The Tragedy of Coriolanus

I would the gods had nothing else to doBut to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'emBut once a day, it would unclog my heartOf what lies heavy to't.MENENIUSYou have told them home,And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?VOLUMNIAAnger's my meat; I sup upon myself,And so shall starve with feeding. – Come, let's go:Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.

[Exeunt.]

MENENIUSFie, fie, fie!

SCENE III. A highway between Rome and Antium

[Enter a ROMAN and a VOLSCE, meeting.]

ROMAN. I know you well, sir, and you know me; your name, I think, is Adrian.VOLSCEIt is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.ROMAN. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em: know you me yet?VOLSCENicanor? no!ROMANThe same, sir.VOLSCE. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well approved by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there; you have well saved me a day's journey.ROMAN. There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.VOLSCE. Hath been! is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.ROMAN. 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 to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.VOLSCECoriolanus banished!ROMANBanished, sir.VOLSCEYou will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.ROMAN. 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 will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.VOLSCE. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you; you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.ROMAN. 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?VOLSCE. A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning.ROMAN. 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.VOLSCE. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours.ROMANWell, let us go together.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE IV. Antium. Before AUFIDIUS'S house

[Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.]

CORIOLANUSA goodly city is this Antium. City,'Tis I that made thy widows: many an heirOf these fair edifices 'fore my warsHave I heard groan and drop: then know me not.Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones,In puny battle slay me.

[Enter a CITIZEN.]

Save you, sir.CITIZENAnd you.CORIOLANUSDirect me, if it be your will,Where great Aufidius lies; is he in Antium?CITIZENHe is, and feasts the nobles of the stateAt his house this night.CORIOLANUSWhich is his house, beseech you?CITIZENThis, here, before you.CORIOLANUSThank you, sir; farewell.

[Exit CITIZEN.]

O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exerciseAre still together, who twin, as 'twere, in loveUnseparable, shall within this hour,On a dissension of a doit, break outTo bitterest enmity; so fellest foes,Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleepTo take the one the other, by some chance,Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friendsAnd interjoin their issues. So with me: —My birthplace hate I, and my love's uponThis enemy town. – I'll enter; if he slay me,He does fair justice; if he give me way,I'll do his country service.

SCENE V. Antium. A hall in AUFIDIUS'S house

[Music within. Enter A SERVANT.]

FIRST SERVANTWine, wine, wine! What service is here!I think our fellows are asleep.

[Exit.]

[Enter a second SERVANT.]

SECOND SERVANTWhere's Cotus? my master calls for him. – Cotus!

[Exit.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS.]

CORIOLANUSA goodly house: the feast smells well; but IAppear not like a guest.

[Re-enter the first SERVANT.]

FIRST SERVANT. What would you have, friend? whence are you? Here's no place for you: pray go to the door.CORIOLANUSI have deserv'd no better entertainmentIn being Coriolanus.

[Re-enter second SERVANT.]

SECOND SERVANT. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out.CORIOLANUSAway!SECOND SERVANTAway? Get you away.CORIOLANUSNow the art troublesome.SECOND SERVANTAre you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon.

[Enter a third SERVANT. The first meets him.]

THIRD SERVANTWhat fellow's this?FIRST SERVANT. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o' the house. Pr'ythee call my master to him.THIRD SERVANTWhat have you to do here, fellow? Pray you avoid the house.CORIOLANUSLet me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.THIRD SERVANTWhat are you?CORIOLANUSA gentleman.THIRD SERVANTA marvellous poor one.CORIOLANUSTrue, so I am.THIRD SERVANT. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you. Pray you avoid; come.CORIOLANUSFollow your function, go,And batten on cold bits.

[Pushes him away.]

THIRD SERVANT. What, you will not? – Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.SECOND SERVANTAnd I shall.

[Exit.]

THIRD SERVANTWhere dwell'st thou?CORIOLANUSUnder the canopy.THIRD SERVANTUnder the canopy?CORIOLANUSAy.THIRD SERVANTWhere's that?CORIOLANUSI' the city of kites and crows.THIRD SERVANT. I' the city of kites and crows! – What an ass it is! – Then thou dwell'st with daws too?CORIOLANUSNo, I serve not thy master.THIRD SERVANTHow, sir! Do you meddle with my master?CORIOLANUSAy; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress.Thou prat'st and prat'st; serve with thy trencher, hence!

[Beats him away.]

[Enter AUFIDIUS and the second SERVANT.]

AUFIDIUSWhere is this fellow?SECOND SERVANT. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within.AUFIDIUSWhence com'st thou? what wouldst thou? thy name?Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name?CORIOLANUS

[Unmuffling.] If, Tullus,

Not yet thou know'st me, and, seeing me, dost notThink me for the man I am, necessityCommands me name myself.AUFIDIUSWhat is thy name?

[Servants retire.]

CORIOLANUSA name unmusical to the Volscians' ears,And harsh in sound to thine.AUFIDIUSSay, what's thy name?Thou has a grim appearance, and thy faceBears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn,Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name?CORIOLANUSPrepare thy brow to frown: – know'st thou me yet?AUFIDIUSI know thee not: – thy name?CORIOLANUSMy name is Caius Marcius, who hath doneTo thee particularly, and to all the Volsces,Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness mayMy surname, Coriolanus: the painful service,The extreme dangers, and the drops of bloodShed for my thankless country, are requitedBut with that surname; a good memory,And witness of the malice and displeasureWhich thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains;The cruelty and envy of the people,Permitted by our dastard nobles, whoHave all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest,And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to beWhoop'd out of Rome. Now, this extremityHath brought me to thy hearth: not out of hope,Mistake me not, to save my life; for ifI had fear'd death, of all the men i' the worldI would have 'voided thee; but in mere spite,To be full quit of those my banishers,Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hastA heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revengeThine own particular wrongs, and stop those maimsOf shame seen through thy country, speed thee straightAnd make my misery serve thy turn: so use itThat my revengeful services may proveAs benefits to thee; for I will fightAgainst my canker'd country with the spleenOf all the under fiends. But if so beThou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunesTh'art tir'd, then, in a word, I also amLonger to live most weary, and presentMy throat to thee and to thy ancient malice;Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,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, unlessIt be to do thee service.AUFIDIUSO Marcius, Marcius!Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heartA root of ancient envy. If JupiterShould from yond cloud speak divine things,And say ''Tis true,' I'd not believe them moreThan thee, all noble Marcius. – Let me twineMine arms about that body, where againstMy grained ash an hundred times hath brokeAnd scar'd the moon with splinters; here I clipThe anvil of my sword, and do contestAs hotly and as nobly with thy loveAs ever in ambitious strength I didContend against thy valour. Know thou first,I lov'd the maid I married; never manSighed truer breath; but that I see thee here,Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heartThan when I first my wedded mistress sawBestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell theeWe have a power on foot; and I had purposeOnce more to hew thy target from thy brawn,Or lose mine arm for't: thou hast beat me outTwelve several times, and I have nightly sinceDreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;We have been down together in my sleep,Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat,And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy Marcius,Had we no other quarrel else to Rome, but thatThou art thence banish'd, we would muster allFrom twelve to seventy; and, pouring warInto the bowels of ungrateful Rome,Like a bold flood o'erbear. O, come, go in,And take our friendly senators by the hands;Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,Who am prepar'd against your territories,Though not for Rome itself.CORIOLANUSYou bless me, gods!AUFIDIUSTherefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt haveThe leading of thine own revenges, takeTh' one half of my commission; and set down, —As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'stThy country's strength and weakness, – thine own ways;Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,Or rudely visit them in parts remote,To fright them, ere destroy. But come in;Let me commend thee first to those that shallSay yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!And more a friend than e'er an enemy;Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: most welcome!

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS.]

FIRST SERVANTHere's a strange alteration!SECOND SERVANT. By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him.FIRST SERVANT. What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top.SECOND SERVANT. Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him; he had, sir, a kind of face, methought, – I cannot tell how to term it.FIRST SERVANT. He had so, looking as it were, – would I were hanged, but I thought there was more in him than I could think.SECOND SERVANT. So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply the rarest man i' the world.FIRST SERVANTI think he is; but a greater soldier than he you wot on.SECOND SERVANTWho, my master?FIRST SERVANTNay, it's no matter for that.SECOND SERVANTWorth six on him.FIRST SERVANTNay, not so neither: but I take him to be the greater soldier.SECOND SERVANT. Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that: for the defence of a town our general is excellent.FIRST SERVANTAy, and for an assault too.

[Re-enter third SERVANT.]

THIRD SERVANTO slaves, I can tell you news, – news, you rascals!FIRST and SECOND SERVANT.What, what, what? let's partake.THIRD SERVANT. I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lief be a condemned man.FIRST and SECOND SERVANT.Wherefore? wherefore?THIRD SERVANTWhy, here's he that was wont to thwack our general, – CaiusMarcius.FIRST SERVANTWhy do you say, thwack our general?THIRD SERVANT. I do not say thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him.SECOND SERVANT. Come, we are fellows and friends: he was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.FIRST SERVANTHe was too hard for him directly, to say the troth on't; beforeCorioli he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.SECOND SERVANT. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too.FIRST SERVANTBut more of thy news?THIRD SERVANT. Why, he is so made on here within as if 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 up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of 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 mow all down before him, and leave his passage polled.SECOND SERVANTAnd he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine.THIRD SERVANT. 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 it, his friends, whilst he's in dejectitude.FIRST SERVANTDejectitude! what's that?THIRD SERVANT. 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.FIRST SERVANTBut when goes this forward?THIRD SERVANT. To-morrow; to-day; presently; you shall have the drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis as it were parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.SECOND SERVANT. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.FIRST SERVANT. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace as far as day does night; it's spritely, waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of men.SECOND SERVANT. 'Tis so: and as war in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds.FIRST SERVANTAy, and it makes men hate one another.THIRD SERVANT. 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.ALLIn, in, in, in!

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VI. Rome. A public place

[Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]

SICINIUSWe hear not of him, neither need we fear him;His remedies are tame i' the present peaceAnd quietness of the people, which beforeWere in wild hurry. Here do make his friendsBlush that the world goes well; who rather had,Though they themselves did suffer by't, beholdDissentious numbers pestering streets than seeOur tradesmen singing in their shops, and goingAbout their functions friendly.BRUTUSWe stood to't in good time. – Is this Menenius?SICINIUS'Tis he, 'tis he. O, he is grown most kindOf late.

[Enter MENENIUS

BRUTUSHail, sir!MENENIUSHail to you both!SICINIUSYour Coriolanus is not much miss'dBut with his friends: the commonwealth doth stand;And so would do, were he more angry at it.MENENIUSAll's well, and might have been much better ifHe could have temporiz'd.SICINIUSWhere is he, hear you?MENENIUSNay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wifeHear nothing from him.

[Enter three or four Citizens.]

CITIZENS. The gods preserve you both!SICINIUSGod-den, our neighbours.BRUTUSGod-den to you all, God-den to you all.FIRST CITIZENOurselves, our wives, and children, on our knees,Are bound to pray for you both.SICINIUSLive and thrive!BRUTUSFarewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd CoriolanusHad lov'd you as we did.CITIZENSNow the gods keep you!BOTH TRIBUNESFarewell, farewell.

[Exeunt Citizens.]

SICINIUSThis is a happier and more comely timeThan when these fellows ran about the streetsCrying confusion.BRUTUSCaius Marcius wasA worthy officer i' the war; but insolent,O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking,Self-loving, —SICINIUSAnd affecting one sole throne,Without assistance.MENENIUSI think not so.SICINIUSWe should by this, to all our lamentation,If he had gone forth consul, found it so.BRUTUSThe gods have well prevented it, and RomeSits safe and still without him.

[Enter an AEDILE.]

AEDILEWorthy tribunes,There is a slave, whom we have put in prison,Reports, – the Volsces with several powersAre enter'd in the Roman territories,And with the deepest malice of the warDestroy what lies before 'em.MENENIUS'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,And durst not once peep out.SICINIUSCome, what talk you of Marcius?BRUTUSGo see this rumourer whipp'd. – It cannot beThe Volsces dare break with us.MENENIUSCannot be!We have record that very well it can;And three examples of the like hath beenWithin my age. But reason with the fellow,Before you punish him, where he heard this;Lest you shall chance to whip your informationAnd beat the messenger who bids bewareOf what is to be dreaded.SICINIUSTell not me:I know this cannot be.BRUTUSNot possible.

[Enter A MESSENGER.]

MESSENGERThe nobles in great earnestness are goingAll to the senate-house: some news is comeThat turns their countenances.SICINIUS'Tis this slave, —Go whip him fore the people's eyes: – his raising;Nothing but his report.MESSENGERYes, worthy sir,The slave's report is seconded, and more,More fearful, is deliver'd.SICINIUSWhat more fearful?MESSENGERIt is spoke freely out of many mouths, —How probable I do not know, – that Marcius,Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,And vows revenge as spacious as betweenThe young'st and oldest thing.SICINIUSThis is most likely!BRUTUSRais'd only, that the weaker sort may wishGood Marcius home again.SICINIUSThe very trick on 't.MENENIUSThis is unlikely:He and Aufidius can no more atoneThan violentest contrariety.

[Enter a second MESSENGER.]

SECOND MESSENGERYou are sent for to the senate:A fearful army, led by Caius MarciusAssociated with Aufidius, ragesUpon our territories; and have alreadyO'erborne their way, consum'd with fire and tookWhat lay before them.

[Enter COMINIUS.]

COMINIUSO, you have made good work!MENENIUSWhat news? what news?COMINIUSYou have holp to ravish your own daughters, andTo melt the city leads upon your pates;To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses, —MENENIUSWhat's the news? what's the news?COMINIUSYour temples burned in their cement; andYour franchises, whereon you stood, confin'dInto an auger's bore.MENENIUSPray now, your news? —You have made fair work, I fear me. – Pray, your news.If Marcius should be join'd wi' the Volscians, —COMINIUSIf!He is their god: he leads them like a thingMade by some other deity than nature,That shapes man better; and they follow him,Against us brats, with no less confidenceThan boys pursuing summer butterflies,Or butchers killing flies.MENENIUSYou have made good work,You and your apron men; you that stood so muchUpon the voice of occupation andThe breath of garlic-eaters!COMINIUSHe'll shakeYour Rome about your ears.MENENIUSAs HerculesDid shake down mellow fruit. – You have made fair work!BRUTUSBut is this true, sir?COMINIUSAy; and you'll look paleBefore you find it other. All the regionsDo smilingly revolt; and who resistsAre mock'd for valiant ignorance,And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him?Your enemies and his find something in him.MENENIUSWe are all undone unlessThe noble man have mercy.COMINIUSWho shall ask it?The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the peopleDeserve such pity of him as the wolfDoes of the shepherds: for his best friends, if theyShould say 'Be good to Rome,' they charg'd him evenAs those should do that had deserv'd his hate,And therein show'd like enemies.MENENIUS'Tis true:If he were putting to my house the brandThat should consume it, I have not the faceTo say 'Beseech you, cease.' – You have made fair hands,You and your crafts! You have crafted fair!COMINIUSYou have broughtA trembling upon Rome, such as was neverSo incapable of help.BOTH TRIBUNESSay not, we brought it.MENENIUSHow! Was it we? we lov'd him, but, like beasts,And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,Who did hoot him out o' the city.COMINIUSBut I fearThey'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,The second name of men, obeys his pointsAs if he were his officer: – desperationIs all the policy, strength, and defence,That Rome can make against them.

[Enter a troop of citizens.]

MENENIUSHere comes the clusters. —And is Aufidius with him? – You are theyThat made the air unwholesome, when you castYour stinking greasy caps in hooting atCoriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;And not a hair upon a soldier's headWhich will not prove a whip: as many coxcombsAs 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 coalWe have deserv'd it.CITIZENSFaith, we hear fearful news.FIRST CITIZENFor mine own part,When I said banish him, I said 'twas pity.SECOND CITIZENAnd so did I.THIRD CITIZEN. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did, we did for the best; and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will.COMINIUSYou are goodly things, you voices!MENENIUSYou have madeGood work, you and your cry! – Shall's to the Capitol?COMINIUSO, ay; what else?

[Exeunt COMINIUS and MENENIUS.]

SICINIUSGo, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd;These are a side that would be glad to haveThis true which they so seem to fear. Go home,And show no sign of fear.FIRST CITIZEN. The gods be good to us! – Come, masters, let's home. I ever said we were i' the wrong when we banished him.SECOND CITIZENSo did we all. But come, let's home.

[Exeunt Citizens.]

BRUTUSI do not like this news.SICINIUSNor I.BRUTUSLet's to the Capitol: – would half my wealthWould buy this for a lie!SICINIUSPray let's go.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VII. A camp at a short distance from Rome

[Enter AUFIDIUS and his LIEUTENANT.]

AUFIDIUSDo they still fly to the Roman?LIEUTENANTI do not know what witchcraft's in him, butYour 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,Even by your own.AUFIDIUSI cannot help it now,Unless by using means, I lame the footOf our design. He bears himself more proudlier,Even to my person, than I thought he wouldWhen first I did embrace him: yet his natureIn that's no changeling; and I must excuseWhat cannot be amended.LIEUTENANTYet I wish, sir, —I mean, for your particular, – you had notJoin'd in commission with him; but eitherHad borne the action of yourself, or elseTo him had left it solely.AUFIDIUSI understand thee well; and be thou sure,When he shall come to his account, he knows notWhat I can urge against him. Although it seems,And so he thinks, and is no less apparentTo the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly,And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soonAs draw his sword: yet he hath left undoneThat which shall break his neck or hazard mineWhene'er we come to our account.LIEUTENANTSir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?AUFIDIUSAll places yield to him ere he sits down;And the nobility of Rome are his;The senators and patricians love him too:The tribunes are no soldiers; and their peopleWill be as rash in the repeal as hastyTo expel him thence. I think he'll be to RomeAs is the osprey to the fish, who takes itBy sovereignty of nature. First he wasA noble servant to them; but he could notCarry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,Which out of daily fortune ever taintsThe happy man; whether defect of judgment,To fail in the disposing of those chancesWhich he was lord of; or whether nature,Not to be other than one thing, not movingFrom the casque to the cushion, but commanding peaceEven with the same austerity and garbAs he controll'd the war; but one of these, —As he hath spices of them all, not all,For I dare so far free him, – made him fear'd,So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a meritTo choke it in the utterance. So our virtuesLie in the interpretation of the time:And power, unto itself most commendable,Hath not a tomb so evident as a cheerTo extol what it hath done.One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.

[Exeunt.]