The Tragedy of Coriolanus: ACT IV , SCENE IV. Antium. Before Aufidius's house.

The Tragedy of Coriolanus: ACT IV


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

	ACT III

	ACT IV

		SCENE I. Rome. Before a gate of the city.

		SCENE II. The same. A street near the gate.

		SCENE III. A highway between Rome and Antium.

		SCENE IV. Antium. Before Aufidius's house.

		SCENE V. The same. A hall in Aufidius's house.

		SCENE VI. Rome. A public place.

		SCENE VII. A camp, at a small distance from Rome.

	ACT V

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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,
5     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,
10 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

15 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
20    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,
25    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,
30    I'll do his country service.

Exit

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