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Rome. A public place.
[Enter MENENIUS with the two Tribunes of the people, SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]
MENENIUS
The augurer tells me, we shall have news tonight.
BRUTUS
Good or bad?
MENENIUS
Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Martius.
SICINIUS
Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.
MENENIUS
Pray you, who does the wolf love?
SICINIUS
The lamb.
MENENIUS
Aye, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the noble Martius.
BRUTUS
He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear.
MENENIUS
He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men, tell me one
thing that I shall ask you.
BOTH
Well sir.
MENENIUS
In what enormity is Martius poor in, that you two have not in abundance?
BRUTUS
He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all.
SICINIUS
Especially in pride.
BRUTUS
And topping all others in boasting.
MENENIUS
This is strange now: do you two know, how you are censured here in the city,
I mean of us of the right-hand file, do you?
BOTH
Why? how are we censured?
MENENIUS
Because you talk of pride now, will you not be angry?
BOTH
Well, well sir, well.
MENENIUS
Why 'tis no great matter: for a very little thief of occasion, will rob you
of a great deal of patience: give your dispositions the reins, and be angry
at your pleasures (at the least) if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being
so: You blame Martius for being proud.
BRUTUS
We do it not alone, sir.
MENENIUS
I know you can do very little alone, for your helps are many, or else your
actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for
doing much alone. You talk of pride: Oh, that you could turn your eyes toward
the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good
selves. Oh that you could.
BRUTUS
What then sir?
MENENIUS
Why then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy
magistrates (alias fools) as any in Rome.
SICINIUS
Menenius, you are known well enough too.
MENENIUS
I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine,
with not a drop of allaying Tiber in it: said, to be something imperfect in
favoring the first complaint, hasty and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion:
one, that converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead
of the morning. What I think, I utter, and spend my malice in my breath.
Meeting two such wealsmen as you are (I cannot call you Lycurguses) if the
drink you give me, touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it, I
can say, your worships have delivered the matter well, when I find the ass
in compound, with the major part of your syllables. And though I must be
content to bear with those, that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie
deadly, that tell you you have good faces, if you see this in the map of my
microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough too? what harm can your
beesom conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough
too.
BRUTUS
Come sir come, we know you well enough.
MENENIUS
You know neither me, yourselves, nor anything: You are ambitious, for poor
knaves' caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a
cause between an orange wife, and a fosset-seller, and then rejourn the
controversy of three pence to a second day of audience. When you are hearing
a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the
colic, you make faces like mummers, set up the bloody flag against all
patience, and in roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy
bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing: all the peace you make in their
cause, is calling both the parties knaves. You are a pair of strange ones.
BRUTUS
Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table,
than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.
MENENIUS
Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such
ridiculous subjects as you are, when you speak best unto the purpose. It is
not worth the wagging of your beards, and your beards deserve not so
honorable a grave, as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be entombed in an
ass's pack-saddle; Yet you must be saying, Martius is proud: who in a cheap
estimation, is worth all your predecessors, since Deucalion, though peradventure some
of the best of 'em were hereditary hangmen. God-den to your worships, more
of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the
beastly plebeians. I will be bold to take my leave of you.
[BRUTUS and SICINIUS go aside. Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA]
How now (my as fair as noble) ladies, and the moon were she earthly, no
nobler; whither do you follow your eyes so fast?
VOLUMNIA
Honorable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches: for the love of Juno let's
go.
MENENIUS
Ha? Martius coming home?
VOLUMNIA
Aye, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation.
MENENIUS
Take my cap Jupiter, and I thank thee: Hoo, Martius coming home?
VOLUMNIA VIRGILIA
Nay,'tis true.
VOLUMNIA
Look, here's a letter from him, the state hath another, his wife another,
and (I think) there's one at home for you.
MENENIUS
I will make my very house reel tonight: a letter for me?
VIRGILIA
Yes certain, there's a letter for you, I saw it.
MENENIUS
A letter for me? it gives me an estate of seven years' health; in which time
I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign prescription in Galen,
is but empiricutic, and to this preservative, of no better report than a
horse-drench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded?
VIRGILIA
Oh no, no, no.
VOLUMNIA
Oh, he is wounded; I thank the gods for it.
MENENIUS
So do I too, if it be not too much: brings he victory in his pocket? the
wounds become him.
VOLUMNIA
On his brows: Menenius, he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.
MENENIUS
Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?
VOLUMNIA
Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but Aufidius got off.
MENENIUS
And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that: an he had stayed by him,
I would not have been so fidiused, for all the chests in Corioli, and the
gold that's in them. Is the senate possessed of this?
VOLUMNIA
Good ladies let's go. Yes, yes, yes: the senate has letters from the
general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war: he hath in this
action outdone his former deeds doubly
VALERIA
In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.
MENENIUS
Wondrous: Aye, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.
VIRGILIA
The gods grant them true.
VOLUMNIA
True? pow wow.
MENENIUS
True? I'll be sworn they are true: Where is he wounded, God save your good
worships? Martius is coming home: he has more cause to be proud: where is he
wounded?
VOLUMNIA
In the shoulder, and in the left arm: there will be large cicatrices to show
the people, when he shall stand for his place: He received in the repulse of
Tarquin seven hurts in the body.
MENENIUS
One in the neck, and two in the thigh, there's nine that I know.
VOLUMNIA
He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.
MENENIUS
Now it's twenty-seven; every gash was an enemy's grave. Hark, the trumpets.
[A shout and flourish]
VOLUMNIA
,
, , ,
These are | the ush|ers of | Martius:
, , ,
___
Before | him, he | carries | noise;
, ,
, ___
And be|hind him,| he leaves | tears: (tetra
with prev two)
___
, , 2 ,
, ,
Death,| that dark | spirit,| in his ner|vy arm |
doth^lie,
___ x
, ,
T T T
Which | being ad|vanced, de|clines, and | then
men die. (hex with prev)
[A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS the general, and TITUS LARTIUS;
between them, CORIOLANUS, crowned with an oaken garland; with Captains and
Soldiers, and a Herald]
HERALD
, ,
, ,
,
Know Rome,/ that all^|alone | Martius | did fight
, ,
2 , ,
,
Within | Cori|oli's^gates:| where^he | hath won,
,
, ,
, ,
With fame,| a name | to Mar|tius Cai|us: these
, ,
, ,
, , ->
In hon|or fol|lows Mar|tius Cai|us Cori|ola||nus.
, 2
, ,
, , o
Wel|come to Rome,| renowned | Cori|ola|nus.
(hex with prev)
[Flourish]
ALL
, 2
, ,
, ,
Welcome to | Rome, re|nowned Co|rio|lanus.
CORIOLANUS
No more of this, it does offend my heart: pray now no more.
COMINIUS
Look, sir, your mother.
CORIOLANUS
Oh you have, I know, petitioned all the gods for my prosperity.
[Kneels]
VOLUMNIA
___ T T T
, oo
Nay,| my good sol|dier, up:|
, , , , ,
My gent|le Mar|tius, worth|y Cai|us, and
, ,
, , ,
By deed-|achiev|ing hon|or new|ly named,
x
, , 2
, ,
What is it |(Cori|olan|us) must I / call thee?
??
,
,
But oh,| thy wife.
CORIOLANUS
, , ,
My gra|cious sil|ence, hail:
,
, ,
, ,
Wouldst thou | have laughed,| had I | come*
cof|fined home,
,
, ,
, ,
That weepst | to see | me tri|umph? Ah | my dear,
,
, , ,
2 ,
Such^eyes | the wid|ows in | Cori|oli wear,
, ,
,
And moth|ers that / lack sons.
MENENIUS
2 , ,
Now* the gods | crown thee.
CORIOLANUS
,
, , 2 ,
,
And live | you yet?| Oh my sweet | lady,| pardon.
VOLUMNIA
,
, ,
I know | not where | to turn. \\
,
, ,
, ,
Oh^wel|come home:| and wel|come gen|eral,
2 ,
,
And you're wel|come all. \\
MENENIUS
, , ,
o
A hund|red thous|and wel|comes:
,
T T T ,
I could | weep, and I | could laugh,
, ,
, ,
I am | light, and | heavy;| welcome: (tetra
with prev two)
,
, , , 2 ,
A curse | begin | at ve|ry root | on his heart,
, ,
, __ oo
That is / not glad | to see | thee.|
T T T
, , __
You are three,| that Rome | should dote | on:
,
, , ,
Yet by | the faith | of men,| we have
, T T
T ,
Some old | crab-trees here | at home,
, ,
, 2 ,
->
That will | not be | grafted | to your rel||ish.
, ,
, ,
Yet | welcome | warri|ors:
<- ,
, , ,
We || call a | nettle,| but a | nettle;
,
, ,
,
And the | faults of | fools, but | folly.
(tetra with prev lines)
COMINIUS
, ,
Ever | right.
CORIOLANUS
, 2 , ,
Me|nenius,| ever,| ever.
HERALD
, ,
,
Give^way | there, and | go^on.
CORIOLANUS
T T . T
Your hand, and yours?
,
, ,
, ,
Ere in | our own | house I | do shade | my head,
,
, , , ,
The good | patri|cians must | be vis|ited,
, ,
2 , ,
,
From whom | I have re|ceived not | only |
greetings,
, ,
,
But with | them, change | of hon|ors.
VOLUMNIA
, ,
I | have lived,
, , , ,
, ->
To see | inher|ited / my ve|ry wish||es,
,
, , ,
o
And | the build|ings of | my fan|cy:
, T T
T ,
Only | there's one thing | wanting,
,
T T T ,
Which (I | doubt not) but | our^Rome (tetra
with prev)
,
. T T
Will cast | upon thee.
CORIOLANUS
T ,
Know,| good* moth|er,
<- , ,
, , ,
,
I || had rath|er be | their serv|ant in / my
way,
,
, ,
Than sway | with them | in theirs.
COMINIUS
, 2 ,
2
On, to the | Capitol.
[Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before. BRUTUS and SICINIUS come
forward]
BRUTUS
T T T
, , ,
All tongues speak | of him, and the / bleared
sights
, ,
x ,
,
Are spect|acled | to see him.| Your prat|tling
nurse
, ,
, , ,
Into | a rap|ture lets | her ba|by cry,
,
, ,
, ,
While she | chats him:| the kitch|en malk|in pins
,
, ,
, ,
Her rich|est lock|ram 'bout | her ree|chy neck,
, ,
, ,
oo
Clambe|ring the | walls to | eye him:|
T T
T , ,
__
Stalls, bulks, wind|ows, are | smothered | up,
T T
T , ,
Leads filled, and | ridges horsed ????
, , ,
, , 2=>
With var|iable | complex|ions; all | agree||ing
, ,
x T T T 2->
In earn|estness | to see him:| seld-shown
flam||ens
, ,
, 2 , ,
Do press | among | the pop|ular throngs,| and
puff
, ,
, , ,
To win | a vul|gar sta|tion: or / veiled dames
,
, ,
, ,
Commit | the war | of white | and dam|ask^in
, , ,
2 , ,
Their nice|ly-gaud|ed cheeks,| to the want|on
spoil
, ,
, x
,
Of Phoe|bus' burn|ing kis|ses: such a | pother,
, , ,
, x
As if | that what|soev|er god,| who leads him,
, ,
, , x
Were sly|ly crept | into | his hum|an powers,
, , ,
And gave | him grace|ful pos|ture.
SICINIUS
, x
On | the sudden,
,
2 ,
I war|rant him cons|ul.
BRUTUS
, ,
,
Then | our of|fice may,
,
x __ ___
oo
During | his power,| go | sleep.|
SICINIUS
, , 2
, ,
, 2->
He can|not temp|erately | transport | his
hon||ors,
, ,
, ,
,
From where | he should | begin,| and end,| but
will
, ,
,
Lose those / he hath | won.
BRUTUS
, ,
In | that there's | comfort.
SICINIUS
,
Doubt not, \\
, , ,
, ,
The com|moners,| for whom | we stand,| but they
, ,
, ,
,
Upon | their an|cient mal|ice, will | forget
,
T T T
, ,
With the | least cause, these | his new | honors,
, 2
, , 2
x ,
Which^that | he will give | them, make | I as
little | question, ??
, ,
x
As he | is proud | to do it.
BRUTUS
, ,
I heard | him swear,
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Were he to | stand for | consul,| never | would
he
, 2
, ,
, ,
Appear | in the mark|etplace,| nor on | him put
,
, ,
, ,
The nap|less ves|ture of | humil|ity,
, ,
, ,
,
Nor show|ing (as | the man|ner is)| his wounds
2 ,
, , ,
To the peo|ple, beg | their stink|ing breaths.
SICINIUS
,
'Tis right.
BRUTUS
, ,
It was | his word: \\
__ ,
x ,
, 2
Oh | he would | miss it, rath/er than | carry it,
T T . T
, ,
,
But by the suit | of the | gentry | to him,
, 2 ,
2 ,
And the de|sire of the | nobles. \\
SICINIUS
I wish no better, than have him hold that purpose, and to put it in
execution.
BRUTUS
'Tis most like he will.
SICINIUS
It shall be to him then, as our good wills; a sure destruction.
BRUTUS
So it must fall out
,
, , ,
2 ,
To him,| or our | author|ities,| for an end.
, 2
, ,
, ,
We must sug|gest the | people,| in what | hatred
, ,
, 2 x
,
He still | hath held | them: that | to his power
| he would
, ,
, ,
Have made | them mules,| silenced | their
plead|ers,
<- ,
, , ,
, ,
And || disprop|ertied | their free|doms;
hold|ing them,
, ,
, , ,
In hum|an ac|tion, and | capa|city,
. T T T
, ,
,
Of no more soul,| nor fit|ness for | the world,
,
, , , ,
->
Than cam|els in | their war,| who have | their
prov||and
, 2 ,
, ,
,
On|ly for bear|ing burd|ens, and / sore blows
,
, 2
For sink|ing und|er them.
SICINIUS
, 2 ,
, ->
This |(as you say)| suggest||ed,
,
, 2 , , ,
At | some^time,| when his soar|ing ins|olence
,
, ,
, ,
Shall teach | the peo|ple, which | time shall |
not want,
, 2
, x ,
,
If he be | put u|pon it, and | that's as | easy,
2 ,
T T T ,
,
As to set | dogs on sheep,| will be | his fire
, ,
, , ,
To kind|le their / dry stub|ble: and | their
blaze
, , ,
Shall dark|en him | for ev|er.
[Enter a MESSENGER]
BRUTUS
, ,
->
What's | the mat||ter?
MESSENGER
,
, , , ,
You | are sent | for to | the Cap|itol:
, ,
, ,
o
Tis thought,| that Mar|tius shall | be cons|ul:
, , T
T T
x
I have | seen the | dumb men throng to see
him,
2 , ,
, ,
,
And the blind | to hear | him speak:| matrons |
flung^gloves,
, ,
, , ,
Ladies | and maids | their scarves,| and
hand|kerchers,
, ,
2 ,
, ,
Upon | him as he | passed: the | nobles | bended
,
T T T 2
, ,
As to | Jove's statue,| and the com|mons made
x ,
, , ,
A shower,| and thund|er, with | their caps,| and
shouts:
,
, ,
I nev|er saw | the like.
BRUTUS
, 2 , 2
Let's to the | Capitol,
,
, ,
, 2 ,
And car|ry with | us ears | and eyes | for the
time,
,
, ,
But hearts | for the | event.
SICINIUS
T T T
Have with you.
[Exeunt]