1 OFFICER Come, come, they are almost here. How |
|
many stand for consulships? |
|
2 OFFICER Three, they say; but ’tis thought of everyone |
|
Coriolanus will carry it. |
|
1 OFFICER That’s a brave fellow; but he’s vengeance |
5 |
proud, and loves not the common people. |
|
2 OFFICER ’Faith, there hath been many great men that |
|
have flattered the people, who ne’er loved them; and |
|
there be many that they have loved, they know not |
|
wherefore: so that if they love they know not why, they |
10 |
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. |
15 |
1 OFFICER If he did not care whether he had their love |
|
or no, he waved indifferently ’twixt doing them |
|
neither good nor harm; but he seeks their hate with |
|
greater devotion than they can render it him, and |
|
leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him |
20 |
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. |
|
2 OFFICER He hath deserved worthily of his country; |
|
and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those |
25 |
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 honours in their eyes and his |
|
actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be |
30 |
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. |
|
1 OFFICER No more of him; he’s a worthy man: make |
35 |
way, they are coming. |
|
A sennet. Enter the patricians, and the tribunes of the people, lictors before them; CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS the Consul. SICINIUS and BRUTUS take their places by themselves; Coriolanus stands. |
|
MENENIUS Having determin’d 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 |
40 |
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 perform’d |
45 |
By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom |
|
We met here, both to thank and to remember, |
|
With honours like himself. [Coriolanus sits.] |
|
1 SENATOR Speak, good Cominius. |
|
Leave nothing out for length, and make us think |
|
Rather our state’s defective for requital |
50 |
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 |
55 |
|
|
The theme of our assembly. |
|
BRUTUS Which the rather |
|
We shall be bless’d to do, if he remember |
|
A kinder value of the people than |
|
He hath hereto priz’d them at. |
|
MENENIUS That’s off, that’s off! |
60 |
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. |
65 |
Worthy Cominius, speak. |
|
[Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away.] |
|
Nay, keep your place. |
|
1 SENATOR Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear |
|
What you have nobly done. |
|
CORIOLANUS Your honours’ pardon: |
|
I had rather have my wounds to heal again |
|
Than hear say how I got them. |
|
BRUTUS Sir, I hope |
70 |
My words disbench’d you not? |
|
CORIOLANUS No, sir; yet oft, |
|
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. |
|
You sooth’d 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 |
75 |
When the alarum were struck, than idly sit |
|
To hear my nothings monster’d. Exit Coriolanus. |
|
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 honour |
80 |
Than one on’s ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius. |
|
COMINIUS I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus |
|
Should not be utter’d feebly. It is held |
|
That valour is the chiefest virtue and |
|
Most dignifies the haver: if it be, |
85 |
The man I speak of cannot in the world |
|
Be singly counter-pois’d. 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, |
90 |
When with his Amazonian chin he drove |
|
The bristled lips before him; he bestrid |
|
An o’erpress’d 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, |
95 |
When he might act the woman in the scene, |
|
He prov’d best man i’th’ field, and for his meed |
|
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age |
|
Man-enter’d thus, he waxed like a sea, |
|
And in the brunt of seventeen battles since |
100 |
He lurch’d all swords of the garland. For this last, |
|
Before and in Corioles, let me say |
|
I cannot speak him home. He stopp’d the fliers, |
|
And by his rare example made the coward |
|
Turn terror into sport; as weeds before |
105 |
A vessel under sail, so men obey’d |
|
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 tim’d with dying cries: alone he enter’d |
110 |
The mortal gate of 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 |
115 |
His ready sense, then straight his doubled spirit |
|
Requicken’d 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 call’d |
120 |
BOTH field and city ours, he never stood |
|
To ease his breast with panting. |
|
MENENIUS Worthy man. |
|
1 SENATOR |
|
He cannot but with measure fit the honours |
|
Which we devise him. |
|
COMINIUS Our spoils he kick’d at, |
|
And look’d upon things precious as they were |
125 |
The common muck of the world. He covets less |
|
Than misery itself would give, rewards |
|
His deeds with doing them, and is content |
|
To spend the time to end it. |
|
MENENIUS He’s right noble. |
|
Let him be call’d for. |
|
1 SENATOR Call Coriolanus. |
130 |
OFFICER He doth appear. |
|
Enter CORIOLANUS. |
|
MENENIUS The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas’d |
|
To make thee consul. |
|
CORIOLANUS I do owe them still |
|
My life and services. |
|
MENENIUS It then remains |
|
That you do speak to the people. |
|
CORIOLANUS I do beseech you, |
135 |
Let me o’erleap that custom; for I cannot |
|
Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them |
|
For my wounds’ sake to give their suffrage. Please |
|
you |
|
That I may pass this doing. |
|
SICINIUS Sir, the people |
|
Must have their voices; neither will they bate |
140 |
One jot of ceremony. |
|
MENENIUS Put them not to’t. |
|
Pray you go fit you to the custom and |
|
Take to you, as your predecessors have, |
|
|
|
CORIOLANUS It is a part |
|
That I shall blush in acting, and might well |
145 |
Be taken from the people. |
|
BRUTUS [to Sicinius] Mark you that. |
|
CORIOLANUS To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus, |
|
Show them th’unaching scars which I should hide, |
|
As if I had receiv’d them for the hire |
|
Of their breath only! |
|
MENENIUS Do not stand upon’t. |
150 |
We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, |
|
Our purpose to them; and to our noble consul |
|
Wish we all joy and honour. |
|
SENATORS To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! |
|
Flourish cornets. Then exeunt. |
|
[Sicinius and Brutus remain.] |
|
BRUTUS You see how he intends to use the people. |
155 |
SICINIUS |
|
May they perceive’s intent! He will require them |
|
As if he did contemn what he requested |
|
Should be in them to give. |
|
BRUTUS Come, we’ll inform them |
|
Of our proceedings here; on th’ market-place |
|
I know they do attend us. Exeunt. |
160 |
1 CITIZEN Once, if he do require our voices, we ought |
|
not to deny him. |
|
2 CITIZEN We may, sir, if we will. |
|
3 CITIZEN We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is |
|
a power that we have no power to do. For, if he show |
5 |
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 |
10 |
monster of the multitude; of the which we being |
|
members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous |
|
members. |
|
1 CITIZEN And to make us no better thought of, a little |
|
help will serve: for once we stood up about the corn, |
15 |
he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed |
|
multitude. |
|
3 CITIZEN We have been called so of many; not that our |
|
heads are some brown, some black, some abram, some |
|
bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured; and |
20 |
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. |
|
2 CITIZEN Think you so? Which way do you judge my |
25 |
wit would fly? |
|
3 CITIZEN Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another |
|
man’s will; ’tis strongly wedged up in a blockhead: but |
|
if it were at liberty, ’twould, sure, southward. |
|
2 CITIZEN Why that way? |
30 |
3 CITIZEN To lose itself in a fog, where, being three |
|
parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would |
|
return for conscience’ sake, to help to get thee a wife. |
|
2 CITIZEN You are never without your tricks; you may, |
|
you may. |
35 |
3 CITIZEN Are you all resolved to give your voices? But |
|
that’s no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he |
|
would incline to the people, there was never a worthier |
|
man. |
|
Enter CORIOLANUS in a gown of humility, with MENENIUS. |
|
Here he comes, and in the gown of humility: mark his |
40 |
behaviour. 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 honour, in giving |
|
him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore |
45 |
follow me, and I’ll direct you how you shall go by him. |
|
ALL Content, content. Exeunt citizens. |
|
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 |
50 |
My tongue to such a pace. ‘Look, sir, my wounds! |
|
I got them in my country’s service, when |
|
Some certain of your brethren roar’d and ran |
|
From th’ noise of our own drums.’ |
|
MENENIUS O me, the gods! |
|
You must not speak of that; you must desire them |
55 |
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. Exit. |
|
Enter three of the Citizens. |
|
CORIOLANUS Bid them wash their faces, |
60 |
And keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a brace. |
|
You know the cause, sir, of my standing here? |
|
3 CITIZEN We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to’t. |
|
CORIOLANUS Mine own desert. |
|
2 CITIZEN Your own desert? |
65 |
CORIOLANUS Ay, but not mine own desire. |
|
3 CITIZEN How, not your own desire? |
|
CORIOLANUS No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to |
|
trouble the poor with begging. |
|
3 CITIZEN You must think, if we give you anything, we |
70 |
hope to gain by you. |
|
CORIOLANUS Well then, I pray, your price o’th’ |
|
consulship? |
|
1 CITIZEN The price is, to ask it kindly. |
|
CORIOLANUS Kindly, sir, I pray let me ha’t. I have |
75 |
wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private. |
|
Your good voice, sir. What say you? |
|
|
|
CORIOLANUS A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy |
|
voices begged. I have your alms: adieu! |
80 |
3 CITIZEN But this is something odd. |
|
2 CITIZEN And ’twere to give again – but ’tis no matter. |
|
Exeunt the three Citizens. |
|
Enter two other Citizens. |
|
CORIOLANUS Pray you now, if it may stand with the |
|
tune of your voices that I may be consul, I have here |
|
the customary gown. |
85 |
4 CITIZEN You have deserved nobly of your country, and |
|
you have not deserved nobly. |
|
CORIOLANUS Your enigma? |
|
4 CITIZEN You have been a scourge to her enemies, you |
|
have been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed |
90 |
loved the common people. |
|
CORIOLANUS You should account me the more virtuous, |
|
that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, |
|
flatter my sworn brother the people, to earn a dearer |
|
estimation of them; ’tis a condition they account |
95 |
gentle; and since the wisdom of their choice is rather |
|
to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the |
|
insinuating nod, and be off to them most counter- |
|
feitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment |
|
of some popular man, and give it bountiful to |
100 |
the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be |
|
consul. |
|
5 CITIZEN We hope to find you our friend, and therefore |
|
give you our voices heartily. |
|
4 CITIZEN You have received many wounds for your |
105 |
country. |
|
CORIOLANUS I will not seal your knowledge with |
|
showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so |
|
trouble you no farther. |
|
BOTH The gods give you joy, sir, heartily. |
110 |
Exeunt the two Citizens. |
|
CORIOLANUS Most sweet voices! |
|
Better it is to die, better to starve, |
|
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. |
|
Why in this wolvish toge should I stand here, |
|
To beg of Hob and Dick that does appear |
115 |
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 heap’d |
|
For truth to o’erpeer. Rather than fool it so, |
120 |
Let the high office and the honour go |
|
To one that would do thus. I am half through, |
|
The one part suffer’d, the other will I do. |
|
Enter three Citizens more. |
|
Here come moe voices. |
|
Your voices! For your voices I have fought, |
125 |
Watch’d 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. |
130 |
6 CITIZEN He has done nobly, and cannot go without |
|
any honest man’s voice. |
|
7 CITIZEN Therefore let him be consul. The gods give |
|
him joy, and make him good friend to the people! |
|
ALL Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul! |
135 |
Exeunt the three Citizens. |
|
CORIOLANUS Worthy 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? |
140 |
SICINIUS The custom of request you have discharg’d. |
|
The people do admit you, and are summon’d |
|
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. |
145 |
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. |
|
Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius. |
|
He has it now; and by his looks, methinks |
150 |
’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? |
|
1 CITIZEN He has our voices, sir. |
|
BRUTUS We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. |
155 |
2 CITIZEN Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice, |
|
He mock’d us when he begg’d our voices. |
|
3 CITIZEN Certainly, |
|
He flouted us downright. |
|
1 CITIZEN |
|
No, ’tis his kind of speech; he did not mock us. |
|
2 CITIZEN Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says |
160 |
He us’d us scornfully: he should have show’d us |
|
His marks of merit, wounds receiv’d for’s country. |
|
SICINIUS Why, so he did, I am sure. |
|
ALL No, no; no man saw ’em. |
|
3 CITIZEN |
|
He said he had wounds which he could show in |
|
private; |
|
And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, |
165 |
|
|
But by your voices, will not so permit me: |
|
Your voices therefore.’ When we granted that, |
|
Here was, ‘I thank you for your voices, thank you; |
|
Your most sweet voices: now you have left your |
|
voices, |
170 |
I have no further with you.’ Was not this mockery? |
|
SICINIUS Why either were you ignorant to see’t, |
|
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness |
|
To yield your voices? |
|
BRUTUS Could you not have told him |
|
As you were lesson’d: when he had no power, |
175 |
But was a petty servant to the state, |
|
He was your enemy, ever spake against |
|
Your liberties and the charters that you bear |
|
I’th’ body of the weal; and now arriving |
|
A place of potency and sway o’th’ state, |
180 |
If he should still malignantly remain |
|
Fast foe to th’ plebeii, your voices might |
|
Be curses to yourselves? You should have said |
|
That, as his worthy deeds did claim no less |
|
Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature |
185 |
Would think upon you for your voices, and |
|
Translate his malice towards you into love, |
|
Standing your friendly lord. |
|
SICINIUS Thus to have said, |
|
As you were fore-advis’d, had touch’d his spirit |
|
And tried his inclination: from him pluck’d |
190 |
Either his gracious promise, which you might |
|
As cause had call’d you up, have held him to; |
|
Or else it would have gall’d his surly nature |
|
Which easily endures not article |
|
Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage, |
195 |
You should have ta’en th’advantage of his choler, |
|
And pass’d him unelected. |
|
BRUTUS Did you perceive |
|
He did solicit you in free contempt |
|
When he did need your loves; and do you think |
|
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you |
200 |
When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies |
|
No heart among you? Or had you tongues to cry |
|
Against the rectorship of judgement? |
|
SICINIUS Have you, |
|
Ere now, denied the asker, and now again, |
|
Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow |
205 |
Your sued-for tongues? |
|
3 CITIZEN He’s not confirm’d: we may deny him yet. |
|
2 CITIZEN And will deny him! |
|
I’ll have five hundred voices of that sound. |
|
1 CITIZEN |
|
I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece ’em. |
210 |
BRUTUS Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends |
|
They have chose a consul that will from them take |
|
Their liberties, make them of no more voice |
|
Than dogs that are as often beat for barking |
|
As therefore kept to do so. |
|
SICINIUS Let them assemble; |
215 |
And, on a safer judgement, all revoke |
|
Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride |
|
And his old hate unto you. Besides, forget not |
|
With what contempt he wore the humble weed, |
|
How in his suit he scorn’d you; but your loves, |
220 |
Thinking upon his services, took from you |
|
Th’apprehension of his present portance, |
|
Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion |
|
After the inveterate hate he bears you. |
|
BRUTUS Lay |
|
A fault on us, your tribunes: that we labour’d, |
225 |
No impediment between, but that you must |
|
Cast your election on him. |
|
SICINIUS Say you chose him |
|
More after our commandment than as guided |
|
By your own true affections; and that your minds |
|
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do, |
230 |
Than what you should, made you against the grain |
|
To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us. |
|
BRUTUS Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you, |
|
How youngly he began to serve his country, |
|
How long continued, and what stock he springs of – |
235 |
The noble house o’th’ Martians: from whence came |
|
That Ancus Martius, Numa’s daughter’s son, |
|
Who after great Hostilius here was king; |
|
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were, |
|
That our best water brought by conduits hither; |
240 |
And Censorinus that was so surnam’d |
|
And nobly named so, twice being censor, |
|
Was his great ancestor. |
|
SICINIUS One thus descended, |
|
That hath beside well in his person wrought, |
|
To be set high in place, we did commend |
245 |
To your remembrances; but you have found, |
|
Scaling his present bearing with his past, |
|
That he’s your fixed enemy, and revoke |
|
Your sudden approbation. |
|
BRUTUS Say you ne’er had done’t – |
|
Harp on that still – but by our putting on; |
250 |
And presently, when you have drawn your number, |
|
Repair to th’ Capitol. |
|
ALL We will so: almost all |
|
Repent in their election. Exeunt Plebeians. |
|
BRUTUS Let them go on; |
|
This mutiny were better put in hazard |
|
Than stay, past doubt, for greater. |
255 |
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage |
|
With their refusal, both observe and answer |
|
The vantage of his anger. |
|
SICINIUS To th’ Capitol, come: |
|
We will be there before the stream o’th’people; |
|
And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own, |
260 |
Which we have goaded onward. Exeunt. |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? |
|
LARTIUS |
|
He had, my lord; and that it was which caus’d |
|
Our swifter composition. |
|
CORIOLANUS So then the Volsces stand but as at first, |
|
Ready when time shall prompt them to make road |
5 |
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 |
10 |
Yielded the town: he is retir’d 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 |
15 |
To hopeless restitution, so he might |
|
Be call’d your vanquisher. |
|
CORIOLANUS At Antium lives he? |
|
LARTIUS At Antium. |
|
CORIOLANUS I wish I had a cause to seek him there, |
|
To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. |
20 |
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 Pass no further. |
|
CORIOLANUS Ha! what is that? |
25 |
BRUTUS It will be dangerous to go on. No further. |
|
CORIOLANUS What makes this change? |
|
MENENIUS The matter? |
|
COMINIUS |
|
Hath he not pass’d the noble and the common? |
|
BRUTUS Cominius, no. |
|
CORIOLANUS Have I had children’s voices? |
30 |
1 SENATOR |
|
Tribunes, give way: he shall to th’ market-place. |
|
BRUTUS The people are incens’d 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? |
35 |
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 purpos’d thing, and grows by plot, |
|
To curb the will of the nobility: |
|
Suffer’t, and live with such as cannot rule, |
40 |
Nor ever will be rul’d. |
|
BRUTUS Call’t not a plot. |
|
The people cry you mock’d them; and of late, |
|
When corn was given them gratis, you repin’d, |
|
Scandal’d the suppliants for the people, call’d them |
|
Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. |
45 |
CORIOLANUS Why, this was known before. |
|
BRUTUS Not to them all. |
|
CORIOLANUS Have you inform’d them sithence? |
|
BRUTUS How! I inform them! |
|
COMINIUS You are like to do such business. |
|
BRUTUS Not unlike |
|
Each way to better yours. |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds, |
50 |
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, |
55 |
Or never be so noble as a consul, |
|
Nor yoke with him for tribune. |
|
MENENIUS Let’s be calm. |
|
COMINIUS |
|
The people are abus’d; set on. This palt’ring |
|
Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus |
|
Deserv’d this so dishonour’d rub, laid falsely |
60 |
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. |
|
1 SENATOR Not in this heat, sir, now. |
|
CORIOLANUS Now as I live, I will. My nobler friends, |
|
I crave their pardons. |
65 |
For the mutable, rank-scented meinie, 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, |
70 |
Which we ourselves have plough’d for, sow’d and |
|
scatter’d, |
|
By mingling them with us, the honour’d number |
|
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that |
|
Which they have given to beggars. |
|
MENENIUS Well, no more. |
|
1 SENATOR No more words, we beseech you. |
|
CORIOLANUS How? no more! |
75 |
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 |
|
|
|
BRUTUS You speak o’th’ people |
80 |
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 Choler! |
|
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, |
85 |
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!’ |
90 |
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 |
95 |
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 |
|
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn’d |
|
Be not as common fools; if you are not, |
100 |
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians |
|
If they be senators; and they are no less |
|
When, both your voices blended, the great’st taste |
|
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate, |
|
And such a one as he, who puts his ‘shall’, |
105 |
His popular ‘shall’, against a graver bench |
|
Than ever frown’d in Greece. By Jove himself, |
|
It makes the consuls base; and my soul aches |
|
To know, when two authorities are up, |
|
Neither supreme, how soon confusion |
110 |
May enter ’twixt the gap of both, and take |
|
The one by th’other. |
|
COMINIUS Well, on to th’ market place. |
|
CORIOLANUS Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth |
|
The corn o’th’ storehouse gratis, as ’twas us’d |
|
Sometime in Greece – |
|
MENENIUS Well, well, no more of that. |
115 |
CORIOLANUS |
|
Though there the people had more absolute power – |
|
I say they nourish’d disobedience, fed |
|
The ruin of the state. |
|
BRUTUS Why shall the people give |
|
One that speaks thus their voice? |
|
CORIOLANUS I’ll give my reasons |
|
More worthier than their voices. They know the corn |
120 |
Was not our recompense, resting well assur’d |
|
They ne’er did service for’t; being press’d to the war, |
|
Even when the navel of the state was touch’d, |
|
They would not thread the gates: this kind of service |
|
Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i’th’ war, |
125 |
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show’d |
|
Most valour, spoke not for them. Th’accusation |
|
Which they have often made against the senate, |
|
All cause unborn, could never be the native |
|
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? |
130 |
How shall this bosom multiplied digest |
|
The senate’s courtesy? Let deeds express |
|
What’s like to be their words, ‘We did request it, |
|
We are the greater poll, and in true fear |
|
They gave us our demands.’ Thus we debase |
135 |
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble |
|
Call our cares fears; which will in time |
|
Break ope the locks o’th’ senate, and bring in |
|
The crows to peck the eagles. |
|
MENENIUS Come, enough. |
|
BRUTUS Enough, with over-measure. |
|
CORIOLANUS No, take more! |
140 |
What may be sworn by, both divine and human, |
|
Seal what I end withal! This double worship, |
|
Where one part does disdain with cause, the other |
|
Insult without all reason: where gentry, title, wisdom, |
|
Cannot conclude but by the yea and no |
145 |
Of general ignorance, it must omit |
|
Real necessities, and give way the while |
|
To unstable slightness. Purpose so barr’d, it follows |
|
Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore beseech you – |
|
You that will be less fearful than discreet, |
150 |
That love the fundamental part of state |
|
More than you doubt the change on’t; that prefer |
|
A noble life before a long, and wish |
|
To jump a body with a dangerous physic |
|
That’s sure of death without it – at once pluck out |
155 |
The multitudinous tongue: let them not lick |
|
The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonour |
|
Mangles true judgement, and bereaves the state |
|
Of that integrity which should becom’t, |
|
Not having the power to do the good it would |
160 |
For th’ill which doth control’t. |
|
BRUTUS ’Has said enough. |
|
SICINIUS ’Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer |
|
As traitors do. |
|
CORIOLANUS Thou wretch, despite o’erwhelm thee! |
|
What should the people do with these bald tribunes? |
165 |
On whom depending, their obedience fails |
|
To th’greater bench. In a rebellion, |
|
When what’s not meet, but what must be, was law, |
|
Then were they chosen. In a better hour, |
|
Let what is meet be said it must be meet, |
170 |
And throw their power i’th’ dust. |
|
BRUTUS Manifest treason! |
|
SICINIUS This a consul? No! |
|
BRUTUS The aediles, ho! |
|
Enter an Aedile. |
|
Let him be apprehended. |
|
|
|
in whose name myself |
|
Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, |
175 |
A foe to th’ public weal. Obey I charge thee, |
|
And follow to thine answer. |
|
CORIOLANUS Hence, old goat! |
|
ALL PATRICIANS We’ll surety him. |
|
COMINIUS Aged sir, hands off. |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
Hence rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones |
|
Out of thy garments. |
|
SICINIUS Help, ye citizens! |
180 |
Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles. |
|
MENENIUS On both sides more respect. |
|
SICINIUS |
|
Here’s he that would take from you all your power. |
|
BRUTUS Seize him, aediles! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS Down with him! Down with him! |
|
2 SENATOR Weapons, weapons, weapons! |
185 |
[They all bustle about Coriolanus.] |
|
ALL Tribunes! Patricians! Citizens! What ho! |
|
Sicinius! Brutus! Coriolanus! Citizens! |
|
Peace, peace, peace! Stay! Hold! Peace! |
|
MENENIUS What is about to be? I am out of breath; |
|
Confusion’s near, I cannot speak. You, tribunes |
190 |
To th’ people! Coriolanus, patience! |
|
Speak, good Sicinius! |
|
SICINIUS Hear me, people. Peace! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS |
|
Let’s hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak! |
|
SICINIUS You are at point to lose your liberties: |
|
Martius would have all from you, Martius |
195 |
Whom late you have nam’d for consul. |
|
MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie! |
|
This is the way to kindle, not to quench. |
|
2 SENATOR To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. |
|
SICINIUS What is the city but the people? |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS True, |
|
The people are the city. |
200 |
BRUTUS By the consent of all we were establish’d |
|
The people’s magistrates. |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS You so remain. |
|
MENENIUS And so are like to do. |
|
COMINIUS That is the way to lay the city flat, |
|
To bring the roof to the foundation, |
205 |
And bury all which yet distinctly ranges |
|
In heaps and piles of ruin. |
|
SICINIUS This deserves death. |
|
BRUTUS Or let us stand to our authority |
|
Or let us lose it: we do here pronounce, |
|
Upon the part o’th’ people, in whose power |
210 |
We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy |
|
Of present death. |
|
SICINIUS Therefore lay hold of him. |
|
Bear him to th’ rock Tarpeian, and from thence |
|
Into destruction cast him. |
|
BRUTUS Aediles, seize him! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS Yield, Martius, yield! |
|
MENENIUS Hear me one word. |
215 |
Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. |
|
AEDILE Peace, peace! |
|
MENENIUS |
|
Be that you seem, truly your country’s friend, |
|
And temp’rately proceed to what you would |
|
Thus violently redress. |
|
BRUTUS Sir, those cold ways, |
220 |
That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous |
|
Where the disease is violent. Lay hands upon him, |
|
And bear him to the rock. |
|
[Coriolanus draws his sword.] |
|
CORIOLANUS No, I’ll die here. |
|
There’s some among you have beheld me fighting: |
|
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me! |
225 |
MENENIUS |
|
Down with that sword! Tribunes, withdraw awhile. |
|
BRUTUS Lay hands upon him. |
|
MENENIUS Help Martius, help! |
|
You that be noble, help him, young and old! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS Down with him, down with him! |
|
In this mutiny, the tribunes, the aediles and the people |
|
are beat in and exeunt. |
|
MENENIUS Go, get you to your house: be gone, away! |
230 |
All will be naught else. |
|
2 SENATOR Get you gone. |
|
CORIOLANUS Stand fast. |
|
We have as many friends as enemies. |
|
MENENIUS Shall it be put to that? |
|
1 SENATOR The gods forbid. |
|
I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house: |
|
Leave us to cure this cause. |
|
MENENIUS For ’tis a sore upon us |
235 |
You cannot tent yourself: be gone, beseech you. |
|
COMINIUS Come, sir, along with us. |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
I would they were barbarians – as they are, |
|
Though in Rome litter’d; not Romans – as they are |
|
not, |
|
Though calv’d i’th’ porch o’th’ Capitol. |
|
MENENIUS Be gone! |
240 |
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue. |
|
One time will owe another. |
|
CORIOLANUS On fair ground |
|
I could beat forty of them. |
|
MENENIUS I could myself |
|
Take up a brace o’th’ best of them; yea, the two |
|
tribunes. |
|
COMINIUS But now ’tis odds beyond arithmetic; |
245 |
And manhood is call’d foolery when it stands |
|
Against a falling fabric. Will you hence |
|
Before the tag return? Whose rage doth rend |
|
Like interrupted waters, and o’erbear |
|
What they are us’d to bear. |
|
MENENIUS Pray you be gone. |
250 |
I’ll try whether my old wit be in request |
|
|
|
With cloth of any colour. |
|
COMINIUS Nay, come away. |
|
Exeunt Coriolanus and Cominius, and others. |
|
PATRICIAN This man has marr’d his fortune. |
|
MENENIUS His nature is too noble for the world: |
255 |
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, |
|
Or Jove for’s power to thunder. His heart’s his |
|
mouth: |
|
What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; |
|
And being angry, does forget that ever |
|
He heard the name of death. [A noise within.] |
260 |
Here’s goodly work! |
|
PATRICIAN I would they were abed! |
|
MENENIUS |
|
I would they were in Tiber! What the vengeance, |
|
Could he not speak ’em fair? |
|
Enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS with the rabble again. |
|
SICINIUS Where is this viper |
|
That would depopulate the city and |
|
Be every man himself? |
|
MENENIUS You worthy tribunes – |
265 |
SICINIUS He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock |
|
With rigorous hands: he hath resisted law, |
|
And therefore law shall scorn him further trial |
|
Than the severity of the public power, |
|
Which he so sets at naught. |
|
1 CITIZEN He shall well know |
270 |
The noble tribunes are the people’s mouths |
|
And we their hands. |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS He shall, sure on’t. |
|
MENENIUS Sir, sir! |
|
SICINIUS Peace! |
|
MENENIUS |
|
Do not cry havoc where you should but hunt |
|
With modest warrant. |
|
SICINIUS Sir, how comes’t that you |
275 |
Have holp to make this rescue? |
|
MENENIUS Hear me speak! |
|
As I do know the consul’s worthiness, |
|
So can I name his faults. |
|
SICINIUS Consul! What consul? |
|
MENENIUS The consul Coriolanus. |
|
BRUTUS He consul! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS No, no, no, no, no. |
280 |
MENENIUS |
|
If, by the tribunes’ leave, and yours, good people, |
|
I may be heard, I would crave a word or two, |
|
The which shall turn you to no further harm |
|
Than so much loss of time. |
|
SICINIUS Speak briefly then: |
|
For we are peremptory to dispatch |
285 |
This viperous traitor. To eject him hence |
|
Were but our danger, and to keep him here |
|
Our certain death. Therefore it is decreed |
|
He dies tonight. |
|
MENENIUS Now the good gods forbid |
|
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude |
290 |
Towards her deserved children is enroll’d |
|
In Jove’s own book, like an unnatural dam |
|
Should now eat up her own! |
|
SICINIUS He’s a disease that must be cut away. |
|
MENENIUS Oh, he’s a limb that has but a disease: |
295 |
Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy. |
|
What has he done to Rome that’s worthy death? |
|
Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost |
|
(Which I dare vouch, is more than that he hath |
|
By many an ounce) he dropp’d it for his country; |
300 |
And what is left, to lose it by his country |
|
Were to us all that do’t and suffer it |
|
A brand to th’end o’th’ world. |
|
SICINIUS This is clean kam. |
|
BRUTUS Merely awry. When he did love his country, |
|
It honour’d him. |
|
SICINIUS The service of the foot, |
305 |
Being once gangren’d, is not then respected |
|
For what before it was. |
|
BRUTUS We’ll hear no more: |
|
Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence, |
|
Lest his infection, being of catching nature, |
|
Spread further. |
|
MENENIUS One word more, one word. |
310 |
This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find |
|
The harm of unscann’d swiftness will, too late, |
|
Tie leaden pounds to’s heels. Proceed by process, |
|
Lest parties, as he is belov’d, break out |
|
And sack great Rome with Romans. |
|
BRUTUS If it were so! |
315 |
SICINIUS What do ye talk? |
|
Have we not had a taste of his obedience? |
|
Our aediles smote? ourselves resisted? Come. |
|
MENENIUS Consider this: he has been bred i’th’ wars |
|
Since a could draw a sword, and is ill school’d |
320 |
In bolted language; meal and bran together |
|
He throws without distinction. Give me leave, |
|
I’ll go to him, and undertake to bring him |
|
Where he shall answer by a lawful form – |
|
In peace – to his utmost peril. |
|
1 SENATOR Noble tribunes, |
325 |
It is the humane way. The other course |
|
Will prove too bloody, and the end of it |
|
Unknown to the beginning. |
|
SICINIUS Noble Menenius, |
|
Be you then as the people’s officer. |
|
Masters, lay down your weapons. |
|
BRUTUS Go not home. |
330 |
SICINIUS |
|
Meet on the market-place: we’ll attend to you there, |
|
Where, if you bring not Martius, we’ll proceed |
|
In our first way. |
|
MENENIUS I’ll bring him to you. |
|
[to the Senators] Let me desire your company. He |
|
must come, |
|
|
|
1 SENATOR Pray you, let’s to him. |
335 |
Exeunt. |
|
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 |
5 |
Be thus to them. |
|
Enter VOLUMNIA. |
|
PATRICIAN You do the nobler. |
|
CORIOLANUS I muse my mother |
|
Does not approve me further, who was wont |
|
To call them woollen vassals, things created |
|
To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads |
10 |
In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder, |
|
When one but of my ordinance stood up |
|
To speak of peace or war. I talk of you. |
|
Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me |
|
False to my nature? Rather say I play |
15 |
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 Let go. |
|
VOLUMNIA |
|
You might have been enough the man you are, |
|
With striving less to be so: lesser had been |
20 |
The thwartings of your dispositions, if |
|
You had not show’d them how ye were dispos’d, |
|
Ere they lack’d power to cross you. |
|
CORIOLANUS Let them hang. |
|
VOLUMNIA Ay, and burn too. |
|
Enter MENENIUS with the Senators. |
|
MENENIUS |
|
Come, come, you have been too rough, something too |
|
rough. |
25 |
You must return and mend it. |
|
1 SENATOR There’s no remedy, |
|
Unless by not so doing, our good city |
|
Cleave in the midst, and perish. |
|
VOLUMNIA Pray be counsell’d; |
|
I have a heart as little apt as yours, |
|
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger |
30 |
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 armour on, |
|
Which I can scarcely bear. |
|
CORIOLANUS What must I do? |
35 |
MENENIUS Return to th’ tribunes. |
|
CORIOLANUS Well, what then? what then? |
|
MENENIUS Repent 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, |
40 |
But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, |
|
Honour and policy, like unsever’d 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. |
45 |
VOLUMNIA If it be honour 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 honour, as in war, since that to both |
50 |
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 |
55 |
Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables |
|
Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth. |
|
Now, this no more dishonours you at all, |
|
Than to take in a town with gentle words |
|
Which else would put you to your fortune and |
60 |
The hazard of much blood. |
|
I would dissemble with my nature where |
|
My fortunes and my friends at stake requir’d |
|
I should do so in honour. I am in this |
|
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; |
65 |
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 |
70 |
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 stretch’d it – here be with |
|
them – |
|
Thy knee bussing the stones – for in such business |
75 |
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ignorant |
|
More learned 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, |
80 |
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 |
|
85 |
|
As thou hast power and person. |
|
MENENIUS This but done, |
|
Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours: |
|
For they have pardons, being ask’d, as free |
|
As words to little purpose. |
|
VOLUMNIA Prithee now, |
|
Go, and be rul’d; although I know thou hadst rather |
90 |
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf |
|
Than flatter him in a bower. |
|
Enter COMINIUS. |
|
Here is Cominius. |
|
COMINIUS |
|
I have been i’th’ market place; and, sir, ’tis fit |
|
You make strong party, or defend yourself |
|
By calmness or by absence. All’s in anger. |
95 |
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 |
|
Must I go show them my unbarb’d sconce? Must I |
|
With my base tongue give to my noble heart |
100 |
A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do’t: |
|
Yet were there but this single plot to lose, |
|
This mould of Martius, they to dust should grind it |
|
And throw’t against the wind. To th’ market-place! |
|
You have put me now to such a part which never |
105 |
I shall discharge to th’ life. |
|
COMINIUS Come, come, we’ll prompt you. |
|
VOLUMNIA I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said |
|
My praises made thee first a soldier, so, |
|
To have my praise for this, perform a part |
|
Thou hast not done before. |
|
CORIOLANUS Well, I must do’t. |
110 |
Away my disposition, and possess me |
|
Some harlot’s spirit! My throat of war be turn’d, |
|
Which choired with my drum, into a pipe |
|
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice |
|
That babies lull asleep! The smiles of knaves |
115 |
Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys’ tears take up |
|
The glasses of my sight! A beggar’s tongue |
|
Make motion through my lips, and my arm’d knees |
|
Who bow’d but in my stirrup, bend like his |
|
That hath receiv’d an alms! I will not do’t, |
120 |
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth, |
|
And by my body’s action teach my mind |
|
A most inherent baseness. |
|
VOLUMNIA At thy choice then: |
|
To beg of thee it is my more dishonour |
|
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let |
125 |
Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear |
|
Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death |
|
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list. |
|
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck’st it from me, |
|
But owe thy pride thyself. |
|
CORIOLANUS Pray be content. |
130 |
Mother, I am going to the market-place: |
|
Chide me no more. I’ll mountebank their loves, |
|
Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov’d |
|
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going. |
|
Commend me to my wife. I’ll return consul, |
135 |
Or never trust to what my tongue can do |
|
I’th’way of flattery further. |
|
VOLUMNIA Do your will. Exit. |
|
COMINIUS |
|
Away! The tribunes do attend you: arm yourself |
|
To answer mildly; for they are prepar’d |
|
With accusations, as I hear, more strong |
140 |
Than are upon you yet. |
|
CORIOLANUS The word is ‘mildly’. Pray you, let us go. |
|
Let them accuse me by invention: I |
|
Will answer in mine honour. |
|
MENENIUS Ay, but mildly. |
|
CORIOLANUS Well, mildly be it then. Mildly! |
145 |
Exeunt. |
|
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? |
5 |
AEDILE He’s coming. |
|
BRUTUS How accompanied? |
|
AEDILE With old Menenius, and those senators |
|
That always favour’d him. |
|
SICINIUS Have you a catalogue |
|
Of all the voices that we have procur’d, |
|
Set down by th’ poll? |
|
AEDILE I have: ’tis ready. |
10 |
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 |
15 |
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 confus’d |
20 |
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. |
|
|
|
Exit Aedile. |
|
Put him to choler straight; he hath been us’d |
25 |
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth |
|
Of contradiction. Being once chaf’d, he cannot |
|
Be rein’d again to temperance; then he speaks |
|
What’s in his heart, and that is there which looks |
|
With us to break his neck. |
|
SICINIUS Well, here he comes. |
30 |
Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS and COMINIUS, with others. |
|
MENENIUS Calmly, I do beseech you. |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
Ay, as an hostler, that for th’ poorest piece |
|
Will bear the knave by th’ volume. Th’honour’d gods |
|
Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice |
|
Supplied with worthy men, plant love among’s, |
35 |
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace |
|
And not our streets with war. |
|
1 SENATOR Amen, amen. |
|
MENENIUS A noble wish. |
|
Enter the Aedile with the Plebeians. |
|
SICINIUS Draw near, ye people. |
|
AEDILE List to your tribunes. Audience! Peace, I say! |
40 |
CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak! |
|
BOTH TRIBUNES Well, say. Peace, ho! |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
Shall I be charg’d 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 |
45 |
To suffer lawful censure for such faults |
|
As shall be prov’d 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 |
50 |
Like graves i’th’ holy churchyard. |
|
CORIOLANUS Scratches with briers, |
|
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, |
55 |
But, as I say, such as become a soldier, |
|
Rather than envy you. |
|
COMINIUS Well, well, no more. |
|
CORIOLANUS What is the matter, |
|
That being pass’d for consul with full voice, |
|
I am so dishonour’d that the very hour |
60 |
You take it off again? |
|
SICINIUS Answer to us. |
|
CORIOLANUS Say then: ’tis true, I ought so. |
|
SICINIUS |
|
We charge you, that you have contriv’d to take |
|
From Rome all season’d office, and to wind |
|
Yourself into a power tyrannical; |
65 |
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, |
70 |
In thy hands clutch’d 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 To th’ rock, to th’ rock with him. |
75 |
SICINIUS Peace! |
|
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 |
80 |
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 |
|
Serv’d well for Rome – |
|
CORIOLANUS What do you prate of service? |
|
BRUTUS I talk of that, that know it. |
|
CORIOLANUS You? |
85 |
MENENIUS |
|
Is this the promise that you made your mother? |
|
COMINIUS Know, I pray you – |
|
CORIOLANUS I’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 |
90 |
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 |
|
Envied against the people, seeking means |
95 |
To pluck away their power, as now at last |
|
Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence |
|
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers |
|
That doth distribute it – in the name o’th’ people, |
|
And in the power of us the tribunes, we, |
100 |
Ev’n from this instant, banish him our city, |
|
In peril of precipitation |
|
From off the rock Tarpeian, never more |
|
To enter our Rome gates. I’th’ people’s name, |
|
I say it shall be so. |
105 |
ALL PLEBEIANS |
|
It shall be so, it shall be so! Let him away! |
|
He’s banish’d, and it shall be so! |
|
|
|
Hear me, my masters, and my common friends! |
|
SICINIUS He’s sentenc’d: no more hearing. |
|
COMINIUS Let me speak. |
|
I have been consul, and can show for Rome |
110 |
Her enemies’ marks upon me. I do love |
|
My country’s good with a respect more tender, |
|
More holy and profound, than mine own life, |
|
My dear wife’s estimate, her womb’s increase |
|
And treasure of my loins: then if I would |
115 |
Speak that – |
|
SICINIUS We know your drift. Speak what? |
|
BRUTUS There’s no more to be said but he is banish’d, |
|
As enemy to the people and his country. |
|
It shall be so! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS It shall be so, it shall be so! |
|
CORIOLANUS |
|
You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate |
120 |
As reek o’th’ rotten fens, whose loves I prize |
|
As the dead carcasses of unburied men |
|
That do corrupt my air: I banish you! |
|
And here remain with your uncertainty! |
|
Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! |
125 |
Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, |
|
Fan you into despair! Have the power still |
|
To banish your defenders, till at length |
|
Your ignorance – which finds not till it feels, |
|
Making but reservation of yourselves, |
130 |
Still your own foes – deliver you as most |
|
Abated captives to some nation |
|
That won you without blows! Despising |
|
For you the city, thus I turn my back. |
|
There is a world elsewhere! |
135 |
Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, Menenius with the other |
|
senators and patricians. |
|
AEDILE The people’s enemy is gone, is gone! |
|
ALL PLEBEIANS |
|
Our enemy is banish’d! He is gone! Hoo! hoo! |
|
[They all shout, and throw up their caps.] |
|
SICINIUS Go see him out at gates, and follow him |
|
As he hath follow’d you, with all despite. |
|
Give him deserv’d vexation. Let a guard |
|
Attend us through the city. |
140 |
ALL PLEBEIANS |
|
Come, come, let’s see him out at gates! Come! |
|
The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come! |
|
Exeunt. |
|
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 us’d |
|
To say, extremities was the trier of spirits; |
|
That common chances common men could bear, |
5 |
That when the sea was calm all boats alike |
|
Show’d mastership in floating; fortune’s blows, |
|
When most struck home, being gentle wounded, |
|
craves |
|
A noble cunning. You were us’d to load me |
|
With precepts that would make invincible |
10 |
The heart that conn’d 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 lov’d when I am lack’d. Nay, mother, |
15 |
Resume that spirit when you were wont to say, |
|
If you had been the wife of Hercules, |
|
Six of his labours you’d have done, and sav’d |
|
Your husband so much sweat. Cominius, |
|
Droop not: adieu. Farewell, my wife, my mother: |
20 |
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, |
25 |
’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 |
|
Believ’t not lightly, though I go alone, |
|
Like to a lonely dragon that his fen |
30 |
Makes fear’d and talk’d 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 |
35 |
More than a wild exposture 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 |
40 |
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 ye well. |
|
Thou hast years upon thee, and thou art too full |
45 |
Of the wars’ surfeits to go rove with one |
|
That’s yet unbruis’d: 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: |
50 |
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 |
|
|
|
If I could shake off but one seven years |
55 |
From these old arms and legs, by the good gods |
|
I’d with thee every foot. |
|
CORIOLANUS Give me thy hand. |
|
Come. Exeunt. |
|
SICINIUS |
|
Bid them all home; he’s gone, and we’ll no further. |
|
The nobility are vex’d, 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. |
5 |
Say their great enemy is gone and they |
|
Stand in their ancient strength. |
|
BRUTUS Dismiss them home. |
|
Exit Aedile. |
|
Here comes his mother. |
|
Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA and MENENIUS. |
|
SICINIUS Let’s not meet her. |
|
BRUTUS Why? |
|
SICINIUS They say she’s mad. |
|
BRUTUS They have ta’en note of us: keep on your way. |
10 |
VOLUMNIA |
|
Oh, y’are well met: the hoarded plague o’th’ gods |
|
Requite your love! |
|
MENENIUS Peace, peace, be not so loud. |
|
VOLUMNIA |
|
If that I could for weeping, you should hear – |
|
Nay, and you shall hear some. |
|
[to Brutus] Will you be gone? |
|
[to Sicinius] You shall stay too. |
|
VIRGILIA I would I had the power |
15 |
To say so to my husband. |
|
SICINIUS 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 Oh blessed heavens! |
20 |
VOLUMNIA |
|
Moe 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! |
25 |
VOLUMNIA He’d make an end of thy posterity, |
|
Bastards and all. |
|
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! |
|
MENENIUS Come, come, peace! |
|
SICINIUS I would he had continued to his country |
30 |
As he began, and not unknit himself |
|
The noble knot he made. |
|
BRUTUS I would he had. |
|
VOLUMNIA |
|
‘I would he had!’ ’Twas you incens’d the rabble: |
|
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth |
|
As I can of those mysteries which heaven |
35 |
Will not have earth to know. |
|
BRUTUS Pray let’s go. |
|
VOLUMNIA Now, 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 – |
40 |
This lady’s husband here, this, do you see? – |
|
Whom you have banish’d, does exceed you all. |
|
BRUTUS Well, well, we’ll leave you. |
|
SICINIUS Why stay we to be baited |
|
With one that wants her wits? Exeunt tribunes. |
|
VOLUMNIA Take my prayers with you. |
|
I would the gods had nothing else to do |
45 |
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 |
50 |
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let’s go. |
|
Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, |
|
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come! |
|
Exeunt Volumnia and Virgilia. |
|
MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie! Exit. |
|