PERSONS REPRESENTED. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman. TITUS LARTIUS, COMINIUS, Generals against the Volscians. MENENIUS AGRIPPA, Friend to CORIOLANUS. SICINIUS VELUTUS, Tribunes of the People. JUNIUS BRUTUS, } YOUNG MARCIUS, Son to CORIOLANUS. TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volscians. Conspirators with AUFIDIUS. A Citizen of Antium. Two Volscian Guards. VOLUMNIA, Mother to CORIOLANUS. VALERIA, Friend to VIRGILIA. Gentlewoman attending on VIRGILIA. Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Ediles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to AUFIDIUS, and other Attendants. SCENE,-Partly in ROME, and partly in the Territories of the Volscians and Antiates. CORIOLANUS. ACT I. SCENE I.-ROME. A Street. Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons. 1 Cit. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. Citizens. Speak, speak. 1 Cit. You are all resolved rather to die than to famish? Citizens. Resolved, resolved. 1 Cit. First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. Citizens. 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? Citizens. No more talking on't; let it 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 superfluity, 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 an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance 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? 1 Cit. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider 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. 2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously he did it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be content to say 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 way 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 these? The other side o'the city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol! Citizens. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft! who comes here? 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people. 1 Cit. He's one honest enough; would all the rest were so! Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA. Men. What work 's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you With bats and clubs? the matter? speak, I pray you. 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Thither where more attends you; and you slander 1 Cit. Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for |
