Coriolanus: Act 4

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SCENE V. The same. A hall in Aufidius's house

Music within. Enter a Servingman

First Servingman
Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep.

Exit

Enter a second 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.

Re-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.

Re-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 thou'rt troublesome.

Second Servingman
Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon.

Enter a third Servingman. The first meets him

Third Servingman
What fellow's this?

First Servingman
A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out of the house: prithee, call my master to him.

Retires

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 marvellous 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

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 dwellest thou?

CORIOLANUS
Under the canopy.

Third Servingman
Under the canopy!

CORIOLANUS
Ay.

Third Servingman
Where's that?

CORIOLANUS
I' the city of kites and crows.

Third Servingman
I' the city of kites and crows! What an ass it is!
Then thou dwellest 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 pratest, and pratest; 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.

Retires

AUFIDIUS
Whence comest thou? what wouldst thou? thy name?
Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name?

CORIOLANUS
If, Tullus,

Unmuffling

Not yet thou knowest 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.

AUFIDIUS
Say, what's thy name?
Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn.
Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name?

CORIOLANUS
Prepare thy brow to frown: know'st thou me yet?

AUFIDIUS
I know thee not: thy name?

 

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