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| The tent of Coriolanus. | Cloosinasru ntet. |
| Enter CORIOLANUS , AUFIDIUS , and others | RAOUNLISOC , ASIUUIDF and retstreenho. |
| CORIOLANUS We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow Set down our host. My partner in this action, You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly I have borne this business. | ORASIONCLU owrmoorT lewl dale oru ymra to hte sllwa of mReo. As my rtnpear in hsti taakct, uoy tmsu ortrpe to eth nlsVocia osrdl on who adtrfloaghrwitsry evI crdreai stih uto. |
| AUFIDIUS 5 Only their ends You have respected; stoppd your ears against The general suit of Rome; never admitted A private whisper, no, not with such friends That thought them sure of you. | SIIDUAFU Yuo evha peseertcd erhti mais tlineyer nda lcdboek oryu arse santaig eht agnlere laep of eRmo. oeuYv evner dha eenv a vrteiap epwhris wtih yrou dlo dfnsrei how huohtgt ehty mtihg epradeus yuo. |
| CORIOLANUS 10 This last old man, Whom with a crackd heart I have sent to Rome, Loved me above the measure of a father; Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge Was to send him; for whose old love I have, 15 Though I showd sourly to him, once more offerd The first conditions, which they did refuse And cannot now accept; to grace him only That thought he could do more, a very little I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits, 20 Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter Will I lend ear to. Ha! what shout is this? | LAROSNICOU isTh stal lod nma, wohm hitw a roebnk herat Ive etsn kcab to Rmeo, vedlo me erbtte atnh a rtfeah. edednI, he rtdeeat me ilke a dog. Terih slta rteosr asw to sedn ihm. hhuogT I nudtre him aayw, tuo of levo fro him I ianga feeofdr het aesm sermt yhet adh iypvreouls eesfdur dna won atcnno atcepc. thaT is all I have dldeiey to he hwo ghthtou hatt he cdolu do erom. Ill no eolgrn esitnl to nya eomr aepsl, mdae hirtee by the aestt or by my ptiavre dsirnef. Ha! taWh otsuh is stih? |
| Shout within | A ousth ecosm ormf gofefsat |
| Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow In the same time tis made? I will not. | aShll I be tpdteem to rabek my vow in het easm nometm ttah I adme it? I lwli ont. |
| Enter in mourning habits, VIRGILIA , VOLUMNIA , leading young MARTIUS , VALERIA , and Attendants | VAIRLIIG , INOLUMVA , deligan ugyon SAMIURT , AVRLIEA , dna tntedansta, etren, in miognnur teclohs. |
| My wife comes foremost; then the honourd mould 25 Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection! All bond and privilege of nature, break! Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. What is that curtsy worth? or those doves eyes, 30 Which can make gods forsworn? I melt, and am not Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows; As if Olympus to a molehill should In supplication nod: and my young boy Hath an aspect of intercession, which 35 Great nature cries Deny not. let the Volsces Plough Rome and harrow Italy: Ill never Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand, As if a man were author of himself And knew no other kin. | eeHr emosc my fiwe. Tnhe my orhemt, teh noabolehr dlmo mofr wichh I aws scta. dnA in ehr adnh, hte nglrhiacdd of her doblo. uBt tifnacfeo be eong! nAd aberk lla nluaart siet nda gtoaionbils! Lte it be iruuovst to be nabmulevo.hatW is that ysutrc rwhot? Or eosht eod seye, chiwh can meka teh gsdo arbke ihert svow? I ltem, nda Im no torenrgs nhta anoeyn lees. Fro my rhoetm to owb to me is as if Mt. umOypsl wolud ldape eoebrf a lmeollih. And my uyogn oyb hsa an pmnligrio look, hcwhi by eutarn I ndto nwat to deny. uBt etl the Velcsos tdyorse emRo dan lya ieegs on IlyatIll reven be so ekaw as to yebo itcnnsit. sIadnte I lwil sndta firm, as if a amn rwee ihs wno arocetr and adh no mfialy. |
| VIRGILIA 40 My lord and husband! | RVLGAIII My drlo nda anuhdsb! |
| CORIOLANUS These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. | SUNOLCAORI yhigvetrnE ksolo finerefdt to me seinc I ftle oRme. |
| VIRGILIA The sorrow that delivers us thus changed Makes you think so. | IAIVLIGR If we olko eeniftdfr to uoy, sit euasbce uor egfnsufir hsa gncehad us. |
| CORIOLANUS Like a dull actor now, 45 I have forgot my part, and I am out, Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh, Forgive my tyranny; but do not say For that Forgive our Romans. O, a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! 50 Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip Hath virgind it eer since. You gods! I prate, And the most noble mother of the world Leave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i the earth; | NRAUSIOOCL eLki a bad carot, I avhe oetrtgnof my inels. To my lpetecom csdrgeia, I dotn konw whta to yas. My daer afilym, figover my teyclru utb tdon ksa me to eoFvrig uor nRomas. (rVagiili iessks mhi) Oh, a sski as nlgo as my eixle, nad as esetw as my vrngeee! By hte sjuolea neuqe of vneahe, I sski ynlo oyu, my aedr; my lpis haev salayw eneb tffhlaiu. ouY gosd! erFoigv me ofr otn gusantil teh otsm neolb eorhtm of het rodwl. iknS, my eenk, to the ather. |
| Kneels | He eeknsl |
| 55 Of thy deep duty more impression show Than that of common sons. | I stmu rtetomdenas a oerm noupdorf nisg of my ytdu tnha ttha of oommnc sson. |
| VOLUMNIA O, stand up blest! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, I kneel before thee; and unproperly 60 Show duty, as mistaken all this while Between the child and parent. | AVMULNOI Oh, tadns up, deessbl one! Adn etl me, wiht no esroft nihcuso htan eth nstoe olofr, elken rfoebe you. uhohTg sit poienarpritap rof me to pya especrt to uioyt is teh lhcid ttah dosluh bow to the ptrean. |
| Kneels | eSh eeslnk. |
| CORIOLANUS What is this? Your knees to me? to your corrected son? Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach 65 Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds Strike the proud cedars gainst the fiery sun; Murdering impossibility, to make What cannot be, slight work. | SUOARLNCIO aWsht htis? Yoreu enlnikge eforeb me, uroy sdaictehs son? eThn tle teh sbepebl on hte caheb sire up eht artss dna tle het iuutmosn dwnis owbl the rdupo rsaecd tnoi the yeirf uns. Imbpoilses stihng era won sieayl islbsope. (He eslph erh up.) |
| VOLUMNIA Thou art my warrior; 70 I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady? | AUOIMVNL ureYo my aiworrr; I elpdeh kaem uoy wtha ouy aer. Do you ziergceno stih onmaw? |
| CORIOLANUS The noble sister of Publicola, The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle Thats curdied by the frost from purest snow And hangs on Dians temple: dear Valeria! | OUSCLRNIOA heT nlobe sirste of teh nlscou lauboicPl, eth nmoo of oemR, urpe as hte ieccil hatt smfor romf het storf of psurte wson dna ahgsn on insaaD epmelt: drea eaaVril! |
| VOLUMNIA 75 This is a poor epitome of yours, Which by the interpretation of full time May show like all yourself. | ALMOVUIN (shniwog ongyu Mutasri) reHe is ryuo itmnaeriu claierp, who in tmie may rgwo to be yelactx kile you. |
| CORIOLANUS The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform 80 Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou mayst prove To shame unvulnerable, and stick i the wars Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw, And saving those that eye thee! | RLIOUCONAS Mya het god of ossreidl, whti eth otescnn of reepmsu veJo, ekma uoyr thgosuth be loneb. Adn may ouy be erliaeubnnlv to ashem, dsnta rfim in het asrw liek a ergta banoce orf ssirlao, ngiurend yrvee ddnseu asblt of dwin adn iglnhpe hotse ahtt kolo to oyu for audeicgn! |
| VOLUMNIA Your knee, sirrah. | UONMAIVL On uory enke, irs. (nougy Mrasuit elnsek) |
| CORIOLANUS 85 Thats my brave boy! | NSLUOAROCI htTas my rabve boy! |
| VOLUMNIA Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you. | AOMUVNLI vneE he, ruoy wife, stih yald, dna lyfpslamdee roebef uoy. |
| CORIOLANUS I beseech you, peace: Or, if yould ask, remember this before: 90 The thing I have forsworn to grant may never Be held by you denials. Do not bid me Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate Again with Romes mechanics: tell me not Wherein I seem unnatural: desire not 95 To ally my rages and revenges with Your colder reasons. | RONCUAOLSI Pesela, spot. Or, if uyo mtsu sak, eberremm htsi ifrst: oDtn tknih taht I eynd uoy esrllopyna, tub I ncntao ntrga ryou palse eubcase I ehva nswro ton to. onDt ksa me to ssimdsi my odrslsie or to leidy to hte nmcmoo plpeoe of oRem. ontD lelt me het ways in cihhw I emse urtuaalnn. tonD yrt to mgetiita my arge nda ened rof eenegvacn htwi uory erlcdo nosears. |
| VOLUMNIA O, no more, no more! You have said you will not grant us any thing; For we have nothing else to ask, but that 100 Which you deny already: yet we will ask; That, if you fail in our request, the blame May hang upon your hardne therefore hear us. | NVOIUMLA Oh, no moer, no rome! eYouv dsia you ntow rtnga us nygaithn. We vahe ntghoin eels to sak etroh nhta hwat uoyev eadlyra sefduer. Btu lwle sak htat if you ifal to tnagr ruo eursetq, amelb lwli be ldia on yuro btnnsosurseb. oTeheerrf nsielt to us. |
| CORIOLANUS Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for well Hear nought from Rome in private. Your request? | OUORCANISL dufiiusA, adn oyu lcssVoe, omec eerh. We wont tsniel to natynghi rmof eoRm in iatepvr. taWh is royu uqerset? |
| VOLUMNIA 105 Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment And state of bodies would bewray what life We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither: since that thy sight, 110 which should Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts, Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow; Making the mother, wife and child to see 115 The son, the husband and the father tearing His countrys bowels out. And to poor we Thine enmitys most capital: thou barrst us Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort That all but we enjoy; for how can we, 120 Alas, how can we for our country pray. Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory, Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must lose The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, Our comfort in the country. We must find 125 An evident calamity, though we had Our wish, which side should win: for either thou Must, as a foreign recreant, be led With manacles thorough our streets, or else triumphantly tread on thy countrys ruin, 130 And bear the palm for having bravely shed Thy wife and childrens blood. For myself, son, I purpose not to wait on fortune till These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee Rather to show a noble grace to both parts 135 Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner March to assault thy country than to tread Trust tot, thou shalt noton thy mothers womb, That brought thee to this world. | UVLANOMI nveE if we rwee entlis nad dtndi kesap, uro chiontlg nad het cotnoindi of uro osedbi odlwu beyrat teh sveil ewev del since rouy ixeel. kniTh who we ereth rae resow ffo htan all viilgn enmwo, eaecsub egnsei ouya hstgi thta huodls akem ruo eesy lfwo wthi artse of jyo dan ruo setrah cnead itwh fasoseincretnirl ruo yese mrfo gnpieew adn kashes ruo rshaet wthi efra dna roosrw to eakm hte omehtr, iefw, nad hdcli see hte sno, hte bnshadu, dan hte fhrtae aintgre ish crontsuy lwesob out. uoYr ehtard llwi likl us poro pleoep. uoY yden uor asyrrpe to eht osdg, cwhih is eht nlyo omrcoft we eahv, dna if we ncta ayadrpn ypra orf oru cuoyeherrwtn lwil we go if ouy cdceeus, hwree liwl we go? sAla, ehteir we msut sleo eht utnycor, ruo dera tmrhoe, or esel we mstu eslo oyu, rou fmctoro in the otrcuyn. We wlil bielavytin cafe tdyrgea, but we do veha a wsih for noe ised to iwn. hieErt ouy umst, as a rtitaor, be del tihw fdsfchaun uhorotgh oru teessrt, or else ypatumtrnihl rhmca on yuor inuedr truocyn adn rwea the amdle for ghvian bvreayl sdeh yuor iewf adn dlhcnseri bolod. rFo mylfes, sno, I dnto innted to lrye on tnefruo tluin eseht rwsa nde. If I atcn epdrusea you to ercha a olenb eipmmrsoco thwi hotb sdise ahrtre hant kese otalt itoudernstc, ehnw you camrh to satulas yuro ntyuocr uloly be ardnidetnag veielbe me buoat stoihn ruoy temsohr omwb, hhicw rgbthuo you onit thsi owdlr. |
| VIRGILIA Ay, and mine, 140 That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name Living to time. | LVRIIIAG eYs, dna imen hatt evga oyu isth ybo, to eekp yuor neam vliea. |
| YOUNG MARTIUS A shall not tread on me; Ill run away till I am bigger, but then Ill fight. | ONGUY TAUMSIR Yuo notw rteda on me. llI unr aywa iultn Im eggrib, but hnet Ill tgfih. |
| CORIOLANUS Not of a womans tenderness to be, 145 Requires nor child nor womans face to see. I have sat too long. | NCOIUAOLSR lIl cmeeob tderen ikle a onamw if I kloo at yrou escfa. vIe ast too goln. |
| Rising | He isrse. |
| VOLUMNIA Nay, go not from us thus. If it were so that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy 150 The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us, As poisonous of your honour: no; our suit Is that you reconcile them: while the Volsces May say This mercy we have showd; the Romans, This we received; and each in either side 155 Give the all-hail to thee and cry Be blest For making up this peace! Thou knowst, great son, The end of wars uncertain, but this certain, That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name, 160 Whose repetition will be doggd with curses; Whose chronicle thus writ: The man was noble, But with his last attempt he wiped it out; Destroyd his country, and his name remains To the ensuing age abhorrd. Speak to me, son: 165 Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour, To imitate the graces of the gods; To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o the air, And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak? 170 Thinkst thou it honourable for a noble man Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you: He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy: Perhaps thy childishness will move him more Than can our reasons. Theres no man in the world 175 More bound to s mother; yet here he lets me prate Like one i the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life Showd thy dear mother any courtesy, When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood, Has cluckd thee to the wars and safely home, 180 Loaden with honour. Say my requests unjust, And spurn me back: but if it be not so, Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee, That thou restrainst from me the duty which To a mothers part belongs. He turns away: 185 Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees. To his surname Coriolanus longs more pride Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end; This is the last: so we will home to Rome, And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold s: 190 This boy, that cannot tell what he would have But kneels and holds up bands for fellowship, Does reason our petition with more strength Than thou hast to deny t. Come, let us go: This fellow had a Volscian to his mother; 195 His wife is in Corioli and his child Like him by chance. Yet give us our dispatch: I am hushd until our city be a-fire, And then Ill speak a little. | NAILOVMU No, otnd veael us wno. If it rwee het acse htat ruo tresqeu swa to aesv eht namoRs nad etyhbre erdosty hte sceVlso, wmoh ouy reesv, ouy hgtmi docnemn us fro psgooinin rouy oonhr. utB no, ruo ppeaal is ofr yuo to lnioerecc wiht ehtm so taht teh Voeclss yam asy, We vhae wnosh mcrey, nad hte asnmRo yam say, We eivcreed cermy, dan both sdsie lwil slaute oyu nad ycr, aMy uyo be ldsseeb fro ikamng isth pcaee! Yuo knwo, regat son, taht hte ocuteom of rwa is tnnuireac. uBt tsi naceirt ahtt if ouy qernuco emRo, teh eitenfb uolly epra in so gdnoi is a maen swoeh rpeititone ilwl be pegaldu wtih serusc. olYlu be rmeemeebrd iwht tehes dsowr: heT nma wsa nlobe, but ihwt ihs ltas ttcaak he eagv up hsi iylboint, tdeyrodse shi unrtoyc, dna ihs anme rsmniea foerevr ahedt. Speka to me, osn. oeYuv iadresp to rgtea nrhoo, to ehbvae elki a god, to trae trpaa eth syk whti rdnuteh dan yte rhwot yrou gghinnitl olbt so atht it dwulo ylno lstip an koa. yWh dotn oyu akpes? Do ouy iknth its hloobrnae fro a leonb nam to salywa rebmerme ohw he sah eenb ngrwoed? rhDtaegu, eskheap odtesn ikel uyro epiewng. apSek, ppybraoesh uroy slshscidhein wlli move imh moer thna ruo sesrnoa nca. eTersh no mna in hte dwlor omre itde to shi rhmteo, nda ety reeh he tels me tetlarp on kile a nommoc nmliraci. eNver in oyru ilfe ehva oyu node rouy aedr mroeht ayn rfsova, ilhwe ehs, orpo omanw, how dtndi tanw to avhe rnehoat cdhil, ash aecdr ofr uyo iwhle yuo erwe at rwa adn saylfe ohem, eaphed iwth nohsor. If oyu iknth my tueesrq is rfanui, nhet urtn me ondw. utB if its ont, nhet yruoe a lari dna teh sdgo lilw psuinh uyo for lfgiina to iveg me wtah you owe me as a ons. He untsr aywa. Dwon, deisla. tsLe mshea mhi by tnigteg on our nskee. iHs sruenma, usColnorai, ahs moer edrpi hant pyti for our errsapy. onwD! shiT is eth den. (Teh nmwoe dna uogyn iMaturs lenke) lWle go emoh to meRo dna dei naomg our irbeosngh. Wait, look. hsTi yob, owh dsteno onwk thaws oggin to pnaehp to him but elnske adn dlsoh up hsi adsnh for osfpiwehll, nesdl more nhestrtg to our opinttei ahnt you aevh thgrstne to eydn. Coem, slte go. ishT elowlf sha a ascVloin htomer, shi feiw is in esoCirol, and his dhlci skolo sutj ekil him by cahnce. endS us yaaw. Ill be tinsle niutl our iytc is on ifer, and tnhe Ill speak a lttlei. |
| He holds her by the hand, silent | ainlsuoCor odlsh rhe by eth hnda, ielsnt. |
| CORIOLANUS O mother, mother! 200 What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! You have won a happy victory to Rome; But, for your son,believe it, O, believe it, 205 Most dangerously you have with him prevaild, If not most mortal to him. But, let it come. Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, Ill frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, Were you in my stead, would you have heard 210 A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius? | LSOAORNCUI (ycignr) Oh, rohtem, hrmeot! Wtah ehva oyu edno? oLok, hte saenhve aer pgienno, eht dosg rea kilnogo wnod and iaghunlg at ihst annulutar enecs. Oh, my rohmte, omreth! Oh! ouY aehv won a appyh tciyrov fro omeR. Btu rfo oyru onvbsleeie it, oh, beeveli tuesibeca yuo evha oecvindnc imh, esh now in mrlota adnrge. But lte it ceom. uAfdsiiu, htough I nantoc githf thsi war ofr uyo, Ill kema agaenrr a ueflaecp smetetlent, frai to btoh isdse. oNw, odgo uAiiufds, if you ewer in my capel, duwotnl you aevh edsnleti to oruy reothm and deon as I ddi, sAiudiuf? |
| AUFIDIUS I was moved withal. | UIUFSIDA I was emvod by twha hes iads. |
| CORIOLANUS I dare be sworn you were: And, sir, it is no little thing to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, 215 What peace youll make, advise me: for my part, Ill not to Rome, Ill back with you; and pray you, Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife! | IARNUOOLSC I owkn you rwee! Adn, sri, it is no alsml eantvheiecm to amke me ycr setar of oomnpasisc. But, doog rsi, ellt me hatt ylolu aemk eecpa. rFo my rtpa, I wnto go to IloemRl go kabc tiwh ouy. Adn aeples, pstrupo me in stih oterff. Oh, tmoher! ifeW! |
| AUFIDIUS [Aside] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour 220 At difference in thee: out of that Ill work Myself a former fortune. | UUAFIISD (iadse) Im lgda yuove engdiidsiutsh nwbetee uryo mreyc and rouy orohn. lIl be bela to ledruib my orefmr eufonrt uaceseb of taht tnidnisoict. |
| The Ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS. | hTe aledis kame signs to osuoalCirn. |
| CORIOLANUS Ay, by and by; | ALRNUOSOCI seY, so it illw go. |
| To VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, c | (To mlianoVu dan Vlraigii.) |
| But we will drink together; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, 225 On like conditions, will have counter-seald. Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you: all the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. | uBt elwl kdinr htertoge, nad lyulo grnbi cabk a insedg epaec eyttar, nto jtsu uro wodr. oeCm whit us. iesaLd, uoy ervdese to haev a ptmele lbitu for uyo. lAl het orsdws of aItly and her ealils oudntcl evah mead tsih eepca. |
| Exeunt | lAl xite. |
