What, will he come?[3348]

_Æd._ He's coming.

_Bru._ How accompanied?

_Æd._ With old Menenius and those senators

That always favour'd him.

_Sic._ Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procured,[3350]

Set down by the poll?[3350][3351]

_Æd._ I have; 'tis ready. 10

_Sic._ Have you collected them by tribes?

_Æd._ I have.[3352]

_Sic._ Assemble presently the people hither:

And when they hear me say 'It shall be so

I' the right and strength o' the commons,' be it either[3353]

For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them, 15

If I say fine, cry 'Fine,' if death, cry 'Death,'

Insisting on the old prerogative[3354]

And power i' the truth o' the cause.

_Æd._ I shall inform them.[3355]

_Bru._ And when such time they have begun to cry,

Let them not cease, but with a din confused 20

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

_Æd._ Very well.

_Sic._ Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,

When we shall hap to give't them.

_Bru._ Go about it. [_Exit Ædile._[3356]

Put him to choler straight: he hath been used 25

Ever to conquer and to have his worth[3357][3358][3359]

Of contradiction: being once chafed, he cannot[3358]

Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks

What's in his heart; and that is there which looks[3360]

With us to break his neck.

_Sic._ Well, here he comes. 30

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, _and_ COMINIUS, _with_ Senators _and_

Patricians.[3361]

_Men._ Calmly, I do beseech you.

_Cor._ Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece[3362]

Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour'd gods[3363][3364]

Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice[3364]

Supplied with worthy men! plant love among's![3364][3365] 35

Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,[3364][3366]

And not our streets with war![3364]

_First Sen._ Amen, amen.

_Men._ A noble wish.

_Re-enter_ Ædile, _with_ Citizens.[3367]

_Sic._ Draw near, ye people.

_Æd._ List to your tribunes; audience: peace, I say![3368] 40

_Cor._ First, hear me speak.

_Both Tri._ Well, say. Peace, ho![3369]

_Cor._ Shall I be charged no further than this present?

Must all determine here?

_Sic._ I do demand,

If you submit you to the people's voices,

Allow their officers, and are content 45

To suffer lawful censure for such faults

As shall be proved upon you?

_Cor._ I am content.

_Men._ Lo, citizens, he says he is content:

The warlike service he has done, consider; think[3370]

Upon the wounds his body bears, which show[3370] 50

Like graves i' the holy churchyard.[3371]

_Cor._ Scratches with briers,[3372]

Scars to move laughter only.[3372]

_Men._ Consider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen,

You find him like a soldier: do not take

His rougher accents for malicious sounds,[3373] 55

But, as I say, such as become a soldier

Rather than envy you.

_Com._ Well, well, no more.[3374]

_Cor._ What is the matter[3375]

That being pass'd for consul with full voice,

I am so dishonour'd that the very hour[3376] 60

You take it off again?

_Sic._ Answer to us.

_Cor._ Say, then: 'tis true, I ought so.

_Sic._ We charge you, that you have contrived to take

From Rome all season'd office and to wind

Yourself into a power tyrannical;[3377] 65

For which you are a traitor to the people.

_Cor._ How! traitor!

_Men._ Nay, temperately; your promise.

_Cor._ The fires i' the lowest hell fold-in the people![3378]

Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune!

Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,[3379] 70

In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in[3379]

Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say[3380]

'Thou liest' unto thee with a voice as free

As I do pray the gods.

_Sic._ Mark you this, people?[3381]

_Citizens._ To the rock, to the rock with him![3382][3383]

_Sic._ Peace! 75

We need not put new matter to his charge:

What you have seen him do and heard him speak,

Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,

Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying

Those whose great power must try him; even this,[3384] 80

So criminal and in such capital kind,[3384]

Deserves the extremest death.

_Bru._ But since he hath[3385]

Served well for Rome--[3385][3386]

_Cor._ What do you prate of service?

_Bru._ I talk of that, that know it.[3387]

_Cor._ You?[3387] 85

_Men._ Is this the promise that you made your mother?[3387][3388]

_Com._ Know, I pray you,--[3387]

_Cor._ I'll know no further:[3389]

Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,

Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger[3390]

But with a grain a day, I would not buy 90

Their mercy at the price of one fair word,

Nor check my courage for what they can give,[3391]

To have't with saying 'Good morrow.'

_Sic._ For that he has,

As much as in him lies, from time to time

Envied against the people, seeking means[3392] 95

To pluck away their power, as now at last[3393]

Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence[3394]

Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers[3395]

That do distribute it; in the name o' the people,[3353][3396]

And in the power of us the tribunes, we, 100

Even from this instant, 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,[3397]

I say it shall be so. 105

_Citizens._ It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away:[3382]

He's banish'd, and it shall be so.[3398]

_Com._ Hear me, my masters, and my common friends,--[3399]

_Sic._ He's sentenced; no more hearing.

_Com._ Let me speak:

I have been consul, and can show for Rome[3400] 110

Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love

My country's good with a respect more tender,[3401]

More holy and profound, than mine own life,

My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase[3402]

And treasure of my loins; then if I would 115

Speak that--[3403]

_Sic._ We know your drift:--speak what?

_Bru._ There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd,

As enemy to the people and his country:

It shall be so.

_Citizens._ It shall be so, it shall be so.[3382] 120

_Cor._ You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate[3404]

As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize

As the dead carcasses of unburied men

That do corrupt my air, I banish you;

And here remain with your uncertainty! 125

Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!

Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,

Fan you into despair! Have the power still

To banish your defenders; till at length

Your ignorance, which finds not till it feels, 130

Making not reservation of yourselves,[3405]

Still your own foes, deliver you as most[3406][3407]

Abated captives to some nation[3407]

That won you without blows! Despising,[3408]

For you, the city, thus I turn my back:[3408][3409] 135

There is a world elsewhere.

[_Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, Menenius, Senators and Patricians._[3410]

_Æd._ The people's enemy is gone, is gone!

_Citizens._ Our enemy is banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!

[_They all shout, and throw up their caps._[3411]

_Sic._ Go, see him out at gates, and follow him,

As he hath follow'd you, with all despite;[3412] 140

Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard[3412]

Attend us through the city.

_Citizens._ Come, come, let's see him out at gates; come.[3382][3413]

The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come. [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[3103] ACT III. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus Tertius. Ff.

Rome.] Rowe.

A street.] A publick Street. Theobald.

all the Gentry,] om. Rowe.

Lartius,] F₂ F₃. Latius, F₁. Lucius, F₄ (and throughout the scene).

[3104] _road_] _inroad_ Pope.

[3105] _They are_] _They're_ Pope.

[3106] [To Lartius. Theobald.

[3107] _noble ... common_] F₁. _noble ... commons_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_nobles ... commons_ Rowe.

[3108] First Sen.] 1. S. Capell. Senat. Ff.

[3109] _Stop ... broil_] Arranged as by Pope. One line in Ff.

[3110] _herd_] F₃ F₄. _heard_ F₁ F₂.

[3111] _tongues_] F₄. _toungs_ F₁. _tongs_ F₂ F₃.

_offices?_] _offices_ F₂.

[3112] _suppliants for_] F₄. _suppliants: for_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3113] _sithence_] _since_ Pope.

[3114] Com.] Ff. Cor. Theobald.

_You are like_] _Yes, you are like enough_ Hanmer.

[3115] _Not ... yours_] Arranged as by Johnson. One line in Ff.

[3116] _Each ... yours_] _either ... you_ Hanmer.

[3117] _you are_] _you're_ Pope.

[3118] _never be_] _never to be_ Rowe (ed. 2). _ne'er to be_ Pope.

[3119] _abused; set on._] _abus'd, set on;_ Rowe. _abus'd: set on,_ Ff.

[3120] _Rome_] _Romans_ Steevens conj.

[3121] _Tell ... again_] Arranged as by Pope. In Ff the first line ends

at _speech_.

[3122] _Now ... again_] Arranged as by Capell. In Ff the lines end

_will ... pardons: ... Meynie, ... flatter, ... againe_.

[3123] _My_] _As for my_ Pope, ending the lines as Ff.

[3124] _For_] _But for_ Pope.

_many_] F₄. _Meynie_ F₁. _Meyny_ F₂ F₃.

[3125] _Therein_] _there_ Pope.

[3126] _plough'd_] _plow'd_ Rowe. _plowed_ Ff.

[3127] _they_] _we_ Pope.

[3128] _disdain_] _disdain'd_ Keightley.

_sought_] _seek_ Rowe.

[3129] _You ... sleep,_] Arranged as by Capell. In Ff the lines end

_God ... infirmity ... know't ... his choller?... sleep._ Hanmer ends

the lines _were ... man ... let ... Choler!... sleep_.

[3130] _people_] _people, sir_ Hanmer.

[3131] _if_] om. Pope, ending the lines as Ff.

[3132] _A man_] _as being a man_ Hanmer.

_of_] _of of_ F₂.

[3133] _By Jove ... remain!_] Arranged as by Pope. In Ff the lines end

_my minde ... poison ... further ... remaine?_

[3134] _Hear ... Triton_] _Heare you this Triton_ F₁. _Here you this

Triton_ F₂ F₃. _Hear you this, Triton_ F₄.

[3135] _canon_] Rowe. _cannon_ Ff.

[3136] _'Shall'!... why_] Arranged as by Pope. One line in Ff.

[3137] _O good,_] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). _O God!_ Ff. _O Gods!_ Heath

conj.

[3138] _reckless_] Hanmer. _wreaklesse_ F₁ F₂. _wreakless_ F₃ F₄.

[3139] _here_] F₃ F₄. _heere_ F₁ F₂. _leave_ Collier (Collier MS. and

Long MS.) _heart_ Leo conj.

[3140] _monster's_] Edd. _monsters_ Ff. _monster_ Capell.

[3141] _If he ... by you_] See note (VI).

[3142] _vail_] F₄. _vale_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

_ignorance_] _impotence_ Collier (Collier MS.) _signorie_ or

_signories_ Staunton conj.

[3143] _awake ... lenity_] _revoke ... bounty_ Collier (Collier MS.)

_revoke ... lenity_ Grant White.

[3144] _awake_] _abate_ Jervis conj. _awake from_ Bailey conj. _away_

Leo conj.

[3145] _learn'd_] Ff. _learned_ Rowe.

[3146] _common_] _commons'_ Staunton conj.

[3147] _You are_] _You're_ Pope.

[3148] _blended, the_] Ff. _blended; the_ Rowe.

_great'st_] Ff. _greatest_ Rowe. _general_ Mason conj. _gross_ Anon.

conj.

_taste_] _state_ Hudson (Singer conj.)

[3149] _Most palates_] _Must palate_ Johnson conj.

[3150] Cor.] Com. F₂.

[3151] _o'_] F₄. _a'_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3152] _Greece,--_] _Greece--_ F₃ F₄. _Greece._ F₁ F₂.

[3153] _I say ... state_] Arranged as by Pope. One line in Ff. Prose in

Rowe.

[3154] _they_] _the_ F₂.

[3155] _Why,_] _Why_ Ff. om. Hanmer.

[3156] _worthier_] F₁. _worthie_ F₂. _worthy_ F₃ F₄.

_voices_] _voice_ Theobald.

[3157] _our_] _their_ Hanmer and Southern conj. MS. _for_ Ingleby conj.

_well_] om. Theobald.

[3158] _Their_] F₃ F₄. _There_ F₁. _Thare_ F₂.

[3159] _native_] Ff. _motive_ Singer (Johnson and Heath conj.)

[3160] _donation_] _denotion_ F₃.

[3161] _bisson multitude_] Dyce (Collier MS.) _bissom multitude_

Singer. _bosome-multiplied_ Ff.

[3162] _poll_] Rowe. _pole_ Ff.

[3163] _They_] _Thy_ F₃.

[3164] _Call ... eagles_] Arranged as in Ff. In Pope the first two

lines end _ope ... crows_.

[3165] _cares_] _caresses_ Anon. conj.

_time_] _time to come_ or _after time_ Anon. conj.

[3166] _ope_] _open_ F₄.

[3167] _enough_] _enough, enough_ Hanmer.

[3168] _by, both_] Ff. _by. Both_ Warburton.

[3169] _Where one_] Rowe. _Whereon_ Ff.

[3170] _reason_] F₁. _season_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3171] _ignorance,--it must omit_] Capell. _ignorance, it must omit_ F₁

F₃ F₄. _ignorance, it must omit:_ F₂.

[3172] _slightness_] _sleights_ Badham conj.

[3173] _purpose ... purpose_] Put in brackets as spurious by Warburton.

[3174] _doubt_] _do_ Hanmer.

_on 't_] F₁. _oft_ F₂. _of't_ F₃ F₄.

[3175] _jump_] F₃ F₄. _iumpe_ F₁. _jumpe_ F₂. _vamp_ Pope. _imp_

Singer. _purge_ Staunton conj.

[3176] _it_] om. Pope.

[3177] _become 't_] _become it_ Rowe.

[3178] _control 't_] _controul it_ Rowe.]

_Has_] F₁ F₂. _Ha's_ F₃. _H'as_ F₄. _He has_ Capell.

[3179] _Has_] Dyce. _Ha's_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _H'as_ F₄. _He has_ Capell.

[3180] _bench: in a rebellion,_] _bench. In a rebellion,_ Pope. _bench,

in a rebellion:_ Ff.

[3181] _what's not_] _not what's_ Anon. conj.

[3182] _it must be meet_] _that must be law_ Hanmer. _it must be law_

Warburton.

[3183] Enter an Ædile.] Ff (after line 172). Omitted by Pope. Ædiles

enter. Theobald.

[3184] [Exit Ædile] Collier. Exit Brutus. Capell. om. Ff.

_myself_] _I myself_ Keightley.

[Laying hold on Coriolanus. Rowe.

[3185] Senators, &c.] All. Ff. Sen. and Pat. Malone.

_Aged sir_] Rowe. _Ag'd sir_ Ff. _Hold, aged sir_ Hanmer. _My aged sir_

Capell.

[3186] _Help, ye_] Malone. _Helpe ye_ F₁ F₂. _Help me_ F₃ F₄.

Enter....] Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Ædiles. Ff. Re-enter

Brutus, with Ædiles, and a whole rabble of Citizens. Capell.

[3187] SCENE II. Pope.

[3188] Citizens.] Cit. Capell. All. Ff (and elsewhere).

[3189] Senators, &c.] Edd. 2. Sen. Ff.

They ... crying, _'Tribunes!' ..._] Edd. They ... Coriolanus.

_Tribunes,...._ Ff. They ... Coriolanus. 1. S. _Tribunes,...._ Capell.

See note (VII).

[3190] _'Peace...._] Edd. All. _Peace...._ Ff.

[3191] _Confusion's near_] F₃ F₄. _Confusions neere_ F₁. _Confusions

ne're_ F₂.

_cannot speak. You_] _cannot.--Speak you,_ Rann (Mason conj.)

[3192] _To the people!_] Omitted by Pope. _Speak to the people._

Tyrwhitt conj.

[3193] _To ... Sicinius_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3194] _good_] om. Pope, reading _Coriolanus ... Sicinius_, as one line.

[3195] _hear_] _here_ F₁.

_peace!_] _peace, ho!_ Hanmer.

_Speak_] Four times in Keightley.

[3196] _have named_] _nam'd_ Pope. _chose_ Capell.

[3197] _Fie ... quench._] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[3198] First Sen.] 1. S. Capell. Sena. Ff.

[3199] _True, ... city._] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3200] _By ... magistrates._] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[3201] Com.] Ff. Cor. Pope.

[3202] _of_] _on_ Rowe.

[3203] Citizens.] Cit. Capell. All Ple. Ff.

[3204] _Hear ... a word._] As in Johnson. Prose in Ff.

[3205] _tribunes_] _Ye tribunes_ Hanmer (ending line 215 at _beseech

you_). _Good tribunes_ Capell.

[3206] [To Brutus] Edd.

_friend_] Ff. _friends_ Rowe.

[3207] _poisonous_] _poisons_ Rann (Johnson conj.)

[3208] _upon_] _on_ Pope.

[3209] [Drawing his sword.] Capell. Corio. drawes his Sword. Ff, after

_rock_.

[3210] _seen me_] _seen me do_ Keightley.

[3211] _Help Marcius, help,_] _Help, help Marcius, help,_ Hanmer. _Help

Marcius! help, help,_ Keightley.

[3212] _Help ... old!_] As verse, first by Hanmer. Prose in Ff.

[3213] [In....] Exeunt. In.... Ff.

A great Mutiny: Tribunes, Ædiles, and People are beat in. Capell.

[3214] SCENE III. Pope.

_your_] Rowe. _our_ Ff.

[3215] Sec. Sen.] Com. Capell.

_gone._] _gone, away!_ Hanmer.

Com.] Cor. Warburton. 2. S. Capell.

[3216] _Stand ... enemies._] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3217] First Sen.] 1. S. Capell. Sena. Ff.

[3218] _upon us_] om. Pope.

_us_] _us,_ F₁ F₄. _us._ F₂ F₃.

[3219] Com.] F₂ F₃ F₄. Corio. F₁.

[3220] Cor. _I ... Capitol,--_ Men. _Be gone: ... another._ Steevens,

1773 (Tyrwhitt conj.) Men. _I ... Capitoll: Be gone ... another._ Ff.

Cor. _I ... Capitol.--Be gone._ Men. _Put ... another._ Steevens (1778).

[3221] _Be gone_] _Be gone, be gone_ Hanmer, ending the line at _rage_.

[3222] _Be gone: ... tongue:_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3223] _will_] _we'll_ Becket conj.

_owe_] _own_ Jackson conj.

Cor.] Corio. F₁. Com. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3224] _On ... them._] As in Capell. Prose in Ff.

[3225] _I ... tribunes._] Arranged as by Capell, who omits _of them_.

Prose in Ff.

_myself ... yea_] _myself, I think, ... yea, even_ Hanmer, ending the

line at _brace_.

[3226] _o' the_] _of the_ Steevens.

_of them_] om. Capell.

[3227] _whether_] _if_ Pope.

[3228] _Nay,_] om. Pope.

Cominius, and others.] Capell. and Cominius. Ff.

[3229] SCENE IV. Pope.

First Patrician.] 1. P. Capell. Patri. Ff. 1. Sen. Rowe.

[3230] _Or ... mouth_] _Or Jove for's thunder; 's heart is in his

mouth_ Badham conj.

_for 's_] _for his_ Capell.

_his mouth_] _in his mouth_ Keightley.

[3231] Sec. Pat] 2. Pat. Malone. Patri. Ff. 1. P. Capell.

_a-bed_] _in bed_ Farmer conj. MS.

[3232] _What ... fair?_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3233] Re-enter ... rabble.] Malone. Enter ... rabble againe. Ff.

[3234] _That ... himself?_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3235] _would_] _will_ Steevens (1773, 1778, 1785).

[3236] _tribunes--_] Rowe. _Tribunes._ Ff.

[3237] _of the_] _of_ Pope.

[3238] _He ... hands._] As in Johnson. Two lines, the first ending

_are,_ in Ff.

[3239] Citizens.] Cit. Capell. All. Ff. Cit. [Several speak together.

Malone.

[3240] _shall, sure on't_] _shall sure ont_ F₁. _shall sure out_ F₂ F₃

F₄. _shall be sure on't_ Pope. _shall, be sure on't_ Theobald. _shall,

Be sure on't_ Hanmer, reading _The people's ... shall_ as one line.

_shall, sure, out_ Capell. _shall sore on't,_ Malone conj., meaning

perhaps, _shall sore rue't_.

_Sir, sir,--_] _Sir, Sir._ Ff. _Sirs,--_ Capell, ending the line at

_Peace! Sir,--_ Steevens (1793).

[3241] _not_] _nor_ F₂.

[3242] _Sir ... rescue?_] Arranged as in Pope. Line 276 ends at _holpe_

in Ff.

[3243] _comes 't that_] Capell. _com'st that_ Ff. _comes it that_ Rowe.

_comes it_ Pope.

[3244] _Hear ... faults,--_] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending

_know,_ in Ff.

[3245] _He consul!_] _He the consul!--_ Hanmer. Keightley ends the line

at _No_.

[3246] _If ... people,_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[3247] _I would_] _I'd_ Pope.

[3248] _viperous_] F₄. _Viporous_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3249] _one_] _our_ Theobald. _moe_ Edd. conj.

[3250] _deserved_] _deserving_ Pope.

[3251] _enemies,_] Ff. _enemies?_ Hanmer.

[3252] _do't_] F₃ F₄. _doo't_ F₁. _doo'_ F₂.

[3253] _kam_] F₄. _kamme_ F₁ F₂. _kamm_ F₃. _wrong_ Pope.

[3254] _when ... him_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3255] Men.] Sicin. Hanmer (Warburton).

[3256] _foot Being_] _foot--_ Sic. _Being_ Seymour conj.

[3257] _is_] _it is_ Pope.

[3258] _was._] _was--_ Rowe. _was?_ Steevens.

[3259] _catching_] _a catching_ F₄.

[3260] _one word._] _hear me one word:_ Hanmer. _one word, I say._

Seymour conj.

[3261] _to's_] _t' its_ Johnson.

[3262] _If it were so--_] F₃ F₄. _If it were so?_ F₁ F₂. _If 'twere

so--_ Pope. _If it were so, That he would yield obedience--_ or _If it

were so, And he would prove obedient--_ Badham conj.

[3263] _smote_] F₄. _smot_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

_resisted? Come_] _resisted? come--_ Hanmer. _resisted: come._ F₁.

_resisted come._ F₂. _resisted, come._ F₃ F₄. _resisted, come--_ Rowe.

[3264] _has_] _hath_ Rowe.

[3265] _he_] Rowe. _a_ Ff.

[3266] _bring him_] Pope. _bring him in peace._ Ff.

[3267] _bring him ... In peace, to_] _bring him in peace Where ...

lawful Form to_ Keightley.

[3268] _humane_] _human_ Rowe.

[3269] _Noble ... officer._] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3270] _market-place_] _forum_ Pope.

_attend_] _tend_ Badham conj.

[3271] _to you_] _to you strait_ Seymour conj. _to you there_ Keightley.

[3272] Capell ends the lines _Let me ... what_.

[3273] [To the Senators] Hanmer.

[3274] _worst_] _worse_ Warburton.

_you_] om. Pope.

_let's_] _let us_ Capell.

First Sen.] Rowe. Sena. Ff.

[Exeunt.] Rowe. Exeunt Omnes. Ff.

[3275] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. om. Ff.

A room....] Malone. A Hall.... Capell. The House of Coriolanus. Pope.

Patricians.] Capell. Nobles. Ff.

[3276] _to them_] om. Seymour conj.

_them._] _them._ Enter Volumnia. Ff.

A Patrician.] Pat. Capell. Noble. Ff.

_You ... nobler_] _You do the noble lady Volumnia wrong herein._ or

_You do ... in this._ Badham conj. _You do the nobler part._ Keightley.

[3277] _my_] om. Seymour conj.

[3278] _me further_] _my father_ Badham conj.

[3279] _woollen_] Rowe. _Wollen_ Ff. _wooden_ Capell conj. (withdrawn).

[3280] _to yawn_] _yawn_ Pope.

[3281] Enter Volumnia.] Transferred from line 6 by Dyce (Collier MS.)

[To his mother. Hanmer.

[3282] _I play ... I am_] _I play Truly the man I am_ Hanmer. _I play

Nobly the man I am_ Capell. _you are glad I play the man I am_ Badham

conj.

[3283] _sir, sir, sir,_] _son, son, son,_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[3284] _Let go._] F₁. _Let goe._ F₂. _Lets go._ F₃. _Let's go._ F₄ _Let

it go._ Theobald. _Why, let it go--_ Hanmer. _Let it go all._ Ritson

conj. _Let go, let go_ Anon. conj.

[3285] _lesser_] _less_ Anon. conj.

[3286] _thwartings of_] Theobald. _things of_ Ff. _things that thwart_

Rowe.

_dispositions_] _disposition_ Hanmer.

[3287] _ye_] _you_ Hanmer.

[3288] _come ... it._] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[3289] _You have_] _you've_ Pope.

[3290] First Sen.] 1. S. Capell. Sen. Ff.

[3291] _as little apt_] _as little soft_ Singer conj. _of mettle apt_

Staunton conj. _as lightly rapt_ Leo conj. _as little warp’d_ Bullock

conj.

_as yours,_] _as yours To brook control without the use of anger,_

Collier MS. _as yours To brook reproof without the use of anger,_

Collier (ed. 2). _as yours to yield,_ Keightley.

[3292] _to the herd_] Theobald (Warburton). _to' th' heart_ Ff. _o' the

heart_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[3293] _o'_] F₄. _a'_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

_time_] _times_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3294] _I would_] _I’d_ Pope.

[3295] _What ... spoke_] Two lines, the first ending _Well,_ in Capell.

[3296] _to the gods_] _for the gods_ Rowe.

[3297] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[3298] _lose_] F₃ F₄. _loose_ F₁ F₂. _loses_ Pope.

[3299] _adopt_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _adapt_ F₄. _call_ Pope.

_is it_] Ff. _is't_ Pope.

[3300] _honour_] _policy_ Seymour conj.

[3301] _Because ... syllables_] As in Malone. As six lines in

Ff, ending _that ... people ... matter ... words ... tongue; ...

syllables_. Capell ends the lines _Because, ... people ... matter ...

words, ... bastards,_ reading with F₂ in line 54.

[3302] _that now_] om. Pope, reading _Because ... people_ as one line.

_you on_] _on you_ Pope.

[3303] _which your ... you_] F₁. _which your ... you to_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_your ... you to_ Seymour conj. _which your ... you with_ Keightley.

_which your own ... you_ Anon. conj.

[3304] _that are_] om. Pope.

_roted in_] Malone. _roated in_ Ff. _roated on_ Hanmer. _rooted in_

Johnson.

[3305] _though but_] om. Pope. _though nought but_ Jervis conj.]

_though ... syllables_] _but bastards_ Capell. _though but bastards,

syllables_ Seymour conj. _thought's bastards and but syllables_ Badham

conj. _thought's bastards, and persuading syllables_ or _thought's

bastards, and glib syllables_ Staunton conj.

[3306] _allowance_] _alliance_ Capell (Johnson conj.)

_to_] _from_ Mason conj.

[3307] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_this_,] Capell (Johnson conj.) _this_ Ff.

[3308] _son, these ... nobles;_] _son, these ... nobles.--_ Theobald

(Warburton). _sonne: these ... nobles,_ Ff.

[3309] _lady!_] Rowe. _lady,_ Ff.

[3310] _Not_] _Not only_ Keightley.

[3311] _this_] _thy_ Malone conj.

[3312] _stretch'd it ... bussing_] _stretch'd it, with thy knee_ [here

bends] _Bussing_ Badham conj.

[3313] _be with_] _bow to_ Anon. conj.

_them_] After this S. Walker conjectures that part of a line, ending

_thy knee_, is lost.

[3314] _waving ... often, thus,_] _baring ... softens: thus,_ Jackson

conj.

[3315] _waving_] _vailing_ Badham conj.

_head_] _hand_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[3316] _head, Which ... thus,_] _head--Which, often; thus_ Grant White.

_head Often thus, which_ Keightley.

[3317] _Which often_] _With often_ Johnson conj. _And often_ Capell.

_While often_ Staunton conj. _Whiles-often_ Nicholson conj.

[3318] _Which often, thus, ... humble_] _(Which humble thus;) ...

soften'd_ Tyrwhitt conj. _Which ... caractering, the stout hearts Now

tumble_ Becket conj. _Now humble--thus ... Which soften_ Badham conj.

[3319] _often_] _soften_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[3320] _Now ... That_] _Bow ... That_ Mason conj. _Now's ... That_

Collier MS. _That ... Now_ Reed (1803).

[3321] _or_] om. Hanmer.

[3322] _they_] _them_ Hanmer.

[3323] _speaks_] _speaks it_ Capell. _why, their_] _why, all their_

Pope.

[3324] _thou hadst_] _thou'dst_ Pope. _thou would'st_ Seymour conj.

[3325] _I have_] _I've_ Theobald.

[3326] _make_] _have_ Rowe.

[3327] _I think ... spirit_] As in Rowe (ed. 2). Prose in Ff.

[3328] _unbarb'd_] Ff. _unbarbed_ Rowe. _imbared_ Becket conj.

_embarbed_ Nicholson conj.

[3329] _must I, With ... heart_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

_must I, With my_] _Must my_ Pope.

[3330] _bear? Well,_] Pope. _beare well?_ Ff.

[3331] _plot to lose_,] Theobald. _plot, to loose_ F₁ F₂. _plot, to

lose_ F₃ F₄. _pelt to lose_, Hanmer.

[3332] _grind_] _bring_ Rowe.

[3333] _You have_] _You've_ Pope.

_which_] See note (VIII).

[3334] _I prithee_] _Ay, prithee_ Rowe.

[3335] _quired_] _quier'd_ Ff.

_drum, into a pipe_] Pope. _drum, into a pipe,_ Rowe. _drumme into a

pipe,_ Ff.

[3336] _eunuch_] _eunuch's_ Hanmer.

[3337] _lulls_] Rowe. _lull_ Ff.

[3338] _sight_] _fight_ F₂.

[3339] _Who_] _Which_ Pope.

[3340] _suck'dst_] Rowe (ed. 2). _suck'st_ Ff.

[3341] _owe_] F₁. _owne_ F₂. _own_ F₃ F₄. _ow'st_ Collier MS.

[3342] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[3343] [Exit.] Exit Volumnia. Ff.

[3344] _they are_] _they're_ Pope, ending line 138 at _arm._

[3345] _Mildly!_] _(as you say,) mildly!_ Seymour conj. _mildly be it

then!_ Keightley.

[3346] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope.

The same. The Forum.] The Forum. Pope.

[3347] _Tyrannical_] _Tyrannic_ Pope.

[3348] _Was ... come?_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3349] Enter an Ædile.] As in Capell. In Ff it is placed after _come?_

[3350] _Of all ... poll?_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3351] _poll?_] Rowe. _pole?_ Ff.

_ready_] _ready,_ here Pope.

[3352] _I have_] F₁. _I have: 'tis ready_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3353] _o'_] F₄. _a'_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3354] _the old_] _their old_ Collier MS.

[3355] _And ... them_] _And power._ Æd. _In the ... them._ Mason conj.

_i' the truth_] _o'er the truth_ Johnson conj. _i' the teeth_ Badham

conj.

_shall_] _will_ Rowe.

[3356] _Go about_] _Go, about_ Capell.

[Exit Ædile.] Pope. om. Ff.

[3357] _conquer_] _canker_ Bullock conj.

[3358] _and ... being_] _and (to have his worth) Of contradiction

being_ Badham conj.

_his worth Of_] _no word Of_ Hanmer. _his word, Off_ Warburton.

[3359] _worth_] Ff. _word_ Rowe. _'worth_ Capell. _wroth_ Becket conj.

_mouth_ Collier (Collier MS.) _wreak_ Keightley.

[3360] _looks_] _works_ Hanmer.

[3361] Enter ... Senators and Patricians.] Enter ... others. Ff (after

_neck_).

Senators and Patricians] Capell.

[3362] _ostler_] Hanmer. _hostler_ Ff.

_for the_] F₃ F₄. _for th'_ F₂. _fourth_ F₁.

[3363] _Will ... gods_] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

_the knave_] _'thou knave'_ Anon. conj.

[3364] _The ... war_!] Com. _The ... war!_ Anon. conj.

[3365] _Supplied_] Ff. _Supply_ Pope.

_among's_!] Dyce. _amongs_ F₁. _amongst you,_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _amongst you_

Pope. _among us!_ Capell.

[3366] _Throng_] Theobald and Warburton. _Through_ Ff.

[3367] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter the Edile with the Plebeians. Ff.

[3368] _List ... I say_] As in Steevens. Two lines in Ff.

[3369] _say._] _Sir, say on._--Steevens conj.

_ho_!] _ho! say on_ Seymour conj.

[3370] _think Upon_] Ff. _Think on_ Pope, reading _Think ... shew_ as

one line.

[3371] _churchyard_] _yard_ Badham conj.

[3372] _Scratches ... only_] As in Capell. Two lines, the first ending

_move,_ in Ff. One line in Theobald.

[3373] _accents_] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). _actions_ Ff.

[3374] _envy you._] _envy, you--_ Pope. _envy to you._ Keightley.

_more._] _more._ [To Cor. Capell.

[3375] _What_] _I will:--What_ Capell.

[3376] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_so_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

_the_] _i' the_ Keightley.

[3377] _into_] _unto_ F₄.

[3378] _fires_] _fire's_ Warburton (a misprint).

_hell fold-in_] _hell fold in_ Pope. _hell. Fould in_ F₁. _hell, Fould

in_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3379] _deaths, In ... clutch'd as ... millions, in_] _deaths,

In ... clucht as ... millions, in_ F₃ F₄ (_clutcht_ F₄). _deaths In ...

clutcht: as ... millions in_ F₁ F₂.

[3380] _lying_] _brutal_ or _tribune_ Seymour conj.

_numbers, I_] F₃ F₄. _numbers. I_ F₁ F₂.

[3381] _As I do_] _As when I_ Seymour conj.

_this, people_] F₄. _this people_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3382] Citizens.] Cit. Capell. All. Ff.

[3383] _To the rock, to the rock with him_] _To 'th' Rocke, to 'th'

Rocke with him_ F₁. _To 'th' Rocke with him_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _To the rock

with him, to the rock with him_ Capell.

[3384] _even this ... kind_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3385] _But ... Rome_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3386] _Rome--_] F₃ F₄. _Rome._ F₁ F₂.

[3387] _I talk ... know_] Two lines, the first ending _Is this,_ in

Capell.

[3388] _mother?_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _mother_ F₁.

[3389] _you,--_] _you.--_ Rowe. _you._ Ff. _you, yet to--_ Seymour conj.

_further_] F₁ F₂. _farther_ F₃ F₄.

[3390] _flaying, pent_] _fleaing, pent_ Ff. _fleaing. Pent_ Johnson.

[3391] _courage_] _carriage_ Collier (Collier MS. and Singer MS.)

[3392] _Envied_] _Inveigh'd_ Becket conj.

[3393] _as now_] _has now_ Hanmer. _and now_ Hudson conj.

[3394] _not in the_] _not only in_ Hanmer.

_presence_] _presence only_ Keightley.

[3395] _justice_] _justice only_ Mason conj.

[3396] _do_] F₃ F₄. _doe_ F₂. _doth_ F₁.

_it; in_] Theobald. _it, In_ Rowe (ed. 2). _it. In_ Ff.

[3397] _Rome_] _Rome's_ Rowe.

[3398] _it shall be so_] _so it shall be_ Steevens (1793), reading _it

shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd,_ as one line.

[3399] _friends,--_] _friends--_ Rowe. _friends._ Ff.

[3400] _for_] Theobald. _from_ Ff. _'fore_ Anon. conj.

[3401] _country's_] Rowe. _countries_ Ff.

[3402] _wife's_] Rowe. _wives_ Ff.

[3403] _that--_] Rowe. _that._ Ff. _that I know,--_ Capell.

[3404] _hate_] _rate_ Badham conj.

[3405] _not_] Capell. _but_ Ff.

[3406] _foes_] _enemies_ Pope.

[3407] _as most ... nation_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3408] _blows!... city, thus_] Capell. _blows. Despising then For

you, the city, thus_ Pope. _blowes, despising For you the City.

Thus_ Ff. _blows! Despising, therefore For ... thus_ Steevens conj.

_blows! Despising you, For you, the city, thus_ Jackson conj. _blows!

Despising, for you, The city, thus_ Keightley.

[3409] _back_] _back upon it_ Keightley.

[3410] _elsewhere._] _elsewhere--_ Pope.

[Exeunt ...] Exit Coriolanus: Menenius, Cominius, Sen. and Pat. follow.

Capell. Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, with Cumalijs. F₁ F₂. Exeunt

Coriolanus, Cominius, cum aliis. F₃ F₄.

[3411] _enemy is_] _enemy's_ Singer.

_Hoo! hoo!_] _Hoo, hoo._ F₃ F₄. _Hoo, oo._ F₁ F₂. Omitted by Capell.

[They all ...] Ff (after Exeunt, &c.)

[3412] _you, with all despite; Give_] Capell. _you, with all despight

Give_ F₁ F₂. _you, with all despight, Give_ F₃ F₄.

[3413] _let's_] _lets_ Ff. _let us_ Steevens.

_gates_] F₁. _the gates_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_gates; come._] _gates; come, come._ Keightley (Capell conj.)

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _Rome. Before a gate of the city._

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, MENENIUS, COMINIUS,

_with the young Nobility of Rome_.[3414]

_Cor._ Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell: the beast

With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother,

Where is your ancient courage? you were used

To say extremity was the trier of spirits;[3415]

That common chances common men could bear;[3416] 5

That when the sea was calm all boats alike

Show'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows,[3417]

When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves[3417][3418][3419]

A noble cunning: you were used to load me[3419][3420]

With precepts that would make invincible 10

The heart that conn'd them.

_Vir._ O heavens! O heavens!

_Cor._ Nay, I prithee, woman,--[3421]

_Vol._ Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome,

And occupations perish!

_Cor._ What, what, what!

I shall be loved when I am lack'd. Nay, mother, 15

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: 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[3422]

Heart-hardening spectacles; tell these sad women, 25

'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My mother, you wot well[3423]

My hazards still have been your solace: and

Believe 't not lightly--though I go alone,

Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen[3424] 30

Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen--your son

Will or exceed the common, or be caught[3425]

With cautelous baits and practice.

_Vol._ My first son,[3426]

Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius[3427]

With thee awhile: determine on some course,[3428] 35

More than a wild exposture to each chance[3429]

That starts i' the way before thee.

_Cor._ O the gods![3430]

_Com._ 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 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.[3431]

_Cor._ Fare ye well:

Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full[3432] 45

Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one[3433]

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. 50

While I remain above the ground, you shall

Hear from me still, and never of me aught

But what is like me formerly.

_Men._ That's worthily

As any ear can hear. Come, let's not weep.

If I could shake off but one seven years 55

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,

I'ld with thee every foot.

_Cor._ Give me thy hand:

Come. [_Exeunt._[3434]

SCENE II. _The same. A street near the gate._[3435]

_Enter the two Tribunes_, SICINIUS _and_ BRUTUS, _with the_ Ædile.

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

The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided[3436]

In his behalf.

_Bru._ Now we have shown our power,

Let us seem humbler after it is done

Than when it was a-doing.

_Sic._ Bid them home: 5

Say their great enemy is gone and they

Stand in their ancient strength.

_Bru._ Dismiss them home. [_Exit Ædile._[3437][3438]

Here comes his mother.[3437]

_Enter_ VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, _and_ MENENIUS.[3439]

_Sic._ Let's not meet her.

_Bru._ Why?

_Sic._ They say she's mad.[3440]

_Bru._ They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.[3440] 10

_Vol._ O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods[3441][3442]

Requite your love![3442][3443]

_Men._ Peace, peace; be not so loud.

_Vol._ If that I could for weeping, you should hear,--

Nay, and you shall hear some. [_To Brutus_] Will you be gone?[3444]

_Vir._ [_To Sicinius_] You shall stay too: I would I had

the power[3445][3446] 15

To say so to my husband.[3446][3447]

_Sic._ Are you mankind?

_Vol._ Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship

To banish him that struck more blows for Rome[3448]

Than thou hast spoken words?[3449]

_Sic._ O blessed heavens! 20

_Vol._ Moe noble blows than ever thou wise words;[3450]

And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; yet go:[3451]

Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son

Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,

His good sword in his hand.

_Sic._ What then?

_Vir._ What then![3452][3453] 25

He'ld make an end of thy posterity.[3452][3453]

_Vol._ Bastards and all.[3452]

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome![3452]

_Men._ Come, come, peace.

_Sic._ I would he had continued to his country 30

As he began, and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.[3454]

_Bru._ I would he had.

_Vol._ 'I would he had!' 'Twas you incensed the rabble;

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth[3455]

As I can of those mysteries which heaven 35

Will not have earth to know.

_Bru._ Pray, let us go.[3456]

_Vol._ Now, pray, sir, get you gone:

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:[3457]

As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome, so far my son-- 40

This lady's husband here, this, do you see?--

Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.

_Bru._ Well, well, we'll leave you.

_Sic._ Why stay we to be baited[3458]

With one that wants her wits?

_Vol._ Take my prayers with you.

[_Exeunt Tribunes._[3459]

I would the gods had nothing else to do[3460] 45

But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em[3461]

But once a-day, it would unclog my heart

Of what lies heavy to 't.

_Men._ You have told them home;[3462][3463]

And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?[3462][3464]

_Vol._ Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, 50

And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go:[3465]

Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,[3466]

In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.[3467]

[_Exeunt Vol. and Vir._[3468]

_Men._ Fie, fie, fie! [_Exit._[3467][3469]

SCENE III. _A highway between Rome and Antium._

_Enter a_ Roman _and a_ Volsce, _meeting_.[3470]

_Rom._ I know you well, sir, and you know me: your

name, I think, is Adrian.

_Vols._ It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.

_Rom._ I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are,[3471]

against 'em: know you me yet?[3472] 5

_Vols._ Nicanor? no.[3473]

_Rom._ The same, sir.

_Vols._ You had more beard when I last saw you; but

your favour is well appeared by your tongue. What's the[3474]

news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to 10

find you out there: you have well saved me a day's journey.[3475]

_Rom._ There hath been in Rome strange insurrections;[3476]

the people against the senators, patricians and nobles.

_Vols._ Hath been! is it ended then? Our state thinks[3477]

not so: they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope 15

to come upon them in the heat of their division.

_Rom._ 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 20

to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing,

I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent

breaking out.

_Vols._ Coriolanus banished!

_Rom._ Banished, sir. 25

_Vols._ You will be welcome with this intelligence,

Nicanor.

_Rom._ 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

fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius 30

will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus,[3478]

being now in no request of his country.

_Vols._ He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus

accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my business,

and I will merrily accompany you home. 35

_Rom._ 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?

_Vols._ A most royal one; the centurions and their

charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, 40

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 shall set them in present action. So,

sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

_Vols._ You take my part from me, sir; I have the most[3479] 45

cause to be glad of yours.

_Rom._ Well, let us go together. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _Antium. Before Aufidius's house._[3480]

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS _in mean apparel, disguised and muffled_.

_Cor._ A goodly city is this Antium. City,

'Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir

Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars[3481]

Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not;

Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with stones,[3482] 5

In puny battle slay me.

_Enter a_ Citizen.[3483]

Save you, sir.

_Cit._ And you.

_Cor._ Direct me, if it be your will,[3484]

Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium?[3484]

_Cit._ He is, and feasts the nobles of the state[3484]

At his house this night.[3484]

_Cor._ Which is his house, beseech you?[3485] 10

_Cit._ This, here, before you.

_Cor._ Thank you, sir: farewell.

[_Exit Citizen._

O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,

Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart,[3486]

Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise[3487]

Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love[3488] 15

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, 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[3489]

This enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me,[3490]

He does fair justice; if he give me way, 25

I'll do his country service. [_Exit._

SCENE V. _The same. A hall in Aufidius's house._[3491]

_Music within. Enter a_ Servingman.

_First Serv._ Wine, wine, wine!--What service is here!

I think our fellows are asleep. [_Exit._[3492]

_Enter another_ Servingman.

_Sec. Serv._ Where's Cotus? my master calls for him.[3493]

Cotus! [_Exit._

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS.

_Cor._ A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I[3494][3495] 5

Appear not like a guest.[3494][3496]

_Re-enter the first_ Servingman.[3497]

_First Serv._ What would you have, friend? whence are

you? Here's no place for you: pray, go to the door. [_Exit._[3498]

_Cor._ I have deserved no better entertainment,[3499]

In being Coriolanus.[3499] 10

_Re-enter second_ Servingman.[3500]

_Sec. Serv._ Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his

eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions?

Pray, get you out.

_Cor._ Away!

_Sec. Serv._ 'Away!' get you away. 15

_Cor._ Now thou'rt troublesome.[3501]

_Sec. Serv._ Are you so brave? I'll have you talked

with anon.[3502]

_Enter a third_ Servingman. _The first meets him._[3503]

_Third Serv._ What fellow's this?

_First Serv._ A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot[3504] 20

get him out o' the house: prithee, call my master to him.

[_Retires._[3505]

_Third Serv._ What have you to do here, fellow? Pray

you, avoid the house.

_Cor._ Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.

_Third Serv._ What are you? 25

_Cor._ A gentleman.

_Third Serv._ A marvellous poor one.

_Cor._ True, so I am.

_Third Serv._ Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some

other station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid: 30

come.[3506]

_Cor._ Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits.[3507]

[_Pushes him away from him._

_Third Serv._ What, you will not? Prithee, tell my[3508]

master what a strange guest he has here.

_Sec. Serv._ And I shall. [_Exit._[3509] 35

_Third Serv._ Where dwell'st thou?[3510]

_Cor._ Under the canopy.

_Third Serv._ Under the canopy!

_Cor._ Ay.

_Third Serv._ Where's that? 40

_Cor._ I' the city of kites and crows.

_Third Serv._ I' the city of kites and crows! What an[3511]

ass it is! Then thou dwell'st with daws too?[3510]

_Cor._ No, I serve not thy master.

_Third Serv._ How, sir! do you meddle with my master? 45

_Cor._ Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with[3512]

thy mistress:[3512]

Thou pratest, and pratest; serve with thy trencher, hence!

[_Beats him away. Exit third Servingman._

_Enter_ AUFIDIUS _with the second_ Servingman.[3513]

_Auf._ Where is this fellow?

_Sec. Serv._ Here, sir: I'ld have beaten him like a dog, 50

but for disturbing the lords within. [_Retires._[3514]

_Auf._ Whence comest thou? what wouldst thou? thy name?[3515]

Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name?[3516]

_Cor._ [_Unmuffling_] If, Tullus,[3517][3518]

Not yet thou knowest me, and, seeing me, dost not[3518]

Think me for the man I am, necessity[3518][3519] 55

Commands me name myself.[3518][3520]

_Auf._ What is thy name?

_Cor._ A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears,[3521]

And harsh in sound to thine.

_Auf._ Say, what's thy name?

Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face

Bears a command in 't; though thy tackle's torn,[3522] 60

Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name?

_Cor._ Prepare thy brow to frown:--know'st thou me yet?

_Auf._ I know thee not:--thy name?[3523]

_Cor._ My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done[3524]

To thee particularly, and to all the Volsces, 65

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[3525]

But with that surname; a good memory,[3526] 70

And witness of the malice and displeasure

Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains:[3527]

The cruelty and envy of the people,[3528]

Permitted by our dastard nobles, who

Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest; 75

And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be

Whoop'd out of Rome. Now, this extremity[3529]

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 80

I would have 'voided thee; but in mere spite,[3530]

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[3531]

Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims[3532] 85

Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight,[3532]

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 90

Of all the under fiends. But if so be

Thou darest not this and that to prove more fortunes

Thou'rt tired, then, in a word, I also am[3533]

Longer to live most weary, and present

My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice; 95

Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,[3534]

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.

_Auf._ O Marcius, Marcius![3535] 100

Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart[3536]

A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter[3537]

Should from yond cloud speak divine things,[3538]

And say 'Tis true,' I'ld not believe them more[3539]

Than thee, all noble Marcius. Let me twine[3540] 105

Mine arms about that body, where against[3541]

My grained ash an hundred times hath broke,

And scarr'd the moon with splinters: here I clip[3542]

The anvil of my sword, and do contest

As hotly and as nobly with thy love 110

As ever in ambitious strength I did

Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,[3543]

I loved the maid I married; never man[3543]

Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here,

Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart 115

Than when I first my wedded mistress saw

Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee,[3544]

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[3545] 120

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;

And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Marcius, 125

Had we no quarrel else to Rome but that[3546]

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-beat. O, come, go in,[3547] 130

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.

_Cor._ You bless me, gods!

_Auf._ Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have 135

The leading of thine own revenges, take

The one half of my commission, and set down--[3548]

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, 140

Or rudely visit them in parts remote,

To fright them, ere destroy. But come in:[3549]

Let me commend thee first to those that shall[3550]

Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!

And more a friend than e'er an enemy; 145

Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: most welcome!

[_Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius. The two Servingmen

come forward._[3551]

_First Serv._ Here's a strange alteration![3552]

_Sec. Serv._ By my hand, I had thought to have strucken[3553]

him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me his clothes[3554]

made a false report of him. 150

_First Serv._ What an arm he has! he turned me about

with his finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top.

_Sec. Serv._ Nay, I knew by his face that there was

something in him: he had, sir, a kind of face, methought,--I[3555]

cannot tell how to term it. 155

_First Serv._ He had so; looking as it were--Would I[3556]

were hanged, but I thought there was more in him than I

could think.

_Sec. Serv._ So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply the

rarest man i' the world. 160

_First Serv._ I think he is: but a greater soldier than

he, you wot one.[3557]

_Sec. Serv._ Who? my master?[3558]

_First Serv._ Nay, it's no matter for that.

_Sec. Serv._ Worth six on him. 165

_First Serv._ Nay, not so neither: but I take him to be

the greater soldier.

_Sec. Serv._ Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say

that: for the defence of a town, our general is excellent.

_First Serv._ Ay, and for an assault too. 170

_Re-enter third_ Servingman.[3559]

_Third Serv._ O slaves, I can tell you news; news, you[3560]

rascals!

_First and Sec. Serv._ What, what, what? let's partake.[3561]

_Third Serv._ I would not be a Roman, of all nations;

I had as lieve be a condemned man.[3562] 175

_First and Sec. Serv._ Wherefore? wherefore?[3561]

_Third Serv._ Why, here's he that was wont to thwack

our general, Caius Marcius.

_First Serv._ Why do you say, thwack our general?

_Third Serv._ I do not say, thwack our general; but he 180

was always good enough for him.

_Sec. Serv._ Come, we are fellows and friends: he was

ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.

_First Serv._ He was too hard for him directly, to say

the troth on 't: before Corioli he scotched him and notched[3563] 185

him like a carbonado.[3564]

_Sec. Serv._ An he had been cannibally given, he might[3565]

have broiled and eaten him too.[3566]

_First Serv._ But, more of thy news?[3567]

_Third Serv._ Why, he is so made on here within as if 190

he were son and heir to Mars; set at upper end o' the

table; no question asked 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[3568]

up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of 195

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 of the whole table. He'll go, he

says, and sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears: he will[3569]

mow all down before him, and leave his passage poll'd.[3570] 200

_Sec. Serv._ And he's as like to do't as any man I can

imagine.

_Third Serv._ 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 205

it, his friends whilst he's in directitude.[3571][3572]

_First Serv._ Directitude! what's that?[3572]

_Third Serv._ But when they shall see, sir, his crest up

again and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows,

like conies after rain, and revel all with him.[3573] 210

_First Serv._ But when goes this forward?

_Third Serv._ 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. 215

_Sec. Serv._ Why, then we shall have a stirring world

again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase[3574]

tailors and breed ballad-makers.

_First Serv._ Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace

as far as day does night; it's spritely, waking, audible, and[3575] 220

full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy, mull'd,[3576]

deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children[3577]

than war's a destroyer of men.[3578]

_Sec. Serv._ 'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may be[3579]

said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a 225

great maker of cuckolds.

_First Serv._ Ay, and it makes men hate one another.

_Third Serv._ Reason; because they then less need one

another. The wars for my money. I hope to see Romans

as cheap as Volscians. They are rising, they are rising. 230

_First and Sec. Serv._ In, in, in, in! [_Exeunt._[3580]

SCENE VI. _Rome. A public place._[3581]

_Enter the two Tribunes_, SICINIUS _and_ BRUTUS.

_Sic._ We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;

His remedies are tame i' the present peace[3582]

And quietness of the people, which before

Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends[3583]

Blush that the world goes well; who rather had, 5

Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold[3584]

Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see

Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going

About their functions friendly.

_Bru._ We stood to 't in good time.

_Enter_ MENENIUS.

Is this Menenius?[3585] 10

_Sic._ 'Tis he, 'tis he: O, he is grown most kind[3586]

Of late. Hail, sir![3586][3587]

_Men._ Hail to you both!

_Sic._ Your Coriolanus is not much miss'd,[3588]

But with his friends: the commonwealth doth stand;[3588]

And so would do, were he more angry at it.[3588] 15

_Men._ All's well; and might have been much better, if[3588]

He could have temporized.[3588]

_Sic._ Where is he, hear you?

_Men._ Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife[3589]

Hear nothing from him.[3589]

_Enter three or four_ Citizens.

_Citizens._ The gods preserve you both![3590]

_Sic._ God-den, our neighbours.[3591][3592] 20

_Bru._ God-den to you all, god-den to you all.[3591]

_First Cit._ Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees,

Are bound to pray for you both.

_Sic._ Live, and thrive![3593]

_Bru._ Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd Coriolanus[3594]

Had loved you as we did.[3594]

_Citizens._ Now the gods keep you![3590] 25

_Both Tri._ Farewell, farewell. [_Exeunt Citizens._

_Sic._ This is a happier and more comely time

Than when these fellows ran about the streets,

Crying confusion.

_Bru._ Caius Marcius was

A worthy officer i' the war, but insolent, 30

O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking,[3595]

Self-loving,--[3596]

_Sic._ And affecting one sole throne,[3597][3598]

Without assistance.[3597]

_Men._ I think not so.[3599]

_Sic._ We should by this, to all our lamentation,[3600]

If he had gone forth consul, found it so.[3601] 35

_Bru._ The gods have well prevented it, and Rome

Sits safe and still without him.

_Enter an_ Ædile.

_Æd._ 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, 40

And with the deepest malice of the war

Destroy what lies before 'em.[3602]

_Men._ '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, 45

And durst not once peep out.

_Sic._ Come, what talk you[3603]

Of Marcius?[3603]

_Bru._ Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be[3604]

The Volsces dare break with us.

_Men._ Cannot be!

We have record that very well it can, 50

And three examples of the like have been[3605]

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 55

Of what is to be dreaded.

_Sic._ Tell not me:[3606]

I know this cannot be.[3606]

_Bru._ Not possible.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ The nobles in great earnestness are going

All to the senate-house: some news is come[3607]

That turns their countenances.

_Sic._ 'Tis this slave; 60

Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes: his raising;

Nothing but his report.

_Mess._ Yes, worthy sir,

The slave's report is seconded; and more,

More fearful, is deliver'd.[3608]

_Sic._ What more fearful?

_Mess._ It is spoke freely out of many mouths-- 65

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.[3609]

_Sic._ This is most likely![3610]

_Bru._ Raised only, that the weaker sort may wish[3610] 70

Good Marcius home again.[3610][3611]

_Sic._ The very trick on't.

_Men._ This is unlikely:

He and Aufidius can no more atone[3612]

Than violentest contrariety.

_Enter a second_ Messenger.[3613]

_Sec. Mess._ You are sent for to the senate:[3614] 75

A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius

Associated with Aufidius, rages

Upon our territories; and have already[3615]

O'erborne their way, consumed with fire, and took

What lay before them. 80

_Enter_ COMINIUS.

_Com._ O, you have made good work!

_Men._ What news? what news?

_Com._ 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,--[3616]

_Men._ What's the news? what's the news? 85

_Com._ Your temples burned in their cement, and[3617]

Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined

Into an auger's bore.[3618]

_Men._ Pray now, your news?--

You have made fair work, I fear me.--Pray, your news?--

If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,--[3619]

_Com._ If![3620] 90

He is their god: he leads them like a thing[3620]

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, 95

Or butchers killing flies.

_Men._ You have made good work,[3621]

You and your apron-men; you that stood so much[3622]

Upon the voice of occupation and

The breath of garlic-eaters!

_Com._ He'll shake your Rome about your ears.[3623]

_Men._ As Hercules[3624] 100

Did shake down mellow fruit. You have made fair work![3624]

_Bru._ But is this true, sir?

_Com._ Ay; and you'll look pale

Before you find it other. All the regions[3625]

Do smilingly revolt; and who resist[3626]

Are mock'd for valiant ignorance,[3627] 105

And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him?[3628]

Your enemies and his find something in him.[3628]

_Men._ We are all undone, unless[3628][3629]

The noble man have mercy.

_Com._ Who shall ask it?

The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people 110

Deserve such pity of him as the wolf

Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they[3630]

Should say 'Be good to Rome,' they charged him even[3631]

As those should do that had deserved his hate,[3631]

And therein show'd like enemies.[3631]

_Men._ 'Tis true:[3632] 115

If he were putting to my house the brand[3632]

That should consume it, I have not the face[3633]

To say 'Beseech you, cease.' You have made fair hands,[3634]

You and your crafts! you have crafted fair![3635][3634]

_Com._ You have brought

A trembling upon Rome, such as was never 120

So incapable of help.

_Both Tri._ Say not, we brought it.[3636]

_Men._ How! was it we? we loved him; but, like beasts[3637][3638]

And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,[3637][3639]

Who did hoot him out o' the city.[3637][3640]

_Com._ But I fear

They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, 125

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.

_Men._ Here come the clusters[3641]

And is Aufidius with him? You are they 130

That made the air unwholesome, when you cast[3642]

Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at[3643]

Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;[3643][3644]

And not a hair upon a soldier's head

Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs 135

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,[3645]

We have deserved it.

_Citizens._ Faith, we hear fearful news.[3646]

_First Cit._ For mine own part, 140

When I said, banish him, I said, 'twas pity.

_Sec. Cit._ And so did I.

_Third Cit._ And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did[3647]

very many of us: that we did, we did for the best; and

though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was 145

against our will.

_Com._ Ye're goodly things, you voices![3648]

_Men._ You have made[3649][3650]

Good work, you and your cry! Shall 's to the Capitol?[3649]

_Com._ O, ay, what else? [_Exeunt Cominius and Menenius._[3651]

_Sic._ Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd: 150

These are a side that would be glad to have

This true which they so seem to fear. Go home,

And show no sign of fear.

_First Cit._ The gods be good to us! Come, masters,

let's home. I ever said we were i' the wrong when we 155

banished him.

_Sec. Cit._ So did we all. But, come, let's home.

[_Exeunt Citizens._[3652]

_Bru._ I do not like this news.

_Sic._ Nor I.

_Bru._ Let's to the Capitol: would half my wealth 160

Would buy this for a lie!

_Sic._ Pray, let us go. [_Exeunt._[3653]

SCENE VII. _A camp, at a small distance from Rome._

_Enter_ AUFIDIUS _with his_ Lieutenant.[3654]

_Auf._ Do they still fly to the Roman?

_Lieu._ I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but[3655]

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, 5

Even by your own.

_Auf._ I cannot help it now,[3656]

Unless, by using means, I lame the foot[3656]

Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier,[3657]

Even to my person, than I thought he would

When first I did embrace him: yet his nature 10

In that's no changeling; and I must excuse

What cannot be amended.

_Lieu._ Yet I wish, sir--

I mean for your particular--you had not

Join'd in commission with him; but either[3658][3659]

Had borne the action of yourself, or else[3658][3659] 15

To him had left it solely.[3658]

_Auf._ 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,[3660]

And so he thinks, and is no less apparent 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, 25

Whene'er we come to our account.[3661]

_Lieu._ Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?[3661][3662]

_Auf._ All places yield to him ere he sits down;[3663]

And the nobility of Rome are his:

The senators and patricians love him too:[3664] 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[3665]

By sovereignty of nature. First he was 35

A noble servant to them; but he could not

Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,[3666]

Which out of daily fortune ever taints

The happy man; whether defect of judgement,[3667]

To fail in the disposing of those chances 40

Which he was lord of; or whether nature,[3668][3669]

Not to be other than one thing, not moving[3669]

From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace[3670]

Even with the same austerity and garb

As he controll'd the war; but one of these-- 45

As he hath spices of them all, not all,[3671][3672]

For I dare so far free him--made him fear'd,[3671]

So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit,[3673]

To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues[3674]

Lie in the interpretation of the time;[3675] 50

And power, unto itself most commendable,

Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair[3676]

To extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;

Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do fail.[3677] 55

Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,

Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [_Exeunt._[3678]

FOOTNOTES:

[3414] ACT IV. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus Quartus. Ff.

Rome. Before ...] Malone. Without the walls of Rome. Rowe. The Gates of

Rome. Pope. Before the gates of Rome. Theobald.

Enter ... with the young Nobility of Rome.] Ff. Enter ... Senators and

Patricians. Capell.

[3415] _extremity was_] F₃ F₄. _extreamity was_ F₂. _extreamities was_

F₁. _extremities were_ Malone.

[3416] _chances common_] F₄. _chances, common_ F₂ F₃. _chances. Common_

F₁.

[3417] _fortune's blows ... craves_] _fortune bows When most struck

home; being gentle, wounded, craves_ Staunton conj. (withdrawn). _that

fortune's blows ... craves_ Keightley.

[3418] _struck_] F₄. _strooke_ F₁ F₂. _strook_ F₃.

_being ... craves] beget in wounded cravens or bring gentle wounded

cravens_ Bullock conj.

_gentle wounded, craves_] Ff. _gently warded, craves_ Pope. _greatly

warded, crave_ Hanmer. _gently wounded craves_ Capell. _gentle-minded

craves_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[3419] _home ... noble_] _home, then most demand a patient And a

skilful healer, being gentle-wounded craves No noble_ or _home, demand

a patient and A skilful healer, being ... No noble_ Nicholson conj.]

_gentle ... cunning:_] _gentle, the wounded braves: A noble cunning!_

Becket conj.

[3420] _cunning_] _calling_ Leo conj.

[3421] _woman,--_] _woman--_ Rowe. _woman._ Ff.

[3422] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[3423] _As 'tis_] _Easy_ Anon. conj.

_My ... well_] Ff. _My ... not well_ Rowe. _Mother, you wot_ Pope.

[3424] _fen_] _den_ Grey conj.

[3425] _or_] _or not_ Keightley.

[3426] _My first son_] _First, my son_ Hanmer. _My fierce son_ Heath

conj. _My fairest son_ Keightley.

[3427] _Whither wilt thou_] Capell. _Whether will thou_ F₁. _Whither

will you_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _Where will you_ Pope.

[3428] _awhile_] F₁. _a while_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3429] _exposture_] _exposure_ Rowe.

[3430] Cor.] Vir. Keightley. Com. Anon. conj.

[3431] _I' the_] _I h'_ F₂.

[3432] _Thou hast_] _Thou'st_ Pope.

[3433] _wars'_] Steevens (1793). _warres_ F₁ F₂. _warrs_ F₃. _wars_ F₄.

_war's_ Rowe.

[3434] _every_] _evere_ F₂.

_Give ... Come_] As in Steevens. One line in Ff.

_Come_] om. Pope.

[3435] SCENE II. Pope.

The same. A street ...] The same. Street leading from the Gate. Capell.

[3436] _The ... vex'd_] Capell. _The ... vexed_ Ff. _Vex'd are the

nobles_ Pope.

_whom_] Ff. _who_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3437] _Dismiss ... mother_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3438] [Exit Ædile.] Capell. om. Ff.

[3439] Enter ...] Ff. Transferred to follow line 10 by Dyce.

[3440] _They say ... us_] As in Ff. One line in Capell.

[3441] _ye're_] _y'are_ Ff. _you're_ Capell.

[3442] _the hoarded ... love_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3443] _Requite_] F₃ F₄. _requit_ F₁ F₂.

[3444] [To Brutus] Johnson. om. Ff.

To Virgilia. Hanmer.

[3445] [To Sicinius] Johnson. om. Ff.

[3446] _You ... husband._] Continued to Volumnia. Hanmer.

[3447] _my_] _thy_ Hanmer.

[3448] _struck_] F₄. _strooke_ F₁ F₂. _strook_ F₃.

[3449] _words?_] Hanmer. _words._ Ff. _words--_ Rowe.

[3450] _Moe_] F₁ F₂. _More_ F₃ F₄.

[3451] _good. I'll_] _good. Ile_ F₁. _good Ile_ F₂ F₃. _good, I'le_ F₄.

[3452] Vir. _What then ... posterity._ Vol. _Bastards ... Rome._] Vol.

_What then ... Rome._ Hanmer.

[3453] _What then!... posterity_] As in Hanmer. One line in Ff.

[3454] _he made_] _is made_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3455] _Cats_] _Curs_ Collier MS. _Bats_ Staunton conj.

[3456] _let us_] Pope. _let's_ Ff.

[3457] _You have_] _You've_ Pope.

[3458] _stay we_] F₁. _stay you_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3459] [Exeunt Tribunes.] F₄ (after _wits?_). Exit Tribunes. F₁ F₂ F₃

(after _wits?_).

[3460] _would_] _wish_ Rowe.

[3461] _'em_] _them_ Malone.

[3462] _You have ... you have_] _You've ... have_ Pope.

[3463] _told_] _toll'd_ Malone conj.

[3464] _me?_] F₃ F₄. _me._ F₁ F₂.

[3465] _starve_] F₃ F₄. _sterve_ F₁ F₂.

[3466] [To Virgilia. Hanmer.

[3467] _Come, come, come._ Men. _Fie, fie, fie!_] _Come, come, fie,

fie._ Pope. _Come, come._ Men. _Fie, fie!_ Seymour conj.

[3468] [Exeunt Vol. and Vir.] Exeunt. Ff. om. Rowe.

[3469] Men.] F₃ F₄. Mene. F₁ F₂. om. Rowe.

[Exit.] Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.

[3470] SCENE III.] Pope. SCENE II. Rowe.

A highway ...] Malone. Antium. Rowe. Volcian Territories. A Highway.

Capell. Between Rome and Antium. Steevens.

meeting] Capell. om. Ff.

[3471] _and_] _but_ Pope.

[3472] _'em_] _them_ Malone.

[3473] _Nicanor?_] F₃ F₄. _Nicanor:_ F₁ F₂.

[3474] _is_] _has_ Malone conj.

_appeared_] _appear'd_ F₁ F₃ F₄. _appeard_ F₂. _affeer'd_ Hanmer.

_appeal'd_ Warburton. _apparel'd_ Jackson conj. _approved_ Collier, ed.

2 (Steevens conj.) _appayed_ Singer.

[3475] _there_] F₁. _here_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3476] _insurrections_] _insurrection_ Steevens (1778).

[3477] _been!_] Rowe. _bin;_ F₁ F₂. _been;_ F₃ F₄.

[3478] _will_] _well_ F₁.

[3479] _from_] _for_ Warburton.

[3480] SCENE IV.] Capell. Pope continues the scene.

Antium ...] Capell.

[3481] _'fore_] Johnson. _fore_ F₁. _for_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3482] _and_] _an_ F₂.

[3483] Enter ...] Ff, after _sir._

[3484] _Direct ... night._] As in Capell. Prose in Ff. Verse first by

Johnson, ending line 7 _at great._

[3485] _beseech_] _I beseech_ Rowe.

[3486] _seem to wear one_] F₄. _seemes to weare one_ F₁. _seene weare

on_ F₂. _seen wear on_ F₃.

[3487] _hours_] _Houres_ F₁ F₂. _Hours_ F₃ F₄. _house_ Dyce (Collier

MS.)

[3488] _twin_] _Twine_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3489] _birth-place hate ... love's upon_] Capell. _birth-place haue I,

and my loues vpon_ F₁. _birth-lace have I, and my lover upon_ F₂ F₃.

_birth-place have I, and my Lover left; upon_ F₄. _birth-place have

I, and my lovers left; upon_ Rowe. _birth-place have I and my lovers

left_; Pope. Johnson conjectures that a line is lost here. _country

have I and my lovers lost_ Becket conj.

_birth-place_] _country_ misquoted in Johnson's note.

[3490] _This ... enter_] _This enemy's house I'll enter_ Hanmer. _The

enemy's town I've entered_ Becket conj.

_enemy_] _Enemie_ F₁ F₂ F₃ _Enemy's_ F₄. _enemies'_ Steevens conj.

(from North's Plutarch).

_town._] _Towne:_ F₁. _Towne_ F₂. _Town_ F₃ F₄.

[3491] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE IV. Pope.

A hall ...] Rowe. within.] Capell. playes. Ff.

[3492] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3493] _master_] F₄. _M._ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3494] _A ... guest._] As in Pope. The first line ends at _house:_ in

Ff. Prose in Warburton.

[3495] _well_] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3496] [goes toward the Hearth. Capell.

[3497] Re-enter ...] Enter ... Ff. Re-enter the first Servant, with

Wine. Capell.

[3498] _door._] F₄. _doore?_ F₁ F₂. _dore_ F₃.

[3499] _I ... Coriolanus._] As in Capell. Prose in Ff.

[3500] Re-enter ...] Enter second Servant. Ff. Re-enter second servant.

Capell.

[3501] _thou'rt_] _th'art_ F₁ F₄. _th'_ F₂. _th'_ F₃. _thou art_

Steevens.

[3502] _anon._] _anon._ [going. Capell.

[3503] Enter ... him.] Enter 3 Servingmen, the 1 meets him. F₁ F₂.

Enter 3 Servingmen, the first meets him. F₃. Enter three Servingmen....

F₄. Enter a third Servant.... Rowe.

The first meets him.] Omitted by Capell.

[3504] First Serv.] 1. Ff. 2. S. Capell.

[3505] [Retires.] Edd.

[3506] _come_] om. Capell conj., reading 25-32 as four lines, ending

_one ... gentleman, ... place ... go._

[3507] As two half lines, the first ending _go,_ in Capell.

[3508] _you will not?_] _will you not?_ Pope.

[3509] [Exit.] Capell. Exit second Servingman. Ff.

[3510] _dwell'st_] _dwellest_ Reed (1803).

[3511] _crows!_] _crowes?_ F₁. _crowes._ F₂. _crows._ F₃ F₄.

[3512] _Ay ... mistress:_] As a verse in Singer.

[3513] _Thou ... hence!_] Verse in Capell. Prose in Ff.

[Beats ... Exit ...] Beats him away. Ff.

Enter ...] Enter A., and second Servant. Capell. Enter Auffidius with

the Servingman. F₁ F₂. Enter ... with a Servingman. F₃ F₄.

[3514] [Retires.] Edd.

[3515] _what wouldst_] _and what wouldest_ Capell. _what wouldest_

Steevens.

_thou_] F₃ F₄. _yͧ_ F₁ F₂.

[3516] _speak'st ... what's_] _speakest ... what is_ Keightley.

[3517] _If ... myself._] As in Steevens. Prose in Ff. As three lines

in Pope, reading _yet thou know'st me not, and seeing me, Dost not yet

take me,_ and ending the lines _seeing me ... am ... myself._ Staunton

ends the lines _know'st me, ... I am ... myself._ Keightley ends the

first lines _seeing me ... necessity._

[3518] [Unmuffling] Capell.

[3519] _Think me for_] _take me To be_ Capell, ending the lines

_Tullus, ... take me ... necessity ... myself._

[3520] [Servants retire. Capell.

[3521] _the Volscians'_] _the Volcians'_ Capell. _the Volcians_ F₁ F₂.

_the Volceans_ F₃. _the Volscians_ F₄. _Volscians_ Rowe. _Volscian_

Pope. _the Volces'_ Rann. _the Volscian's_ Knight (ed. 1).

[3522] _command_] _Commanne_ F₂.

[3523] _not:--_] _not;_ F₃ F₄. _not?_ F₁ F₂.

[3524] _Marcius_] _Matius_ F₂.

[3525] _my_] F₁. _thy_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3526] _memory_] F₃ F₄. _memorie_ F₁ F₂. _memorial_ Hanmer.

[3527] _shouldst_] F₁. _could'st_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3528] _people,_] _people._ F₂.

[3529] _Whoop'd_] Hanmer. _Hoop'd_ Ff.

_out of_] _out_ Steevens (1778).

[3530] _I would have 'voided_] Steevens. _I would have voided_ Ff. _I

would have avoided_ Rowe (ed. 2). _I'd have avoided_ Pope.

[3531] _that wilt_] Ff. _that will_ Hanmer. _and wilt_ Capell conj.

[3532] _maims Of shame_] _maims, Of shame,_ Becket conj.

[3533] _Thou'rt_] Rowe. _Th' art_ Ff. _Thou art_ Capell.

[3534] _fool_] _Fooole_ F₂.

[3535] _O Marcius_] _Marcius_ Seymour conj.

[3536] _thou hast_] _thou'st_ Pope.

[3537] _If_] _O, if_ Seymour conj. (withdrawn).

[3538] _cloud_] _cleaving cloud_ Lettsom conj.

_speak divine things_] _speak to me things divine_ Pope.

[3539] _them_] _him_ S. Walker conj.

[3540] _Let me twine_] _O, let me twine_ Capell, ending lines 103, 104

at _say ... thee. Let me entwine_ Keightley, ending lines as Capell.

[3541] _where against_] _where-against_ Pope.

[3542] _scarr'd_] Ff. _scar'd_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_clip_] Pope. _cleep_ Ff.

[3543] _Know thou first, I_] _Know thou, first I_ Rowe.

[3544] _Bestride_] F₁. _Bestrid_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3545] _mine_] _my_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3546] _no quarrel else_] F₃ F₄. _no other quarrel else_ F₁ F₂.

[3547] _o'er-beat_] _o're-beate_ F₁ F₂. _o're-beat_ F₃ F₄. _o'er-bear_

Rowe. _o'er-bear't_ Grant White (Becket conj.) _o'er-bear her_

Keightley. See note (IX).

[3548] _The one_] _One_ Pope.

[3549] _destroy_] _destroy them_ Keightley. _destroying_ Anon. conj.

_But come_] _But come, come_ Rowe (ed. 2). _But come we_ Seymour conj.

[3550] _commend_] F₁ F₄. _comment_ F₂ F₃.

[3551] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt. Ff.]

The two ... forward.] Enter two of the Servingmen. Ff.

[3552] SCENE V. Pope.

First Serv.] 1. Ff. 3. S. [advancing. Capell (and throughout the scene).

[3553] _strucken_] F₃ F₄. _stroken_ F₁ F₂. _strooken_ Capell.

[3554] _gave_] _misgave_ Anon. conj.

[3555] _methought,--_] _methought--_ Rowe. _methought,_ F₁. _methought_

F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3556] _were--_] Rowe. _were,_ Ff.

[3557] _one_] Ff, reading _You wot one_ as a separate line. _on_ Dyce.

[3558] _Who? my_] _Who, my_ F₄. _Who my_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3559] Re-enter....] Enter the third Servingman. Ff. Re-enter first

Servant. Capell.

[3560] Third Serv.] 3. Ff. 1. S. Capell (and throughout the scene).

[3561] First and Sec. Serv.] 2. 3. Capell. Both. Ff.

[3562] _lieve_] F₄. _live_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _lief_ Capell.

[3563] _troth_] _truth_ Steevens (1793).

_on't: before_] _on't; before_ Rowe. _on't before_ Ff.

[3564] _carbonado_] F₄. _carbinado_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3565] _An he had_] Capell. _And hee had_ Ff. _And, had he_ Rowe.

[3566] _broiled_] Pope. _boyld_ Ff.

[3567] _news?_] Capell. _news._ Ff. _news:--_ Theobald.

[3568] _hand_] _hands_ Rowe.

[3569] _sowl_] _sowle_ Rowe. _sole_ Ff.

[3570] _all down_] _down all_ Rowe.

_poll'd_] Rowe. _poul'd_ Ff.

[3571] _he's_] _he's not_ Becket conj.

[3572] _directitude_] _discreditude_ Malone conj. _dejectitude_ Collier

(Collier MS.)

[3573] _revel_] _reveal_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3574] _nothing_] _worth nothing_ F₄. _good for nothing_ Capell.

[3575] _spritely, waking_] _sprightly, waking_ Pope. _sprightly

walking_ Ff.

[3576] _vent_] _vaunt_ Becket conj.

_lethargy_] _a lethargy_ S. Walker conj.

_mull'd_] _mute_ S. Walker conj.

[3577] _sleepy_] F₃ F₄. _sleepe_ F₁ F₂. _asleep_ Capell.

[3578] _war's_] Rowe (ed. 2). _warres_ F₁ F₂. _Warrs_ F₃. _Wars_ F₄.

[3579] _war_] Rowe (ed. 2). _warres_ F₁ F₂. _Warrs_ F₃. _Wars_ F₄.

[3580] First and Sec. Serv.] 2. 3. Capell. Both. Ff. All. Steevens

(1778).

[3581] SCENE VI.] Pope. SCENE IV. Rowe.

Rome.] Rowe.

A public place.] Theobald.

[3582] _tame i' the_] Theobald. _tame, the_ Ff. _tame: the_ Rowe.

_ta'en, the_ Johnson conj. _lame i' the_ Mason conj. _tamed by the_

Collier MS.

[3583] _hurry. Here do we make_] Ff. _hurry. Here we make_ Pope. _hurry

here, do make_ Hanmer. _hurry. Here he makes_ Warburton. _hurry, here

do make_ Grant White.

[3584] _behold_] _beheld_ Pope.

[3585] Enter Menenius.] Ff (after _friendly,_ line 9).

[3586] _'Tis he ... late_] As in Capell. One line in Ff. Prose in Rowe.

[3587] _Hail, sir!_] _Hail, sir!_ Bru. _Hail sir!_ Capell. _Hail to

you, sir!_ Seymour conj.

[3588] _Your ... temporized_] As verse first by Capell, who reads

_Coriolanus, sir_. Prose in Ff.

[3589] _his ... him_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3590] Citizens.] Cit. Capell. All. Ff.

[3591] _God-den_] Dyce. _Gooden_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _Good-e'en_ F₄. _Good den_

Collier.

[3592] _our_] F₁ F₂. om. F₃ F₄.

[3593] _Live_] _Live, live_ Capell.

[3594] _we wish'd ... did_] As in Hanmer. One line in Ff.

[3595] _ambitious ... thinking,_] F₄. _ambitious, past all thinking_ F₁

F₂ F₃.

[3596] _Self-loving,--–_] Capell. _Selfe-loving._ Ff.

[3597] _And affecting ... assistance_] As in Theobald. One line in Ff.

[3598] _sole_] _whose_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3599] _assistance_] _assistants_ Hanmer. _assistance in't_ Steevens

conj. _assistancy_ S. Walker conj.

_I think_] _Nay, I think_ Pope. _I do think_ Seymour conj.

[3600] _should_] _had_ Pope. _should have_ Malone conj.

_lamentation_] _lamention_ F₁.

[3601] _consul_] _counsell_ F₂.

_found_] _have found_ Keightley (Malone conj.)

[3602] _Destroy_] _Destroys_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3603] _Come ... Marcius_] As in Steevens (1793). One line in Ff.

[3604] _whipp'd. It_] _whipt. It_ Pope. _whipt, it_ Ff.

[3605] _have_] F₄. _hath_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3606] _Tell ... be_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3607] _some_] _sour_ Seymour conj.

_come_] Rowe. _comming_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _coming_ F₄. _come in_ Malone.

[3608] _deliver'd_] _delivered_ Rowe.

[3609] _young'st_] _youngest_ Rowe.

[3610] _Likely!_ Bru. _Raised ... again._ Sic. _The...._] _likely

Raised ... again._ Bru. _The...._ Badham conj.

[3611] _Good_] Ff. _God_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[3612] _atone_] F₄. _attone_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _be one_ Pope. _attune_ Becket

conj.

[3613] _violentest_] Pope. _violent'st_ Ff.

_contrariety_] _contrarieties_ Hanmer. _contraries_ Capell, ending the

previous line at _can_.

Enter....] Enter another Messenger. Hanmer. Enter Messenger. Ff.

[3614] Sec. Mess.] 2 Mes. Hanmer. Mes. Ff.

[3615] _and have_] _they've_ Hanmer.

[3616] _noses,--_] Capell. _noses._ Ff.

[3617] _cement_] F₄. _ciment_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3618] _auger's bore_] _augers bore_ F₄. _augors boare_ F₁ F₂. _augors

boar_ F₃.

_your_] F₁. _the_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3619] _join'd with_] _joyned with the_ Rowe.

_Volscians,--_] Theobald. _Volscians,_ Rowe. _Volceans._ F₁ F₂ F₃.

_Volscians._ F₄. _the Volscians_ Rowe.

[3620] _If!... thing_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3621] _flies_] _sheep_ Capell conj. _pigs_ Leo conj.

_You have_] _You've_ Pope.

[3622] _you that_] _that_ Pope.

[3623] _He'll_] _He will_ Steevens, ending line 99 at _shake_.

[3624] _He'll ... work_] As in Capell. Three lines, ending _cares ...

fruite: ... worke,_ in Ff.

[3625] _regions_] _legions_ Grant White (Becket conj.) _region cities_

Badham conj.

[3626] _smilingly_] _seemingly_ Warburton. _smitingly_ Becket conj.

_resist_] Hanmer. _resists_ Ff.

[3627] _mock'd for_] _only mock'd for_ Hanmer. _mocked for their_

Keightley. _merely mock'd for_ Anon. conj.

[3628] _Who is't ... unless_] As two lines, the first ending _his,_ S.

Walker conj.

[3629] _We are_] _We're_ Pope.

[3630] _for his_] _his_ Pope.

[3631] _they charged ... show'd_] _they charge ... shew'd_ Pope. _they

charge ... shew_ Johnson conj. _they'd charge ... shew_ Malone conj.

[3632] _'Tis true ... brand_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3633] _should_] _would_ Rowe.

[3634] _You have_] _You've_ Pope.

[3635] _crafts! you_] _crafts, you_ Ff. _handy-crafts_ Collier (Collier

MS.)

[3636] Both Tri.] Dyce. Tri. Ff.

_So_] Rowe. _S'_ Ff.

[3637] _How ... city_] As in Pope. Four lines, ending _him, ...

nobles, ... hoote ... citty,_ in Ff.

[3638] _was it_] Pope. _was't_ Ff.

[3639] _cowardly_] _coward_ Pope.

_unto_] _to_ Pope.

[3640] _did hoot_] _hooted_ Hanmer.

[3641] SCENE VII. Pope.

[3642] _cast_] _cast-up_ Keightley.

[3643] _at ... coming_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3644] _Coriolanus'_] _Coriolanus_ Ff. _Coriolanus's_ Rowe.

_Now_] F₁ F₄. _How_ F₂ F₃.

[3645] _could_] _shou'd_ Rowe.

[3646] Citizens.] Cit. Capell. Omnes. Ff.

[3647] Third Cit.] 2. F₂.

[3648] _Ye're_] Dyce. _Y'are_ Ff. _You're_ Capell. _You are_ Steevens.

_things, you_] Ff. _things; you_ Rowe. _things. You_ Johnson.

_voices_] _Volsces_ Becket conj.

[3649] _You ... Capitol_] Arranged as in Capell, who reads _made you_.

In Ff the first line ends at _worke_.

[3650] _made_] F₁. _made you_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3651] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Com. and Men. Capell. Exeunt both. Ff.

Exeunt. Rowe.

[3652] [Exeunt Citizens.] Ex. Cit. F₄. Exit Cit. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3653] _Would buy_] _Could buy_ Leo conj.

_buy_] _by_ F₂.

_let us_] Pope. _let's_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _lets_ F₄.

[Exeunt.] Exeunt Tribunes. Ff.

[3654] SCENE VII.] Capell. SCENE V. Rowe. SCENE VIII. Pope.

A camp....] Theobald. A camp. Pope.

Enter....] Ff. Enter, marching, Aufidius, and a Volcian Officer: Forces

at a Distance. Capell.

[3655] Lieu.] Off. Capell (and throughout the scene).

[3656] _now, Unless_] _now. Unless_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3657] _proudlier_] F₁. _proudly_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3658] _Join’d ... solely_] As in Malone. Two lines, ending _borne ...

soly,_ in Ff. Three lines, ending _born ... him ... solely,_ in Pope.

[3659] _either Had borne_] Malone. _either have borne_ Ff. _had born_

Pope. _either born_ Capell.

[3660] _Although_] _though_ Pope.

[3661] _Whene'er ... beseech you_] As in Ff. As one line, S. Walker

conj., reading _When_ for _Whene'er_, or _'Beseech_ for _Sir, I

beseech_.

[3662] _Sir, I beseech you_] _Sir, I beseech_ Pope. _But, Sir, 'Beseech

you_ Capell.

[3663] _yield_] _yeelds_ F₁.

[3664] _senators_] _senator_ F₂.

[3665] _osprey_] Theobald. _aspray_ Ff.

[3666] _'twas_] om. Pope.

[3667] _defect_] _detect_ F₁.

[3668] _Which ... of_] _Whereof he was the lord_ Pope.

_nature_] _nature in him_ Keightley.

[3669] Badham would end the lines at _not ... from_.

[3670] _casque_] Steevens. _caske_ F₁ F₂. _cask_ F₃ F₄.

[3671] _As ... him_] Put in parentheses by Hanmer. In Ff the words _As

he ... them all_ only are put in parentheses.

[3672] _not all_] _not gall_ Heath conj.

[3673] _banish'd_] After this Staunton conjectures that there is a

chasm.

_a merit_] _merit_ Pope.

[3674] _To choke it_] _Tho' choaks it_ Hanmer. _Though he choak it_

Capell. _To choak him_ Mason conj.

_our virtues_] _our vertue_, F₁. _doth virtue_ Brae conj.

[3675] _Lie_] _Live_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[3676] _unto_] _in_ Hanmer.

_commendable_] _condemnable_] Jackson conj.

_not ... chair_] _but a tomb for envy as a sharer_ Bullock conj.

_tomb ... a chair_] _Tombe ... a Chaire_ F₁ F₂. _Tomb ... a Chair_ F₃

F₄. _tomb ... a hair_ Singer. _tomb ... a cheer_ Collier (Collier MS.)

_tomb ... care_ Mitford conj. _tomb so eloquent as a cheer_ Grant White

conj. (withdrawn). _tongue so eloquent as a chair_ Id. conj. _trump so

evident as a child's_ Bailey conj. _tomb as eloquent as a tear_ Hudson

conj. _tomb so evident as a claim_ Leo conj. _tongue so evident as a

charmer's_ Keightley.

[3677] _Rights ... fouler_] Ff. _Right's by right fouler_ Pope.

_Right's by right foiled_ Hanmer. _Right's by right fouled_ Warburton.

_Rights by rights founder_ Malone (Johnson conj.) _Rights by rights

foul are_ Ritson conj. _Rights by rights foil'd are_ Singer. _Rights by

rights suffer_ Collier (Collier MS.) _Rights by rights falter_ Dyce.

_Rights by rights sunder_ Anon conj.

[3678] _Thou art_] _Thou'rt Pope._

ACT V.

SCENE I. _Rome. A public place._

_Enter_ MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS _and_ BRUTUS, _the two_

Tribunes, _and others_.[3679]

_Men._ No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath said

Which was sometime his general, who loved him[3680]

In a most dear particular. He call'd me father:

But what o' that? Go, you that banish'd him;[3681]

A mile before his tent fall down, and knee[3681][3682] 5

The way into his mercy: nay, if he coy'd

To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.

_Com._ He would not seem to know me.

_Men._ Do you hear?

_Com._ Yet one time he did call me by my name:

I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops 10

That we have bled together. Coriolanus

He would not answer to: forbad all names;

He was a kind of nothing, titleless,

Till he had forged himself a name o' the fire[3683]

Of burning Rome.

_Men._ Why, so: you have made good work![3684] 15

A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome,[3685]

To make coals cheap: a noble memory![3686]

_Com._ I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon

When it was less expected: he replied,[3687]

It was a bare petition of a state[3688] 20

To one whom they had punish'd.

_Men._ Very well:[3689]

Could he say less?[3689]

_Com._ I offer'd to awaken his regard

For 's private friends: his answer to me was,[3690]

He could not stay to pick them in a pile 25

Of noisome musty chaff, he said 'twas folly,

For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt,

And still to nose the offence.

_Men._ For one poor grain or two!

I am one of those; his mother, wife, his child,[3691]

And this brave fellow too, we are the grains:[3692] 30

You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt

Above the moon: we must be burnt for you.

_Sic._ Nay, pray, be patient: if you refuse your aid

In this so never-needed help, yet do not[3693]

Upbraid's with our distress. But, sure, if you[3694] 35

Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,

More than the instant army we can make,

Might stop our countryman.

_Men._ No, I'll not meddle.

_Sic._ Pray you, go to him.

_Men._ What should I do?[3695]

_Bru._ Only make trial what your love can do 40

For Rome, towards Marcius.

_Men._ Well, and say that Marcius[3696]

Return me, as Cominius is return'd,[3697][3696]

Unheard; what then?[3696][3698][3699]

But as a discontented friend, grief-shot[3699][3700]

With his unkindness? say 't be so?[3701]

_Sic._ Yet your good will 45

Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure[3702]

As you intended well.

_Men._ I'll undertake 't:[3703]

I think he'll hear me. Yet, to bite his lip

And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.

He was not taken well; he had not dined: 50

The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then

We pout upon the morning, are unapt

To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd[3704]

These pipes and these conveyances of our blood[3705]

With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls 55

Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him

Till he be dieted to my request,

And then I'll set upon him.

_Bru._ You know the very road into his kindness,

And cannot lose your way.

_Men._ Good faith, I'll prove him,[3706] 60

Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge[3706]

Of my success. [_Exit._

_Com._ He'll never hear him.

_Sec._ Not?[3707]

_Com._ I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye[3708]

Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury

The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him; 65

'Twas very faintly he said 'Rise;' dismiss'd me

Thus, with his speechless hand: what he would do,

He sent in writing after me; what he would not,[3709][3710]

Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions:[3710][3711][3712]

So that all hope is vain,[3710][3711][3713] 70

Unless his noble mother, and his wife;[3713][3714]

Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him[3713][3715]

For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence,[3716]

And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [_Exeunt._

SCENE II. _Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome. Two Sentinels on

guard._

_Enter to them_, MENENIUS.[3717]

_First Sen._ Stay: whence are you?[3718]

_Sec. Sen._ Stand, and go back.[3719]

_Men._ You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave,

I am an officer of state, and come[3720]

To speak with Coriolanus.[3720]

_First Sen._ From whence?[3721]

_Men._ From Rome.

_First Sen._ You may not pass, you must return: our general[3722] 5

Will no more hear from thence.[3722][3723]

_Sec. Sen._ You'll see your Rome embraced with fire, before

You'll speak with Coriolanus.

_Men._ Good my friends,

If you have heard your general talk of Rome

And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks[3724] 10

My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius.

_First Sen._ Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name

Is not here passable.

_Men._ I tell thee, fellow,[3725]

Thy general is my lover: I have been

The book of his good acts, whence men have read 15

His fame unparallel'd haply amplified;[3726]

For I have ever verified my friends,[3727]

Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity[3728]

Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,

Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, 20

I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise[3729]

Have almost stamp'd the leasing: therefore, fellow,

I must have leave to pass.

_First Sen._ Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in

his behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you 25

should not pass here; no, though it were as virtuous to lie

as to live chastely. Therefore go back.

_Men._ Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius,

always factionary on the party of your general.[3730]

_Sec. Sen._ Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say 30

you have, I am one that, telling true under him, must say,

you cannot pass. Therefore go back.

_Men._ Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I would not

speak with him till after dinner.

_First Sen._ You are a Roman, are you? 35

_Men._ I am, as thy general is.[3731]

_First Sen._ Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can

you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender[3732]

of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your

enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy[3733] 40

groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters,[3734]

or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as[3735]

you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended

fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as

this? No, you are deceived; therefore, back to Rome, 45

and prepare for your execution: you are condemned; our

general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

_Men._ Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would[3736][3737]

use me with estimation.[3736]

_Sec. Sen._ Come, my captain knows you not.[3738] 50

_Men._ I mean, thy general.

_First Sen._ My general cares not for you. Back, I say,

go; lest I let forth your half-pint of blood;--back,--that's[3739]

the utmost of your having:--back.[3739]

_Men._ Nay, but, fellow, fellow,-- 55

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS _and_ AUFIDIUS.[3740]

_Cor._ What's the matter?

_Men._ Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you:[3741]

you shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall perceive

that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son

Coriolanus: guess, but by my entertainment with him, if[3742] 60

thou standest not i' the state of hanging, or of some death

more long in spectatorship and crueller in suffering; behold

now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee.[3743]

The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular

prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father 65

Menenius does! O my son, my son! thou art preparing

fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was

hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none

but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of

your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome[3744] 70

and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage

thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here,--this,[3745]

who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee.

_Cor._ Away!

_Men._ How! away! 75

_Cor._ Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs

Are servanted to others: though I owe

My revenge properly, my remission lies[3746]

In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,

Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather[3747] 80

Than pity note how much. Therefore be gone.[3748]

Mine ears against your suits are stronger than

Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,

Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

And would have sent it. [_Gives him a letter._] Another

word, Menenius,[3749] 85

I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius,

Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st.[3750]

_Auf._ You keep a constant temper.

[_Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius._[3751]

_First Sen._ Now, sir, is your name Menenius?

_Sec. Sen._ 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you[3752] 90

know the way home again.[3752]

_First Sen._ Do you hear how we are shent for keeping

your greatness back?

_Sec. Sen._ What cause, do you think, I have to swoon?[3743]

_Men._ I neither care for the world nor your general: for 95

such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, ye're so[3753]

slight. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not

from another: let your general do his worst. For you, be

that you are, long; and your misery increase with your

age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [_Exit._ 100

_First Sen._ A noble fellow, I warrant him.

_Sec. Sen._ The worthy fellow is our general: he's the[3754][3755]

rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [_Exeunt._[3754][3756]

SCENE III. _The tent of Coriolanus._

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, _and others_.[3757]

_Cor._ We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow

Set down our host. My partner in this action,

You must report to the Volscian lords how plainly

I have borne this business.[3758]

_Auf._ Only their ends[3759][3760]

You have respected; stopp'd your ears against[3759] 5

The general suit of Rome; never admitted[3759]

A private whisper, no, not with such friends[3759][3761]

That thought them sure of you.

_Cor._ This last old man,[3762]

Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,

Loved me above the measure of a father, 10

Nay, godded me indeed. Their latest refuge

Was to send him; for whose old love I have,

Though I show'd sourly to him, once more offer'd

The first conditions, which they did refuse[3763]

And cannot now accept; to grace him only[3764] 15

That thought he could do more, a very little[3764]

I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits,[3765]

Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter[3766]

Will I lend ear to. [_Shout within._] Ha! what shout is this?[3767]

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow 20

In the same time 'tis made? I will not.

_Enter, in mourning habits_, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, _leading young_

MARCIUS, VALERIA, _and_ Attendants.[3768]

My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould

Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand

The grandchild to her blood. But out, affection!

All bond and privilege of nature, break![3769] 25

Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.

What is that curtsy worth? or those doves' eyes,[3770]

Which can make gods forsworn? I melt, and am not

Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows;

As if Olympus to a molehill should 30

In supplication nod: and my young boy

Hath an aspect of intercession, which

Great nature cries 'Deny not.' Let the Volsces

Plough Rome, and harrow Italy: I'll never

Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand, 35

As if a man were author of himself[3771][3772]

And knew no other kin.[3772]

_Vir._ My lord and husband!

_Cor._ These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.

_Vir._ The sorrow that delivers us thus changed

Makes you think so.

_Cor._ Like a dull actor now[3773] 40

I have forgot my part and I am out,[3773]

Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,[3773]

Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,

For that 'Forgive our Romans.' O, a kiss

Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! 45

Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss

I carried from thee, dear, and my true lip

Hath virgin'd it e'er since. You gods! I prate,[3774]

And the most noble mother of the world

Leave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i' the earth; [_Kneels._ 50

Of thy deep duty more impression show[3775]

Than that of common sons.

_Vol._ O, stand up blest!

Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,

I kneel before thee, and unproperly

Show duty, as mistaken all this while[3776] 55

Between the child and parent. [_Kneels._

_Cor._ What is this?[3777][3778]

Your knees to me? to your corrected son?[3778]

Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach[3779]

Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds[3780]

Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun, 60

Murdering impossibility, to make

What cannot be, slight work.

_Vol._ Thou art my warrior;[3781]

I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?[3781][3782]

_Cor._ The noble sister of Publicola,[3783]

The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle 65

That's curdied by the frost from purest snow[3784]

And hangs on Dian's temple: dear Valeria!

_Vol._ This is a poor epitome of yours,[3785]

Which by the interpretation of full time

May show like all yourself.

_Cor._ The god of soldiers,[3786] 70

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform

Thy thoughts with nobleness, that thou mayst prove

To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars[3787]

Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw

And saving those that eye thee!

_Vol._ Your knee, sirrah.[3788] 75

_Cor._ That's my brave boy!

_Vol._ Even he, your wife, this lady and myself

Are suitors to you.

_Cor._ I beseech you, peace:

Or, if you'ld ask, remember this before:

The thing I have forsworn to grant may never[3789] 80

Be held by you denials. Do not bid me[3789]

Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate

Again with Rome's mechanics: tell me not

Wherein I seem unnatural: desire not[3790]

To allay my rages and revenges with[3790] 85

Your colder reasons.[3790]

_Vol._ O, no more, no more!

You have said you will not grant us any thing;[3791]

For we have nothing else to ask, but that

Which you deny already: yet we will ask;

That, if you fail in our request, the blame[3792] 90

May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.

_Cor._ Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we'll

Hear nought from Rome in private. Your request?

_Vol._ Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment

And state of bodies would bewray what life 95

We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself[3793]

How more unfortunate than all living women[3794]

Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should[3795]

Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts,[3796]

Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow; 100

Making the mother, wife and child, to see

The son, the husband and the father, tearing

His country's bowels out. And to poor we[3797][3798]

Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us[3798][3799]

Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort 105

That all but we enjoy; for how can we,

Alas, how can we for our country pray,

Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory,[3800]

Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must lose[3800]

The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, 110

Our comfort in the country. We must find

An evident calamity, though we had[3801]

Our wish, which side should win; for either thou

Must, as a foreign recreant, be led

With manacles thorough our streets, or else[3802] 115

Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin

And bear the palm for having bravely shed

Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,

I purpose not to wait on fortune till

These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee[3803] 120

Rather to show a noble grace to both parts[3804]

Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner[3805]

March to assault thy country than to tread--

Trust to 't, thou shalt not--on thy mother's womb,

That brought thee to this world.

_Vir._ Ay, and mine,[3806][3807] 125

That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name[3806]

Living to time.[3806]

_Boy._ A' shall not tread on me;[3806][3808]

I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight.[3806]

_Cor._ Not of a woman's tenderness to be,

Requires nor child nor woman's face to see.[3809] 130

I have sat too long. [_Rising._[3810]

_Vol._ Nay, go not from us thus.

If it were so that our request did tend

To save the Romans, thereby to destroy[3811]

The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us,

As poisonous of your honour: no; our suit[3812] 135

Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volsces

May say 'This mercy we have show'd,' the Romans,

'This we received;' and each in either side

Give the all-hail to thee and cry 'Be blest

For making up this peace!' Thou know'st, great son, 140

The end of war's uncertain, but this certain,[3813]

That if thou conquer Rome, the benefit

Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name

Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses;

Whose chronicle thus writ: 'The man was noble, 145

But with his last attempt he wiped it out,

Destroy'd his country, and his name remains

To the ensuing age abhorr'd.' Speak to me, son:

Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour,[3814]

To imitate the graces of the gods; 150

To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air,

And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt[3815]

That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?[3816]

Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man[3817]

Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you: 155

He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy:

Perhaps thy childishness will move him more

Than can our reasons. There's no man in the world[3818]

More bound to 's mother, yet here he lets me prate[3819]

Like one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life[3820] 160

Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy;

When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood,

Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home,[3821]

Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust,

And spurn me back: but if it be not so, 165

Thou art not honest, and the gods will plague thee,

That thou restrain'st from me the duty which

To a mother's part belongs. He turns away:

Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.[3822]

To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride[3823] 170

Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;[3824]

This is the last: so we will home to Rome,

And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold's:[3825]

This boy, that cannot tell what he would have,

But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship, 175

Does reason our petition with more strength

Than thou hast to deny 't. Come, let us go:

This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;

His wife is in Corioli, and his child[3826]

Like him by chance. Yet give us our dispatch: 180

I am hush'd until our city be a-fire,[3827][3828]

And then I'll speak a little.[3827]

_Cor._ [_After holding her by the hand, silent_] O Mother, mother![3829]

What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,

The gods look down, and this unnatural scene

They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! 185

You have won a happy victory to Rome;[3791]

But, for your son, believe it, O, believe it,

Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,[3830]

If not most mortal to him. But let it come.[3831]

Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, 190

I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,[3832]

Were you in my stead, would you have heard[3833]

A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?[3834]

_Auf._ I was moved withal.[3835]

_Cor._ I dare be sworn you were:

And, sir, it is no little thing to make 195

Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,

What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,

I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you,

Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife!

_Auf._ [_Aside_] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour[3836] 200

At difference in thee: out of that I'll work

Myself a former fortune. [_The Ladies make signs to Coriolanus._

_Cor._ [_To Volumnia, Virgilia, &c._] Ay, by and by:--[3837][3838]

But we will drink together; and you shall bear[3838][3839]

A better witness back than words, which we

On like conditions will have counter-seal'd. 205

Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve[3840]

To have a temple built you: all the swords[3840]

In Italy, and her confederate arms,[3840]

Could not have made this peace. [_Exeunt._[3840]

SCENE IV. _Rome. A public place._[3841]

_Enter_ MENENIUS _and_ SICINIUS.

_Men._ See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond

cornerstone?

_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 5

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? 10

_Men._ There is differency between a grub and a butterfly;[3842]

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. 15

_Men._ So did he me: and he no more remembers his

mother now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness of[3843]

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, 20

and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing[3844][3845]

made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished[3845]

with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity

and a heaven to throne in.

_Sic._ Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. 25

_Men._ I paint him in the character. Mark what 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.[3846]

_Sic._ The gods be good unto us! 30

_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.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ Sir, if you'ld save your life, fly to your house:

The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, 35

And hale him up and down, all swearing, if

The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,

They'll give him death by inches.

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Sic._ What's the news?

_Sec. Mess._ Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,[3847]

The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone: 40

A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,

No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

_Sic._ Friend,[3848]

Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?[3848][3849]

_Sec. Mess._ As certain as I know the sun is fire:[3847]

Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it? 45

Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,

As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!

[_Trumpets; hautboys; drums beat; all together._[3850]

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,

Tabors and cymbals and the shouting Romans,[3851]

Make the sun dance. Hark you! [_A shout within._[3852]

_Men._ This is good news: 50

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia[3853]

Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,

A city full; of tribunes, such as you,

A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:[3854]

This morning for ten thousand of your throats 55

I'ld not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

[_Music still, with shouts._[3855]

_Sic._ First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,[3856]

Accept my thankfulness.[3856]

_Sec. Mess._ Sir, we have all[3857]

Great cause to give great thanks.[3857]

_Sic._ They are near the city?[3857][3858]

_Sec. Mess._ Almost at point to enter.[3857]

_Sic._ We will meet them,[3857][3859][3860] 60

And help the joy. [_Exeunt._[3857][3860][3861]

SCENE V. _The same. A street near the gate._

_Enter two_ Senators _with_ VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, VALERIA, _&c. passing

over the stage, followed by_ Patricians _and others_.[3862]

_First Sen._ Behold our patroness, the life of Rome![3863]

Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,[3864]

And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them:[3865]

Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius,[3866]

Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; 5

Cry 'Welcome, ladies, welcome!'

_All._ Welcome, ladies,[3867]

Welcome! [_A flourish with drums and trumpets. Exeunt._[3867][3868]

SCENE VI. _Antium. A public place._[3869]

_Enter_ TULLUS AUFIDIUS, _with_ Attendants.

_Auf._ Go tell the lords o' the city I am here:[3870]

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[3871] 5

The city ports by this hath enter'd, and

Intends to appear before the people, hoping

To purge himself with words: dispatch. [_Exeunt Attendants._[3872]

_Enter three or four_ Conspirators _of_ AUFIDIUS' _faction_.

Most welcome!

_First Con._ How is it with our general?

_Auf._ Even so[3873] 10

As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,[3873]

And with his charity slain.[3873]

_Sec. Con._ Most noble sir,[3874]

If you do hold the same intent wherein[3874]

You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you[3874]

Of your great danger.

_Auf._ Sir, I cannot tell: 15

We must proceed as we do find the people.

_Third Con._ The people will remain uncertain whilst

'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either

Makes the survivor heir of all.

_Auf._ I know it,

And my pretext to strike at him admits 20

A good construction. I raised him, and I pawn'd[3875]

Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,

He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,[3876]

Seducing so my friends; and, to this end,

He bow'd his nature, never known before 25

But to be rough, unswayable and free.[3877]

_Third Con._ Sir, his stoutness[3878]

When he did stand for consul, which he lost

By lack of stooping,--[3879]

_Auf._ That I would have spoke of:

Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth; 30

Presented to my knife his throat: I took him,

Made him joint-servant with me, gave him way

In all his own desires, nay, let him choose

Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,[3880]

My best and freshest men, served his designments 35

In mine own person, holp to reap the fame[3881][3882]

Which he did end all his; and took some pride[3882][3883]

To do myself this wrong: till at the last

I seem'd his follower, not partner, and

He waged me with his countenance, as if[3884] 40

I had been mercenary.

_First Con._ So he did, my lord:

The army marvell'd at it, and in the last,[3885]

When he had carried Rome and that we look'd

For no less spoil than glory--[3886]

_Auf._ There was it:

For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.[3887] 45

At a few drops of women's rheum, which are

As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour

Of our great action: therefore shall he die,

And I'll renew me in his fall. But hark!

[_Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of the people._[3888]

_First Con._ Your native town you enter'd like a post, 50

And had no welcomes home; but he returns,

Splitting the air with noise.

_Sec. Con._ And patient fools,

Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear

With giving him glory.[3889]

_Third Con._ Therefore, at your vantage,

Ere he express himself, or move the people 55

With what he would say, let him feel your sword,

Which we will second. When he lies along,[3890][3891]

After your way his tale pronounced shall bury[3891]

His reasons with his body.

_Auf._ Say no more:[3892]

Here come the lords.[3892] 60

_Enter the_ Lords _of the city_.

_All the Lords._ You are most welcome home.[3893]

_Auf._ I have not deserved it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused

What I have written to you?

_Lords._ We have.

_First Lord._ And grieve to hear 't.[3894]

What faults he made before the last, I think

Might have found easy fines: but there to end 65

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.[3895]

_Auf._ He approaches: you shall hear him. 70

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS, _marching with drum and colours; the commoners

being with him_.

_Cor._ Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier;[3896]

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 75

With bloody passage led your wars even to

The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home[3897]

Do more than counterpoise a full third part[3897]

The charges of the action. We have made peace,[3898]

With no less honour to the Antiates 80

Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver,[3899]

Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,[3900]

Together with the seal o' the senate, what[3901]

We have compounded on.

_Auf._ Read it not, noble lords;

But tell the traitor, in the highest degree 85

He hath abused your powers.

_Cor._ Traitor! how now!

_Auf._ Ay, traitor, Marcius!

_Cor._ Marcius!

_Auf._ Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius: dost thou think

I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name

Coriolanus, in Corioli? 90

You lords and heads o' the state, perfidiously[3901][3902]

He has betray'd your business, and given up,

For certain drops of salt, your city Rome,

I say 'your city,' to his wife and mother;

Breaking his oath and resolution, like 95

A twist of rotten silk; never admitting

Counsel o' the war; but at his nurse's tears[3901]

He whined and roar'd away your victory;

That pages blush'd at him and men of heart

Look'd wondering each at other.[3903]

_Cor._ Hear'st thou, Mars? 100

_Auf._ Name not the god, thou boy of tears!

_Cor._ Ha!

_Auf._ No more.[3904]

_Cor._ Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart

Too great for what contains it. 'Boy!' O slave!

Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever[3905] 105

I was forced to scold. Your judgements, my grave lords,[3905][3906]

Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion--

Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him; that

Must bear my beating to his grave--shall join

To thrust the lie unto him. 110

_First Lord._ Peace, both, and hear me speak.

_Cor._ Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,[3907]

Stain all your edges on me. 'Boy!' false hound![3908]

If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,

That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I 115

Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli;[3909]

Alone I did it. 'Boy!'[3910]