Act 4 — Scene IV. Antium. Before Aufidius's house.[3480]
Reading edition
Scene IV. Antium. Before Aufidius's house.[3480]
Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.
Cor. A goodly city is this Antium. City, 'Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars[3481] Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not; Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with stones,[3482] 5 In puny battle slay me.
Enter a Citizen.[3483]
Save you, sir. Cit. And you. Cor. Direct me, if it be your will,[3484] Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium?[3484] Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state[3484] At his house this night.[3484] Cor. Which is his house, beseech you?[3485] 10 Cit. This, here, before you. Cor. Thank you, sir: farewell.
[Exit Citizen.
O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart,[3486] Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise[3487] Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love[3488] 15 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, 20 Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends And interjoin their issues. So with me: My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon[3489] This enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me,[3490] He does fair justice; if he give me way, 25 I'll do his country service. [Exit.