NICANOR I shall between this and supper tell you most strange things from Rome, all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

ADRIAN A most royal one—the centurions and their charges distinctly billeted already in th’entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour’s warning.

NICANOR I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

ADRIAN You take my part from me, sir. I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

NICANOR Well, let us go together. Exeunt

4.4 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 seem 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.

Exit

4.5 Music plays. Enter a Servingman

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

⌈Exit⌉

Enter a Second Servingman

SECOND SERVINGMAN Where’s Cotus? My master calls for him. Cotus!

Exit

Enter Coriolanus, as before

CORIOLANUS A goodly house. The feast

Smells well, but I appear not like a guest.

Enter the First Servingman

FIRST SERVINGMAN What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here’s no place for you. Pray go to the door.

Exit

CORIOLANUS

I have deserved no better entertainment In being Coriolanus.

Enter Second Servingman

SECOND SERVINGMAN 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 SERVINGMAN Away? Get you away.

CORIOLANUS Now thou’rt troublesome.

SECOND SERVINGMAN Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.

Enter Third Servingman. The First meets him

THIRD SERVINGMAN What fellow’s this?

FIRST SERVINGMAN A strange one as ever I looked on. I cannot get him out o’th’ house. Prithee, call my master to him.

THIRD SERVINGMAN (to Coriolanus) What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.

CORIOLANUS

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

THIRD SERVINGMAN What are you?

CORIOLANUS A gentleman.

THIRD SERVINGMAN A marvellous poor one.

CORIOLANUS True, so I am.

THIRD SERVINGMAN 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.

He pushes him away from him

THIRD SERVINGMAN What, you will not?—Prithee tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

SECOND SERVINGMAN And I shall.

Exit Second Servingman

THIRD SERVINGMAN Where dwell’st thou?

CORIOLANUS Under the canopy.

THIRD SERVINGMAN Under the canopy?

CORIOLANUS Ay.

THIRD SERVINGMAN Where’s that?

CORIOLANUS I’th’ city of kites and crows.

THIRD SERVINGMAN I‘th’ 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 SERVINGMAN 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!

He beats him away.

Enter Aufidius, with the Second Servingman

AUFIDIUS Where is this fellow?

SECOND SERVINGMAN Here, sir. I’d have beaten him like a dog but for disturbing the lords within.

⌈The Servingmen stand aside⌉

AUFIDIUS

Whence com‘st thou? What wouldst thou? Thy name?

Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name?

CORIOLANUS ⌈unmuffling his head⌉

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?

CORIOLANUS

A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears

And harsh in sound to thine.

AUFIDIUS

Say, what’s thy name?

Thou hast 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 Martius, 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 devoured the rest,

And suffered me by th’ voice of slaves to be