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  • Title: Coriolanus (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Coriolanus (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 29
    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 (preuayl'd,
    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.
    Enter two Senators, with Ladies, passing ouer
    3640the Stage, with other Lords.
    Sena. Behold our Patronnesse, the life of Rome:
    Call all your Tribes together, praise the Gods,
    And make triumphant fires, strew Flowers before them:
    Vnshoot the noise that Banish'd Martius;
    3645Repeale him, with the welcome of his Mother:
    Cry welcome Ladies, welcome.
    All. Welcome Ladies, welcome.
    A Flourish with Drummes & Trumpets.
    Enter Tullus Auffidius, with Attendants.
    3650Auf. Go tell the Lords a'th' City, I am heere:
    Deliuer them this Paper: hauing read it,
    Bid them repayre to th' Market place, where I
    Euen in theirs, and in the Commons eares
    Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse:
    3655The City Ports by this hath enter'd, and
    Intends t'appeare before the People, hoping
    To purge himselfe with words. Dispatch.
    Enter 3 or 4 Conspirators of Auffidius Faction.
    Most Welcome.
    36601. Con. How is it with our Generall?
    Auf. Euen so, as with a man by his owne Almes im-
    poyson'd, and with his Charity slaine.
    2. Con. Most Noble Sir, If you do hold the same intent
    Wherein you wisht vs parties: Wee'l deliuer you
    3665Of your great danger.
    Auf. Sir, I cannot tell,
    We must proceed as we do finde the People.
    3. Con. The People will remaine vncertaine, whil'st
    'Twixt you there's difference: but the fall of either
    3670Makes the Suruiuor heyre of all.
    Auf. I know it:
    And my pretext to strike at him, admits
    A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd
    Mine Honor for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
    3675He watered his new Plants with dewes of Flattery,
    Seducing so my Friends: and to this end,
    He bow'd his Nature, neuer knowne before,
    But to be rough, vnswayable, and free.
    3. Consp. Sir, his stoutnesse
    3680When he did stand for Consull, which he lost
    By lacke of stooping.
    Auf. That I would haue spoke of:
    Being banish'd for't, he came vnto my Harth,
    Presented to my knife his Throat: I tooke him,
    3685Made him ioynt-seruant with me: Gaue him way
    In all his owne desires: Nay, let him choose
    Out of my Files, his proiects, to accomplish
    My best and freshest men, seru'd his designements
    In mine owne person: holpe to reape the Fame
    3690Which he did end all his; and tooke some pride
    To do my selfe this wrong: Till at the last
    I seem'd his Follower, not Partner; and
    He wadg'd me with his Countenance, as if
    I had bin Mercenary.
    36951. Con. So he did my Lord:
    The Army marueyl'd at it, and in the last,
    When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd
    For no lesse Spoile, then Glory.
    Auf. There was it:
    3700For which my sinewes shall be stretcht vpon him,
    At a few drops of Womens rhewme, which are
    As cheape as Lies; he sold the Blood and Labour
    Of our great Action; therefore shall he dye,
    And Ile renew me in his fall. But hearke.
    3705Drummes and Trumpets sounds, with great
    showts of the people.
    1. Con. Your Natiue Towne you enter'd like a Poste,
    And had no welcomes home, but he returnes
    Splitting the Ayre with noyse.
    37102. Con. And patient Fooles,
    Whose children he hath slaine, their base throats teare
    With giuing him glory.
    3. Con. Therefore at your vantage,
    Ere he expresse himselfe, or moue the people
    3715With what he would say, let him feele your Sword:
    Which we will second, when he lies along
    After your way. His Tale pronounc'd, shall bury
    His Reasons, with his Body.
    Auf. Say no more. Heere come the Lords,
    3720Enter the Lords of the City.
    All Lords. You are most welcome home.
    Auff. I haue not deseru'd it.
    But worthy Lords, haue you with heede perused
    What I haue written to you?
    3725All. We haue.
    1. Lord. And greeue to heare't:
    What faults he made before the last, I thinke
    Might haue found easie Fines: But there to end
    Where he was to begin, and giue away
    3730The benefit of our Leuies, answering vs
    With our owne charge: making a Treatie, where
    There was a yeelding; this admits no excuse.
    cc3 Auf.
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