Script of Act I Coriolanus The play by William Shakespeare Introduction This section contains the script of Act I of Coriolanus the play by William Shakespeare. The enduring works of William Shakespeare feature many famous and well loved characters. Make a note of any unusual words that you encounter whilst reading the script of Coriolanus and check their definition in the Shakespeare Dictionary The script of Coriolanus is extremely long. To reduce the time to load the script of the play, and for ease in accessing specific sections of the script, we have separated the text of Coriolanus into Acts. Please click Coriolanus Script to access further Acts. Script / Text of Act I Coriolanus ACT I SCENE I. Rome. A street.
Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons First Citizen Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.
All Speak, speak.
First Citizen You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?
All Resolved. resolved.
First Citizen First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.
All We know't, we know't.
First Citizen Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?
All No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!
Second Citizen One word, good citizens.
First Citizen We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us: if they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularise their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.
Second Citizen Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?
All Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.
Second Citizen Consider you what services he has done for his country?
First Citizen Very well; and could be content to give him good report fort, but that he pays himself with being proud.
Second Citizen Nay, but speak not maliciously.
First Citizen I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country he did it to please his mother and to be partly proud; which he is, even till the altitude of his virtue.
Second Citizen What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.
First Citizen If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition.
Shouts within
What shouts are these? The other side o' the city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!
All Come, come.
First Citizen Soft! who comes here?
Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA
Second Citizen Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.
First Citizen He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so!
MENENIUS What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you With bats and clubs? The matter? speak, I pray you.
First Citizen Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths: they shall know we have strong arms too.
MENENIUS Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves?
First Citizen We cannot, sir, we are undone already.
MENENIUS I tell you, friends, most charitable care Have the patricians of you. For your wants, Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them Against the Roman state, whose course will on The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs Of more strong link asunder than can ever Appear in your impediment. For the dearth, The gods, not the patricians, make it, and Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, You are transported by calamity Thither where more attends you, and you slander The helms o' the state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies.
First Citizen Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us.
MENENIUS Either you must Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it; But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture To stale 't a little more.
First Citizen Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an 't please you, deliver.
MENENIUS There was a time when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly, thus accused it: That only like a gulf it did remain I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive, Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing Like labour with the rest, where the other instruments Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, And, mutually participate, did minister Unto the appetite and affection common Of the whole body. The belly answer'd--
First Citizen Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
MENENIUS Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile, Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus-- For, look you, I may make the belly smile As well as speak--it tauntingly replied To the discontented members, the mutinous parts That envied his receipt; even so most fitly As you malign our senators for that They are not such as you.
First Citizen Your belly's answer? What! The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye, The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter. With other muniments and petty helps In this our fabric, if that they--
MENENIUS What then? 'Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? what then?
First Citizen Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the sink o' the body,--
MENENIUS Well, what then?
First Citizen The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer?
MENENIUS I will tell you If you'll bestow a small--of what you have little-- Patience awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer.
First Citizen Ye're long about it.
MENENIUS Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd: 'True is it, my incorporate friends,' quoth he, 'That I receive the general food at first, Which you do live upon; and fit it is, Because I am the store-house and the shop Of the whole body: but, if you do remember, I send it through the rivers of your blood, Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o' the brain; And, through the cranks and offices of man, The strongest nerves and small inferior veins From me receive that natural competency Whereby they live: and though that all at once, You, my good friends,'--this says the belly, mark me,--
First Citizen Ay, sir; well, well.
MENENIUS 'Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each, Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flour of all, And leave me but the bran.' What say you to't?
First Citizen It was an answer: how apply you this?
MENENIUS The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members; for examine Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find No public benefit which you receive But it proceeds or comes from them to you And no way from yourselves. What do you think, You, the great toe of this assembly?
First Citizen I the great toe! why the great toe?
MENENIUS For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest, Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run, Lead'st first to win some vantage. But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs: Rome and her rats are at the point of battle; The one side must have bale.
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS
Hail, noble Marcius!
MARCIUS Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs?
First Citizen We have ever your good word.
MARCIUS He that will give good words to thee will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you, The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice, Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is To make him worthy whose offence subdues him And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness Deserves your hate; and your affections are A sick man's appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends Upon your favours swims with fins of lead And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust Ye? With every minute you do change a mind, And call him noble that was now your hate, Him vile that was your garland. What's the matter, That in these several places of the city You cry against the noble senate, who, Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another? What's their seeking?
MENENIUS For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stored.
MARCIUS Hang 'em! They say! They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise, Who thrives and who declines; side factions and give out Conjectural marriages; making parties strong And feebling such as stand not in their liking Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain enough! Would the nobility lay aside their ruth, And let me use my sword, I'll make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance.
MENENIUS Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, What says the other troop?
MARCIUS They are dissolved: hang 'em! They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs, That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not Corn for the rich men only: with these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, And a petition granted them, a strange one-- To break the heart of generosity, And make bold power look pale--they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon, Shouting their emulation.
MENENIUS What is granted them?
MARCIUS Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not--'Sdeath! The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time Win upon power and throw forth greater themes For insurrection's arguing.
MENENIUS This is strange.
MARCIUS Go, get you home, you fragments!
Enter a Messenger, hastily
Messenger Where's Caius Marcius?
MARCIUS Here: what's the matter?
Messenger The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
MARCIUS I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' means to vent Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.
Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS
First Senator Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us; The Volsces are in arms.
MARCIUS They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't. I sin in envying his nobility, And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he.
COMINIUS You have fought together.
MARCIUS Were half to half the world by the ears and he. Upon my party, I'ld revolt to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt.
First Senator Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
COMINIUS It is your former promise.
MARCIUS Sir, it is; And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face. What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?
TITUS No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, Ere stay behind this business.
MENENIUS O, true-bred!
First Senator Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us.
TITUS [To COMINIUS] Lead you on.
To MARCIUS
Right worthy you priority.
COMINIUS Noble Marcius!
First Senator [To the Citizens] Hence to your homes; be gone!
MARCIUS Nay, let them follow: The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.
Citizens steal away. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS
SICINIUS Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
BRUTUS He has no equal.
SICINIUS When we were chosen tribunes for the people,--
BRUTUS Mark'd you his lip and eyes?
SICINIUS Nay. but his taunts.
BRUTUS Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.
SICINIUS Be-mock the modest moon.
BRUTUS The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.
SICINIUS Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius.
BRUTUS Fame, at the which he aims, In whom already he's well graced, can not Better be held nor more attain'd than by A place below the first: for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man, and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius 'O if he Had borne the business!'
SICINIUS Besides, if things go well, Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall Of his demerits rob Cominius.
BRUTUS Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius. Though Marcius earned them not, and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed In aught he merit not.
SICINIUS Let's hence, and hear How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion, More than his singularity, he goes Upon this present action.
BRUTUS Lets along.
Exeunt
SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate-house.
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain Senators First Senator So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are entered in our counsels And know how we proceed.
AUFIDIUS Is it not yours? What ever have been thought on in this state, That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think I have the letter here; yes, here it is.
Reads
'They have press'd a power, but it is not known Whether for east or west: the dearth is great; The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd, Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, These three lead on this preparation Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you: Consider of it.'
First Senator Our army's in the field We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us.
AUFIDIUS Nor did you think it folly To keep your great pretences veil'd till when They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery. We shall be shorten'd in our aim, which was To take in many towns ere almost Rome Should know we were afoot.
Second Senator Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: Let us alone to guard Corioli: If they set down before 's, for the remove Bring your army; but, I think, you'll find They've not prepared for us.
AUFIDIUS O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties. Nay, more, Some parcels of their power are forth already, And only hitherward. I leave your honours. If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more.
All The gods assist you!
AUFIDIUS And keep your honours safe!
First Senator Farewell.
Second Senator Farewell.
All Farewell.
Exeunt
SCENE III. Rome. A room in Marcius' house.
Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA they set them down on two low stools, and sew VOLUMNIA I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort: if my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honour would become such a person. that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.
VIRGILIA But had he died in the business, madam; how then?
VOLUMNIA Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.
Enter a Gentlewoman
Gentlewoman Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
VIRGILIA Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
VOLUMNIA Indeed, you shall not. Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum, See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair, As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him: Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus: 'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear, Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes, Like to a harvest-man that's task'd to mow Or all or lose his hire.
VIRGILIA His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!
VOLUMNIA Away, you fool! it more becomes a man Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome.
Exit Gentlewoman
VIRGILIA Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
VOLUMNIA He'll beat Aufidius 'head below his knee And tread upon his neck.
Enter VALERIA, with an Usher and Gentlewoman
VALERIA My ladies both, good day to you.
VOLUMNIA Sweet madam.
VIRGILIA I am glad to see your ladyship.
VALERIA How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son?
VIRGILIA I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.
VOLUMNIA He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master.
VALERIA O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear,'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly: and when he caught it, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and again; catched it again; or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it; O, I warrant it, how he mammocked it!
VOLUMNIA One on 's father's moods.
VALERIA Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
VIRGILIA A crack, madam.
VALERIA Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle husewife with me this afternoon.
VIRGILIA No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
VALERIA Not out of doors!
VOLUMNIA She shall, she shall.
VIRGILIA Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.
VALERIA Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
VIRGILIA I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.
VOLUMNIA Why, I pray you?
VIRGILIA 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.
VALERIA You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.
VIRGILIA No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.
VALERIA In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband.
VIRGILIA O, good madam, there can be none yet.
VALERIA Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.
VIRGILIA Indeed, madam?
VALERIA In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.
VIRGILIA Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter.
VOLUMNIA Let her alone, lady: as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.
VALERIA In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then. Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door. and go along with us.
VIRGILIA No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.
VALERIA Well, then, farewell.
Exeunt
SCENE IV. Before Corioli.
Enter, with drum and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger MARCIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
LARTIUS My horse to yours, no.
MARCIUS 'Tis done.
LARTIUS Agreed.
MARCIUS Say, has our general met the enemy?
Messenger They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
LARTIUS So, the good horse is mine.
MARCIUS I'll buy him of you.
LARTIUS No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
MARCIUS How far off lie these armies?
Messenger Within this mile and half.
MARCIUS Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.
They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls
Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
First Senator No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little.
Drums afar off
Hark! our drums Are bringing forth our youth. We'll break our walls, Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we, have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves.
Alarum afar off
Hark you. far off! There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes Amongst your cloven army.
MARCIUS O, they are at it!
LARTIUS Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
Enter the army of the Volsces
MARCIUS They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus: They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows: He that retires I'll take him for a Volsce, And he shall feel mine edge.
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS cursing
MARCIUS All the contagion of the south light on you, You shames of Rome! you herd of--Boils and plagues Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd Further than seen and one infect another Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, That bear the shapes of men, how have you run From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell! All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale With flight and agued fear! Mend and charge home, Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe And make my wars on you: look to't: come on; If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives, As they us to our trenches followed.
Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates
So, now the gates are ope: now prove good seconds: 'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.
Enters the gates
First Soldier Fool-hardiness; not I.
Second Soldier Nor I.
MARCIUS is shut in
First Soldier See, they have shut him in.
All To the pot, I warrant him.
Alarum continues
Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS
LARTIUS What is become of Marcius?
All Slain, sir, doubtless.
First Soldier Following the fliers at the very heels, With them he enters; who, upon the sudden, Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone, To answer all the city.
LARTIUS O noble fellow! Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius: A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds, Thou madst thine enemies shake, as if the world Were feverous and did tremble.
Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy
First Soldier Look, sir.
LARTIUS O,'tis Marcius! Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
They fight, and all enter the city
SCENE V. Corioli. A street.
Enter certain Romans, with spoils First Roman This will I carry to Rome.
Second Roman And I this.
Third Roman A murrain on't! I took this for silver.
Alarum continues still afar off
Enter MARCIUS and TITUS LARTIUS with a trumpet
MARCIUS See here these movers that do prize their hours At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves, Ere yet the fight be done, pack up: down with them! And hark, what noise the general makes! To him! There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take Convenient numbers to make good the city; Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste To help Cominius.
LARTIUS Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight.
MARCIUS Sir, praise me not; My work hath yet not warm'd me: fare you well: The blood I drop is rather physical Than dangerous to me: to Aufidius thus I will appear, and fight.
LARTIUS Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, Prosperity be thy page!
MARCIUS Thy friend no less Than those she placeth highest! So, farewell.
LARTIUS Thou worthiest Marcius!
Exit MARCIUS
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place; Call thither all the officers o' the town, Where they shall know our mind: away!
Exeunt
SCENE VI. Near the camp of Cominius.
Enter COMINIUS, as it were in retire, with soldiers COMINIUS Breathe you, my friends: well fought; we are come off Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs, We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck, By interims and conveying gusts we have heard The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods! Lead their successes as we wish our own, That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering, May give you thankful sacrifice.
Enter a Messenger
Thy news?
Messenger The citizens of Corioli have issued, And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle: I saw our party to their trenches driven, And then I came away.
COMINIUS Though thou speak'st truth, Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is't since?
Messenger Above an hour, my lord.
COMINIUS 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour, And bring thy news so late?
Messenger Spies of the Volsces Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel Three or four miles about, else had I, sir, Half an hour since brought my report.
COMINIUS Who's yonder, That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have Before-time seen him thus.
MARCIUS [Within] Come I too late?
COMINIUS The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabour More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue From every meaner man.
Enter MARCIUS
MARCIUS Come I too late?
COMINIUS Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, But mantled in your own.
MARCIUS O, let me clip ye In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart As merry as when our nuptial day was done, And tapers burn'd to bedward!
COMINIUS Flower of warriors, How is it with Titus Lartius?
MARCIUS As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, To let him slip at will.
COMINIUS Where is that slave Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? Where is he? call him hither.
MARCIUS Let him alone; He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen, The common file--a plague! tribunes for them!-- The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge From rascals worse than they.
COMINIUS But how prevail'd you?
MARCIUS Will the time serve to tell? I do not think. Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field? If not, why cease you till you are so?
COMINIUS Marcius, We have at disadvantage fought and did Retire to win our purpose.
MARCIUS How lies their battle? know you on which side They have placed their men of trust?
COMINIUS As I guess, Marcius, Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates, Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius, Their very heart of hope.
MARCIUS I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, By the blood we have shed together, by the vows We have made to endure friends, that you directly Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates; And that you not delay the present, but, Filling the air with swords advanced and darts, We prove this very hour.
COMINIUS Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath And balms applied to, you, yet dare I never Deny your asking: take your choice of those That best can aid your action.
MARCIUS Those are they That most are willing. If any such be here-- As it were sin to doubt--that love this painting Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear Lesser his person than an ill report; If any think brave death outweighs bad life And that his country's dearer than himself; Let him alone, or so many so minded, Wave thus, to express his disposition, And follow Marcius.
They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps
O, me alone! make you a sword of me? If these shows be not outward, which of you But is four Volsces? none of you but is Able to bear against the great Aufidius A shield as hard as his. A certain number, Though thanks to all, must I select from all: the rest Shall bear the business in some other fight, As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march; And four shall quickly draw out my command, Which men are best inclined.
COMINIUS March on, my fellows: Make good this ostentation, and you shall Divide in all with us.
Exeunt
SCENE VII. The gates of Corioli.
TITUS LARTIUS, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with drum and trumpet toward COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with Lieutenant, other Soldiers, and a Scout LARTIUS So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch Those centuries to our aid: the rest will serve For a short holding: if we lose the field, We cannot keep the town.
Lieutenant Fear not our care, sir.
LARTIUS Hence, and shut your gates upon's. Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us.
Exeunt
SCENE VIII. A field of battle.
Alarum as in battle. Enter, from opposite sides, MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS MARCIUS I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker.
AUFIDIUS We hate alike: Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot.
MARCIUS Let the first budger die the other's slave, And the gods doom him after!
AUFIDIUS If I fly, Marcius, Holloa me like a hare.
MARCIUS Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleased: 'tis not my blood Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge Wrench up thy power to the highest.
AUFIDIUS Wert thou the Hector That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, Thou shouldst not scape me here.
They fight, and certain Volsces come to the aid of AUFIDIUS. MARCIUS fights till they be driven in breathless
Officious, and not valiant, you have shamed me In your condemned seconds.
Exeunt
SCENE IX. The Roman camp.
Flourish. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter, from one side, COMINIUS with the Romans; from the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf COMINIUS If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'ldst not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles, Where great patricians shall attend and shrug, I' the end admire, where ladies shall be frighted, And, gladly quaked, hear more; where the dull tribunes, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, Shall say against their hearts 'We thank the gods Our Rome hath such a soldier.' Yet camest thou to a morsel of this feast, Having fully dined before.
Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power, from the pursuit
LARTIUS O general, Here is the steed, we the caparison: Hadst thou beheld--
MARCIUS Pray now, no more: my mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise me grieves me. I have done As you have done; that's what I can; induced As you have been; that's for my country: He that has but effected his good will Hath overta'en mine act.
COMINIUS You shall not be The grave of your deserving; Rome must know The value of her own: 'twere a concealment Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, To hide your doings; and to silence that, Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd, Would seem but modest: therefore, I beseech you In sign of what you are, not to reward What you have done--before our army hear me.
MARCIUS I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remember'd.
COMINIUS Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, Whereof we have ta'en good and good store, of all The treasure in this field achieved and city, We render you the tenth, to be ta'en forth, Before the common distribution, at Your only choice.
MARCIUS I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it; And stand upon my common part with those That have beheld the doing.
A long flourish. They all cry 'Marcius! Marcius!' cast up their caps and lances: COMINIUS and LARTIUS stand bare
MARCIUS May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more! when drums and trumpets shall I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be Made all of false-faced soothing! When steel grows soft as the parasite's silk, Let him be made a coverture for the wars! No more, I say! For that I have not wash'd My nose that bled, or foil'd some debile wretch.-- Which, without note, here's many else have done,-- You shout me forth In acclamations hyperbolical; As if I loved my little should be dieted In praises sauced with lies.
COMINIUS Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report than grateful To us that give you truly: by your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incensed, we'll put you, Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles, Then reason safely with you. Therefore, be it known, As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius Wears this war's garland: in token of the which, My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him, With all his trim belonging; and from this time, For what he did before Corioli, call him, With all the applause and clamour of the host, CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS! Bear The addition nobly ever!
Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums
All Caius Marcius Coriolanus!
CORIOLANUS I will go wash; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thank you. I mean to stride your steed, and at all times To undercrest your good addition To the fairness of my power.
COMINIUS So, to our tent; Where, ere we do repose us, we will write To Rome of our success. You, Titus Lartius, Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome The best, with whom we may articulate, For their own good and ours.
LARTIUS I shall, my lord.
CORIOLANUS The gods begin to mock me. I, that now Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg Of my lord general.
COMINIUS Take't; 'tis yours. What is't?
CORIOLANUS I sometime lay here in Corioli At a poor man's house; he used me kindly: He cried to me; I saw him prisoner; But then Aufidius was with in my view, And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you To give my poor host freedom.
COMINIUS O, well begg'd! Were he the butcher of my son, he should Be free as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.
LARTIUS Marcius, his name?
CORIOLANUS By Jupiter! forgot. I am weary; yea, my memory is tired. Have we no wine here?
COMINIUS Go we to our tent: The blood upon your visage dries; 'tis time It should be look'd to: come.
Exeunt
SCENE X. The camp of the Volsces.
A flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, bloody, with two or three Soldiers AUFIDIUS The town is ta'en!
First Soldier 'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition.
AUFIDIUS Condition! I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition! What good condition can a treaty find I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, I have fought with thee: so often hast thou beat me, And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter As often as we eat. By the elements, If e'er again I meet him beard to beard, He's mine, or I am his: mine emulation Hath not that honour in't it had; for where I thought to crush him in an equal force, True sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way Or wrath or craft may get him.
First Soldier He's the devil.
AUFIDIUS Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd With only suffering stain by him; for him Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary, Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol, The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice, Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it At home, upon my brother's guard, even there, Against the hospitable canon, would I Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city; Learn how 'tis held; and what they are that must Be hostages for Rome.
First Soldier Will not you go?
AUFIDIUS I am attended at the cypress grove: I pray you-- 'Tis south the city mills--bring me word thither How the world goes, that to the pace of it I may spur on my journey.
First Soldier I shall, sir.
Exeunt Script of Act I Coriolanus by William Shakespeare Personae |