you, bee that you are, long; and your misery increase
with your age. I say to you, as I was said to, Away.
A Noble Fellow I warrant him.
with Attendants.
My Lord and Husband.
These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.
Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.
Left Column
you, bee that you are, long; and your misery increase
with your age. I say to you, as I was said to, Away.
A Noble Fellow I warrant him.
My Lord and Husband.
These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.
Right Column
Your knee, Sirrah.
That's my braue Boy.
My Lord and Husband.
These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.
Your knee, Sirrah.
That's my braue Boy.
I was mou'd withall.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="3" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 5, Scene 3]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Coriolanus and Auffidius.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3194">We will before the walls of Rome to morrow</l>
<l n="3195">Set downe our Hoast. My partner in this Action,</l>
<l n="3196">You must report to th'Volcian Lords, how plainly</l>
<l n="3197">I haue borne this Businesse.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-auf">
<speaker rend="italic">Auf.</speaker>
<l n="3198">Onely their ends you haue respected,</l>
<l n="3199">Stopt your eares against the generall suite of Rome:</l>
<l n="3200">Neuer admitted a priuat whisper, no not with such frends</l>
<l n="3201">That thought them sure of you.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3202">This last old man,</l>
<l n="3203">Whom with a crack'd heart I haue sent to Rome,</l>
<l n="3204">Lou'd me, aboue the measure of a Father,</l>
<l n="3205">Nay godded me indeed. Their latest refuge</l>
<l n="3206">Was to send him: for whose old Loue I haue</l>
<l n="3207">(Though I shew'd sowrely to him) once more offer'd</l>
<l n="3208">The first Conditions which they did refuse,</l>
<l n="3209">And cannot now accept, to grace him onely,</l>
<l n="3210">That thought he could do more: A very little</l>
<l n="3211">I haue yeelded too. Fresh Embasses, and Suites,</l>
<l n="3212">Nor from the State, nor priuate friends heereafter</l>
<l n="3213">Will I lend eare to. Ha? what shout is this?</l>
<stage rend="italic inline" type="business">Shout within</stage>
<l n="3214">Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow</l>
<l n="3215">In the same time 'tis made? I will not.</l>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, yong Martius,
<lb/>with Attendants.</stage>
<l n="3216">My wife comes formost, then the honour'd mould</l>
<l n="3217">Wherein this Trunke was fram'd, and in her hand</l>
<l n="3218">The Grandchilde to her blood. But out affection,</l>
<l n="3219">All bond and priuiledge of Nature breake;</l>
<l n="3220">Let it be Vertuous to be Obstinate.</l>
<l n="3221">What is that Curt'sie worth? Or those Doues eyes,</l>
<l n="3222">Which can make Gods forsworne? I melt, and am not</l>
<l n="3223">Of stronger earth then others: my Mother bowes,</l>
<l n="3224">As if Olympus to a Mole‑hill should</l>
<l n="3225">In supplication Nod: and my yong Boy</l>
<l n="3226">Hath an Aspect of intercession, which</l>
<l n="3227">Great Nature cries, Deny not. Let the Volces</l>
<l n="3228">Plough Rome, and harrow Italy, Ile neuer</l>
<l n="3229">Be such a Gosling to obey instinct; but stand</l>
<l n="3230">As if a man were Author of himself, & knew no other kin</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vir">
<speaker rend="italic">Virgil.</speaker>
<p n="3231">My Lord and Husband.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<p n="3232">These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vir">
<speaker rend="italic">Virg.</speaker>
<l n="3233">The sorrow that deliuers vs thus chang'd,</l>
<l n="3234">Makes you thinke so.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3235">Like a dull Actor now, I haue forgot my part,</l>
<l n="3236">And I am out, euen to a full Disgrace. Best of my Flesh,</l>
<l n="3237">Forgiue my Tyranny: but do not say,</l>
<l n="3238">For that forgiue our Romanes. O a kisse</l>
<l n="3239">Long as my Exile, sweet as my Reuenge!</l>
<l n="3240">Now by the iealous Queene of Heauen, that kisse</l>
<l n="3241">I carried from thee deare; and my true Lippe</l>
<l n="3242">Hath Virgin'd it ere since. You Gods, I pray,</l>
<l n="3243">And the most noble Mother of the world</l>
<l n="3244">Leaue vnsaluted: Sinke my knee i'th'earth,<stage rend="italic inline">Kneeles</stage>
</l>
<l n="3245">Of thy deepe duty, more impression shew</l>
<l n="3246">Then that of common Sonnes.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3247">Oh stand vp blest!</l>
<l n="3248">Whil'st with no softer Cushion then the Flint</l>
<l n="3249">I kneele before thee, and vnproperly</l>
<l n="3250">Shew duty as mistaken, all this while,</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="3251">Betweene the Childe, and Parent.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3252">What's this? your knees to me?</l>
<l n="3253">To your Corrected Sonne?</l>
<l n="3254">Then let the Pibbles on the hungry beach</l>
<l n="3255">Fillop the Starres: Then, let the mutinous windes</l>
<l n="3256">Strike the proud Cedars 'gainst the fiery Sun:</l>
<l n="3257">Murd'ring Impossibility, to make</l>
<l n="3258">What cannot be, slight worke.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3259">Thou art my Warriour, I hope to frame thee</l>
<l n="3260">Do you know this Lady?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3261">The Noble Sister of<hi rend="italic">Publicola</hi>;</l>
<l n="3262">The Moone of Rome: Chaste as the Isicle</l>
<l n="3263">That's curdied by the Frost, from purest Snow,</l>
<l n="3264">And hangs on<hi rend="italic">Dians</hi>Temple: Deere<hi rend="italic">Valeria</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3265">This is a poore Epitome of yours,</l>
<l n="3266">Which by th'interpretation of full time,</l>
<l n="3267">May shew like all your selfe.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3268">The God of Souldiers:</l>
<l n="3269">With the consent of supreame Ioue, informe</l>
<l n="3270">Thy thoughts with Noblenesse, that thou mayst proue</l>
<l n="3271">To shame vnvulnerable, and sticke i'th Warres</l>
<l n="3272">Like a great Sea‑marke standing euery flaw,</l>
<l n="3273">And sauing those that eye thee.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<p n="3274">Your knee, Sirrah.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<p n="3275">That's my braue Boy.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3276">Euen he, your wife, this Ladie, and my selfe,</l>
<l n="3277">Are Sutors to you.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3278">I beseech you peace:</l>
<l n="3279">Or if you'ld aske, remember this before;</l>
<l n="3280">The thing I haue forsworne to graunt, may neuer</l>
<l n="3281">Be held by you denials. Do not bid me</l>
<l n="3282">Dismisse my Soldiers, or capitulate</l>
<l n="3283">Againe, with Romes Mechanickes. Tell me not</l>
<l n="3284">Wherein I seeme vnnaturall: Desire not t'allay</l>
<l n="3285">My Rages and Reuenges, with your colder reasons.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3286">Oh no more, no more:</l>
<l n="3287">You haue said you will not grant vs any thing:</l>
<l n="3288">For we haue nothing else to aske, but that</l>
<l n="3289">Which you deny already: yet we will aske,</l>
<l n="3290">That if you faile in our request, the blame</l>
<l n="3291">May hang vpon your hardnesse, therefore heare vs.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3292">
<hi rend="italic">Auffidius</hi>, and you Volces marke, for wee'l</l>
<l n="3293">Heare nought from Rome in priuate. Your request?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3294">Should we be silent & not speak, our Raiment</l>
<l n="3295">And state of Bodies would bewray what life</l>
<l n="3296">We haue led since thy Exile. Thinke with thy selfe,</l>
<l n="3297">How more vnfortunate then all liuing women</l>
<l n="3298">Are we come hither; since that thy sight, which should</l>
<l n="3299">Make our eies flow with ioy, harts dance with comforts,</l>
<l n="3300">Constraines them weepe, and shake with feare & sorow,</l>
<l n="3301">Making the Mother, wife, and Childe to see,</l>
<l n="3302">The Sonne, the Husband, and the Father tearing</l>
<l n="3303">His Countries Bowels out; and to poore we</l>
<l n="3304">Thine enmities most capitall: Thou barr'st vs</l>
<l n="3305">Our prayers to the Gods, which is a comfort</l>
<l n="3306">That all but we enioy. For how can we?</l>
<l n="3307">Alas! how can we, for our Country pray?</l>
<l n="3308">Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory:</l>
<l n="3309">Whereto we are bound: Alacke, or we must loose</l>
<l n="3310">The Countrie our deere Nurse, or else thy person</l>
<l n="3311">Our comfort in the Country. We must finde</l>
<l n="3312">An euident Calamity, though we had</l>
<l n="3313">Our wish, which side should win. For either thou</l>
<l n="3314">Must as a Forraine Recreant be led</l>
<l n="3315">With Manacles through our streets, or else</l>
<l n="3316">Triumphantly treade on thy Countries ruine,</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0646-0.jpg" n="28"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="3317">And beare the Palme, for hauing brauely shed</l>
<l n="3318">Thy Wife and Childrens blood: For my selfe, Sonne,</l>
<l n="3319">I purpose not to waite on Fortune, till</l>
<l n="3320">These warres determine: If I cannot perswade thee,</l>
<l n="3321">Rather to shew a Noble grace to both parts,</l>
<l n="3322">Then seeke the end of one; thou shalt no sooner</l>
<l n="3323">March to assault thy Country, then to treade</l>
<l n="3324">(Trust too't, thou shalt not) on thy Mothers wombe</l>
<l n="3325">That brought thee to this world.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vir">
<speaker rend="italic">Virg.</speaker>
<l n="3326">I, and mine, that brought you forth this boy,</l>
<l n="3327">To keepe your name liuing to time.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-yco">
<speaker rend="italic">Boy.</speaker>
<l n="3328">A shall not tread on me: Ile run away</l>
<l n="3329">Till I am bigger, but then Ile fight.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3330">Not of a womans tendernesse to be,</l>
<l n="3331">Requires nor Childe, nor womans face to see:</l>
<l n="3332">I haue sate too long.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-vlm">
<speaker rend="italic">Volum.</speaker>
<l n="3333">Nay, go not from vs thus:</l>
<l n="3334">If it were so, that our request did tend</l>
<l n="3335">To saue the Romanes, thereby to destroy</l>
<l n="3336">The Volces whom you serue, you might condemne vs</l>
<l n="3337">As poysonous of your Honour. No, our suite</l>
<l n="3338">Is that you reconcile them: While the Volces</l>
<l n="3339">May say, this mercy we haue shew'd: the Romanes,</l>
<l n="3340">This we receiu'd, and each in either side</l>
<l n="3341">Giue the All‑haile to thee, and cry be Blest</l>
<l n="3342">For making vp this peace. Thou know'st (great Sonne)</l>
<l n="3343">The end of Warres vncertaine: but this certaine,</l>
<l n="3344">That if thou conquer Rome, the benefit</l>
<l n="3345">Which thou shalt thereby reape, is such a name</l>
<l n="3346">Whose repetition will be dogg'd with Curses:</l>
<l n="3347">Whose Chronicle thus writ, The man was Noble,</l>
<l n="3348">But with his last Attempt, he wip'd it out:</l>
<l n="3349">Destroy'd his Country, and his name remaines</l>
<l n="3350">To th'insuing Age, abhorr'd. Speake to me Son:</l>
<l n="3351">Thou hast affected the fiue straines of Honor,</l>
<l n="3352">To imitate the graces of the Gods.</l>
<l n="3353">To teare with Thunder the wide Cheekes a'th'Ayre,</l>
<l n="3354">And yet to change thy Sulphure with a Boult</l>
<l n="3355">That should but riue an Oake. Why do'st not speake?</l>
<l n="3356">Think'st thou it Honourable for a Nobleman</l>
<l n="3357">Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speake you:</l>
<l n="3358">He cares not for your weeping. Speake thou Boy,</l>
<l n="3359">Perhaps thy childishnesse will moue him more</l>
<l n="3360">Then can our Reasons. There's no man in the world</l>
<l n="3361">More bound to's Mother, yet heere he let's me prate</l>
<l n="3362">Like one i'th'Stockes. Thou hast neuer in thy life,</l>
<l n="3363">Shew'd thy deere Mother any curtesie,</l>
<l n="3364">When she (poore Hen) fond of no second brood,</l>
<l n="3365">Ha's clock'd thee to the Warres: and safelie home</l>
<l n="3366">Loden with Honor. Say my Request's vniust,</l>
<l n="3367">And spurne me backe: But, if it be not so</l>
<l n="3368">Thou art not honest, and the Gods will plague Thee</l>
<l n="3369">That thou restrain'st from me the Duty, which</l>
<l n="3370">To a Mothers part belongs. He turnes away:</l>
<l n="3371">Down Ladies: let vs shame him with him with our knees</l>
<l n="3372">To his sur‑name<hi rend="italic">Coriolanus</hi>longs more pride</l>
<l n="3373">Then pitty to our Prayers. Downe: an end,</l>
<l n="3374">This is the last. So, we will home to Rome,</l>
<l n="3375">And dye among our Neighbours: Nay, behold's,</l>
<l n="3376">This Boy that cannot tell what he would haue,</l>
<l n="3377">But kneeles, and holds vp hands for fellowship,</l>
<l n="3378">Doe's reason our Petition with more strength</l>
<l n="3379">Then thou hast to deny't. Come, let vs go:</l>
<l n="3380">This Fellow had a Volcean to his Mother:</l>
<l n="3381">His Wife is in<hi rend="italic">Corioles</hi>, and his Childe</l>
<l n="3382">Like him by chance: yet giue vs our dispatch:</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="3383">I am husht vntill our City be afire, & then Ile speak a litle</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="business">Holds her by the hand silent.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3384">O Mother, Mother!</l>
<l n="3385">What haue you done? Behold, the Heauens do ope,</l>
<l n="3386">The Gods looke downe, and this vnnaturall Scene</l>
<l n="3387">They laugh at. Oh my Mother, Mother: Oh!</l>
<l n="3388">You haue wonne a happy Victory to Rome.</l>
<l n="3389">But for your Sonne, beleeue it: Oh beleeue it,</l>
<l n="3390">Most dangerously you haue with him preuail'd,</l>
<l n="3391">If not most mortall to him. But let it come:</l>
<l n="3392">
<hi rend="italic">Auffidius</hi>, though I cannot make true Warres,</l>
<l n="3393">Ile frame conuenient peace. Now good<hi rend="italic">Auffidius</hi>,</l>
<l n="3394">Were you in my steed, would you haue heard</l>
<l n="3395">A Mother lesse? or granted lesse<hi rend="italic">Auffidius</hi>?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-auf">
<speaker rend="italic">Auf.</speaker>
<p n="3396">I was mou'd withall.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3397">I dare be sworne you were:</l>
<l n="3398">And sir, it is no little thing to make</l>
<l n="3399">Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But (good sir)</l>
<l n="3400">What peace you'l make, aduise me: For my part,</l>
<l n="3401">Ile not to Rome, Ile backe with you, and pray you</l>
<l n="3402">Stand to me in this cause. Oh Mother! Wife!</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-auf">
<speaker rend="italic">Auf.</speaker>
<l n="3403">I am glad thou hast set thy mercy, & thy Honor</l>
<l n="3404">At difference in thee: Out of that Ile worke</l>
<l n="3405">My selfe a former Fortune.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Corio.</speaker>
<l n="3406">I by and by; But we will drinke together:</l>
<l n="3407">And you shall beare</l>
<l n="3408">A better witnesse backe then words, which we</l>
<l n="3409">On like conditions, will haue Counter‑seal'd.</l>
<l n="3410">Come enter with vs: Ladies you deserue</l>
<l n="3411">To haue a Temple built you: All the Swords</l>
<l n="3412">In Italy, and her Confederate Armes</l>
<l n="3413">Could not haue made this peace.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>