Shakespeare's First Folio Part 471

Virg. You shall stay too: I would I had the power To say so to my Husband

Sicin. Are you mankinde?

Volum. I foole, is that a shame. Note but this Foole, Was not a man my Father? Had'st thou Foxship To banish him that strooke more blowes for Rome Then thou hast spoken words

Sicin. Oh blessed Heauens!

Volum. Moe n.o.ble blowes, then euer y wise words.

And for Romes good, Ile tell thee what: yet goe: Nay but thou shalt stay too: I would my Sonne Were in Arabia, and thy Tribe before him, His good Sword in his hand

Sicin. What then?

Virg. When then? Hee'ld make an end of thy posterity Volum. b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, and all.

Good man, the Wounds that he does beare for Rome!

Menen. Come, come, peace

Sicin. I would he had continued to his Country As he began, and not vnknit himselfe The n.o.ble knot he made

Bru. I would he had

Volum. I would he had? Twas thou incenst the rable.

Cats, that can iudge as fitly of his worth, As I can of those Mysteries which heauen Will not haue earth to know

Brut. Pray let's go

Volum. Now pray sir get you gone.

You haue done a braue deede: Ere you go, heare this: As farre as doth the Capitoll exceede The meanest house in Rome; so farre my Sonne This Ladies Husband heere; this (do you see) Whom you haue banish'd, does exceed you all

Bru. Well, well, wee'l leaue you

Sicin. Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her Wits.

Exit Tribunes.

Volum. Take my Prayers with you.

I would the G.o.ds had nothing else to do, But to confirme my Cursses. Could I meete 'em But once a day, it would vnclogge my heart Of what lyes heauy too't

Mene. You haue told them home, And by my troth you haue cause: you'l Sup with me

Volum. Angers my Meate: I suppe vpon my selfe, And so shall sterue with Feeding: come, let's go, Leaue this faint-puling, and lament as I do, In Anger, Iuno-like: Come, come, come.

Exeunt.

Mene. Fie, fie, fie.

Enter.

Enter a Roman, and a Volce.

Rom. I know you well sir, and you know mee: your name I thinke is Adrian

Volce. It is so sir, truly I haue forgot you

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

Volce. Nicanor: no

Rom. The same sir

Volce. You had more Beard when I last saw you, but your Fauour is well appear'd by your Tongue. What's the Newes in Rome: I haue a Note from the Volcean state to finde you out there. You haue well saued mee a dayes iourney

Rom. There hath beene in Rome straunge Insurrections: The people, against the Senatours, Patricians, and n.o.bles

Vol. Hath bin; is it ended then? Our State thinks not so, they are in a most warlike preparation, & hope to com vpon them, in the heate of their diuision Rom. The maine blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame againe. For the n.o.bles receyue so to heart, the Banishment of that worthy Coriola.n.u.s, that they are in a ripe aptnesse, to take al power from the people, and to plucke from them their Tribunes for euer.

This lyes glowing I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out

Vol. Coriola.n.u.s Banisht?

Rom. Banish'd sir

Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence Nicanor

Rom. The day serues well for them now. I haue heard it saide, the fittest time to corrupt a mans Wife, is when shee's falne out with her Husband. Your n.o.ble Tullus Auffidius will appeare well in these Warres, his great Opposer Coriola.n.u.s being now in no request of his countrey

Volce. He cannot choose: I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you. You haue ended my Businesse, and I will merrily accompany you home

Rom. I shall betweene this and Supper, tell you most strange things from Rome: all tending to the good of their Aduersaries. Haue you an Army ready say you?

Vol. A most Royall one: The Centurions, and their charges distinctly billetted already in th' entertainment, and to be on foot at an houres warning

Rom. I am ioyfull to heare of their readinesse, and am the man I thinke, that shall set them in present Action. So sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your Company

Volce. You take my part from me sir, I haue the most cause to be glad of yours

Rom. Well, let vs go together.

Exeunt.

Enter Coriola.n.u.s in meane Apparrell, disguisd, and m.u.f.fled.

Corio. A goodly City is this Antium. Citty, 'Tis I that made thy Widdowes: Many an heyre Of these faire Edifices fore my Warres Haue I heard groane, and drop: Then know me not, Least that thy Wiues with Spits, and Boyes with stones In puny Battell slay me. Saue you sir.

Enter a Citizen.

Cit. And you

Corio. Direct me, if it be your will, where great Auffidius lies: Is he in Antium?

Cit. He is, and Feasts the n.o.bles of the State, at his house this night

Corio. Which is his house, beseech you?

Cit. This heere before you

Corio. Thanke you sir, farewell.

Exit Citizen