Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

5

With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge
Or,by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, [home,
And make my wars on you: look to't: Come on;
If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.

[Another alarum, and Marcius follows them to
the gates.

So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good
seconds:

10'Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
Not for the fliers: Mark me, and do the like.
[He enters the gates.

[yet.

15

Lart. No, I'll not sell, nor give him: lend you
him, I will,

For half a hundred years.-Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie these armies?

[ocr errors]

Mes. Within this mile and half.

[ours. 20

Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work; That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded friends!--Come, blow thy 25 They sound a parley. Enter Senators, with others, on the walls.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

[blast.

1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums
[Drum afar off
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. Hark you, far off;
[Alarum far off

There is Aufidius: list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.

1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I.
2 Sol. Nor I.

3 Sol. See, they have shut him in.

[Alarum continues.

All. To the pot, I warrant him.

Enter Titus Lartius.

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,
Clapt-to their gates; he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.

Lart. O noble fellow !

Who, sensible, out-dares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up! Thou art left,
Marcius:

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
30 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
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,
Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous, and did tremble.

35

40

Mar. O, they are at it!

[ho

Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders,

Enter the Volces.

Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight 45 With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus:

They do disdain as much beyond our thoughts,
Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on,
my fellows;

He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce,
And he shall feel mine edge.

[Alarum; the Romans beat back to their trenches.
Re-enter Marcius.

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.

[blocks in formation]

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. [Alarum continues still afar off. 50 Enter Marcius,and Titus Lartius, with a trumpet. Mar. See here these movers, that do prize their hours

[blocks in formation]

At a crack'd drachm! 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.-
[him :-

And hark, what noise the general makes!-To
There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,
60 Piercing our Romans: Then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city; [haste
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will
To help Cominius.

! Make remain is an old manner of speaking, which means no more than remain.

Lart.

Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st;

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. 5
The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus
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 gentleman,
Prosperity be thy page!

Mar. Thy friend no less

Than those she places highest! So, farewell.
Lurt. Thou worthiest Marcius!

Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers of the town,
Where they shall know our mind: Away.

SCENE VI.

The Roman Camp.

[Exeunt.

Mar. O let me clip you

In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart
As merry, as when our nuptial day was done,
And tapers burnt 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;
Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other;
10 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? 15 Where is he? Call him hither.

Mar. Let him alone,

He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, The common file, (A plague! Tribunes for them!) The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat,as theydid budge 20 From rascals worse than they.

[blocks in formation]

Com. But how prevail'd you?

[think

Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not Where is the enemy? Are you lords o' the field? If not, why cease you 'till you are so?

Com. Marcius, we have a disadvantage fought,
And did retire, to win our purpose.

[side
Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on what
They have plac'd their men of trust?
Com. As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,
Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.

Mar. I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought, 35 By the blood we have shed together, by the vows We have made to endure friends, that you directly Set me against Aufidius, and his Antiates: And that you not delay the present; but, Filling the air with swords advanc'd^, and darts, e prove this very hour.

40 We

Com. "Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour, 45 And bring thy news so late?

Ales. Spies of the Volces

Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel
Three or four miles about; else had I, sir,
Half an hour since brought my report.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

3

Com. Though I could wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath,
And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
That best can aid your action.
Deny your asking; take your choice of those

Mar. Those are they

[ocr errors]

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

50 Lesser his person than an ill report;

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,
55 And follow Marcius.

[Waving his hand. [They all shout, and wave their swords, take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps.

O me, alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shews be not outward, which of you
60 But is four Volces? None of you, but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number

Confound is here used in the sense of-to expend. let slip.i. c. swords lifted high,

Zz3

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

[Exeunt. 25

Alarum. Enter Marcius and Aufidius, Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do

hate thee

Worse than a promise-breaker.

Auf. We hate alike;

Not Africk owns a serpent I abhor

More than thy fame, and envy: Fix thy foot.
Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave,
And the gods doom him after!

Auf. If I fly, Marcius,

Halloo me like a hare.

Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,

[blood,

And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my
Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge,
Wrench up thy power to the highest.

Auf. Wert thou the Hector,
That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny,
Thou should'st not 'scape me here.—

[Here they fight, and certain Volces come to
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 fighting.

SCENE IX.
The Roman Camp.
Flourish. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Enter
at one door, Cominius with the Romans; at ano-
ther door, Marcius, with his arm in a scarf, &c.
Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's
work,

I have done as you have done; that's, what I can;
Induc'd, as you have been; that's for my country:
He, that has but effected his good will,
Hath overta'en mine act,

Com. You shall not be

The grave of your deserving; Rome must know The value of her own: 'twere a concealment Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, 30 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,

(In sign of what you are, not to reward

35 What you have done) before our army hear me. Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they To hear themselves remember'd.

40

Com. Should they not",

[smart

Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,
And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses,
(Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store)

of all

The treasure, in the field atchiev'd, and city,
We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,
45 Before the common distribution, at
Your only choice.

50

55

Mar. I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe, to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

[A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius!
Marcius! cast up their caps
and lances:
Cominius and Lartius stand bare.
Mar. May these same instruments, which you

profane,

[shall Never sound more! When drums and trumpets I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be 60 Made all of false-fac'd soothing! When steel grows

1 Coriolanus may mean, that as all the soldiers have offered to attend him on this expedition, and he wants only a part of them, he will submit the selection to four indifferent persons, that he himself may escape the charge of partiality. 2 i. e. the gates. i. e. thrown into grateful trepidation. The meaning is,-This man performed the action, and we only filled up the shew.

ot be remembered.

3

Soft

Soft as the parasite's silk, let him' be made
A coverture for the wars!-No more, I say;
For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled,
Orfoil'd some debile wretch,--which, without note,
Here's many else have done, you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;

As if I lov'd my little should be dieted
In praises sauc'd with lyes.

Com. Too modest are you;

More cruel to your good report, than grateful
To us that give you truly by your patience,
If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you
(Like one that means his proper harm) in manacles,
Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it
known,

As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this time,
For what he did before Corioli, call him,
With all the applause and clamour of the host,
Caius Marcius Coriolanus.-

Bear the addition nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.
Omnes. Caius Marcius Coriolanus!
Cor. I will go wash;

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive
Whether I blush, or no : Howbeit, I thank you:-
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:

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write

To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius,
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
Of my lord general.

Com. Take it: 'tis yours.-What is't?

5

10

15

[blocks in formation]

Auf. The town is ta'en!

Sol. "Twill be deliver'd back on good condition.
Auf. Condition!--

I would, I were a Roman; for I cannot,
Being a Volce, be that I am.-Condition!
What good condition can a treaty find

20' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius,
I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me;
And would'st do so, I think, should we encounter
As often as we eat.-By the elements,
If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,
25 He is 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;
Or wrath, or craft, may get him.

30

Sol. He's the devil.
[poison'd,
Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My valour's
With only suffering stain by him; for him
Shall flie out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary,
Being naked, sick; nor fane, nor capitol,
35 The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements' 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,
40 Against the hospitable canon, would I

[blocks in formation]

instead of it, the neuter.

150

[city;

Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the
Learn how 'tis held; and what they are, that must
Be hostages for Rome.

Sol. Will not you go?

Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove:

pray you,

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.

Sol. I shall, sir.

[Exeunt.

1Him for it. The personal him is not unfrequently used by our author, and other writers of his age A phrase from heraldry, signifying, that he would endeavour to suppor i.e. in proportion equal to my power. * i.e. the chief men of Corioli Potch is a word used in the midland counties for a rough, violent push Embarquements mean not only an embarkation, but an embargoing, or impediment. i.e. expected

his good opinion of him.

'i.e. enter into articles.

[blocks in formation]

SCENE I

Rome.

АСТ

Enter Menenius, with 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.

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 hungry plebeians 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 I shall ask you.

Both. Well, sir.

II.

converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning'. What I think, I utter; and spend my malice in my breath: Meeting two such wealsmen as you are, 5 (I cannot call you Lycurgusses) if the drink you give me, touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I can't say, your worships have deliver'd the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables: and though I must be content to bear with those say you are reverend grave men; yet they lye deadly,that tell you you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What barm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too?

10

15

Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that 20 you two have not in abundance?

Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stor'd with all,

Sic. Especially, in pride.

Bru. And topping all others in boasting, Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censur'd here in the city, I mean of us o' the right-hand file? Do you?

Bru. Why, how are we censur'd?

25

that

3

Bru. Come, sir, come, we know you well enough. Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a cause between an orangewife and a fasset-seller; an then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinch'd with the cholic, you make faces like mummers: set up the bloody flag against all patience, and, in roarng for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing:

Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will 30 all the peace you make in their cause, is, calling you not be angry?

Both. Well, well, sir, well.

Men. Why, '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. You blame Marcius for being proud?

Bru. We do it not alone, sir.

both the parties knaves: you are a pair of strange

ones.

Bru. Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table, than a neces35sary bencher in the Capitol.

Men. I know, you can do very little alone; for 40 your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infint-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: Oh, that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O, that you could! Bru. What then, sir?

Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of as unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, (aliàs, fools) as any in Rome.

Mien. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose, t is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable 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; who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors, since Deucalion; 45 though, peradventure, some of the best of them were hereditary hangmen. Good-e'en to your worships: more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you. Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria. How now, my fair as noble ladies, (and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler) whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

50

Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humourous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in't: said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint; hasty, 55 and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion: one that

Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcius coming home?

2 Rather a late

Alluding to the fable, which says, that every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind him, in which he stows his own. lier-down than an early riser. si. c. blind. 4i. e. declare war against patience.

« PreviousContinue »