Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 10
The camp of the Volsces.
Tullus Aufidius : The town is ta'en!
First Soldier : 'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition.
Tullus Aufidius : Condition!
[p]I would I were a Roman; for I cannot,
[p]Being a Volsce,
be that I am. Condition!
[p]What good condition can a treaty
find
[p]I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, CORIOLANUS,
[p]I
have fought with thee: so often hast thou beat me,
[p]And wouldst do
so, I think, should we encounter
[p]As often as we eat. By the
elements,
[p]If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,
[p]He's mine, or
I am his: mine emulation
[p]Hath not that honour in't it had; for
where
[p]I thought to crush him in an equal force,
[p]True sword to
sword, I'll potch at him some way
[p]Or wrath or craft may get him.
First Soldier : He's the devil.
Tullus Aufidius : Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd
[p]With only
suffering stain by him; for him
[p]Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep
nor sanctuary,
[p]Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol,
[p]The
prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice,
[p]Embarquements all of
fury, shall lift up
[p]Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst
[p]My
hate to CORIOLANUS: where I find him, were it
[p]At home, upon my
brother's guard, even there,
[p]Against the hospitable canon, would
I
[p]Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city;
[p]Learn how
'tis held; and what they are that must
[p]Be hostages for Rome.
First Soldier : Will not you go?
Tullus Aufidius : I am attended at the cypress grove: I pray you--
[p]'Tis south the
city mills--bring me word thither
[p]How the world goes, that to the
pace of it
[p]I may spur on my journey.
First Soldier : I shall, sir.
Previous: Act 1 - Scene 9
Next: Act 2 - Scene 1
