Coriolanus
Act I, Scene 2
Corioli. The Senate-house.
1808 Theatre Royal production of Coriolanus
Joseph Constantine Stadler, J. Hill, Harraden, Thomas Rowlandson, John Bluck, Thomas Sutherland, Augustus Charles Pugin
- Enter Tullus Aufidius with Senators of Corioli.
First Volscian Senator
1 - 3- So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
- That they of Rome are ent’red in our counsels,
- And know how we proceed.
Aufidius
4 - 18- Is it not yours?
- What ever have been thought on in this state
- That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
- Had circumvention? ’Tis not four days gone
- Since I heard thence; these are the words—I think
- I have the letter here; yes, here it is:
- Reads.
- “They have press’d a power, but it is not known
- Whether for east or west. The dearth is great,
- The people mutinous; and it is rumor’d,
- Cominius, Martius your old enemy
- (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you),
- And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
- These three lead on this preparation
- Whither ’tis bent. Most likely ’tis for you;
- Consider of it.”
First Volscian Senator
19 - 21- Our army’s in the field.
- We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
- To answer us.
Aufidius
22 - 28- Nor did you think it folly
- To keep your great pretenses veil’d till when
- They needs must show themselves, which in the hatching,
- It seem’d, appear’d to Rome. By the discovery
- We shall be shorten’d in our aim, which was
- To take in many towns ere (almost) Rome
- Should know we were afoot.
Second Volscian Senator
29 - 34- Noble Aufidius,
- Take your commission, hie you to your bands,
- Let us alone to guard Corioles.
- If they set down before ’s, for the remove
- Bring up your army; but, I think, you’ll find
- Th’ have not prepar’d for us.
Aufidius
35 - 41- O, doubt not that,
- I speak from certainties. Nay more,
- Some parcels of their power are forth already,
- And only hitherward. I leave your honors.
- If we and Caius Martius chance to meet,
- ’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike
- Till one can do no more.
All Volscian Senators
42- The gods assist you!
Aufidius
43- And keep your honors safe!
First Volscian Senator
44- Farewell.
Second Volscian Senator
45- Farewell.
All Volscian Senators
46- Farewell.
- Exeunt omnes.