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Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

The play follows a Roman general who earns his name through military victory against the Volscians.

"Coriolanus" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy. The play follows a Roman general who earns his name through military victory against the Volscians.

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Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons.

FIRST CITIZEN. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

FIRST CITIZEN. You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

FIRST CITIZEN. First, you know Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people.

FIRST CITIZEN. Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at our own price. Is’t a verdict?

ALL. No more talking on’t; let it be done. Away, away!

SECOND CITIZEN. One word, good citizens.

FIRST CITIZEN. We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us. If they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely. But they think we are too dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes ere we become rakes; for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

SECOND CITIZEN. Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?

FIRST CITIZEN. Against him first. He’s a very dog to the commonalty.

SECOND CITIZEN. Consider you what services he has done for his country?

FIRST CITIZEN. Very well, and could be content to give him good report for’t, but that he pays himself with being proud.

SECOND CITIZEN. Nay, but speak not maliciously.

Contents

  1. 01Act I
  2. 02Scene I. Rome. A street
  3. 03Scene II. Corioles. The Senate House
  4. 04Scene III. Rome. An apartment in Martius’ house
  5. 05Scene IV. Before Corioles
  6. 06Scene V. Within Corioles. A street
  7. 07Scene VI. Near the camp of Cominius
  8. 08Scene VII. The gates of Corioles
  9. 09Scene VIII. A field of battle between the Roman and the Volscian camps
  10. 10Scene IX. The Roman camp
  11. 11Scene X. The camp of the Volsces
  12. 12Act II
  13. 13Scene I. Rome. A public place
  14. 14Scene II. Rome. The Capitol
  15. 15Scene III. Rome. The Forum
  16. 16Act III
  17. 17Scene I. Rome. A street
  18. 18Scene II. Rome. A room in Coriolanus’s house
  19. 19Scene III. Rome. The Forum
  20. 20Act IV
  21. 21Scene I. Rome. Before a gate of the city
  22. 22Scene II. Rome. A street near the gate
  23. 23Scene III. A highway between Rome and Antium
  24. 24Scene IV. Antium. Before Aufidius’s house
  25. 25Scene V. Antium. A hall in Aufidius’s house
  26. 26Scene VI. Rome. A public place
  27. 27Scene VII. A camp at a short distance from Rome
  28. 28Act V
  29. 29Scene I. Rome. A public place
  30. 30Scene II. An Advanced post of the Volscian camp before Rome.
  31. 31Scene III. The tent of Coriolanus
  32. 32Scene IV. Rome. A public place
  33. 33Scene V. Rome. A street near the gate
  34. 34Scene VI. Antium. A public place

About this edition

Author
William Shakespeare
Era
Early modern (c. 1500–1800)
Reading level
Introductory: no background needed
Formats
EPUB, PDF
Length
189 pages
This edition
Modern Philosophers