Coriolanus
Act IV, Scene 4
Antium. Before Aufidius’ house.
Frontpiece for 1899 edition of Coriolanus
1899
- Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguis’d and muffled.
Coriolanus
1 - 7- 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 of Antium.
- ’Save you, sir.
Citizen of Antium
8- And you.
Coriolanus
9 - 10- Direct me, if it be your will,
- Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium?
Citizen of Antium
11 - 12- He is, and feasts the nobles of the state
- At his house this night.
Coriolanus
13- Which is his house, beseech you?
Citizen of Antium
14- This here before you.
Coriolanus
15 - 30- Thank you, sir, farewell.
- Exit Citizen of Antium.
- 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.
- Exit.