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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    Not Peer Reviewed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. 9

    Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria.

    How now (my as faire as Noble) Ladyes, and the Moone
    995were shee Earthly, no Nobler; whither doe you follow
    your Eyes so fast?
    Volum. Honorable Menenius, my Boy Martius appro-
    ches: for the loue of Iuno let's goe.
    Menen. Ha? Martius comming home?
    1000Volum. I, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous
    approbation.
    Menen. Take my Cappe Iupiter, and I thanke thee:
    hoo, Martius comming home?
    2. Ladies. Nay, 'tis true.
    1005Volum. Looke, here's a Letter from him, the State hath
    another, his Wife another, and (I thinke) there's one at
    home for you.
    Menen. I will make my very house reele to night:
    A Letter for me?
    1010Virgil. Yes certaine, there's a Letter for you, I saw't.
    Menen. A Letter for me? it giues me an Estate of se-
    uen yeeres health; in which time, I will make a Lippe at
    the Physician: The most soueraigne Prescription in Galen,
    is but Emperickqutique; and to this Preseruatiue, of no
    1015better report then a Horse-drench. Is he not wounded?
    he was wont to come home wounded?
    Virgil. Oh no, no, no.
    Volum. Oh, he is wounded, I thanke the Gods for't.
    Menen. So doe I too, if it be not too much: brings a
    1020Victorie in his Pocket? the wounds become him.
    Volum. On's Browes: Menenius, hee comes the third
    time home with the Oaken Garland.
    Menen. Ha's he disciplin'd Auffidius soundly?
    Volum. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but
    1025Auffidius got off.
    Menen. And 'twas time for him too, Ile warrant him
    that: and he had stay'd by him, I would not haue been so
    fiddious'd, for all the Chests in Carioles, and the Gold
    that's in them. Is the Senate possest of this?
    1030Volum. Good Ladies let's goe. Yes, yes, yes: The
    Senate ha's Letters from the Generall, wherein hee giues
    my Sonne the whole Name of the Warre: he hath in this
    action out-done his former deeds doubly.
    Valer. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.
    1035Menen. Wondrous: I, I warrant you, and not with-
    out his true purchasing.
    Virgil. The Gods graunt them true.
    Volum. True? pow waw.
    Mene. True? Ile be sworne they are true: where is
    1040hee wounded, God saue your good Worships? Martius
    is comming home: hee ha's more cause to be prowd:
    where is he wounded?
    Volum. Ith' Shoulder, and ith' left Arme: there will be
    large Cicatrices to shew the People, when hee shall stand
    1045for his place: he receiued in the repulse of Tarquin seuen
    hurts ith' Body.
    Mene. One ith' Neck, and two ith' Thigh, there's nine
    that I know.
    Volum. Hee had, before this last Expedition, twentie
    1050fiue Wounds vpon him.
    Mene. Now it's twentie seuen; euery gash was an
    Enemies Graue. Hearke, the Trumpets.
    A showt, and flourish.
    Volum. These are the Vshers of Martius:
    1055Before him, hee carryes Noyse;
    And behinde him, hee leaues Teares:
    Death, that darke Spirit, in's neruie Arme doth lye,
    Which being aduanc'd, declines, and then men dye.

    A Sennet. Trumpets sound.
    1060Enter Cominius the Generall, and Titus Latius: be-
    tweene them Coriolanus, crown'd with an Oaken
    Garland, with Captaines and Soul-
    diers, and a Herauld.
    Herauld. Know Rome, that all alone Martius did fight
    1065Within Corioles Gates: where he hath wonne,
    With Fame, a Name to Martius Caius:
    These in honor followes Martius Caius Coriolanus.
    Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus.
    Sound. Flourish.
    1070All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus.
    Coriol. No more of this, it does offend my heart: pray
    now no more.
    Com. Looke, Sir, your Mother.
    Coriol. Oh! you haue, I know, petition'd all the Gods
    1075for my prosperitie. Kneeles.
    Volum. Nay, my good Souldier, vp:
    My gentle Martius, worthy Caius,
    And by deed-atchieuing Honor newly nam'd,
    What is it (Coriolanus) must I call thee?
    1080But oh, thy Wife.
    Corio. My gracious silence, hayle:
    Would'st thou haue laugh'd, had I come Coffin'd home,
    That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah my deare,
    Such eyes the Widowes in Carioles were,
    1085And Mothers that lacke Sonnes.
    Mene. Now the Gods Crowne thee.
    Com. And liue you yet? Oh my sweet Lady, pardon.
    Volum. I know not where to turne.
    Oh welcome home: and welcome Generall,
    1090And y'are welcome all.
    Mene. A hundred thousand Welcomes:
    I could weepe, and I could laugh,
    I am light, and heauie; welcome:
    A Curse begin at very root on's heart,
    1095That is not glad to see thee.
    Yon are three, that Rome should dote on:
    Yet by the faith of men, we haue
    Some old Crab-trees here at home,
    That will not be grafted to your Rallish.
    1100Yet welcome Warriors:
    Wee call a Nettle, but a Nettle;
    And the faults of fooles, but folly.
    Com. Euer right.
    Cor. Menenius, euer, euer.
    1105Herauld. Giue way there, and goe on.
    Cor. Your Hand, and yours?
    Ere in our owne house I doe shade my Head,
    The good Patricians must be visited,
    From whom I haue receiu'd not onely greetings,
    1110But with them, change of Honors.
    Volum. I haue liued,
    To see inherited my very Wishes,
    And the Buildings of my Fancie:
    Onely there's one thing wanting,
    1115Which (I doubt not) but our Rome
    Will cast vpon thee.
    Cor. Know, good Mother,
    I had rather be their seruant in my way,
    Then sway with them in theirs.
    1120Com. On, to the Capitall. Flourish. Cornets.
    Exeunt in State, as before.
    Enter
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