Coriolanus: Act 4, Scene 4

    tragedy

    Antium. Before Aufidius's house.

    Scene Summary

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    Coriolanus arrives alone in Antium, the Volscian city, in disguise as a poor man. He reflects on how fortune turns allies into enemies and enemies into allies.

    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 seem to wear one heart,
    Whose house, 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 birth-place 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