The Complete Tragedies of William Shakespeare - All 12 Books in One Edition. William Shakespeare

your favour is well approved by your tongue. What’s the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there; you have well saved me a day’s journey.

       ROMAN. There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

       VOLSCE. Hath been! is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

       ROMAN. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

       VOLSCE.

       Coriolanus banished!

       ROMAN.

       Banished, sir.

       VOLSCE.

       You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

       ROMAN. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said the fittest time to corrupt a man’s wife is when she’s fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.

       VOLSCE. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you; you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.

       ROMAN. I shall between this and supper tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

       VOLSCE. A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour’s warning.

       ROMAN. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

       VOLSCE. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

       ROMAN.

       Well, let us go together.

       [Exeunt.]

       SCENE IV. Antium. Before AUFIDIUS’S house.

       [Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.]

       CORIOLANUS.

       A goodly city is this Antium. City,

       ‘Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir

       Of these fair edifices ‘fore my wars

       Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not.

       Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones,

       In puny battle slay me.

       [Enter a CITIZEN.]

       Save you, sir.

       CITIZEN.

       And you.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Direct me, if it be your will,

       Where great Aufidius lies; is he in Antium?

       CITIZEN.

       He is, and feasts the nobles of the state

       At his house this night.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Which is his house, beseech you?

       CITIZEN.

       This, here, before you.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Thank you, sir; farewell.

       [Exit CITIZEN.]

       O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,

       Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,

       Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise

       Are still together, who twin, as ‘twere, in love

       Unseparable, shall within this hour,

       On a dissension of a doit, break out

       To bitterest enmity; so fellest foes,

       Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep

       To take the one the other, by some chance,

       Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends

       And interjoin their issues. So with me:—

       My birthplace hate I, and my love’s upon

       This enemy town.—I’ll enter; if he slay me,

       He does fair justice; if he give me way,

       I’ll do his country service.

       SCENE V. Antium. A hall in AUFIDIUS’S house.

       [Music within. Enter A SERVANT.]

       FIRST SERVANT.

       Wine, wine, wine! What service is here!

       I think our fellows are asleep.

       [Exit.]

       [Enter a second SERVANT.]

       SECOND SERVANT.

       Where’s Cotus? my master calls for him.—Cotus!

       [Exit.]

       [Enter CORIOLANUS.]

       CORIOLANUS.

       A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I

       Appear not like a guest.

       [Re-enter the first SERVANT.]

       FIRST SERVANT. What would you have, friend? whence are you? Here’s no place for you: pray go to the door.

       CORIOLANUS.

       I have deserv’d no better entertainment

       In being Coriolanus.

       [Re-enter second SERVANT.]

       SECOND SERVANT. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Away!

       SECOND SERVANT.

       Away? Get you away.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Now the art troublesome.

       SECOND SERVANT.

       Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.

       [Enter a third SERVANT. The first meets him.]

       THIRD SERVANT.

       What fellow’s this?

       FIRST SERVANT. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o’ the house. Pr’ythee call my master to him.

       THIRD SERVANT.

       What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you avoid the house.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.

       THIRD SERVANT.

       What are you?

       CORIOLANUS.

       A gentleman.

       THIRD SERVANT.

       A marvellous poor one.

       CORIOLANUS.

       True, so I am.

       THIRD SERVANT. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here’s no place for you. Pray you avoid; come.

       CORIOLANUS.

       Follow your function, go,

       And batten on cold bits.

       [Pushes him away.]

       THIRD SERVANT. What, you will not?—Pr’ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

       SECOND SERVANT.