To allay my rages and revenges, with Your colder reasons. Vol. O, no more, no more! Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses; To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air, Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our rai- Still to remember wrongs?. Daughter, speak you: ment, And state of bodies would bewray what life Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow; Making the mother, wife, and child, to see I Our wish, which side should win: for either thou That brought thee to this world. Vir. Ay, and on mine, He shall not tread on me; [Rising. Vol. For making up this peace! Thou know'st, great son, The end of war's uncertain; but this certain, He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy: More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me Like one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life His wife is in Corioli, and his child Like him by chance: - Yet give us our despatch :) Cor. O mother, mother! come; Cor. Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, honour The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia A city full; of tribunes, such as you, A sea and land full: You have pray'd well to day; Men. See you yond' coign o'the Capitol; yond' This morning, for ten thousand of your throats corner-stone? I'd not have given a doit. 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 of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution. Sic. Is't possible, that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? 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 loved his mother dearly. Men. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He 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 finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. Mark what Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. mercy his mother shall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in 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 banished him, we respected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Hark, how they joy! [Shouting and musich Sic. First, the gods bless you for their tidings next, Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius, Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; Cry,-Welcome, ladies, welcome! All. Welcome, ladies? Welcome! [A flourish with drums and trumpets [Eac SCENE V.- Antium. A publick Place. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants. Auf. Go tell the lords of 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, The city ports by this hath enter'd, and Intends to appear before the people, hoping To purge himself with words: Despatch. [Exeunt Attendants. Enter Three or Four Conspirators of Aufidius faction. Most welcome! 1 Con. How is it with our general? Auf. Even so, As with a man by his own alms empoison'd, And with his charity slain. 2 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; We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whil 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of eith Makes the survivor heir of all. Auf. I know it; And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn Mine honour for his truth: Who being so heighte He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery, Seducing so my friends: and, to this end, He bow'd his nature, never known before But to be rough, unswayable, and free. 3 Con. Sir, his stoutness, When he did stand for consul, which he lost' 1 Con. [Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of the people. 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, 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 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. Auf. Here come the lords. Say no more; 1 Lord. And grieve to hear it. What faults he made before the last, I think, Might have found easy fines: but there to end, Where 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. Enter CORIOLANUS, with drums and colours; a croud of Citizens with 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 With bloody passage, led your wars, even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home, I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously Hear'st thou, Mars? Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears, Cor. Auf. No more. Ha! Peace, both, and hear me speak. Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces; 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 Flutter'd your voices in Corioli: Alone I did it. - Boy! Auf. Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears? Con. Let him die for't. [Several speak at once. Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces, do it presently. He killed my son; — my daughter; - He killed my cousin Marcus; He killed my father. 1 Lord. O Tullus, 2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. 3 Lord. Tread not upon him. Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this rage, And mourn you for him: let him be regarded 2 Lord. His own impatience - Masters all, be Let's make the best of it. Provok'd by him, you cannot,) the great danger 1 Lord. Bear from hence his body, SCENE, — during a great part of the Play, at Rome; afterwards at SARDIS; and near PHILIPPI. Flav. Hence; home, you idle creatures, get you women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2 Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soals. Mar. What trade, thou knave, thou naughty knave, what trade? 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 705 a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handywork. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Cæsar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, |