Coriolanus / William Shakespeare: Ed. Mowat, Barbara; Werstine, Paul: TEI encoding for EMOTHE

Source text for this digital edition:
Shakespeare, William. Coriolanus. Edited by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine; edited for XML and encoded by Michael Poston and Rebecca Miles. Folger Digital Texts. Washington DC: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 2016 (July). https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/coriolanus/download/

Digital text encoding for EMOTHE:

Huertas Martín, Víctor

Note on this digital edition

The text offered in this digital edition is from the Folger Digital Texts collection, which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/deed.en_US)

As re-encoded and adapted to the EMOTHE platform, this digital text has the turn-unders in verse lines placed back to their respective single lines, and therefore does not follow the Folger line numbering system, which counts turn-unders as lines too as they appear in the print Folger editions.

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

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

1Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

ALL

2Speak, speak!

FIRST CITIZEN

3You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

ALL

4Resolved, resolved!

FIRST CITIZEN

5First, you know Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people.

ALL

6We know ’t, we know ’t!

FIRST CITIZEN

7Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at our own price. Is ’t a verdict?

ALL

8No more talking on ’t; let it be done. Away, away!

SECOND CITIZEN

9One word, good citizens.

FIRST CITIZEN

10We 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

11Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?

ALL

12Against him first. He’s a very dog to the commonalty.

SECOND CITIZEN

13Consider you what services he has done for his country?

FIRST CITIZEN

14Very well, and could be content to give him good report for ’t, but that he pays himself with being proud.

⸢SECOND CITIZEN⸣

15Nay, but speak not maliciously.

FIRST CITIZEN

16I 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

17What he cannot help in his nature you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

FIRST CITIZEN

18If 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? 19The other side o’ th’ city is risen. Why stay we prating here? To th’ Capitol!

ALL

20Come, come!

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

FIRST CITIZEN

21Soft, who comes here?

SECOND CITIZEN

22Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath always loved the people.

FIRST CITIZEN

23He’s one honest enough. Would all the rest were so!

MENENIUS

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

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

SECOND CITIZEN

26Our 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,

Will you undo yourselves?

SECOND CITIZEN

We cannot, sir; we are undone already.

MENENIUS

I tell you, friends, most charitable care

Have the patricians of you. For your wants,

Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well

Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them

Against the Roman state, whose course will on

The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs

Of more strong link asunder than can ever

Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,

The gods, not the patricians, make it, and

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

You are transported by calamity

Thither where more attends you, and you slander

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

When you curse them as enemies.

SECOND CITIZEN

44Care 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

Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you

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

But since it serves my purpose, I will venture

To ⸢stale⸣ ’t a little more.

SECOND CITIZEN

50Well, 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

Rebelled against the belly, thus accused it:

That only like a gulf it did remain

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

Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

Like labor with the rest, where th’ other instruments

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

And, mutually participate, did minister

Unto the appetite and affection common

Of the whole body. The belly answered—

SECOND CITIZEN

61Well, sir, what answer made the belly?

MENENIUS

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

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

For, look you, I may make the belly smile

As well as speak—it ⸢tauntingly⸣ replied

To th’ discontented members, the mutinous parts

That envied his receipt; even so most fitly

As you malign our senators for that

They are not such as you.

SECOND CITIZEN

Your belly’s answer—what?

The kingly crownèd head, the vigilant eye,

The counselor heart, the arm our soldier,

Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,

With other muniments and petty helps

In this our fabric, if that they—

MENENIUS

What then?

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

SECOND CITIZEN

Should by the cormorant belly be restrained,

Who is the sink o’ th’ body—

MENENIUS

Well, what then?

SECOND CITIZEN

The former agents, if they did complain,

What could the belly answer?

MENENIUS

I will tell you,

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

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

SECOND CITIZEN

You’re long about it.

MENENIUS

Note me this, good friend;

Your most grave belly was deliberate,

Not rash like his accusers, and thus answered:

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

“That I receive the general food at first

Which you do live upon; and fit it is,

Because I am the storehouse and the shop

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

I send it through the rivers of your blood

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

And, through the cranks and offices of man,

The strongest nerves and small inferior veins

From me receive that natural competency

Whereby they live. And though that all at once,

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

SECOND CITIZEN

Ay, sir, well, well.

MENENIUS

“Though all at once cannot

See what I do deliver out to each,

Yet I can make my audit up, that all

100

From me do back receive the flour of all,

101

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

SECOND CITIZEN

102

It was an answer. How apply you this?

MENENIUS

103

The senators of Rome are this good belly,

104

And you the mutinous members. For examine

105

Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly

106

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

107

No public benefit which you receive

108

But it proceeds or comes from them to you

109

And no way from yourselves. What do you think,

110

You, the great toe of this assembly?

SECOND CITIZEN

111I the great toe? Why the great toe?

MENENIUS

112

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

113

Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost.

114

Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,

115

Lead’st first to win some vantage.

116

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs.

117

Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;

118

The one side must have bale.

Enter Caius Martius.

Hail, noble Martius.

MARTIUS

119

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

120

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,

121

Make yourselves scabs?

SECOND CITIZEN

122We have ever your good word.

MARTIUS

123

He that will give good words to thee will flatter

124

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,

125

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

126

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

127

Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;

128

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

129

Than is the coal of fire upon the ice

130

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is

131

To make him worthy whose offense subdues him,

132

And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness

133

Deserves your hate; and your affections are

134

A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that

135

Which would increase his evil. He that depends

136

Upon your favors swims with fins of lead,

137

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

138

With every minute you do change a mind

139

And call him noble that was now your hate,

140

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

141

That in these several places of the city

142

You cry against the noble senate, who,

143

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

144

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

MENENIUS

145

For corn at their own rates, whereof they say

146

The city is well stored.

MARTIUS

Hang ’em! They say?

147

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

148

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

149

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

150

Conjectural marriages, making parties strong

151

And feebling such as stand not in their liking

152

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

153

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth

154

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

155

With thousands of these quartered slaves as high

156

As I could pick my lance.

MENENIUS

157

Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;

158

For though abundantly they lack discretion,

159

Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you,

160

What says the other troop?

MARTIUS

They are dissolved. Hang ’em!

161

They said they were an-hungry, sighed forth proverbs

162

That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat,

163

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

164

Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds

165

They vented their complainings, which being answered

166

And a petition granted them—a strange one,

167

To break the heart of generosity

168

And make bold power look pale—they threw their caps

169

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

170

Shouting their emulation.

MENENIUS

What is granted them?

MARTIUS

171

Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,

172

Of their own choice. One’s Junius Brutus,

173

Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. ’Sdeath!

174

The rabble should have first ⸢unroofed⸣ the city

175

Ere so prevailed with me. It will in time

176

Win upon power and throw forth greater themes

177

For insurrection’s arguing.

MENENIUS

178This is strange.

MARTIUS

179Go get you home, you fragments.

Enter a Messenger hastily.

MESSENGER

180

Where’s Caius Martius?

MARTIUS

Here. What’s the matter?

MESSENGER

181

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

MARTIUS

182

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

183

Our musty superfluity.

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

See our best elders.

FIRST SENATOR

184

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

185

The Volsces are in arms.

MARTIUS

They have a leader,

186

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to ’t.

187

I sin in envying his nobility,

188

And, were I anything but what I am,

189

I would wish me only he.

COMINIUS

You have fought together?

MARTIUS

190

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

191

Upon my party, I’d revolt, to make

192

Only my wars with him. He is a lion

193

That I am proud to hunt.

FIRST SENATOR

Then, worthy Martius,

194

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

COMINIUS

195

It is your former promise.

MARTIUS

Sir, it is,

196

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

197

Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face.

198

What, art thou stiff? Stand’st out?

LARTIUS

No, Caius Martius,

199

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

200

Ere stay behind this business.

MENENIUS

O, true bred!

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

201

Your company to th’ Capitol, where I know

202

Our greatest friends attend us.

LARTIUS

⸢to Cominius⸣

Lead you on.—

203

⸢To Martius.⸣

Follow Cominius. We must follow you;

204

Right worthy you priority.

COMINIUS

Noble Martius.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

205

⸢to the Citizens⸣

Hence to your homes, begone.

MARTIUS

Nay, let them follow.

206

The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither

207

To gnaw their garners.

Citizens steal away.

Worshipful mutineers,

208

Your valor puts well forth.—Pray follow.

They exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain.

SICINIUS

209

Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?

BRUTUS

210He has no equal.

SICINIUS

211

When we were chosen tribunes for the people—

BRUTUS

212

Marked you his lip and eyes?

SICINIUS

Nay, but his taunts.

BRUTUS

213

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

SICINIUS

214Bemock the modest moon.

BRUTUS

215

The present wars devour him! He is grown

216

Too proud to be so valiant.

SICINIUS

Such a nature,

217

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow

218

Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder

219

His insolence can brook to be commanded

220

Under Cominius.

BRUTUS

Fame, at the which he aims,

221

In whom already he’s well graced, cannot

222

Better be held nor more attained than by

223

A place below the first; for what miscarries

224

Shall be the General’s fault, though he perform

225

To th’ utmost of a man, and giddy censure

226

Will then cry out of Martius “O, if he

227

Had borne the business!”

SICINIUS

Besides, if things go well,

228

Opinion that so sticks on Martius shall

229

Of his demerits rob Cominius.

BRUTUS

Come.

230

Half all Cominius’ honors are to Martius,

231

Though Martius earned them not, and all his faults

232

To Martius shall be honors, though indeed

233

In aught he merit not.

SICINIUS

Let’s hence and hear

234

How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion,

235

More than his singularity, he goes

236

Upon this present action.

BRUTUS

Let’s along.

They exit.

⸢Scene 2⸣

Enter Tullus Aufidius with Senators of Corioles.

FIRST SENATOR

So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are entered in our counsels

And know how we proceed.

AUFIDIUS

Is it not yours?

Whatever have been thought on in this state

That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome

Had circumvention? ’Tis not four days gone

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

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

⸢(He reads.)⸣

They have pressed a power, but it is not known

Whether for east or west. The dearth is great.

The people mutinous; and, it is rumored,

Cominius, Martius your old enemy,

Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,

And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,

These three lead on this preparation

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

Consider of it.

FIRST SENATOR

18Our army’s in the field.

We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready

To answer us.

AUFIDIUS

Nor did you think it folly

To keep your great pretenses veiled till when

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

It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery

We shall be shortened in our aim, which was

To take in many towns ere almost Rome

Should know we were afoot.

SECOND SENATOR

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands.

Let us alone to guard Corioles.

If they set down before ’s, for the remove

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

They’ve not prepared for us.

AUFIDIUS

O, doubt not that;

I speak from certainties. Nay, more,

Some parcels of their power are forth already,

And only hitherward. I leave your Honors.

If we and Caius Martius chance to meet,

’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike

Till one can do no more.

ALL

38The gods assist you!

AUFIDIUS

39And keep your Honors safe!

FIRST SENATOR

40Farewell.

SECOND SENATOR

41Farewell.

ALL

42Farewell.

All exit.

⸢Scene 3⸣

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

VOLUMNIA

1I 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

2But had he died in the business, madam, how then?

VOLUMNIA

3Then 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 4for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

GENTLEWOMAN

5Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.

VIRGILIA

Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.

VOLUMNIA

7Indeed you shall not.

Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum,

See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair;

As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him.

Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus:

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

Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow

With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes

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

Or all or lose his hire.

VIRGILIA

His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood!

VOLUMNIA

Away, you fool! It more becomes a man

Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba,

When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier

Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood

At Grecian sword, contemning.—Tell Valeria

We are fit to bid her welcome.

Gentlewoman exits.

VIRGILIA

Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!

VOLUMNIA

He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee

And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman.

VALERIA

27My ladies both, good day to you.

VOLUMNIA

28Sweet madam.

VIRGILIA

29I am glad to see your Ladyship.

VALERIA

30How do you both? You are manifest housekeepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son?

VIRGILIA

31I thank your Ladyship; well, good madam.

VOLUMNIA

32He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster.

VALERIA

33O’ 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

34One on ’s father’s moods.

VALERIA

35Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.

VIRGILIA

36A crack, madam.

VALERIA

37Come, lay aside your stitchery. I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

VIRGILIA

38No, good madam, I will not out of doors.

VALERIA

39Not out of doors?

VOLUMNIA

40She shall, she shall.

VIRGILIA

41Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.

VALERIA

42Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

VIRGILIA

43I will wish her speedy strength and visit her with my prayers, but I cannot go thither.

VOLUMNIA

44Why, I pray you?

⸢VIRGILIA⸣

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

VALERIA

46You 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

47No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

VALERIA

48In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent news of your husband.

VIRGILIA

49O, good madam, there can be none yet.

VALERIA

50Verily, I do not jest with you. There came news from him last night.

VIRGILIA

51Indeed, madam!

VALERIA

52In 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

53Give me excuse, good madam. I will obey you in everything hereafter.

VOLUMNIA

54Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

VALERIA

55In 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

56No, at a word, madam. Indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.

VALERIA

57Well, 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.

LARTIUS

My horse to yours, no.

MARTIUS

’Tis done.

LARTIUS

Agreed.

MARTIUS

⸢to Messenger⸣

Say, has our general met the enemy?

MESSENGER

They lie in view but have not spoke as yet.

LARTIUS

So the good horse is mine.

MARTIUS

I’ll buy him of you.

LARTIUS

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

For half a hundred years.—Summon the town.

MARTIUS

8How far off lie these armies?

MESSENGER

9Within this mile and half.

MARTIUS

Then shall we hear their ’larum and they ours.

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

That we with smoking swords may march from hence

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

They sound a parley.

Enter two Senators with others on the walls of Corioles.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

FIRST SENATOR

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

That’s lesser than a little.

Drum afar off.

Hark, our drums

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

Rather than they shall pound us up. Our gates,

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

They’ll open of themselves.

Alarum far off.

Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius. List what work he makes

Amongst your cloven army.

⸢They exit from the walls.⸣

MARTIUS

O, they are at it!

LARTIUS

Their noise be our instruction.—Ladders, ho!

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

MARTIUS

They fear us not but issue forth their city.—

Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight

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

They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,

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

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

And he shall feel mine edge.

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,

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

Plaster you o’er, that you may be abhorred

Farther than seen, and one infect another

Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,

That bear the shapes of men, how have you run

From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!

All hurt behind. Backs red, and faces pale

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

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

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

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

As they us to our trenches. Follow ’s!

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!

’Tis for the followers fortune widens them,

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

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

FIRST SOLDIER

47Foolhardiness, not I.

SECOND SOLDIER

48Nor I.

FIRST SOLDIER

49See they have shut him in.

Alarum continues.

ALL

50To th’ pot, I warrant him.

Enter Titus Lartius.

LARTIUS

What is become of Martius?

ALL

Slain, sir, doubtless.

FIRST SOLDIER

Following the fliers at the very heels,

With them he enters, who upon the sudden

Clapped to their gates. He is himself alone,

To answer all the city.

LARTIUS

O, noble fellow,

Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,

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

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,

Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier

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

Only in strokes, but with thy grim looks and

The thunderlike percussion of thy sounds

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

Were feverous and did tremble.

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.

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

⸢Scene 5⸣

Enter certain Romans, with spoils.

FIRST ROMAN

1This will I carry to Rome.

SECOND ROMAN

2And I this.

THIRD ROMAN

3A 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

At a cracked drachma. Cushions, leaden spoons,

Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would

Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,

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

⸢The Romans with spoils⸣ exit.

Alarum continues still afar off.

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

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

Piercing our Romans. Then, valiant Titus, take

Convenient numbers to make good the city,

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

To help Cominius.

LARTIUS

Worthy sir, thou bleed’st.

Thy exercise hath been too violent

For a second course of fight.

MARTIUS

Sir, praise me not.

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

The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me. To Aufidius thus

I will appear and fight.

LARTIUS

Now the fair goddess Fortune

Fall deep in love with thee, and her great charms

Misguide thy opposers’ swords! Bold gentleman,

Prosperity be thy page!

MARTIUS

Thy friend no less

Than those she placeth highest! So farewell.

LARTIUS

25Thou worthiest Martius!

⸢Martius exits.⸣

Go sound thy trumpet in the marketplace.

Call thither all the officers o’ th’ town,

Where they shall know our mind. Away!

They exit.

⸢Scene 6⸣

Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with Soldiers.

COMINIUS

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

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands

Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs,

We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,

By interims and conveying gusts we have heard

The charges of our friends. The Roman gods

Lead their successes as we wish our own,

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

May give you thankful sacrifice!

Enter a Messenger.

Thy news?

MESSENGER

The citizens of Corioles have issued

And given to Lartius and to Martius battle.

I saw our party to their trenches driven,

And then I came away.

COMINIUS

Though thou speakest truth,

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

MESSENGER

15Above an hour, my lord.

COMINIUS

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

How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour

And bring thy news so late?

MESSENGER

Spies of the Volsces

Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel

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

Half an hour since brought my report.

⸢He exits.⸣

Enter Martius, ⸢bloody.⸣

COMINIUS

Who’s yonder,

That does appear as he were flayed? O gods,

He has the stamp of Martius, and I have

Before-time seen him thus.

MARTIUS

Come I too late?

COMINIUS

The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor

More than I know the sound of Martius’ tongue

From every meaner man.

MARTIUS

Come I too late?

COMINIUS

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

But mantled in your own.

MARTIUS

O, let me clip you

In arms as sound as when I wooed, in heart

As merry as when our nuptial day was done

And tapers burnt to bedward!

⸢They embrace.⸣

COMINIUS

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

MARTIUS

As with a man busied about decrees,

Condemning some to death and some to exile;

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

Holding Corioles in the name of Rome

Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,

To let him slip at will.

COMINIUS

Where is that slave

Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?

Where is he? Call him hither.

MARTIUS

Let him alone.

He did inform the truth. But for our gentlemen,

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

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

From rascals worse than they.

COMINIUS

But how prevailed you?

MARTIUS

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

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

If not, why cease you till you are so?

COMINIUS

Martius, we have at disadvantage fought

And did retire to win our purpose.

MARTIUS

How lies their battle? Know you on which side

They have placed their men of trust?

COMINIUS

As I guess,

Martius,

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

Of their best trust; o’er them Aufidius,

Their very heart of hope.

MARTIUS

I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought,

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

To endure friends, that you directly set me

Against Aufidius and his Antiates,

And that you not delay the present, but,

Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,

We prove this very hour.

COMINIUS

Though I could wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath

And balms applied to you, yet dare I never

Deny your asking. Take your choice of those

That best can aid your action.

MARTIUS

Those are they

That most are willing. If any such be here—

As it were sin to doubt—that love this painting

Wherein you see me smeared; if any fear

⸢Lesser⸣ his person than an ill report;

If any think brave death outweighs bad life,

And that his country’s dearer than himself;

Let him alone, or so many so minded,

Wave thus to express his disposition

And follow Martius.

⸢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?

If these shows be not outward, which of you

But is four Volsces? None of you but is

Able to bear against the great Aufidius

A shield as hard as his. A certain number,

Though thanks to all, must I select from all.

The rest shall bear the business in some other fight,

As cause will be obeyed. Please you to march,

And ⸢I⸣ shall quickly draw out my command,

Which men are best inclined.

COMINIUS

March on, my fellows.

Make good this ostentation, and you shall

Divide in all with us.

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

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

Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve

For a short holding. If we lose the field,

We cannot keep the town.

LIEUTENANT

Fear not our care, sir.

LARTIUS

6Hence, 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

Worse than a promise-breaker.

AUFIDIUS

We hate alike.

Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor

More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot.

MARTIUS

Let the first budger die the other’s slave,

And the gods doom him after!

AUFIDIUS

If I fly, Martius,

Hollo me like a hare.

MARTIUS

Within these three hours, Tullus,

Alone I fought in your Corioles’ walls

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

Wherein thou seest me masked. For thy revenge,

Wrench up thy power to th’ highest.

AUFIDIUS

Wert thou the hector

That was the whip of your bragged progeny,

Thou shouldst not scape me here.

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

⸢(To the Volsces.)⸣

Officious and not valiant, you have shamed me

In your condemnèd seconds.

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,

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

Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles;

Where great patricians shall attend and shrug,

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

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

That with the fusty plebeians hate thine honors,

Shall say against their hearts “We thank the gods

Our Rome hath such a soldier.”

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

Having fully dined before.

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

LARTIUS

O general,

Here is the steed, we the caparison.

Hadst thou beheld—

MARTIUS

Pray now, no more. My mother,

Who has a charter to extol her blood,

When she does praise me grieves me. I have done

As you have done—that’s what I can;

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

He that has but effected his good will

Hath overta’en mine act.

COMINIUS

You shall not be

The grave of your deserving. Rome must know

The value of her own. ’Twere a concealment

Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,

To hide your doings and to silence that

Which, to the spire and top of praises vouched,

Would seem but modest. Therefore, I beseech you—

In sign of what you are, not to reward

What you have done—before our army hear me.

MARTIUS

I have some wounds upon me, and they smart

To hear themselves remembered.

COMINIUS

Should they not,

Well might they fester ’gainst ingratitude

And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses—

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

The treasure in this field achieved and city,

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

Before the common distribution

At your only choice.

MARTIUS

I thank you, general,

But cannot make my heart consent to take

A bribe to pay my sword. I do refuse it

And stand upon my common part with those

That have beheld the doing.

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,

Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall

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

Made all of false-faced soothing! When steel grows

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

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

For that I have not washed my nose that bled,

Or foiled some debile wretch—which, without note,

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

In acclamations hyperbolical,

As if I loved my little should be dieted

In praises sauced with lies.

COMINIUS

Too modest are you,

More cruel to your good report than grateful

To us that give you truly. By your patience,

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

Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles,

Then reason safely with you. Therefore be it known,

As to us to all the world, that Caius Martius

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

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

With all his trim belonging. And from this time,

For what he did before Corioles, call him,

With all th’ applause and clamor of the host,

Martius Caius Coriolanus! Bear

Th’ addition nobly ever!

Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.

ALL

Martius Caius Coriolanus!

CORIOLANUS

I will go wash;

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive

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

I mean to stride your steed and at all times

To undercrest your good addition

To th’ fairness of my power.

COMINIUS

So, to our tent,

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write

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

Must to Corioles back. Send us to Rome

The best, with whom we may articulate

For their own good and ours.

LARTIUS

I shall, my lord.

CORIOLANUS

The gods begin to mock me. I, that now

Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg

Of my lord general.

COMINIUS

Take ’t, ’tis yours. What is ’t?

CORIOLANUS

I sometime lay here in Corioles

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

He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;

But then Aufidius was within my view,

And wrath o’erwhelmed my pity. I request you

To give my poor host freedom.

COMINIUS

O, well begged!

Were he the butcher of my son, he should

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

LARTIUS

Martius, his name?

CORIOLANUS

By Jupiter, forgot!

I am weary; yea, my memory is tired.

Have we no wine here?

COMINIUS

Go we to our tent.

The blood upon your visage dries; ’tis time

It should be looked to. Come.

A flourish ⸢of⸣ cornets. They exit.

⸢Scene 10⸣

Enter Tullus Aufidius bloody, with two or three Soldiers.

AUFIDIUS

1The town is ta’en.

SOLDIER

’Twill be delivered back on good condition.

AUFIDIUS

3Condition?

I would I were a Roman, for I cannot,

Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition?

What good condition can a treaty find

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

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

And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter

As often as we eat. By th’ elements,

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

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

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

I thought to crush him in an equal force,

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

Or wrath or craft may get him.

SOLDIER

He’s the devil.

AUFIDIUS

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

With only suff’ring stain by him; for him

Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep nor sanctuary,

Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol,

The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice,

Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up

Their rotten privilege and custom ’gainst

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

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

Against the hospitable canon, would I

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

Learn how ’tis held and what they are that must

Be hostages for Rome.

SOLDIER

Will not you go?

AUFIDIUS

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

’Tis south the city mills—bring me word thither

How the world goes, that to the pace of it

I may spur on my journey.

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

1The augurer tells me we shall have news tonight.

BRUTUS

2Good or bad?

MENENIUS

3Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Martius.

SICINIUS

4Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.

MENENIUS

5Pray you, who does the wolf love?

SICINIUS

6The lamb.

MENENIUS

7Ay, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the noble Martius.

BRUTUS

8He’s a lamb indeed, that baas like a bear.

MENENIUS

9He’s a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

BOTH

10Well, sir.

MENENIUS

11In what enormity is Martius poor in, that you two have not in abundance?

BRUTUS

12He’s poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

SICINIUS

13Especially in pride.

BRUTUS

14And topping all others in boasting.

MENENIUS

15This 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

16Why, how are we censured?

MENENIUS

17Because you talk of pride now, will you not be angry?

BOTH

18Well, well, sir, well?

MENENIUS

19Why, ’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

20We do it not alone, sir.

MENENIUS

21I 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

22What then, sir?

MENENIUS

23Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as any in Rome.

SICINIUS

24Menenius, you are known well enough, too.

MENENIUS

25I 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

26Come, sir, come; we know you well enough.

MENENIUS

27You 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

28Come, come. You are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.

MENENIUS

29Our 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. 30How now, my as fair as noble ladies—and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler—whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

VOLUMNIA

31Honorable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches. For the love of Juno, let’s go!

MENENIUS

32Ha? Martius coming home?

VOLUMNIA

33Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation.

MENENIUS

34Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee! ⸢He throws his cap in the air.⸣ Hoo! Martius coming home?

⸢VALERIA, VIRGILIA⸣

35Nay, ’tis true.

VOLUMNIA

36Look, 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

37I will make my very house reel tonight. A letter for me?

VIRGILIA

38Yes, certain, there’s a letter for you; I saw ’t.

MENENIUS

39A 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

40O no, no, no!

VOLUMNIA

41O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for ’t.

MENENIUS

42So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings he victory in his pocket, the wounds become him.

VOLUMNIA

43On ’s brows, Menenius. He comes the third time home with the oaken garland.

MENENIUS

44Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?

VOLUMNIA

45Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but Aufidius got off.

MENENIUS

46And ’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

47Good 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

48In troth, there’s wondrous things spoke of him.

MENENIUS

49Wondrous? Ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.

VIRGILIA

50The gods grant them true.

VOLUMNIA

51True? Pow waw!

MENENIUS

52True? 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

53I’ 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

54One i’ th’ neck and two i’ th’ thigh—there’s nine that I know.

VOLUMNIA

55He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

MENENIUS

56Now it’s twenty-seven. Every gash was an enemy’s grave. (A shout and flourish.) Hark, the trumpets!

VOLUMNIA

57These 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,

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

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

Within Corioles’ gates, where he hath won,

With fame, a name to Martius Caius; these

In honor follows “Coriolanus.”

Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus.

Sound flourish.

ALL

Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus!

CORIOLANUS

No more of this. It does offend my heart.

Pray now, no more.

COMINIUS

Look, sir, your mother.

CORIOLANUS

You have, I know, petitioned all the gods

For my prosperity.

Kneels.

VOLUMNIA

Nay, my good soldier, up.

⸢He stands.⸣

My gentle Martius, worthy Caius, and

By deed-achieving honor newly named—

What is it? Coriolanus must I call thee?

But, O, thy wife—

CORIOLANUS

My gracious silence, hail.

Wouldst thou have laughed had I come coffined home,

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

Such eyes the widows in Corioles wear

And mothers that lack sons.

MENENIUS

Now the gods crown thee!

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

And live you yet?

⸢(To Valeria.)⸣

O, my sweet lady, pardon.

VOLUMNIA

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

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

MENENIUS

A hundred thousand welcomes! I could weep,

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

A curse begin at very root on ’s heart

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

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

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

Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors!

We call a nettle but a nettle, and

The faults of fools but folly.

COMINIUS

90Ever right.

CORIOLANUS

91Menenius ever, ever.

HERALD

Give way there, and go on!

CORIOLANUS

⸢to Volumnia and Virgilia⸣

Your hand and yours.

Ere in our own house I do shade my head,

The good patricians must be visited,

From whom I have received not only greetings,

But with them change of honors.

VOLUMNIA

I have lived

To see inherited my very wishes

And the buildings of my fancy. Only

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

100

Our Rome will cast upon thee.

CORIOLANUS

Know, good mother,

101

I had rather be their servant in my way

102

Than sway with them in theirs.

COMINIUS

On, to the Capitol.

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

Brutus and Sicinius ⸢come forward.⸣

BRUTUS

103

All tongues speak of him, and the blearèd sights

104

Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurse

105

Into a rapture lets her baby cry

106

While she chats him. The kitchen malkin pins

107

Her richest lockram ’bout her reechy neck,

108

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

109

Are smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsed

110

With variable complexions, all agreeing

111

In earnestness to see him. Seld-shown flamens

112

Do press among the popular throngs and puff

113

To win a vulgar station. Our veiled dames

114

Commit the war of white and damask in

115

Their nicely-gauded cheeks to th’ wanton spoil

116

Of Phoebus’ burning kisses. Such a pother,

117

As if that whatsoever god who leads him

118

Were slyly crept into his human powers

119

And gave him graceful posture.

SICINIUS

On the sudden

120

I warrant him consul.

BRUTUS

Then our office may,

121

During his power, go sleep.

SICINIUS

122

He cannot temp’rately transport his honors

123

From where he should begin and end, but will

124

Lose those he hath won.

BRUTUS

In that there’s comfort.

SICINIUS

Doubt not

125

The commoners, for whom we stand, but they

126

Upon their ancient malice will forget

127

With the least cause these his new honors—which

128

That he will give them make I as little question

129

As he is proud to do ’t.

BRUTUS

I heard him swear,

130

Were he to stand for consul, never would he

131

Appear i’ th’ marketplace nor on him put

132

The napless vesture of humility,

133

Nor showing, as the manner is, his wounds

134

To th’ people, beg their stinking breaths.

SICINIUS

’Tis right.

BRUTUS

135

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

136

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

137

And the desire of the nobles.

SICINIUS

I wish no better

138

Than have him hold that purpose and to put it

139

In execution.

BRUTUS

’Tis most like he will.

SICINIUS

140

It shall be to him then as our good wills,

141

A sure destruction.

BRUTUS

So it must fall out

142

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

143

We must suggest the people in what hatred

144

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

145

Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders, and

146

Dispropertied their freedoms; holding them

147

In human action and capacity

148

Of no more soul nor fitness for the world

149

Than camels in their war, who have their provand

150

Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

151

For sinking under them.

SICINIUS

This, as you say, suggested

152

At some time when his soaring insolence

153

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

154

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

155

As to set dogs on sheep—will be his fire

156

To kindle their dry stubble, and their blaze

157

Shall darken him forever.

Enter a Messenger.

BRUTUS

What’s the matter?

MESSENGER

158

You are sent for to the Capitol. ’Tis thought

159

That Martius shall be consul. I have seen

160

The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind

161

To hear him speak; matrons flung gloves,

162

Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs,

163

Upon him as he passed; the nobles bended

164

As to Jove’s statue, and the Commons made

165

A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts.

166

I never saw the like.

BRUTUS

Let’s to the Capitol,

167

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

168

But hearts for the event.

SICINIUS

Have with you.

They exit.

⸢Scene 2⸣

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

FIRST OFFICER

1Come, come. They are almost here. How many stand for consulships?

SECOND OFFICER

2Three, they say; but ’tis thought of everyone Coriolanus will carry it.

FIRST OFFICER

3That’s a brave fellow, but he’s vengeance proud and loves not the common people.

SECOND OFFICER

4’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

5If 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

6He 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

7No 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

To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

As the main point of this our after-meeting,

To gratify his noble service that

Hath thus stood for his country. Therefore please you,

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire

The present consul and last general

In our well-found successes to report

A little of that worthy work performed

By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom

We met here both to thank and to remember

With honors like himself.

⸢Coriolanus sits.⸣

FIRST SENATOR

Speak, good Cominius.

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think

Rather our state’s defective for requital,

Than we to stretch it out.

⸢(To the Tribunes.)⸣

Masters o’ th’ people,

We do request your kindest ears and, after,

Your loving motion toward the common body

To yield what passes here.

SICINIUS

We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty and have hearts

Inclinable to honor and advance

The theme of our assembly.

BRUTUS

Which the rather

We shall be blest to do if he remember

A kinder value of the people than

He hath hereto prized them at.

MENENIUS

That’s off, that’s off!

I would you rather had been silent. Please you

To hear Cominius speak?

BRUTUS

Most willingly,

But yet my caution was more pertinent

Than the rebuke you give it.

MENENIUS

He loves your people,

But tie him not to be their bedfellow.—

Worthy Cominius, speak.

Coriolanus rises and offers to go away.

Nay, keep your place.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Sit, Coriolanus. Never shame to hear

What you have nobly done.

CORIOLANUS

Your Honors, pardon.

I had rather have my wounds to heal again

Than hear say how I got them.

BRUTUS

Sir, I hope

My words disbenched you not?

CORIOLANUS

No, sir. Yet oft,

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

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

I love them as they weigh.

MENENIUS

Pray now, sit down.

CORIOLANUS

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

When the alarum were struck than idly sit

To hear my nothings monstered.

Coriolanus exits.

MENENIUS

Masters of the people,

Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter—

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

He had rather venture all his limbs for honor

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

COMINIUS

I shall lack voice. The deeds of Coriolanus

Should not be uttered feebly. It is held

That valor is the chiefest virtue and

Most dignifies the haver; if it be,

The man I speak of cannot in the world

Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years,

When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought

Beyond the mark of others. Our then dictator,

Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight

When with his Amazonian chin he drove

The bristled lips before him. He bestrid

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

Slew three opposers. Tarquin’s self he met

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

When he might act the woman in the scene,

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

Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age

Man-entered thus, he waxèd like a sea,

And in the brunt of seventeen battles since

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

Before and in Corioles, let me say,

I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyers

And by his rare example made the coward

Turn terror into sport. As weeds before

A vessel under sail, so men obeyed

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

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

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion

Was timed with dying cries. Alone he entered

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

With shunless destiny; aidless came off

And with a sudden reinforcement struck

Corioles like a planet. Now all’s his,

When by and by the din of war gan pierce

His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit

Requickened what in flesh was fatigate,

And to the battle came he, where he did

Run reeking o’er the lives of men as if

’Twere a perpetual spoil; and till we called

Both field and city ours, he never stood

To ease his breast with panting.

MENENIUS

Worthy man!

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

He cannot but with measure fit the honors

Which we devise him.

COMINIUS

Our spoils he kicked at

And looked upon things precious as they were

The common muck of the world. He covets less

Than misery itself would give, rewards

His deeds with doing them, and is content

100

To spend the time to end it.

MENENIUS

He’s right noble.

101

Let him be called for.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Call Coriolanus.

OFFICER

102He doth appear.

Enter Coriolanus.

MENENIUS

103

The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased

104

To make thee consul.

CORIOLANUS

I do owe them still

105

My life and services.

MENENIUS

It then remains

106

That you do speak to the people.

CORIOLANUS

I do beseech you,

107

Let me o’erleap that custom, for I cannot

108

Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them

109

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

110

That I may pass this doing.

SICINIUS

Sir, the people

111

Must have their voices; neither will they bate

112

One jot of ceremony.

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣

Put them not to ’t.

113

Pray you, go fit you to the custom, and

114

Take to you, as your predecessors have,

115

Your honor with your form.

CORIOLANUS

It is a part

116

That I shall blush in acting, and might well

117

Be taken from the people.

BRUTUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣

Mark you that?

CORIOLANUS

118

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

119

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

120

As if I had received them for the hire

121

Of their breath only!

MENENIUS

Do not stand upon ’t.—

122

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,

123

Our purpose to them, and to our noble consul

124

Wish we all joy and honor.

SENATORS

125

To Coriolanus come all joy and honor!

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

BRUTUS

126

You see how he intends to use the people.

SICINIUS

127

May they perceive ’s intent! He will require them

128

As if he did contemn what he requested

129

Should be in them to give.

BRUTUS

Come, we’ll inform them

130

Of our proceedings here. On th’ marketplace

131

I know they do attend us.

⸢They exit.⸣

⸢Scene 3⸣

Enter seven or eight Citizens.

FIRST CITIZEN

1Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

SECOND CITIZEN

2We may, sir, if we will.

THIRD CITIZEN

3We 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

4And 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

5We 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

6Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?

THIRD CITIZEN

7Nay, 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

8Why that way?

THIRD CITIZEN

9To 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

10You are never without your tricks. You may, you may.

THIRD CITIZEN

11Are 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. 12Here 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

13Content, content.

⸢Citizens exit.⸣

MENENIUS

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

The worthiest men have done ’t?

CORIOLANUS

What must I say?

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

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

I got them in my country’s service when

Some certain of your brethren roared and ran

From th’ noise of our own drums.”

MENENIUS

O me, the gods!

You must not speak of that. You must desire them

To think upon you.

CORIOLANUS

Think upon me? Hang ’em!

I would they would forget me, like the virtues

Which our divines lose by ’em.

MENENIUS

You’ll mar all.

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

In wholesome manner.

He exits.

CORIOLANUS

Bid them wash their faces

And keep their teeth clean.

Enter three of the Citizens.

So, here comes a brace.—

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

THIRD CITIZEN

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

CORIOLANUS

30Mine own desert.

SECOND CITIZEN

31Your own desert?

CORIOLANUS

32Ay, but ⸢not⸣ mine own desire.

THIRD CITIZEN

33How, not your own desire?

CORIOLANUS

34No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.

THIRD CITIZEN

35You must think if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.

CORIOLANUS

36Well then, I pray, your price o’ th’ consulship?

FIRST CITIZEN

37The price is to ask it kindly.

CORIOLANUS

38Kindly, 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

39You shall ha ’t, worthy sir.

CORIOLANUS

40A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms. Adieu.

THIRD CITIZEN

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

SECOND CITIZEN

42An ’twere to give again—but ’tis no matter.

⸢These citizens⸣ exit.

Enter two other Citizens.

CORIOLANUS

43Pray 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⸣

44You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.

CORIOLANUS

45Your enigma?

⸢FOURTH CITIZEN⸣

46You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends. You have not indeed loved the common people.

CORIOLANUS

47You 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⸣

48We hope to find you our friend, and therefore give you our voices heartily.

⸢FOURTH CITIZEN⸣

49You have received many wounds for your country.

CORIOLANUS

50I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices and so trouble you no farther.

BOTH

51The gods give you joy, sir, heartily.

⸢Citizens exit.⸣

CORIOLANUS

52Most sweet voices!

Better it is to die, better to starve,

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

Why in this woolvish ⸢toge⸣ should I stand here

To beg of Hob and Dick that does appear

Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to ’t.

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

The dust on antique time would lie unswept

And mountainous error be too highly heaped

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

Let the high office and the honor go

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

The one part suffered, the other will I do.

Enter three Citizens more.

Here come more voices.—

Your voices! For your voices I have fought;

Watched for your voices; for your voices bear

Of wounds two dozen odd. Battles thrice six

I have seen and heard of; for your voices have

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

Indeed, I would be consul.

⸢SIXTH⸣ CITIZEN

72He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man’s voice.

⸢SEVENTH⸣ CITIZEN

73Therefore let him be consul. The gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people!

ALL

74Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul.

⸢Citizens exit.⸣

CORIOLANUS

75Worthy voices!

Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.

MENENIUS

You have stood your limitation, and the Tribunes

Endue you with the people’s voice. Remains

That in th’ official marks invested, you

Anon do meet the Senate.

CORIOLANUS

Is this done?

SICINIUS

The custom of request you have discharged.

The people do admit you, and are summoned

To meet anon upon your approbation.

CORIOLANUS

Where? At the Senate House?

SICINIUS

There, Coriolanus.

CORIOLANUS

May I change these garments?

SICINIUS

You may, sir.

CORIOLANUS

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

Repair to th’ Senate House.

MENENIUS

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

BRUTUS

We stay here for the people.

SICINIUS

Fare you well.

Coriolanus and Menenius exit.

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

’Tis warm at ’s heart.

BRUTUS

With a proud heart he wore

His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?

Enter the Plebeians.

SICINIUS

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

FIRST CITIZEN

93He has our voices, sir.

BRUTUS

We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.

SECOND CITIZEN

Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice,

He mocked us when he begged our voices.

THIRD CITIZEN

Certainly, he flouted us downright.

FIRST CITIZEN

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

SECOND CITIZEN

Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says

100

He used us scornfully. He should have showed us

101

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

SICINIUS

102Why, so he did, I am sure.

ALL

103No, no. No man saw ’em.

THIRD CITIZEN

104

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

105

And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,

106

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

107

But by your voices, will not so permit me;

108

Your voices therefore.” When we granted that,

109

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

110

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

111

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

SICINIUS

112

Why either were you ignorant to see ’t

113

Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness

114

To yield your voices?

BRUTUS

Could you not have told him

115

As you were lessoned? When he had no power,

116

But was a petty servant to the state,

117

He was your enemy, ever spake against

118

Your liberties and the charters that you bear

119

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

120

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

121

If he should still malignantly remain

122

Fast foe to th’ plebeii, your voices might

123

Be curses to yourselves. You should have said

124

That as his worthy deeds did claim no less

125

Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature

126

Would think upon you for your voices, and

127

Translate his malice towards you into love,

128

Standing your friendly lord.

SICINIUS

Thus to have said,

129

As you were fore-advised, had touched his spirit

130

And tried his inclination; from him plucked

131

Either his gracious promise, which you might,

132

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

133

Or else it would have galled his surly nature,

134

Which easily endures not article

135

Tying him to aught. So putting him to rage,

136

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

137

And passed him unelected.

BRUTUS

Did you perceive

138

He did solicit you in free contempt

139

When he did need your loves, and do you think

140

That his contempt shall not be bruising to you

141

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

142

No heart among you? Or had you tongues to cry

143

Against the rectorship of judgment?

SICINIUS

144

Have you ere now denied the asker? And now

145

Again, of him that did not ask but mock,

146

Bestow your sued-for tongues?

THIRD CITIZEN

He’s not confirmed.

147

We may deny him yet.

SECOND CITIZEN

And will deny him.

148

I’ll have five hundred voices of that sound.

FIRST CITIZEN

149

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

BRUTUS

150

Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends

151

They have chose a consul that will from them take

152

Their liberties, make them of no more voice

153

Than dogs that are as often beat for barking

154

As therefor kept to do so.

SICINIUS

Let them assemble

155

And, on a safer judgment, all revoke

156

Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride

157

And his old hate unto you. Besides, forget not

158

With what contempt he wore the humble weed,

159

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

160

Thinking upon his services, took from you

161

Th’ apprehension of his present portance,

162

Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion

163

After the inveterate hate he bears you.

BRUTUS

Lay

164

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

165

No impediment between, but that you must

166

Cast your election on him.

SICINIUS

Say you chose him

167

More after our commandment than as guided

168

By your own true affections, and that your minds,

169

Preoccupied with what you rather must do

170

Than what you should, made you against the grain

171

To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.

BRUTUS

172

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

173

How youngly he began to serve his country,

174

How long continued, and what stock he springs of,

175

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

176

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

177

Who after great Hostilius here was king,

178

Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,

179

That our best water brought by conduits hither;

180

⸢And Censorinus, that was so surnamed,⸣

181

And nobly namèd so, twice being censor,

182

Was his great ancestor.

SICINIUS

One thus descended,

183

That hath besides well in his person wrought

184

To be set high in place, we did commend

185

To your remembrances; but you have found,

186

Scaling his present bearing with his past,

187

That he’s your fixèd enemy, and revoke

188

Your sudden approbation.

BRUTUS

Say you ne’er had done ’t—

189

Harp on that still—but by our putting on.

190

And presently, when you have drawn your number,

191

Repair to th’ Capitol.

ALL

We will so. Almost all

192

Plebeians exit.

Repent in their election.

BRUTUS

Let them go on.

193

This mutiny were better put in hazard

194

Than stay, past doubt, for greater.

195

If, as his nature is, he fall in rage

196

With their refusal, both observe and answer

197

The vantage of his anger.

SICINIUS

To th’ Capitol, come.

198

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

199

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

200

Which we have goaded onward.

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?

LARTIUS

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

Our swifter composition.

CORIOLANUS

So then the Volsces stand but as at first,

Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road

Upon ’s again.

COMINIUS

They are worn, lord consul, so,

That we shall hardly in our ages see

Their banners wave again.

CORIOLANUS

Saw you Aufidius?

LARTIUS

On safeguard he came to me, and did curse

Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely

Yielded the town. He is retired to Antium.

CORIOLANUS

Spoke he of me?

LARTIUS

He did, my lord.

CORIOLANUS

How? What?

LARTIUS

How often he had met you sword to sword;

That of all things upon the earth he hated

Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes

To hopeless restitution, so he might

Be called your vanquisher.

CORIOLANUS

At Antium lives he?

LARTIUS

18At Antium.

CORIOLANUS

I wish I had a cause to seek him there,

To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home.

Enter Sicinius and Brutus.

Behold, these are the tribunes of the people,

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

For they do prank them in authority

Against all noble sufferance.

SICINIUS

25Pass no further.

CORIOLANUS

26Ha? What is that?

BRUTUS

It will be dangerous to go on. No further.

CORIOLANUS

28What makes this change?

MENENIUS

29The matter?

COMINIUS

Hath he not passed the noble and the common?

BRUTUS

Cominius, no.

CORIOLANUS

Have I had children’s voices?

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

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

BRUTUS

The people are incensed against him.

SICINIUS

Stop,

Or all will fall in broil.

CORIOLANUS

Are these your herd?

Must these have voices, that can yield them now

And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices?

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

Have you not set them on?

MENENIUS

Be calm, be calm.

CORIOLANUS

It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot,

To curb the will of the nobility.

Suffer ’t, and live with such as cannot rule

Nor ever will be ruled.

BRUTUS

Call ’t not a plot.

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

When corn was given them gratis, you repined,

Scandaled the suppliants for the people, called them

Timepleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.

CORIOLANUS

Why, this was known before.

BRUTUS

Not to them all.

CORIOLANUS

Have you informed them sithence?

BRUTUS

How? I inform them?

COMINIUS

49You are like to do such business.

BRUTUS

Not unlike, each way, to better yours.

CORIOLANUS

Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds,

Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me

Your fellow tribune.

SICINIUS

You show too much of that

For which the people stir. If you will pass

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

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit,

Or never be so noble as a consul,

Nor yoke with him for tribune.

MENENIUS

Let’s be calm.

COMINIUS

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

Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus

Deserved this so dishonored rub, laid falsely

I’ th’ plain way of his merit.

CORIOLANUS

Tell me of corn?

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

MENENIUS

Not now, not now.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

Not in this heat, sir, now.

CORIOLANUS

65Now, as I live, I will.

My nobler friends, I crave their pardons. For

The mutable, rank-scented meiny, let them

Regard me, as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves. I say again,

In soothing them, we nourish ’gainst our senate

The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,

Which we ourselves have plowed for, sowed, and scattered

By mingling them with us, the honored number,

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

Which they have given to beggars.

MENENIUS

Well, no more.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

No more words, we beseech you.

CORIOLANUS

How? No more?

As for my country I have shed my blood,

Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs

Coin words till their decay against those measles

Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought

The very way to catch them.

BRUTUS

You speak o’ th’ people

As if you were a god to punish, not

A man of their infirmity.

SICINIUS

’Twere well

We let the people know ’t.

MENENIUS

What, what? His choler?

CORIOLANUS

85Choler?

Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,

By Jove, ’twould be my mind.

SICINIUS

It is a mind

That shall remain a poison where it is,

Not poison any further.

CORIOLANUS

“Shall remain”?

Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you

His absolute “shall”?

COMINIUS

’Twas from the canon.

CORIOLANUS

“Shall”?

O ⸢good⸣ but most unwise patricians, why,

You grave but reckless senators, have you thus

Given Hydra here to choose an officer,

That with his peremptory “shall,” being but

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

To say he’ll turn your current in a ditch

And make your channel his? If he have power,

Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake

100

Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,

101

Be not as common fools; if you are not,

102

Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,

103

If they be senators; and they are no less

104

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

105

Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate,

106

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

107

His popular “shall,” against a graver bench

108

Than ever frowned in Greece. By Jove himself,

109

It makes the consuls base! And my soul aches

110

To know, when two authorities are up,

111

Neither supreme, how soon confusion

112

May enter ’twixt the gap of both and take

113

The one by th’ other.

COMINIUS

Well, on to th’ marketplace.

CORIOLANUS

114

Whoever gave that counsel to give forth

115

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

116

Sometime in Greece—

MENENIUS

Well, well, no more of that.

CORIOLANUS

117

Though there the people had more absolute power,

118

I say they nourished disobedience, fed

119

The ruin of the state.

BRUTUS

Why shall the people give

120

One that speaks thus their voice?

CORIOLANUS

I’ll give my reasons,

121

More worthier than their voices. They know the corn

122

Was not our recompense, resting well assured

123

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

124

Even when the navel of the state was touched,

125

They would not thread the gates. This kind of service

126

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

127

Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they showed

128

Most valor, spoke not for them. Th’ accusation

129

Which they have often made against the Senate,

130

All cause unborn, could never be the native

131

Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?

132

How shall this bosom multiplied digest

133

The Senate’s courtesy? Let deeds express

134

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

135

We are the greater poll, and in true fear

136

They gave us our demands.” Thus we debase

137

The nature of our seats and make the rabble

138

Call our cares fears, which will in time

139

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

140

The crows to peck the eagles.

MENENIUS

Come, enough.

BRUTUS

141

Enough, with over-measure.

CORIOLANUS

No, take more!

142

What may be sworn by, both divine and human,

143

Seal what I end withal! This double worship—

144

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

145

Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom

146

Cannot conclude but by the yea and no

147

Of general ignorance—it must omit

148

Real necessities and give way the while

149

To unstable slightness. Purpose so barred, it follows

150

Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you—

151

You that will be less fearful than discreet,

152

That love the fundamental part of state

153

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

154

A noble life before a long, and wish

155

To jump a body with a dangerous physic

156

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

157

The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick

158

The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonor

159

Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state

160

Of that integrity which should become ’t,

161

Not having the power to do the good it would

162

For th’ ill which doth control ’t.

BRUTUS

’Has said enough.

SICINIUS

163

’Has spoken like a traitor and shall answer

164

As traitors do.

CORIOLANUS

Thou wretch, despite o’erwhelm thee!

165

What should the people do with these bald tribunes,

166

On whom depending, their obedience fails

167

To th’ greater bench? In a rebellion,

168

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

169

Then were they chosen. In a better hour,

170

Let what is meet be said it must be meet,

171

And throw their power i’ th’ dust.

BRUTUS

172Manifest treason.

SICINIUS

173This a consul? No.

BRUTUS

174The aediles, ho! Let him be apprehended.

Enter an Aedile.

SICINIUS

175

Go, call the people;

⸢Aedile exits.⸣

in whose name myself

176

Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,

177

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

178

And follow to thine answer.

CORIOLANUS

Hence, old goat.

ALL ⸢PATRICIANS⸣

179

We’ll surety him.

COMINIUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣

Agèd sir, hands off.

CORIOLANUS

180

⸢to Sicinius⸣

Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones

181

Out of thy garments.

SICINIUS

Help, you citizens!

Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles.

MENENIUS

182On both sides more respect!

SICINIUS

183

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

BRUTUS

184Seize him, aediles.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

185Down with him, down with him!

SECOND SENATOR

186Weapons, weapons, weapons!

They all bustle about Coriolanus.

187

Tribunes, patricians, citizens, what ho!

188

Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

ALL

189Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace!

MENENIUS

190

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

191

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

192

To th’ people!—Coriolanus, patience!—

193

Speak, good Sicinius.

SICINIUS

Hear me, people! Peace!

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

194

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

SICINIUS

195

You are at point to lose your liberties.

196

Martius would have all from you, Martius,

197

Whom late you have named for consul.

MENENIUS

Fie, fie, fie!

198

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

199

To unbuild the city and to lay all flat.

SICINIUS

200

What is the city but the people?

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

True,

201

The people are the city.

BRUTUS

202

By the consent of all, we were established

203

The people’s magistrates.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

You so remain.

MENENIUS

204And so are like to do.

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

205

That is the way to lay the city flat,

206

To bring the roof to the foundation

207

And bury all which yet distinctly ranges

208

In heaps and piles of ruin.

SICINIUS

This deserves death.

BRUTUS

209

Or let us stand to our authority

210

Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce,

211

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

212

We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy

213

Of present death.

SICINIUS

Therefore lay hold of him,

214

Bear him to th’ rock Tarpeian, and from thence

215

Into destruction cast him.

BRUTUS

Aediles, seize him!

ALL PLEBEIANS

216

Yield, Martius, yield!

MENENIUS

Hear me one word.

217

Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.

AEDILES

218Peace, peace!

MENENIUS

219

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

220

And temp’rately proceed to what you would

221

Thus violently redress.

BRUTUS

Sir, those cold ways,

222

That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous

223

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

224

And bear him to the rock.

Coriolanus draws his sword.

CORIOLANUS

No, I’ll die here.

225

There’s some among you have beheld me fighting.

226

Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.

MENENIUS

227

Down with that sword!—Tribunes, withdraw awhile.

BRUTUS

228

Lay hands upon him!

MENENIUS

Help Martius, help!

229

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

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

230Down with him, down with him!

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

MENENIUS

231

⸢to Coriolanus⸣

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

232

All will be naught else.

SECOND SENATOR

Get you gone.

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

Stand fast!

233

We have as many friends as enemies.

MENENIUS

234

Shall it be put to that?

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

The gods forbid!—

235

I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house;

236

Leave us to cure this cause.

MENENIUS

For ’tis a sore upon us

237

You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you.

⸢COMINIUS⸣

238Come, sir, along with us.

⸢CORIOLANUS⸣

239

I would they were barbarians, as they are,

240

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

241

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

MENENIUS

Begone!

242

Put not your worthy rage into your tongue.

243

One time will owe another.

CORIOLANUS

On fair ground

244

I could beat forty of them.

MENENIUS

I could myself

245

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

COMINIUS

246

But now ’tis odds beyond arithmetic,

247

And manhood is called foolery when it stands

248

Against a falling fabric.

⸢To Coriolanus.⸣

Will you hence,

249

Before the tag return, whose rage doth rend

250

Like interrupted waters and o’erbear

251

What they are used to bear?

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣

Pray you, begone.

252

I’ll try whether my old wit be in request

253

With those that have but little. This must be patched

254

With cloth of any color.

COMINIUS

255Nay, come away.

Coriolanus and Cominius exit.

PATRICIAN

256This man has marred his fortune.

MENENIUS

257

His nature is too noble for the world.

258

He would not flatter Neptune for his trident

259

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

260

What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent,

261

And, being angry, does forget that ever

262

He heard the name of death.

A noise within.

Here’s goodly work.

PATRICIAN

263I would they were abed!

MENENIUS

264

I would they were in Tiber. What the vengeance,

265

Could he not speak ’em fair?

Enter Brutus and Sicinius with the rabble again.

SICINIUS

Where is this viper

266

That would depopulate the city and

267

Be every man himself?

MENENIUS

You worthy tribunes—

SICINIUS

268

He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock

269

With rigorous hands. He hath resisted law,

270

And therefore law shall scorn him further trial

271

Than the severity of the public power

272

Which he so sets at naught.

FIRST CITIZEN

He shall well know

273

The noble tribunes are the people’s mouths

274

And we their hands.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

275He shall, sure on ’t.

MENENIUS

276Sir, sir—

SICINIUS

277Peace!

MENENIUS

278

Do not cry havoc where you should but hunt

279

With modest warrant.

SICINIUS

Sir, how comes ’t that you

280

Have holp to make this rescue?

MENENIUS

Hear me speak.

281

As I do know the Consul’s worthiness,

282

So can I name his faults.

SICINIUS

283Consul? What consul?

MENENIUS

284The consul Coriolanus.

BRUTUS

285He consul?

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

286No, no, no, no, no!

MENENIUS

287

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

288

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

289

The which shall turn you to no further harm

290

Than so much loss of time.

SICINIUS

291Speak briefly then,

292

For we are peremptory to dispatch

293

This viperous traitor. To eject him hence

294

Were but one danger, and to keep him here

295

Our certain death. Therefore it is decreed

296

He dies tonight.

MENENIUS

Now the good gods forbid

297

That our renownèd Rome, whose gratitude

298

Towards her deservèd children is enrolled

299

In Jove’s own book, like an unnatural dam

300

Should now eat up her own.

SICINIUS

301

He’s a disease that must be cut away.

MENENIUS

302

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

303

Mortal to cut it off; to cure it easy.

304

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

305

Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost—

306

Which I dare vouch is more than that he hath

307

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

308

And what is left, to lose it by his country

309

Were to us all that do ’t and suffer it

310

A brand to th’ end o’ th’ world.

SICINIUS

This is clean cam.

BRUTUS

311

Merely awry. When he did love his country,

312

It honored him.

⸢SICINIUS⸣

The service of the foot,

313

Being once gangrened, is not then respected

314

For what before it was.

BRUTUS

We’ll hear no more.

315

Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence,

316

Lest his infection, being of catching nature,

317

Spread further.

MENENIUS

One word more, one word!

318

This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find

319

The harm of unscanned swiftness, will too late

320

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

321

Lest parties—as he is beloved—break out

322

And sack great Rome with Romans.

BRUTUS

If it were so—

SICINIUS

323What do you talk?

324

Have we not had a taste of his obedience?

325

Our aediles smote! Ourselves resisted! Come.

MENENIUS

326

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

327

Since he could draw a sword, and is ill schooled

328

In bolted language; meal and bran together

329

He throws without distinction. Give me leave,

330

I’ll go to him and undertake to bring him

331

Where he shall answer by a lawful form,

332

In peace, to his utmost peril.

FIRST SENATOR

Noble tribunes,

333

It is the humane way: the other course

334

Will prove too bloody, and the end of it

335

Unknown to the beginning.

SICINIUS

Noble Menenius,

336

Be you then as the people’s officer.—

337

Masters, lay down your weapons.

BRUTUS

Go not home.

SICINIUS

338

Meet on the marketplace.

⸢To Menenius.⸣

We’ll attend you there,

339

Where if you bring not Martius, we’ll proceed

340

In our first way.

MENENIUS

I’ll bring him to you.

341

⸢To Senators.⸣

Let me desire your company. He must come,

342

Or what is worst will follow.

⸢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

Death on the wheel or at wild horses’ heels,

Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock,

That the precipitation might down stretch

Below the beam of sight, yet will I still

Be thus to them.

NOBLE

You do the nobler.

CORIOLANUS

7I muse my mother

Does not approve me further, who was wont

To call them woolen vassals, things created

To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads

In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder

When one but of my ordinance stood up

To speak of peace or war.

Enter Volumnia.

I talk of you.

Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me

False to my nature? Rather say I play

The man I am.

VOLUMNIA

O sir, sir, sir,

I would have had you put your power well on

Before you had worn it out.

CORIOLANUS

19Let go.

VOLUMNIA

You might have been enough the man you are

With striving less to be so. Lesser had been

The ⸢thwartings⸣ of your dispositions if

You had not showed them how you were disposed

Ere they lacked power to cross you.

CORIOLANUS

Let them hang!

VOLUMNIA

25Ay, and burn too.

Enter Menenius with the Senators.

MENENIUS

⸢to Coriolanus⸣

Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough.

You must return and mend it.

⸢FIRST⸣ SENATOR

There’s no remedy,

Unless, by not so doing, our good city

Cleave in the midst and perish.

VOLUMNIA

Pray be counseled.

I have a heart as little apt as yours,

But yet a brain that leads my use of anger

To better vantage.

MENENIUS

Well said, noble woman.

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

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

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

Which I can scarcely bear.

CORIOLANUS

What must I do?

MENENIUS

Return to th’ Tribunes.

CORIOLANUS

Well, what then? What then?

MENENIUS

38Repent what you have spoke.

CORIOLANUS

For them? I cannot do it to the gods.

Must I then do ’t to them?

VOLUMNIA

You are too absolute,

Though therein you can never be too noble

But when extremities speak. I have heard you say

Honor and policy, like unsevered friends,

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

In peace what each of them by th’ other lose

That they combine not there?

CORIOLANUS

Tush, tush!

MENENIUS

A good demand.

VOLUMNIA

If it be honor in your wars to seem

The same you are not, which for your best ends

You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse

That it shall hold companionship in peace

With honor as in war, since that to both

It stands in like request?

CORIOLANUS

Why force you this?

VOLUMNIA

Because that now it lies you on to speak

To th’ people, not by your own instruction,

Nor by th’ matter which your heart prompts you,

But with such words that are but roted in

Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables

Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth.

Now, this no more dishonors you at all

Than to take in a town with gentle words,

Which else would put you to your fortune and

The hazard of much blood.

I would dissemble with my nature where

My fortunes and my friends at stake required

I should do so in honor. I am in this

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

And you will rather show our general louts

How you can frown than spend a fawn upon ’em

For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard

Of what that want might ruin.

MENENIUS

Noble lady!—

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

Not what is dangerous present, but the loss

Of what is past.

VOLUMNIA

I prithee now, my son,

Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand,

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

Thy knee bussing the stones—for in such business

Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ ignorant

More learnèd than the ears—waving thy head,

Which often thus correcting thy stout heart,

Now humble as the ripest mulberry

That will not hold the handling. Or say to them

Thou art their soldier and, being bred in broils,

Hast not the soft way, which thou dost confess

Were fit for thee to use as they to claim,

In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame

Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far

As thou hast power and person.

MENENIUS

This but done

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

For they have pardons, being asked, as free

As words to little purpose.

VOLUMNIA

Prithee now,

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

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf

Than flatter him in a bower.

Enter Cominius.

Here is Cominius.

COMINIUS

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

You make strong party or defend yourself

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

MENENIUS

Only fair speech.

COMINIUS

I think ’twill serve, if he

Can thereto frame his spirit.

VOLUMNIA

He must, and will.—

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

CORIOLANUS

100

Must I go show them my unbarbèd sconce? Must I

101

With my base tongue give to my noble heart

102

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

103

Yet, were there but this single plot to lose,

104

This mold of Martius, they to dust should grind it

105

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

106

You have put me now to such a part which never

107

I shall discharge to th’ life.

COMINIUS

Come, come, we’ll prompt you.

VOLUMNIA

108

I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said

109

My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

110

To have my praise for this, perform a part

111

Thou hast not done before.

CORIOLANUS

Well, I must do ’t.

112

Away, my disposition, and possess me

113

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

114

Which choirèd with my drum, into a pipe

115

Small as an eunuch or the virgin voice

116

That babies lull asleep! The smiles of knaves

117

Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys’ tears take up

118

The glasses of my sight! A beggar’s tongue

119

Make motion through my lips, and my armed knees,

120

Who bowed but in my stirrup, bend like his

121

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

122

Lest I surcease to honor mine own truth

123

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

124

A most inherent baseness.

VOLUMNIA

At thy choice, then.

125

To beg of thee, it is my more dishonor

126

Than thou of them. Come all to ruin. Let

127

Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear

128

Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death

129

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

130

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

131

But owe thy pride thyself.

CORIOLANUS

Pray be content.

132

Mother, I am going to the marketplace.

133

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

134

Cog their hearts from them, and come home beloved

135

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

136

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

137

Or never trust to what my tongue can do

138

I’ th’ way of flattery further.

VOLUMNIA

Do your will.

Volumnia exits.

COMINIUS

139

Away! The Tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself

140

To answer mildly, for they are prepared

141

With accusations, as I hear, more strong

142

Than are upon you yet.

CORIOLANUS

143

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

144

Let them accuse me by invention, I

145

Will answer in mine honor.

MENENIUS

Ay, but mildly.

CORIOLANUS

146Well, mildly be it, then. Mildly.

They exit.

⸢Scene 3⸣

Enter Sicinius and Brutus.

BRUTUS

In this point charge him home, that he affects

Tyrannical power. If he evade us there,

Enforce him with his envy to the people,

And that the spoil got on the Antiates

Was ne’er distributed.

Enter an Aedile.

What, will he come?

AEDILE

6He’s coming.

BRUTUS

7How accompanied?

AEDILE

With old Menenius, and those senators

That always favored him.

SICINIUS

Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procured,

Set down by th’ poll?

AEDILE

I have. ’Tis ready.

SICINIUS

Have you collected them by tribes?

AEDILE

I have.

SICINIUS

Assemble presently the people hither;

And when they hear me say “It shall be so

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

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

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

Insisting on the old prerogative

And power i’ th’ truth o’ th’ cause.

AEDILE

I shall inform them.

BRUTUS

And when such time they have begun to cry,

Let them not cease, but with a din confused

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

AEDILE

Very well.

SICINIUS

Make them be strong and ready for this hint

When we shall hap to give ’t them.

BRUTUS

Go about it.

⸢Aedile exits.⸣

Put him to choler straight. He hath been used

Ever to conquer and to have his worth

Of contradiction. Being once chafed, he cannot

Be reined again to temperance; then he speaks

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

With us to break his neck.

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

SICINIUS

Well, here he comes.

MENENIUS

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

CORIOLANUS

⸢aside to Menenius⸣

Ay, as an hostler that ⸢for th’⸣ poorest piece

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

Keep Rome in safety and the chairs of justice

Supplied with worthy men! Plant love among ’s!

⸢Throng⸣ our large temples with the shows of peace

And not our streets with war!

FIRST SENATOR

Amen, amen.

MENENIUS

39A noble wish.

Enter the Aedile with the Plebeians.

SICINIUS

40Draw near, you people.

AEDILE

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

CORIOLANUS

42First, hear me speak.

BOTH TRIBUNES

43Well, say.—Peace, ho!

CORIOLANUS

Shall I be charged no further than this present?

Must all determine here?

SICINIUS

I do demand

If you submit you to the people’s voices,

Allow their officers, and are content

To suffer lawful censure for such faults

As shall be proved upon you.

CORIOLANUS

I am content.

MENENIUS

Lo, citizens, he says he is content.

The warlike service he has done, consider. Think

Upon the wounds his body bears, which show

Like graves i’ th’ holy churchyard.

CORIOLANUS

Scratches with briars,

Scars to move laughter only.

MENENIUS

Consider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen,

You find him like a soldier. Do not take

His rougher ⸢accents⸣ for malicious sounds,

But, as I say, such as become a soldier

Rather than envy you.

COMINIUS

Well, well, no more.

CORIOLANUS

60What is the matter,

That, being passed for consul with full voice,

I am so dishonored that the very hour

You take it off again?

SICINIUS

64Answer to us.

CORIOLANUS

65Say then. ’Tis true, I ought so.

SICINIUS

We charge you that you have contrived to take

From Rome all seasoned office and to wind

Yourself into a power tyrannical,

For which you are a traitor to the people.

CORIOLANUS

How? Traitor?

MENENIUS

Nay, temperately! Your promise.

CORIOLANUS

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

Call me their traitor? Thou injurious tribune!

Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,

In thy hands clutched as many millions, in

Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say

“Thou liest” unto thee with a voice as free

As I do pray the gods.

SICINIUS

Mark you this, people?

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

78To th’ rock, to th’ rock with him!

SICINIUS

79Peace!

We need not put new matter to his charge.

What you have seen him do and heard him speak,

Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,

Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying

Those whose great power must try him—even this,

So criminal and in such capital kind,

Deserves th’ extremest death.

BRUTUS

But since he hath

Served well for Rome—

CORIOLANUS

What do you prate of service?

BRUTUS

88I talk of that that know it.

CORIOLANUS

89You?

MENENIUS

Is this the promise that you made your mother?

COMINIUS

91Know, I pray you—

CORIOLANUS

92I’ll know no further.

Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,

Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger

But with a grain a day, I would not buy

Their mercy at the price of one fair word,

Nor check my courage for what they can give,

To have ’t with saying “Good morrow.”

SICINIUS

For that he has,

As much as in him lies, from time to time

100

Envied against the people, seeking means

101

To pluck away their power, as now at last

102

Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence

103

Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers

104

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

105

And in the power of us the Tribunes, we,

106

Even from this instant, banish him our city

107

In peril of precipitation

108

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more

109

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

110

I say it shall be so.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

111

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

112

He’s banished, and it shall be so.

COMINIUS

113

Hear me, my masters and my common friends—

SICINIUS

114

He’s sentenced. No more hearing.

COMINIUS

Let me speak.

115

I have been consul and can show ⸢for⸣ Rome

116

Her enemies’ marks upon me. I do love

117

My country’s good with a respect more tender,

118

More holy and profound, than mine own life,

119

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

120

And treasure of my loins. Then if I would

121

Speak that—

SICINIUS

We know your drift. Speak what?

BRUTUS

122

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

123

As enemy to the people and his country.

124

It shall be so.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

It shall be so, it shall be so!

CORIOLANUS

125

You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate

126

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

127

As the dead carcasses of unburied men

128

That do corrupt my air, I banish you!

129

And here remain with your uncertainty;

130

Let every feeble rumor shake your hearts;

131

Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,

132

Fan you into despair! Have the power still

133

To banish your defenders, till at length

134

Your ignorance—which finds not till it feels,

135

Making but reservation of yourselves,

136

Still your own foes—deliver you

137

As most abated captives to some nation

138

That won you without blows! Despising

139

For you the city, thus I turn my back.

140

There is a world elsewhere.

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

AEDILE

141

The people’s enemy is gone, is gone.

ALL ⸢PLEBEIANS⸣

142

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

They all shout and throw up their caps.

SICINIUS

143

Go see him out at gates, and follow him,

144

As he hath followed you, with all despite.

145

Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard

146

Attend us through the city.

147

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

148

The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come!

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

With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother,

Where is your ancient courage? You were used

To say extremities was the trier of spirits;

That common chances common men could bear;

That when the sea was calm, all boats alike

Showed mastership in floating; fortune’s blows

When most struck home, being gentle wounded craves

A noble cunning. You were used to load me

With precepts that would make invincible

The heart that conned them.

VIRGILIA

O heavens! O heavens!

CORIOLANUS

Nay, I prithee, woman—

VOLUMNIA

Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome,

And occupations perish!

CORIOLANUS

What, what, what!

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

Resume that spirit when you were wont to say

If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labors you’d have done and saved

Your husband so much sweat.—Cominius,

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

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

Thy tears are salter than a younger man’s

And venomous to thine eyes.—My sometime general,

I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld

Heart-hard’ning spectacles. Tell these sad women

’Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes

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

My hazards still have been your solace, and—

Believe ’t not lightly—though I go alone,

Like to a lonely dragon that his fen

Makes feared and talked of more than seen, your son

Will or exceed the common or be caught

With cautelous baits and practice.

VOLUMNIA

My first son,

Whither ⸢wilt⸣ thou go? Take good Cominius

With thee awhile. Determine on some course

More than a wild exposure to each chance

That starts i’ th’ way before thee.

⸢VIRGILIA⸣

O the gods!

COMINIUS

I’ll follow thee a month, devise with thee

Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us

And we of thee; so if the time thrust forth

A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send

O’er the vast world to seek a single man

And lose advantage, which doth ever cool

I’ th’ absence of the needer.

CORIOLANUS

Fare you well.

Thou hast years upon thee, and thou art too full

Of the wars’ surfeits to go rove with one

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

Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and

My friends of noble touch. When I am forth,

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

While I remain above the ground, you shall

Hear from me still, and never of me aught

But what is like me formerly.

MENENIUS

That’s worthily

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

If I could shake off but one seven years

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

I’d with thee every foot.

CORIOLANUS

Give me thy hand.

Come.

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.

The nobility are vexed, whom we see have sided

In his behalf.

BRUTUS

Now we have shown our power,

Let us seem humbler after it is done

Than when it was a-doing.

SICINIUS

Bid them home.

Say their great enemy is gone, and they

Stand in their ancient strength.

BRUTUS

Dismiss them home.

8⸢Aedile exits.⸣

Here comes his mother.

Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.

SICINIUS

9Let’s not meet her.

BRUTUS

10Why?

SICINIUS

11They say she’s mad.

BRUTUS

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

VOLUMNIA

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

Requite your love!

MENENIUS

Peace, peace! Be not so loud.

VOLUMNIA

⸢to the Tribunes⸣

If that I could for weeping, you should hear—

Nay, and you shall hear some.

⸢(To Sicinius.)⸣

Will you be gone?

VIRGILIA

⸢to Brutus⸣

You shall stay too. I would I had the power

To say so to my husband.

SICINIUS

⸢to Volumnia⸣

Are you mankind?

VOLUMNIA

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

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship

To banish him that struck more blows for Rome

Than thou hast spoken words?

SICINIUS

O blessèd heavens!

VOLUMNIA

More noble blows than ever thou wise words,

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

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

Were in Arabia and thy tribe before him,

His good sword in his hand.

SICINIUS

What then?

VIRGILIA

What then?

He’d make an end of thy posterity.

VOLUMNIA

29Bastards and all.

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

MENENIUS

31Come, come, peace.

SICINIUS

I would he had continued to his country

As he began, and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

BRUTUS

I would he had.

VOLUMNIA

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

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth

As I can of those mysteries which heaven

Will not have Earth to know.

BRUTUS

⸢to Sicinius⸣

Pray, let’s go.

VOLUMNIA

39Now, pray, sir, get you gone.

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

As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome, so far my son—

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

Whom you have banished, does exceed you all.

BRUTUS

Well, well, we’ll leave you.

SICINIUS

Why stay we to be baited

With one that wants her wits?

Tribunes exit.

VOLUMNIA

Take my prayers with you.

I would the gods had nothing else to do

But to confirm my curses. Could I meet ’em

But once a day, it would unclog my heart

Of what lies heavy to ’t.

MENENIUS

You have told them home,

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

VOLUMNIA

Anger’s my meat. I sup upon myself

And so shall starve with feeding.

⸢(To Virgilia.)⸣

Come, let’s go.

Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,

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

They exit.

MENENIUS

56Fie, fie, fie!

He exits.

⸢Scene 3⸣

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

ROMAN

1I know you well, sir, and you know me. Your name I think is Adrian.

VOLSCE

2It is so, sir. Truly, I have forgot you.

ROMAN

3I am a Roman, and my services are, as you are, against ’em. Know you me yet?

VOLSCE

4Nicanor, no?

ROMAN

5The same, sir.

VOLSCE

6You 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

7There hath been in Rome strange insurrections, the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

VOLSCE

8Hath 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

9The 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

10Coriolanus banished?

ROMAN

11Banished, sir.

VOLSCE

12You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

ROMAN

13The 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

14He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.

ROMAN

15I 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

16A 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

17I 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

18You take my part from me, sir. I have the most cause to be glad of yours.

ROMAN

19Well, let us go together.

They exit.

⸢Scene 4⸣

Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised, and muffled.

CORIOLANUS

A goodly city is this Antium. City,

’Tis I that made thy widows. Many an heir

Of these fair edifices ’fore my wars

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

Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones

In puny battle slay me.

Enter a Citizen.

Save you, sir.

CITIZEN

And you.

CORIOLANUS

Direct me, if it be your will,

Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium?

CITIZEN

He is, and feasts the nobles of the state

At his house this night.

CORIOLANUS

Which is his house, beseech you?

CITIZEN

This here before you.

CORIOLANUS

Thank you, sir. Farewell.

Citizen exits.

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

Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,

Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise

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

Unseparable, shall within this hour,

On a dissension of a doit, break out

To bitterest enmity; so fellest foes,

Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep

To take the one the other, by some chance,

Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends

And interjoin their issues. So with me:

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

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

He does fair justice; if he give me way,

I’ll do his country service.

He exits.

⸢Scene 5⸣

Music plays. Enter a Servingman.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

1Wine, wine, wine! What service is here? I think our fellows are asleep.

⸢He exits.⸣

Enter another Servingman.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

2Where’s Cotus? My master calls for him. Cotus!

He exits.

Enter Coriolanus.

CORIOLANUS

A goodly house. The feast smells well, but I

Appear not like a guest.

Enter the First Servingman.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

5What 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

In being Coriolanus.

Enter Second ⸢Servingman.⸣

SECOND SERVINGMAN

8Whence are you, sir?—Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions?—Pray, get you out.

CORIOLANUS

9Away!

SECOND SERVINGMAN

10Away? Get you away.

CORIOLANUS

11Now th’ art troublesome.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

12Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.

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

THIRD SERVINGMAN

13What fellow’s this?

FIRST SERVINGMAN

14A 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

15What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.

CORIOLANUS

16Let me but stand. I will not hurt your hearth.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

17What are you?

CORIOLANUS

18A gentleman.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

19A marv’llous poor one.

CORIOLANUS

20True, so I am.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

21Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station. Here’s no place for you. Pray you, avoid. Come.

CORIOLANUS

22Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits.

Pushes him away from him.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

23What, you will not?—Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

24And I shall.

Second Servingman exits.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

25Where dwell’st thou?

CORIOLANUS

26Under the canopy.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

27Under the canopy?

CORIOLANUS

28Ay.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

29Where’s that?

CORIOLANUS

30I’ th’ city of kites and crows.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

31I’ th’ city of kites and crows? What an ass it is! Then thou dwell’st with daws too?

CORIOLANUS

32No, I serve not thy master.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

33How, sir? Do you meddle with my master?

CORIOLANUS

34Ay, ’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

35Where is this fellow?

SECOND SERVINGMAN

36Here, sir. I’d have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within.

⸢He steps aside.⸣

AUFIDIUS

37Whence com’st thou? What wouldst thou? Thy name? Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name?

CORIOLANUS

38 ⸢removing his muffler⸣ If, Tullus,

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

Think me for the man I am, necessity

Commands me name myself.

AUFIDIUS

What is thy name?

CORIOLANUS

A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears

And harsh in sound to thine.

AUFIDIUS

Say, what’s thy name?

Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face

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

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

CORIOLANUS

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

AUFIDIUS

48I know thee not. Thy name?

CORIOLANUS

My name is Caius Martius, who hath done

To thee particularly and to all the Volsces

Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may

My surname Coriolanus. The painful service,

The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood

Shed for my thankless country are requited

But with that surname, a good memory

And witness of the malice and displeasure

Which thou shouldst bear me. Only that name remains.

The cruelty and envy of the people,

Permitted by our dastard nobles, who

Have all forsook me, hath devoured the rest,

And suffered me by th’ voice of slaves to be

⸢Whooped⸣ out of Rome. Now this extremity

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

Mistake me not—to save my life; for if

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

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

To be full quit of those my banishers,

Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast

A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge

Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims

Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight

And make my misery serve thy turn. So use it

That my revengeful services may prove

As benefits to thee, for I will fight

Against my cankered country with the spleen

Of all the under fiends. But if so be

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

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

Longer to live most weary, and present

My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice,

Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,

Since I have ever followed thee with hate,

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

And cannot live but to thy shame, unless

It be to do thee service.

AUFIDIUS

O Martius, Martius,

Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart

A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter

Should from yond cloud speak divine things

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

Than thee, all-noble Martius. Let me twine

Mine arms about that body, whereagainst

My grainèd ash an hundred times hath broke

And scarred the moon with splinters.

⸢They embrace.⸣

Here I clip

The anvil of my sword and do contest

As hotly and as nobly with thy love

As ever in ambitious strength I did

Contend against thy valor. Know thou first,

I loved the maid I married; never man

Sighed truer breath. But that I see thee here,

100

Thou noble thing, more dances my rapt heart

101

Than when I first my wedded mistress saw

102

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

103

We have a power on foot, and I had purpose

104

Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn

105

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

106

Twelve several times, and I have nightly since

107

Dreamt of encounters ’twixt thyself and me;

108

We have been down together in my sleep,

109

Unbuckling helms, fisting each other’s throat,

110

And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,

111

Had we no other quarrel else to Rome but that

112

Thou art thence banished, we would muster all

113

From twelve to seventy and, pouring war

114

Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,

115

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

116

And take our friendly senators by th’ hands,

117

Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,

118

Who am prepared against your territories,

119

Though not for Rome itself.

CORIOLANUS

You bless me, gods!

AUFIDIUS

120

Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have

121

The leading of thine own revenges, take

122

Th’ one half of my commission and set down—

123

As best thou art experienced, since thou know’st

124

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

125

Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,

126

Or rudely visit them in parts remote

127

To fright them ere destroy. But come in.

128

Let me commend thee first to those that shall

129

Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!

130

And more a friend than ere an enemy—

131

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

⸢Coriolanus and Aufidius⸣ exit.

Two of the Servingmen ⸢come forward.⸣

FIRST SERVINGMAN

132Here’s a strange alteration!

SECOND SERVINGMAN

133By 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

134What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb as one would set up a top.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

135Nay, 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

136He had so, looking as it were— 137Would I were hanged but I thought there was more in him than I could think.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

138So did I, I’ll be sworn. He is simply the rarest man i’ th’ world.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

139I think he is. But a greater soldier than he you wot one.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

140Who, my master?

FIRST SERVINGMAN

141Nay, it’s no matter for that.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

142Worth six on him.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

143Nay, not so neither. But I take him to be the greater soldier.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

144Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that. For the defense of a town our general is excellent.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

145Ay, and for an assault too.

Enter the Third Servingman.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

146O slaves, I can tell you news, news, you rascals!

BOTH

147What, what, what? Let’s partake!

THIRD SERVINGMAN

148I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lief be a condemned man.

BOTH

149Wherefore? Wherefore?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

150Why, here’s he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Martius.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

151Why do you say “thwack our general”?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

152I do not say “thwack our general,” but he was always good enough for him.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

153Come, we are fellows and friends. He was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

154He 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

155An he had been cannibally given, he might have boiled and eaten him too.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

156But, more of thy news.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

157Why, 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

158And he’s as like to do ’t as any man I can imagine.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

159Do ’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

160Directitude? What’s that?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

161But 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

162But when goes this forward?

THIRD SERVINGMAN

163Tomorrow, 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

164Why then, we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.

FIRST SERVINGMAN

165Let 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

166’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

167Ay, and it makes men hate one another.

THIRD SERVINGMAN

168Reason: 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⸣

169In, 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.

His remedies are tame—the present peace,

And quietness of the people, which before

Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends

Blush that the world goes well, who rather had,

Though they themselves did suffer by ’t, behold

Dissentious numbers pest’ring streets than see

Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going

About their functions friendly.

BRUTUS

We stood to ’t in good time.

Enter Menenius.

Is this Menenius?

SICINIUS

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

Of late.—Hail, sir.

MENENIUS

Hail to you both.

SICINIUS

Your Coriolanus is not much missed

But with his friends. The commonwealth doth stand,

And so would do were he more angry at it.

MENENIUS

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

He could have temporized.

SICINIUS

18Where is he, hear you?

MENENIUS

19Nay, I hear nothing;

His mother and his wife hear nothing from him.

Enter three or four Citizens.

ALL ⸢CITIZENS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣

The gods preserve you both!

SICINIUS

Good e’en, our neighbors.

BRUTUS

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

FIRST CITIZEN

Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees

Are bound to pray for you both.

SICINIUS

Live, and thrive!

BRUTUS

Farewell, kind neighbors. We wished Coriolanus

Had loved you as we did.

ALL ⸢CITIZENS⸣

Now the gods keep you!

BOTH TRIBUNES

27Farewell, farewell.

Citizens exit.

SICINIUS

This is a happier and more comely time

Than when these fellows ran about the streets

Crying confusion.

BRUTUS

Caius Martius was

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

O’ercome with pride, ambitious, past all thinking

Self-loving.

SICINIUS

And affecting one sole throne, without assistance.

MENENIUS

35I think not so.

SICINIUS

We should by this, to all our lamentation,

If he had gone forth consul, found it so.

BRUTUS

The gods have well prevented it, and Rome

Sits safe and still without him.

Enter an Aedile.

AEDILE

Worthy tribunes,

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

Reports the Volsces with two several powers

Are entered in the Roman territories,

And with the deepest malice of the war

Destroy what lies before ’em.

MENENIUS

’Tis Aufidius,

Who, hearing of our Martius’ banishment,

Thrusts forth his horns again into the world,

Which were inshelled when Martius stood for Rome,

And durst not once peep out.

SICINIUS

49Come, what talk you of Martius?

BRUTUS

Go see this rumorer whipped. It cannot be

The Volsces dare break with us.

MENENIUS

Cannot be?

We have record that very well it can,

And three examples of the like hath been

Within my age. But reason with the fellow

Before you punish him, where he heard this,

Lest you shall chance to whip your information

And beat the messenger who bids beware

Of what is to be dreaded.

SICINIUS

Tell not me.

I know this cannot be.

BRUTUS

Not possible.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER

The nobles in great earnestness are going

All to the Senate House. Some news is coming

That turns their countenances.

SICINIUS

’Tis this slave—

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

Nothing but his report.

MESSENGER

Yes, worthy sir,

The slave’s report is seconded, and more,

More fearful, is delivered.

SICINIUS

What more fearful?

MESSENGER

It is spoke freely out of many mouths—

How probable I do not know—that Martius,

Joined with Aufidius, leads a power ’gainst Rome

And vows revenge as spacious as between

The young’st and oldest thing.

SICINIUS

This is most likely!

BRUTUS

Raised only that the weaker sort may wish

Good Martius home again.

SICINIUS

74The very trick on ’t.

MENENIUS

75This is unlikely;

He and Aufidius can no more atone

Than violent’st contrariety.

Enter ⸢a Second⸣ Messenger.

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

78You are sent for to the Senate.

A fearful army, led by Caius Martius

Associated with Aufidius, rages

Upon our territories, and have already

O’erborne their way, consumed with fire and took

What lay before them.

Enter Cominius.

COMINIUS

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

MENENIUS

85What news? What news?

COMINIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣

You have holp to ravish your own daughters and

To melt the city leads upon your pates,

To see your wives dishonored to your noses—

MENENIUS

89What’s the news? What’s the news?

COMINIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣

Your temples burnèd in their cement, and

Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined

Into an auger’s bore.

MENENIUS

Pray now, your news?—

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

If Martius should be joined with Volscians—

COMINIUS

If?

He is their god; he leads them like a thing

Made by some other deity than Nature,

That shapes man better; and they follow him

Against us brats with no less confidence

Than boys pursuing summer butterflies

100

Or butchers killing flies.

MENENIUS

101 ⸢to the Tribunes⸣ You have made good work,

102

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

103

Upon the voice of occupation and

104

The breath of garlic eaters!

COMINIUS

105

He’ll shake your Rome about your ears.

MENENIUS

106

As Hercules did shake down mellow fruit.

107

You have made fair work.

BRUTUS

108But is this true, sir?

COMINIUS

109Ay, and you’ll look pale

110

Before you find it other. All the regions

111

Do smilingly revolt, and who resists

112

Are mocked for valiant ignorance

113

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

114

Your enemies and his find something in him.

MENENIUS

115We are all undone, unless

116

The noble man have mercy.

COMINIUS

Who shall ask it?

117

The Tribunes cannot do ’t for shame; the people

118

Deserve such pity of him as the wolf

119

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

120

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

121

As those should do that had deserved his hate

122

And therein showed like enemies.

MENENIUS

’Tis true.

123

If he were putting to my house the brand

124

That should consume it, I have not the face

125

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

126

You and your crafts! You have crafted fair!

COMINIUS

You have brought

127

A trembling upon Rome such as was never

128

S’ incapable of help.

TRIBUNES

Say not we brought it.

MENENIUS

129

How? Was ’t we? We loved him, but like beasts

130

And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,

131

Who did hoot him out o’ th’ city.

COMINIUS

But I fear

132

They’ll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,

133

The second name of men, obeys his points

134

As if he were his officer. Desperation

135

Is all the policy, strength, and defense

136

That Rome can make against them.

Enter a troop of Citizens.

MENENIUS

Here come the clusters.—

137

And is Aufidius with him? You are they

138

That made the air unwholesome when you cast

139

Your stinking, greasy caps in hooting at

140

Coriolanus’ exile. Now he’s coming,

141

And not a hair upon a soldier’s head

142

Which will not prove a whip. As many coxcombs

143

As you threw caps up will he tumble down

144

And pay you for your voices. ’Tis no matter.

145

If he could burn us all into one coal,

146

We have deserved it.

ALL ⸢CITIZENS⸣

147Faith, we hear fearful news.

FIRST CITIZEN

148For mine own part,

149

When I said banish him, I said ’twas pity.

SECOND CITIZEN

150And so did I.

THIRD CITIZEN

151And 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

152You’re goodly things, you voices!

MENENIUS

153

You have made good work, you and your cry!—

154

Shall ’s to the Capitol?

COMINIUS

O, ay, what else?

Both exit.

SICINIUS

155

Go, masters, get you home. Be not dismayed.

156

These are a side that would be glad to have

157

This true which they so seem to fear. Go home,

158

And show no sign of fear.

FIRST CITIZEN

159The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let’s home. I ever said we were i’ th’ wrong when we banished him.

SECOND CITIZEN

160So did we all. But, come, let’s home.

Citizens exit.

BRUTUS

161I do not like this news.

SICINIUS

162Nor I.

BRUTUS

163

Let’s to the Capitol. Would half my wealth

164

Would buy this for a lie.

SICINIUS

Pray, let’s go.

Tribunes exit.

⸢Scene 7⸣

Enter Aufidius with his Lieutenant.

AUFIDIUS

1Do they still fly to th’ Roman?

LIEUTENANT

I do not know what witchcraft’s in him, but

Your soldiers use him as the grace ’fore meat,

Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;

And you are dark’ned in this action, sir,

Even by your own.

AUFIDIUS

I cannot help it now,

Unless by using means I lame the foot

Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier,

Even to my person, than I thought he would

When first I did embrace him. Yet his nature

In that’s no changeling, and I must excuse

What cannot be amended.

LIEUTENANT

Yet I wish, sir—

I mean for your particular—you had not

Joined in commission with him, but either

Have borne the action of yourself or else

To him had left it solely.

AUFIDIUS

I understand thee well, and be thou sure,

When he shall come to his account, he knows not

What I can urge against him, although it seems,

And so he thinks and is no less apparent

To th’ vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly,

And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,

Fights dragonlike, and does achieve as soon

As draw his sword; yet he hath left undone

That which shall break his neck or hazard mine

Whene’er we come to our account.

LIEUTENANT

Sir, I beseech you, think you he’ll carry Rome?

AUFIDIUS

All places yields to him ere he sits down,

And the nobility of Rome are his;

The Senators and Patricians love him too.

The Tribunes are no soldiers, and their people

Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty

To expel him thence. I think he’ll be to Rome

As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it

By sovereignty of nature. First, he was

A noble servant to them, but he could not

Carry his honors even. Whether ⸢’twas⸣ pride,

Which out of daily fortune ever taints

The happy man; whether ⸢defect⸣ of judgment,

To fail in the disposing of those chances

Which he was lord of; or whether nature,

Not to be other than one thing, not moving

From th’ casque to th’ cushion, but commanding peace

Even with the same austerity and garb

As he controlled the war; but one of these—

As he hath spices of them all—not all,

For I dare so far free him—made him feared,

So hated, and so banished. But he has a merit

To choke it in the utt’rance. So our ⸢virtues⸣

Lie in th’ interpretation of the time,

And power, unto itself most commendable,

Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair

T’ extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire, one nail one nail;

Rights by rights ⸢falter⸣ ; strengths by strengths do fail.

Come, let’s away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,

Thou art poor’st of all; then shortly art thou mine.

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

Which was sometime his general, who loved him

In a most dear particular. He called me father,

But what o’ that? Go you that banished him;

A mile before his tent, fall down, and knee

The way into his mercy. Nay, if he coyed

To hear Cominius speak, I’ll keep at home.

COMINIUS

He would not seem to know me.

MENENIUS

Do you hear?

COMINIUS

Yet one time he did call me by my name.

I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops

That we have bled together. “Coriolanus”

He would not answer to, forbade all names.

He was a kind of nothing, titleless,

Till he had forged himself a name o’ th’ fire

Of burning Rome.

MENENIUS

⸢to the Tribunes⸣

Why, so; you have made good work!

A pair of tribunes that have wracked Rome

To make coals cheap! A noble memory!

COMINIUS

I minded him how royal ’twas to pardon

When it was less expected. He replied

It was a bare petition of a state

To one whom they had punished.

MENENIUS

Very well.

Could he say less?

COMINIUS

I offered to awaken his regard

For ’s private friends. His answer to me was

He could not stay to pick them in a pile

Of noisome musty chaff. He said ’twas folly

For one poor grain or two to leave unburnt

And still to nose th’ offense.

MENENIUS

29For one poor grain or two!

I am one of those! His mother, wife, his child,

And this brave fellow too, we are the grains;

You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt

Above the moon. We must be burnt for you.

SICINIUS

Nay, pray, be patient. If you refuse your aid

In this so-never-needed help, yet do not

Upbraid ’s with our distress. But sure, if you

Would be your country’s pleader, your good tongue,

More than the instant army we can make,

Might stop our countryman.

MENENIUS

No, I’ll not meddle.

SICINIUS

40Pray you, go to him.

MENENIUS

41What should I do?

BRUTUS

Only make trial what your love can do

For Rome, towards Martius.

MENENIUS

Well, and say that Martius

Return me, as Cominius is returned, unheard,

What then? But as a discontented friend,

Grief-shot with his unkindness? Say ’t be so?

SICINIUS

47Yet your good will

Must have that thanks from Rome after the measure

As you intended well.

MENENIUS

I’ll undertake ’t.

I think he’ll hear me. Yet to bite his lip

And hum at good Cominius much unhearts me.

He was not taken well; he had not dined.

The veins unfilled, our blood is cold, and then

We pout upon the morning, are unapt

To give or to forgive; but when we have stuffed

These pipes and these conveyances of our blood

With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls

Than in our priestlike fasts. Therefore I’ll watch him

Till he be dieted to my request,

And then I’ll set upon him.

BRUTUS

You know the very road into his kindness

And cannot lose your way.

MENENIUS

Good faith, I’ll prove him,

Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge

Of my success.

COMINIUS

He exits.

He’ll never hear him.

SICINIUS

Not?

COMINIUS

I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye

Red as ’twould burn Rome; and his injury

The jailor to his pity. I kneeled before him;

’Twas very faintly he said “Rise”; dismissed me

Thus with his speechless hand. What he would do

He sent in writing after me; what he

Would not, bound with an oath to yield to his

Conditions. So that all hope is vain

Unless his noble mother and his wife,

Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him

For mercy to his country. Therefore let’s hence

And with our fair entreaties haste them on.

They exit.

⸢Scene 2⸣

Enter Menenius to the Watch, or Guard.

FIRST WATCH

1Stay! Whence are you?

SECOND WATCH

2Stand, and go back.

MENENIUS

You guard like men; ’tis well. But by your leave,

I am an officer of state and come

To speak with Coriolanus.

FIRST WATCH

6From whence?

MENENIUS

7From Rome.

FIRST WATCH

You may not pass; you must return. Our general

Will no more hear from thence.

SECOND WATCH

You’ll see your Rome embraced with fire before

You’ll speak with Coriolanus.

MENENIUS

Good my friends,

If you have heard your general talk of Rome

And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks

My name hath touched your ears. It is Menenius.

FIRST WATCH

Be it so; go back. The virtue of your name

Is not here passable.

MENENIUS

I tell thee, fellow,

Thy general is my lover. I have been

The book of his good acts, whence men have read

His fame unparalleled happily amplified;

For I have ever verified my friends—

Of whom he’s chief—with all the size that verity

Would without lapsing suffer. Nay, sometimes,

Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,

I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise

Have almost stamped the leasing. Therefore, fellow,

I must have leave to pass.

FIRST WATCH

27Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in 28his 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

29Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.

SECOND WATCH

30Howsoever 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

31Has he dined, can’st thou tell? For I would not speak with him till after dinner.

FIRST WATCH

32You are a Roman, are you?

MENENIUS

33I am, as thy general is.

FIRST WATCH

34Then 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

35Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

FIRST WATCH

36Come, my captain knows you not.

MENENIUS

37I mean thy general.

FIRST WATCH

38My 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

39Nay, but fellow, fellow—

Enter Coriolanus with Aufidius.

CORIOLANUS

40What’s the matter?

MENENIUS

41 ⸢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 42could 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

43Away!

MENENIUS

44How? Away?

CORIOLANUS

Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs

Are servanted to others. Though I owe

My revenge properly, my remission lies

In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,

Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather

Than pity note how much. Therefore, begone.

Mine ears against your suits are stronger than

Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,

Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

⸢He gives Menenius a paper.⸣

And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,

I will not hear thee speak.—This man, Aufidius,

Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st.

They exit.

AUFIDIUS

57You keep a constant temper.

The Guard and Menenius remain.

FIRST WATCH

58Now, sir, is your name Menenius?

SECOND WATCH

59’Tis a spell, you see, of much power. You know the way home again.

FIRST WATCH

60Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your Greatness back?

SECOND WATCH

61What cause do you think I have to swoon?

He exits.

MENENIUS

62I 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

63A noble fellow, I warrant him.

SECOND WATCH

64The 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

Set down our host. My partner in this action,

You must report to th’ Volscian lords how plainly

I have borne this business.

AUFIDIUS

Only their ends

You have respected, stopped your ears against

The general suit of Rome, never admitted

A private whisper, no, not with such friends

That thought them sure of you.

CORIOLANUS

This last old man,

Whom with a cracked heart I have sent to Rome,

Loved me above the measure of a father,

Nay, godded me indeed. Their latest refuge

Was to send him, for whose old love I have—

Though I showed sourly to him—once more offered

The first conditions, which they did refuse

And cannot now accept, to grace him only

That thought he could do more. A very little

I have yielded to. Fresh embassies and suits,

Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter

Will I lend ear to.

(Shout within.)

Ha? What shout is this?

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow

In the same time ’tis made? I will not.

Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Martius, with Attendants.

My wife comes foremost, then the honored mold

Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand

The grandchild to her blood. But out, affection!

All bond and privilege of nature, break!

Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.

⸢Virgilia curtsies.⸣

What is that curtsy worth? Or those doves’ eyes,

Which can make gods forsworn? I melt and am not

Of stronger earth than others.

⸢Volumnia bows.⸣

My mother bows,

As if Olympus to a molehill should

In supplication nod; and my young boy

Hath an aspect of intercession which

Great Nature cries “Deny not!” Let the Volsces

Plow Rome and harrow Italy, I’ll never

Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand

As if a man were author of himself,

And knew no other kin.

VIRGILIA

My lord and husband.

CORIOLANUS

These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.

VIRGILIA

The sorrow that delivers us thus changed

Makes you think so.

CORIOLANUS

Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my part, and I am out,

Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,

Forgive my tyranny, but do not say

For that “Forgive our Romans.”

⸢They kiss.⸣

O, a kiss

Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!

Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss

I carried from thee, dear, and my true lip

Hath virgined it e’er since. You gods! I ⸢prate⸣

And the most noble mother of the world

Leave unsaluted. Sink, my knee, i’ th’ earth;

(Kneels.)

Of thy deep duty more impression show

Than that of common sons.

VOLUMNIA

O, stand up blest,

⸢He rises.⸣

Whilst with no softer cushion than the flint

I kneel before thee and unproperly

Show duty, as mistaken all this while

Between the child and parent.

⸢She kneels.⸣

CORIOLANUS

What’s this?

Your knees to me? To your corrected son?

⸢He raises her up.⸣

Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach

Fillip the stars! Then let the mutinous winds

Strike the proud cedars ’gainst the fiery sun,

Murdering impossibility to make

What cannot be slight work.

VOLUMNIA

Thou art my warrior;

I ⸢holp⸣ to frame thee. Do you know this lady?

CORIOLANUS

The noble sister of Publicola,

The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle

That’s curdied by the frost from purest snow

And hangs on Dian’s temple!—Dear Valeria.

VOLUMNIA

⸢presenting young Martius⸣

This is a poor epitome of yours,

Which by th’ interpretation of full time

May show like all yourself.

CORIOLANUS

71 ⸢to young Martius⸣ The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform

Thy thoughts with nobleness, that thou mayst prove

To shame unvulnerable, and stick i’ th’ wars

Like a great seamark standing every flaw

And saving those that eye thee.

VOLUMNIA

⸢to young Martius⸣

Your knee, sirrah.

⸢He kneels.⸣

CORIOLANUS

77That’s my brave boy!

VOLUMNIA

Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself

⸢Young Martius rises.⸣

Are suitors to you.

CORIOLANUS

I beseech you, peace;

Or if you’d ask, remember this before:

The thing I have forsworn to grant may never

Be held by you denials. Do not bid me

Dismiss my soldiers or capitulate

Again with Rome’s mechanics. Tell me not

Wherein I seem unnatural; desire not

T’ allay my rages and revenges with

Your colder reasons.

VOLUMNIA

O, no more, no more!

You have said you will not grant us anything;

For we have nothing else to ask but that

Which you deny already. Yet we will ask,

That if you fail in our request, the blame

May hang upon your hardness. Therefore hear us.

CORIOLANUS

Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark, for we’ll

Hear naught from Rome in private.

⸢He sits.⸣

Your request?

VOLUMNIA

Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment

And state of bodies would bewray what life

We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself

How more unfortunate than all living women

Are we come hither; since that thy sight, which should

100

Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts,

101

Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow,

102

Making the mother, wife, and child to see

103

The son, the husband, and the father tearing

104

His country’s bowels out. And to poor we

105

Thine enmity’s most capital. Thou barr’st us

106

Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort

107

That all but we enjoy. For how can we—

108

Alas, how can we—for our country pray,

109

Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory,

110

Whereto we are bound? Alack, or we must lose

111

The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person,

112

Our comfort in the country. We must find

113

An evident calamity, though we had

114

Our wish, which side should win, for either thou

115

Must as a foreign recreant be led

116

With manacles through our streets, or else

117

Triumphantly tread on thy country’s ruin

118

And bear the palm for having bravely shed

119

Thy wife and children’s blood. For myself, son,

120

I purpose not to wait on fortune till

121

These wars determine. If I cannot persuade thee

122

Rather to show a noble grace to both parts

123

Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner

124

March to assault thy country than to tread—

125

Trust to ’t, thou shalt not—on thy mother’s womb

126

That brought thee to this world.

VIRGILIA

Ay, and mine,

127

That brought you forth this boy to keep your name

128

Living to time.

YOUNG MARTIUS

He shall not tread on me.

129

I’ll run away till I am bigger, but then I’ll fight.

CORIOLANUS

130

Not of a woman’s tenderness to be

131

Requires nor child nor woman’s face to see.—

132

I have sat too long.

⸢He rises.⸣

VOLUMNIA

Nay, go not from us thus.

133

If it were so, that our request did tend

134

To save the Romans, thereby to destroy

135

The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us

136

As poisonous of your honor. No, our suit

137

Is that you reconcile them, while the Volsces

138

May say “This mercy we have showed,” the Romans

139

“This we received,” and each in either side

140

Give the all-hail to thee and cry “Be blest

141

For making up this peace!” Thou know’st, great son,

142

The end of war’s uncertain, but this certain,

143

That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit

144

Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name

145

Whose repetition will be dogged with curses,

146

Whose chronicle thus writ: “The man was noble,

147

But with his last attempt he wiped it out,

148

Destroyed his country, and his name remains

149

To th’ ensuing age abhorred.” Speak to me, son.

150

Thou hast affected the ⸢fine⸣ strains of honor

151

To imitate the graces of the gods,

152

To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o’ th’ air

153

And yet to ⸢charge⸣ thy sulfur with a bolt

154

That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?

155

Think’st thou it honorable for a noble man

156

Still to remember wrongs?—Daughter, speak you.

157

He cares not for your weeping.—Speak thou, boy.

158

Perhaps thy childishness will move him more

159

Than can our reasons.—There’s no man in the world

160

More bound to ’s mother, yet here he lets me prate

161

Like one i’ th’ stocks. Thou hast never in thy life

162

Showed thy dear mother any courtesy

163

When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood,

164

Has ⸢clucked⸣ thee to the wars and safely home,

165

Loaden with honor. Say my request’s unjust

166

And spurn me back; but if it be not so,

167

Thou art not honest, and the gods will plague thee

168

That thou restrain’st from me the duty which

169

To a mother’s part belongs.—He turns away.—

170

Down, ladies! Let us shame him with our knees.

171

To his surname Coriolanus ’longs more pride

172

Than pity to our prayers. Down! An end.

⸢They kneel.⸣

173

This is the last. So, we will home to Rome

174

And die among our neighbors.—Nay, behold ’s.

175

This boy that cannot tell what he would have,

176

But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship,

177

Does reason our petition with more strength

178

Than thou hast to deny ’t.—Come, let us go.

⸢They rise.⸣

179

This fellow had a Volscian to his mother,

180

His wife is in Corioles, and his child

181

Like him by chance.—Yet give us our dispatch.

182

I am hushed until our city be afire,

183

And then I’ll speak a little.

⸢He⸣ holds her by the hand, silent.

CORIOLANUS

O mother, mother!

184

What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,

185

The gods look down, and this unnatural scene

186

They laugh at. O, my mother, mother, O!

187

You have won a happy victory to Rome,

188

But, for your son—believe it, O, believe it!—

189

Most dangerously you have with him prevailed,

190

If not most mortal to him. But let it come.—

191

Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,

192

I’ll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,

193

Were you in my stead, would you have heard

194

A mother less? Or granted less, Aufidius?

AUFIDIUS

195

I was moved withal.

CORIOLANUS

I dare be sworn you were.

196

And, sir, it is no little thing to make

197

Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,

198

What peace you’ll make advise me. For my part,

199

I’ll not to Rome. I’ll back with you; and pray you,

200

Stand to me in this cause.—O mother!—Wife!

⸢He speaks with them aside.⸣

AUFIDIUS

201

⸢aside⸣

I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honor

202

At difference in thee. Out of that I’ll work

203

Myself a former fortune.

CORIOLANUS

204 ⸢to the Women⸣ Ay, by and by;

205

But we will drink together, and you shall bear

206

A better witness back than words, which we,

207

On like conditions, will have countersealed.

208

Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve

209

To have a temple built you. All the swords

210

In Italy, and her confederate arms,

211

Could not have made this peace.

They exit.

⸢Scene 4⸣

Enter Menenius and Sicinius.

MENENIUS

1See you yond coign o’ th’ Capitol, yond cornerstone?

SICINIUS

2Why, what of that?

MENENIUS

3If 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

4Is ’t possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man?

MENENIUS

5There 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

6He loved his mother dearly.

MENENIUS

7So 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

8Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

MENENIUS

9I 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

10The gods be good unto us.

MENENIUS

11No, 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.

The plebeians have got your fellow tribune

And hale him up and down, all swearing if

The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,

They’ll give him death by inches.

Enter another Messenger.

SICINIUS

What’s the news?

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

Good news, good news! The ladies have prevailed.

The Volscians are dislodged and Martius gone.

A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,

No, not th’ expulsion of the Tarquins.

SICINIUS

Friend,

Art thou certain this is true? Is ’t most certain?

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

As certain as I know the sun is fire.

Where have you lurked that you make doubt of it?

Ne’er through an arch so hurried the blown tide

As the recomforted through th’ gates. Why, hark you!

Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all together.

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,

Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans

Make the sun dance. Hark you!

A shout within.

MENENIUS

This is good news.

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia

Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians

A city full; of tribunes such as you

A sea and land full. You have prayed well today.

This morning for ten thousand of your throats

I’d not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

Sound still with the shouts.

SICINIUS

35 ⸢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.

SICINIUS

37They are near the city?

⸢SECOND⸣ MESSENGER

38Almost at point to enter.

SICINIUS

39We’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!

Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,

And make triumphant fires. Strew flowers before them,

Unshout the noise that banished Martius,

Repeal him with the welcome of his mother.

Cry “Welcome, ladies, welcome!”

ALL

7Welcome, 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.

Deliver them this paper.

⸢(He gives them a paper.)⸣

Having read it,

Bid them repair to th’ marketplace, where I,

Even in theirs and in the commons’ ears,

Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse

The city ports by this hath entered and

Intends t’ appear before the people, hoping

To purge himself with words. Dispatch.

⸢The Attendants exit.⸣

Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius’s faction.

Most welcome!

FIRST CONSPIRATOR

How is it with our general?

AUFIDIUS

Even so

As with a man by his own alms empoisoned

And with his charity slain.

SECOND CONSPIRATOR

Most noble sir,

If you do hold the same intent wherein

You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you

Of your great danger.

AUFIDIUS

Sir, I cannot tell.

We must proceed as we do find the people.

THIRD CONSPIRATOR

The people will remain uncertain whilst

’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either

Makes the survivor heir of all.

AUFIDIUS

I know it,

And my pretext to strike at him admits

A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned

Mine honor for his truth, who, being so heightened,

He watered his new plants with dews of flattery,

Seducing so my friends; and to this end,

He bowed his nature, never known before

But to be rough, unswayable, and free.

THIRD CONSPIRATOR

26Sir, his stoutness

When he did stand for consul, which he lost

By lack of stooping—

AUFIDIUS

That I would have spoke of.

Being banished for ’t, he came unto my hearth,

Presented to my knife his throat. I took him,

Made him joint servant with me, gave him way

In all his own desires; nay, let him choose

Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,

My best and freshest men; served his designments

In mine own person; holp to reap the fame

Which he did end all his; and took some pride

To do myself this wrong; till at the last

I seemed his follower, not partner; and

He waged me with his countenance as if

I had been mercenary.

FIRST CONSPIRATOR

So he did, my lord.

The army marvelled at it, and, in the last,

When he had carried Rome and that we looked

For no less spoil than glory—

AUFIDIUS

There was it

For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him.

At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are

As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labor

Of our great action. Therefore shall he die,

And I’ll renew me in his fall. But hark!

Drums and trumpets sounds, with great shouts of the people.

FIRST CONSPIRATOR

Your native town you entered like a post

And had no welcomes home, but he returns

Splitting the air with noise.

SECOND CONSPIRATOR

And patient fools,

Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear

With giving him glory.

THIRD CONSPIRATOR

Therefore at your vantage,

Ere he express himself or move the people

With what he would say, let him feel your sword,

Which we will second. When he lies along,

After your way his tale pronounced shall bury

His reasons with his body.

AUFIDIUS

Say no more.

Enter the Lords of the city.

Here come the lords.

You are most welcome home.

AUFIDIUS

I have not deserved it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused

What I have written to you?

ALL ⸢LORDS⸣

63We have.

FIRST LORD

64And grieve to hear ’t.

What faults he made before the last, I think

Might have found easy fines, but there to end

Where he was to begin and give away

The benefit of our levies, answering us

With our own charge, making a treaty where

There was a yielding—this admits no excuse.

Enter Coriolanus marching with Drum and Colors, the Commoners being with him.

AUFIDIUS

71He approaches. You shall hear him.

CORIOLANUS

Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier,

No more infected with my country’s love

Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting

Under your great command. You are to know

That prosperously I have attempted, and

With bloody passage led your wars even to

The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home

Doth more than counterpoise a full third part

The charges of the action. We have made peace

With no less honor to the Antiates

Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver,

Subscribed by’ th’ Consuls and patricians,

Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what

We have compounded on.

⸢He offers the lords a paper.⸣

AUFIDIUS

86Read it not, noble lords,

But tell the traitor in the highest degree

He hath abused your powers.

CORIOLANUS

89“Traitor”? How now?

AUFIDIUS

90Ay, traitor, Martius.

CORIOLANUS

91Martius?

AUFIDIUS

Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think

I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name

Coriolanus, in Corioles?

You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously

He has betrayed your business and given up

For certain drops of salt your city Rome—

I say your city—to his wife and mother,

Breaking his oath and resolution like

100

A twist of rotten silk, never admitting

101

Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears

102

He whined and roared away your victory,

103

That pages blushed at him and men of heart

104

Looked wond’ring each at ⸢other.⸣

CORIOLANUS

Hear’st thou, Mars?

AUFIDIUS

105Name not the god, thou boy of tears.

CORIOLANUS

106Ha?

AUFIDIUS

107No more.

CORIOLANUS

108

Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart

109

Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!—

110

Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever

111

I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords,

112

Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion—

113

Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that

114

Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join

115

To thrust the lie unto him.

FIRST LORD

116Peace, both, and hear me speak.

CORIOLANUS

117

Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads,

118

Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound!

119

If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there

120

That like an eagle in a dovecote, I

121

⸢Fluttered⸣ your Volscians in Corioles,

122

Alone I did it. “Boy”!

AUFIDIUS

Why, noble lords,

123

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,

124

Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,

125

’Fore your own eyes and ears?

ALL CONSPIRATORS

Let him die for ’t.

ALL PEOPLE

126Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin Marcus! He killed my father!

SECOND LORD

127Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace!

128

The man is noble, and his fame folds in

129

This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offenses to us

130

Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius,

131

And trouble not the peace.

CORIOLANUS

⸢drawing his sword⸣

O, that I had him,

132

With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,

133

To use my lawful sword.

AUFIDIUS

Insolent villain!

ALL CONSPIRATORS

134Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

Draw the Conspirators, and kills Martius, who falls. Aufidius stands on him.

LORDS

135Hold, hold, hold, hold!

AUFIDIUS

136

My noble masters, hear me speak.

FIRST LORD

O Tullus!

SECOND LORD

137

Thou hast done a deed whereat valor will weep.

THIRD LORD

138

Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.—

139

Put up your swords.

AUFIDIUS

140

My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage,

141

Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger

142

Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice

143

That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honors

144

To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver

145

Myself your loyal servant or endure

146

Your heaviest censure.

FIRST LORD

Bear from hence his body,

147

And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded

148

As the most noble corse that ever herald

149

Did follow to his urn.

SECOND LORD

His own impatience

150

Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.

151

Let’s make the best of it.

AUFIDIUS

My rage is gone,

152

And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up.

153

Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.—

154

Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.—

155

Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he

156

Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,

157

Which to this hour bewail the injury,

158

Yet he shall have a noble memory.

159

Assist.

They exit bearing the body of Martius.

A dead march sounded.