Coriolanus

Coriolanus is an historical tragedy by William Shakespeare, probably written around 1607-8. The plot is based on the Roman legend of Gaius Marcius Coriolanus as told by Plutarch and Livy. Act I What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, that, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, make yourselves scabs? Marcius, scene i 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 country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Volumnia, scene iii If any think brave death outweighs bad life, and that his country's dearer than himself; let him alone, or so many so minded, wave thus, to express his disposition, Marcius, scene vi Make you a sword of me? Marcius, scene vi Act II Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. Sicinius, scene i One that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in ’t. Menenius, scene i God-den to your worships. More of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians. Menenius, scene i Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er loved them. Second Officer, scene ii Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage Coriolanus, scene ii Many-headed multitude. First Citizen, scene iii I thank you for your voices, — thank you, —Your most sweet voices. Third Citizen, quoting Coriolanus, scene iii Act III Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark youHis absolute shall? Coriolanus, scene i Enough, with over-measure. Brutus, scene i What is the city but the people? Sicinius, scene i But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic;And manhood is call'd foolery, when it standsAgainst a falling fabric. Cominius, scene i His nature is too noble for the world:He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,Or Jove for’s power to thunder. Menenius, scene i If it be honour in your wars to seemThe same you are not, (which, for your best ends,You adopt your policy) how is it less or worse,That it shall hold companionship in peaceWith honour, as in war, since that to bothIt stands in like request? Voulmnia, scene ii Action is eloquence. Voulmnia, scene ii Act IV Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,And so shall starve with feeding. Volumnia, Scene ii O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exerciseAre still together, who twin, as 't were, in loveUnseparable, shall within this hour,On a dissension of a doit, break outTo bitterest enmity: so, fellest foes,Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleepTo take the one the other, by some chance,Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friendsAnd interjoin their issues. So with me: —My birthplace hate I, and my love's uponThis enemy town. — I'll enter: if he slay me,He does fair justice; if he give me way,I'll do his country service. Coriolanus, scene iv Third Servant: Where dwellest thou?Coriolanus: Under the canopy. Scene v Aufidius: What is thy name?Coriolanus: A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears,And harsh in sound to thine. Scene v Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace as far as day does night: it's spritely waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mull'd, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of men. First Servant, scene v I think he'll be to RomeAs is the osprey to the fish, who takes itBy sovereignty of nature. Aufidius, Scene vii Act V I'll neverBe such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand,As if a man were author of himself,And knew no other kin. Coriolanus, scene iii The noble sister of Publicola,The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle,That's curded by the frost from purest snow,And hangs on Dian's temple: – dear Valeria! Coriolanus, scene iii If you have writ your annals true, ’t is thereThat, like an eagle in a dove-cote, IFlutter’d your Volscians in Corioli:Alone I did it! Boy! Coriolanus, scene vi Quotes about Coriolanus Shakespear has in this play shewn himself well versed in history and state-affairs. Coriolanus is a store-house of political commonplaces. Any one who studies it may save himself the trouble of reading Burke's Reflections, or Paine's Rights of Man, or the Debates in both Houses of Parliament since the French Revolution or our own. The arguments for and against aristocracy or democracy, on the privileges of the few and the claims of the many, on liberty and slavery, power and the abuse of it, peace and war, are here very ably handled, with the spirit of a poet and the acuteness of a philosopher. Shakespear himself seems to have had a leaning to the arbitrary side of the question, perhaps from some feeling of contempt for his own origin; and to have spared no occasion of baiting the rabble. What he says of them is very true: what he says of their betters is also very true, though he dwells less upon it. William Hazlitt, Characters of Shakespear's Plays (1817), pp. 69-70 External links Coriolanus (play) The Tragedy of Coriolanus Category:Shakespearean tragedies