Coriolanus

let’s go:
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. Menenius Fie, fie, fie! Exeunt.

Scene III

A highway between Rome and Antium.

	Enter a Roman and a Volsce, meeting.
Roman	I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian.
Volsce	It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.
Roman	I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against ’em: know you me yet?
Volsce	Nicanor? no.
Roman	The same, sir.
Volsce	You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well approved 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.
Roman	There hath been in Rome strange insurrections; the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.
Volsce	Hath been! is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so: they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.
Roman	The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again: for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.
Volsce	Coriolanus banished!
Roman	Banished, sir.
Volsce	You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.
Roman	The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a man’s wife is when she’s fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.
Volsce	He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.
Roman	I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?
Volsce	A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour’s warning.
Roman	I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.
Volsce	You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours.
Roman	Well, let us go together. Exeunt.

Scene IV

Antium. Before Aufidius’s house.

	Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.
Coriolanus	A goodly city is this Antium. City, ’Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir Of these fair edifices ’fore my wars Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not, Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones In puny battle slay me.
	Enter a Citizen.
	Save you, sir.
Citizen	And you.
Coriolanus	Direct me, if it be your will, Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium?
Citizen	He is, and feasts the nobles of the state At his house this night.
Coriolanus	Which is his house, beseech you?
Citizen	This, here before you.
Coriolanus	Thank you, sir: farewell. Exit Citizen. O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, Whose house, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, Are still together, who twin, as ’twere, in love Unseparable, shall within this hour, On a dissension of a doit, break out To bitterest enmity: so, fellest foes, Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends And interjoin their issues. So with me: My birth-place hate I, and my love’s upon This enemy town. I’ll enter: if he slay me, He does fair justice; if he give me way, I’ll do his country service. Exit.

Scene V

The same. A hall in Aufidius’s house.

	Music within. Enter a Servingman.
First Servingman	Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep. Exit.
	Enter a Second Servingman.
Second Servingman	Where’s Cotus? my master calls for him. Cotus! Exit.
	Enter Coriolanus.
Coriolanus	A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I Appear not like a guest.
	Re-enter the First Servingman.
First Servingman	What would you have, friend? whence are you? Here’s no place for you: pray, go to the door. Exit.
Coriolanus	I have deserved no better entertainment, In being Coriolanus.
	Re-enter Second Servingman.
Second Servingman	Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out.
Coriolanus	Away!
Second Servingman	Away! get you away.
Coriolanus	Now thou’rt troublesome.
Second Servingman	Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.
	Enter a Third Servingman. The First meets him.
Third Servingman	What fellow’s this?
First Servingman	A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o’ the house: prithee, call my master to him. Retires.
Third Servingman	What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.
Coriolanus	Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.
Third Servingman	What are you?
Coriolanus	A gentleman.
Third Servingman	A marvellous poor one.
Coriolanus	True, so I am.
Third Servingman	Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here’s no place for you; pray you, avoid: come.
Coriolanus	Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits. Pushes him away.
Third Servingman	What, you will not? Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.
Second Servingman	And I shall. Exit.
Third Servingman	Where dwellest thou?
Coriolanus	Under the canopy.
Third Servingman	Under the canopy!
Coriolanus	Ay.
Third Servingman	Where’s that?
Coriolanus	I’ the city of kites and crows.
Third Servingman	I’ the city of kites and crows! What an ass it is! Then thou dwellest with daws too?
Coriolanus	No, I serve not thy master.
Third Servingman	How, sir! do you meddle with my master?
Coriolanus	Ay; ’tis