Com. Let me fpeak:

I have been Conful, and can fhew for Rome
Her enemies marks upon me. I do love
My country's good, with a refpect more tender,
More holy, and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's eftimate, her womb's increase,
And treasure of my loyns: then if I would
Speak that-

Sic. We know your drift. Speak what?

Bru. There's no more to be faid, but he is banish'd
As enemy to the people, and his country.
It fhall be fo.

All. It fhall be fo, it shall be fo.

Cor. You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate, As reek o'th' rotten fens; whofe loves I prize, As the dead carcaffes of unburied men, That do corrupt my air: I banish you. And here remain with your uncertainty! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts, Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into despair! have the power still To banish your defenders, 'till at length, Your ignorance (which finds not 'till it feels) Making but refervation of your felves (Still your own enemies) deliver you As moft abated captives to fome nation That won you without blows! Defpifing then, For you, the city, thus I turn my back: There is a world elsewhere --

[Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, and Senators. [The People bout, and throw up their caps.

d. The people's enemy is gone, is gone!

All. Our enemy is banish'd; he is gone! Hoo, hoo! Sic. Go fee him out at gates, and follow him

As he hath follow'd you; with all despight

Give him deferv'd vexation.

Attend us through the city.

Let a guard

Abated here carries the fenfe of funk and diminish'd in spirit and

courage.

All Come, come; let's fee him out at the gates; come. The Gods preserve our noble Tribunes! come. [Exeunt.

Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Comi.
nius, with the young Nobility of Rome.
CarOME, leave your tears: a brief farewel: the beaft
With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother,

Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To fay, extremity was the trier of fpirits,
That common chances common men could bear;
That when the fea was calm, all boats alike
Shew'd mastership in floating; Fortune's blows
When moft ftruck home, being greatly warded, crave
A noble cunning. You were us'd to load me
With precepts that would make invincible

The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heav'ns! O heav'ns!

Cor. Nay, I pr'ythee woman

Vol. Now the red peftilence ftrike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish!

Cor. What! what! what!

I fhall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Refume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and fav'd
Your husband fo much fweat. Cminius,

Droop not; adieu: farewel, my wife, my mother,
I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,

Thy tears are falter than a younger man's,

And venomous to thine eyes. My (fometime) General,
I've seen thee ftern, and thou haft oft beheld

Heart-hardning fpectacles. Tell these fad women,
'Tis fond to wail inevitable ftroaks,

As 'tis to laugh at 'em. Mother, you wot

My hazards ftill have been your folace; and
Believe't not lightly, (tho' I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than feen :) your fon

M 2

Will

Will or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous baits and practice.
Vol. First, my fon,

Where will you go? take good Cominius
With thee a while; determine on fome course,
More than a wild exposure to each chance,
That starts i'th' way before thee.

Cor. O the Gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devife with thee
Where thou shalt reft, that thou may'st hear of us,
And we of thee. So if the time thrust forth
A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vaft world, to feek a fingle man,
And lofe advantage, which doth ever cool
I'th' abfence of the needer.

Cor. Fare ye well:

Thou'ft years upon thee, and thou art too full
Of the war's furfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd; bring me but out at gate,
Come, my fweet wife, my deareft mother, and
My friends of noble touch: when I am forth,
Bid me farewel, and fmile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you fhall
Hear from me ftill, and never of me ought
But what is like me formerly.

Men. That's worthily

As any ear can hear. Come, let's not weep.
If I could fhake off but one feven years

From these old arms and legs, by the good Gods

I'd with thee every foot.

Cor. Give me thy hand.

SCENE

II.

Enter Sicinius and Brutus, with the Edile.

[Exeunt.

Sic. Bid them all home, he's gone; and we'll no further. Vex'd are the Nobles, who we fee have fided

In his behalf.

Bru. Now we have fhewn our power,

Let us feem humbler after it is done,
Than when it was a doing.

Sic. Bid them home,

Say

Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient ftrength.

Bru. Difmifs them home.

Here comes his mother.

Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.

Sic. Let's not meet her.

Bru. Why?

Sic. They fay fhe's mad.

Bru. They have ta'en note of us; keep on your way.
Vol. Oh, y'are well met:

The hoorded plague o'th' Gods requite your love!
Men. Peace, peace, be not fo loud.

Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear-
Nay, and you shall hear fome. Will you be gone? [To Vir.
You fhall ftay too: I would I had the power

To fay fo to thy husband.

Sic. Are you mankind?

Vol. Ay, fool: is that a fhame? note but this fool.

Was not a man my father? hadft thou foxship

To banish him that ftruck more blows for Rome,

Than thou haft spoken words?

Sic. Oh bleffed heav'ns!

Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wife words, And for Rome's good I'll tell thee what yet go

Nay, but thou shalt ftay too-I would my fon
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good fword in his hand,

Sic. What then?

Vol. What then?

He'd make an end of thy pofterity:

Baftards, and all.

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would he had continued to his country

As he began, and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

Bru. I would he had.

Vol. I would he had!'twas you incens'd the rabble: Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth,

As I can of those myfteries which heav'n

Will

Will not have earth to know.

Bru. Pray let us go.

Vol. Now, pray, Sir, get you gone.

You've done a brave deed: ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meaneft house in Rome; fo far my fon,
This Lady's husband here, this, (do you fee)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave

Sic. Why ftay you to be baited
With one that wants her wits?

you

Vol. Take my prayers with you.

I wish the Gods had nothing else to do,

[Exe. Tribunes.

But to confirm my curfes. Could I meet 'em
But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lyes heavy to't.

Men. You've told them home,

And by my troth have caufe: you'll fup with me?
Vol. Anger's my meat, I fup upon my self,
And fo fhall ftarve with feeding: come, let's go,
Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like: come, come, fie, fie!
SCENE III. Antium.

Enter a Roman and a Volfcian.

[To Vir. [Exeunt.

Rom. I know you well, Sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian.

Vol. It is fo, Sir: truly I have forgot you.

Rom. I am a Roman, but my fervices are as you are, against 'em. Know you me yet?

Vol. Nicanor? no.

Rom. The fame, Sir.

Vol. You had more beard when I laft faw you, but your favour is well affeer'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volfcian state to find you out there. You have well faved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome ftrange infurrections: the People against the Senators, Patricians, and Nobles.

Vol. Hath been! is it ended then? our ftate thinks not fo they are in a moft warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their divifion.

Rom.