網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

Even from this instant, banish him our city;

In peril of precipitation

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more

To enter our Rome gates: I' the people's name,
I say, it shall be so.

Cit.

It shall be so,

It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd,

And so it shall be.

Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common

friends;

Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing.

Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show from Rome, Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country's good, with a respect more tender, More holy, and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife's estimate t, her womb's increase, And treasure of my loins; then if I would Speak that

Sic.

We know your drift: Speak what? Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is ba

nish'd,

As enemy to the people, and his country:

It shall be so.

Cit.

It shall be so, it shall be so.

Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I

hate

As reek o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcases of unburied men

That do corrupt my air, I banish you;
And here remain with your uncertainty!
Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!
Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,
Fan you into despair! Have the power still
To banish your defenders; till, at length,
Your ignorance (which finds not, till it feels),
Making not reservation of yourselves
(Still your own foes), deliver you, as most

* For. ↑ Value.

Pack.

$ Vapour.

Abated* captives, to some nation

That won you without blows! Despising,
For you, the city, thus I turn my back:
There is a world elsewhere.

[Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, Menenius, Senators, and Patricians.

Edi. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!

D

[The People shout, and throw up their caps. Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite ; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city.

Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates;

come:

The gods preserve our noble tribunes!-Come.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. The same. Before a gate of the city.

Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, and several young Patricians.

Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:-the beast t

With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say, extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating: fortune's blows,
When most struck home, being gentle wounded,

craves

*Subdued. + The government of the people.

A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens !

Cor.

Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,—

Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in

Rome,

And occupations perish!

Cor.

What, what, what!

I shall be lov❜d when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius,
Droop not; adieu :-Farewell, my wife! my mother!
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
Heart hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot well,
My hazards still have been your solace: and
Believe't not lightly (though I go alone

Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen), your son Will, or exceed the common, or be caught

With cautelous t baits and practice.

Vol.

My first son,

Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee a while: Determine on some course,
More than a wild exposture to each chance
That starts i'the way before thee.

O the gods!

Cor. Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us, And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth

* Foolish. Exposure.

+ Insidious.

Noblest.

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.

Cor.

Fare ye well:

Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd: 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.
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

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'd with thee every foot.

[blocks in formation]

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

The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided

In his behalf.

Bru.

Now we have shown our power,

Let us seem humbler after it is done,

Than when it was a doing.

True metal.

Sic.

Bid them home:

Say, their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.

[blocks in formation]

Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague

o'the gods

Requite your love!

Men.

Peace, peace; be not so loud. Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should

hear,

Nay, and you shall hear some. Will you be gone? [To Brutus. Vir. You shall stay too: [To Sicin.] I would, I had the power To say so to my husband.

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,
Than thou hast spoken words?

Sic.

O blessed heavens ! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise

words;

And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what;-Yet

go:

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

Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,

His good sword in his hand.

Mean cunning.

« 上一頁繼續 »