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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Actus Quartus.
    2435 Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius,
    with the yong Nobility of Rome.
    Corio. Come leaue your teares: a brief farwel: the beast
    With many heads butts me away. Nay Mother,
    Where is your ancient Courage? You were vs'd
    2440To say, Extreamities was the trier of spirits,
    That common chances. Common men could beare,
    That when the Sea was calme, all Boats alike
    Shew'd Mastership in floating. Fortunes blowes,
    When most strooke home, being gentle wounded, craues
    2445A Noble cunning. You were vs'd to load me
    With Precepts that would make inuincible
    The heart that conn'd them.
    Virg. Oh heauens! O heauens!
    Corio. Nay, I prythee woman.
    2450Vol. Now the Red Pestilence strike al Trades in Rome,
    And Occupations perish.
    Corio. What, what, what:
    I shall be lou'd when I am lack'd. Nay Mother,
    Resume that Spirit, when you were wont to say,
    2455If you had beene the Wife of Hercules,
    Six of his Labours youl'd haue done, and sau'd
    Your Husband so much swet. Cominius,
    Droope not, Adieu: Farewell my Wife, my Mother,
    Ile do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,
    2460Thy teares are salter then a yonger mans,
    And venomous to thine eyes. My (sometime) Generall,
    I haue seene the Sterne, and thou hast oft beheld
    Heart-hardning spectacles. Tell these sad women,
    'Tis fond to waile ineuitable strokes,
    2465As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My Mother, you wot well
    My hazards still haue beene your solace, and
    Beleeu't not lightly, though I go alone
    Like to a lonely Dragon, that his Fenne
    Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more then seene: your Sonne
    2470Will or exceed the Common, or be caught
    With cautelous baits and practice.
    Volum. My first sonne,
    Whether will thou go? Take good Cominius
    With thee awhile: Determine on some course
    2475More then a wilde exposture, to each chance
    That start's i'th' way before thee.
    Corio. O the Gods!
    Com. Ile follow thee a Moneth, deuise with thee
    Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st heare of vs,
    2480And we of thee. So if the time thrust forth
    A cause for thy Repeale, we shall not send
    O're the vast world, to seeke a single man,
    And loose aduantage, which doth euer coole
    Ith' absence of the needer.
    2485Corio. Fare ye well:
    Thou hast yeares vpon thee, and thou art too full
    Of the warres surfets, to go roue with one
    That's yet vnbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.
    Come my sweet wife, my deerest Mother, and
    2490My Friends of Noble touch: when I am forth,
    Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you come:
    While I remaine aboue the ground, you shall
    Heare from me still, and neuer of me ought
    But what is like me formerly.
    2495Menen. That's worthily
    As any eare can heare. Come, let's not weepe,
    If I could shake off but one seuen yeeres
    From these old armes and legges, by the good Gods
    I'ld with thee, euery foot.
    2500Corio. Giue me thy hand, come. Exeunt
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