Actus Quartus.
[Scene I.]
Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius,
with the yong Nobility of Rome.
Corio.
Come leaue your teares: a brief farwel: the beaſt
With many heads butts me away. Nay Mother,
Where is your ancient Courage? You were vs'd
To ſay, Extreamities was the trier of ſpirits,
That common chances. Common men could beare,
That when the Sea was calme, all Boats alike
Shew'd Maſterſhip in floating. Fortunes blowes,
When moſt ſtrooke home, being gentle wounded, craues
A Noble cunning. You were vs'd to load me
With Precepts that would make inuincible
The heart that conn'd them.
Virg.
Oh heauens! O heauens!
Corio.
Nay, I prythee woman.
Vol.
Now the Red Peſtilence ſtrike al Trades in Rome,
And Occupations periſh.
Corio.
What, what, what:
I ſhall be lou'd when I am lack'd. Nay Mother,
Reſume that Spirit, when you were wont to ſay,
If you had beene the Wife of Hercules,
Six of his Labours youl'd haue done, and ſau'd
Your Husband ſo much ſwet. Cominius,
Droope not, Adieu: Farewell my Wife, my Mother,
Ile do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy teares are ſalter then a yonger mans,
And venomous to thine eyes. My (ſometime) Generall,
I haue ſeene the Sterne, and thou haſt oft beheld
Heart-hardning ſpectacles. Tell theſe ſad women,
'Tis fond to waile ineuitable ſtrokes,
As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My Mother, you wot well
My hazards ſtill haue beene your ſolace, and
Beleeu't not lightly, though I go alone
Like to a lonely Dragon, that his Fenne
Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more then ſeene: your Sonne
Will or exceed the Common, or be caught
With cautelous baits and practice.
Volum.
My firſt ſonne,
Whether will thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee awhile: Determine on ſome courſe
More then a wilde expoſture, to each chance
That ſtart's i'th'way before thee.
Corio.
O the Gods!
Com.
Ile follow thee a Moneth, deuiſe with thee
Where thou ſhalt reſt, that thou may'ſt heare of vs,
And we of thee. So if the time thruſt forth
A cauſe for thy Repeale, we ſhall not ſend
O're the vaſt world, to ſeeke a ſingle man,
And looſe aduantage, which doth euer coole
Ith'abſence of the needer.
Corio.
Fare ye well:
Thou haſt yeares vpon thee, and thou art too full
Of the warres ſurfets, to go roue with one
That's yet vnbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.
Come my ſweet wife, my deereſt Mother, and
My Friends of Noble touch: when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and ſmile. I pray you come:
While I remaine aboue the ground, you ſhall
Heare from me ſtill, and neuer of me ought
But what is like me formerly.
Menen.
That's worthily
As any eare can heare. Come, let's not weepe,
If I could ſhake off but one ſeuen yeeres
From theſe old armes and legges, by the good Gods
I'ld with thee, euery foot.
Corio.
Giue me thy hand, come. Exeunt
[Scene II.]
Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus,
with the Edile.
Sicin.
Bid them all home, he's gone: & wee'l no further,
The Nobility are vexed, whom we ſee haue ſided
In his behalfe.
Brut.
Now we haue ſhewne our power,
Let vs ſeeme humbler after it is done,
Then when it was a dooing.
Sicin.
Bid them home: ſay their great enemy is gone,
And they, ſtand in their ancient ſtrength.
Brut.
Diſmiſſe them home. Here comes his Mother.
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.
Sicin.
Let's not meet her.
Brut.
Why?
Sicin.
They ſay ſhe's mad.
Brut.
They haue tane note of vs: keepe on your way.
Volum.
Oh y'are well met:
Th'hoorded plague a'th'Gods requit your loue.
Menen.
Peace, peace, be not ſo loud.
Volum.
If that I could for weeping, vou ſhould heare,
Nay, and you ſhall heare ſome. Will you be gone?
Virg.
You ſhall ſtay too: I would I had the power
To ſay ſo to my Husband.|
Sicin.
Are you mankinde?
Volum.
I foole, is that a ſhame. Note but this Foole,
Was not a man my Father? Had'ſt thou Foxſhip
To baniſh him that ſtrooke more blowes for Rome
Then thou haſt ſpoken words.
Sicin.
Oh bleſſed Heauens!
Volum.
Moe Noble blowes, then euer yu wiſe words.
And for Romes good, Ile tell thee what: yet goe:
Nay but thou ſhalt ſtay too: I would my Sonne
Were in Arabia, and thy Tribe before him,
His good Sword in his hand.
Sicin.
What then?
Virg.
What then? Hee'ld make an end of thy poſterity
Volum.
Baſtards, and all.
Good man, the Wounds that he does beare for Rome!
Menen.
Come, come, peace.
Sicin.
I would he had continued to his Country
As he began, and not vnknit himſelfe
The Noble knot he made.
Bru.
I would he had.
Volum.
I would he had? 'Twas you incenſt the rable.
Cats, that can iudge as fitly of his worth,
As I can of thoſe Myſteries which heauen
Will not haue earth to know.
Brut.
Pray let's go.
Volum.
Now pray ſir get you gone.
You haue done a braue deede: Ere you go, heare this:
As farre as doth the Capitoll exceede
The meaneſt houſe in Rome; ſo farre my Sonne
This Ladies Husband heere; this (do you fee)
Whom you haue baniſh'd, does exceed you all.
Bru.
Well, well, wee'l leaue vou.
Sicin.
Why ſtay we to be baited
With one that wants her Wits. Exit Tribunes.
Volum.
Take my Prayers with you.
I would the Gods had nothing elſe to do,
But to confirme my Curſſes. Could I meete 'em
But once a day, it would vnclogge my heart
Of what lyes heauy too't.
Mene.
You haue told them home,
And by my troth you haue cauſe: you'l Sup with me.
Volum.
Angers my Meate: I ſuppe vpon my ſelfe,
And ſo ſhall ſterue with Feeding: Come, let's go,
Leaue this faint-puling, and lament as I do,
In Anger, Iuno-like: Come, come, come. Exeunt
Mene.
Fie, fie, fie. Exit.
[Scene III.]
Enter a Roman, and a Volce.
Rom.
I know you well ſir, and you know mee: your
name I thinke is Adrian.
Volce.
It is ſo ſir, truly I haue forgot you.
Rom.
I am a Roman, and my Seruices are as you are,
againſt'em. Know you me yet.
Volce.
Nicanor: no.
Rom.
The ſame ſir.
Volce.
You had more Beard when I laſt ſaw you, but
your Fauour is well appear'd by your Tongue. What's
the Newes in Rome: I haue a Note from the Volcean
ſtate to finde you out there. You haue well ſaued mee a
dayes iourney.
Rom.
There hath beene in Rome ſtraunge Inſurrecti-
ons: The people, againſt the Senatours, Patricians, and
Nobles.
Vol.
Hath bin; is it ended then? Our State thinks not
ſo, they are in a moſt warlike preparation, & hope to com
vpon them, in the heate of their diuiſion
Rom.
The maine blaze of it is paſt, but a ſmall thing
would make it flame againe. For the Nobles receyue ſo
to heart, the Baniſhment of that worthy Coriolanus, that
they are in a ripe aptneſſe, to take al power from the peo-
ple, and to plucke from them their Tribunes for euer.
This lyes glowing I can tell you, and is almoſt mature for
the violent breaking out.
Vol.
Coriolanus Baniſht?
Rom.
Baniſh'd ſir.
Vol.
You will be welcome with this intelligence Ni-
canor.
Rom.
The day ſerues well for them now. I haue heard
it ſaide, the fitteſt time to corrupt a mans Wife, is when
ſhee's falne out with her Husband. Your Noble Tullus
Auffidius well appeare well in theſe Warres, his great
Oppoſer Coriolanus being now in no requeſt of his coun-
trey.
Volce.
He cannot chooſe: I am moſt fortunate, thus
accidentally to encounter you. You haue ended my Bu-
ſineſſe, and I will merrily accompany you home.
Rom.
I ſhall betweene this and Supper, tell you moſt
ſtrange things from Rome: all tending to the good of
their Aduerſaries. Haue you an Army ready ſay you?
Vol.
A moſt Royall one: The Centurions, and their
charges diſtinctly billetted already in th'entertainment,
and to be on foot at an houres warning.
Rom.
I am ioyfull to heare of their readineſſe, and am
the man I thinke, that ſhall ſet them in preſent Action. So
ſir, heartily well met, and moſt glad of your Company.
Volce.
You take my part from me ſir, I haue the moſt
cauſe to be glad of yours.
Rom.
Well, let vs go together. Exeunt.
[Scene IV.]
Enter Coriolanus in meane Apparrell, Diſ-
guiſd, and muffled.
Corio.
A goodly City is this Antium. Citty,
'Tis I that made thy Widdowes: Many an heyre
Of theſe faire Edifices fore my Warres
Haue I heard groane, and drop: Then know me not,
Leaſt that thy Wiues with Spits, and Boyes with ſtones
In puny Battell ſlay me. Saue you ſir.
Enter a Citizen.
Cit.
And you.
Corio.
Direct me, if it be your will, where great Auf-
fidius lies: Is he in Antium?
Cit.
He is, and Feaſts the Nobles of the State, at his
houſe this night.
Corio.
Which is his house, beſeech you?
Cit.
This heere before you.
Corio.
Thanke you ſir, farewell. Exit Citizen
Oh World, thy ſlippery turnes! Friends now faſt ſworn,
Whoſe double boſomes ſeemes to weare one heart,
Whoſe Houres, whoſe Bed, whoſe Meale and Exerciſe
Are ſtill together: who Twin (as 'twere) in Loue,
Vnſeparable, ſhall within this houre,
On a diſſention of a Doit, breake out
To bittereſt Enmity: So felleſt Foes,
Whoſe Paſſions, and whoſe Plots haue broke their ſleep
To take the one the other, by ſome chance,
Some tricke not worth an Egge, ſhall grow deere friends
And inter-ioyne their yſſues. So with me,
My Birth-place haue I, and my loues vpon
This Enemie Towne: Ile enter, ifhe ſlay me
He does faire Iuſtice: if he giue me way,
Ile do his Country Seruice. Exit.
[Scene V.]
Muſicke playes. Enter a Seruingman.
1 Ser.
Wine, Wine, Wine: What ſeruice is heere? I
thinke our Fellowes are aſleepe.
Enter another Seruingman.
2 Ser.
Where's Cotus: my M. cals for him: Cotus. Exit
Enter Coriolanus.
Corio.
A goodly Houſe:
The Feaſt ſmels well: but I appeare not like a Gueſt.
Enter the firſt Seruingman.
1 Ser.
What would you haue Friend? whence are you?
Here's no place for you: Pray go to the doore? Exit
Corio.
I haue deſeru'd no better entertainment, in be-
ing Coriolanus. Enter ſecond Seruant.
2 Ser.
Whence are you ſir? Ha's the Porter his eyes in
his head, that he giues entrance to ſuch Companions?
Pray get you out.
Corio.
Away.
2 Ser.
Away? Get you away.
Corio.
Now th'art troubleſome.
2 Ser.
Are you ſo braue: Ile haue you talkt with anon
3 What Fellowes this?
1 A ſtrange one as euer I look'd on<*>: I cannot get him
out o'th'houſe: Prythee call my Maſter to him.
3 What haue you to do here fellow? Pray you auoid
the house.
Corio.
Let me but ſtand, I will not hurt your Harth.
3 What are you?
Corio.
A Gentleman.
3 A maru'llous poore one.
Corio.
True, ſo I am.
3 Pray you poore Gentleman, take vp ſome other ſta-
tion: Heere's no place for you, pray you auoid: Come.
Corio.
Follow your Function, go, and batten on colde
bits. Puſhes him away from him.
3 What you will not? Prythee tell my Maiſter what
a ſtrange Gueſt he ha's heere.
2 And I ſhall. Exit ſecond Seruingman.
3 Where dwel'ſt thou?
Corio.
Vnder the Canopy.
3 Vnder the Canopy?
Corio.
I.
3 Where's that?
Corio.
I'th City of Kites and Crowes.
3 I'th City of Kites and Crowes? What an Aſſe it is,
then thou dwel'ſt with Dawes too?
Corio.
No, I ſerue not thy Maſter.
3 How ſir? Do you meddle with my Maſter?
Corio.
I, tis an honeſter ſeruice, then to meddle with
thy Miſtris: Thou prat'ſt, and prat'ſt, ſerue with thy tren-
cher: Hence. Beats him away
Enter Auffidius with the Seruingman.
Auf.
Where is this Fellow?
2 Here ſir, I'de haue beaten him like a dogge, but for
diſturbing the Lords within.
Auf.
Whence com'ſt thou? What woldſt yu? Thy name?
Why ſpeak'ſt not? Speake man: What's thy name?
Corio.
If Tullus not yet thou know'ſt me, and ſeeing
me, doſt not thinke me for the man I am, neceſſitie com-
mands me name my ſelfe.
Auf.
What is thy name?
Corio.
A name vnmuſicall to the Volcians eares,|
And harſh in ſound to thine.
Auf.
Say, what's thy name?
Thou haſt a Grim apparance, and thy Face
Beares a Command in't: Though thy Tackles torne,
Thou ſhew'ſt a Noble Veſſell: What's thy name?
Corio.
Prepare thy brow to frowne: knowſt yu me yet?
Auf.
I know thee not? Thy Name?
Corio.
My name is Caius Martius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volces
Great hurt and Miſchiefe: thereto witneſſe may
My Surname Coriolanus. The painfull Seruice,
The extreme Dangers, and the droppes of Blood
Shed for my thankleſſe Country, are requitted:
But with that Surname, a good memorie
And witneſſe of the Malice and Diſpleaſure
Which thou ſhould'ſt beare me, only that name remains.
The Cruelty and Enuy of the people,
Permitted by our daſtard Nobles, who
Haue all forſooke me, hath deuour'd the reſt:
And ſuffer'd me by th'voyce of Slaues to be
Hoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity,
Hath brought me to thy Harth, not out of Hope
(Miſtake me not) to ſaue my life: for if
I had fear'd death, of all the Men i'th'World
I would haue voided thee. But in meere ſpight
To be full quit of thoſe my Baniſhers,
Stand I before thee heere: Then if thou haſt
A heart of wreake in thee, that wilt reuenge
Thine owne particular wrongs, and ſtop thoſe maimes
Of ſhame ſeene through thy Country, ſpeed thee ſtraight
And make my miſery ſerue thy turne: So vſe it,
That my reuengefull Seruices may proue
As Benefits to thee. For I will fight
Againſt my Cankred Countrey, with the Spleene
Of all the vnder Fiends. But if ſo be,
Thou dar'ſt not this, and that to proue more Fortunes
Th'art tyr'd, then in a word, I alſo am
Longer to liue moſt wearie: and preſent
My throat to thee, and to thy Ancient Malice:
Which not to cut, would ſhew thee but a Foole,
Since I haue euer followed thee with hate,
Drawne Tunnes of Blood out of thy Countries breſt,
And cannot liue but to thy ſhame, vnleſſe
It be to do thee ſeruice.
Auf.
Oh Martius, Martius;
Each word thou haſt ſpoke, hath weeded from my heart
A roote of Ancient Enuy. If Iupiter
Should from yond clowd ſpeake diuine things,
And ſay 'tis true; I'de not beleeue them more
Then thee all-Noble Martius. Let me twine
Mine armes about that body, where againſt
My grained Aſh an hundred times hath broke,
And ſcarr'd the Moone with ſplinters: heere I cleep
The Anuile of my Sword, and do conteſt
As hotly, and as Nobly with thy Loue,
As euer in Ambitious ſtrength, I did
Contend againſt thy Valour. Know thou firſt,
I lou'd the Maid I married: neuer man
Sigh'd truer breath. But that I ſee thee heere
Thou Noble thing, more dances my rapt heart,
Then when I firſt my wedded Miſtris ſaw
Beſtride my Threſhold. Why, thou Mars I tell thee,
We haue a Power on foote: and I had purpoſe
Once more to hew thy Target from thy Brawne,
Or looſe mine Arme for't: Thou haſt beate mee out
Twelue ſeuerall times, and I haue nightly ſince
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thy ſelfe and me:
We haue beene downe together in my ſleepe,
Vnbuckling Helmes, fiſting each others Throat,
And wak'd halfe dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,
Had we no other quarrell elſe to Rome, but that
Thou art thence Baniſh'd, we would muſter all
From twelue, to ſeuentie: and powring Warre
Into the bowels of vngratefull Rome,
Like a bold Flood o're-beate. Oh come, go in,
And take our Friendly Senators by'th'hands
Who now are heere, taking their leaues of mee,
Who am prepar'd againſt your Territories,
Though not for Rome it ſelfe.
Corio.
You bleſſe me Gods.
Auf.
Therefore moſt abſolute Sir, if thou wilt haue
The leading of thine owne Reuenges, take
Th'one halfe of my Commiſſion, and ſet downe
As beſt thou art experienc'd, ſince thou know'ſt
Thy Countries ſtrength and weakneſſe, thine own waies
Whether to knocke 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 ſhall
Say yea to thy deſires. A thouſand welcomes,
And more a Friend, then ere an Enemie,
Yet Martius that was much. Your hand: moſt welcome.
Exeunt
Enter two of the Seruingmen.
1 Heere's a ſtrange alteration?
2 By my hand, I had thoght to haue ſtroken him with
a Cudgell, and yet my minde gaue me, his cloathes made
a falſe report of him.
1 What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his
finger and his thumbe, as one would ſet vp a Top.
2 Nay, I knew by his face that there was ſome-thing
in him. He had ſir, a kinde of face me thought, I cannot
tell how to tearme it.
1 He had ſo, looking as it were, would I were hang'd
but I thought there was more in him, then I could think.
2 So did I, Ile be ſworne: He | is ſimply the rareſt man
i'th'world.
1 I thinke he is: but a greater foldier then he,
You wot one.
2 Who my Maſter?
1 Nay, it's no matter for that.
2 Worth ſix on him.
1 Nay not ſo neither: but I take him to be the greater
Souldiour.
2 Faith looke you, one cannot tell how to ſay that: for
the Defence of a Towne, our Generall is excellent.
1 I, and for an aſſault too.
Enter the third Seruingman.
3 Oh Slaues, I can tell you Newes, News you Raſcals
Both.
What, what, what? Let's partake.
3 I would not be a Roman of all Nations; I had as
liue be a condemn'd man.
Both.
Wherefore? Wherefore?
3 Why here's he that was wont to thwacke our Ge-
nerall, Caius Martius.
1 Why do you ſay, thwacke our Generall?
3 I do not ſay thwacke our Generall, but he was al-
wayes good enough for him
2 Come we are fellowes and friends: he was euer too
hard for him, I haue heard him ſay ſo himſelfe.
1 He was too hard for him directly, to ſay the Troth
on't before Corioles, he ſcotcht him, and notcht him like a
Carbinado.
2 And hee had bin Cannibally giuen, hee might haue
boyld and eaten him too.
1 But more of thy Newes.
3 Why he is ſo made on heere within, as if hee were
Son and Heire to Mars, ſet at vpper end o'th'Table: No
queſtion askt him by any of the Senators, but they ſtand
bald before him. Our Generall himſelfe makes a Miſtris
of him, Sanctifies himſelfe with's hand, and turnes vp the
white o'th'eye to his Diſcourſe. But the bottome of the
Newes is, our Generall is cut i'th'middle, & but one halfe
of what he was yeſterdav. For the other ha's halfe, by
the intreaty and graunt of the whole Table. Hee'l go he
ſayes, and ſole the Porter of Rome Gates by th'eares. He
will mowe all downe before him, and leaue his paſſage
poul'd.
2 And he's as like to do't, as any man I can imagine.
3 Doo't? he will doo't: for look you ſir, he has as ma-
ny Friends as Enemies: which Friends ſir as it were, durſt
not (looke you ſir) ſhew themſelues (as we terme it) his
Friends, whileſt he's in Directitude.
1 Directitude? What's that?
3 But when they ſhall ſee ſir, his Creſt vp againe, and
the man in blood, they will out of their Burroughes (like
Conies after Raine) and reuell all with him.
1 But when goes this forward:
3 To morrow, to day, preſently, you ſhall haue the
Drum ſtrooke vp this afternoone: 'Tis as it were a parcel
of their Feaſt, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.
2 Why then wee ſhall haue a ſtirring World againe:
This peace is nothing, but to ruſt Iron, |encreaſe Taylors,
and breed Ballad-makers.
1 Let me haue Warre ſay I, it exceeds peace as farre
as day do's night: It's ſprightly walking, audible, and full
of Vent. Peace, is a very Apoplexy, Lethargie, mull'd,
deafe, ſleepe, inſensible, a getter of more baſtard Chil-
dren, then warres a deſtroyer of men.
2 'Tis ſo, and as warres in ſome ſort may be ſaide to
be a Rauiſher, ſo it cannot be denied, but peace is a great
maker of Cuckolds.
1 I, and it makes men hate one another.
3 Reaſon, becauſe they then leſſe neede one another:
The Warres for my money. I hope to ſee Romanes as
cheape as Volcians. They are riſing, they are riſing.
Both.
In, in, in, in. Exeunt
[Scene VI.]
Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus.
Sicin.
We heare not of him, neither need we fear him,
His remedies are tame, the preſent peace,
And quietneſſe of the people, which before
Were in wilde hurry. Heere do we make his Friends
Bluſh, that the world goes well: who rather had,
Though they themſelues did ſuffer by't, behold
Diſſentious numbers peſtring ſtreets, then ſee
Our Tradeſmen ſinging in their ſhops, and going
About their Functions friendly.
Enter Menenius.
Bru.
We ſtood too't in good time. Is this Menenius|?
Sicin.
'Tis he, 'tis he: O he is grown moſt kind of late:
Haile Sir. Mene. Haile to you both.
Sicin.
Your Coriolanus is not much miſt, but with his
Friends: the Commonwealth doth ſtand, and ſo would
do, were he more angry at it.
Mene.
All's well, and might haue bene much better,
if he could haue temporiz'd.
Sicin.
Where is he, heare you?
Mene.
Nay I heare nothing:
His Mother and his wife, heare nothing from him.
Enter three or foure Citizens.
All.
The Gods preſerue you both.
Sicin.
Gooden our Neighbours.
Bru.
Gooden to you all, gooden to you all.
1 Our ſelues, our wiues, and children, on our knees,
Are bound to pray for you both.
Sicin.
Liue, and thriue.
Bru.
Farewell kinde Neighbours:
We wiſht Coriolanus had lou'd you as we did.
All.
Now the Gods keepe you.
Both Tri.
Farewell, farewell. Exeunt Citizens
Sicin.
This is a happier and more comely time,
Then when theſe Fellowes ran about the ſtreets,
Crying Confuſion.
Bru.
Caius Martius was
A worthy Officer i'th'Warre, but Inſolent,
O'recome with Pride, Ambitious, paſt all thinking
Selfe-louing.|
Sicin.
And affecting one ſole Throne, without aſſiſtãce
Mene.
I thinke not ſo.
Sicin.
We ſhould by this, to all our Lamention,
If he had gone forth Conſull, found it ſo.
Bru.
The Gods haue well preuented it, and Rome
Sits ſafe and ſtill, without him.
Enter an Ædile.
Ædile.
Worthy Tribunes,
There is a Slaue whom we haue put in priſon,
Reports the Volces with two ſeuerall Powers
Are entred in the Roman Territories,
And with the deepeſt malice of the Warre,
Deſtroy, what lies before 'em.
Mene.
'Tis Auffidius,
Who hearing of our Martius Baniſhment,
Thruſts forth his hornes againe into the world
Which were In-ſhell'd, when Martius ſtood for Rome,
And durſt not once peepe out.
Sicin.
Come, what talke you of Martius.
Bru.
Go ſee this Rumorer whipt, it cannot be,
The Volces dare breake with vs.
Mene.
Cannot be?
We haue Record, that very well it can,
And three examples of the like, hath beene
Within my Age. But reaſon with the fellow
Before you puniſh him, where he heard this,
Leaſt you ſhall chance to whip your Information,
And beate the Meſſenger, who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.
Sicin.
Tell not me: I know this cannot be.
Bru.
Not poſſible.
Enter a Meſſenger.
Meſ.
The Nobles in great earneſtneſſe are going
All to the Senate-houſe: ſome newes is comming
That turnes their Countenances.
Sicin.
'Tis this Slaue:
Go whip him fore the peoples eyes: His raiſing,
Nothing but his report.
Meſ.
Yes worthy Sir,
The Slaues report is ſeconded, and more
More fearfull is deliuer'd.
Sicin.
What more fearefull?
Meſ.
It is ſpoke freely out of many mouths,
How probable I do not know, that Martius
Ioyn'd with Auffidius, leads a power 'gainſt Rome,
And vowes Reuenge as ſpacious, as betweene
The yong'ſt and oldeſt thing.
Sicin.
This is moſt likely.|
Bru.
Rais'd onely, that the weaker ſort may wiſh
Good Martius home againe.
Sicin.
The very tricke on't.
Mene.
This is vnlikely,
He, and Auffidius can no more attone
Then violent'ſt Contrariety.
Enter Meſſenger.
Meſ.
You are ſent for to the Senate:
A fearefull Army, led by Caius Martius,
Aſſociated with Auffidius, Rages
Vpon our Territories, and haue already
O're-borne their way, conſum'd with fire, and tooke
What lay before them.
Enter Cominius.
Com.
Oh you haue made good worke.
Mene.
What newes? What newes?
Com.
You haue holp to rauiſh your owne daughters, &
To melt the City Leades vpon your pates,
To ſee your Wiues diſhonour'd to your Noſes.
Mene.
What's the newes? What's the newes?
Com.
Your Temples burned in their Ciment, and
Your Franchiſes, whereon you ſtood, confin'd
Into an Augors boare.
Mene.
Pray now, your Newes:
You haue made faire worke I feare me: pray your newes,
If Martius ſhould be ioyn'd with Volceans.
Com.
If? He is their God, he leads them like a thing
Made by ſome other Deity then Nature,
That ſhapes man Better: and they follow him
Againſt vs Brats, with no leſſe Confidence,
Then Boyes purſuing Summer Butter-flies,
Or Butchers killing Flyes.
Mene.
You haue made good worke,
You and your Apron men: you, that ſtood ſo much
Vpon the voyce of occupation, and
The breath of Garlicke-eaters.
Com.
Hee'l ſhake your Rome about your eares
Mene.
As Hercules did ſhake downe Mellow Fruite:
You haue made faire worke.
Brut.
But is this true ſir?
Com.
I, and you'l looke pale
Before you finde it other. All the Regions
Do ſmilingly Reuolt, and who reſiſts
Are mock'd for valiant Ignorance,
And periſh con<*>ant Fooles: who is't can blame him?
Your Enemies and his, finde ſomething in him.
Mene.
We are all vndone, vnleſſe
The Noble man haue mercy.
Com.
Who ſhall aske it?
The Tribunes cannot doo't for ſhame; the people
Deſerue ſuch pitty of him, as the Wolfe
Doe's of the Shepheards: For his beſt Friends, if they
Should ſay be good to Rome, they charg'd him, euen
As thoſe ſhould do that had deſeru'd his hate,
And therein ſhew'd like Enemies.
Me.
'Tis true, if he were putting to my houſe, the brand
That ſhould conſume it, I haue not the face
To ſay, beſeech you ceaſe. You haue made faire hands,
You and your Crafts, you haue crafted faire.
Com.
You haue brought
A Trembling vpon Rome, ſuch as was neuer
S'incapeable of helpe.
Tri.
Say not, we brought it.
Mene.
How? Was't we? We lou'd him,
But like Beaſts, and Cowardly Nobles,
Gaue way vnto your Cluſters, who did hoote
Him out o'th'Citty.
Com.
But I feare
They'l roare him in againe. Tullus Auffidius,
The ſecond name of men, obeyes his points
As if he were his Officer: Deſperation,
Is all the Policy, Strength, and Defence
That Rome can make againſt them.
Enter a Troope of Citizens.
Mene.
Heere come the Cluſters.
And is Auffidius with him? You are they
That made the Ayre vnwholſome, when you caſt
Your ſtinking, greaſie Caps, in hooting
At Coriolanus Exile. Now he's comming,
And not a haire vpon a Souldiers head
Which will not proue a whip: As many Coxcombes
As you threw Caps vp, will he tumble downe,
And pay you for your voyces. 'Tis no matter,
If he could burne vs all into oue coale,
We haue deſeru'd it.
Omnes.
Faith, we heare fearfull Newes.
1 Cit.
For mine owne part,
When I ſaid baniſh him, I ſaid 'twas pitty.
2 And ſo did I.
3 And ſo did I: and to ſay the truth, ſo did very ma-
ny of vs, that we did we did for the beſt, and though wee
willingly conſented to his Baniſhment, yet it was againſt
our will.
Com.
Y'are goodly things, you Voyces.
Mene.
You haue made good worke
You and your cry. Shal's to the Capitoll?
Com.
Oh I, what elſe? Exeunt both.
Sicin.
Go Maſters get you home, be not diſmaid,
Theſe are a Side, that would be glad to haue
This true, which they ſo ſeeme to feare. Go home,
And ſhew no ſigne of Feare.
1 Cit.
The Gods bee good to vs: Come Maſters let's
home, I euer ſaid we were i'th wrong, when we baniſh'd
him.
2 Cit.
So did we all. But come, let's home. Exit Cit.
Bru.
I do not like this Newes.
Sicin.
Nor I.
Bru.
Let's to the Capitoll: would halfe my wealth
Would buy this for a lye.
Sicin.
Pray let's go. Exeunt Tribunes.
[Scene VII.]
Enter Auffidius with his Lieutenant.
Auf.
Do they ſtill ſlye to'th'Roman?
Lieu.
I do not know what Witchcraft's in him: but
Your Soldiers vſe him as the Grace 'fore meate,
Their talke at Table, and their Thankes at end,
And you are darkned in this action Sir,
Euen by your owne.
Auf.
I cannot helpe it now,
Vnleſſe by vſing meanes I lame the foote
Of our deſigne. He beares himſelfe more proudlier,
Euen to my perſon, then I thought he would
When firſt I did embrace him. Yet his Nature
In that's no Changeling, and I muſt excuſe
What cannot be amended.
Lieu.
Yet I wiſh Sir,
(I meane for your particular) you had not
Ioyn'd in Commiſſion with him: but either haue borne
The action of your ſelfe, or elſe to him, had left it ſoly.
Auf.
I vnderſtand thee well, and be thou ſure
When he ſhall come to his account, he knowes not
What I can vrge againſt him, although it ſeemes
And ſo he thinkes, and is no leſſe apparant
To th'vulgar eye, that he beares all things fairely:
And ſhewes good Husbandry for the Volcian State,
Fights Dragon-like, and does atcheeue as ſoone
As draw his Sword: yet he hath left vndone
That which ſhall breake his necke, or hazard mine,
When ere we come to our account.
Lieu.
Sir, I beſeech you, think you he'l carry Rome?
Auf.
All places yeelds to him ere he ſits downe,
And theiNobility of Rome are his:
The Senators and Patricians loue him too:
The Tribunes are no Soldiers: and their people
Will be as raſh in the repeale, as haſty
To expell him thence. I thinke hee'l be to Rome
As is the Aſpray to the Fiſh, who takes it
By Soueraignty of Nature. Firſt, he was
A Noble ſeruant to them, but he could not
Carry his Honors eeuen: whether 'was Pride
Which out of dayly Fortune euer taints
The happy man; whether detect of iudgement,
To faile in the diſpoſing of thoſe chances
Which he was Lord of: or whether Nature,
Not to be other then one thing, not moouing
From th'Caske to th'Cuſhion: but commanding peace
Euen with the ſame auſterity and garbe,
As he controll'd the warre. But one of theſe
(As he hath ſpices of them all) not all,
For I dare ſo farre free him, made him fear'd,
So hated, and ſo baniſh'd: but he ha's a Merit
To choake it in the vtt'rance: So our Vertue,
Lie in th'interpretation of the time,
And power vnto it ſelfe moſt commendable,
Hath not a Tombe ſo euident as a Chaire
T'extoll what it hath done.
One fire driues out one fire; one Naile, one Naile;
Rights by rights fouler, ſtrengths by ſtrengths do faile.
Come let's away: when Caius Rome is thine,
Thou art poor'ſt of all; then ſhortly art thou mine. exeunt