First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
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Enter Coriolanus with Nobles. | Enter Coriolanus, with Nobles | | Cor III.ii.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Let them pull all about mine eares, present me | Let them pull all about mine ears, present me | | Cor III.ii.1 | |
Death on the Wheele, or at wilde Horses heeles, | Death on the wheel or at wild horses' heels, | | Cor III.ii.2 | |
Or pile ten hilles on the Tarpeian Rocke, | Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, | Tarpeian rock[pron: tahr'peean] rock in Rome, from which criminals were thrown to their deaths | Cor III.ii.3 | |
That the precipitation might downe stretch | That the precipitation might down stretch | precipitation (n.)sheer drop, steepness, precipitousness | Cor III.ii.4 | |
Below the beame of sight; yet will I still | Below the beam of sight, yet will I still | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | Cor III.ii.5 | |
| | beam (n.)reach, range, line [of the eye, thought of as emitting beams of light] | | |
Be thus to them. Enter Volumnia. | Be thus to them. | | Cor III.ii.6.1 | |
Noble. | NOBLE | | | |
You do the Nobler. | You do the nobler. | | Cor III.ii.6.2 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
I muse my Mother | I muse my mother | muse (v.)wonder, be surprised | Cor III.ii.7 | |
Do's not approue me further, who was wont | Does not approve me further, who was wont | | Cor III.ii.8 | |
To call them Wollen Vassailes, things created | To call them woollen vassals, things created | woollen (adj.)in coarse woollen clothes | Cor III.ii.9 | |
| | vassal (n.)servant, slave, subject | | |
To buy and sell with Groats, to shew bare heads | To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads | groat (n.)fourpenny piece | Cor III.ii.10 | |
In Congregations, to yawne, be still, and wonder, | In congregations, to yawn, be still and wonder, | yawn (v.)open wide, gape | Cor III.ii.11 | |
When one but of my ordinance stood vp | When one but of my ordinance stood up | ordinance (n.)rank, position, standing [in the state] | Cor III.ii.12 | |
To speake of Peace, or Warre. | To speak of peace or war. | | Cor III.ii.13.1 | |
| Enter Volumnia | | Cor III.ii.13 | |
I talke of you, | I talk of you: | | Cor III.ii.13.2 | |
Why did you wish me milder? Would you haue me | Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me | | Cor III.ii.14 | |
False to my Nature? Rather say, I play | False to my nature? Rather say I play | false (adj.)treacherous, traitorous, perfidious | Cor III.ii.15 | |
The man I am. | The man I am. | | Cor III.ii.16.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
Oh sir, sir, sir, | O, sir, sir, sir, | | Cor III.ii.16.2 | |
I would haue had you put your power well on | I would have had you put your power well on | | Cor III.ii.17 | |
Before you had worne it out. | Before you had worn it out. | | Cor III.ii.18.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Let go. | Let go. | | Cor III.ii.18.2 | |
Vol. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
You might haue beene enough the man you are, | You might have been enough the man you are | | Cor III.ii.19 | |
With striuing lesse to be so: Lesser had bin | With striving less to be so. Lesser had been | | Cor III.ii.20 | |
The things of your dispositions, if | The crossings of your dispositions, if | disposition (n.)inclination, mood, frame of mind | Cor III.ii.21 | |
| | crossing (n.)thwarting, opposing, challenging, contradiction | | |
You had not shew'd them how ye were dispos'd | You had not showed them how ye were disposed | | Cor III.ii.22 | |
Ere they lack'd power to crosse you. | Ere they lacked power to cross you. | cross (v.)contradict, challenge, go against | Cor III.ii.23.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Let them hang. | Let them hang! | | Cor III.ii.23.2 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
I, and burne too. | Ay, and burn too! | | Cor III.ii.24 | |
Enter Menenius with the Senators. | Enter Menenius, with the Senators | | Cor III.ii.25.1 | |
Men. | MENENIUS | | | |
Come, come, you haue bin too rough, somthing too rough: | Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough. | something (adv.)somewhat, rather | Cor III.ii.25 | |
you must returne, and mend it. | You must return and mend it. | | Cor III.ii.26.1 | |
Sen. | FIRST SENATOR | | | |
There's no remedy, | There's no remedy, | | Cor III.ii.26.2 | |
Vnlesse by not so doing, our good Citie | Unless, by not so doing, our good city | | Cor III.ii.27 | |
Cleaue in the midd'st, and perish. | Cleave in the midst and perish. | | Cor III.ii.28.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
Pray be counsail'd; | Pray be counselled. | | Cor III.ii.28.2 | |
I haue a heart as little apt as yours, | I have a heart as little apt as yours, | apt (adj.)yielding, compliant, submissive | Cor III.ii.29 | |
But yet a braine, that leades my vse of Anger | But yet a brain that leads my use of anger | | Cor III.ii.30 | |
To better vantage. | To better vantage. | vantage (n.)advantage, benefit, advancement, profit | Cor III.ii.31.1 | |
Mene. | MENENIUS | | | |
Well said, Noble woman: | Well said, noble woman! | | Cor III.ii.31.2 | |
Before he should thus stoope to'th' heart, but that | Before he should thus stoop to th' heart, but that | | Cor III.ii.32 | |
The violent fit a'th' time craues it as Physicke | The violent fit o'th' time craves it as physic | physic (n.)medicine, healing, treatment | Cor III.ii.33 | |
| | fit (n.)fever, attack, seizure | | |
| | crave (v.)beg, entreat, request | | |
For the whole State; I would put mine Armour on, | For the whole state, I would put mine armour on, | | Cor III.ii.34 | |
Which I can scarsely beare. | Which I can scarcely bear. | | Cor III.ii.35.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
What must I do? | What must I do? | | Cor III.ii.35.2 | |
Mene. | MENENIUS | | | |
Returne to th' Tribunes. | Return to th' Tribunes. | | Cor III.ii.36.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Well, what then? what then? | Well, what then? What then? | | Cor III.ii.36.2 | |
Mene. | MENENIUS | | | |
Repent, what you haue spoke. | Repent what you have spoke. | | Cor III.ii.37 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
For them, I cannot do it to the Gods, | For them! I cannot do it to the gods. | | Cor III.ii.38 | |
Must I then doo't to them? | Must I then do't to them? | | Cor III.ii.39.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
You are too absolute, | You are too absolute, | absolute (adj.)inflexible, uncompromising, intransigent | Cor III.ii.39.2 | |
Though therein you can neuer be too Noble, | Though therein you can never be too noble. | | Cor III.ii.40 | |
But when extremities speake. I haue heard you say, | But when extremities speak, I have heard you say, | extremity (n.)extreme urgency, absolute necessity, crisis | Cor III.ii.41 | |
| | speak (v.)declare itself, be announced | | |
Honor and Policy, like vnseuer'd Friends, | Honour and policy, like unsevered friends, | policy (n.)stratagem, cunning, intrigue, craft | Cor III.ii.42 | |
| | unsevered (adj.)inseparable, intimate, united | | |
I'th' Warre do grow together: Grant that, and tell me | I'th' war do grow together. Grant that, and tell me | | Cor III.ii.43 | |
In Peace, what each of them by th' other loose, | In peace what each of them by th' other lose | | Cor III.ii.44 | |
That they combine not there? | That they combine not there. | | Cor III.ii.45.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Tush, tush. | Tush, tush! | | Cor III.ii.45.2 | |
Mene. | MENENIUS | | | |
A good demand. | A good demand. | | Cor III.ii.45.3 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
If it be Honor in your Warres, to seeme | If it be honour in your wars to seem | | Cor III.ii.46 | |
The same you are not, which for your best ends | The same you are not, which for your best ends | | Cor III.ii.47 | |
You adopt your policy: How is it lesse or worse | You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse | policy (n.)stratagem, cunning, intrigue, craft | Cor III.ii.48 | |
That it shall hold Companionship in Peace | That it shall hold companionship in peace | | Cor III.ii.49 | |
With Honour, as in Warre; since that to both | With honour as in war, since that to both | | Cor III.ii.50 | |
It stands in like request. | It stands in like request? | stand (v.)continue, remain, wait, stay put | Cor III.ii.51.1 | |
| | request (n.)demand, state of being sought after | | |
| | like (adj.)same, similar, alike, equal | | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Why force you this? | Why force you this? | force (v.)urge, press, enforce | Cor III.ii.51.2 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
Because, that / Now it lyes you on to speake | Because that now it lies you on to speak | lie (v.)be obligatory, be incumbent | Cor III.ii.52 | |
to th' people: / Not by your owne instruction, | To th' people, not by your own instruction, | instruction (n.)precept, prompting, conviction | Cor III.ii.53 | |
nor by'th' matter / Which your heart prompts you, | Nor by th' matter which your heart prompts you, | matter (n.)reason, cause, ground | Cor III.ii.54 | |
but with such words / That are but roated in | But with such words that are but roted in | rote (v.)learn by heart, fix routinely | Cor III.ii.55 | |
your Tongue; / Though but Bastards, and Syllables | Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables | | Cor III.ii.56 | |
Of no allowance, to your bosomes truth. | Of no allowance to your bosom's truth. | allowance (n.)acknowledgement, admission, confirmation | Cor III.ii.57 | |
Now, this no more dishonors you at all, | Now this no more dishonours you at all | | Cor III.ii.58 | |
Then to take in a Towne with gentle words, | Than to take in a town with gentle words, | take in (v.)conquer, subdue, overcome | Cor III.ii.59 | |
| | gentle (adj.)courteous, friendly, kind | | |
Which else would put you to your fortune, and | Which else would put you to your fortune and | | Cor III.ii.60 | |
The hazard of much blood. | The hazard of much blood. | | Cor III.ii.61 | |
I would dissemble with my Nature, where | I would dissemble with my nature where | dissemble (v.)deceive, disguise the truth, pretend | Cor III.ii.62 | |
My Fortunes and my Friends at stake, requir'd | My fortunes and my friends at stake required | | Cor III.ii.63 | |
I should do so in Honor. I am in this | I should do so in honour. I am in this | be (v.)represent, speak for | Cor III.ii.64 | |
Your Wife, your Sonne: These Senators, the Nobles, | Your wife, your son, these Senators, the nobles; | | Cor III.ii.65 | |
And you, will rather shew our generall Lowts, | And you will rather show our general louts | general (adj.)common, of everyone, public | Cor III.ii.66 | |
How you can frowne, then spend a fawne vpon 'em, | How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em | | Cor III.ii.67 | |
For the inheritance of their loues, and safegard | For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard | inheritance (n.)acquiring, obtaining, winning | Cor III.ii.68 | |
| | safeguard (n.)safeguarding, defence, protection | | |
Of what that want might ruine. | Of what that want might ruin. | want (n.)lack, shortage, dearth | Cor III.ii.69.1 | |
Menen. | MENENIUS | | | |
Noble Lady, | Noble lady! | | Cor III.ii.69.2 | |
Come goe with vs, speake faire: you may salue so, | – Come, go with us, speak fair. You may salve so, | salve (v.)heal, remedy, make good | Cor III.ii.70 | |
Not what is dangerous present, but the losse | Not what is dangerous present, but the loss | | Cor III.ii.71 | |
Of what is past. | Of what is past. | | Cor III.ii.72.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
I pry thee now, my Sonne, | I prithee now, my son, | | Cor III.ii.72.2 | |
Goe to them, with this Bonnet in thy hand, | Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand; | bonnet (n.)hat, cap | Cor III.ii.73 | |
And thus farre hauing stretcht it (here be with them) | And thus far having stretched it – here be with them – | | Cor III.ii.74 | |
Thy Knee bussing the stones: for in such businesse | Thy knee bussing the stones – for in such business | buss (v.)kiss wantonly, smack against | Cor III.ii.75 | |
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant | Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant | | Cor III.ii.76 | |
More learned then the eares, wauing thy head, | More learned than the ears – waving thy head, | wave (v.)move up and down, incline | Cor III.ii.77 | |
Which often thus correcting thy stout heart, | Which often thus correcting thy stout heart, | stout (adj.)proud, haughty, arrogant | Cor III.ii.78 | |
Now humble as the ripest Mulberry, | Now humble as the ripest mulberry | | Cor III.ii.79 | |
That will not hold the handling: or say to them, | That will not hold the handling, say to them | hold (v.)bear, tolerate, endure | Cor III.ii.80 | |
Thou art their Souldier, and being bred in broyles, | Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils | broil (n.)turmoil, confused fighting, battle | Cor III.ii.81 | |
Hast not the soft way, which thou do'st confesse | Hast not the soft way which, thou dost confess, | soft (adj.)tender, compassionate, kind | Cor III.ii.82 | |
Were fit for thee to vse, as they to clayme, | Were fit for thee to use as they to claim, | | Cor III.ii.83 | |
In asking their good loues, but thou wilt frame | In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame | frame (v.)adapt, adjust, shape, accommodate | Cor III.ii.84 | |
Thy selfe (forsooth) hereafter theirs so farre, | Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far | forsooth (adv.)in truth, certainly, truly, indeed | Cor III.ii.85 | |
As thou hast power and person. | As thou hast power and person. | | Cor III.ii.86.1 | |
Menen. | MENENIUS | | | |
This but done, | This but done | | Cor III.ii.86.2 | |
Euen as she speakes, why their hearts were yours: | Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours. | | Cor III.ii.87 | |
For they haue Pardons, being ask'd, as free, | For they have pardons, being asked, as free | | Cor III.ii.88 | |
As words to little purpose. | As words to little purpose. | purpose (n.)point at issue, matter in hand | Cor III.ii.89.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
Prythee now, | Prithee now, | | Cor III.ii.89.2 | |
Goe, and be rul'd: although I know thou hadst rather | Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather | | Cor III.ii.90 | |
Follow thine Enemie in a fierie Gulfe, | Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf | gulf (n.)abyss, chasm, pit | Cor III.ii.91 | |
Then flatter him in a Bower. | Than flatter him in a bower. | bower (n.)arbour, leafy glade; or: lady's chamber, boudoir | Cor III.ii.92.1 | |
Enter Cominius. | Enter Cominius | | Cor III.ii.92 | |
Here is Cominius. | Here is Cominius. | | Cor III.ii.92.2 | |
Com. | COMINIUS | | | |
I haue beene i'th' Market place: and Sir 'tis fit | I have been i'th' market-place; and, sir, 'tis fit | | Cor III.ii.93 | |
You make strong partie, or defend your selfe | You make strong party, or defend yourself | party (n.)side, faction, camp | Cor III.ii.94 | |
By calmenesse, or by absence: all's in anger. | By calmness or by absence. All's in anger. | | Cor III.ii.95 | |
Menen. | MENENIUS | | | |
Onely faire speech. | Only fair speech. | | Cor III.ii.96.1 | |
Com. | COMINIUS | | | |
I thinke 'twill serue, if he | I think 'twill serve, if he | | Cor III.ii.96.2 | |
can thereto frame his spirit. | Can thereto frame his spirit. | frame (v.)adapt, adjust, shape, accommodate | Cor III.ii.97.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
He must, and will: | He must, and will. | | Cor III.ii.97.2 | |
Prythee now say you will, and goe about it. | Prithee now, say you will, and go about it. | | Cor III.ii.98 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Must I goe shew them my vnbarb'd Sconce? / Must I | Must I go show them my unbarbed sconce? Must I | sconce (n.)[jocular] head, pate, bonce | Cor III.ii.99 | |
| | unbarbed (adj.)uncovered, unprotected, bare | | |
with my base Tongue giue to my Noble Heart | With my base tongue give to my noble heart | tongue (n.)speech, expression, language, words, voice | Cor III.ii.100 | |
| | base (adj.)dishonourable, low, unworthy | | |
A Lye, that it must beare well? I will doo't: | A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do't. | | Cor III.ii.101 | |
Yet were there but this single Plot, to loose | Yet, were there but this single plot to lose, | plot (n.)piece of earth; body | Cor III.ii.102 | |
This Mould of Martius, they to dust should grinde it, | This mould of Martius, they to dust should grind it | | Cor III.ii.103 | |
And throw't against the Winde. To th' Market place: | And throw't against the wind. To th' market-place! | | Cor III.ii.104 | |
You haue put me now to such a part, which neuer | You have put me now to such a part which never | | Cor III.ii.105 | |
I shall discharge to th' Life. | I shall discharge to th' life. | life, to theconvincingly, in a faithful manner | Cor III.ii.106.1 | |
| | discharge (v.)play, perform, execute | | |
Com. | COMINIUS | | | |
Come, come, wee'le prompt you. | Come, come, we'll prompt you. | | Cor III.ii.106.2 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
I prythee now sweet Son, as thou hast said | I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said | | Cor III.ii.107 | |
My praises made thee first a Souldier; so | My praises made thee first a soldier, so, | | Cor III.ii.108 | |
To haue my praise for this, performe a part | To have my praise for this, perform a part | | Cor III.ii.109 | |
Thou hast not done before. | Thou hast not done before. | | Cor III.ii.110.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Well, I must doo't: | Well, I must do't. | | Cor III.ii.110.2 | |
Away my disposition, and possesse me | Away, my disposition, and possess me | disposition (n.)natural temperament, normal state of mind | Cor III.ii.111 | |
Some Harlots spirit: My throat of Warre be turn'd, | Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turned, | harlot (n.)prostitute, whore | Cor III.ii.112 | |
Which quier'd with my Drumme into a Pipe, | Which choired with my drum, into a pipe | choir, quire (v.)sing in tune, make music | Cor III.ii.113 | |
Small as an Eunuch, or the Virgin voyce | Small as an eunuch or the virgin voice | small (adj.)high-pitched, fluting, thin | Cor III.ii.114 | |
That Babies lull a-sleepe: The smiles of Knaues | That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves | knave (n.)scoundrel, rascal, rogue | Cor III.ii.115 | |
| | baby (n.)doll | | |
Tent in my cheekes, and Schoole-boyes Teares take vp | Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys' tears take up | tent (v.)lodge, encamp, take up residence | Cor III.ii.116 | |
| | take up (v.)occupy, fill up | | |
The Glasses of my sight: A Beggars Tongue | The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue | glass (n.)eyeball | Cor III.ii.117 | |
Make motion through my Lips, and my Arm'd knees | Make motion through my lips, and my armed knees, | | Cor III.ii.118 | |
Who bow'd but in my Stirrop, bend like his | Who bowed but in my stirrup, bend like his | | Cor III.ii.119 | |
That hath receiu'd an Almes. I will not doo't, | That hath received an alms! I will not do't, | | Cor III.ii.120 | |
Least I surcease to honor mine owne truth, | Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth | surcease (v.)cease, stop, leave off | Cor III.ii.121 | |
And by my Bodies action, teach my Minde | And by my body's action teach my mind | | Cor III.ii.122 | |
A most inherent Basenesse. | A most inherent baseness. | inherent (adj.)fixed, irremovable, permanent | Cor III.ii.123.1 | |
| | baseness (n.)cowardice, degenerateness, degradation | | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
At thy choice then: | At thy choice, then. | | Cor III.ii.123.2 | |
To begge of thee, it is my more dis-honor, | To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour | more (adj.)greater | Cor III.ii.124 | |
Then thou of them. Come all to ruine, let | Than thou of them. Come all to ruin. Let | | Cor III.ii.125 | |
Thy Mother rather feele thy Pride, then feare | Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear | | Cor III.ii.126 | |
Thy dangerous Stoutnesse: for I mocke at death | Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death | stoutness (n.)obstinacy, stubbornness, intractability | Cor III.ii.127 | |
With as bigge heart as thou. Do as thou list, | With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list. | list (v.)wish, like, please | Cor III.ii.128 | |
Thy Valiantnesse was mine, thou suck'st it from me: | Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me, | | Cor III.ii.129 | |
But owe thy Pride thy selfe. | But owe thy pride thyself. | owe (v.)own, possess, have | Cor III.ii.130.1 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Pray be content: | Pray, be content. | content (adj.)satisfied, calm, easy in mind | Cor III.ii.130.2 | |
Mother, I am going to the Market place: | Mother, I am going to the market-place. | | Cor III.ii.131 | |
Chide me no more. Ile Mountebanke their Loues, | Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, | chide (v.), past form chidscold, rebuke, reprove | Cor III.ii.132 | |
| | mountebank (v.)win over by plausible trickery | | |
Cogge their Hearts from them, and come home belou'd | Cog their hearts from them, and come home beloved | cog (v.)flatter, fawn, sweet-talk | Cor III.ii.133 | |
Of all the Trades in Rome. Looke, I am going: | Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going. | | Cor III.ii.134 | |
Commend me to my Wife, Ile returne Consull, | Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul, | commend (v.)convey greetings, present kind regards | Cor III.ii.135 | |
Or neuer trust to what my Tongue can do | Or never trust to what my tongue can do | | Cor III.ii.136 | |
I'th way of Flattery further. | I'th' way of flattery further. | | Cor III.ii.137.1 | |
Volum. | VOLUMNIA | | | |
Do your will. | Do your will. | | Cor III.ii.137.2 | |
Exit Volumnia | Exit Volumnia | | Cor III.ii.137 | |
Com. | COMINIUS | | | |
Away, the Tribunes do attend you: arm your self | Away! The Tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself | attend (v.)await, wait for, expect | Cor III.ii.138 | |
To answer mildely: for they are prepar'd | To answer mildly; for they are prepared | | Cor III.ii.139 | |
With Accusations, as I heare more strong | With accusations, as I hear, more strong | | Cor III.ii.140 | |
Then are vpon you yet. | Than are upon you yet. | | Cor III.ii.141 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
The word is, Mildely. Pray you let vs go, | The word is ‘ mildly ’. Pray you let us go. | | Cor III.ii.142 | |
Let them accuse me by inuention: I | Let them accuse me by invention, I | invention (n.)concoction, trumped-up charge | Cor III.ii.143 | |
Will answer in mine Honor. | Will answer in mine honour. | | Cor III.ii.144.1 | |
Menen. | MENENIUS | | | |
I, but mildely. | Ay, but mildly. | | Cor III.ii.144.2 | |
Corio. | CORIOLANUS | | | |
Well mildely be it then, Mildely. | Well, mildly be it then – mildly! | | Cor III.ii.145 | |
Exeunt. | Exeunt | | Cor III.ii.145 | |