Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where fenators fhall mingle tears with fimiles ; Where great patricians fhall attend, and shrug, Though thanks to all, muft I felect from all : Titus Lartius, having fet a guard upon Corioli, going with a drum and trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Marcius, enters with a Lieutenant, other foldiers, and a fcout. Lart. So, let the ports 2 be guarded: Keep As I have fet them down. If I do fend, difpatch Lieu. Fear not our care, fir. Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. SCEN E VIII. The Field of Battle. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter Martius, and Aufidius. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee [blood, Mar. Within thefe three hours, Tullus, Auf. Wert thou the Hector, [Here they fight, ond certain Velces come to the aid of Aufidius. Marcius fights till they le driven in breathless. Officious, and not valiant !—you have sham'd me In your condemned feconds. [Exeunt fighting. And, gladly quak'd 3, hear more; where the dull Tribunes, That, with the fufty plebeians, hate thine honours, Shall fay, against their hearts,-" We thank the "gods, Our Rome hath fuch a foldier ""Yet cam'ft thou to a morfel of this feft, Having fully din'd before. Enter Titus Lartius, with his power, from the purfait, Lart, O general, Here is the fteed, we the caparifons + ! Had'it thou beheld Mar. Pray now, no more: my mother, I have done as you have done; that's, what I can ; Com. You fhall not be The grave of your deferving; Rome must know Would feem but modeft: Therefore, I befeegi you, (In fign of what you are, not to reward What you have done) before our army bear me. To hear themfelves remember'd, Mar. I have fome wounds upon me, and they [imait Com. Should they not 5, Well might they fefter 'gainft ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horfes, (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store) of all The treafure, in the field atchiev'd, and city, Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart content to take That have beheld the doing. [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Marcius! caft up their caps and lances: Cominius and Lartius fland bare. Mar. May thefe fame inftruments, which you profane, [fhall Never found more! When drums and trumpets ' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be Made all of falfe-fac'd toothing! When steel grows 1 Coriolanus may mean, that as all the foldiers have offered to attend him on this expedition, and he wants only a part of them, he will fubmit the felection to four indifferent perfons, that he himfelf may elcape the charge of partiality. 2 i. c. the gates. 3 i. c. thrown into grateful tre pidation. 4 The meaning is,This map performed the action, and we only filled up the fhew. That is, not be remembered. Soft Soft as the parafite's filk, let him be made As if I lov'd my little fhould be dicted 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 reafon fafely with you.-Therefore, be it known, As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius Auf. The town is ta'en ! So!. 'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition. Auf. Condition!--- What good condition can a treaty find Wears this war's garland: in token of the which, I would, I were a Roman; for I cannot, Bear the addition nobly ever! I'the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, [Flourish. Trumpets found, and drums. If e'er again I meet him beard to beard, Omnes. Caius Marcius Coriolanus! Cor. I will go wath; And when my face is fair, you fhall perceive fupport his good opinion of him. ... enter into articles. He is mine, or I am his: Mine emulation Sol. He's the devil. [poifon'd, Auf. Bolder, though not fo fubtle: My valour's With only fuffering ftain by him; for him Shall flie out of itfelf: nor fleep nor fan Яuary, Being naked, fick; nor fane, nor capitol, The prayers of priests, nor times of facrifice, Embarquements 7 all of fury, fhall lift up Their rotten privilege and cuftom 'gainst My hate to Marcius: where 1 find him, were it At home, upon my brother's guard, even there, [city; Againit the hofpitable canon, would I Wath my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the Learn how 'tis held; and what they are, that mult Be hoftages for Rome. Sol. Will not you go? Auf. 1 am attended at the cypress grove : Him for it. The perfonal him is not unfrequently ufed by our author, and other writers of his age, initead of it, the neuter. 2 A phrafe from heraldry, fignifying, that he would endeavour to 4 i. e. the chief 3 i. e. in proportion equal to my power. 6 Potch is a word used in the midland countics for a men of Corioli. rough, violent pufh. 7 Embarquements means not only an embarkation, but an embargoing, or impediment. 3j, e. expected. 224 ACT SCENE I. Rome. A C T II. Enter Menenius, with Sicinius, and Brutus. Bru. Good, or bad? converfes 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 fuch wealímen as you are, (I cannot call you Lycurguffes) if the drink you give me, touch my palate adverfly, I make a crooked face at it. I can't fay, your worships have deliver'd the matter well, when I find the afs in compound with the major part of your fyllables: and though I must be content to bear with thofe that lay you are reverend grave men; yet they lye deadly, that tell you you have good faces. If you ple-fee this in the map of my microcofm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What harm can your biffon 3 confpectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too? Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius. Sic. Nature teaches beafts to know their friends. Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry beians 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 fhall ask you. Bru. Come, fir, come, we know you well enough. Men. You know neither me, yourfclves, nor any thing. You are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs: you wear out a good wholetome forenoon, in hearing a caufe between an orangewife and a faffet-feller; and then rejourn the controverfy of three-pence to a fecond day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinch'd with the colic, you make faces like mummers: fet up the bloody flag against all patience 4, and, in roaring for a chamber-pot, difmifs the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing: Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will you all the peace you make in their cause, is, calling not be angry? Both. Well, well, fir, well. Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occafion will rob you of a great deal of patience; give your difpofitions the reins, and be angry at your pleafures; at the leaft, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being fo. You blame Marcius for being proud? Bru. We do it not alone, fir. 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 necessary bencher in the Capitol Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they fhall encounter fuch ridiculous fubiects as you are. When you speak beft unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and Men. I know, you can do very little alone; for your beards deserve not so honourable a grave, as your helps are many; or elfe your actions would to ftuff a botcher's cuíhion, or to be entomb'd in grow wondrous fingle; your abilities are too in-an als's pack-faddle. Yet you must be saying, fant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of Marcius is proud; who, in a cheap eftimation, is pride: Oh, that you could turn your eyes towards worth all your predeceffors, fince Deucalion; the napes of your necks, and make but an inte- though, peradventure, fome of the best of them rior furvey of your good felves! O, that you could! were hereditary hangmen. Good-e'en to your Bru. What then, fir? worships: more of your converfation would infect my brain, being the herdimen of the beftly plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you. Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of as unmeriting, proud, violent, tefty magiftrates, (alias, fools) as any in Rome. 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: faid to be fomething imperfe, in favouring the first complaint; hafty, and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion: one that Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria. How now, my fair as noble ladies, (and the moon, were the earthly, no nobler) whither do you fol low your eyes so fast? 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 fays, that every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind lier-down than an carly rifer. 3 i. c. ind. him, in which he flows his own. Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most profperous approbation. Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee :-Hoo! Marcius coming home! Both. Nay, 'tis true. Vol. Look, here's a letter from him; the state i hath another, his wife another; and, think, there's one at home for you. Men. I will make my very house reel to-night:A letter for me? he carries noife, and behind him he leaves tears; Death, that dark fpirit, in's nervy arm doth lie; Which being advanc'd, declines, and then men die. A Sennet. Trumpets found. Enter Cominius the General, and Titus Lartius; between them, Coriolanus, crown'd with an oaken garland; with Captains and Soldiers, and a Herald. Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight Within Corioli' gates: where he hath won, Vir. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; IWith fame, a name to Caius Marcius; thefe faw it. In honour follows, Coriolanus :-Welcome to Rome, renown'd Coriolanus! Men. A letter for me? It gives me an eftate of feven years' health; in which time, I will make a lip at the phyfician: the most fovereign prefcrip-| tion in Galen is but empyric, and, to this prefervative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded? he was 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 become him. [Sound. Flourish. All. Welcome to Rome, renown'd Coriolanus ! Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart; Pray now, no more. Com. Look, fir, your mother, Cor. O! You have, I know, petition'd all the gods Vol. Nay, my good foldier, up; Vol. On's brows, Menenius; he comes the third What is it? Coriolanus, muft I call thee? tine home with the oaken garland. Men. Has he difciplin'd Aufidius foundly? Vol. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but Aufidius got off. Men. And it was time for him too, I'll warrant him that 'an he had ftaid by him, I would not have been fo fidius'd for all the chefts in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the fenate poffefs'd of this? Vol. Good ladies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the fenate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my fon the whole name of the war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly. Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him. But O, thy wife Cor. My gracious filence 2, hail! [Kneels. Would't thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd That weep'it to fee me triumph? Ah, my dear, Men. Now the gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet?-O my fweet lady, par- And welcome, general;--And you are welcome all. weep, Men. Wondrous? ay, I warrant you, and not And I could laugh; I am light and heavy. Welwithout his true purchasing. Vir. The gods grant them true! Men. True? I'll be fworn they are true :Where is he wounded ?---God fave your good worfhips! [To the Tribunes.] Marcius is coming home: he has more caufe to be proud.-Where is he wounded? Vol. I'the fhoulder, and i' the left arm: There will be large cicatrices to fhew the people, when he thall stand for his place. He receiv'd in the repulfe of Tarquin, feven hurts i' the body. Men. One i' the neck, and one too i' the thigh:There's nine that I know. A curfe begin at very root of 's heart, men, Com. Ever right. Car. Menenius, ever, ever. [To his Wife and Mother. Ere in our own houfe I do fhade my head, Vol. He had before this last expedition, twenty- The good patricians must be visited; five wounds upon him. From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings, Men. Now 'tis twenty-feven: every gafh was But with them change of honours. an enemy's grave: Hark, the trumpets. [A fhout, and flourish. Vol. Thefe are the ufhers of Marcius: before him Vol. I have liv'd To fee inherited my very wishes, 1 i. e. informed. 2 i. e. according to Mr. Steevens, "Thou whofe filent tears are more eloquent and grateful to me, than the clamorous applaufe of the reft." Only Only there's one thing wanting, which I doubt not,, He ftill hath held them; that, to his power, he But our Rome will caft upon thee. While the chats him: the kitchen malkin 2 pins Her richelt lockram 'bout her reeky neck, Clambering the walls to eye him: Stalls, buiks, windows, Are fmother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd In earnestnefs to fee him: feld-fhown flamens 4 Than have him hold that purpofe, and to put it In execution. Bru. 'Tis moft like, he will. would Have made them mules, filenc'd their pleaders, and Of no more foul, nor fitness for the world, Sic. This, as you say, suggested Enter a Meffenger. [thought, Bru. What's the matter? Mef. You are fent for to the Capitol. "Is That Marcius fhall be conful: I have feen The dumb men throng to fee him, and the blind To hear him speak: Matrons flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he pafs'd: the nobles bended, As to Jove's ftatue; and the commons made A fhower, and thunder, with their caps, and fhouts : I never faw the like. Bru. Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, Sic. Have with you. SCENE [Exeunt. II. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almoft here: How many itand for confulthips? 2 Off. Three, they fay: but 'tis thought of every one, Coriclanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's venge ance proud, and loves not the common people. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er lor'd them; and there be many that they have lov'd, they know not wherefore; fo 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, manifefts the true knowledge he has in their difpofition; and, out of his noble careleffness, lets them plainly fee 't. 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he wav'd indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he feeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it Sic. It fhall be to him then, as our good will's him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully A fure deftruction. For an end, Bru. So it muít fall out To him, or our authorities. We muft fuggeft the people, in what hatred difcover him their oppofite. Now, to feem to affect the malice and difpleasure of the people, is as bad as that which he diflikes, to flatter them for their love, 2 A kind of mop made of Maukin in fome parts of England figni3 Lockram was fome kind of 1 Rapture was a common term at that time used for a fit fimply. clouts for the ufe of fweeping ovens: thence a dirty wench. fies a figure of clouts fet up to fright birds in gardens, a fcarecrow. cheap linen. 4 i. c. pricits who feldom exhibit themfelves to public view. Seld is often used by antient writers for fildom. si. c. as if that god who leads him, whatsoever god he be, |