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Coriolanus (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
3570
Enter Menenius and Sicinius.
Mene. See you yon'd Coin a'th Capitol, yon'd corner
Sicin. Why what of that?
Mene. If it be possible for you to displace it with your
little finger, there is some hope the Ladies of Rome, espe-
3575cially his Mother, may preuaile with him. But I say, there
is no hope in't, our throats are sentenc'd, and stay vppon
execution.
Sicin. Is't possible, that so short a time can alter the
condition of a man.
3580Mene. There is differency between a Grub & a But-
terfly, yet your Butterfly was a Grub: this Martius, is
growne from Man to Dragon: He has wings, hee's more
then a creeping thing.
Sicin. He lou'd his Mother deerely.
3585Mene. So did he mee: and he no more remembers his
Mother now, then an eight yeare old horse. The tartnesse
of his face, sowres ripe Grapes. When he walks, he moues
like an Engine, and the ground shrinkes before his Trea-
ding. He is able to pierce a Corslet with his eye: Talkes
3590like a knell, and his hum is a Battery. He sits in his State,
as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids bee done, is
finisht with his bidding. He wants nothing of a God but
Eternity, and a Heauen to Throne in.
Sicin. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.
3595Mene. I paint him in the Character. Mark what mer-
cy his Mother shall bring from him: There is no more
mercy in him, then there is milke in a male-Tyger, that
shall our poore City finde: and all this is long of you.
Sicin. The Gods be good vnto vs.
3600Mene. No, in such a case the Gods will not bee good
vnto vs. When we banish'd him, we respected not them:
and he returning to breake our necks, they respect not vs.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes. Sir, if you'ld saue your life, flye to your House,
3605The Plebeians haue got your Fellow Tribune,
And hale him vp and downe; all swearing, if
The Romane Ladies bring not comfort home,
They'l giue him death by Inches.
Enter another Messenger.
3610Sicin. What's the Newes?
Mess. Good Newes, good newes, the Ladies haue
The Volcians are dislodg'd, and Martius gone:
A merrier day did neuer yet greet Rome,
No, not th' expulsion of the Tarquins.
3615Sicin. Friend, art thou certaine this is true?
Is't most certaine.
Mes. As certaine as I know the Sun is fire:
Where haue you lurk'd that you make doubt of it:
Ne're through an Arch so hurried the blowne Tide,
3620As the recomforted through th' gates. Why harke you:
Trumpets, Hoboyes, Drums beate, altogether.
The Trumpets, Sack-buts, Psalteries, and Fifes,
Tabors, and Symboles, and the showting Romans,
Make the Sunne dance. Hearke you.
A shout within
3625Mene. This is good Newes:
I will go meete the Ladies. This Volumnia,
Is worth of Consuls, Senators, Patricians,
A City full: Of Tribunes such as you,
A Sea and Land full: you haue pray'd well to day:
3630This Morning, for ten thousand of your throates,
I'de not haue giuen a doit. Harke, how they ioy.
Sound still with the Shouts.
Sicin. First, the Gods blesse you for your tydings:
Next, accept my thankefulnesse.
3635Mess. Sir, we haue all great cause to giue great thanks.
Sicin. They are neere the City.
Mes. Almost at point to enter.
Sicin. Wee'l meet them, and helpe the ioy.
Exeunt.