The Tragedy of Coriolanus: ACT I
Introduction 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 ACT III ACT IV ACT V About the Play Feedback			Search: All the plays Hamlet Coriolanus Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Richard II Richard III Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Timon of Athens Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry the Fifth Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry VIII King John Pericles Troilus and Cressida All's Well... As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline A Midsummer... Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives... Much Ado about Nothing The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night The Taming of... The Tempest The Two Gentlemen... The Winter's Tale    for: SCENE III. Rome. A room in Marcius' house. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA they set them down on two low stools, and sew VOLUMNIA       I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a       more comfortable sort: if my son were my husband, I       should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he       won honour than in the embracements of his bed where 5     he would show most love. When yet he was but       tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when       youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when       for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not       sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering 10    how honour would become such a person. that it was       no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if       renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek       danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel       war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows 15    bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not       more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child       than now in first seeing he had proved himself a       man. VIRGILIA       But had he died in the business, madam; how then? VOLUMNIA 20    Then his good report should have been my son; I       therein would have found issue. Hear me profess       sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love       alike and none less dear than thine and my good       Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their 25    country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman Gentlewoman       Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you. VIRGILIA       Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. VOLUMNIA       Indeed, you shall not.       Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum, 30    See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair,       As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:       Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:       'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear,       Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow 35    With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes,       Like to a harvest-man that's task'd to mow       Or all or lose his hire. VIRGILIA       His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood! VOLUMNIA       Away, you fool! it more becomes a man 40    Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,       When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier       Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood       At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria,       We are fit to bid her welcome. Exit Gentlewoman VIRGILIA 45    Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! VOLUMNIA       He'll beat Aufidius 'head below his knee       And tread upon his neck. Enter VALERIA, with an Usher and Gentlewoman VALERIA       My ladies both, good day to you. VOLUMNIA       Sweet madam. VIRGILIA 50    I am glad to see your ladyship. VALERIA       How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers.       What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good       faith. How does your little son? VIRGILIA       I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. VOLUMNIA 55    He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than       look upon his school-master. VALERIA       O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear,'tis a       very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o'       Wednesday half an hour together: has such a 60    confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded       butterfly: and when he caught it, he let it go       again; and after it again; and over and over he       comes, and again; catched it again; or whether his       fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his 65    teeth and tear it; O, I warrant it, how he mammocked       it! VOLUMNIA       One on 's father's moods. VALERIA       Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child. VIRGILIA       A crack, madam. VALERIA 70    Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play       the idle husewife with me this afternoon. VIRGILIA       No, good madam; I will not out of doors. VALERIA       Not out of doors! VOLUMNIA       She shall, she shall. VIRGILIA 75    Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the       threshold till my lord return from the wars. VALERIA       Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come,       you must go visit the good lady that lies in. VIRGILIA       I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with 80    my prayers; but I cannot go thither. VOLUMNIA       Why, I pray you? VIRGILIA       'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. VALERIA       You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all       the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill 85    Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric       were sensible as your finger, that you might leave       pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. VIRGILIA       No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth. VALERIA       In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you 90    excellent news of your husband. VIRGILIA       O, good madam, there can be none yet. VALERIA       Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from       him last night. VIRGILIA       Indeed, madam? VALERIA 95    In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it.       Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against       whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of       our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set       down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt 100   prevailing and to make it brief wars. This is true,       on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. VIRGILIA       Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every       thing hereafter. VOLUMNIA       Let her alone, lady: as she is now, she will but 105   disease our better mirth. VALERIA       In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then.       Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy       solemness out o' door. and go along with us. VIRGILIA       No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish 110   you much mirth. VALERIA       Well, then, farewell. Exeunt Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene