Making not reservation of yourselves,
(Still your own foes) deliver you as most
Abated captives, to some nation

That won you without blows! Despising,
For you, the city, thus I turn my back.
There is a world elsewhere.

Ed.

Cit.

Sic.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, MENENIUS, Senators, and Patricians.

The people's enemy is gone, is gone!

Our enemy is banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!

[The People shout, and throw up their caps.

Go, see him out at gates; and follow him,

As he hath follow'd you, with all despite :
Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard
Attend us through the city.

Cit. Come, come; let us see him out at gates: come.
The gods preserve our noble tribunes!

ACT IV.

Come.

SCENE I.

The Same. Before a Gate of the City.

[Exeunt.

Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, and several young Patricians.

Cor. Come, leave your tears: a brief farewell.
With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say, extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike

Show'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows,

When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves
A noble cunning. You were us'd to load me

With precepts, that would make invincible

The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens!
Cor.

The beast

Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,

Vol. Now, the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish!

Cor.

What, what, what!

I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume 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 sav'd
Your husband so much sweat. Cominius,
Droop not: adieu.

Farewell, my wife! my mother! I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,

Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,

And venomous to thine eyes. My sometime general,
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld
Heart-hardening spectacles; tell these sad women,
"T is fond to wail inevitable strokes,

My hazards still have been your solace; and

Believe 't not lightly, though I go alone,

Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen, your son
Will or exceed the common, or be caught

With cautelous baits and practice.

Vol.

My first son,

Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee a while: determine on some course,
More than a wild exposture to each chance,

That starts i' the way before thee.

Com. I'll follow thee a month; devise with thee
Where thou shalt rest, 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 vast world to seek a single man,
And lose advantage, which doth ever cool
I' the absence of the needer.

Fare ye

well:

Cor.
Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full

Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch, when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me aught

But what is like me formerly.

Men.

That's worthily

As any ear can hear. — Come; let's not weep.

If I could shake off but one seven years

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Cor. Come.

Give me thy hand.

-

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Same. A Street near the Gate.

Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an Ædile.

Sic. Bid them all home: he's gone, and we 'll no farther. — The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided

In his behalf.

Bru. They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.

Vol. O y' are well met. The hoarded plague o' the gods Requite your love! Men.

Peace, peace! be not so loud.

Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,

Will you be gone?

Vir. You shall stay too. [To SICIN.]

To say so to my husband.

Sic.

power

Are you mankind?

Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame? - Note but this fool. Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship

To banish him that struck more blows for Rome,

Than thou hast spoken words?

Sic.

O blessed heavens!

Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good. - I'll tell thee what

Nay, but thou shalt stay too.

-

yet go:

I would my son

His good sword in his hand.

What then?

What then!

Sic.

Vir.

He'd make an end of thy posterity..

Vol. Bastards, and all.

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

Men. Come, come: peace!

Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country,

As he began; and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

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

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:

As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome, so far my son,
This lady's husband here, this, do you see,
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well; we 'll leave you.

Sic.

With one that wants her wits?

Vol.

Why stay we to be baited

I would the gods had nothing else to do,
But to confirm my curses. Could I meet 'em
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to 't.

Men.

[Exeunt Tribunes.

You have told them home,

And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
Vol. Anger's my meat: I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go.

Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Men. Fie, fie, fie!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Highway between Rome and Antium.

Enter a Roman and a Volsce, meeting.

Rom. I know you well, Sir, and you know me.

I think, is Adrian.

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

Your name,

Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em. Know you me yet!

Vol. Nicanor? No.

Rom. The same, Sir.

Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your fayour is well appeared 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.