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The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

Chapter 133: ACT IV.
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About This Book

The volume collects four dramatic works that range from a historical drama focused on court politics and questions of succession to a skeptical treatment of love and honor amid a prolonged war. Another play examines pride, civic unrest, and the fraught relationship between a celebrated public figure and the populace, ending in alienation and political catastrophe. A final piece delivers a brutal revenge tragedy where cycles of atrocity and retaliation escalate into extreme violence. The edition pairs the plays with scholarly notes and textual commentary that document variant readings and editorial decisions.


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]