Tragedie of Coriolanus

by William Shakespeare

Overview

Roman general Coriolanus makes his name defeating an enemy army and defending Rome. The Senate nominates him as consul but he cannot win the people's vote, so he is banished from Rome and allies with his old enemy. He comes to attack Rome, his mother persuades him not to, and his new-found ally kills him for the betrayal.Citizen. Before we proceed any further, heare me speakeAll. Speake, speake1.Cit. You are all resolu'd rather to dy then to famish? All. Resolu'd, resolu'd 1.Cit. First you know, Caius Martius is chiefe enemy to the peopleAll. We know't, we know't1.Cit. Let vs kill him, and wee'l haue Corne at our own price. Is't a Verdict? All. No more talking on't; Let it be done, away, away 2.Cit. One word, good Citizens 1.Cit. We are accounted poore Citizens, the Patricians good: what Authority surfets one, would releeue vs. If they would yeelde vs but the superfluitie while it were wholsome, wee might guesse they releeued vs humanely: But they thinke we are too deere, the leannesse that afflicts vs, the obiect of our misery, is as an inuentory to particularize their abundance, our sufferance is a gaine to them. Let vs reuenge this with our Pikes, ere we become Rakes. For the Gods know, I speake this in hunger for Bread, not in thirst for Reuenge2.Cit. Would you proceede especially against Caius MartiusAll. Against him first: He's a very dog to the Commonalty2.Cit. Consider you what Seruices he ha's done for his Country? 1.Cit. Very well, and could bee content to giue him good report for't, but that hee payes himselfe with beeing proudAll. Nay, but speak not maliciously1.Cit. I say vnto you, what he hath done Famouslie, he did it to that end: though soft conscienc'd men can be content to say it was for his Countrey, he did it to please his Mother, and to be partly proud, which he is, euen to the altitude of his vertue2.Cit. What he cannot helpe in his Nature, you account a Vice in him: You must in no way say he is couetous 1.Cit. If I must not, I neede not be barren of Accusations he hath faults (with surplus) to tyre in repetition. Showts within.What showts are these? The other side a'th City is risen: why stay we prating heere? To th' CapitollAll. Come, come1 Cit. Soft, who comes heere? Enter Menenius Agrippa. 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath alwayes lou'd the people1 Cit. He's one honest enough, wold al the rest wer soMen. What work's my Countrimen in hand? Where go you with Bats and Clubs? The matter Speake I pray you 2 Cit. Our busines is not vnknowne to th' Senat, they haue had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, w now wee'l shew em in deeds: they say poore Suters haue strong breaths, they shal know we haue strong arms tooMenen. Why Masters, my good Friends, mine honest Neighbours, will you vndo your selues? 2 Cit. We cannot Sir, we are vndone already Men. I tell you Friends, most charitable care Haue the Patricians of you for your wants.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781582013015
Publisher:	Classic Books
Publication date:	10/28/1999
Series:	New Varioum Edition of Shakespeare Ser. , #301
Pages:	500
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 10.20(h) x 2.10(d)

About the Author

The poet's birth and baptism.

John Shakespeare's marriage with Mary Arden doubtless took place at Aston Cantlowe, the parish church of Wilmcote, in the autumn of 1557 (the church registers begin at a later date). On September 15, 1558, his first child, a daughter, Joan, was baptised in the church of Stratford. A second child, another daughter, Margaret, was baptised on December 2, 1562; but both these children died in infancy. The poet William, the first son and third child, was born on April 22 or 23, 1564. The latter date is generally accepted as his birthday, mainly (it would appear) on the ground that it was the day of his death. There is no positive evidence on the subject, but the Stratford parish registers attest that he was baptised on April 26.

Alleged birthplace.

Some doubt is justifiable as to the ordinarily accepted scene of his birth. Of two adjoining houses forming a detached building on the north side of Henley Street, that to the east was purchased by John Shakespeare in 1556, but there is no evidence that he owned or occupied the house to the west before 1575. Yet this western house has been known since 1759 as the poet's birthplace, and a room on the first floor is claimed as that in which he was born. The two houses subsequently came by bequest of the poet's granddaughter to the family of the poet's sister, Joan Hart, and while the eastern tenement was let out to strangers for more than two centuries, and by them converted into an inn, the 'birthplace' was until 1806 occupied by the Harts, who latterly carried on there the trade of butcher. The fact of its long occupancy by the poet's collateral descendants accounts for the identification of the western rather than the eastern tenement with his birthplace. Both houses were purchased in behalf of subscribers to a public fund on September 16, 1847, and, after extensive restoration, were converted into a single domicile for the purposes of a public museum. They were presented under a deed of trust to the corporation of Stratford in 1866. Much of the Elizabethan timber and stonework survives, but a cellar under the 'birthplace' is the only portion which remains as it was at the date of the poet's birth.

Date of Death:

2018

Place of Birth:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Place of Death:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom