coriolanus-第5章

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guilty　of　designing　to　establish　arbitrary　government；　stepping
forth　upon　this；　〃Let　me　go　then；〃　he　said；　〃to　clear　myself　from　that
imputation　before　an　assembly　of　them；　I　freely　offer　myself　to　any
sort　of　trial；　nor　do　I　refuse　any　kind　of　punishment　whatsoever；
only；〃　he　continued；　〃let　what　you　now　mention　be　really　made　my
accusation；　and　do　not　you　play　false　with　the　senate。〃　On　their
consenting　to　these　terms；　he　came　to　his　trial。　But　when　the　people
met　together；　the　tribunes；　contrary　to　all　former　practice；
extorted　first；　that　votes　should　be　taken；　not　by　centuries；　but
tribes；　a　change；　by　which　the　indigent　and　factious　rabble；　that
had　no　respect　for　honesty　and　justice；　would　be　sure　to　carry　it
against　those　who　were　rich　and　well　known；　and　accustomed　to　serve
the　state　in　war。　In　the　next　place；　whereas　they　had　engaged　to
prosecute　Marcius　upon　no　other　head　but　that　of　tyranny；　which
could　never　be　made　out　against　him；　they　relinquished　this　plea；
and　urged　instead；　his　language　in　the　senate　against　an　abasement
of　the　price　of　corn；　and　for　the　overthrow　of　the　tribunician
power；　adding　further；　as　a　new　impeachment；　the　distribution　that　was
made　by　him　of　the　spoil　and　booty　he　had　taken　from　the　Antiates；
when　he　overran　their　country；　which　he　had　divided　among　those　that
had　followed　him；　whereas　it　ought　rather　to　have　been　brought　into
the　public　treasury；　which　last　accusation　did；　they　say；　more
discompose　Marcius　than　all　the　rest；　as　he　had　not　anticipated　he
should　ever　be　questioned　on　that　subject；　and；　therefore；　was　less
provided　with　any　satisfactory　answer　to　it　on　the　sudden。　And　when；
by　way　of　excuse；　he　began　to　magnify　the　merits　of　those　who　had　been
partakers　with　him　in　the　action；　those　that　had　stayed　at　home；　being
more　numerous　than　the　other；　interrupted　him　with　outcries。　In
conclusion；　when　they　came　to　vote；　a　majority　of　three　tribes
condemned　him；　the　penalty　being　perpetual　banishment。　The　sentence　of
his　condemnation　being　pronounced；　the　people　went　away　with　greater
triumph　and　exultation　than　they　had　ever　shown　for　any　victory　over
enemies；　while　the　senate　was　in　grief　and　deep　dejection；　repenting
now　and　vexed　to　the　soul　that　they　had　not　done　and　suffered　all
things　rather　than　give　way　to　the　insolence　of　the　people；　and　permit
them　to　assume　and　abuse　so　great　an　authority。　There　was　no　need　then
to　look　at　men's　dresses；　or　other　marks　of　distinction；　to　know　one
from　another：　any　one　who　was　glad　was；　beyond　all　doubt；　a
plebeian；　any　one　who　looked　sorrowful；　a　patrician。
　　Marcius　alone；　himself；　was　neither　stunned　nor　humiliated。　In　mien；
carriage；　and　countenance　he　bore　the　appearance　of　entire
composure；　and；　while　all　his　friends　were　full　of　distress；　seemed
the　only　man　that　was　not　touched　with　his　misfortune。　Not　that　either
reflection　taught　him；　or　gentleness　of　temper　made　it　natural　for　him
to　submit：　he　was　wholly　possessed；　on　the　contrary；　with　a　profound
and　deep…seated　fury；　which　passes　with　many　for　no　pain　at　all。　And
pain；　it　is　true；　transmuted；　so　to　say；　by　its　own　fiery　heat　into
anger；　loses　every　appearance　of　depression　and　feebleness；　the
angry　man　makes　a　show　of　energy；　as　the　man　in　a　high　fever　does　of
natural　heat；　while；　in　fact；　all　this　action　of　the　soul　is　but
mere　diseased　palpitation；　distension；　and　inflammation。　That　such　was
his　distempered　state　appeared　presently　plainly　enough　in　his
actions。　On　his　return　home；　after　saluting　his　mother　and　his　wife；
who　were　all　in　tears　and　full　of　loud　lamentations；　and　exhorting
them　to　moderate　the　sense　they　had　of　his　calamity；　he　proceeded　at
once　to　the　city　gates；　whither　all　the　nobility　came　to　attend　him；
and　so　not　so　much　as　taking　anything　with　him；　or　making　any
request　to　the　company；　he　departed　from　them；　having　only　three　or
four　clients　with　him。　He　continued　solitary　for　a　few　days　in　a　place
in　the　country；　distracted　with　a　variety　of　counsels；　such　as　rage
and　indignation　suggested　to　him；　and　proposing　to　himself　no
honourable　or　useful　end；　but　only　how　he　might　best　satisfy　his
revenge　on　the　Romans；　he　resolved　at　length　to　raise　up　a　heavy　war
against　them　from　their　nearest　neighbours。　He　determined；　first　to
make　trial　of　the　Volscians；　whom　he　knew　to　be　still　vigorous　and
flourishing；　both　in　men　and　treasure；　and　he　imagined　their　force　and
power　was　not　so　much　abated　as　their　spite　and　anger　increased　by　the
late　overthrows　they　had　received　from　the　Romans。
　　There　was　a　man　of　Antium；　called　Tullus　Aufidius；　who；　for　his
wealth　and　bravery　and　the　splendour　of　his　family；　had　the　respect
and　privilege　of　a　king　among　the　Volscians；　but　whom　Marcius　knew
to　have　a　particular　hostility　to　himself；　above　all　other　Romans。
Frequent　menaces　and　challenges　had　passed　in　battle　between　them；　and
those　exchanges　of　defiance　to　which　their　hot　and　eager　emulation
is　apt　to　prompt　young　soldiers　had　added　private　animosity　to　their
national　feelings　of　opposition。　Yet　for　all　this；　considering
Tullus　to　have　a　certain　generosity　of　temper；　and　knowing　that　no
Volscian；　so　much　as　he；　desired　an　occasion　to　requite　upon　the
Romans　the　evils　they　had　done；　he　did　what　much　confirms　the
saying；　that…

　　　　　　　　〃Hard　and　unequal　is　with　wrath　the　strife；
　　　　　　　　　Which　makes　us　buy　its　pleasure　with　our　life。〃

Putting　on　such　a　dress　as　would　make　him　appear　to　any　whom　he
might　meet　most　unlike　what　he　really　was；　like　Ulysses…

　　　　　　　　〃The　town　be　entered　of　his　mortal　foes。〃

　　His　arrival　at　Antium　was　about　evening；　and；　though　several　met　him
in　the　streets；　yet　he　passed　along　without　being　known　to　any　and
went　directly　to　the　house　of　Tullus；　and；　entering　undiscovered；
and　went　up　to　the　fire…hearth；　and　seated　himself　there　without
speaking　a　word；　covering　up　his　head。　Those　of　the　family　could　not
but　wonder；　and　yet　they　were　afraid　either　to　raise　or　question
him；　for　there　was　a　certain　air　of　majesty　both　in　his　posture　and
silence；　but　they　recounted　to　Tullus；　being　then　at　supper；　the
strangeness　of　this　accident。　He　immediately　rose　from　table　and
came　in；　and　asked　who　he　was　and　for　what　business　be　came　thither；
and　then　Marcius；　unmuffling　himself；　and　pausing　awhile；　〃If；〃　said
he；　〃you　cannot　call　me　to　mind；　Tullus；　or　do　not　believe　your　eyes
concerning　me；　I　must　of　necessity　be　my　own　accuser。　I　am　Caius
Marcius；　the　author　of　so　much　mischief　to　the　Volscians；　of　which；
were　I　seeking　to　deny　it；　the　surname　of　Coriolanus　I　now　bear
would　be　a　sufficient　evidence　against　me。　The　one　recompense　I　have
received　for　all　the　hardships　and　perils　I　have　gone　through　was
the　title　that　proclaims　my　enmity　to　your　nation；　and　this　is　the
only　thing　which　is　still　left　me。　Of　all　other　advantages；　I　have
been　stripped　and　deprived　by　the　envy　and　outrage　of　the　Roman
people；　and　the　cowardice　and　treachery　of　the　magistrates　and　those
of　my　own　order。　I　am　driven　out　as　an　exile；　and　become　an　humble
suppliant　at　your　hearth；　not　so　much　for　safety　and　protection
（should　I　have　come　hither；　had　I　been　afraid　to　die？）　as　to　seek
vengeance　against　those　that　expelled　me；　which；　methinks；　I　have
already　obtained；　by　putting　myself　into　your　hands。　If；　therefore；
you　have　really　a　mind　to　attack　your　enemies；　come　then；　make　use
of　that　affliction　you　see　me　in　to　assist　the　enterprise；　and　convert
my　personal　infelicity　into　a　common　blessing　to　the　Volscians；　as；
indeed；　I　am　likely　to　be　more　serviceable　in　fighting　for　than
against　you；　with　the　advantage　which　I　now　possess；　of　knowing　all
the　secrets　of　the　enemy　that　I　am　attacking。　But　if　you　decline　to
make　any　further　attempts　I　am　neither　desirous　to　live　myself；　nor
will　it　be　well　in　you　to　preserve　a　person　who　has　been　your　rival
and　adversary　of　old；　and　now；　when　he　offers　you　his　service；　appears
unprofitable　and　useless　to　you。〃
　　Tullus；　on　hearing　this；　was　extremely　rejoiced；　and　giving　him
his　right　hand；　exclaimed；　〃Rise；　Marcius；　and　be　of　good　courage；
it　is　a　great　happiness　you　bring　to　Antium；　in　the　present　use　you
make　of　yourself；　expect　everything　that　is　good　from　the
Volscians。〃　He　then　proceeded　to　feast　and　entertain　him　with　every
display　of　kindness；　and　for　several　days　after　they　were　in　close
deliberation　together　on　the　prospects　of　a　war。
　　While　this　design　was　forming；　there　were　great　troubles　and
commotions　at　Rome；　from　the　animosity　of　the　senators　against　the
people；　heightened　just　now　by　the　late　condemnation　of　Marcius。
Besides　that　their　soothsayers　and　priests；　and　even　private
persons；　reported　signs　and　prodigies　not　to　be　neglected；　one　of
which　is　stated　to　have　occurred　as　follows：　Titus　Latinus；　a　man　of
ordinary　condition；　but　of　a　quiet　and　virtuous　character；　free　from
all　superstitious　fancies；　and　yet　more　from　vanity　and
exaggeration；　had　an　apparition　in　his　sleep；　as　if　Jupiter　came　and
bade　him　tell　the　senate；　that　it　was　with　a　bad　and　unacceptable
dancer　that　they　had　headed　his　procession。　Having　beheld　the
vision；　he　said；　he　did　not　much　attend　to　it　at　the　first　appearance；
but　after　he　had　seen　and　slighted　it　a　second　and　third　time；　he
had　lost　a　hopeful　son；　and　was　himself　struck　with　a　palsy。　He　was
brought　into　the　senate　on　a　litter　to　tell　this；　and　the　story　goes
that　he　had　no　sooner　delivered　his　message　there；　but　he　at　once　felt
his　strength　return　and　got　upon　his　legs；　and　went　home　alone　without
need　of　any　support。　The　senators；　in　wonder　and　surprise；　made　a
diligent　search　into　the　matter。　That　which　his　dream　alluded　to　was
this：　some　citizen　had；　for　some　heinous　offence；　given　up　a　servant
of　his　to　the　rest　of　his　fellows　with　charge　to　whip　him　first
through　the　market；　and　then　to　kill　him；　and　while　they　were
executing　this　command；　and　scourging　the　wretch；　who　screwed　and
turned　himself　into　all　manner　of　shapes　and　unseemly　motions；　through
the　pain　he　was　in；　the　solemn　procession　in　honour　of　Jupiter　chanced
to　follow　at　their　heels。　Several　of　the　attendants　on　which　were；
indeed；　scandalized　at　the　sight；　yet　no　one　of　them　interfered；　or
acted　further　in　the　matter　than　merely　to　utter　some　common
reproaches　and　execrations　on　a　master　who　inflicted　so　cruel　a
punishment。　For　the　Romans　treated　their　slaves　with　great　humanity　in
these　times；　when；　working　and　labouring　themselves；　and　living
together　among　them；　they　naturally　were　more　gentle　and　familiar　with
them。　It　was　one　of　the　severest　punishments　for　a　slave　who　had
committed　a　fault　to　have　to　take　the　piece　of　wood　which　supports　the
pole　of　a　wagon；　and　carry　it　about　through　the　neighbourhood；　a　slave
who　had　once　undergone　the　shame　of　this；　and　been　thus　seen　by　the
household　and　the　neighbours；　had　no　longer　any　trust　or　credit
among　them；　and　had　the　name　of　furcifer；　furca　being　the　Latin　word
for　a　prop；　or　support。
　　When；　therefore；　Latinus　had　related　his　dream；　and　the　senators
were　considering　who　this　disagreeable　and　ungainly　dancer　could　be；
some　of　the　company；　having　been　struck　with　the　strangeness　of　the
punishment；　called