one Doore Cominius, with the Romanes: At
another Doore Martius, with his
Arme in a Scarfe.
cast vp their Caps and Launces: Cominius
and Lartius stand bare.
Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.
Left Column
Right Column
Marcus Caius Coriolanus
I shall, my Lord.
Tak't, 'tis yours: what is't?
Martius, his Name.
The Towne is ta'ne.
'Twill be deliuer'd backe on good Condition.
Marcus Caius Coriolanus
I shall, my Lord.
Tak't, 'tis yours: what is't?
Martius, his Name.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="9" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 9]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Flourish. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Enter at
<lb/>one Doore Cominius, with the Romanes: At
<lb/>another Doore Martius, with his
<lb/>Arme in a Scarfe.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="697">If I should tell thee o're this thy dayes Worke,</l>
<l n="698">Thou't not beleeue thy deeds: but Ile report it,</l>
<l n="699">Where Senators shall mingle teares with smiles,</l>
<l n="700">Where great Patricians shall attend, and shrug,</l>
<l n="701">I'th'end admire: where Ladies shall be frighted,</l>
<l n="702">And gladly quak'd, heare more: where the dull Tribunes,</l>
<l n="703">That with the fustie Plebeans, hate thine Honors,</l>
<l n="704">Shall say against their hearts, We thanke the Gods</l>
<l n="705">Our Rome hath such a Souldier.</l>
<l n="706">Yet cam'st thou to a Morsell of this Feast,</l>
<l n="707">Hauing fully din'd before.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Titus with his Power, from the Pursuit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Titus Lartius.</speaker>
<l n="708">Oh Generall:</l>
<l n="709">Here is the Steed, wee the Caparison:</l>
<l n="710">Hadst thou beheld⸺</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="711">Pray now, no more:</l>
<l n="712">My Mother, who ha's a Charter to extoll her Bloud,</l>
<l n="713">When she do's prayse me, grieues me:</l>
<l n="714">I haue done as you haue done, that's what I can,</l>
<l n="715">Induc'd as you haue beene, that's for my Countrey:</l>
<l n="716">He that ha's but effected his good will,</l>
<l n="717">Hath ouerta'ne mine Act</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="718">You shall not be the Graue of your deseruing,</l>
<l n="719">Rome must know the value of her owne:</l>
<l n="720">'Twere a Concealement worse then a Theft,</l>
<l n="721">No lesse then a Traducement,</l>
<l n="722">To hide your doings, and to silence that,</l>
<l n="723">Which to the spire, and top of prayses vouch'd,</l>
<l n="724">Would seeme but modest: therefore I beseech you,</l>
<l n="725">In signe of what you are, not to reward</l>
<l n="726">What you haue done, before our Armie heare me.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="727">I haue some Wounds vpon me, and they smart</l>
<l n="728">To heare themselues remembred.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="729">Should they not:</l>
<l n="730">Well might they fester 'gainst Ingratitude,</l>
<l n="731">And tent themselues with death: of all the Horses,</l>
<l n="732">Whereof we haue ta'ne good, and good store of all,</l>
<l n="733">The Treasure in this field atchieued, and Citie,</l>
<l n="734">We render you the Tenth, to be ta'ne forth,</l>
<l n="735">Before the common distribution,</l>
<l n="736">At your onely choyse.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="737">I thanke you Generall:</l>
<l n="738">But cannot make my heart consent to take</l>
<l n="739">A Bribe, to pay my Sword: I doe refuse it,</l>
<l n="740">And stand vpon my common part with those,</l>
<l n="741">That haue beheld the doing.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="mixed">A long flourish. They all cry, Martius, Martius,
<lb/>cast vp their Caps and Launces: Cominius
<lb/>and Lartius stand bare.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<l n="742">May these same Instruments, which you prophane,</l>
<l n="743">Neuer sound more: when Drums and Trumpets shall</l>
<l n="744">I'th'field proue flatterers, let Courts and Cities be</l>
<l n="745">Made all of false‑fac'd soothing:</l>
<l n="746">When Steele growes soft, as the Parasites Silke,</l>
<l n="747">Let him be made an Ouerture for th'Warres:</l>
<l n="748">No more I say, for that I haue not wash'd</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="749">My Nose that bled, or foyl'd some debile Wretch,</l>
<l n="750">Which without note, here's many else haue done,</l>
<l n="751">You shoot me forth in acclamations hyperbolicall,</l>
<l n="752">As if I lou'd my little should be dieted</l>
<l n="753">In prayses, sawc'st with Lyes.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="754">Too modest are you:</l>
<l n="755">More cruell to your good report, then gratefull</l>
<l n="756">To vs, that giue you truly: by your patience,</l>
<l n="757">If'gainst your selfe you be incens'd, wee'le put you</l>
<l n="758">(Like one that meanes his proper harme) in Manacles,</l>
<l n="759">Then reason safely with you: Therefore be it knowne,</l>
<l n="760">As to vs, to all the World, That<hi rend="italic">Caius Martius</hi>
</l>
<l n="761">Weares this Warres Garland: in token of the which,</l>
<l n="762">My Noble Steed, knowne to the Campe, I giue him,</l>
<l n="763">With all his trim belonging; and from this time,</l>
<l n="764">For what he did before<hi rend="italic">Corioles</hi>, call him,</l>
<l n="765">With all th'applause and Clamor of the Hoast,</l>
<l n="766">
<hi rend="italic">Marcus Caius Coriolanus</hi>. Beare th' addition Nobly euer?</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="business">Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-all">
<speaker rend="italic">Omnes.</speaker>
<p n="767">
<hi rend="italic">Marcus Caius Coriolanus</hi>
</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="768">I will goe wash:</l>
<l n="769">And when my Face is faire, you shall perceiue</l>
<l n="770">Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thanke you,</l>
<l n="771">I meane to stride your Steed, and at all times</l>
<l n="772">To vnder‑crest your good Addition,</l>
<l n="773">To th'fairenesse of my power.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="774">So, to our Tent:</l>
<l n="775">Where ere we doe repose vs, we will write</l>
<l n="776">To Rome of our successe: you<hi rend="italic">Titus Lartius</hi>
</l>
<l n="777">Must to<hi rend="italic">Corioles</hi>backe, send vs to Rome</l>
<l n="778">The best, with whom we may articulate,</l>
<l n="779">For their owne good, and ours.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lartius.</speaker>
<p n="780">I shall, my Lord.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="781">The Gods begin to mocke me:</l>
<l n="782">I that now refus'd most Princely gifts,</l>
<l n="783">Am bound to begge of my Lord Generall.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<p n="784">Tak't, 'tis yours: what is't?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="785">I sometime lay here in<hi rend="italic">Corioles</hi>,</l>
<l n="786">At a poore mans house: he vs'd me kindly,</l>
<l n="787">He cry'd to me: I saw him Prisoner:</l>
<l n="788">But then<hi rend="italic">Auffidius</hi>was within my view,</l>
<l n="789">And Wrath o're‑whelm'd my pittie: I request you</l>
<l n="790">To giue my poore Host freedome.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="791">Oh well begg'd:</l>
<l n="792">Were he the Butcher of my Sonne, he should</l>
<l n="793">Be free, as is the Winde: deliuer him,<hi rend="italic">Titus</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lartius.</speaker>
<p n="794">
<hi rend="italic">Martius</hi>, his Name.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="795">By<hi rend="italic">Iupiter</hi>forgot:</l>
<l n="796">I am wearie, yea, my memorie is tyr'd:</l>
<l n="797">Haue we no Wine here?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-com">
<speaker rend="italic">Com.</speaker>
<l n="798">Goe we to our Tent:</l>
<l n="799">The bloud vpon your Visage dryes, 'tis time</l>
<l n="800">It should be lookt too: come.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>