The Tragedy of Coriolanus
Shakespeare, William
The Tragedy of Coriolanus
William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Coriolanus
[Dramatis Personae
Caius Martius, afterwards Caius Martius Coriolanus
Titus Lartius
Cominius
generals against the Volscians
Menenius Agrippa, friend to Coriolanus
Sicinius Velutus
Junius Brutus
tribunes of the people
Young Martius, son to Coriolanus
Roman Herald
Nicanor, a Roman
Tullus Aufidius, general of the Volscians
Lieutenants to Aufidius and Coriolanus
Conspirators with Aufidius
Adrian, a Volscian
Citizen of Antium
Two Volscian Guards
Volumnia, mother to Coriolanus
Virgilia, wife to Coriolanus
Valeria, friend to Virgilia
Gentlewoman, attending on Virgilia
Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Aediles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants
Scene: Rome and the neighborhood; Corioles and the neighborhood; Antium]
Act I,
Scene I
Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with staves, clubs, and other weapons.
1. CIT. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.
ALL. Speak, speak.
1. CIT. You are all resolv'd rather to die than to famish?
ALL. Resolv'd, resolv'd.
1. CIT. First, you know Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people.
ALL. We know't, we know't.
1. CIT. 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!
2. CIT. One word, good citizens.
1. CIT. 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 reliev'd us humanely; but they think we are too dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize 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.
2. CIT. Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?
[1. CIT.] Against him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty.
2. CIT. Consider you what services he has done for his country?
1. CIT. Very well, and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.
[2.
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