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant 4/5/190 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, and leave his passage poll'd. SECOND SERVING-MAN. And he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine. THIRD SERVING-MAN. Do't! he will do't; for, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which friends, sir, as it were, durst not, look you, sir, show themselves, as we term it, his friends whilst he's in directitude. FIRST SERVING-MAN. Directitude! what's that? THIRD SERVING-MAN. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the 4/5/200 man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with him. FIRST SERVING-MAN. But when goes this forward? THIRD SERVING-MAN. To-morrow; to-day; presently; you 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. SECOND SERVING-MAN. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. FIRST SERVING-MAN. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace as far as day does 4/5/210 night; it's spritely, waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mull'd, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of men. SECOND SERVING-MAN. 'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds. FIRST SERVING-MAN. Ay, and it makes men hate one another. THIRD SERVING-MAN. Reason; because they then less need one another. The wars for my money. I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volscians.- 4/5/220 They are rising, they are rising. ALL THREE. In, in, in, in! [Exeunt.] SCENE VI. [Rome. A public place.] [Enter the two tribunes, SICINIUS and BRUTUS.] SICINIUS VELUTUS. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him; 4/6/1 His remedies are tame i' the present peace And quietness of the people, which before Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends Blush that the world goes well; who rather had, 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. JUNIUS BRUTUS. We stood to't in good time.- Is this Menenius? 4/6/10 SICINIUS VELUTUS. 'Tis he, 'tis he: O, he is grown most kind Of late. Hail, sir! [Enter MENENIUS.] JUNIUS BRUTUS. Hail, sir! MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Hail to you both! SICINIUS VELUTUS. Your Coriolanus, sir, is not much miss'd But with his friends: the commonwealth doth stand; And so would do, were he more angry at it. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. All's well; and might have been much better, if He could have temporized. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Where is he, hear you? MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife Hear nothing from him. [Enter three or four CITIZENS.] CITIZENS. The gods preserve you both! 4/6/20 SICINIUS VELUTUS. God-den, our neighbours. JUNIUS BRUTUS. God-den to you all, god-den to you all. FIRST CITIZEN. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, Are bound to pray for you both. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Live, and thrive! JUNIUS BRUTUS. Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd Coriolanus Had loved you as we did. CITIZENS. Now the gods keep you! BOTH TRIBUNES. Farewell, farewell. [Exeunt CITIZENS.] SICINIUS VELUTUS. This is a happier and more comely time Than when these fellows ran about the streets Crying confusion. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Caius Marcius was A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent, 4/6/30 O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, Self-loving,- SICINIUS VELUTUS. And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. I think not so. SICINIUS VELUTUS. We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so. JUNIUS BRUTUS. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome Sits safe and still without him. [Enter an AEDILE.] AEDILE. Worthy tribunes, There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports the Volsces with two several powers Are enter'd in the Roman territories, 4/6/40 And with the deepest malice of the war Destroy what lies before 'em. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. 'Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome, And durst not once peep out. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Come, what talk you Of Marcius? JUNIUS BRUTUS. Go see this rumourer whipp'd.- It cannot be The Volsces dare break with us. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Cannot be! We have record that very well it can; 4/6/50 And three examples of the like hath been 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. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Tell not me: I know this cannot be. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Not possible. [Enter a MESSENGER.] MESSENGER. The nobles in great earnestness are going All to the senate-house: some news is come That turns their countenances. 4/6/60 SICINIUS VELUTUS. 'Tis this slave;- Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes:- his raising; Nothing but his report. MESSENGER. Yes, worthy sir, The slave's report is seconded; and more, More fearful, is deliver'd. SICINIUS VELUTUS. What more fearful? MESSENGER. It is spoke freely out of many mouths- How probable I do not know- that Marcius, Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome, And vows revenge as spacious as between The young'st and oldest thing. SICINIUS VELUTUS. This is most likely! JUNIUS BRUTUS. Raised only, that the weaker sort may wish 4/6/70 Good Marcius home again. SICINIUS VELUTUS. The very trick on't. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. This is unlikely: He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety. [Enter a second MESSENGER.] SECOND MESSENGER. You are sent for to the senate: A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius Associated with Aufidius, rages Upon our territories; and have already O'erborne their way, consumed with fire, and took What lay before them. 4/6/80 [Enter COMINIUS.] COMINIUS. O, you have made good work! MENENIUS AGRIPPA. What news? what news? COMINIUS. You have holp to ravish your own daughters, and To melt the city leads upon your pates; To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses,- MENENIUS AGRIPPA. What's the news? what's the news? COMINIUS. Your temples burned in their cement; and Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined Into an auger's bore. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Pray now, your news?- You have made fair work, I fear me.- Pray, your news?- If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,- 4/6/90 COMINIUS. If! He is their god: he leads them like a thing 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. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. You have made good work, You and your apron-men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation and The breath of garlic-eaters! COMINIUS. He will shake Your Rome about your ears. 4/6/100 MENENIUS AGRIPPA. As Hercules Did shake down mellow fruit.- You have made fair work! JUNIUS BRUTUS. But is this true, sir? COMINIUS. Ay; and you'll look pale Before you find it other. All the regions Do smilingly revolt; and who resist Are mock'd for valiant ignorance, And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? Your enemies and his find something in him. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy. COMINIUS. Who shall ask it? The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people 4/6/110 Deserve such pity of him as the wolf Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they Should say, "Be good to Rome," they charged him even As those should do that had deserved his hate, And therein show'd like enemies. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. 'Tis true: If he were putting to my house the brand 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! COMINIUS. You have brought A trembling upon Rome, such as was never 4/6/120 So incapable of help. BOTH TRIBUNES. Say not, we brought it. MENENIUS AGRIPPA. How! Was it we? we loved him; but, like beasts And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters, Who did hoot him out o' the city. COMINIUS. But I fear They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, The second name of men, obeys his points As if he were his officer:- desperation Is all the policy, strength, and defence, That Rome can make against them. [Enter a troop of CITIZENS.] MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Here come the clusters.- And is Aufidius with him?- You are they 4/6/130 That made the air unwholesome when you cast 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 coxcombs As you threw caps up will he tumble down, And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter; If he could burn us all into one coal, We have deserved it. CITIZENS. Faith, we hear fearful news. 4/6/140 FIRST CITIZEN. For mine own part, When I said, banish him, I said, 'twas pity. SECOND CITIZEN. And so did I. THIRD CITIZEN. 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 willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will. COMINIUS. Y'are goodly things, you voices! MENENIUS AGRIPPA. You have made Good work, you and your cry!- Shall's to the Capitol? COMINIUS. O, ay, what else? [Exeunt COMINIUS and MENENIUS.] SICINIUS VELUTUS. Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd: These are a side that would be glad to have 4/6/150 This true which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear. FIRST CITIZEN. The gods be good to us!- Come, masters, let's home. I ever said we were i' the wrong when we banish'd him. SECOND CITIZEN. So did we all. But, come, let's home. [Exeunt CITIZENS.] JUNIUS BRUTUS. I do not like this news. SICINIUS VELUTUS. Nor I. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Let's to the Capitol.- Would half my wealth Would buy this for a lie! SICINIUS VELUTUS. Pray, let us go. [Exeunt.] SCENE VII. [A camp, at a small distance from Rome.] [Enter AUFIDIUS with his LIEUTENANT.] TULLUS AUFIDIUS. Do they still fly to the Roman? 4/7/1 LIEUTENANT. 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 darken'd in this action, sir, Even by your own. TULLUS AUFIDIUS. 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 4/7/10 In that's no changeling; and I must excuse What cannot be amended. LIEUTENANT. Yet I wish, sir,- I mean for your particular,- you had not Join'd in commission with him; but either Had borne the action of yourself, or else To him had left it solely. TULLUS AUFIDIUS. 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 4/7/20 To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly, 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, Whene'er we come to our account. LIEUTENANT. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome? TULLUS AUFIDIUS. All places yield to him ere he sits down; And the nobility of Rome are his: The senators and patricians love him too: 4/7/30 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 A noble servant to them; but he could not Carry his honours even: 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 4/7/40 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; 4/7/50 And power, unto itself most commendable, Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair T'extol what it hath done. One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail. Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou'rt poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [Exeunt.] ACT IV. END.