Imatges de pàgina
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We render

you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,

Before the common distribution, at

Your only choice.

Mar.

I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe, to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

[A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius!
Marcius! cast up their caps and lances:
Cominius and Lartius stand bare.

Mar. May these same instruments, which you

profane,

Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall
I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be
Made all of false-fac'd soothing! When steel grows
Soft as the parasite's silk, let him 16 be made
An overture for the wars! No more, I say;

For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled,
Or foil'd some debile wretch,-which, without note,
Here's many else have done, you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;

As if I lov'd my little should be dieted

In praises sauc'd with lies.

Com.

Too modest are you;

More cruel to your good report, than grateful
To us that give you truly: by your patience,
If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you
(Like one that means his proper harm,) in manacles,
Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it known,

As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this time,
For what he did before Corioli, call him,

With all the applause and clamour of the host,
Caius Marcius Coriolanus.-Bear

The addition nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.

All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus!

Cor. I will go wash;

And when my face is fair,

you shall perceive

Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you:

I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,

To undercrest your good addition,

To the fairness of my power.

Com.

So, to our tent:

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write

To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius,

Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome

The best, with whom we may articulate17,
For their own good, and ours.

Lart.

I shall, my lord.

Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg

Of my lord general.

Com.

Take it: 'tis yours.-What is't?

Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli,

At a poor man's house; he us'd me kindly :

He cry'd to me; I saw him prisoner;

But then Aufidius was within my view,

And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you
To give my poor host freedom.

Com.

O, well begg'd!

Were he the butcher of my son, he should
Be free, as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.
Lart. Marcius, his name?

Cor.

By Jupiter, forgot:

I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.

Have we no wine here?

Com.

Go we to our tent:

[Exeunt.

The blood upon your visage dries: 'tis time
It should be look'd to: come.

SCENE X.

The Camp of the Volces.

A flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS bloody, with two or three soldiers.

Auf. The town is ta'en!

1 Sol. 'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition. Auf. Condition?

I would, I were a Roman; for I cannot,

Being a Volce 18, be that I am.-Condition!
What good condition can a treaty find

I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius,

I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me;
And would'st do so, I think, should we encounter
As often as we eat.-By the elements,

If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,
He is mine, or I am his: Mine emulation

Hath not that honour in't, it had; for where
I thought to crush him in an equal force,

(True sword to sword,) I'll potch at him some way; Or wrath, or craft, may get him.

1 Sol.

He's the devil.

Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My valour's

poison'd,

With only suffering stain by him; for him
Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep, nor sanctuary,
Being naked, sick; nor fane, nor Capitol,
The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up
Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst
My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it
At home, upon my brother's guard 19, even there
Against the hospitable canon, would I

Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the

city;

Learn, how 'tis held; and what they are, that must

Be hostages for Rome.

1 Sol.

Will not you go?

Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove:

I pray you,

("Tis south the city mills,) bring me word thither

How the world goes; that to the pace of it

I may spur on my journey.

1 Sol.

I shall, sir.

[Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

Rome. A publick Place.

Enter MENENIUS, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS.

Men. The augurer tells me, we shall have news to-night.

Bru. Good, or bad?

Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius.

Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. Men. Pray you, who does the wolf love?

Sic. The lamb.

Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius.

Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear.

Men. 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 Trib. Well, sir.

Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that you two have not in abundance?

Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stor'd with all. Sic. Especially, in pride.

Bru. And topping all others in boasting.

Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o' the right-hand file? Do you?

Both Trib. Why, how are we censured?

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