Internet Shakespeare Editions

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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Coriolanus in meane Apparrell, Dis-
    guisd, and muffled.
    Corio. A goodly City is this Antium. Citty,
    'Tis I that made thy Widdowes: Many an heyre
    2625Of these faire Edifices fore my Warres
    Haue I heard groane, and drop: Then know me not,
    Least that thy Wiues with Spits, and Boyes with stones
    In puny Battell slay me. Saue you sir.
    Enter a Citizen.
    2630Cit. And you.
    Corio. Direct me, if it be your will, where great Auf-
    fidius lies: Is he in Antium?
    Cit. He is, and Feasts the Nobles of the State, at his
    house this night.
    2635Corio. Which is his house, beseech you?
    Cit. This heere before you.
    Corio. Thanke you sir, farewell. Exit Citizen
    Oh World, thy slippery turnes! Friends now fast sworn,
    Whose double bosomes seemes to weare one heart,
    2640Whose Houres, whose Bed, whose Meale and Exercise
    Are still together: who Twin (as 'twere) in Loue,
    Vnseparable, shall within this houre,
    On a dissention of a Doit, breake out
    To bitterest Enmity: So fellest Foes,
    2645Whose Passions, and whose Plots haue broke their sleep
    To take the one the other, by some chance,
    Some tricke not worth an Egge, shall grow deere friends
    And inter-ioyne their yssues. So with me,
    My Birth-place haue I, and my loues vpon
    2650This Enemie Towne: Ile enter, if he slay me
    He does faire Iustice: if he giue me way,
    Ile do his Country Seruice. Exit.