FIRST SERVINGMAN.
Wine, wine, wine! What service is here? I think our fellows are asleep.
[_Exit._]
Enter another Servingman.
SECOND SERVINGMAN.
Where’s Cotus? My master calls for him. Cotus!
[_Exit._]
Enter Coriolanus.
CORIOLANUS.
A goodly house. The feast smells well, but I
Appear not like a guest.
Enter the First Servingman.
FIRST SERVINGMAN.
What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here’s no place for you.
Pray go to the door.
[_Exit._]
CORIOLANUS.
I have deserved no better entertainment
In being Coriolanus.
Enter Second Servingman.
SECOND SERVINGMAN.
Whence are you, sir?—Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives
entrance to such companions?—Pray, get you out.
CORIOLANUS.
Away!
SECOND SERVINGMAN.
Away? Get you away.
CORIOLANUS.
Now th’ art troublesome.
SECOND SERVINGMAN.
Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.
Enter Third Servingman; the First, entering, meets him.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
What fellow’s this?
FIRST SERVINGMAN.
A strange one as ever I looked on. I cannot get him out o’ th’ house.
Prithee call my master to him.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.
CORIOLANUS.
Let me but stand. I will not hurt your hearth.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
What are you?
CORIOLANUS.
A gentleman.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
A marv’llous poor one.
CORIOLANUS.
True, so I am.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station. Here’s no place
for you. Pray you, avoid. Come.
CORIOLANUS.
Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits.
[_Pushes him away from him_.]
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
What, you will not?—Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has
here.
SECOND SERVINGMAN.
And I shall.
[_Exit._]
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
Where dwell’st thou?
CORIOLANUS.
Under the canopy.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
Under the canopy?
CORIOLANUS.
Ay.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
Where’s that?
CORIOLANUS.
I’ th’ city of kites and crows.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
I’ th’ city of kites and crows? What an ass it is! Then thou dwell’st
with daws too?
CORIOLANUS.
No, I serve not thy master.
THIRD SERVINGMAN.
How, sir? Do you meddle with my master?
CORIOLANUS.
Ay, ’tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress. Thou
prat’st and prat’st. Serve with thy trencher, hence!
[_Beats him away_.]
[_Exit Third Servingman._]
Enter Aufidius with the Second Servingman.
AUFIDIUS.
Where is this fellow?
SECOND SERVINGMAN.
Here, sir. I’d have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords
within.
AUFIDIUS.
Whence com’st thou? What wouldst thou?
Thy name? Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name?
CORIOLANUS.
[_Removing his muffler_.] If, Tullus,
Not yet thou know’st me, and, seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.
AUFIDIUS.
What is thy name?
CORIOLANUS.
A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears
And harsh in sound to thine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account