Coriolanus, with line numbers E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 150

Beschreibung

The classic tragedy. According to Wikipedia: "Gaius Marcius Coriolanus was possibly a legendary Roman general who lived in the 5th century BC. He received his toponymic title "Coriolanus" because of his exceptional valor in a Roman siege of the Volscian city of Corioli. He was then promoted to a general. In later ancient times, it was generally accepted by historians that Coriolanus had lived, and a consensus narrative story of his life appeared, retold by leading historians such as Livy and Plutarch."

Leseprobe

Coriolanus By William Shakespeare

S. E. Book Publishing, Orange, CT, USA

established in 1974, offering over 14,000 books

Other recommended tragedies by William Shakespeare:

Antony and Cleopatra

Hamlet

Julius Caesar

King Lear

Macbeth

Othello

Romeo and Juliet

Timon of Athens

Titus Andronicus

Troilus and Cressida

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Dramatis Personae

Coriolanus

Act I

Scene I Rome. A Street.

Scene II Corioli. The Senate-House.

Scene III Rome. A Room In Marcius' House.

Scene IV Before Corioli.

Scene V Corioli. A Street.

Scene VI Near The Camp Of Cominius.

Scene VII The Gates Of Corioli.

Scene VIII A Field Of Battle.

Scene IX The Roman Camp.

Scene X The Camp Of The Volsces.

Act II

Scene I Rome. A Public Place.

Scene II The same. The Capitol.

Scene III The same. The Forum.

Act III

Scene I Rome. A street.

Scene II A room in CORIOLANUS'S house.

Scene III The same. The Forum.

Act IV

Scene I Rome. Before a gate of the city.

Scene II The same. A  street near the gate.

Scene III A highway between Rome and Antium.

Scene IV Antium. Before Aufidius's house.

Scene V The same. A hall in Aufidius's house.

Scene VI Rome. A public place.

Scene VII A camp, at a small distance from Rome.

Act V

Scene I Rome. A public place.

Scene II Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome. Two Sentinels on guard.

Scene III The tent of Coriolanus.

Scene IV Rome. A public place.

Scene V The same. A street near the gate.

Scene VI Antium. A public place.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Caius Marcius (Marcus:), Afterwards Caius Marcius Coriolanus (Coriolanus:)

Generals Against The Volscians

Titus Lartius (Lartius:)

Cominius

Menenius Agrippa, Friend To Coriolanus. (Menenius:)

Tribunes Of The People

Sicinius Velutus (Sicinius:)

Junius Brutus (Brutus:)

Young Marcus, Son To Coriolanus.

A Roman Herald. (Herald:)

Tullus Aufidius, General Of The Volscians. (Aufidius:)

Lieutenant To Aufidius. (Lieutenant:)

Conspirators With Aufidius.

 (First Conspirator:)

 (Second Conspirator:)

 (THIRD Conspirator:)

A Citizen Of Antium.

Two Volscian Guards.

Volumnia, Mother To Coriolanus.

Virgilia, Wife To Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend To Virgilia.

Gentlewoman, attending on Virgilia. (Gentlewoman:)

 Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Aediles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, MESSENGERs, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

 (First Senator:)

 (Second Senator:)

 (A Patrician:)

 (Second Patrician:)

 (Aedile:)

 (First Soldier:)

 (Second Soldier:)

 (FIRST CITIZEN:)

 (Second Citizen:)

 (THIRD Citizen:)

 (Fourth Citizen:)

 (Fifth Citizen:)

 (Sixth Citizen:)

 (Seventh Citizen:)

 (MESSENGER:)

 (Second MESSENGER:)

 (First Serviceman:)

 (Second Serviceman:)

 (THIRD Serviceman:)

 (Officer:)

 (First Officer:)

 (Second Officer:)

 (Roman:)

 (FIRST ROMAN:)

 (Second Roman:)

 (THIRD Roman:)

 (Volsce:)

 (First Lord:)

 (Second Lord:)

 (THIRD Lord:)

SCENE Rome and the neighbourhood; Corioli and the neighbourhood; Antium.

CORIOLANUS

ACT I

SCENE I Rome. A street.

 [Enter a company of mutinous CITIZENS, with staves, clubs, and other weapons]

(1) FIRST CITIZEN Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

ALL Speak, speak.

FIRST CITIZEN You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

ALL Resolved. resolved.

FIRST CITIZEN First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.

ALL We know't, we know't.

(10) FIRST CITIZEN Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price.

 Is't a verdict?

ALL No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!

Second Citizen One word, good citizens.

FIRST CITIZEN 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

(20) afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an

 inventory to particularise 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.

SECOND CITIZEN Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

ALL Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

(30) SECOND CITIZEN Consider you what services he has done for his country?

FIRST CITIZEN Very well; and could be content to give him good

 report fort, but that he pays himself with being proud.

SECOND CITIZEN Nay, but speak not maliciously.

FIRST CITIZEN 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

(40) please his mother and to be partly proud; which he

 is, even till the altitude of his virtue.

SECOND CITIZEN What he cannot help in his nature, you account a

 vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

FIRST CITIZEN 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!

ALL Come, come.

(50) FIRST CITIZEN Soft! who comes here?

 [Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA]

SECOND CITIZEN Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved

 the people.

FIRST CITIZEN He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so!

MENENIUS What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you

 With bats and clubs? The matter? speak, I pray you.

FIRST CITIZEN Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have

 had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do,

(60) which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor

 suitors have strong breaths: they shall know we

 have strong arms too.

MENENIUS Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours,

 Will you undo yourselves?

FIRST CITIZEN We cannot, sir, we are undone already.

MENENIUS I tell you, friends, most charitable care

 Have the patricians of you. For your wants,

 Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well

(70) Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them

 Against the Roman state, whose course will on

 The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs

 Of more strong link asunder than can ever

 Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,

 The gods, not the patricians, make it, and

 Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack,

 You are transported by calamity

 Thither where more attends you, and you slander

 The helms o' the state, who care for you like fathers,

(80) When you curse them as enemies.

FIRST CITIZEN Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us

 yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses

 crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to

 support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act

 established against the rich, and provide more

 piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain

 the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and

 there's all the love they bear us.

(90) MENENIUS Either you must

 Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,

 Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you

 A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it;

 But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture

 To stale 't a little more.

FIRST CITIZEN Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to

 fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an 't please

 you, deliver.

MENENIUS There was a time when all the body's members

(100) Rebell'd against the belly, thus accused it:

 That only like a gulf it did remain

 I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive,

 Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

 Like labour with the rest, where the other instruments

 Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,

 And, mutually participate, did minister

 Unto the appetite and affection common

 Of the whole body. The belly answer'd--

(110) FIRST CITIZEN Well, sir, what answer made the belly?

MENENIUS Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile,

 Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus--

 For, look you, I may make the belly smile

 As well as speak--it tauntingly replied

 To the discontented members, the mutinous parts

 That envied his receipt; even so most fitly

 As you malign our senators for that

 They are not such as you.

FIRST CITIZEN Your belly's answer? What!

 The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye,

(120) The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,

 Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter.

 With other muniments and petty helps

 In this our fabric, if that they--

MENENIUS What then?

 'Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? what then?

FIRST CITIZEN Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,

 Who is the sink o' the body,--

MENENIUS Well, what then?

FIRST CITIZEN The former agents, if they did complain,

 What could the belly answer?

MENENIUS I will tell you

 If you'll bestow a small--of what you have little--

 Patience awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer.

(130) FIRST CITIZEN Ye're long about it.

MENENIUS Note me this, good friend;

 Your most grave belly was deliberate,

 Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd:

 'True is it, my incorporate friends,' quoth he,

 'That I receive the general food at first,

 Which you do live upon; and fit it is,

 Because I am the store-house and the shop

 Of the whole body: but, if you do remember,

 I send it through the rivers of your blood,

(140) Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o' the brain;

 And, through the cranks and offices of man,

 The strongest nerves and small inferior veins

 From me receive that natural competency

 Whereby they live: and though that all at once,

 You, my good friends,'--this says the belly, mark me,--

FIRST CITIZEN Ay, sir; well, well.

MENENIUS 'Though all at once cannot

 See what I do deliver out to each,

 Yet I can make my audit up, that all

 From me do back receive the flour of all,

(150) And leave me but the bran.' What say you to't?

FIRST CITIZEN It was an answer: how apply you this?

MENENIUS The senators of Rome are this good belly,

 And you the mutinous members; for examine

 Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly

 Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find

 No public benefit which you receive

 But it proceeds or comes from them to you

 And no way from yourselves. What do you think,

 You, the great toe of this assembly?

(160) FIRST CITIZEN I the great toe! why the great toe?

MENENIUS For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest,

 Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:

 Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,

 Lead'st first to win some vantage.

 But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs:

 Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;

 The one side must have bale.

 [Enter CAIUS MARCIUS]

         Hail, noble Marcius!

MARCIUS Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,

 That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,

 Make yourselves scabs?

(170) FIRST CITIZEN We have ever your good word.

MARCIUS He that will give good words to thee will flatter

 Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,

 That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you,

 The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,

 Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;

 Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,

 Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

 Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is

 To make him worthy whose offence subdues him

(180) And curse that justice did it.

 Who deserves greatness

 Deserves your hate; and your affections are

 A sick man's appetite, who desires most that

 Which would increase his evil. He that depends

 Upon your favours swims with fins of lead

 And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust Ye?

 With every minute you do change a mind,

 And call him noble that was now your hate,

 Him vile that was your garland. What's the matter,

 That in these several places of the city

(190) You cry against the noble senate, who,

 Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

 Would feed on one another? What's their seeking?

MENENIUS For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say,

 The city is well stored.

MARCIUS Hang 'em! They say!

 They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know

 What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise,

 Who thrives and who declines; side factions

 and give out

 Conjectural marriages; making parties strong

 And feebling such as stand not in their liking

 Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's

(200) grain enough!

 Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,

 And let me use my sword, I'll make a quarry

 With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high

 As I could pick my lance.

MENENIUS Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;

 For though abundantly they lack discretion,

 Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,

 What says the other troop?

MARCIUS They are dissolved: hang 'em!

 They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs,

(210) That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat,

 That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not

 Corn for the rich men only: with these shreds

 They vented their complainings; which being answer'd,

 And a petition granted them, a strange one--

 To break the heart of generosity,

 And make bold power look pale--they threw their caps

 As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon,

 Shouting their emulation.

MENENIUS What is granted them?

MARCIUS Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,

(220) Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus,

 Sicinius Velutus, and I know not--'Sdeath!

 The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,

 Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time

 Win upon power and throw forth greater themes

 For insurrection's arguing.

MENENIUS This is strange.

MARCIUS Go, get you home, you fragments!

 [Enter a MESSENGER, hastily]

MESSENGER Where's Caius Marcius?

MARCIUS Here: what's the matter?

MESSENGER The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.

MARCIUS I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' means to vent

(230) Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.

 [Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SENATORS;

 JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS]

FIRST SENATOR Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us;

 The Volsces are in arms.

MARCIUS They have a leader,

 Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.

 I sin in envying his nobility,

 And were I any thing but what I am,

 I would wish me only he.

COMINIUS You have fought together.

MARCIUS Were half to half the world by the ears and he.

 Upon my party, I'ld revolt to make

 Only my wars with him: he is a lion

 That I am proud to hunt.

(240) FIRST SENATOR Then, worthy Marcius,

 Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

COMINIUS It is your former promise.

MARCIUS Sir, it is;

 And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou

 Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.

 What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

TITUS No, Caius Marcius;

 I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other,

 Ere stay behind this business.

MENENIUS O, true-bred!

FIRST SENATOR Your company to the Capitol; where, I know,

 Our greatest friends attend us.

TITUS [To COMINIUS]                Lead you on.

(250) [To MARCIUS] Follow Cominius; we must follow you;

 Right worthy you priority.

COMINIUS Noble Marcius!

FIRST SENATOR [To the Citizens]  Hence to your homes; be gone!

MARCIUS Nay, let them follow:

 The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither

 To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners,

 Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

 [Citizens steal away. Exeunt all but SICINIUS

 and BRUTUS]

SICINIUS Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?

BRUTUS He has no equal.

SICINIUS When we were chosen tribunes for the people,--

BRUTUS Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

SICINIUS Nay. but his taunts.

(260) BRUTUS Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.

SICINIUS Be-mock the modest moon.

BRUTUS The present wars devour him: he is grown

 Too proud to be so valiant.

SICINIUS Such a nature,

 Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow

 Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder

 His insolence can brook to be commanded

 Under Cominius.

BRUTUS Fame, at the which he aims,

 In whom already he's well graced, can not

 Better be held nor more attain'd than by

(270) A place below the first: for what miscarries

 Shall be the general's fault, though he perform

 To the utmost of a man, and giddy censure

 Will then cry out of Marcius 'O if he

 Had borne the business!'

SICINIUS Besides, if things go well,

 Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall

 Of his demerits rob Cominius.

BRUTUS Come:

 Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius.

 Though Marcius earned them not, and all his faults

 To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed

 In aught he merit not.

(280) SICINIUS Let's hence, and hear

 How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion,

 More than his singularity, he goes

 Upon this present action.

BRUTUS Lets along.

 [Exeunt]

SCENE II Corioli. The Senate-house.

 [Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and CERTAIN SENATORS]

(1) FIRST SENATOR So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

 That they of Rome are entered in our counsels

 And know how we proceed.

AUFIDIUS Is it not yours?

 What ever have been thought on in this state,

 That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome

 Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone

 Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think

 I have the letter here; yes, here it is.

 [Reads]

 'They have press'd a power, but it is not known

(10) Whether for east or west: the dearth is great;

 The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd,

 Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

 Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,

 And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,