Act 1 Scene 2
1 Fir st Senator So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
2 That they of Rome are entered in our counsels
3 And know how we proceed.
Aufidius Is it not yours?
4 What ever have been thought on in this state 5 That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome 6 Had circumvention? ’Tis not four days gone 7 Since I heard thence. These are the words. I think 8 I have the letter here— yes, here it is.
(He reads the letter )
9 “They have pressed a power, but it is not known 10 Whether for east or west. The dearth is great, 11 The people mutinous, and it is rumoured
12 Cominius, Martius your old enemy,
13 Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, 14 And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, 15 These three lead on this preparation 16 Whither ’tis bent. Most likely ’tis for you.
17 Consider of it.”
Fir st Senator Our army’s in the field.
18 We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
19 To answer us.
Aufidius Nor did you think it folly 20 To keep your great pretences veiled till when
21 They needs must show themselves, which in the hatching, 22 It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery
23 We shall be shortened in our aim, which was 24 To take in many towns ere, almost, Rome
25 Should know we were afoot.
Second Senator Noble Aufidius,
26 Take your commission, hie you to your bands.
27 Let us alone to guard Corioles.
28 If they set down before ’s, for the remove 29 Bring up your army, but I think you’ll find
30 They’ve not prepared for us.
Aufidius O, doubt not that.
31 I speak from certainties. Nay, more,
32 Some parcels of their power are forth already, 33 And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
34 If we and Caius Martius chance to meet, 35 ’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike 36 Till one can do no more.
All The Senator s The gods assist you!
37 AufidiusAnd keep your honours safe.
Fir st Senator Farewell.
Second Senator Farewell.
All Farewell.
Act 2 Scene 1
103 Menenius (throwing up his cap) Take my cap, Jupiter, and 104 I thank thee! Hoo, Martius coming home?
105 Vir gilia and Valer ia Nay, ’tis true.
106 Volumnia Look, here’s a letter from him. The state hath 107 another, his wife another, and I think there’s one at
108 home for you.
109 Menenius I will make my very house reel tonight. A letter
110 for me?
111 Vir gilia Yes, certain, there’s a letter for you; I saw ’t.
112 Menenius A letter for me? It gives me an estate of seven 113 years’ health, in which time I will make a lip at the 114 physician. The most sovereign prescription in Galen is 115 but empiricutic and, to this preservative, of no better 116 report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded? He 117 was wont to come home wounded.
118 Vir gilia O, no, no, no!
119 Volumnia O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for ’t!
120 Menenius So do I, too, if it be not too much. Brings a 121 victory in his pocket, the wounds become him.
122 Volumnia On ’s brows, Menenius. He comes the third time 123 home with the oaken garland.
124 Menenius Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?
125 Volumnia Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but
126 Aufidius got off.
127 Menenius And ’twas time for him too, I’ll warrant him
128 that. An he had stayed by him, I would not have been 129 so fidiussed for all the chests in Corioles and the gold 130 that’s in them. Is the senate possessed of this?
131 Volumnia Good ladies, let’s go. Yes, yes, yes. The senate
132 has letter s from the general, wherein he gives my son 133 the whole name of the war. He hath in this action 134 outdone his former deeds doubly.
135 Valer ia In truth, there’s wondrous things spoke of him.
136 Menenius Wondrous, ay, I warrant you; and not without
137 his true purchasing.
Act 5 Scene 2
60 Cor iolanus What’s the matter?
61 Menenius (to First Watchman) Now, you companion, I’ll
62 say an errand for you. You shall know now that I am 63 in estimation. You shall perceive that a jack guardant 64 cannot office me from my son Coriolanus. Guess but 65 by my entertainment with him if thou stand’st not i’th’
66 state of hanging, or of some death more long in 67 spectatorship and crueller in suffering. Behold now 68 presently, and swoon for what’s to come upon thee.
69 (To Coriolanus) The glorious gods sit in hourly synod
70 about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no worse 71 than thy old father Menenius does! (Weeping) O, my 72 son, my son, thou art preparing fire for us. Look thee, 73 here’s water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come 74 to thee, but being assured none but myself could move 75 thee, I have been blown out of our gates with sighs, 76 and conjure thee to pardon Rome and thy petitionary 77 countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath and 78 turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here, this, who 79 like a block hath denied my access to thee!
80 Cor iolanus Away!
81 Menenius How? Away?
82 Cor iolanus Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs 83 Are servanted to others. Though I owe 84 My revenge properly, my remission lies
85 In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, 86 Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather
87 Than pity note how much. Therefore be gone.
88 Mine ears against your suits are stronger than 89 Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,
(He gives him a letter )
90 Take this along. I writ it for thy sake,
91 And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, 92 I will not hear thee speak.— This man, Aufidius, 93 Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st.
94 Aufidius You keep a constant temper.
Act 5 Scene 6
1 Aufidius Go tell the lords o’th’ city I am here.
2 Deliver them this paper . Having read it, 3 Bid them repair to th’ market-place, where I, 4 Even in theirs and in the commons’ ears, 5 Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse 6 The city ports by this hath entered, and 7 Intends t’ appear before the people, hoping 8 To purge himself with words. Dispatch.
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71 Cor iolanus Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, 72 No more infected with my country’s love 73 Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting 74 Under your great command. You are to know 75 That prosperously I have attempted, and 76 With bloody passage led your wars even to
77 The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home 78 Doth more than counterpoise a full third part
79 The charges of the action. We have made peace 80 With no less honour to the Antiates
81 Than shame to th’ Romans. And we here deliver, 82 Subscribed by th’ consuls and patricians,
83 Together with the seal o’th’ senate, what
84 We have compounded on.
(He gives the Lords a paper )
Aufidius Read it not, noble lords,
85 But tell the traitor in the highest degree 86 He hath abused your powers.
87 Cor iolanus Traitor? How now?
88 Aufidius Ay, traitor, Martius.
89 Cor iolanus Martius?
90 Aufidius Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think 91 I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name, 92 “Coriolanus”, in Corioles? go.
CYMBELINE
Act 1 Scene 1
Posthumus My queen, my mistress!
94 O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause 95 To be suspected of more tenderness 96 Than doth become a man. I will remain 97 The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth;
98 My residence in Rome at one Filario's, 99 Who to my father was a friend, to me
100 Known but by letter ; thither write, my queen, 101 And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send 102 Though ink be made of gall.
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166 Innogen Your son’s my father’s friend; he takes his part 167 To draw upon an exile. O brave sir!
168 I would they were in Afric both together, 169 Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
170 The goer-back.
(To Pisanio) Why came you from your master?
171 Pisanio On his command. He would not suffer me 172 To bring him to the haven, left these notes 173 Of what commands I should be subject to 174 When’t pleased you to employ me.
Queen This hath been
175 Your faithful servant. I dare lay mine honour
176 He will remain so.
177 Pisanio I humbly thank your highness.
178 Queen Pray walk a while.
Act 1 Scene 3
1 Innogen I would thou grew’st unto the shores o’th’ haven 2 And questionedst every sail. If he should write
3 And I not have it, ’twere a paper lost 4 As offered mercy is. What was the last
5 That he spake to thee?
Pisanio It was his queen, his queen.
Act 1 Scene 4
146 Giacomo By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient 147 testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part 148 of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours;
149 so is your diamond too. If I come off and leave her in 150 such honour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this 151 your jewel, and my gold are yours, provided I have 152 your commendation for my more free entertainment.
153 Posthumus I embrace these conditions; let us have articles
154 betwixt us. Only thus far you shall answer: if you make 155 your voyage upon her and give me directly to
156 understand you have prevailed, I am no further your 157 enemy; she is not worth our debate. If she remain 158 unseduced, you not making it appear otherwise, for 159 your ill opinion and th' assault you have made to her 160 chastity you shall answer me with your sword.
Act 1 Scene 6
10 Pisanio Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome 11 Comes from my lord with letter s.
Giacomo Change you, madam?
12 The worthy Leonatus is in safety, 13 And greets your highness dearly.
(He gives her the letter s)
Innogen Thanks, good sir.
14 You’re kindly welcome.
(She reads the letter s)
15 Giacomo (aside) All of her that is out of door most rich!
16 If she be furnished with a mind so rare 17 She is alone, th’ Arabian bird, and I
18 Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend;
19 Arm me audacity from head to foot, 20 Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight;
21 Rather, directly fly.
22 Innogen (reads aloud) “He is one of the noblest note, to
23 whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon 24 him accordingly, as you value
25 Your truest
26 Leonatus.”
27 (To Giacomo) So far I read aloud, 28 But even the very middle of my heart
29 Is warmed by th’ rest, and takes it thankfully.
30 You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I 31 Have words to bid you, and shall find it so 32 In all that I can do.
Act 2 Scene 4
Giacomo Here are letter s for you.
36 Posthumus Their tenor good, I trust.
Giacomo ’Tis very like.
(Posthumus reads the letter s)
37 [Filar io] Was Caius Lucius in the Briton court
38 When you were there?
Giacomo He was expected then,
39 But not approached.
Posthumus All is well yet.
40 Sparkles this stone as it was wont, or is ’t not 41 Too dull for your good wearing?
Giacomo If I had lost it
42 I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
43 I’ll make a journey twice as far t’ enjoy
44 A second night of such sweet shortness which 45 Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
46 Posthumus The stone’s too hard to come by.
Giacomo Not a whit,
47 Your lady being so easy.
Act 3 Scene 2
(Enter Pisanio, reading of a letter )
1 Pisanio How? Of adultery? Wherefore write you not 2 What monster’s her accuser? Leonatus, 3 O master, what a strange infection 4 Is fall’n into thy ear! What false Italian,
5 As poisonous tongued as handed, hath prevailed 6 On thy too ready hearing? Disloyal? No.
7 She’s punished for her truth, and undergoes, 8 More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults 9 As would take in some virtue. O my master, 10 Thy mind to hers is now as low as were
11 Thy fortunes. How? That I should murder her, 12 Upon the love and truth and vows which I 13 Have made to thy command? I her? Her blood?
14 If it be so to do good service, never
15 Let me be counted serviceable. How look I, 16 That I should seem to lack humanity
17 So much as this fact comes to?
(Reads) “Do ’t. The letter
18 That I have sent her, by her own command 19 Shall give thee opportunity.” O damned paper , 20 Black as the ink that’s on thee! Senseless bauble, 21 Art thou a fedary for this act, and look’st
22 So virgin-like without?
(Enter Innogen)
Lo, here she comes.
23 I am ignorant in what I am commanded.
24 Innogen How now, Pisanio?
25 Pisanio Madam, here is a letter from my lord.
26 Innogen Who, thy lord that is my lord, Leonatus?
27 O learned indeed were that astronomer 28 That knew the stars as I his characters—
29 He’d lay the future open. You good gods, 30 Let what is here contained relish of love, 31 Of my lord’s health, of his content— yet not 32 That we two are asunder; let that grieve him.
33 Some griefs are med’cinable; that is one of them,
34 For it doth physic love— of his content 35 All but in that. Good wax, thy leave. Blest be 36 You bees that make these locks of counsel! Lovers 37 And men in dangerous bonds pray not alike;
38 Though forfeiters you cast in prison, yet
39 You clasp young Cupid’s tables. Good news, gods!
(She opens and reads the letter )
40 “Justice and your father’s wrath, should he take me in 41 his dominion, could not be so cruel to me as you, O 42 the dearest of creatures, would even renew me with 43 your eyes. Take notice that I am in Cambria, at Milford 44 Haven. What your own love will out of this advise you, 45 follow. So he wishes you all happiness, that remains 46 loyal to his vow, and your increasing in love,
47 Leonatus Posthumus.”
48 O for a horse with wings! Hear’st thou, Pisanio?
49 He is at Milford Haven. Read, and tell me 50 How far ’tis thither. If one of mean affairs 51 May plod it in a week, why may not I 52 Glide thither in a day? Then, true Pisanio,
53 Who long’st like me to see thy lord, who long’st—
54 O let me bate— but not like me— yet long’st 55 But in a fainter kind— O, not like me,
56 For mine’s beyond beyond; say, and speak thick—
57 Love’s counsellor should fill the bores of hearing, 58 To th’ smothering of the sense— how far it is 59 To this same bless Milford. And by th’ way 60 Tell me how Wales was made so happy as 61 T’ inherit such a haven. But first of all,
62 How we may steal from hence; and for the gap 63 That we shall make in time from our hence-going 64 Till our return, to excuse; but first, how get hence.
65 Why should excuse be born or ere begot?
66 We’ll talk of that hereafter. Prithee speak, 67 How many score of miles may we well ride
68 ’Twixt hour and hour?
Act 3 Scene 4
1 Innogen Thou told’st me when we came from horse the place 2 Was near at hand. Ne’er longed my mother so
3 To see me first as I have now. Pisanio, man, 4 Where is Posthumus? What is in thy mind
5 That makes thee stare thus? Wherefore breaks that sigh 6 From th’ inward of thee? One but painted thus
7 Would be interpreted a thing perplexed 8 Beyond self-explication. Put thyself 9 Into a haviour of less fear, ere wildness
10 Vanquish my staider senses. What’s the matter?
(Pisanio gives her a letter )
11 Why tender’st thou that paper to me with 12 A look untender? If ’t be summer news, 13 Smile to ’t before; if winterly, thou need’st
14 But keep that count’nance still. My husband’s hand?
15 That drug-damned Italy hath out-craftied him,
16 And he’s at some hard point. Speak, man. Thy tongue 17 May take off some extremity which to read
18 Would be even mortal to me.
Pisanio Please you read,
19 And you shall find me, wretched man, a thing 20 The most disdained of fortune.
21 Innogen (reads) “Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath played the 22 strumpet in my bed, the testimonies whereof lies 23 bleeding in me. I speak not out of weak surmises but 24 from proof as strong as my grief and as certain as I 25 expect my revenge. That part thou, Pisanio, must act 26 for me, if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of 27 hers. Let thine own hands take away her life. I shall 28 give thee opportunity at Milford Haven. She hath my 29 letter for the purpose, where if thou fear to strike and 30 to make me certain it is done, thou art the pander to 31 her dishonour and equally to me disloyal.”
32 Pisanio (aside) What shall I need to draw my sword? The paper 33 Hath cut her throat already. No, ’tis slander,
34 Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue 35 Outvenoms all the worms of Nile, whose breath
36 Rides on the posting winds and doth belie
37 All corners of the world. Kings, queens, and states, 38 Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave
39 This viperous slander enters.
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Innogen Why, I must die,
75 And if I do not by thy hand thou art
76 No servant of thy master’s. Against self-slaughter 77 There is a prohibition so divine
78 That cravens my weak hand. Come, here’s my heart.
79 Something’s afore ’t. Soft, soft, we’ll no defence;
80 Obedient as the scabbard. What is here?
(She takes letter s from her bosom) 81 The scr iptur es of the loyal Leonatus, 82 All turned to heresy? Away, away,
83 Corrupters of my faith, you shall no more
84 Be stomachers to my heart. Thus may poor fools 85 Believe false teachers. Though those that are betrayed 86 Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor
87 Stands in worse case of woe. And thou, Posthumus, 88 That didst set up my disobedience ’gainst the King 89 My father, and make me put into contempt the suits 90 Of princely fellows, shalt hereafter find
91 It is no act of common passage but 92 A strain of rareness; and I grieve myself 93 To think, when thou shalt be disedged by her 94 That now thou tirest on, how thy memory 95 Will then be panged by me.
Act 3 Scene 5
Pisanio Then, sir,
100 This paper is the history of my knowledge
101 Touching her flight.
(He gives Cloten a letter )
Cloten Let’s see ’t. I will pursue her
102 Even to Augustus’ throne.
Pisanio (aside) Or this or perish.
103 She’s far enough, and what he learns by this 104 May prove his travel, not her danger.
Cloten Hum!
105 Pisanio (aside) I’ll write to my lord she’s dead. O Innogen, 106 Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!
107 Cloten Sirrah, is this letter true?
Pisanio Sir, as I think.
108 Cloten It is Posthumus’ hand; I know ’t. Sirrah, if thou
109 wouldst not be a villain but do me true service, undergo 110 those employments wherein I should have cause to use 111 thee with a serious industry— that is, what villainy 112 soe’er I bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly— I 113 would think thee an honest man. Thou shouldst neither 114 want my means for thy relief nor my voice for thy
115 preferment.
Act 4 Scene 2
293 Innogen (awakes) Yes, sir, to Milford Haven. Which is the way?
294 I thank you. By yon bush? Pray, how far thither?
295 ’Od’s pitykins, can it be six mile yet?
296 I have gone all night. ’Faith, I’ll lie down and sleep.
(She sees Cloten)
297 But soft, no bedfellow! O gods and goddesses!
298 These flowers are like the pleasures of the world, 299 This bloody man the care on ’t. I hope I dream, 300 For so I thought I was a cavekeeper,
301 And cook to honest creatures. But ’tis not so.
302 ’Twas but a bolt of nothing, shot of nothing, 303 Which the brain makes of fumes. Our very eyes
302 ’Twas but a bolt of nothing, shot of nothing, 303 Which the brain makes of fumes. Our very eyes