*** ***** Dramatis Perfonæ. IUS Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman, } Generals against the Volfcians, CAIUS hated by the common People. Titus Lartius, Cominius, and Friends to Coriolanus. Sicinius Velutus, Tribunes of the People, and ene mies to Coriolanus. Menenius Agrippa, Friend to Coriolanus. Junius Brutus, Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volscians. Lieutenant to Aufidius. Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus. Confpirators with Aufidius. Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus. Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus. Valeria, Friend to Virgilia. Roman and Volscian Senators, Ædiles, Litors, Soldiers, Common People, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants. The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volscians, and Antiates. CORIOLANUS. ACT I. SCENE I. A Street in ROME. Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with staves, clubs, and other weapons. B I CITIZEN. EFORE we proceed any farther, hear me fpeak. 1 Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to die than to famish? All. Refolv'd, refolv'd. 1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Marcius is the chief enemy to the people. All. We know't, we know't. 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have Corn at our own price. Is't a Verdict? All. No more talking on't, let't be done; away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good Citizens. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor Citizens; the Patricians, good: what Authority surfeits on, would relieve us: if they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely: but they think, we are too dear; the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our Pikes, ere we become Rakes: for the Gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius. A 3 All. all. Against him first: he's a very dog to the Commonalty. 2 Cit. Confider you, what services he has done for his Country! 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't; but that he pays himself with being proud. All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end; though soft confcienc'd Men can be content to fay, it was for his Country; he did it to please his Mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you must in no ways say, he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are those? the other fide o' th' City is risen; why stay we prating here? To the Capitol All. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft-who comes here? 2 Cit. SCENE W II. Enter Menenius Agrippa. ORTHY Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the People. 1 Cit. He's one honeft enough; 'would, all the rest were fo! Men. What Work's, my Countrymen, in hand ? where go you With bats and clubs ? the matter-Speak, I pray you. 2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the Senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll shew 'em in deeds: they fay, poor Suiters have strong breaths; they shall know, we have strong arms too. Men. |