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1 Coriolanus

William Shakespeare — EMOTHE0676_Coriolanus

Characters in the Play

Caius MARTIUS, later Caius Martius Coriolanus

VOLUMNIA his mother

VIRGILIA his wife

YOUNG Martius their son

VALERIA a friend to Volumnia and Virgilia

A GENTLEWOMAN Volumnia’s attendant

MENENIUS Agrippa a patrician

COMINIUS patrician and general

Titus LARTIUS patrician and military officer

SICINIUS Velutus tribune

Junius BRUTUS tribune

Roman LIEUTENANT

Roman HERALD

Nicanor a ROMAN defector

Tullus AUFIDIUS general of the Volscians

Volscian Lieutenant

Adrian a Volscian spy

Citizen of Antium

Roman Citizens or Plebeians

Roman Messengers

Roman Senators, Patricians, Nobles

Roman officers

Roman Aediles

Roman Soldiers

Roman Messengers

Volscian Conspirators of his [Tullus Aufidius’] faction

Three of his[Aufidius´] servingmen

Volscian Senators, Lords

Volscian Soldiers

Two of the Volscian Watch

Volscian People

All

SENATORS

All

Both

All

VALERIA, VIRGILIA

All Plebeians

All_Citizens

Both_Tribunes

Both

All Citizens

Tribunes

First and Second Servingmen

All

All_people

All Lords

All Conspirators

Roman Lords, Gentry, Captains, Lictors, Trumpeters, Drummers, Musicians, Attendants, and Usher

Act 1

Scene 1

(Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with staves, clubs, and other weapons.)

FIRST CITIZEN

Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

ALL

Speak, speak!

FIRST CITIZEN

You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

ALL

Resolved, resolved!

FIRST CITIZEN

First, you know Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people.

ALL

We know ’t, we know ’t!

FIRST CITIZEN

Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at our own price. Is ’t a verdict?

ALL

No more talking on ’t; let it be done. Away, away!

SECOND CITIZEN

One word, good citizens.

FIRST CITIZEN

We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us. If they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely. But they think we are too dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes ere we become rakes; for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

SECOND CITIZEN

Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?

ALL

Against him first. He’s a very dog to the commonalty.

SECOND CITIZEN

Consider you what services he has done for his country?

FIRST CITIZEN

Very well, and could be content to give him good report for ’t, but that he pays himself with being proud.

⸢SECOND CITIZEN⸣

Nay, but speak not maliciously.

FIRST CITIZEN

I say unto you, what he hath done famously he did it to that end. Though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother and to be partly proud, which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

SECOND CITIZEN

What he cannot help in his nature you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

FIRST CITIZEN

If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations. He hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. (Shouts within.) What shouts are these? The other side o’ th’ city is risen. Why stay we prating here? To th’ Capitol!

ALL

Come, come!

(Enter Menenius Agrippa.)

FIRST CITIZEN

Soft, who comes here?

SECOND CITIZEN

Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath always loved the people.

FIRST CITIZEN

He’s one honest enough. Would all the rest were so!

MENENIUS

What work ’s, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you 24

With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you. 25

SECOND CITIZEN

Our business is not unknown to th’ Senate. They have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we’ll show ’em in deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too.

MENENIUS

Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbors, 27

Will you undo yourselves? 28

SECOND CITIZEN

We cannot, sir; we are undone already. 29

MENENIUS

I tell you, friends, most charitable care 30

Have the patricians of you. For your wants, 31

Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well 32

Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them 33

Against the Roman state, whose course will on 34

The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs 35

Of more strong link asunder than can ever 36

Appear in your impediment. For the dearth, 37

The gods, not the patricians, make it, and 38

Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, 39

You are transported by calamity 40

Thither where more attends you, and you slander 41

The helms o’ th’ state, who care for you like fathers, 42

When you curse them as enemies. 43

SECOND CITIZEN

Care for us? True, indeed! They ne’er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there’s all the love they bear us.

MENENIUS

Either you must confess yourselves wondrous malicious 45

Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you 46

A pretty tale. It may be you have heard it, 47

But since it serves my purpose, I will venture 48

To ⸢stale⸣ ’t a little more. 49

SECOND CITIZEN

Well, I’ll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale. But, an ’t please you, deliver.

MENENIUS

There was a time when all the body’s members 51

Rebelled against the belly, thus accused it: 52

That only like a gulf it did remain 53

I’ th’ midst o’ th’ body, idle and unactive, 54

Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing 55

Like labor with the rest, where th’ other instruments 56

Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 57

And, mutually participate, did minister 58

Unto the appetite and affection common 59

Of the whole body. The belly answered— 60

SECOND CITIZEN

Well, sir, what answer made the belly?

MENENIUS

Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile, 62

Which ne’er came from the lungs, but even thus— 63

For, look you, I may make the belly smile 64

As well as speak—it ⸢tauntingly⸣ replied 65

To th’ discontented members, the mutinous parts 66

That envied his receipt; even so most fitly 67

As you malign our senators for that 68

They are not such as you. 69

SECOND CITIZEN

Your belly’s answer—what?

The kingly crownèd head, the vigilant eye, 70

The counselor heart, the arm our soldier, 71

Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter, 72

With other muniments and petty helps 73

In this our fabric, if that they— 74

MENENIUS

What then?

’Fore me, this fellow speaks. What then? What then? 75

SECOND CITIZEN

Should by the cormorant belly be restrained, 76

Who is the sink o’ th’ body— 77

MENENIUS

Well, what then?

SECOND CITIZEN

The former agents, if they did complain, 78

What could the belly answer? 79

MENENIUS

I will tell you,

If you’ll bestow a small—of what you have little— 80

Patience awhile, you’st hear the belly’s answer. 81

SECOND CITIZEN

You’re long about it. 82

MENENIUS

Note me this, good friend;

Your most grave belly was deliberate, 83

Not rash like his accusers, and thus answered: 84

“True is it, my incorporate friends,” quoth he, 85

“That I receive the general food at first 86

Which you do live upon; and fit it is, 87

Because I am the storehouse and the shop 88

Of the whole body. But, if you do remember, 89

I send it through the rivers of your blood 90

Even to the court, the heart, to th’ seat o’ th’ brain; 91

And, through the cranks and offices of man, 92

The strongest nerves and small inferior veins 93

From me receive that natural competency 94

Whereby they live. And though that all at once, 95

You, my good friends”—this says the belly, mark me— 96

SECOND CITIZEN

Ay, sir, well, well. 97

MENENIUS

“Though all at once cannot

See what I do deliver out to each, 98

Yet I can make my audit up, that all 99

From me do back receive the flour of all, 100

And leave me but the bran.” What say you to ’t? 101

SECOND CITIZEN

It was an answer. How apply you this? 102

MENENIUS

The senators of Rome are this good belly, 103

And you the mutinous members. For examine 104

Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly 105

Touching the weal o’ th’ common, you shall find 106

No public benefit which you receive 107

But it proceeds or comes from them to you 108

And no way from yourselves. What do you think, 109

You, the great toe of this assembly? 110

SECOND CITIZEN

I the great toe? Why the great toe?

MENENIUS

For that, being one o’ th’ lowest, basest, poorest, 112

Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost. 113

Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run, 114

Lead’st first to win some vantage. 115

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs. 116

Rome and her rats are at the point of battle; 117

The one side must have bale. 118

(Enter Caius Martius.)

Hail, noble Martius.

MARTIUS

Thanks.—What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues, 119

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 120

Make yourselves scabs? 121

SECOND CITIZEN

We have ever your good word.

MARTIUS

He that will give good words to thee will flatter 123

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, 124

That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you; 125

The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, 126

Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; 127

Where foxes, geese. You are no surer, no, 128

Than is the coal of fire upon the ice 129

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is 130

To make him worthy whose offense subdues him, 131

And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness 132

Deserves your hate; and your affections are 133

A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that 134

Which would increase his evil. He that depends 135

Upon your favors swims with fins of lead, 136

And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang you! Trust you? 137

With every minute you do change a mind 138

And call him noble that was now your hate, 139

Him vile that was your garland. What’s the matter, 140

That in these several places of the city 141

You cry against the noble senate, who, 142

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else 143

Would feed on one another?—What’s their seeking? 144

MENENIUS

For corn at their own rates, whereof they say 145

The city is well stored. 146

MARTIUS

Hang ’em! They say?

They’ll sit by th’ fire and presume to know 147

What’s done i’ th’ Capitol, who’s like to rise, 148

Who thrives, and who declines; side factions and give out 149

Conjectural marriages, making parties strong 150

And feebling such as stand not in their liking 151

Below their cobbled shoes. They say there’s grain enough? 152

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth 153

And let me use my sword, I’d make a quarry 154

With thousands of these quartered slaves as high 155

As I could pick my lance. 156

MENENIUS

Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; 157

For though abundantly they lack discretion, 158

Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you, 159

What says the other troop? 160

MARTIUS

They are dissolved. Hang ’em!

They said they were an-hungry, sighed forth proverbs 161

That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, 162

That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not 163

Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds 164

They vented their complainings, which being answered 165

And a petition granted them—a strange one, 166

To break the heart of generosity 167

And make bold power look pale—they threw their caps 168

As they would hang them on the horns o’ th’ moon, 169

Shouting their emulation. 170

MENENIUS

What is granted them?

MARTIUS

Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, 171

Of their own choice. One’s Junius Brutus, 172

Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. ’Sdeath! 173

The rabble should have first ⸢unroofed⸣ the city 174

Ere so prevailed with me. It will in time 175

Win upon power and throw forth greater themes 176

For insurrection’s arguing. 177

MENENIUS

This is strange.

MARTIUS

Go get you home, you fragments.

(Enter a Messenger hastily.)

MESSENGER

Where’s Caius Martius? 180

MARTIUS

Here. What’s the matter?

MESSENGER

The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. 181

MARTIUS

I am glad on ’t. Then we shall ha’ means to vent 182

Our musty superfluity. 183

(Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, ⸢(two Tribunes);⸣ Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.)

See our best elders.

FIRST SENATOR

Martius, ’tis true that you have lately told us: 184

The Volsces are in arms. 185

MARTIUS

They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to ’t. 186

I sin in envying his nobility, 187

And, were I anything but what I am, 188

I would wish me only he. 189

COMINIUS

You have fought together?

MARTIUS

Were half to half the world by th’ ears and he 190

Upon my party, I’d revolt, to make 191

Only my wars with him. He is a lion 192

That I am proud to hunt. 193

FIRST SENATOR

Then, worthy Martius,

Attend upon Cominius to these wars. 194

COMINIUS

It is your former promise. 195

MARTIUS

Sir, it is,

And I am constant.—Titus ⸢Lartius ,⸣ thou 196

Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face. 197

What, art thou stiff? Stand’st out? 198

LARTIUS

No, Caius Martius,

I’ll lean upon one crutch and fight with t’ other 199

Ere stay behind this business. 200

MENENIUS

O, true bred!

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Your company to th’ Capitol, where I know 201

Our greatest friends attend us. 202

LARTIUS

⸢to Cominius⸣ Lead you on.—

⸢To Martius.⸣ Follow Cominius. We must follow you; 203

Right worthy you priority. 204

COMINIUS

Noble Martius.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

⸢to the Citizens⸣ Hence to your homes, begone. 205

MARTIUS

Nay, let them follow.

The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither 206

To gnaw their garners. 207

(Citizens steal away.)

Worshipful mutineers,

Your valor puts well forth.—Pray follow. 208

(They exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain.)

SICINIUS

Was ever man so proud as is this Martius? 209

BRUTUS

He has no equal.

SICINIUS

When we were chosen tribunes for the people— 211

BRUTUS

Marked you his lip and eyes? 212

SICINIUS

Nay, but his taunts.

BRUTUS

Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods— 213

SICINIUS

Bemock the modest moon.

BRUTUS

The present wars devour him! He is grown 215

Too proud to be so valiant. 216

SICINIUS

Such a nature,

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow 217

Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder 218

His insolence can brook to be commanded 219

Under Cominius. 220

BRUTUS

Fame, at the which he aims,

In whom already he’s well graced, cannot 221

Better be held nor more attained than by 222

A place below the first; for what miscarries 223

Shall be the General’s fault, though he perform 224

To th’ utmost of a man, and giddy censure 225

Will then cry out of Martius “O, if he 226

Had borne the business!” 227

SICINIUS

Besides, if things go well,

Opinion that so sticks on Martius shall 228

Of his demerits rob Cominius. 229

BRUTUS

Come.

Half all Cominius’ honors are to Martius, 230

Though Martius earned them not, and all his faults 231

To Martius shall be honors, though indeed 232

In aught he merit not. 233

SICINIUS

Let’s hence and hear

How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion, 234

More than his singularity, he goes 235

Upon this present action. 236

BRUTUS

Let’s along.

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Tullus Aufidius with Senators of Corioles.)

FIRST SENATOR

So, your opinion is, Aufidius, 1

That they of Rome are entered in our counsels 2

And know how we proceed. 3

AUFIDIUS

Is it not yours?

Whatever have been thought on in this state 4

That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome 5

Had circumvention? ’Tis not four days gone 6

Since I heard thence. These are the words—I think 7

I have the letter here. Yes, here it is. 8

(⸢(He reads.)⸣)

They have pressed a power, but it is not known 9

Whether for east or west. The dearth is great. 10

The people mutinous; and, it is rumored, 11

Cominius, Martius your old enemy, 12

Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, 13

And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, 14

These three lead on this preparation 15

Whither ’tis bent. Most likely ’tis for you. 16

Consider of it. 17

FIRST SENATOR

Our army’s in the field.

We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready 19

To answer us. 20

AUFIDIUS

Nor did you think it folly

To keep your great pretenses veiled till when 21

They needs must show themselves, which, in the hatching, 22

It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery 23

We shall be shortened in our aim, which was 24

To take in many towns ere almost Rome 25

Should know we were afoot. 26

SECOND SENATOR

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands. 27

Let us alone to guard Corioles. 28

If they set down before ’s, for the remove 29

Bring up your army. But I think you’ll find 30

They’ve not prepared for us. 31

AUFIDIUS

O, doubt not that;

I speak from certainties. Nay, more, 32

Some parcels of their power are forth already, 33

And only hitherward. I leave your Honors. 34

If we and Caius Martius chance to meet, 35

’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike 36

Till one can do no more. 37

ALL

The gods assist you!

AUFIDIUS

And keep your Honors safe!

FIRST SENATOR

Farewell.

SECOND SENATOR

Farewell.

ALL

Farewell.

(All exit.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius. They set them down on two low stools and sew.)

VOLUMNIA

I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honor than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for a day of kings’ entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honor would become such a person—that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th’ wall, if renown made it not stir—was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.

VIRGILIA

But had he died in the business, madam, how then?

VOLUMNIA

Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike and none less dear than thine and my good Martius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

(Enter a Gentlewoman.)

GENTLEWOMAN

Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.

VIRGILIA

Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. 6

VOLUMNIA

Indeed you shall not.

Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum, 8

See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair; 9

As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him. 10

Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus: 11

“Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear, 12

Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow 13

With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes 14

Like to a harvestman ⸢that’s⸣ tasked to mow 15

Or all or lose his hire. 16

VIRGILIA

His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood! 17

VOLUMNIA

Away, you fool! It more becomes a man 18

Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba, 19

When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier 20

Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood 21

At Grecian sword, contemning.—Tell Valeria 22

We are fit to bid her welcome. 23

(Gentlewoman exits.)

VIRGILIA

Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! 24

VOLUMNIA

He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee 25

And tread upon his neck. 26

(Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman.)

VALERIA

My ladies both, good day to you.

VOLUMNIA

Sweet madam.

VIRGILIA

I am glad to see your Ladyship.

VALERIA

How do you both? You are manifest housekeepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son?

VIRGILIA

I thank your Ladyship; well, good madam.

VOLUMNIA

He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster.

VALERIA

O’ my word, the father’s son! I’ll swear ’tis a very pretty boy. O’ my troth, I looked upon him o’ Wednesday half an hour together. H’as such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gildedbutterfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again, and after it again, and over and over he comes, and up again, catched it again. Or whether his fall enraged him or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it. O, I warrant how he mammocked it!

VOLUMNIA

One on ’s father’s moods.

VALERIA

Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.

VIRGILIA

A crack, madam.

VALERIA

Come, lay aside your stitchery. I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

VIRGILIA

No, good madam, I will not out of doors.

VALERIA

Not out of doors?

VOLUMNIA

She shall, she shall.

VIRGILIA

Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.

VALERIA

Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

VIRGILIA

I will wish her speedy strength and visit her with my prayers, but I cannot go thither.

VOLUMNIA

Why, I pray you?

⸢VIRGILIA⸣

’Tis not to save labor, nor that I want love.

VALERIA

You would be another Penelope. Yet they say all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

VIRGILIA

No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

VALERIA

In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent news of your husband.

VIRGILIA

O, good madam, there can be none yet.

VALERIA

Verily, I do not jest with you. There came news from him last night.

VIRGILIA

Indeed, madam!

VALERIA

In earnest, it’s true. I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth, against whom Cominius the General is gone with one part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioles. They nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honor, and so, I pray, go with us.

VIRGILIA

Give me excuse, good madam. I will obey you in everything hereafter.

VOLUMNIA

Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

VALERIA

In troth, I think she would.—Fare you well, then.—Come, good sweet lady.—Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o’ door, and go along with us.

VIRGILIA

No, at a word, madam. Indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.

VALERIA

Well, then, farewell.

(Ladies exit.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with ⸢Trumpet,⸣ Drum, and Colors, with Captains and Soldiers, as before the city ⸢of⸣ Corioles. To them a Messenger.)

MARTIUS

Yonder comes news. A wager they have met. 1

LARTIUS

My horse to yours, no. 2

MARTIUS

’Tis done.

LARTIUS

Agreed.

MARTIUS

⸢to Messenger⸣ Say, has our general met the enemy? 3

MESSENGER

They lie in view but have not spoke as yet. 4

LARTIUS

So the good horse is mine. 5

MARTIUS

I’ll buy him of you.

LARTIUS

No, I’ll nor sell nor give him. Lend you him I will 6

For half a hundred years.—Summon the town. 7

MARTIUS

How far off lie these armies?

MESSENGER

Within this mile and half.

MARTIUS

Then shall we hear their ’larum and they ours. 10

Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, 11

That we with smoking swords may march from hence 12

To help our fielded friends!—Come, blow thy blast. 13

(They sound a parley.)

(Enter two Senators with others on the walls of Corioles.)

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? 14

FIRST SENATOR

No, nor a man that fears you less than he: 15

That’s lesser than a little. 16

(Drum afar off.)

Hark, our drums

Are bringing forth our youth. We’ll break our walls 17

Rather than they shall pound us up. Our gates, 18

Which yet seem shut, we have but pinned with rushes. 19

They’ll open of themselves. 20

(Alarum far off.)

Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius. List what work he makes 21

Amongst your cloven army. 22

(⸢They exit from the walls.⸣)

MARTIUS

O, they are at it!

LARTIUS

Their noise be our instruction.—Ladders, ho! 23

(Enter the Army of the Volsces ⸢as through the city gates.⸣)

MARTIUS

They fear us not but issue forth their city.— 24

Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight 25

With hearts more proof than shields.—Advance, brave Titus. 26

They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, 27

Which makes me sweat with wrath.—Come on, my fellows! 28

He that retires, I’ll take him for a Volsce, 29

And he shall feel mine edge. 30

(Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches.)

(⸢They exit, with the Volsces following.⸣)

(Enter Martius cursing, ⸢with Roman soldiers.⸣)

MARTIUS

All the contagion of the south light on you, 31

You shames of Rome! You herd of—Boils and plagues 32

Plaster you o’er, that you may be abhorred 33

Farther than seen, and one infect another 34

Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, 35

That bear the shapes of men, how have you run 36

From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell! 37

All hurt behind. Backs red, and faces pale 38

With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, 39

Or, by the fires of heaven, I’ll leave the foe 40

And make my wars on you. Look to ’t. Come on! 41

If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives, 42

As they us to our trenches. Follow ’s! 43

(Another alarum. ⸢The Volsces re-enter and are driven back to the gates of Corioles, which open to admit them.⸣)

So, now the gates are ope. Now prove good seconds! 44

’Tis for the followers fortune widens them, 45

Not for the fliers. Mark me, and do the like. 46

(Martius follows ⸢the fleeing Volsces through⸣the gates, and is shut in.)

FIRST SOLDIER

Foolhardiness, not I.

SECOND SOLDIER

Nor I.

FIRST SOLDIER

See they have shut him in.

(Alarum continues.)

ALL

To th’ pot, I warrant him.

(Enter Titus Lartius.)

LARTIUS

What is become of Martius? 51

ALL

Slain, sir, doubtless.

FIRST SOLDIER

Following the fliers at the very heels, 52

With them he enters, who upon the sudden 53

Clapped to their gates. He is himself alone, 54

To answer all the city. 55

LARTIUS

O, noble fellow,

Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, 56

And when it bows, stand’st up! Thou art left, Martius. 57

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, 58

Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier 59

Even to ⸢Cato’s⸣ wish, not fierce and terrible 60

Only in strokes, but with thy grim looks and 61

The thunderlike percussion of thy sounds 62

Thou mad’st thine enemies shake, as if the world 63

Were feverous and did tremble. 64

(Enter Martius, bleeding, ⸢as if from Corioles,⸣ assaulted by the enemy.)

FIRST SOLDIER

Look, sir.

LARTIUS

O, ’tis Martius!

Let’s fetch him off or make remain alike. 65

(They fight, and all enter the city, ⸢exiting the stage.⸣)

⸢Scene 5⸣

(Enter certain Romans, with spoils.)

FIRST ROMAN

This will I carry to Rome.

SECOND ROMAN

And I this.

THIRD ROMAN

A murrain on ’t! I took this for silver.

(Enter Martius, and Titus ⸢Lartius⸣ with a Trumpet.)

MARTIUS

See here these movers that do prize their hours 4

At a cracked drachma. Cushions, leaden spoons, 5

Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would 6

Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves, 7

Ere yet the fight be done, pack up. Down with them! 8

(⸢The Romans with spoils⸣ exit.)

(Alarum continues still afar off.)

And hark, what noise the General makes! To him! 9

There is the man of my soul’s hate, Aufidius, 10

Piercing our Romans. Then, valiant Titus, take 11

Convenient numbers to make good the city, 12

Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste 13

To help Cominius. 14

LARTIUS

Worthy sir, thou bleed’st.

Thy exercise hath been too violent 15

For a second course of fight. 16

MARTIUS

Sir, praise me not.

My work hath yet not warmed me. Fare you well. 17

The blood I drop is rather physical 18

Than dangerous to me. To Aufidius thus 19

I will appear and fight. 20

LARTIUS

Now the fair goddess Fortune

Fall deep in love with thee, and her great charms 21

Misguide thy opposers’ swords! Bold gentleman, 22

Prosperity be thy page! 23

MARTIUS

Thy friend no less

Than those she placeth highest! So farewell. 24

LARTIUS

Thou worthiest Martius!

(⸢Martius exits.⸣)

Go sound thy trumpet in the marketplace. 26

Call thither all the officers o’ th’ town, 27

Where they shall know our mind. Away! 28

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 6⸣

(Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with Soldiers.)

COMINIUS

Breathe you, my friends. Well fought! We are come off 1

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands 2

Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs, 3

We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck, 4

By interims and conveying gusts we have heard 5

The charges of our friends. The Roman gods 6

Lead their successes as we wish our own, 7

That both our powers, with smiling fronts encount’ring, 8

May give you thankful sacrifice! 9

(Enter a Messenger.)

Thy news?

MESSENGER

The citizens of Corioles have issued 10

And given to Lartius and to Martius battle. 11

I saw our party to their trenches driven, 12

And then I came away. 13

COMINIUS

Though thou speakest truth,

Methinks thou speak’st not well. How long is ’t since? 14

MESSENGER

Above an hour, my lord.

COMINIUS

’Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums. 16

How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour 17

And bring thy news so late? 18

MESSENGER

Spies of the Volsces

Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel 19

Three or four miles about; else had I, sir, 20

Half an hour since brought my report. 21

(⸢He exits.⸣)

(Enter Martius, ⸢bloody.⸣)

COMINIUS

Who’s yonder,

That does appear as he were flayed? O gods, 22

He has the stamp of Martius, and I have 23

Before-time seen him thus. 24

MARTIUS

Come I too late?

COMINIUS

The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor 25

More than I know the sound of Martius’ tongue 26

From every meaner man. 27

MARTIUS

Come I too late?

COMINIUS

Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, 28

But mantled in your own. 29

MARTIUS

O, let me clip you

In arms as sound as when I wooed, in heart 30

As merry as when our nuptial day was done 31

And tapers burnt to bedward! 32

(⸢They embrace.⸣)

COMINIUS

Flower of warriors, how is ’t with Titus Lartius? 33

MARTIUS

As with a man busied about decrees, 34

Condemning some to death and some to exile; 35

Ransoming him or pitying, threat’ning th’ other; 36

Holding Corioles in the name of Rome 37

Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, 38

To let him slip at will. 39

COMINIUS

Where is that slave

Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? 40

Where is he? Call him hither. 41

MARTIUS

Let him alone.

He did inform the truth. But for our gentlemen, 42

The common file—a plague! Tribunes for them!— 43

The mouse ne’er shunned the cat as they did budge 44

From rascals worse than they. 45

COMINIUS

But how prevailed you?

MARTIUS

Will the time serve to tell? I do not think. 46

Where is the enemy? Are you lords o’ th’ field? 47

If not, why cease you till you are so? 48

COMINIUS

Martius, we have at disadvantage fought 49

And did retire to win our purpose. 50

MARTIUS

How lies their battle? Know you on which side 51

They have placed their men of trust? 52

COMINIUS

As I guess,

Martius, 53

Their bands i’ th’ vaward are the ⸢Antiates ,⸣ 54

Of their best trust; o’er them Aufidius, 55

Their very heart of hope. 56

MARTIUS

I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought, 57

By th’ blood we have shed together, by th’ vows we have made 58

To endure friends, that you directly set me 59

Against Aufidius and his Antiates, 60

And that you not delay the present, but, 61

Filling the air with swords advanced and darts, 62

We prove this very hour. 63

COMINIUS

Though I could wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath 64

And balms applied to you, yet dare I never 65

Deny your asking. Take your choice of those 66

That best can aid your action. 67

MARTIUS

Those are they

That most are willing. If any such be here— 68

As it were sin to doubt—that love this painting 69

Wherein you see me smeared; if any fear 70

⸢Lesser⸣ his person than an ill report; 71

If any think brave death outweighs bad life, 72

And that his country’s dearer than himself; 73

Let him alone, or so many so minded, 74

Wave thus to express his disposition 75

And follow Martius. 76

(⸢He waves his sword.⸣)

(They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps.)

O, me alone! Make you a sword of me? 77

If these shows be not outward, which of you 78

But is four Volsces? None of you but is 79

Able to bear against the great Aufidius 80

A shield as hard as his. A certain number, 81

Though thanks to all, must I select from all. 82

The rest shall bear the business in some other fight, 83

As cause will be obeyed. Please you to march, 84

And ⸢I⸣ shall quickly draw out my command, 85

Which men are best inclined. 86

COMINIUS

March on, my fellows.

Make good this ostentation, and you shall 87

Divide in all with us. 88

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 7⸣

(Titus Lartius, having set a guard upon Corioles, going with Drum and Trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Martius, enters with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers, and a Scout.)

LARTIUS

So, let the ports be guarded. Keep your duties 1

As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch 2

Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve 3

For a short holding. If we lose the field, 4

We cannot keep the town. 5

LIEUTENANT

Fear not our care, sir.

LARTIUS

Hence, and shut your gates upon ’s. ⸢(To the Scout.)⸣ Our guider, come. To th’ Roman camp conduct us.

(⸢They⸣ exit, ⸢the Lieutenant one way, Lartius another.⸣)

⸢Scene 8⸣

(Alarum, as in battle. Enter Martius and Aufidius at several doors.)

MARTIUS

I’ll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee 1

Worse than a promise-breaker. 2

AUFIDIUS

We hate alike.

Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor 3

More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot. 4

MARTIUS

Let the first budger die the other’s slave, 5

And the gods doom him after! 6

AUFIDIUS

If I fly, Martius,

Hollo me like a hare. 7

MARTIUS

Within these three hours, Tullus,

Alone I fought in your Corioles’ walls 8

And made what work I pleased. ’Tis not my blood 9

Wherein thou seest me masked. For thy revenge, 10

Wrench up thy power to th’ highest. 11

AUFIDIUS

Wert thou the hector

That was the whip of your bragged progeny, 12

Thou shouldst not scape me here. 13

(Here they fight, and certain Volsces come in the aid of Aufidius.)

⸢(To the Volsces.)⸣ Officious and not valiant, you have shamed me 14

In your condemnèd seconds. 15

(Martius fights till they be driven in breathless.)

(⸢Aufidius and Martius exit, separately.⸣)

⸢Scene 9⸣

(Alarum. A retreat is sounded.)

(Flourish. Enter, at one door, Cominius with the Romans; at another door Martius, with his arm in a scarf.)

COMINIUS

⸢to Martius⸣ If I should tell thee o’er this thy day’s work, 1

Thou ’t not believe thy deeds. But I’ll report it 2

Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; 3

Where great patricians shall attend and shrug, 4

I’ th’ end admire; where ladies shall be frighted 5

And, gladly quaked, hear more; where the dull tribunes, 6

That with the fusty plebeians hate thine honors, 7

Shall say against their hearts “We thank the gods 8

Our Rome hath such a soldier.” 9

Yet cam’st thou to a morsel of this feast, 10

Having fully dined before. 11

(Enter Titus ⸢Lartius⸣ with his power, from the pursuit.)

LARTIUS

O general,

Here is the steed, we the caparison. 12

Hadst thou beheld— 13

MARTIUS

Pray now, no more. My mother,

Who has a charter to extol her blood, 14

When she does praise me grieves me. I have done 15

As you have done—that’s what I can; 16

Induced as you have been—that’s for my country. 17

He that has but effected his good will 18

Hath overta’en mine act. 19

COMINIUS

You shall not be

The grave of your deserving. Rome must know 20

The value of her own. ’Twere a concealment 21

Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, 22

To hide your doings and to silence that 23

Which, to the spire and top of praises vouched, 24

Would seem but modest. Therefore, I beseech you— 25

In sign of what you are, not to reward 26

What you have done—before our army hear me. 27

MARTIUS

I have some wounds upon me, and they smart 28

To hear themselves remembered. 29

COMINIUS

Should they not,

Well might they fester ’gainst ingratitude 30

And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses— 31

Whereof we have ta’en good and good store—of all 32

The treasure in this field achieved and city, 33

We render you the tenth, to be ta’en forth 34

Before the common distribution 35

At your only choice. 36

MARTIUS

I thank you, general,

But cannot make my heart consent to take 37

A bribe to pay my sword. I do refuse it 38

And stand upon my common part with those 39

That have beheld the doing. 40

(A long flourish. They all cry “Martius, Martius!” ⸢and⸣ cast up their caps and lances. Cominius and Lartius stand bare.)

May these same instruments, which you profane, 41

Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall 42

I’ th’ field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be 43

Made all of false-faced soothing! When steel grows 44

Soft as the parasite’s silk, let him be made 45

An ⸢ovator⸣ for th’ wars! No more, I say. 46

For that I have not washed my nose that bled, 47

Or foiled some debile wretch—which, without note, 48

Here’s many else have done—you shout me forth 49

In acclamations hyperbolical, 50

As if I loved my little should be dieted 51

In praises sauced with lies. 52

COMINIUS

Too modest are you,

More cruel to your good report than grateful 53

To us that give you truly. By your patience, 54

If ’gainst yourself you be incensed, we’ll put you, 55

Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles, 56

Then reason safely with you. Therefore be it known, 57

As to us to all the world, that Caius Martius 58

Wears this war’s garland, in token of the which 59

My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him, 60

With all his trim belonging. And from this time, 61

For what he did before Corioles, call him, 62

With all th’ applause and clamor of the host, 63

Martius Caius Coriolanus! Bear 64

Th’ addition nobly ever! 65

(Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.)

ALL

Martius Caius Coriolanus! 66

CORIOLANUS

I will go wash;

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive 67

Whether I blush or no. Howbeit, I thank you. 68

I mean to stride your steed and at all times 69

To undercrest your good addition 70

To th’ fairness of my power. 71

COMINIUS

So, to our tent,

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write 72

To Rome of our success.—You, Titus Lartius, 73

Must to Corioles back. Send us to Rome 74

The best, with whom we may articulate 75

For their own good and ours. 76

LARTIUS

I shall, my lord.

CORIOLANUS

The gods begin to mock me. I, that now 77

Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg 78

Of my lord general. 79

COMINIUS

Take ’t, ’tis yours. What is ’t?

CORIOLANUS

I sometime lay here in Corioles 80

At a poor man’s house; he used me kindly. 81

He cried to me; I saw him prisoner; 82

But then Aufidius was within my view, 83

And wrath o’erwhelmed my pity. I request you 84

To give my poor host freedom. 85

COMINIUS

O, well begged!

Were he the butcher of my son, he should 86

Be free as is the wind.—Deliver him, Titus. 87

LARTIUS

Martius, his name? 88

CORIOLANUS

By Jupiter, forgot!

I am weary; yea, my memory is tired. 89

Have we no wine here? 90

COMINIUS

Go we to our tent.

The blood upon your visage dries; ’tis time 91

It should be looked to. Come. 92

(A flourish ⸢of⸣ cornets. They exit.)

⸢Scene 10⸣

(Enter Tullus Aufidius bloody, with two or three Soldiers.)

AUFIDIUS

The town is ta’en.

SOLDIER

’Twill be delivered back on good condition. 2

AUFIDIUS

Condition?

I would I were a Roman, for I cannot, 4

Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition? 5

What good condition can a treaty find 6

I’ th’ part that is at mercy? Five times, Martius, 7

I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me 8

And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter 9

As often as we eat. By th’ elements, 10

If e’er again I meet him beard to beard, 11

He’s mine, or I am his. Mine emulation 12

Hath not that honor in ’t it had; for where 13

I thought to crush him in an equal force, 14

True sword to sword, I’ll potch at him some way 15

Or wrath or craft may get him. 16

SOLDIER

He’s the devil.

AUFIDIUS

Bolder, though not so subtle. My valor’s poisoned 17

With only suff’ring stain by him; for him 18

Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep nor sanctuary, 19

Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol, 20

The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice, 21

Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up 22

Their rotten privilege and custom ’gainst 23

My hate to Martius. Where I find him, were it 24

At home, upon my brother’s guard, even there, 25

Against the hospitable canon, would I 26

Wash my fierce hand in ’s heart. Go you to th’ city; 27

Learn how ’tis held and what they are that must 28

Be hostages for Rome. 29

SOLDIER

Will not you go?

AUFIDIUS

I am attended at the cypress grove. I pray you— 30

’Tis south the city mills—bring me word thither 31

How the world goes, that to the pace of it 32

I may spur on my journey. 33

SOLDIER

I shall, sir.

(⸢They exit, Aufidius through one door, Soldiers through another.⸣)

Act 2

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Menenius with the two Tribunes of the people, Sicinius and Brutus.)

MENENIUS

The augurer tells me we shall have news tonight.

BRUTUS

Good or bad?

MENENIUS

Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Martius.

SICINIUS

Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.

MENENIUS

Pray you, who does the wolf love?

SICINIUS

The lamb.

MENENIUS

Ay, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the noble Martius.

BRUTUS

He’s a lamb indeed, that baas like a bear.

MENENIUS

He’s a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

BOTH

Well, sir.

MENENIUS

In what enormity is Martius poor in, that you two have not in abundance?

BRUTUS

He’s poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

SICINIUS

Especially in pride.

BRUTUS

And topping all others in boasting.

MENENIUS

This is strange now. Do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o’th’ right-hand file, do you?

BOTH

Why, how are we censured?

MENENIUS

Because you talk of pride now, will you not be angry?

BOTH

Well, well, sir, well?

MENENIUS

Why, ’tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience. Give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures, at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame Martius for being proud.

BRUTUS

We do it not alone, sir.

MENENIUS

I know you can do very little alone, for your helps are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single. Your abilities are too infant like for doing much alone. You talk of pride. O, that you could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O, that you could!

BOTH

What then, sir?

MENENIUS

Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as any in Rome.

SICINIUS

Menenius, you are known well enough, too.

MENENIUS

I am known to be a humorous patrician and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in ’t; said to be something imperfect in favoring the first complaint, hasty and tinder-like upon too trivial motion; one that converses more with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the morning. What I think I utter, and spend my malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as you are—I cannot call you Lycurguses—if the drink you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I ⸢cannot⸣ say your Worships have delivered the matter well when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables. And though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough, too?

BRUTUS

Come, sir, come; we know you well enough.

MENENIUS

You know neither me, yourselves, nor anything. You are ambitious for poor knaves’ caps and legs. You wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange-wife and a faucet-seller, and then rejourn the controversy of threepence to a second day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the colic, you make faces like mummers, set up the bloody flag against all patience, and, in roaring for a chamber pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing. All the peace you make in their cause is calling both the parties knaves. You are a pair of strange ones.

BRUTUS

Come, come. You are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.

MENENIUS

Our very priests must become mockers if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards, and your beards deserve not so honorable a grave as to stuff a botcher’s cushion or to be entombed in an ass’s packsaddle. Yet you must be saying Martius is proud, who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion, though peradventure some of the best of ’em were hereditary hangmen. Good e’en to your Worships. More of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians. I will be bold to take my leave of you. ⸢He begins to exit.⸣ Brutus and Sicinius ⸢stand⸣ aside. Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria. How now, my as fair as noble ladies—and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler—whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

VOLUMNIA

Honorable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches. For the love of Juno, let’s go!

MENENIUS

Ha? Martius coming home?

VOLUMNIA

Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation.

MENENIUS

Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee! ⸢He throws his cap in the air.⸣ Hoo! Martius coming home?

⸢VALERIA, VIRGILIA⸣

Nay, ’tis true.

VOLUMNIA

Look, here’s a letter from him. ⸢She produces a paper.⸣ The state hath another, his wife another, and I think there’s one at home for you.

MENENIUS

I will make my very house reel tonight. A letter for me?

VIRGILIA

Yes, certain, there’s a letter for you; I saw ’t.

MENENIUS

A letter for me? It gives me an estate of seven years’ health, in which time I will make a lip at the physician. The most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic and, to this preservative, of no better report than a horse drench. Is he not wounded? He was wont to come home wounded.

VIRGILIA

O no, no, no!

VOLUMNIA

O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for ’t.

MENENIUS

So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings he victory in his pocket, the wounds become him.

VOLUMNIA

On ’s brows, Menenius. He comes the third time home with the oaken garland.

MENENIUS

Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?

VOLUMNIA

Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but Aufidius got off.

MENENIUS

And ’twas time for him too, I’ll warrant him that. An he had stayed by him, I would not have been so ’fidiused for all the chests in Corioles and the gold that’s in them. Is the Senate possessed of this?

VOLUMNIA

Good ladies, let’s go.—Yes, yes, yes. The Senate has letters from the General, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war. He hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly.

VALERIA

In troth, there’s wondrous things spoke of him.

MENENIUS

Wondrous? Ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.

VIRGILIA

The gods grant them true.

VOLUMNIA

True? Pow waw!

MENENIUS

True? I’ll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded? ⸢(To the Tribunes.)⸣ God save your good Worships! Martius is coming home; he has more cause to be proud.—Where is he wounded?

VOLUMNIA

I’ th’ shoulder and i’ th’ left arm. There will be large cicatrices to show the people when he shall stand for his place. He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i’ th’ body.

MENENIUS

One i’ th’ neck and two i’ th’ thigh—there’s nine that I know.

VOLUMNIA

He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

MENENIUS

Now it’s twenty-seven. Every gash was an enemy’s grave. (A shout and flourish.) Hark, the trumpets!

VOLUMNIA

These are the ushers of Martius: before him he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears.

Death, that dark spirit, in ’s nervy arm doth lie, 58

Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die. 59

(A sennet.)

(Enter Cominius the General and Titus Lartius, between them Coriolanus crowned with an oaken garland, with Captains and Soldiers and a Herald. Trumpets sound.)

HERALD

Know, Rome, that all alone Martius did fight 60

Within Corioles’ gates, where he hath won, 61

With fame, a name to Martius Caius; these 62

In honor follows “Coriolanus.” 63

Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus. 64

(Sound flourish.)

ALL

Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus! 65

CORIOLANUS

No more of this. It does offend my heart. 66

Pray now, no more. 67

COMINIUS

Look, sir, your mother.

CORIOLANUS

You have, I know, petitioned all the gods 68

For my prosperity. 69

(Kneels.)

VOLUMNIA

Nay, my good soldier, up.

(⸢He stands.⸣)

My gentle Martius, worthy Caius, and 70

By deed-achieving honor newly named— 71

What is it? Coriolanus must I call thee? 72

But, O, thy wife— 73

CORIOLANUS

My gracious silence, hail.

Wouldst thou have laughed had I come coffined home, 74

That weep’st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear, 75

Such eyes the widows in Corioles wear 76

And mothers that lack sons. 77

MENENIUS

Now the gods crown thee!

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

And live you yet? ⸢(To Valeria.)⸣ O, my sweet lady, pardon. 78

VOLUMNIA

I know not where to turn. O, welcome home!— 79

And, welcome, general.—And you’re welcome all. 80

MENENIUS

A hundred thousand welcomes! I could weep, 81

And I could laugh; I am light and heavy. Welcome. 82

A curse begin at very root on ’s heart 83

That is not glad to see thee! ⸢You⸣ are three 84

That Rome should dote on; yet, by the faith of men, 85

We have some old crab trees here at home that will not 86

Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors! 87

We call a nettle but a nettle, and 88

The faults of fools but folly. 89

COMINIUS

Ever right.

CORIOLANUS

Menenius ever, ever.

HERALD

Give way there, and go on! 92

CORIOLANUS

⸢to Volumnia and Virgilia⸣ Your hand and yours.

Ere in our own house I do shade my head, 93

The good patricians must be visited, 94

From whom I have received not only greetings, 95

But with them change of honors. 96

VOLUMNIA

I have lived

To see inherited my very wishes 97

And the buildings of my fancy. Only 98

There’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not but 99

Our Rome will cast upon thee. 100

CORIOLANUS

Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way 101

Than sway with them in theirs. 102

COMINIUS

On, to the Capitol.

(Flourish ⸢of⸣ cornets. They exit in state, as before.)

(Brutus and Sicinius ⸢come forward.⸣)

BRUTUS

All tongues speak of him, and the blearèd sights 103

Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurse 104

Into a rapture lets her baby cry 105

While she chats him. The kitchen malkin pins 106

Her richest lockram ’bout her reechy neck, 107

Clamb’ring the walls to eye him. Stalls, bulks, windows 108

Are smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsed 109

With variable complexions, all agreeing 110

In earnestness to see him. Seld-shown flamens 111

Do press among the popular throngs and puff 112

To win a vulgar station. Our veiled dames 113

Commit the war of white and damask in 114

Their nicely-gauded cheeks to th’ wanton spoil 115

Of Phoebus’ burning kisses. Such a pother, 116

As if that whatsoever god who leads him 117

Were slyly crept into his human powers 118

And gave him graceful posture. 119

SICINIUS

On the sudden

I warrant him consul. 120

BRUTUS

Then our office may,

During his power, go sleep. 121

SICINIUS

He cannot temp’rately transport his honors 122

From where he should begin and end, but will 123

Lose those he hath won. 124

BRUTUS

In that there’s comfort.

SICINIUS

Doubt not

The commoners, for whom we stand, but they 125

Upon their ancient malice will forget 126

With the least cause these his new honors—which 127

That he will give them make I as little question 128

As he is proud to do ’t. 129

BRUTUS

I heard him swear,

Were he to stand for consul, never would he 130

Appear i’ th’ marketplace nor on him put 131

The napless vesture of humility, 132

Nor showing, as the manner is, his wounds 133

To th’ people, beg their stinking breaths. 134

SICINIUS

’Tis right.

BRUTUS

It was his word. O, he would miss it rather 135

Than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him 136

And the desire of the nobles. 137

SICINIUS

I wish no better

Than have him hold that purpose and to put it 138

In execution. 139

BRUTUS

’Tis most like he will.

SICINIUS

It shall be to him then as our good wills, 140

A sure destruction. 141

BRUTUS

So it must fall out

To him, or our authority’s for an end. 142

We must suggest the people in what hatred 143

He still hath held them; that to ’s power he would 144

Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders, and 145

Dispropertied their freedoms; holding them 146

In human action and capacity 147

Of no more soul nor fitness for the world 148

Than camels in their war, who have their provand 149

Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows 150

For sinking under them. 151

SICINIUS

This, as you say, suggested

At some time when his soaring insolence 152

Shall ⸢touch⸣ the people—which time shall not want 153

If he be put upon ’t, and that’s as easy 154

As to set dogs on sheep—will be his fire 155

To kindle their dry stubble, and their blaze 156

Shall darken him forever. 157

(Enter a Messenger.)

BRUTUS

What’s the matter?

MESSENGER

You are sent for to the Capitol. ’Tis thought 158

That Martius shall be consul. I have seen 159

The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind 160

To hear him speak; matrons flung gloves, 161

Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs, 162

Upon him as he passed; the nobles bended 163

As to Jove’s statue, and the Commons made 164

A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts. 165

I never saw the like. 166

BRUTUS

Let’s to the Capitol,

And carry with us ears and eyes for th’ time, 167

But hearts for the event. 168

SICINIUS

Have with you.

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter two Officers, to lay cushions, as it were in the Capitol.)

FIRST OFFICER

Come, come. They are almost here. How many stand for consulships?

SECOND OFFICER

Three, they say; but ’tis thought of everyone Coriolanus will carry it.

FIRST OFFICER

That’s a brave fellow, but he’s vengeance proud and loves not the common people.

SECOND OFFICER

’Faith, there hath been many great men that have flattered the people who ne’er loved them; and there be many that they have loved they know not wherefore; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see ’t.

FIRST OFFICER

If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he waved indifferently ’twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

SECOND OFFICER

He hath deserved worthily of his country, and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without any further deed to have them at all into their estimation and report; but he hath so planted his honors in their eyes and his actions in their hearts that for their tongues to be silent and not confess so much were a kind of ingrateful injury. To report otherwise were a malice that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

FIRST OFFICER

No more of him; he’s a worthy man. Make way. They are coming.

(A sennet. Enter the Patricians and the Tribunes of the people, Lictors before them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the consul. ⸢The Patricians sit.⸣ Sicinius and Brutus take their places by themselves. Coriolanus stands.)

MENENIUS

Having determined of the Volsces and 8

To send for Titus Lartius, it remains, 9

As the main point of this our after-meeting, 10

To gratify his noble service that 11

Hath thus stood for his country. Therefore please you, 12

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire 13

The present consul and last general 14

In our well-found successes to report 15

A little of that worthy work performed 16

By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom 17

We met here both to thank and to remember 18

With honors like himself. 19

(⸢Coriolanus sits.⸣)

FIRST SENATOR

Speak, good Cominius.

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think 20

Rather our state’s defective for requital, 21

Than we to stretch it out. 22

⸢(To the Tribunes.)⸣ Masters o’ th’ people,

We do request your kindest ears and, after, 23

Your loving motion toward the common body 24

To yield what passes here. 25

SICINIUS

We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty and have hearts 26

Inclinable to honor and advance 27

The theme of our assembly. 28

BRUTUS

Which the rather

We shall be blest to do if he remember 29

A kinder value of the people than 30

He hath hereto prized them at. 31

MENENIUS

That’s off, that’s off!

I would you rather had been silent. Please you 32

To hear Cominius speak? 33

BRUTUS

Most willingly,

But yet my caution was more pertinent 34

Than the rebuke you give it. 35

MENENIUS

He loves your people,

But tie him not to be their bedfellow.— 36

Worthy Cominius, speak. 37

(Coriolanus rises and offers to go away.)

Nay, keep your place.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Sit, Coriolanus. Never shame to hear 38

What you have nobly done. 39

CORIOLANUS

Your Honors, pardon.

I had rather have my wounds to heal again 40

Than hear say how I got them. 41

BRUTUS

Sir, I hope

My words disbenched you not? 42

CORIOLANUS

No, sir. Yet oft,

When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. 43

You soothed not, therefore hurt not; but your people, 44

I love them as they weigh. 45

MENENIUS

Pray now, sit down.

CORIOLANUS

I had rather have one scratch my head i’ th’ sun 46

When the alarum were struck than idly sit 47

To hear my nothings monstered. 48

(Coriolanus exits.)

MENENIUS

Masters of the people,

Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter— 49

That’s thousand to one good one—when you now see 50

He had rather venture all his limbs for honor 51

Than one on ’s ears to hear it.—Proceed, Cominius. 52

COMINIUS

I shall lack voice. The deeds of Coriolanus 53

Should not be uttered feebly. It is held 54

That valor is the chiefest virtue and 55

Most dignifies the haver; if it be, 56

The man I speak of cannot in the world 57

Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years, 58

When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought 59

Beyond the mark of others. Our then dictator, 60

Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight 61

When with his Amazonian chin he drove 62

The bristled lips before him. He bestrid 63

An o’erpressed Roman and i’ th’ Consul’s view 64

Slew three opposers. Tarquin’s self he met 65

And struck him on his knee. In that day’s feats, 66

When he might act the woman in the scene, 67

He proved best man i’ th’ field and for his meed 68

Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age 69

Man-entered thus, he waxèd like a sea, 70

And in the brunt of seventeen battles since 71

He lurched all swords of the garland. For this last, 72

Before and in Corioles, let me say, 73

I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyers 74

And by his rare example made the coward 75

Turn terror into sport. As weeds before 76

A vessel under sail, so men obeyed 77

And fell below his stem. His sword, Death’s stamp, 78

Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot 79

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion 80

Was timed with dying cries. Alone he entered 81

The mortal gate o’ th’ city, which he painted 82

With shunless destiny; aidless came off 83

And with a sudden reinforcement struck 84

Corioles like a planet. Now all’s his, 85

When by and by the din of war gan pierce 86

His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit 87

Requickened what in flesh was fatigate, 88

And to the battle came he, where he did 89

Run reeking o’er the lives of men as if 90

’Twere a perpetual spoil; and till we called 91

Both field and city ours, he never stood 92

To ease his breast with panting. 93

MENENIUS

Worthy man!

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

He cannot but with measure fit the honors 94

Which we devise him. 95

COMINIUS

Our spoils he kicked at

And looked upon things precious as they were 96

The common muck of the world. He covets less 97

Than misery itself would give, rewards 98

His deeds with doing them, and is content 99

To spend the time to end it. 100

MENENIUS

He’s right noble.

Let him be called for. 101

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Call Coriolanus.

OFFICER

He doth appear.

(Enter Coriolanus.)

MENENIUS

The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased 103

To make thee consul. 104

CORIOLANUS

I do owe them still

My life and services. 105

MENENIUS

It then remains

That you do speak to the people. 106

CORIOLANUS

I do beseech you,

Let me o’erleap that custom, for I cannot 107

Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them 108

For my wounds’ sake to give their suffrage. Please you 109

That I may pass this doing. 110

SICINIUS

Sir, the people

Must have their voices; neither will they bate 111

One jot of ceremony. 112

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣ Put them not to ’t.

Pray you, go fit you to the custom, and 113

Take to you, as your predecessors have, 114

Your honor with your form. 115

CORIOLANUS

It is a part

That I shall blush in acting, and might well 116

Be taken from the people. 117

BRUTUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣ Mark you that?

CORIOLANUS

To brag unto them “Thus I did, and thus!” 118

Show them th’ unaching scars, which I should hide, 119

As if I had received them for the hire 120

Of their breath only! 121

MENENIUS

Do not stand upon ’t.—

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, 122

Our purpose to them, and to our noble consul 123

Wish we all joy and honor. 124

SENATORS

To Coriolanus come all joy and honor! 125

(Flourish cornets. Then they exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain.)

BRUTUS

You see how he intends to use the people. 126

SICINIUS

May they perceive ’s intent! He will require them 127

As if he did contemn what he requested 128

Should be in them to give. 129

BRUTUS

Come, we’ll inform them

Of our proceedings here. On th’ marketplace 130

I know they do attend us. 131

(⸢They exit.⸣)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter seven or eight Citizens.)

FIRST CITIZEN

Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

SECOND CITIZEN

We may, sir, if we will.

THIRD CITIZEN

We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do; for, if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them. So, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude of the which, we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.

FIRST CITIZEN

And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

THIRD CITIZEN

We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some abram, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely colored; and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south, and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o’ th’ compass.

SECOND CITIZEN

Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?

THIRD CITIZEN

Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man’s will; ’tis strongly wedged up in a blockhead. But if it were at liberty, ’twould sure southward.

SECOND CITIZEN

Why that way?

THIRD CITIZEN

To lose itself in a fog, where, being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience’ sake, to help to get thee a wife.

SECOND CITIZEN

You are never without your tricks. You may, you may.

THIRD CITIZEN

Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that’s no matter; the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility, with Menenius. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behavior. We are not to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He’s to make his requests by particulars, wherein every one of us has a single honor in giving him our own voices with our own tongues. Therefore follow me, and I’ll direct you how you shall go by him.

ALL

Content, content.

(⸢Citizens exit.⸣)

MENENIUS

O sir, you are not right. Have you not known 14

The worthiest men have done ’t? 15

CORIOLANUS

What must I say?

“I pray, sir?”—plague upon ’t! I cannot bring 16

My tongue to such a pace. “Look, sir, my wounds! 17

I got them in my country’s service when 18

Some certain of your brethren roared and ran 19

From th’ noise of our own drums.” 20

MENENIUS

O me, the gods!

You must not speak of that. You must desire them 21

To think upon you. 22

CORIOLANUS

Think upon me? Hang ’em!

I would they would forget me, like the virtues 23

Which our divines lose by ’em. 24

MENENIUS

You’ll mar all.

I’ll leave you. Pray you, speak to ’em, I pray you, 25

In wholesome manner. 26

(He exits.)

CORIOLANUS

Bid them wash their faces

And keep their teeth clean. 27

(Enter three of the Citizens.)

So, here comes a brace.—

You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. 28

THIRD CITIZEN

We do, sir. Tell us what hath brought you to ’t. 29

CORIOLANUS

Mine own desert.

SECOND CITIZEN

Your own desert?

CORIOLANUS

Ay, but ⸢not⸣ mine own desire.

THIRD CITIZEN

How, not your own desire?

CORIOLANUS

No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.

THIRD CITIZEN

You must think if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.

CORIOLANUS

Well then, I pray, your price o’ th’ consulship?

FIRST CITIZEN

The price is to ask it kindly.

CORIOLANUS

Kindly, sir, I pray, let me ha ’t. I have wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private.—Your good voice, sir. What say you?

SECOND CITIZEN

You shall ha ’t, worthy sir.

CORIOLANUS

A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms. Adieu.

THIRD CITIZEN

⸢to the other Citizens⸣ But this is something odd.

SECOND CITIZEN

An ’twere to give again—but ’tis no matter.

(⸢These citizens⸣ exit.)

(Enter two other Citizens.)

CORIOLANUS

Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.

⸢FOURTH CITIZEN⸣

You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.

CORIOLANUS

Your enigma?

⸢FOURTH CITIZEN⸣

You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends. You have not indeed loved the common people.

CORIOLANUS

You should account me the more virtuous that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; ’tis a condition they account gentle. And since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practice the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly. That is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man and give it bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

⸢FIFTH CITIZEN⸣

We hope to find you our friend, and therefore give you our voices heartily.

⸢FOURTH CITIZEN⸣

You have received many wounds for your country.

CORIOLANUS

I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices and so trouble you no farther.

BOTH

The gods give you joy, sir, heartily.

(⸢Citizens exit.⸣)

CORIOLANUS

Most sweet voices!

Better it is to die, better to starve, 53

Than crave the ⸢hire⸣ which first we do deserve. 54

Why in this woolvish ⸢toge⸣ should I stand here 55

To beg of Hob and Dick that does appear 56

Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to ’t. 57

What custom wills, in all things should we do ’t? 58

The dust on antique time would lie unswept 59

And mountainous error be too highly heaped 60

For truth to o’erpeer. Rather than fool it so, 61

Let the high office and the honor go 62

To one that would do thus. I am half through; 63

The one part suffered, the other will I do. 64

(Enter three Citizens more.)

Here come more voices.— 65

Your voices! For your voices I have fought; 66

Watched for your voices; for your voices bear 67

Of wounds two dozen odd. Battles thrice six 68

I have seen and heard of; for your voices have 69

Done many things, some less, some more. Your voices! 70

Indeed, I would be consul. 71

⸢SIXTH⸣ CITIZEN

He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man’s voice.

⸢SEVENTH⸣ CITIZEN

Therefore let him be consul. The gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people!

ALL

Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul.

(⸢Citizens exit.⸣)

CORIOLANUS

Worthy voices!

(Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.)

MENENIUS

You have stood your limitation, and the Tribunes 76

Endue you with the people’s voice. Remains 77

That in th’ official marks invested, you 78

Anon do meet the Senate. 79

CORIOLANUS

Is this done?

SICINIUS

The custom of request you have discharged. 80

The people do admit you, and are summoned 81

To meet anon upon your approbation. 82

CORIOLANUS

Where? At the Senate House? 83

SICINIUS

There, Coriolanus.

CORIOLANUS

May I change these garments? 84

SICINIUS

You may, sir.

CORIOLANUS

That I’ll straight do and, knowing myself again, 85

Repair to th’ Senate House. 86

MENENIUS

I’ll keep you company.—Will you along? 87

BRUTUS

We stay here for the people. 88

SICINIUS

Fare you well.

(Coriolanus and Menenius exit.)

He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, 89

’Tis warm at ’s heart. 90

BRUTUS

With a proud heart he wore

His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people? 91

(Enter the Plebeians.)

SICINIUS

How now, my masters, have you chose this man? 92

FIRST CITIZEN

He has our voices, sir.

BRUTUS

We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. 94

SECOND CITIZEN

Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice, 95

He mocked us when he begged our voices. 96

THIRD CITIZEN

Certainly, he flouted us downright. 97

FIRST CITIZEN

No, ’tis his kind of speech. He did not mock us. 98

SECOND CITIZEN

Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says 99

He used us scornfully. He should have showed us 100

His marks of merit, wounds received for ’s country. 101

SICINIUS

Why, so he did, I am sure.

ALL

No, no. No man saw ’em.

THIRD CITIZEN

He said he had wounds, which he could show in private, 104

And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, 105

“I would be consul,” says he. “Agèd custom, 106

But by your voices, will not so permit me; 107

Your voices therefore.” When we granted that, 108

Here was “I thank you for your voices. Thank you. 109

Your most sweet voices! Now you have left your voices, 110

I have no further with you.” Was not this mockery? 111

SICINIUS

Why either were you ignorant to see ’t 112

Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness 113

To yield your voices? 114

BRUTUS

Could you not have told him

As you were lessoned? When he had no power, 115

But was a petty servant to the state, 116

He was your enemy, ever spake against 117

Your liberties and the charters that you bear 118

I’ th’ body of the weal; and, now arriving 119

A place of potency and sway o’ th’ state, 120

If he should still malignantly remain 121

Fast foe to th’ plebeii, your voices might 122

Be curses to yourselves. You should have said 123

That as his worthy deeds did claim no less 124

Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature 125

Would think upon you for your voices, and 126

Translate his malice towards you into love, 127

Standing your friendly lord. 128

SICINIUS

Thus to have said,

As you were fore-advised, had touched his spirit 129

And tried his inclination; from him plucked 130

Either his gracious promise, which you might, 131

As cause had called you up, have held him to; 132

Or else it would have galled his surly nature, 133

Which easily endures not article 134

Tying him to aught. So putting him to rage, 135

You should have ta’en th’ advantage of his choler 136

And passed him unelected. 137

BRUTUS

Did you perceive

He did solicit you in free contempt 138

When he did need your loves, and do you think 139

That his contempt shall not be bruising to you 140

When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies 141

No heart among you? Or had you tongues to cry 142

Against the rectorship of judgment? 143

SICINIUS

Have you ere now denied the asker? And now 144

Again, of him that did not ask but mock, 145

Bestow your sued-for tongues? 146

THIRD CITIZEN

He’s not confirmed.

We may deny him yet. 147

SECOND CITIZEN

And will deny him.

I’ll have five hundred voices of that sound. 148

FIRST CITIZEN

I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece ’em. 149

BRUTUS

Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends 150

They have chose a consul that will from them take 151

Their liberties, make them of no more voice 152

Than dogs that are as often beat for barking 153

As therefor kept to do so. 154

SICINIUS

Let them assemble

And, on a safer judgment, all revoke 155

Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride 156

And his old hate unto you. Besides, forget not 157

With what contempt he wore the humble weed, 158

How in his suit he scorned you; but your loves, 159

Thinking upon his services, took from you 160

Th’ apprehension of his present portance, 161

Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion 162

After the inveterate hate he bears you. 163

BRUTUS

Lay

A fault on us, your tribunes, that we labored, 164

No impediment between, but that you must 165

Cast your election on him. 166

SICINIUS

Say you chose him

More after our commandment than as guided 167

By your own true affections, and that your minds, 168

Preoccupied with what you rather must do 169

Than what you should, made you against the grain 170

To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us. 171

BRUTUS

Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you, 172

How youngly he began to serve his country, 173

How long continued, and what stock he springs of, 174

The noble house o’ th’ Martians, from whence came 175

That Ancus Martius, Numa’s daughter’s son, 176

Who after great Hostilius here was king, 177

Of the same house Publius and Quintus were, 178

That our best water brought by conduits hither; 179

⸢And Censorinus, that was so surnamed,⸣ 180

And nobly namèd so, twice being censor, 181

Was his great ancestor. 182

SICINIUS

One thus descended,

That hath besides well in his person wrought 183

To be set high in place, we did commend 184

To your remembrances; but you have found, 185

Scaling his present bearing with his past, 186

That he’s your fixèd enemy, and revoke 187

Your sudden approbation. 188

BRUTUS

Say you ne’er had done ’t—

Harp on that still—but by our putting on. 189

And presently, when you have drawn your number, 190

Repair to th’ Capitol. 191

ALL

We will so. Almost all

Plebeians exit. Repent in their election. 192

BRUTUS

Let them go on.

This mutiny were better put in hazard 193

Than stay, past doubt, for greater. 194

If, as his nature is, he fall in rage 195

With their refusal, both observe and answer 196

The vantage of his anger. 197

SICINIUS

To th’ Capitol, come.

We will be there before the stream o’ th’ people, 198

And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own, 199

Which we have goaded onward. 200

(They exit.)

Act 3

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentry, Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators.)

CORIOLANUS

Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? 1

LARTIUS

He had, my lord, and that it was which caused 2

Our swifter composition. 3

CORIOLANUS

So then the Volsces stand but as at first, 4

Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road 5

Upon ’s again. 6

COMINIUS

They are worn, lord consul, so,

That we shall hardly in our ages see 7

Their banners wave again. 8

CORIOLANUS

Saw you Aufidius?

LARTIUS

On safeguard he came to me, and did curse 9

Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely 10

Yielded the town. He is retired to Antium. 11

CORIOLANUS

Spoke he of me? 12

LARTIUS

He did, my lord.

CORIOLANUS

How? What?

LARTIUS

How often he had met you sword to sword; 13

That of all things upon the earth he hated 14

Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes 15

To hopeless restitution, so he might 16

Be called your vanquisher. 17

CORIOLANUS

At Antium lives he?

LARTIUS

At Antium.

CORIOLANUS

I wish I had a cause to seek him there, 19

To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. 20

(Enter Sicinius and Brutus.)

Behold, these are the tribunes of the people, 21

The tongues o’ th’ common mouth. I do despise them, 22

For they do prank them in authority 23

Against all noble sufferance. 24

SICINIUS

Pass no further.

CORIOLANUS

Ha? What is that?

BRUTUS

It will be dangerous to go on. No further. 27

CORIOLANUS

What makes this change?

MENENIUS

The matter?

COMINIUS

Hath he not passed the noble and the common? 30

BRUTUS

Cominius, no. 31

CORIOLANUS

Have I had children’s voices?

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Tribunes, give way. He shall to th’ marketplace. 32

BRUTUS

The people are incensed against him. 33

SICINIUS

Stop,

Or all will fall in broil. 34

CORIOLANUS

Are these your herd?

Must these have voices, that can yield them now 35

And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices? 36

You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? 37

Have you not set them on? 38

MENENIUS

Be calm, be calm.

CORIOLANUS

It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot, 39

To curb the will of the nobility. 40

Suffer ’t, and live with such as cannot rule 41

Nor ever will be ruled. 42

BRUTUS

Call ’t not a plot.

The people cry you mocked them; and, of late, 43

When corn was given them gratis, you repined, 44

Scandaled the suppliants for the people, called them 45

Timepleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. 46

CORIOLANUS

Why, this was known before. 47

BRUTUS

Not to them all.

CORIOLANUS

Have you informed them sithence? 48

BRUTUS

How? I inform them?

COMINIUS

You are like to do such business.

BRUTUS

Not unlike, each way, to better yours. 50

CORIOLANUS

Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds, 51

Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me 52

Your fellow tribune. 53

SICINIUS

You show too much of that

For which the people stir. If you will pass 54

To where you are bound, you must inquire your way, 55

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit, 56

Or never be so noble as a consul, 57

Nor yoke with him for tribune. 58

MENENIUS

Let’s be calm.

COMINIUS

The people are abused, set on. This palt’ring 59

Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus 60

Deserved this so dishonored rub, laid falsely 61

I’ th’ plain way of his merit. 62

CORIOLANUS

Tell me of corn?

This was my speech, and I will speak ’t again. 63

MENENIUS

Not now, not now. 64

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Not in this heat, sir, now.

CORIOLANUS

Now, as I live, I will.

My nobler friends, I crave their pardons. For 66

The mutable, rank-scented meiny, let them 67

Regard me, as I do not flatter, and 68

Therein behold themselves. I say again, 69

In soothing them, we nourish ’gainst our senate 70

The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, 71

Which we ourselves have plowed for, sowed, and scattered 72

By mingling them with us, the honored number, 73

Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that 74

Which they have given to beggars. 75

MENENIUS

Well, no more.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

No more words, we beseech you. 76

CORIOLANUS

How? No more?

As for my country I have shed my blood, 77

Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs 78

Coin words till their decay against those measles 79

Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought 80

The very way to catch them. 81

BRUTUS

You speak o’ th’ people

As if you were a god to punish, not 82

A man of their infirmity. 83

SICINIUS

’Twere well

We let the people know ’t. 84

MENENIUS

What, what? His choler?

CORIOLANUS

Choler?

Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, 86

By Jove, ’twould be my mind. 87

SICINIUS

It is a mind

That shall remain a poison where it is, 88

Not poison any further. 89

CORIOLANUS

“Shall remain”?

Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you 90

His absolute “shall”? 91

COMINIUS

’Twas from the canon.

CORIOLANUS

“Shall”?

O ⸢good⸣ but most unwise patricians, why, 92

You grave but reckless senators, have you thus 93

Given Hydra here to choose an officer, 94

That with his peremptory “shall,” being but 95

The horn and noise o’ th’ monster’s, wants not spirit 96

To say he’ll turn your current in a ditch 97

And make your channel his? If he have power, 98

Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake 99

Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned, 100

Be not as common fools; if you are not, 101

Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, 102

If they be senators; and they are no less 103

When, both your voices blended, the great’st taste 104

Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate, 105

And such a one as he, who puts his “shall,” 106

His popular “shall,” against a graver bench 107

Than ever frowned in Greece. By Jove himself, 108

It makes the consuls base! And my soul aches 109

To know, when two authorities are up, 110

Neither supreme, how soon confusion 111

May enter ’twixt the gap of both and take 112

The one by th’ other. 113

COMINIUS

Well, on to th’ marketplace.

CORIOLANUS

Whoever gave that counsel to give forth 114

The corn o’ th’ storehouse gratis, as ’twas used 115

Sometime in Greece— 116

MENENIUS

Well, well, no more of that.

CORIOLANUS

Though there the people had more absolute power, 117

I say they nourished disobedience, fed 118

The ruin of the state. 119

BRUTUS

Why shall the people give

One that speaks thus their voice? 120

CORIOLANUS

I’ll give my reasons,

More worthier than their voices. They know the corn 121

Was not our recompense, resting well assured 122

They ne’er did service for ’t. Being pressed to th’ war, 123

Even when the navel of the state was touched, 124

They would not thread the gates. This kind of service 125

Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i’ th’ war, 126

Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they showed 127

Most valor, spoke not for them. Th’ accusation 128

Which they have often made against the Senate, 129

All cause unborn, could never be the native 130

Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? 131

How shall this bosom multiplied digest 132

The Senate’s courtesy? Let deeds express 133

What’s like to be their words: “We did request it; 134

We are the greater poll, and in true fear 135

They gave us our demands.” Thus we debase 136

The nature of our seats and make the rabble 137

Call our cares fears, which will in time 138

Break ope the locks o’ th’ Senate and bring in 139

The crows to peck the eagles. 140

MENENIUS

Come, enough.

BRUTUS

Enough, with over-measure. 141

CORIOLANUS

No, take more!

What may be sworn by, both divine and human, 142

Seal what I end withal! This double worship— 143

⸢Where one⸣ part does disdain with cause, the other 144

Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom 145

Cannot conclude but by the yea and no 146

Of general ignorance—it must omit 147

Real necessities and give way the while 148

To unstable slightness. Purpose so barred, it follows 149

Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you— 150

You that will be less fearful than discreet, 151

That love the fundamental part of state 152

More than you doubt the change on ’t, that prefer 153

A noble life before a long, and wish 154

To jump a body with a dangerous physic 155

That’s sure of death without it—at once pluck out 156

The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick 157

The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonor 158

Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state 159

Of that integrity which should become ’t, 160

Not having the power to do the good it would 161

For th’ ill which doth control ’t. 162

BRUTUS

’Has said enough.

SICINIUS

’Has spoken like a traitor and shall answer 163

As traitors do. 164

CORIOLANUS

Thou wretch, despite o’erwhelm thee!

What should the people do with these bald tribunes, 165

On whom depending, their obedience fails 166

To th’ greater bench? In a rebellion, 167

When what’s not meet but what must be was law, 168

Then were they chosen. In a better hour, 169

Let what is meet be said it must be meet, 170

And throw their power i’ th’ dust. 171

BRUTUS

Manifest treason.

SICINIUS

This a consul? No.

BRUTUS

The aediles, ho! Let him be apprehended.

(Enter an Aedile.)

SICINIUS

Go, call the people; 175

(⸢Aedile exits.⸣)

in whose name myself

Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, 176

A foe to th’ public weal. Obey, I charge thee, 177

And follow to thine answer. 178

CORIOLANUS

Hence, old goat.

ALL ⸢PATRICIANS⸣

We’ll surety him. 179

COMINIUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣ Agèd sir, hands off.

CORIOLANUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣ Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones 180

Out of thy garments. 181

SICINIUS

Help, you citizens!

(Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles.)

MENENIUS

On both sides more respect!

SICINIUS

Here’s he that would take from you all your power. 183

BRUTUS

Seize him, aediles.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

Down with him, down with him!

SECOND SENATOR

Weapons, weapons, weapons!

(They all bustle about Coriolanus.)

Tribunes, patricians, citizens, what ho! 187

Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens! 188

ALL

Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace!

MENENIUS

What is about to be? I am out of breath. 190

Confusion’s near. I cannot speak. You, tribunes 191

To th’ people!—Coriolanus, patience!— 192

Speak, good Sicinius. 193

SICINIUS

Hear me, people! Peace!

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

Let’s hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak. 194

SICINIUS

You are at point to lose your liberties. 195

Martius would have all from you, Martius, 196

Whom late you have named for consul. 197

MENENIUS

Fie, fie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench. 198

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. 199

SICINIUS

What is the city but the people? 200

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

True,

The people are the city. 201

BRUTUS

By the consent of all, we were established 202

The people’s magistrates. 203

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

You so remain.

MENENIUS

And so are like to do.

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

That is the way to lay the city flat, 205

To bring the roof to the foundation 206

And bury all which yet distinctly ranges 207

In heaps and piles of ruin. 208

SICINIUS

This deserves death.

BRUTUS

Or let us stand to our authority 209

Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce, 210

Upon the part o’ th’ people, in whose power 211

We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy 212

Of present death. 213

SICINIUS

Therefore lay hold of him,

Bear him to th’ rock Tarpeian, and from thence 214

Into destruction cast him. 215

BRUTUS

Aediles, seize him!

ALL PLEBEIANS

Yield, Martius, yield! 216

MENENIUS

Hear me one word.

Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. 217

AEDILES

Peace, peace!

MENENIUS

Be that you seem, truly your country’s friend, 219

And temp’rately proceed to what you would 220

Thus violently redress. 221

BRUTUS

Sir, those cold ways,

That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous 222

Where the disease is violent.—Lay hands upon him, 223

And bear him to the rock. 224

(Coriolanus draws his sword.)

CORIOLANUS

No, I’ll die here.

There’s some among you have beheld me fighting. 225

Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. 226

MENENIUS

Down with that sword!—Tribunes, withdraw awhile. 227

BRUTUS

Lay hands upon him! 228

MENENIUS

Help Martius, help!

You that be noble, help him, young and old! 229

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

Down with him, down with him!

(In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Aediles, and the People are beat in.)

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣ Go, get you to ⸢your⸣ house. Begone, away. 231

All will be naught else. 232

SECOND SENATOR

Get you gone.

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

Stand fast!

We have as many friends as enemies. 233

MENENIUS

Shall it be put to that? 234

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

The gods forbid!—

I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house; 235

Leave us to cure this cause. 236

MENENIUS

For ’tis a sore upon us

You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you. 237

⸢COMINIUS⸣

Come, sir, along with us.

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

I would they were barbarians, as they are, 239

Though in Rome littered; not Romans, as they are not, 240

Though calved i’ th’ porch o’ th’ Capitol. 241

MENENIUS

Begone!

Put not your worthy rage into your tongue. 242

One time will owe another. 243

CORIOLANUS

On fair ground

I could beat forty of them. 244

MENENIUS

I could myself

Take up a brace o’ th’ best of them, yea, the two tribunes. 245

COMINIUS

But now ’tis odds beyond arithmetic, 246

And manhood is called foolery when it stands 247

Against a falling fabric. 248

⸢To Coriolanus.⸣ Will you hence,

Before the tag return, whose rage doth rend 249

Like interrupted waters and o’erbear 250

What they are used to bear? 251

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣ Pray you, begone.

I’ll try whether my old wit be in request 252

With those that have but little. This must be patched 253

With cloth of any color. 254

COMINIUS

Nay, come away.

(Coriolanus and Cominius exit.)

PATRICIAN

This man has marred his fortune.

MENENIUS

His nature is too noble for the world. 257

He would not flatter Neptune for his trident 258

Or Jove for ’s power to thunder. His heart’s his mouth; 259

What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent, 260

And, being angry, does forget that ever 261

He heard the name of death. 262

(A noise within.)

Here’s goodly work.

PATRICIAN

I would they were abed!

MENENIUS

I would they were in Tiber. What the vengeance, 264

Could he not speak ’em fair? 265

(Enter Brutus and Sicinius with the rabble again.)

SICINIUS

Where is this viper

That would depopulate the city and 266

Be every man himself? 267

MENENIUS

You worthy tribunes—

SICINIUS

He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock 268

With rigorous hands. He hath resisted law, 269

And therefore law shall scorn him further trial 270

Than the severity of the public power 271

Which he so sets at naught. 272

FIRST CITIZEN

He shall well know

The noble tribunes are the people’s mouths 273

And we their hands. 274

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

He shall, sure on ’t.

MENENIUS

Sir, sir—

SICINIUS

Peace!

MENENIUS

Do not cry havoc where you should but hunt 278

With modest warrant. 279

SICINIUS

Sir, how comes ’t that you

Have holp to make this rescue? 280

MENENIUS

Hear me speak.

As I do know the Consul’s worthiness, 281

So can I name his faults. 282

SICINIUS

Consul? What consul?

MENENIUS

The consul Coriolanus.

BRUTUS

He consul?

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

No, no, no, no, no!

MENENIUS

If, by the Tribunes’ leave, and yours, good people, 287

I may be heard, I would crave a word or two, 288

The which shall turn you to no further harm 289

Than so much loss of time. 290

SICINIUS

Speak briefly then,

For we are peremptory to dispatch 292

This viperous traitor. To eject him hence 293

Were but one danger, and to keep him here 294

Our certain death. Therefore it is decreed 295

He dies tonight. 296

MENENIUS

Now the good gods forbid

That our renownèd Rome, whose gratitude 297

Towards her deservèd children is enrolled 298

In Jove’s own book, like an unnatural dam 299

Should now eat up her own. 300

SICINIUS

He’s a disease that must be cut away. 301

MENENIUS

O, he’s a limb that has but a disease— 302

Mortal to cut it off; to cure it easy. 303

What has he done to Rome that’s worthy death? 304

Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost— 305

Which I dare vouch is more than that he hath 306

By many an ounce—he dropped it for his country; 307

And what is left, to lose it by his country 308

Were to us all that do ’t and suffer it 309

A brand to th’ end o’ th’ world. 310

SICINIUS

This is clean cam.

BRUTUS

Merely awry. When he did love his country, 311

It honored him. 312

⸢SICINIUS⸣

The service of the foot,

Being once gangrened, is not then respected 313

For what before it was. 314

BRUTUS

We’ll hear no more.

Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence, 315

Lest his infection, being of catching nature, 316

Spread further. 317

MENENIUS

One word more, one word!

This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find 318

The harm of unscanned swiftness, will too late 319

Tie leaden pounds to ’s heels. Proceed by process, 320

Lest parties—as he is beloved—break out 321

And sack great Rome with Romans. 322

BRUTUS

If it were so—

SICINIUS

What do you talk?

Have we not had a taste of his obedience? 324

Our aediles smote! Ourselves resisted! Come. 325

MENENIUS

Consider this: he has been bred i’ th’ wars 326

Since he could draw a sword, and is ill schooled 327

In bolted language; meal and bran together 328

He throws without distinction. Give me leave, 329

I’ll go to him and undertake to bring him 330

Where he shall answer by a lawful form, 331

In peace, to his utmost peril. 332

FIRST SENATOR

Noble tribunes,

It is the humane way: the other course 333

Will prove too bloody, and the end of it 334

Unknown to the beginning. 335

SICINIUS

Noble Menenius,

Be you then as the people’s officer.— 336

Masters, lay down your weapons. 337

BRUTUS

Go not home.

SICINIUS

Meet on the marketplace. 338

⸢To Menenius.⸣ We’ll attend you there,

Where if you bring not Martius, we’ll proceed 339

In our first way. 340

MENENIUS

I’ll bring him to you.

⸢To Senators.⸣ Let me desire your company. He must come, 341

Or what is worst will follow. 342

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Pray you, let’s to him.

(All exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Coriolanus with Nobles.)

CORIOLANUS

Let them pull all about mine ears, present me 1

Death on the wheel or at wild horses’ heels, 2

Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, 3

That the precipitation might down stretch 4

Below the beam of sight, yet will I still 5

Be thus to them. 6

NOBLE

You do the nobler.

CORIOLANUS

I muse my mother

Does not approve me further, who was wont 8

To call them woolen vassals, things created 9

To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads 10

In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder 11

When one but of my ordinance stood up 12

To speak of peace or war. 13

(Enter Volumnia.)

I talk of you.

Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me 14

False to my nature? Rather say I play 15

The man I am. 16

VOLUMNIA

O sir, sir, sir,

I would have had you put your power well on 17

Before you had worn it out. 18

CORIOLANUS

Let go.

VOLUMNIA

You might have been enough the man you are 20

With striving less to be so. Lesser had been 21

The ⸢thwartings⸣ of your dispositions if 22

You had not showed them how you were disposed 23

Ere they lacked power to cross you. 24

CORIOLANUS

Let them hang!

VOLUMNIA

Ay, and burn too.

(Enter Menenius with the Senators.)

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣ Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough. 26

You must return and mend it. 27

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

There’s no remedy,

Unless, by not so doing, our good city 28

Cleave in the midst and perish. 29

VOLUMNIA

Pray be counseled.

I have a heart as little apt as yours, 30

But yet a brain that leads my use of anger 31

To better vantage. 32

MENENIUS

Well said, noble woman.

Before he should thus stoop to th’ ⸢herd⸣ —but that 33

The violent fit o’ th’ time craves it as physic 34

For the whole state—I would put mine armor on, 35

Which I can scarcely bear. 36

CORIOLANUS

What must I do?

MENENIUS

Return to th’ Tribunes. 37

CORIOLANUS

Well, what then? What then?

MENENIUS

Repent what you have spoke.

CORIOLANUS

For them? I cannot do it to the gods. 39

Must I then do ’t to them? 40

VOLUMNIA

You are too absolute,

Though therein you can never be too noble 41

But when extremities speak. I have heard you say 42

Honor and policy, like unsevered friends, 43

I’ th’ war do grow together. Grant that, and tell me 44

In peace what each of them by th’ other lose 45

That they combine not there? 46

CORIOLANUS

Tush, tush!

MENENIUS

A good demand.

VOLUMNIA

If it be honor in your wars to seem 47

The same you are not, which for your best ends 48

You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse 49

That it shall hold companionship in peace 50

With honor as in war, since that to both 51

It stands in like request? 52

CORIOLANUS

Why force you this?

VOLUMNIA

Because that now it lies you on to speak 53

To th’ people, not by your own instruction, 54

Nor by th’ matter which your heart prompts you, 55

But with such words that are but roted in 56

Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables 57

Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth. 58

Now, this no more dishonors you at all 59

Than to take in a town with gentle words, 60

Which else would put you to your fortune and 61

The hazard of much blood. 62

I would dissemble with my nature where 63

My fortunes and my friends at stake required 64

I should do so in honor. I am in this 65

Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; 66

And you will rather show our general louts 67

How you can frown than spend a fawn upon ’em 68

For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard 69

Of what that want might ruin. 70

MENENIUS

Noble lady!—

Come, go with us; speak fair. You may salve so, 71

Not what is dangerous present, but the loss 72

Of what is past. 73

VOLUMNIA

I prithee now, my son,

Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand, 74

And thus far having stretched it—here be with them— 75

Thy knee bussing the stones—for in such business 76

Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ ignorant 77

More learnèd than the ears—waving thy head, 78

Which often thus correcting thy stout heart, 79

Now humble as the ripest mulberry 80

That will not hold the handling. Or say to them 81

Thou art their soldier and, being bred in broils, 82

Hast not the soft way, which thou dost confess 83

Were fit for thee to use as they to claim, 84

In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame 85

Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far 86

As thou hast power and person. 87

MENENIUS

This but done

Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours; 88

For they have pardons, being asked, as free 89

As words to little purpose. 90

VOLUMNIA

Prithee now,

Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather 91

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf 92

Than flatter him in a bower. 93

(Enter Cominius.)

Here is Cominius.

COMINIUS

I have been i’ th’ marketplace; and, sir, ’tis fit 94

You make strong party or defend yourself 95

By calmness or by absence. All’s in anger. 96

MENENIUS

Only fair speech. 97

COMINIUS

I think ’twill serve, if he

Can thereto frame his spirit. 98

VOLUMNIA

He must, and will.—

Prithee, now, say you will, and go about it. 99

CORIOLANUS

Must I go show them my unbarbèd sconce? Must I 100

With my base tongue give to my noble heart 101

A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do ’t. 102

Yet, were there but this single plot to lose, 103

This mold of Martius, they to dust should grind it 104

And throw ’t against the wind. To th’ marketplace! 105

You have put me now to such a part which never 106

I shall discharge to th’ life. 107

COMINIUS

Come, come, we’ll prompt you.

VOLUMNIA

I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said 108

My praises made thee first a soldier, so, 109

To have my praise for this, perform a part 110

Thou hast not done before. 111

CORIOLANUS

Well, I must do ’t.

Away, my disposition, and possess me 112

Some harlot’s spirit! My throat of war be turned, 113

Which choirèd with my drum, into a pipe 114

Small as an eunuch or the virgin voice 115

That babies lull asleep! The smiles of knaves 116

Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys’ tears take up 117

The glasses of my sight! A beggar’s tongue 118

Make motion through my lips, and my armed knees, 119

Who bowed but in my stirrup, bend like his 120

That hath received an alms. I will not do ’t, 121

Lest I surcease to honor mine own truth 122

And, by my body’s action, teach my mind 123

A most inherent baseness. 124

VOLUMNIA

At thy choice, then.

To beg of thee, it is my more dishonor 125

Than thou of them. Come all to ruin. Let 126

Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear 127

Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death 128

With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list. 129

Thy valiantness was mine; thou suck’st it from me, 130

But owe thy pride thyself. 131

CORIOLANUS

Pray be content.

Mother, I am going to the marketplace. 132

Chide me no more. I’ll mountebank their loves, 133

Cog their hearts from them, and come home beloved 134

Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going. 135

Commend me to my wife. I’ll return consul, 136

Or never trust to what my tongue can do 137

I’ th’ way of flattery further. 138

VOLUMNIA

Do your will.

(Volumnia exits.)

COMINIUS

Away! The Tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself 139

To answer mildly, for they are prepared 140

With accusations, as I hear, more strong 141

Than are upon you yet. 142

CORIOLANUS

The word is “mildly.” Pray you, let us go. 143

Let them accuse me by invention, I 144

Will answer in mine honor. 145

MENENIUS

Ay, but mildly.

CORIOLANUS

Well, mildly be it, then. Mildly.

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Sicinius and Brutus.)

BRUTUS

In this point charge him home, that he affects 1

Tyrannical power. If he evade us there, 2

Enforce him with his envy to the people, 3

And that the spoil got on the Antiates 4

Was ne’er distributed. 5

(Enter an Aedile.)

What, will he come?

AEDILE

He’s coming.

BRUTUS

How accompanied?

AEDILE

With old Menenius, and those senators 8

That always favored him. 9

SICINIUS

Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procured, 10

Set down by th’ poll? 11

AEDILE

I have. ’Tis ready.

SICINIUS

Have you collected them by tribes? 12

AEDILE

I have.

SICINIUS

Assemble presently the people hither; 13

And when they hear me say “It shall be so 14

I’ th’ right and strength o’ th’ commons,” be it either 15

For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them 16

If I say “Fine,” cry “Fine,” if “Death,” cry “Death,” 17

Insisting on the old prerogative 18

And power i’ th’ truth o’ th’ cause. 19

AEDILE

I shall inform them.

BRUTUS

And when such time they have begun to cry, 20

Let them not cease, but with a din confused 21

Enforce the present execution 22

Of what we chance to sentence. 23

AEDILE

Very well.

SICINIUS

Make them be strong and ready for this hint 24

When we shall hap to give ’t them. 25

BRUTUS

Go about it.

(⸢Aedile exits.⸣)

Put him to choler straight. He hath been used 26

Ever to conquer and to have his worth 27

Of contradiction. Being once chafed, he cannot 28

Be reined again to temperance; then he speaks 29

What’s in his heart, and that is there which looks 30

With us to break his neck. 31

(Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius, with others ⸢(Senators).⸣)

SICINIUS

Well, here he comes.

MENENIUS

⸢aside to Coriolanus⸣ Calmly, I do beseech you.

CORIOLANUS

⸢aside to Menenius⸣ Ay, as an hostler that ⸢for th’⸣ poorest piece 33

Will bear the knave by th’ volume.—Th’ honored gods 34

Keep Rome in safety and the chairs of justice 35

Supplied with worthy men! Plant love among ’s! 36

⸢Throng⸣ our large temples with the shows of peace 37

And not our streets with war! 38

FIRST SENATOR

Amen, amen.

MENENIUS

A noble wish.

(Enter the Aedile with the Plebeians.)

SICINIUS

Draw near, you people.

AEDILE

List to your tribunes. Audience! Peace, I say! 41

CORIOLANUS

First, hear me speak.

BOTH TRIBUNES

Well, say.—Peace, ho!

CORIOLANUS

Shall I be charged no further than this present? 44

Must all determine here? 45

SICINIUS

I do demand

If you submit you to the people’s voices, 46

Allow their officers, and are content 47

To suffer lawful censure for such faults 48

As shall be proved upon you. 49

CORIOLANUS

I am content.

MENENIUS

Lo, citizens, he says he is content. 50

The warlike service he has done, consider. Think 51

Upon the wounds his body bears, which show 52

Like graves i’ th’ holy churchyard. 53

CORIOLANUS

Scratches with briars,

Scars to move laughter only. 54

MENENIUS

Consider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen, 55

You find him like a soldier. Do not take 56

His rougher ⸢accents⸣ for malicious sounds, 57

But, as I say, such as become a soldier 58

Rather than envy you. 59

COMINIUS

Well, well, no more.

CORIOLANUS

What is the matter,

That, being passed for consul with full voice, 61

I am so dishonored that the very hour 62

You take it off again? 63

SICINIUS

Answer to us.

CORIOLANUS

Say then. ’Tis true, I ought so.

SICINIUS

We charge you that you have contrived to take 66

From Rome all seasoned office and to wind 67

Yourself into a power tyrannical, 68

For which you are a traitor to the people. 69

CORIOLANUS

How? Traitor? 70

MENENIUS

Nay, temperately! Your promise.

CORIOLANUS

The fires i’ th’ lowest hell fold in the people! 71

Call me their traitor? Thou injurious tribune! 72

Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, 73

In thy hands clutched as many millions, in 74

Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say 75

“Thou liest” unto thee with a voice as free 76

As I do pray the gods. 77

SICINIUS

Mark you this, people?

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

To th’ rock, to th’ rock with him!

SICINIUS

Peace!

We need not put new matter to his charge. 80

What you have seen him do and heard him speak, 81

Beating your officers, cursing yourselves, 82

Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying 83

Those whose great power must try him—even this, 84

So criminal and in such capital kind, 85

Deserves th’ extremest death. 86

BRUTUS

But since he hath

Served well for Rome— 87

CORIOLANUS

What do you prate of service?

BRUTUS

I talk of that that know it.

CORIOLANUS

You?

MENENIUS

Is this the promise that you made your mother? 90

COMINIUS

Know, I pray you—

CORIOLANUS

I’ll know no further.

Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, 93

Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger 94

But with a grain a day, I would not buy 95

Their mercy at the price of one fair word, 96

Nor check my courage for what they can give, 97

To have ’t with saying “Good morrow.” 98

SICINIUS

For that he has,

As much as in him lies, from time to time 99

Envied against the people, seeking means 100

To pluck away their power, as now at last 101

Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence 102

Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers 103

That doth distribute it, in the name o’ th’ people 104

And in the power of us the Tribunes, we, 105

Even from this instant, banish him our city 106

In peril of precipitation 107

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more 108

To enter our Rome gates. I’ th’ people’s name, 109

I say it shall be so. 110

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

It shall be so, it shall be so! Let him away! 111

He’s banished, and it shall be so. 112

COMINIUS

Hear me, my masters and my common friends— 113

SICINIUS

He’s sentenced. No more hearing. 114

COMINIUS

Let me speak.

I have been consul and can show ⸢for⸣ Rome 115

Her enemies’ marks upon me. I do love 116

My country’s good with a respect more tender, 117

More holy and profound, than mine own life, 118

My dear wife’s estimate, her womb’s increase, 119

And treasure of my loins. Then if I would 120

Speak that— 121

SICINIUS

We know your drift. Speak what?

BRUTUS

There’s no more to be said, but he is banished 122

As enemy to the people and his country. 123

It shall be so. 124

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

It shall be so, it shall be so!

CORIOLANUS

You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate 125

As reek o’ th’ rotten fens, whose loves I prize 126

As the dead carcasses of unburied men 127

That do corrupt my air, I banish you! 128

And here remain with your uncertainty; 129

Let every feeble rumor shake your hearts; 130

Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, 131

Fan you into despair! Have the power still 132

To banish your defenders, till at length 133

Your ignorance—which finds not till it feels, 134

Making but reservation of yourselves, 135

Still your own foes—deliver you 136

As most abated captives to some nation 137

That won you without blows! Despising 138

For you the city, thus I turn my back. 139

There is a world elsewhere. 140

(Coriolanus, Cominius, with others ⸢(Senators)⸣ exit.)

AEDILE

The people’s enemy is gone, is gone. 141

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

Our enemy is banished; he is gone. Hoo, hoo! 142

(They all shout and throw up their caps.)

SICINIUS

Go see him out at gates, and follow him, 143

As he hath followed you, with all despite. 144

Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard 145

Attend us through the city. 146

Come, come, let’s see him out at gates! Come! 147

The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come! 148

(They exit.)

Act 4

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, with the young nobility of Rome.)

CORIOLANUS

Come, leave your tears. A brief farewell. The beast 1

With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother, 2

Where is your ancient courage? You were used 3

To say extremities was the trier of spirits; 4

That common chances common men could bear; 5

That when the sea was calm, all boats alike 6

Showed mastership in floating; fortune’s blows 7

When most struck home, being gentle wounded craves 8

A noble cunning. You were used to load me 9

With precepts that would make invincible 10

The heart that conned them. 11

VIRGILIA

O heavens! O heavens! 12

CORIOLANUS

Nay, I prithee, woman—

VOLUMNIA

Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, 13

And occupations perish! 14

CORIOLANUS

What, what, what!

I shall be loved when I am lacked. Nay, mother, 15

Resume that spirit when you were wont to say 16

If you had been the wife of Hercules, 17

Six of his labors you’d have done and saved 18

Your husband so much sweat.—Cominius, 19

Droop not. Adieu.—Farewell, my wife, my mother. 20

I’ll do well yet.—Thou old and true Menenius, 21

Thy tears are salter than a younger man’s 22

And venomous to thine eyes.—My sometime general, 23

I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld 24

Heart-hard’ning spectacles. Tell these sad women 25

’Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes 26

As ’tis to laugh at ’em.—My mother, you wot well 27

My hazards still have been your solace, and— 28

Believe ’t not lightly—though I go alone, 29

Like to a lonely dragon that his fen 30

Makes feared and talked of more than seen, your son 31

Will or exceed the common or be caught 32

With cautelous baits and practice. 33

VOLUMNIA

My first son,

Whither ⸢wilt⸣ thou go? Take good Cominius 34

With thee awhile. Determine on some course 35

More than a wild exposure to each chance 36

That starts i’ th’ way before thee. 37

⸢VIRGILIA⸣

O the gods!

COMINIUS

I’ll follow thee a month, devise with thee 38

Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us 39

And we of thee; so if the time thrust forth 40

A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send 41

O’er the vast world to seek a single man 42

And lose advantage, which doth ever cool 43

I’ th’ absence of the needer. 44

CORIOLANUS

Fare you well.

Thou hast years upon thee, and thou art too full 45

Of the wars’ surfeits to go rove with one 46

That’s yet unbruised. Bring me but out at gate.— 47

Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and 48

My friends of noble touch. When I am forth, 49

Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come. 50

While I remain above the ground, you shall 51

Hear from me still, and never of me aught 52

But what is like me formerly. 53

MENENIUS

That’s worthily

As any ear can hear. Come, let’s not weep. 54

If I could shake off but one seven years 55

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, 56

I’d with thee every foot. 57

CORIOLANUS

Give me thy hand.

Come. 58

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius, and Brutus, with the Aedile.)

SICINIUS

Bid them all home. He’s gone, and we’ll no further. 1

The nobility are vexed, whom we see have sided 2

In his behalf. 3

BRUTUS

Now we have shown our power,

Let us seem humbler after it is done 4

Than when it was a-doing. 5

SICINIUS

Bid them home.

Say their great enemy is gone, and they 6

Stand in their ancient strength. 7

BRUTUS

Dismiss them home.

(⸢Aedile exits.⸣)

Here comes his mother. 8

(Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.)

SICINIUS

Let’s not meet her.

BRUTUS

Why?

SICINIUS

They say she’s mad.

BRUTUS

They have ta’en note of us. Keep on your way. 12

VOLUMNIA

O, you’re well met. The hoarded plague o’ th’ gods 13

Requite your love! 14

MENENIUS

Peace, peace! Be not so loud.

VOLUMNIA

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ If that I could for weeping, you should hear— 15

Nay, and you shall hear some. 16

⸢(To Sicinius.)⸣ Will you be gone?

VIRGILIA

⸢to Brutus⸣ You shall stay too. I would I had the power 17

To say so to my husband. 18

SICINIUS

⸢to Volumnia⸣ Are you mankind?

VOLUMNIA

Ay, fool, is that a shame? Note but this, fool. 19

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship 20

To banish him that struck more blows for Rome 21

Than thou hast spoken words? 22

SICINIUS

O blessèd heavens!

VOLUMNIA

More noble blows than ever thou wise words, 23

And for Rome’s good. I’ll tell thee what—yet go. 24

Nay, but thou shalt stay too. I would my son 25

Were in Arabia and thy tribe before him, 26

His good sword in his hand. 27

SICINIUS

What then?

VIRGILIA

What then?

He’d make an end of thy posterity. 28

VOLUMNIA

Bastards and all.

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! 30

MENENIUS

Come, come, peace.

SICINIUS

I would he had continued to his country 32

As he began, and not unknit himself 33

The noble knot he made. 34

BRUTUS

I would he had.

VOLUMNIA

“I would he had”? ’Twas you incensed the rabble. 35

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth 36

As I can of those mysteries which heaven 37

Will not have Earth to know. 38

BRUTUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣ Pray, let’s go.

VOLUMNIA

Now, pray, sir, get you gone.

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this: 40

As far as doth the Capitol exceed 41

The meanest house in Rome, so far my son— 42

This lady’s husband here, this, do you see?— 43

Whom you have banished, does exceed you all. 44

BRUTUS

Well, well, we’ll leave you. 45

SICINIUS

Why stay we to be baited

With one that wants her wits? 46

(Tribunes exit.)

VOLUMNIA

Take my prayers with you.

I would the gods had nothing else to do 47

But to confirm my curses. Could I meet ’em 48

But once a day, it would unclog my heart 49

Of what lies heavy to ’t. 50

MENENIUS

You have told them home,

And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me? 51

VOLUMNIA

Anger’s my meat. I sup upon myself 52

And so shall starve with feeding. 53

⸢(To Virgilia.)⸣ Come, let’s go.

Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, 54

In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. 55

(They exit.)

MENENIUS

Fie, fie, fie!

(He exits.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter a Roman ⸢(Nicanor)⸣ and a Volsce ⸢(Adrian).⸣)

ROMAN

I know you well, sir, and you know me. Your name I think is Adrian.

VOLSCE

It is so, sir. Truly, I have forgot you.

ROMAN

I am a Roman, and my services are, as you are, against ’em. Know you me yet?

VOLSCE

Nicanor, no?

ROMAN

The same, sir.

VOLSCE

You had more beard when I last saw you, but your favor is well ⸢approved⸣ by your tongue. What’s the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state to find you out there. You have well saved me a day’s journey.

ROMAN

There hath been in Rome strange insurrections, the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

VOLSCE

Hath been? Is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so. They are in a most warlike preparation and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

ROMAN

The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people and to pluck from them their tribunes forever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

VOLSCE

Coriolanus banished?

ROMAN

Banished, sir.

VOLSCE

You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

ROMAN

The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said the fittest time to corrupt a man’s wife is when she’s fall’n out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius ⸢will⸣ appear well in these wars, his great opposer Coriolanus being now in no request of his country.

VOLSCE

He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.

ROMAN

I shall between this and supper tell you most strange things from Rome, all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

VOLSCE

A most royal one. The centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in th’ entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour’s warning.

ROMAN

I am joyful to hear of their readiness and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

VOLSCE

You take my part from me, sir. I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

ROMAN

Well, let us go together.

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised, and muffled.)

CORIOLANUS

A goodly city is this Antium. City, 1

’Tis I that made thy widows. Many an heir 2

Of these fair edifices ’fore my wars 3

Have I heard groan and drop. Then, know me not, 4

Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones 5

In puny battle slay me. 6

(Enter a Citizen.)

Save you, sir.

CITIZEN

And you. 7

CORIOLANUS

Direct me, if it be your will,

Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium? 8

CITIZEN

He is, and feasts the nobles of the state 9

At his house this night. 10

CORIOLANUS

Which is his house, beseech you?

CITIZEN

This here before you. 11

CORIOLANUS

Thank you, sir. Farewell.

(Citizen exits.)

O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, 12

Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart, 13

Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise 14

Are still together, who twin, as ’twere, in love 15

Unseparable, shall within this hour, 16

On a dissension of a doit, break out 17

To bitterest enmity; so fellest foes, 18

Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep 19

To take the one the other, by some chance, 20

Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends 21

And interjoin their issues. So with me: 22

My birthplace ⸢hate⸣ I, and my love’s upon 23

This enemy town. I’ll enter. If he slay me, 24

He does fair justice; if he give me way, 25

I’ll do his country service. 26

(He exits.)

⸢Scene 5⸣

(Music plays. Enter a Servingman.)

FIRST SERVINGMAN

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

(⸢He exits.⸣)

(Enter another Servingman.)

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Where’s Cotus? My master calls for him. Cotus!

(He exits.)

(Enter Coriolanus.)

CORIOLANUS

A goodly house. The feast smells well, but I 3

Appear not like a guest. 4

(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.

(He exits.)

CORIOLANUS

I have deserved no better entertainment 6

In being Coriolanus. 7

(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 th’ art troublesome.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.

(Enter Third Servingman; the First, ⸢entering,⸣ meets him.)

THIRD SERVINGMAN

What fellow’s this?

FIRST SERVINGMAN

A strange one as ever I looked on. I cannot get him out o’ th’ house. Prithee, call my master to him.

(⸢He steps aside.⸣)

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 marv’llous 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 from him.)

THIRD SERVINGMAN

What, you will not?—Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

And I shall.

(Second Servingman exits.)

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Where dwell’st thou?

CORIOLANUS

Under the canopy.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Under the canopy?

CORIOLANUS

Ay.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Where’s that?

CORIOLANUS

I’ th’ city of kites and crows.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

I’ th’ city of kites and crows? What an ass it is! Then thou dwell’st 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 prat’st and prat’st. Serve with thy trencher. Hence!

(Beats him away.)

(⸢Third Servingman exits.⸣)

(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.

(⸢He steps aside.⸣)

AUFIDIUS

Whence com’st thou? What wouldst thou? Thy name? Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name?

CORIOLANUS

⸢removing his muffler⸣ If, Tullus,

Not yet thou know’st me, and seeing me, dost not 39

Think me for the man I am, necessity 40

Commands me name myself. 41

AUFIDIUS

What is thy name?

CORIOLANUS

A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears 42

And harsh in sound to thine. 43

AUFIDIUS

Say, what’s thy name?

Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face 44

Bears a command in ’t. Though thy tackle’s torn, 45

Thou show’st a noble vessel. What’s thy name? 46

CORIOLANUS

Prepare thy brow to frown. Know’st thou me yet? 47

AUFIDIUS

I know thee not. Thy name?

CORIOLANUS

My name is Caius Martius, who hath done 49

To thee particularly and to all the Volsces 50

Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may 51

My surname Coriolanus. The painful service, 52

The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood 53

Shed for my thankless country are requited 54

But with that surname, a good memory 55

And witness of the malice and displeasure 56

Which thou shouldst bear me. Only that name remains. 57

The cruelty and envy of the people, 58

Permitted by our dastard nobles, who 59

Have all forsook me, hath devoured the rest, 60

And suffered me by th’ voice of slaves to be 61

⸢Whooped⸣ out of Rome. Now this extremity 62

Hath brought me to thy hearth, not out of hope— 63

Mistake me not—to save my life; for if 64

I had feared death, of all the men i’ th’ world 65

I would have ’voided thee, but in mere spite, 66

To be full quit of those my banishers, 67

Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast 68

A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge 69

Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims 70

Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight 71

And make my misery serve thy turn. So use it 72

That my revengeful services may prove 73

As benefits to thee, for I will fight 74

Against my cankered country with the spleen 75

Of all the under fiends. But if so be 76

Thou dar’st not this, and that to prove more fortunes 77

Thou ’rt tired, then, in a word, I also am 78

Longer to live most weary, and present 79

My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice, 80

Which not to cut would show thee but a fool, 81

Since I have ever followed thee with hate, 82

Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country’s breast, 83

And cannot live but to thy shame, unless 84

It be to do thee service. 85

AUFIDIUS

O Martius, Martius,

Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart 86

A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter 87

Should from yond cloud speak divine things 88

And say ’tis true, I’d not believe them more 89

Than thee, all-noble Martius. Let me twine 90

Mine arms about that body, whereagainst 91

My grainèd ash an hundred times hath broke 92

And scarred the moon with splinters. 93

(⸢They embrace.⸣)

Here I clip

The anvil of my sword and do contest 94

As hotly and as nobly with thy love 95

As ever in ambitious strength I did 96

Contend against thy valor. Know thou first, 97

I loved the maid I married; never man 98

Sighed truer breath. But that I see thee here, 99

Thou noble thing, more dances my rapt heart 100

Than when I first my wedded mistress saw 101

Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars, I tell thee 102

We have a power on foot, and I had purpose 103

Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn 104

Or lose mine arm for ’t. Thou hast beat me out 105

Twelve several times, and I have nightly since 106

Dreamt of encounters ’twixt thyself and me; 107

We have been down together in my sleep, 108

Unbuckling helms, fisting each other’s throat, 109

And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius, 110

Had we no other quarrel else to Rome but that 111

Thou art thence banished, we would muster all 112

From twelve to seventy and, pouring war 113

Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome, 114

Like a bold flood ⸢o’erbear ’t.⸣ O, come, go in, 115

And take our friendly senators by th’ hands, 116

Who now are here, taking their leaves of me, 117

Who am prepared against your territories, 118

Though not for Rome itself. 119

CORIOLANUS

You bless me, gods!

AUFIDIUS

Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have 120

The leading of thine own revenges, take 121

Th’ one half of my commission and set down— 122

As best thou art experienced, since thou know’st 123

Thy country’s strength and weakness—thine own ways, 124

Whether to knock against the gates of Rome, 125

Or rudely visit them in parts remote 126

To fright them ere destroy. But come in. 127

Let me commend thee first to those that shall 128

Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! 129

And more a friend than ere an enemy— 130

Yet, Martius, that was much. Your hand. Most welcome! 131

(⸢Coriolanus and Aufidius⸣ exit.)

(Two of the Servingmen ⸢come forward.⸣)

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Here’s a strange alteration!

SECOND SERVINGMAN

By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel, and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb as one would set up a top.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him. He had, sir, a kind of face, methought—I cannot tell how to term it.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

He had so, looking as it were— Would I were hanged but I thought there was more in him than I could think.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

So did I, I’ll be sworn. He is simply the rarest man i’ th’ world.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

I think he is. But a greater soldier than he you wot one.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Who, my master?

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Nay, it’s no matter for that.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Worth six on him.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Nay, not so neither. But I take him to be the greater soldier.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that. For the defense of a town our general is excellent.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Ay, and for an assault too.

(Enter the Third Servingman.)

THIRD SERVINGMAN

O slaves, I can tell you news, news, you rascals!

BOTH

What, what, what? Let’s partake!

THIRD SERVINGMAN

I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lief be a condemned man.

BOTH

Wherefore? Wherefore?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Why, here’s he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Martius.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Why do you say “thwack our general”?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

I do not say “thwack our general,” but he was always good enough for him.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Come, we are fellows and friends. He was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

He was too hard for him directly, to say the truth on ’t, before Corioles; he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

An he had been cannibally given, he might have boiled and eaten him too.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

But, more of thy news.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Why, he is so made on here within as if he were son and heir to Mars; set at upper end o’ th’ table; no question asked him by any of the senators but they stand bald before him. Our general himself makes a mistress of him, sanctifies himself with ’s hand, and turns up the white o’ th’eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i’ th’ middle and but one half of what he was yesterday, for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He’ll go, he says, and sowl the porter of Rome gates by th’ears. He will mow all down before him and leave his passage polled.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

And he’s as like to do ’t as any man I can imagine.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Do ’t? He will do ’t! For, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies, which friends, sir, as it were, durst not, look you, sir, show themselves, as we term it, his friends whilest he’s in directitude.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Directitude? What’s that?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows like coneys after rain, and revel all with him.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

But when goes this forward?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Tomorrow, today, presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon. ’Tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Why then, we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Let me have war, say I. It exceeds peace as far as day does night. It’s sprightly walking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, ⸢sleepy ,⸣ insensible; a getter of more bastard children than war’s a destroyer of men.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

’Tis so, and as wars in some sort may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Ay, and it makes men hate one another.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

Reason: because they then less need one another. The wars for my money! I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volscians. ⸢(Noise within.)⸣ They are rising; they are rising.

⸢FIRST AND SECOND SERVINGMEN⸣

In, in, in, in!

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 6⸣

(Enter the two Tribunes. Sicinius and Brutus.)

SICINIUS

We hear not of him, neither need we fear him. 1

His remedies are tame—the present peace, 2

And quietness of the people, which before 3

Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends 4

Blush that the world goes well, who rather had, 5

Though they themselves did suffer by ’t, behold 6

Dissentious numbers pest’ring streets than see 7

Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going 8

About their functions friendly. 9

BRUTUS

We stood to ’t in good time. 10

(Enter Menenius.)

Is this Menenius?

SICINIUS

’Tis he, ’tis he. O, he is grown most kind 11

Of late.—Hail, sir. 12

MENENIUS

Hail to you both.

SICINIUS

Your Coriolanus is not much missed 13

But with his friends. The commonwealth doth stand, 14

And so would do were he more angry at it. 15

MENENIUS

All’s well, and might have been much better if 16

He could have temporized. 17

SICINIUS

Where is he, hear you?

MENENIUS

Nay, I hear nothing;

His mother and his wife hear nothing from him. 20

(Enter three or four Citizens.)

ALL ⸢CITIZENS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ The gods preserve you both! 21

SICINIUS

Good e’en, our neighbors.

BRUTUS

Good e’en to you all, good e’en to you all. 22

FIRST CITIZEN

Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees 23

Are bound to pray for you both. 24

SICINIUS

Live, and thrive!

BRUTUS

Farewell, kind neighbors. We wished Coriolanus 25

Had loved you as we did. 26

ALL ⸢CITIZENS⸣

Now the gods keep you!

BOTH TRIBUNES

Farewell, farewell.

(Citizens exit.)

SICINIUS

This is a happier and more comely time 28

Than when these fellows ran about the streets 29

Crying confusion. 30

BRUTUS

Caius Martius was

A worthy officer i’ th’ war, but insolent, 31

O’ercome with pride, ambitious, past all thinking 32

Self-loving. 33

SICINIUS

And affecting one sole throne, without assistance. 34

MENENIUS

I think not so.

SICINIUS

We should by this, to all our lamentation, 36

If he had gone forth consul, found it so. 37

BRUTUS

The gods have well prevented it, and Rome 38

Sits safe and still without him. 39

(Enter an Aedile.)

AEDILE

Worthy tribunes,

There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, 40

Reports the Volsces with two several powers 41

Are entered in the Roman territories, 42

And with the deepest malice of the war 43

Destroy what lies before ’em. 44

MENENIUS

’Tis Aufidius,

Who, hearing of our Martius’ banishment, 45

Thrusts forth his horns again into the world, 46

Which were inshelled when Martius stood for Rome, 47

And durst not once peep out. 48

SICINIUS

Come, what talk you of Martius?

BRUTUS

Go see this rumorer whipped. It cannot be 50

The Volsces dare break with us. 51

MENENIUS

Cannot be?

We have record that very well it can, 52

And three examples of the like hath been 53

Within my age. But reason with the fellow 54

Before you punish him, where he heard this, 55

Lest you shall chance to whip your information 56

And beat the messenger who bids beware 57

Of what is to be dreaded. 58

SICINIUS

Tell not me.

I know this cannot be. 59

BRUTUS

Not possible.

(Enter a Messenger.)

MESSENGER

The nobles in great earnestness are going 60

All to the Senate House. Some news is coming 61

That turns their countenances. 62

SICINIUS

’Tis this slave—

Go whip him ’fore the people’s eyes—his raising, 63

Nothing but his report. 64

MESSENGER

Yes, worthy sir,

The slave’s report is seconded, and more, 65

More fearful, is delivered. 66

SICINIUS

What more fearful?

MESSENGER

It is spoke freely out of many mouths— 67

How probable I do not know—that Martius, 68

Joined with Aufidius, leads a power ’gainst Rome 69

And vows revenge as spacious as between 70

The young’st and oldest thing. 71

SICINIUS

This is most likely!

BRUTUS

Raised only that the weaker sort may wish 72

Good Martius home again. 73

SICINIUS

The very trick on ’t.

MENENIUS

This is unlikely;

He and Aufidius can no more atone 76

Than violent’st contrariety. 77

(Enter ⸢a Second⸣ Messenger.)

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

You are sent for to the Senate.

A fearful army, led by Caius Martius 79

Associated with Aufidius, rages 80

Upon our territories, and have already 81

O’erborne their way, consumed with fire and took 82

What lay before them. 83

(Enter Cominius.)

COMINIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ O, you have made good work!

MENENIUS

What news? What news?

COMINIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ You have holp to ravish your own daughters and 86

To melt the city leads upon your pates, 87

To see your wives dishonored to your noses— 88

MENENIUS

What’s the news? What’s the news?

COMINIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ Your temples burnèd in their cement, and 90

Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined 91

Into an auger’s bore. 92

MENENIUS

Pray now, your news?—

You have made fair work, I fear me.—Pray, your news? 93

If Martius should be joined with Volscians— 94

COMINIUS

If?

He is their god; he leads them like a thing 95

Made by some other deity than Nature, 96

That shapes man better; and they follow him 97

Against us brats with no less confidence 98

Than boys pursuing summer butterflies 99

Or butchers killing flies. 100

MENENIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ You have made good work,

You and your apron-men, you that stood so much 102

Upon the voice of occupation and 103

The breath of garlic eaters! 104

COMINIUS

He’ll shake your Rome about your ears. 105

MENENIUS

As Hercules did shake down mellow fruit. 106

You have made fair work. 107

BRUTUS

But is this true, sir?

COMINIUS

Ay, and you’ll look pale

Before you find it other. All the regions 110

Do smilingly revolt, and who resists 111

Are mocked for valiant ignorance 112

And perish constant fools. Who is ’t can blame him? 113

Your enemies and his find something in him. 114

MENENIUS

We are all undone, unless

The noble man have mercy. 116

COMINIUS

Who shall ask it?

The Tribunes cannot do ’t for shame; the people 117

Deserve such pity of him as the wolf 118

Does of the shepherds. For his best friends, if they 119

Should say “Be good to Rome,” they charged him even 120

As those should do that had deserved his hate 121

And therein showed like enemies. 122

MENENIUS

’Tis true.

If he were putting to my house the brand 123

That should consume it, I have not the face 124

To say “Beseech you, cease.”—You have made fair hands, 125

You and your crafts! You have crafted fair! 126

COMINIUS

You have brought

A trembling upon Rome such as was never 127

S’ incapable of help. 128

TRIBUNES

Say not we brought it.

MENENIUS

How? Was ’t we? We loved him, but like beasts 129

And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters, 130

Who did hoot him out o’ th’ city. 131

COMINIUS

But I fear

They’ll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, 132

The second name of men, obeys his points 133

As if he were his officer. Desperation 134

Is all the policy, strength, and defense 135

That Rome can make against them. 136

(Enter a troop of Citizens.)

MENENIUS

Here come the clusters.—

And is Aufidius with him? You are they 137

That made the air unwholesome when you cast 138

Your stinking, greasy caps in hooting at 139

Coriolanus’ exile. Now he’s coming, 140

And not a hair upon a soldier’s head 141

Which will not prove a whip. As many coxcombs 142

As you threw caps up will he tumble down 143

And pay you for your voices. ’Tis no matter. 144

If he could burn us all into one coal, 145

We have deserved it. 146

ALL ⸢CITIZENS⸣

Faith, we hear fearful news.

FIRST CITIZEN

For mine own part,

When I said banish him, I said ’twas pity. 149

SECOND CITIZEN

And so did I.

THIRD CITIZEN

And so did I. And, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did we did for the best; and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will.

COMINIUS

You’re goodly things, you voices!

MENENIUS

You have made good work, you and your cry!— 153

Shall ’s to the Capitol? 154

COMINIUS

O, ay, what else?

(Both exit.)

SICINIUS

Go, masters, get you home. Be not dismayed. 155

These are a side that would be glad to have 156

This true which they so seem to fear. Go home, 157

And show no sign of fear. 158

FIRST CITIZEN

The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let’s home. I ever said we were i’ th’ wrong when we banished him.

SECOND CITIZEN

So did we all. But, come, let’s home.

(Citizens exit.)

BRUTUS

I do not like this news.

SICINIUS

Nor I.

BRUTUS

Let’s to the Capitol. Would half my wealth 163

Would buy this for a lie. 164

SICINIUS

Pray, let’s go.

(Tribunes exit.)

⸢Scene 7⸣

(Enter Aufidius with his Lieutenant.)

AUFIDIUS

Do they still fly to th’ Roman?

LIEUTENANT

I do not know what witchcraft’s in him, but 2

Your soldiers use him as the grace ’fore meat, 3

Their talk at table, and their thanks at end; 4

And you are dark’ned in this action, sir, 5

Even by your own. 6

AUFIDIUS

I cannot help it now,

Unless by using means I lame the foot 7

Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier, 8

Even to my person, than I thought he would 9

When first I did embrace him. Yet his nature 10

In that’s no changeling, and I must excuse 11

What cannot be amended. 12

LIEUTENANT

Yet I wish, sir—

I mean for your particular—you had not 13

Joined in commission with him, but either 14

Have borne the action of yourself or else 15

To him had left it solely. 16

AUFIDIUS

I understand thee well, and be thou sure, 17

When he shall come to his account, he knows not 18

What I can urge against him, although it seems, 19

And so he thinks and is no less apparent 20

To th’ vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly, 21

And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state, 22

Fights dragonlike, and does achieve as soon 23

As draw his sword; yet he hath left undone 24

That which shall break his neck or hazard mine 25

Whene’er we come to our account. 26

LIEUTENANT

Sir, I beseech you, think you he’ll carry Rome? 27

AUFIDIUS

All places yields to him ere he sits down, 28

And the nobility of Rome are his; 29

The Senators and Patricians love him too. 30

The Tribunes are no soldiers, and their people 31

Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty 32

To expel him thence. I think he’ll be to Rome 33

As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it 34

By sovereignty of nature. First, he was 35

A noble servant to them, but he could not 36

Carry his honors even. Whether ⸢’twas⸣ pride, 37

Which out of daily fortune ever taints 38

The happy man; whether ⸢defect⸣ of judgment, 39

To fail in the disposing of those chances 40

Which he was lord of; or whether nature, 41

Not to be other than one thing, not moving 42

From th’ casque to th’ cushion, but commanding peace 43

Even with the same austerity and garb 44

As he controlled the war; but one of these— 45

As he hath spices of them all—not all, 46

For I dare so far free him—made him feared, 47

So hated, and so banished. But he has a merit 48

To choke it in the utt’rance. So our ⸢virtues⸣ 49

Lie in th’ interpretation of the time, 50

And power, unto itself most commendable, 51

Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair 52

T’ extol what it hath done. 53

One fire drives out one fire, one nail one nail; 54

Rights by rights ⸢falter⸣ ; strengths by strengths do fail. 55

Come, let’s away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, 56

Thou art poor’st of all; then shortly art thou mine. 57

(They exit.)

Act 5

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus (the two Tribunes), with others.)

MENENIUS

No, I’ll not go. You hear what he hath said 1

Which was sometime his general, who loved him 2

In a most dear particular. He called me father, 3

But what o’ that? Go you that banished him; 4

A mile before his tent, fall down, and knee 5

The way into his mercy. Nay, if he coyed 6

To hear Cominius speak, I’ll keep at home. 7

COMINIUS

He would not seem to know me. 8

MENENIUS

Do you hear?

COMINIUS

Yet one time he did call me by my name. 9

I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops 10

That we have bled together. “Coriolanus” 11

He would not answer to, forbade all names. 12

He was a kind of nothing, titleless, 13

Till he had forged himself a name o’ th’ fire 14

Of burning Rome. 15

MENENIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣ Why, so; you have made good work!

A pair of tribunes that have wracked Rome 16

To make coals cheap! A noble memory! 17

COMINIUS

I minded him how royal ’twas to pardon 18

When it was less expected. He replied 19

It was a bare petition of a state 20

To one whom they had punished. 21

MENENIUS

Very well.

Could he say less? 22

COMINIUS

I offered to awaken his regard 23

For ’s private friends. His answer to me was 24

He could not stay to pick them in a pile 25

Of noisome musty chaff. He said ’twas folly 26

For one poor grain or two to leave unburnt 27

And still to nose th’ offense. 28

MENENIUS

For one poor grain or two!

I am one of those! His mother, wife, his child, 30

And this brave fellow too, we are the grains; 31

You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt 32

Above the moon. We must be burnt for you. 33

SICINIUS

Nay, pray, be patient. If you refuse your aid 34

In this so-never-needed help, yet do not 35

Upbraid ’s with our distress. But sure, if you 36

Would be your country’s pleader, your good tongue, 37

More than the instant army we can make, 38

Might stop our countryman. 39

MENENIUS

No, I’ll not meddle.

SICINIUS

Pray you, go to him.

MENENIUS

What should I do?

BRUTUS

Only make trial what your love can do 42

For Rome, towards Martius. 43

MENENIUS

Well, and say that Martius

Return me, as Cominius is returned, unheard, 44

What then? But as a discontented friend, 45

Grief-shot with his unkindness? Say ’t be so? 46

SICINIUS

Yet your good will

Must have that thanks from Rome after the measure 48

As you intended well. 49

MENENIUS

I’ll undertake ’t.

I think he’ll hear me. Yet to bite his lip 50

And hum at good Cominius much unhearts me. 51

He was not taken well; he had not dined. 52

The veins unfilled, our blood is cold, and then 53

We pout upon the morning, are unapt 54

To give or to forgive; but when we have stuffed 55

These pipes and these conveyances of our blood 56

With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls 57

Than in our priestlike fasts. Therefore I’ll watch him 58

Till he be dieted to my request, 59

And then I’ll set upon him. 60

BRUTUS

You know the very road into his kindness 61

And cannot lose your way. 62

MENENIUS

Good faith, I’ll prove him,

Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge 63

Of my success. 64

COMINIUS

He exits. He’ll never hear him.

SICINIUS

Not?

COMINIUS

I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye 65

Red as ’twould burn Rome; and his injury 66

The jailor to his pity. I kneeled before him; 67

’Twas very faintly he said “Rise”; dismissed me 68

Thus with his speechless hand. What he would do 69

He sent in writing after me; what he 70

Would not, bound with an oath to yield to his 71

Conditions. So that all hope is vain 72

Unless his noble mother and his wife, 73

Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him 74

For mercy to his country. Therefore let’s hence 75

And with our fair entreaties haste them on. 76

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Menenius to the Watch, or Guard.)

FIRST WATCH

Stay! Whence are you?

SECOND WATCH

Stand, and go back.

MENENIUS

You guard like men; ’tis well. But by your leave, 3

I am an officer of state and come 4

To speak with Coriolanus. 5

FIRST WATCH

From whence?

MENENIUS

From Rome.

FIRST WATCH

You may not pass; you must return. Our general 8

Will no more hear from thence. 9

SECOND WATCH

You’ll see your Rome embraced with fire before 10

You’ll speak with Coriolanus. 11

MENENIUS

Good my friends,

If you have heard your general talk of Rome 12

And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks 13

My name hath touched your ears. It is Menenius. 14

FIRST WATCH

Be it so; go back. The virtue of your name 15

Is not here passable. 16

MENENIUS

I tell thee, fellow,

Thy general is my lover. I have been 17

The book of his good acts, whence men have read 18

His fame unparalleled happily amplified; 19

For I have ever verified my friends— 20

Of whom he’s chief—with all the size that verity 21

Would without lapsing suffer. Nay, sometimes, 22

Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, 23

I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise 24

Have almost stamped the leasing. Therefore, fellow, 25

I must have leave to pass. 26

FIRST WATCH

Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you should not pass here, no, though it were as virtuous to lie as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.

MENENIUS

Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.

SECOND WATCH

Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say you have, I am one that, telling true under him, must say you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.

MENENIUS

Has he dined, can’st thou tell? For I would not speak with him till after dinner.

FIRST WATCH

You are a Roman, are you?

MENENIUS

I am, as thy general is.

FIRST WATCH

Then you should hate Rome as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived. Therefore, back to Rome and prepare for your execution. You are condemned. Our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

MENENIUS

Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

FIRST WATCH

Come, my captain knows you not.

MENENIUS

I mean thy general.

FIRST WATCH

My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go, lest I let forth your half pint of blood. Back! That’s the utmost of your having. Back!

MENENIUS

Nay, but fellow, fellow—

(Enter Coriolanus with Aufidius.)

CORIOLANUS

What’s the matter?

MENENIUS

⸢to First Watch⸣ Now, you companion, I’ll say an errand for you. You shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus. Guess but ⸢by⸣ my entertainment with him if thou stand’st not i’ th’ state of hanging or of some death more long in spectatorship and crueler in suffering; behold now presently, and swoon for what’s to come upon thee. ⸢(To Coriolanus.)⸣ The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son, my son! ⸢(He weeps.)⸣ Thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here’s water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs, and conjure thee to pardon Rome and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here, this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee.

CORIOLANUS

Away!

MENENIUS

How? Away?

CORIOLANUS

Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs 45

Are servanted to others. Though I owe 46

My revenge properly, my remission lies 47

In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, 48

Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather 49

Than pity note how much. Therefore, begone. 50

Mine ears against your suits are stronger than 51

Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee, 52

Take this along; I writ it for thy sake, 53

(⸢He gives Menenius a paper.⸣)

And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, 54

I will not hear thee speak.—This man, Aufidius, 55

Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st. 56

(They exit.)

AUFIDIUS

You keep a constant temper.

(The Guard and Menenius remain.)

FIRST WATCH

Now, sir, is your name Menenius?

SECOND WATCH

’Tis a spell, you see, of much power. You know the way home again.

FIRST WATCH

Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your Greatness back?

SECOND WATCH

What cause do you think I have to swoon?

(He exits.)

MENENIUS

I neither care for th’ world nor your general. For such things as you, I can scarce think there’s any, you’re so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not from another. Let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and your misery increase with your age! I say to you, as I was said to, away!

FIRST WATCH

A noble fellow, I warrant him.

SECOND WATCH

The worthy fellow is our general. He’s the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.

(Watch exit.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Coriolanus and Aufidius.)

CORIOLANUS

We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow 1

Set down our host. My partner in this action, 2

You must report to th’ Volscian lords how plainly 3

I have borne this business. 4

AUFIDIUS

Only their ends

You have respected, stopped your ears against 5

The general suit of Rome, never admitted 6

A private whisper, no, not with such friends 7

That thought them sure of you. 8

CORIOLANUS

This last old man,

Whom with a cracked heart I have sent to Rome, 9

Loved me above the measure of a father, 10

Nay, godded me indeed. Their latest refuge 11

Was to send him, for whose old love I have— 12

Though I showed sourly to him—once more offered 13

The first conditions, which they did refuse 14

And cannot now accept, to grace him only 15

That thought he could do more. A very little 16

I have yielded to. Fresh embassies and suits, 17

Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter 18

Will I lend ear to. 19

((Shout within.))

Ha? What shout is this?

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow 20

In the same time ’tis made? I will not. 21

(Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Martius, with Attendants.)

My wife comes foremost, then the honored mold 22

Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand 23

The grandchild to her blood. But out, affection! 24

All bond and privilege of nature, break! 25

Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. 26

(⸢Virgilia curtsies.⸣)

What is that curtsy worth? Or those doves’ eyes, 27

Which can make gods forsworn? I melt and am not 28

Of stronger earth than others. 29

⸢Volumnia bows.⸣ My mother bows,

As if Olympus to a molehill should 30

In supplication nod; and my young boy 31

Hath an aspect of intercession which 32

Great Nature cries “Deny not!” Let the Volsces 33

Plow Rome and harrow Italy, I’ll never 34

Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand 35

As if a man were author of himself, 36

And knew no other kin. 37

VIRGILIA

My lord and husband.

CORIOLANUS

These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. 38

VIRGILIA

The sorrow that delivers us thus changed 39

Makes you think so. 40

CORIOLANUS

Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my part, and I am out, 41

Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh, 42

Forgive my tyranny, but do not say 43

For that “Forgive our Romans.” 44

⸢They kiss.⸣ O, a kiss

Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! 45

Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss 46

I carried from thee, dear, and my true lip 47

Hath virgined it e’er since. You gods! I ⸢prate⸣ 48

And the most noble mother of the world 49

Leave unsaluted. Sink, my knee, i’ th’ earth; 50

((Kneels.))

Of thy deep duty more impression show 51

Than that of common sons. 52

VOLUMNIA

O, stand up blest,

(⸢He rises.⸣)

Whilst with no softer cushion than the flint 53

I kneel before thee and unproperly 54

Show duty, as mistaken all this while 55

Between the child and parent. 56

(⸢She kneels.⸣)

CORIOLANUS

What’s this?

Your knees to me? To your corrected son? 57

(⸢He raises her up.⸣)

Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach 58

Fillip the stars! Then let the mutinous winds 59

Strike the proud cedars ’gainst the fiery sun, 60

Murdering impossibility to make 61

What cannot be slight work. 62

VOLUMNIA

Thou art my warrior;

I ⸢holp⸣ to frame thee. Do you know this lady? 63

CORIOLANUS

The noble sister of Publicola, 64

The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle 65

That’s curdied by the frost from purest snow 66

And hangs on Dian’s temple!—Dear Valeria. 67

VOLUMNIA

⸢presenting young Martius⸣ This is a poor epitome of yours, 68

Which by th’ interpretation of full time 69

May show like all yourself. 70

CORIOLANUS

⸢to young Martius⸣ The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform 72

Thy thoughts with nobleness, that thou mayst prove 73

To shame unvulnerable, and stick i’ th’ wars 74

Like a great seamark standing every flaw 75

And saving those that eye thee. 76

VOLUMNIA

⸢to young Martius⸣ Your knee, sirrah.

(⸢He kneels.⸣)

CORIOLANUS

That’s my brave boy!

VOLUMNIA

Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself 78

⸢Young Martius rises.⸣ Are suitors to you. 79

CORIOLANUS

I beseech you, peace;

Or if you’d ask, remember this before: 80

The thing I have forsworn to grant may never 81

Be held by you denials. Do not bid me 82

Dismiss my soldiers or capitulate 83

Again with Rome’s mechanics. Tell me not 84

Wherein I seem unnatural; desire not 85

T’ allay my rages and revenges with 86

Your colder reasons. 87

VOLUMNIA

O, no more, no more!

You have said you will not grant us anything; 88

For we have nothing else to ask but that 89

Which you deny already. Yet we will ask, 90

That if you fail in our request, the blame 91

May hang upon your hardness. Therefore hear us. 92

CORIOLANUS

Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark, for we’ll 93

Hear naught from Rome in private. ⸢He sits.⸣ Your request? 94

VOLUMNIA

Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment 95

And state of bodies would bewray what life 96

We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself 97

How more unfortunate than all living women 98

Are we come hither; since that thy sight, which should 99

Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts, 100

Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow, 101

Making the mother, wife, and child to see 102

The son, the husband, and the father tearing 103

His country’s bowels out. And to poor we 104

Thine enmity’s most capital. Thou barr’st us 105

Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort 106

That all but we enjoy. For how can we— 107

Alas, how can we—for our country pray, 108

Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory, 109

Whereto we are bound? Alack, or we must lose 110

The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, 111

Our comfort in the country. We must find 112

An evident calamity, though we had 113

Our wish, which side should win, for either thou 114

Must as a foreign recreant be led 115

With manacles through our streets, or else 116

Triumphantly tread on thy country’s ruin 117

And bear the palm for having bravely shed 118

Thy wife and children’s blood. For myself, son, 119

I purpose not to wait on fortune till 120

These wars determine. If I cannot persuade thee 121

Rather to show a noble grace to both parts 122

Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner 123

March to assault thy country than to tread— 124

Trust to ’t, thou shalt not—on thy mother’s womb 125

That brought thee to this world. 126

VIRGILIA

Ay, and mine,

That brought you forth this boy to keep your name 127

Living to time. 128

YOUNG MARTIUS

He shall not tread on me.

I’ll run away till I am bigger, but then I’ll fight. 129

CORIOLANUS

Not of a woman’s tenderness to be 130

Requires nor child nor woman’s face to see.— 131

I have sat too long. 132

(⸢He rises.⸣)

VOLUMNIA

Nay, go not from us thus.

If it were so, that our request did tend 133

To save the Romans, thereby to destroy 134

The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us 135

As poisonous of your honor. No, our suit 136

Is that you reconcile them, while the Volsces 137

May say “This mercy we have showed,” the Romans 138

“This we received,” and each in either side 139

Give the all-hail to thee and cry “Be blest 140

For making up this peace!” Thou know’st, great son, 141

The end of war’s uncertain, but this certain, 142

That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit 143

Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name 144

Whose repetition will be dogged with curses, 145

Whose chronicle thus writ: “The man was noble, 146

But with his last attempt he wiped it out, 147

Destroyed his country, and his name remains 148

To th’ ensuing age abhorred.” Speak to me, son. 149

Thou hast affected the ⸢fine⸣ strains of honor 150

To imitate the graces of the gods, 151

To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o’ th’ air 152

And yet to ⸢charge⸣ thy sulfur with a bolt 153

That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak? 154

Think’st thou it honorable for a noble man 155

Still to remember wrongs?—Daughter, speak you. 156

He cares not for your weeping.—Speak thou, boy. 157

Perhaps thy childishness will move him more 158

Than can our reasons.—There’s no man in the world 159

More bound to ’s mother, yet here he lets me prate 160

Like one i’ th’ stocks. Thou hast never in thy life 161

Showed thy dear mother any courtesy 162

When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood, 163

Has ⸢clucked⸣ thee to the wars and safely home, 164

Loaden with honor. Say my request’s unjust 165

And spurn me back; but if it be not so, 166

Thou art not honest, and the gods will plague thee 167

That thou restrain’st from me the duty which 168

To a mother’s part belongs.—He turns away.— 169

Down, ladies! Let us shame him with our knees. 170

To his surname Coriolanus ’longs more pride 171

Than pity to our prayers. Down! An end. 172

(⸢They kneel.⸣)

This is the last. So, we will home to Rome 173

And die among our neighbors.—Nay, behold ’s. 174

This boy that cannot tell what he would have, 175

But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship, 176

Does reason our petition with more strength 177

Than thou hast to deny ’t.—Come, let us go. 178

(⸢They rise.⸣)

This fellow had a Volscian to his mother, 179

His wife is in Corioles, and his child 180

Like him by chance.—Yet give us our dispatch. 181

I am hushed until our city be afire, 182

And then I’ll speak a little. 183

(⸢He⸣ holds her by the hand, silent.)

CORIOLANUS

O mother, mother!

What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, 184

The gods look down, and this unnatural scene 185

They laugh at. O, my mother, mother, O! 186

You have won a happy victory to Rome, 187

But, for your son—believe it, O, believe it!— 188

Most dangerously you have with him prevailed, 189

If not most mortal to him. But let it come.— 190

Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, 191

I’ll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, 192

Were you in my stead, would you have heard 193

A mother less? Or granted less, Aufidius? 194

AUFIDIUS

I was moved withal. 195

CORIOLANUS

I dare be sworn you were.

And, sir, it is no little thing to make 196

Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, 197

What peace you’ll make advise me. For my part, 198

I’ll not to Rome. I’ll back with you; and pray you, 199

Stand to me in this cause.—O mother!—Wife! 200

(⸢He speaks with them aside.⸣)

AUFIDIUS

I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honor 201

At difference in thee. Out of that I’ll work 202

Myself a former fortune. 203

CORIOLANUS

⸢to the Women⸣ Ay, by and by;

But we will drink together, and you shall bear 205

A better witness back than words, which we, 206

On like conditions, will have countersealed. 207

Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve 208

To have a temple built you. All the swords 209

In Italy, and her confederate arms, 210

Could not have made this peace. 211

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter Menenius and Sicinius.)

MENENIUS

See you yond coign o’ th’ Capitol, yond cornerstone?

SICINIUS

Why, what of that?

MENENIUS

If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hope in ’t. Our throats are sentenced and stay upon execution.

SICINIUS

Is ’t possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man?

MENENIUS

There is differency between a grub and a butterfly, yet your butterfly was a grub. This Martius is grown from man to dragon. He has wings; he’s more than a creeping thing.

SICINIUS

He loved his mother dearly.

MENENIUS

So did he me; and he no more remembers his mother now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corslet with his eye, talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity and a heaven to throne in.

SICINIUS

Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

MENENIUS

I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him. There is no more mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger. That shall our poor city find, and all this is long of you.

SICINIUS

The gods be good unto us.

MENENIUS

No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them; and he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

(Enter a Messenger.)

MESSENGER

⸢to Sicinius⸣ Sir, if you’d save your life, fly to your house. 12

The plebeians have got your fellow tribune 13

And hale him up and down, all swearing if 14

The Roman ladies bring not comfort home, 15

They’ll give him death by inches. 16

(Enter another Messenger.)

SICINIUS

What’s the news?

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

Good news, good news! The ladies have prevailed. 17

The Volscians are dislodged and Martius gone. 18

A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, 19

No, not th’ expulsion of the Tarquins. 20

SICINIUS

Friend,

Art thou certain this is true? Is ’t most certain? 21

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

As certain as I know the sun is fire. 22

Where have you lurked that you make doubt of it? 23

Ne’er through an arch so hurried the blown tide 24

As the recomforted through th’ gates. Why, hark you! 25

(Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all together.)

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, 26

Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans 27

Make the sun dance. Hark you! 28

(A shout within.)

MENENIUS

This is good news.

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia 29

Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians 30

A city full; of tribunes such as you 31

A sea and land full. You have prayed well today. 32

This morning for ten thousand of your throats 33

I’d not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy! 34

(Sound still with the shouts.)

SICINIUS

⸢to Second Messenger⸣ First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next, accept my thankfulness.

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

Sir, we have all great cause to give great thanks. 36

SICINIUS

They are near the city?

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

Almost at point to enter.

SICINIUS

We’ll meet them, and help the joy.

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 5⸣

(Enter two Senators, with Ladies ⸢(Volumnia, Virgilia, Valeria)⸣ passing over the stage, with other Lords.)

SENATOR

Behold our patroness, the life of Rome! 1

Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, 2

And make triumphant fires. Strew flowers before them, 3

Unshout the noise that banished Martius, 4

Repeal him with the welcome of his mother. 5

Cry “Welcome, ladies, welcome!” 6

ALL

Welcome, ladies, welcome!

(A flourish with drums and trumpets.)

(⸢They exit.⸣)

⸢Scene 6⸣

(Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.)

AUFIDIUS

Go tell the lords o’ th’ city I am here. 1

Deliver them this paper. 2

⸢(He gives them a paper.)⸣ Having read it,

Bid them repair to th’ marketplace, where I, 3

Even in theirs and in the commons’ ears, 4

Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse 5

The city ports by this hath entered and 6

Intends t’ appear before the people, hoping 7

To purge himself with words. Dispatch. 8

(⸢The Attendants exit.⸣)

(Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius’s faction.)

Most welcome!

FIRST CONSPIRATOR

How is it with our general? 9

AUFIDIUS

Even so

As with a man by his own alms empoisoned 10

And with his charity slain. 11

SECOND CONSPIRATOR

Most noble sir,

If you do hold the same intent wherein 12

You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you 13

Of your great danger. 14

AUFIDIUS

Sir, I cannot tell.

We must proceed as we do find the people. 15

THIRD CONSPIRATOR

The people will remain uncertain whilst 16

’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either 17

Makes the survivor heir of all. 18

AUFIDIUS

I know it,

And my pretext to strike at him admits 19

A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned 20

Mine honor for his truth, who, being so heightened, 21

He watered his new plants with dews of flattery, 22

Seducing so my friends; and to this end, 23

He bowed his nature, never known before 24

But to be rough, unswayable, and free. 25

THIRD CONSPIRATOR

Sir, his stoutness

When he did stand for consul, which he lost 27

By lack of stooping— 28

AUFIDIUS

That I would have spoke of.

Being banished for ’t, he came unto my hearth, 29

Presented to my knife his throat. I took him, 30

Made him joint servant with me, gave him way 31

In all his own desires; nay, let him choose 32

Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, 33

My best and freshest men; served his designments 34

In mine own person; holp to reap the fame 35

Which he did end all his; and took some pride 36

To do myself this wrong; till at the last 37

I seemed his follower, not partner; and 38

He waged me with his countenance as if 39

I had been mercenary. 40

FIRST CONSPIRATOR

So he did, my lord.

The army marvelled at it, and, in the last, 41

When he had carried Rome and that we looked 42

For no less spoil than glory— 43

AUFIDIUS

There was it

For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him. 44

At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are 45

As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labor 46

Of our great action. Therefore shall he die, 47

And I’ll renew me in his fall. But hark! 48

(Drums and trumpets sounds, with great shouts of the people.)

FIRST CONSPIRATOR

Your native town you entered like a post 49

And had no welcomes home, but he returns 50

Splitting the air with noise. 51

SECOND CONSPIRATOR

And patient fools,

Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear 52

With giving him glory. 53

THIRD CONSPIRATOR

Therefore at your vantage,

Ere he express himself or move the people 54

With what he would say, let him feel your sword, 55

Which we will second. When he lies along, 56

After your way his tale pronounced shall bury 57

His reasons with his body. 58

AUFIDIUS

Say no more.

(Enter the Lords of the city.)

Here come the lords. 59

You are most welcome home. 60

AUFIDIUS

I have not deserved it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused 61

What I have written to you? 62

ALL ⸢LORDS⸣

We have.

FIRST LORD

And grieve to hear ’t.

What faults he made before the last, I think 65

Might have found easy fines, but there to end 66

Where he was to begin and give away 67

The benefit of our levies, answering us 68

With our own charge, making a treaty where 69

There was a yielding—this admits no excuse. 70

(Enter Coriolanus marching with Drum and Colors, the Commoners being with him.)

AUFIDIUS

He approaches. You shall hear him.

CORIOLANUS

Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, 72

No more infected with my country’s love 73

Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting 74

Under your great command. You are to know 75

That prosperously I have attempted, and 76

With bloody passage led your wars even to 77

The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home 78

Doth more than counterpoise a full third part 79

The charges of the action. We have made peace 80

With no less honor to the Antiates 81

Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver, 82

Subscribed by’ th’ Consuls and patricians, 83

Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what 84

We have compounded on. 85

(⸢He offers the lords a paper.⸣)

AUFIDIUS

Read it not, noble lords,

But tell the traitor in the highest degree 87

He hath abused your powers. 88

CORIOLANUS

“Traitor”? How now?

AUFIDIUS

Ay, traitor, Martius.

CORIOLANUS

Martius?

AUFIDIUS

Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think 92

I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name 93

Coriolanus, in Corioles? 94

You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously 95

He has betrayed your business and given up 96

For certain drops of salt your city Rome— 97

I say your city—to his wife and mother, 98

Breaking his oath and resolution like 99

A twist of rotten silk, never admitting 100

Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears 101

He whined and roared away your victory, 102

That pages blushed at him and men of heart 103

Looked wond’ring each at ⸢other.⸣ 104

CORIOLANUS

Hear’st thou, Mars?

AUFIDIUS

Name not the god, thou boy of tears.

CORIOLANUS

Ha?

AUFIDIUS

No more.

CORIOLANUS

Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart 108

Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!— 109

Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever 110

I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, 111

Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion— 112

Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that 113

Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join 114

To thrust the lie unto him. 115

FIRST LORD

Peace, both, and hear me speak.

CORIOLANUS

Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads, 117

Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound! 118

If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there 119

That like an eagle in a dovecote, I 120

⸢Fluttered⸣ your Volscians in Corioles, 121

Alone I did it. “Boy”! 122

AUFIDIUS

Why, noble lords,

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, 123

Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 124

’Fore your own eyes and ears? 125

ALL CONSPIRATORS

Let him die for ’t.

ALL PEOPLE

Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin Marcus! He killed my father!

SECOND LORD

Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace!

The man is noble, and his fame folds in 128

This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offenses to us 129

Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, 130

And trouble not the peace. 131

CORIOLANUS

⸢drawing his sword⸣ O, that I had him,

With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, 132

To use my lawful sword. 133

AUFIDIUS

Insolent villain!

ALL CONSPIRATORS

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

(Draw the Conspirators, and kills Martius, who falls. Aufidius stands on him.)

LORDS

Hold, hold, hold, hold!

AUFIDIUS

My noble masters, hear me speak. 136

FIRST LORD

O Tullus!

SECOND LORD

Thou hast done a deed whereat valor will weep. 137

THIRD LORD

Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.— 138

Put up your swords. 139

AUFIDIUS

My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, 140

Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger 141

Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice 142

That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honors 143

To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver 144

Myself your loyal servant or endure 145

Your heaviest censure. 146

FIRST LORD

Bear from hence his body,

And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded 147

As the most noble corse that ever herald 148

Did follow to his urn. 149

SECOND LORD

His own impatience

Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. 150

Let’s make the best of it. 151

AUFIDIUS

My rage is gone,

And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up. 152

Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.— 153

Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.— 154

Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he 155

Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, 156

Which to this hour bewail the injury, 157

Yet he shall have a noble memory. 158

Assist. 159

(They exit bearing the body of Martius.)

(A dead march sounded.)