Kitabı oku: «The Tragedy of Coriolanus», sayfa 5

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.
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,
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

 
Thank you, sir; farewell.
 

[Exit CITIZEN.]

 
O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,
Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,
Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise
Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love
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,
Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends
And interjoin their issues. So with me: —
My birthplace 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,
I'll do his country service.
 

SCENE V. Antium. A hall in AUFIDIUS'S house

[Music within. Enter A SERVANT.]

FIRST SERVANT

 
Wine, wine, wine! What service is here!
I think our fellows are asleep.
 

[Exit.]

[Enter a second SERVANT.]

SECOND SERVANT

 
Where's Cotus? my master calls for him. – Cotus!
 

[Exit.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS.]

CORIOLANUS

 
A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I
Appear not like a guest.
 

[Re-enter the first SERVANT.]

 
FIRST SERVANT. What would you have, friend? whence are you? Here's no place for you: pray go to the door.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I have deserv'd no better entertainment
In being Coriolanus.
 

[Re-enter second SERVANT.]

 
SECOND SERVANT. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Away!
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
Away? Get you away.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Now the art troublesome.
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon.
 

[Enter a third SERVANT. The first meets him.]

THIRD SERVANT

 
What fellow's this?
FIRST SERVANT. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o' the house. Pr'ythee call my master to him.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you avoid the house.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
What are you?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
A gentleman.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
A marvellous poor one.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
True, so I am.
THIRD SERVANT. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you. Pray you avoid; come.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Follow your function, go,
And batten on cold bits.
 

[Pushes him away.]

 
THIRD SERVANT. What, you will not? – Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
And I shall.
 

[Exit.]

THIRD SERVANT

 
Where dwell'st thou?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Under the canopy.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
Under the canopy?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Ay.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
Where's that?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I' the city of kites and crows.
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. I' the city of kites and crows! – What an ass it is! – Then thou dwell'st with daws too?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
No, I serve not thy master.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
How, sir! Do you meddle with my master?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress.
Thou prat'st and prat'st; serve with thy trencher, hence!
 

[Beats him away.]

[Enter AUFIDIUS and the second SERVANT.]

AUFIDIUS

 
Where is this fellow?
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
Whence com'st thou? what wouldst thou? thy name?
Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name?
 

CORIOLANUS

[Unmuffling.] If, Tullus,

 
Not yet thou know'st me, and, seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
What is thy name?
 

[Servants retire.]

CORIOLANUS

 
A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears,
And harsh in sound to thine.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
Say, what's thy name?
Thou has a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn,
Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Prepare thy brow to frown: – know'st thou me yet?
 

AUFIDIUS

 
I know thee not: – thy name?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volsces,
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname, Coriolanus: the painful service,
The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country, are requited
But with that surname; a good memory,
And witness of the malice and displeasure
Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains;
The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest,
And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be
Whoop'd out of Rome. Now, this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth: not out of hope,
Mistake me not, to save my life; for if
I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world
I would have 'voided thee; but in mere spite,
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge
Thine own particular wrongs, and stop those maims
Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight
And make my misery serve thy turn: so use it
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits to thee; for I will fight
Against my canker'd country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But if so be
Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes
Th'art tir'd, then, in a word, I also am
Longer to live most weary, and present
My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice;
Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,
Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast,
And cannot live but to thy shame, unless
It be to do thee service.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
O Marcius, Marcius!
Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart
A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Should from yond cloud speak divine things,
And say ''Tis true,' I'd not believe them more
Than thee, all noble Marcius. – Let me twine
Mine arms about that body, where against
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke
And scar'd the moon with splinters; here I clip
The anvil of my sword, and do contest
As hotly and as nobly with thy love
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I lov'd the maid I married; never man
Sighed truer breath; but that I see thee here,
Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee
We have a power on foot; and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,
Or lose mine arm for't: thou hast beat me out
Twelve several times, and I have nightly since
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;
We have been down together in my sleep,
Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat,
And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy Marcius,
Had we no other quarrel else to Rome, but that
Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy; and, pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,
Like a bold flood o'erbear. O, come, go in,
And take our friendly senators by the hands;
Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,
Who am prepar'd against your territories,
Though not for Rome itself.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
You bless me, gods!
 

AUFIDIUS

 
Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have
The leading of thine own revenges, take
Th' one half of my commission; and set down, —
As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st
Thy country's strength and weakness, – thine own ways;
Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,
Or rudely visit them in parts remote,
To fright them, ere destroy. But come in;
Let me commend thee first to those that shall
Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!
And more a friend than e'er an enemy;
Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: most welcome!
 

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS.]

FIRST SERVANT

 
Here's a strange alteration!
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him.
FIRST SERVANT. What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him; he had, sir, a kind of face, methought, – I cannot tell how to term it.
FIRST SERVANT. He had so, looking as it were, – would I were hanged, but I thought there was more in him than I could think.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply the rarest man i' the world.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
I think he is; but a greater soldier than he you wot on.
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
Who, my master?
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Nay, it's no matter for that.
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
Worth six on him.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Nay, not so neither: but I take him to be the greater soldier.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that: for the defence of a town our general is excellent.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Ay, and for an assault too.
 

[Re-enter third SERVANT.]

THIRD SERVANT

 
O slaves, I can tell you news, – news, you rascals!
 
 
FIRST and SECOND SERVANT.
What, what, what? let's partake.
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lief be a condemned man.
 
 
FIRST and SECOND SERVANT.
Wherefore? wherefore?
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general, – Caius
Marcius.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Why do you say, thwack our general?
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. I do not say thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. Come, we are fellows and friends: he was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
He was too hard for him directly, to say the troth on't; before
Corioli he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
But more of thy news?
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. Why, he is so made on here within as if he were son and heir to Mars; set at upper end o' the table: no question asked him by any of the senators but they stand bald before him: our general himself makes a mistress of him, sanctifies himself with's hand, and turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i' the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears; he will mow all down before him, and leave his passage polled.
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
And he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine.
THIRD SERVANT. Do't! he will do't; for look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies; which friends, sir, as it were, durst not, look you, sir, show themselves, as we term it, his friends, whilst he's in dejectitude.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Dejectitude! what's that?
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with him.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
But when goes this forward?
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. To-morrow; to-day; presently; you shall have the drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis as it were parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.
FIRST SERVANT. 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; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of men.
 
 
SECOND SERVANT. 'Tis so: and as war in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Ay, and it makes men hate one another.
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. Reason: because they then less need one another. The wars for my money. I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volscians. They are rising, they are rising.
 

ALL

 
In, in, in, in!
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VI. Rome. A public place

[Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]

SICINIUS

 
We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;
His remedies are tame i' the present peace
And quietness of the people, which before
Were in wild hurry. Here do make his friends
Blush that the world goes well; who rather had,
Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see
Our tradesmen singing in their shops, and going
About their functions friendly.
 

BRUTUS

 
We stood to't in good time. – Is this Menenius?
 

SICINIUS

 
'Tis he, 'tis he. O, he is grown most kind
Of late.
 

[Enter MENENIUS

BRUTUS

 
Hail, sir!
 

MENENIUS

 
Hail to you both!
 

SICINIUS

 
Your Coriolanus is not much miss'd
But with his friends: the commonwealth doth stand;
And so would do, were he more angry at it.
 

MENENIUS

 
All's well, and might have been much better if
He could have temporiz'd.
 

SICINIUS

 
Where is he, hear you?
 

MENENIUS

 
Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife
Hear nothing from him.
 

[Enter three or four Citizens.]

 
CITIZENS. The gods preserve you both!
 

SICINIUS

 
God-den, our neighbours.
 

BRUTUS

 
God-den to you all, God-den to you all.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees,
Are bound to pray for you both.
 

SICINIUS

 
Live and thrive!
 

BRUTUS

 
Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd Coriolanus
Had lov'd you as we did.
 

CITIZENS

 
Now the gods keep you!
 

BOTH TRIBUNES

 
Farewell, farewell.
 

[Exeunt Citizens.]

SICINIUS

 
This is a happier and more comely time
Than when these fellows ran about the streets
Crying confusion.
 

BRUTUS

 
Caius Marcius was
A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent,
O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking,
Self-loving, —
 

SICINIUS

 
And affecting one sole throne,
Without assistance.
 

MENENIUS

 
I think not so.
 

SICINIUS

 
We should by this, to all our lamentation,
If he had gone forth consul, found it so.
 

BRUTUS

 
The gods have well prevented it, and Rome
Sits safe and still without him.
 

[Enter an AEDILE.]

AEDILE

 
Worthy tribunes,
There is a slave, whom we have put in prison,
Reports, – the Volsces with several powers
Are enter'd in the Roman territories,
And with the deepest malice of the war
Destroy what lies before 'em.
 

MENENIUS

 
'Tis Aufidius,
Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment,
Thrusts forth his horns again into the world;
Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome,
And durst not once peep out.
 

SICINIUS

 
Come, what talk you of Marcius?
 

BRUTUS

 
Go see this rumourer whipp'd. – It cannot be
The Volsces dare break with us.
 

MENENIUS

 
Cannot be!
We have record that very well it can;
And three examples of the like hath been
Within my age. But reason with the fellow,
Before you punish him, where he heard this;
Lest you shall chance to whip your information
And beat the messenger who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.
 

SICINIUS

 
Tell not me:
I know this cannot be.
 

BRUTUS

 
Not possible.
 

[Enter A MESSENGER.]

MESSENGER

 
The nobles in great earnestness are going
All to the senate-house: some news is come
That turns their countenances.
 

SICINIUS

 
'Tis this slave, —
Go whip him fore the people's eyes: – his raising;
Nothing but his report.
 

MESSENGER

 
Yes, worthy sir,
The slave's report is seconded, and more,
More fearful, is deliver'd.
 

SICINIUS

 
What more fearful?
 

MESSENGER

 
It is spoke freely out of many mouths, —
How probable I do not know, – that Marcius,
Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,
And vows revenge as spacious as between
The young'st and oldest thing.
 

SICINIUS

 
This is most likely!
 

BRUTUS

 
Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish
Good Marcius home again.
 

SICINIUS

 
The very trick on 't.
 

MENENIUS

 
This is unlikely:
He and Aufidius can no more atone
Than violentest contrariety.
 

[Enter a second MESSENGER.]

SECOND MESSENGER

 
You are sent for to the senate:
A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius
Associated with Aufidius, rages
Upon our territories; and have already
O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire and took
What lay before them.
 

[Enter COMINIUS.]

COMINIUS

 
O, you have made good work!
 

MENENIUS

 
What news? what news?
 

COMINIUS

 
You have holp to ravish your own daughters, and
To melt the city leads upon your pates;
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses, —
 

MENENIUS

 
What's the news? what's the news?
 

COMINIUS

 
Your temples burned in their cement; and
Your franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd
Into an auger's bore.
 

MENENIUS

 
Pray now, your news? —
You have made fair work, I fear me. – Pray, your news.
If Marcius should be join'd wi' the Volscians, —
 

COMINIUS

 
If!
He is their god: he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than nature,
That shapes man better; and they follow him,
Against us brats, with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.
 

MENENIUS

 
You have made good work,
You and your apron men; you that stood so much
Upon the voice of occupation and
The breath of garlic-eaters!
 

COMINIUS

 
He'll shake
Your Rome about your ears.
 

MENENIUS

 
As Hercules
Did shake down mellow fruit. – You have made fair work!
 

BRUTUS

 
But is this true, sir?
 

COMINIUS

 
Ay; and you'll look pale
Before you find it other. All the regions
Do smilingly revolt; and who resists
Are mock'd for valiant ignorance,
And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him?
Your enemies and his find something in him.
 

MENENIUS

 
We are all undone unless
The noble man have mercy.
 

COMINIUS

 
Who shall ask it?
The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people
Deserve such pity of him as the wolf
Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they
Should say 'Be good to Rome,' they charg'd him even
As those should do that had deserv'd his hate,
And therein show'd like enemies.
 

MENENIUS

 
'Tis true:
If he were putting to my house the brand
That should consume it, I have not the face
To say 'Beseech you, cease.' – You have made fair hands,
You and your crafts! You have crafted fair!
 

COMINIUS

 
You have brought
A trembling upon Rome, such as was never
So incapable of help.
 

BOTH TRIBUNES

 
Say not, we brought it.
 

MENENIUS

 
How! Was it we? we lov'd him, but, like beasts,
And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,
Who did hoot him out o' the city.
 

COMINIUS

 
But I fear
They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,
The second name of men, obeys his points
As if he were his officer: – desperation
Is all the policy, strength, and defence,
That Rome can make against them.
 

[Enter a troop of citizens.]

MENENIUS

 
Here comes the clusters. —
And is Aufidius with him? – You are they
That made the air unwholesome, when you cast
Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at
Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;
And not a hair upon a soldier's head
Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs
As you threw caps up will he tumble down,
And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter;
If he could burn us all into one coal
We have deserv'd it.
 

CITIZENS

 
Faith, we hear fearful news.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
For mine own part,
When I said banish him, I said 'twas pity.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
And so did I.
 
 
THIRD CITIZEN. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did, we did for the best; and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will.
 

COMINIUS

 
You are goodly things, you voices!
 

MENENIUS

 
You have made
Good work, you and your cry! – Shall's to the Capitol?
 

COMINIUS

 
O, ay; what else?
 

[Exeunt COMINIUS and MENENIUS.]

SICINIUS

 
Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd;
These are a side that would be glad to have
This true which they so seem to fear. Go home,
And show no sign of fear.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. The gods be good to us! – Come, masters, let's home. I ever said we were i' the wrong when we banished him.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
So did we all. But come, let's home.
 

[Exeunt Citizens.]

BRUTUS

 
I do not like this news.
 

SICINIUS

 
Nor I.
 

BRUTUS

 
Let's to the Capitol: – would half my wealth
Would buy this for a lie!
 

SICINIUS

 
Pray let's go.
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VII. A camp at a short distance from Rome

[Enter AUFIDIUS and his LIEUTENANT.]

AUFIDIUS

 
Do they still fly to the Roman?
 

LIEUTENANT

 
I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but
Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;
And you are darken'd in this action, sir,
Even by your own.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
I cannot help it now,
Unless by using means, I lame the foot
Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier,
Even to my person, than I thought he would
When first I did embrace him: yet his nature
In that's no changeling; and I must excuse
What cannot be amended.
 

LIEUTENANT

 
Yet I wish, sir, —
I mean, for your particular, – you had not
Join'd in commission with him; but either
Had borne the action of yourself, or else
To him had left it solely.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
I understand thee well; and be thou sure,
When he shall come to his account, he knows not
What I can urge against him. Although it seems,
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly,
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword: yet he hath left undone
That which shall break his neck or hazard mine
Whene'er we come to our account.
 

LIEUTENANT

 
Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?
 

AUFIDIUS

 
All places yield to him ere he sits down;
And the nobility of Rome are his;
The senators and patricians love him too:
The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty
To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them; but he could not
Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgment,
To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace
Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controll'd the war; but one of these, —
As he hath spices of them all, not all,
For I dare so far free him, – made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit
To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues
Lie in the interpretation of the time:
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a cheer
To extol what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;
Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,
Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
 

[Exeunt.]