C. MARCIUS

CORIOLANUS.

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Dramatis Perfonæ.

CAIUS Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman, hated by the common People.

Titus Lartius,
Cominius,

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Generals against the Volfcians, and

Friends to Coriolanus.

Menenius Agrippa, Friend to Coriolanus.

Sicinius Velutus, Tribunes of the People, and enemies to Junius Brutus, Coriolanus.

Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians.

Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus.

Confpirators with Aufidius.

Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus.

Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend to Virgilia.

Roman and Volfcian Senators, Ediles, Lictors, Soldiers, Common People, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians, and Antiates.

粥鋪

CORIOLANUS.

ACT

I.

SCENE, a Street in ROME.

Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with flaves, clubs, and other weapons.

I CITIZEN.

*XX*EFORE we proceed any farther, heart me speak.

****

All. Speak, fpeak.

1 Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to diethan to famish ?

All. Refolv'd, refolv'd.

1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Martius is the chief enemy to the people.

All. We know't, we know't.

1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict ?

All. No more talking on't, let't be done; away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good Citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor Citizens; the Patricians, good: what authority furfeits on, would relieve us if they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were: wholefome, we might guefs, they relieved us humanely

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but

but they think, we are too dear; the leannefs that afflicts us the object of our mifery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the Gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

All. Against him firft: he's a very dog to the commonality.

2 Cit. Confider you, what fervices he has done for his country?

1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't; but that he pays himself with being proud.

All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famoufly, he did it to that end; though foft-confcienc'd men can be content to fay, it was for his country; he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you muft in no ways fay, he is

covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are thofe ? the other fide o'th' city is rifen; why stay we prating here? To the Capitol

All. Come, come.
Cit. Soft

L

who comes here ?

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people.

Cit. He's one honeft enough; would, all the rest were fo!

Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you

With bats and clubs? the matter-Speak, I pray you,

2 Cit. Our bufinefs is not unknown to the Senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in deeds: they say, poor fuitors have ftrong breaths; they fhall know, we have ftrong arms too.

Men. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honeft neighbours,

Will you undo yourselves?

2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already.
Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the Patricians of you: For your wants,
Your fufferings in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heaven with your staves, as lift them
Against the Roman ftate; whofe course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs.
Of more ftrong links afunder, than can ever
Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,
The Gods, not the Patricians, make it; and
Your knees to them (not arms) muft help. Alack,
You are tranfported by calamity

Thither, where more attends you; and you flander
The helms o'th' ftate, who care for you like fathers,
When you curse them as enemies.

2 Cit. Care for us!true, indeed!- -they ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famifh, and their storehoufes cramm'd with grain: make edicts for ufury, to fupport ufurers; repeal daily any wholfome Act establifhed against the rich, and provide more piercing ftatutes daily to chain up and reftrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us.

Men. Eeither you muft

Confefs yourselves wond'rous malicious,

Or be accus'd of folly.

I fhall tell you

A pretty tale, (it may be, you have heard it;) But, fince it ferves my purpofe, I will venture (1) To ftale't a little more.

z Cit.

(1) To fcale't a little more.] Thus all the Editions, but without any manner of Senfe, that I can find out. The Poet must have

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wrote,