SCENE IV. Antium. Before Aufidius’s house

ACT IV

SCENE IV. Antium. Before Aufidius’s house

[Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.]

CORIOLANUS

A goodly city is this Antium. City,

’Tis I that made thy widows. Many an heir

Of these fair edifices ’fore my wars

Have I heard groan and drop. Then know me not,

Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones

In puny battle slay me.

[Enter a Citizen.]

Save you, sir.

CITIZEN

And you.

CORIOLANUS

Direct me, if it be your will,

Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium?

CITIZEN

He is, and feasts the nobles of the state

At his house this night.

CORIOLANUS

Which is his house, beseech you?

CITIZEN

This here before you.

CORIOLANUS

Thank you, sir. Farewell.

[Exit Citizen.]

O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise Are still together, who twin, as ’twere, in love Unseparable, shall within this hour, On a dissension of a doit, break out To bitterest enmity; so fellest foes, Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends And interjoin their issues. So with me: My birthplace hate I, and my love’s upon This enemy town. I’ll enter. If he slay me, He does fair justice; if he give me way, I’ll do his country service.

[Exit.]