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If you fubmit you to the people's voices,
Allow their officers, and are content

To fuffer lawful cenfure for fuch faults
As fhall be prov'd upon you?

.Cor. I am content.

Men. Lo, citizens, he fays he is content: The warlike fervice he has done, confider; think Upon the wounds his body bears, which fhew Like graves i' the holy church-yard.

[only. Cor. Scratches with briers, fcars to move laughter Men. Confider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a foldier: Do not take
His rougher accents for malicious founds;
But, as I fay, such as become a foldier,
Rather than envy you.

Com. Well, well, no more.

Cor. What is the matter,

That being paft for conful with full voice,
I am fo difhonour'd, that the very hour
You take it off again?

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Men. Nay; temperately: Your promise.
Cor. The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the people!
Call me their traitor!-Thou injurious tribune!
Within thine eyes fat twenty thousand deaths,
In thine hands clutch'd as many millions, in
Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would fay,
Thou lieft, unto thee, with a voice as free
As I do pray the gods.

Sic. Mark you this, people?

Sic. For that he has

(As much as in him lies) from time to time
Envy'd against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power; as 5 now at laft
Given hoftile strokes, and that not in the prefence
Of dreaded juftice, but on the minifters
That do diftribute it; In the name o' the people,
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this inftant, banish him our city;
In peril of precipitation

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more
To enter our Rome gates: I' the people's name,
I fay, it fhall be fo.

All. It fhall be fo, it shall be fo; let him away:He's banifh'd, and it fhall be fo. [friends ;

Com. Hear me, my maiters, and my common-
Sic. He's fentenc'd: no more hearing.
Com. Let me fpeak:

I have been conful, and can fhew from Rome,
Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love
My country's good, with a respect more tender,
More holy, and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's eftitate 7, her womb's increase,
And treasure of my loins: then if I would
Speak that-

Sic. We know your drift: Speak what?
Bru. There's no more to be faid, but he is banish'd
As enemy to the people, and his country:
It fhall be fo.

All. It fhall be fo, it fhall be fo.

Cor. You common cry of curs! whofe breath I hate
As reek o'the rotten fens, whofe loves I prize
As the dead carcaffes of unburied men

That do corrupt my air, I banish you;
And here remain with your uncertainty !

All. To the rock with him! to the rock with him! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!

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zalue my dear wife.

Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into defpair! have the power still

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4 i. c. 3 i. e. all office established and fettled by time. SAs, in this inftance, would feem to have the power 7 i. e. I love my country beyond the rate at which I Το

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A noble cunning 2; you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens !

Cor. Nay, I pr'ythee, wornan,

[Rome,

Vol. Now the red peftilence ftrike all trades in And occupations perith!

Cor. What, what, what!

I fhall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Refume that spirit, when you were wont to fay,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,
Six of his labours you'd have done, and fav'd
Your husband fo much fweat.--Cominius,
Droop not; adicu :-Farcwel, my wife! my mother!
I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are falter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes. -- My fometime general,
I have feen thee fter, and thou haft oft beheld
Heart-hard'ning fpectacles; tell thefe fad women,
'Tis fond 3 to wail inevitable Strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot well,
My hazards ftill have been your folace: and
Believe't not lightly, (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

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IV.

With cautelous baits and practice 4.
Vol. My firit 5 ton,

Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee a while: Determine on fome course,
More than a wild expofture to each chance
That ftart's i' the way before thee.

Co. O the gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devife with thee
Where thou shalt reft, that thou may'st hear of us,
And we of thee: fo, if the time thruft forth,
A caufe for thy repeal, we fhall not fend
O'er the vaft world, to feek a fingle man;
And lofe advantage, which doth ever cool
I' the abfence of the needer.

Cor. Fare ye well :

Thou haft years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the war's furfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.—
Come, my iwcet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch: when I am forth,
Bid me farewel, and fmile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me ftill, and never of me aught
But what is like me formerly.

Mon. That's worthily

As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.-
If I could take of but one leven years
From the e old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Cor. Give me thy hand:-Come.
SCENE

A Street.

11.

[Exeunt.

Enter Sicinius, and Brutus, with an Edile.

Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll
no further.--

The nobility are vex'd, who, we fee, have fided
In his behalf.

Bru. Now we have fhewn our power,

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than feen) your Let us feem humbler after it is done,
Will, or exceed the common, or be caught Than when it was a-doing.

1 Alated is dejected, fubdued, depreffed in fpirits. 2 The fenfe is. When fortune firikes her hardeft blows, to be wounded, and yet continue calm, requires a generous poli. y. He calls thes calmnels cunning, because it is he effect of reflection and philolopy. 3 i. e. fool:th. by artful and falfe tricks, and treafon. 5 First, i. e. nobleit, and moft eminent of men. of true metal unallay'd; a metaphor taken from trying gold on the touchftone.

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Bru. They have ta'en note of us : Keep on your way.

[o'the gods Val. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague Requite your love!

Men. Peace, peace; be not fo loud. [hear;Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should Nay, and you fhall hear fome.--Will you be gone? [To Brutus.

Vir. [To Sicin.] You fhall stay too: I would, I had the power

To fay fo to my hu band.

Sie. Are you mankind 1?

[fool.

Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a fhame-Note but this Was not a man my father? Hadft thou foxfhip 2 To banish him that truck inore blows for Rome, Than thou hart spoken words ?

Sic. O bleffed heavens !

Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wife words; And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-Yet

go;

Nay, but thou shalt stay too :—I would my fon
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good fword in his hand.

Sic. What then?

Virg. What then?

He'd make an end of thy pofterity.

Vol. Battards, and all.

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Rom. I know you well, fir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian.

Vol. It is fo, fir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my fervices are, as you are, against 'em : Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor No. Rom. The fame, fir.

Vol. You had more beard, when I laft faw you; but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volcian ftate, to find you out there: You have well faved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome ftrange inferrection: the people againit the fenators, patricians, and nobles.

Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our ftate thinks not fo; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their divifion.

Rom. The main blaze of it is paft, but a fmall thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive fo to heart the banishment of that worthy

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptuefs, to take

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Vol. I would he had? 'Twas you incens'd the Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth, As I can of thofe myfteries which heaven

Will not have earth to know.

Bru. Pray, let us go.

Vol. Now, pray, fir, get you gone:

all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almoft mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol. Coriolanus banith'd?
Rom. Banish'd, fir.

Vol. You wil be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

Ron. The day ferves well for them now. I have heard it faid, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when he's fallen out with her huf

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this: band. Your noble Tullus Autidius will appear

As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest houfe in Rome; fo far, my fon,
(This lady's husband here, this, do you feɛ)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic. Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?

Vel. Take my prayers with you.-
I would the gods had nothing else to do,

well in these wars, his great oppofer Coriolanus being now in no requeft of his country.

Vol. He cannot choofe. I am molt fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you

home.

Rom. I fhall, between this and fupper, tell you moft ftrange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adverfaries. Have you an army

[Exeunt Tribunes. [ready, fay you?

1 Dr. Johnfon here remarks, that the word mankind is ufed maliciously by the first speaker, and taken perverfely by the fecond. A mankind woman is a woman with the roughness of a man, and, In an aggravated fenfe, a woman ferocious, violent, and eager to fhed blood. In this fenfe Sicinius afks Volumnia, if he be mankind. She takes mankind for a human creature, and accordingly cries out: • Note but this fool. - Was not a man my father?” 21. e. cunning enough.

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Vel. A most royal one; the centurions, and their charges, diftinctly billetted, already in the entertainment', and to be on foot at an hour's warning.

Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that fhall fet them in prefent action. So, fir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

Vol. You take my part from me, fir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

Rom. Well, let us go together.

SCENE

Antiam.

IV.

Before Aufidius's Houfe.

[Exeunt.

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Cor. Away!

2 Serv. Away? Get you away.

Cor. Now thou art troublesome.

2 Serv. Are you fo brave? I'll have you talk'd with anon.

Enter a third Servant. The firfl meets him.

3 Serv. What fellow's this?

1 Serv. A ftrange one as ever I look'd on: I cannot get him out o' the house: Pr'ythee, call my mafter to him.

Pray you, avoid the house.
3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow?
[hearth.
Car. Let me but ftand; I will not hurt your
3 Serv. What are you?
Cor. A gentleman.

Serv. A marvellous poor one.
Cor. True, fo I am.

3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up fome other ftation: here's no place for you; pray you, avoid come.

[Exit Citizen.

Cor. Follow your function, go,

And batten on cold bits,

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[Pulkes him away.

3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my mafter what a strange guest he has here.

2 Serv. And I fhall.

3 Serv. Where dwell'st thou ? Cor. Under the canopy.

3 Serv. Under the canopy? Cor. Ay.

3 Serv. Where's that?

Cor. I the city of kites and crows.

[Exit,

What

3 Serv. I' the city of kites and crows an afs it is!-Then thou dwell with daws too? Cor. No, I ferve not thy master.

3 Serv. How, fir! Do you meddle with my mafter? Cor. Ay; 'tis an honefter fervice, than to meddle with thy miftrefs:

[Exit. Thou prat ft, and prat'ft; ferve with thy trencher, [Beats bim away.

I Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What fervice is here! I think our fellows are asleep.

Enter another Serving-man.

[Exit.

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hence !

Enter Aufidius, with the fecond Serving-man. *Auf. Where is this fellow?

2 Sev. Here, fir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for difturbing the lords within.

Auf. Whence comeft thou? what wouldeft thou? Thy name?

Why fpeak'ft not? Speak, man: What's thy name?
Cor. If, Tullus,

Not yet thou know'ft me, and seeing me, doft not
Think me for the man I am, neceffity
Commands me name myself.

That is, though not actually encamped, yet already in pay. To entertain an army is to take them into pay. 2 Companion was formerly ufcd in the fame fenfe as we now ule the word

Fellow.

Auf

Auf. What is thy name?

Cor. A name unmufical to the Volces' ears, Aud harsh in found to thine.

Auf. Say, what's thy name

?

Thou haft a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in 't: though thy tackle's torn,
Thou fhew'ft a noble veffel: What's thy name?
Cor. Prepare thy brow to frown: Know'ft thou
Auf. I know thee not :-Thy name? [me yet?
Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volces,
Great hurt and mifchief; thereto witness may
My furname, Coriolanus: The painful fervice,
The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country, are requited
But with that furname; a good memory 1,
And witnefs of the malice and difpleature [mains
Which thou shouldit bear me, only that name re-
The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our daftard nobles, who
Have all forfook me, hath devour'd the reft;
And fulfer'd me by the voice of flaves to be
Whoop'd out Rome. Now, this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth; Not out of hope,
Miftake me not, to fave my life; for if

:

I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world
I would have 'voided thee: but in mere fpite,
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou haft
A heart of wreak 2 in thee, that wilt revenge
Thine own particular wrongs, and ftop thofe maims
Of shame 3 feen through thy country, fpeed thee
ftraight,

And make my mifery ferve thy turn; fo use it,
That my revengeful fervices 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 fo be

Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes
Thou art tir'd, then, in a word, I also am
Longer to live most weary, and prefent
My throat to thee, and to thy ancient malice:
Which not to cut, would fhew thee but a fool;
Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breaft,
And cannot live but to thy fhame, unle's
It be to do thee fervice.

Auf. O Marcius, Marcius,

[heart

Each word thou"hast spoke hath weeded from my
A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter

Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and fay,
"Tis true; I'd not believe them more than thee,
All noble Marcius.-Let me twine
Mine arms about that body, where against
My grained afh an hundred times hath broke,

And fearr'd the moon with splinters! Here 1 clip
The anvil of my fword; and do contest
As hotly and as nobly with thy love,
As ever in ambitious ftrength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I lov'd the maid I marry'd; never man

Memory for memorial,

territory.

Sigh'd truer breath; but that I fee thee here,
Thou noble thing more dances my rapt heart,
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Beftride 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 lofe mine arm for't: Thou haft beat me out
Twelve feveral times, and I have nightly fince
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyfelf and me;
We have been down together in my fleep,
Unbuckling helms, fifting each other's throat,
And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy

Marcius,

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I Serv. Here's a strange alteration!

2 Serv. By my hand, I had thought to have ftrucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me, his clothes made a falfe report of him.

I Serv. What an arm he has! He turn'd me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would fet up a top.

2 Serv. Nay, I knew by his face that there was fomething in him: He had, fir, a kind of face, methought,-I cannot tell how to term it.

I Serv. He had fo; looking, as it were,'Would I were hang'd, but I thought there was more in him than I could think.

2 Serv. So did I, I'll be fworn: He is fimply the rareft man i'the world.

1 Serv. I think he is: but a greater foldier than he, you wot one.

2 Serv. Who? my master?

1 Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that.

2 Serv. Worth fix of him.

1 Serv. Nay, not fo neither: but I take him to

be the greater foldier.

2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how

2. e. refentment or revenge. 3 i. e. difgraceful diminutions of

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