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

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

Inclinable to honour and advance

 

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,

 

Your honour with your form.

 

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

2.3 Enter seven or eight Citizens.

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?

 

2 CITIZEN     You shall ha’t, worthy sir.

 

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

‘I would be consul,’ says he; ‘aged custom,

 

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.

 

3.1 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 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

 

The very way to catch them.

 

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.

 

SICINIUS     Go call the people;     Exit Aedile

 

     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 those that have but little: this must be patch’d

 

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,

 

Or what is worst will follow.

 

1 SENATOR     Pray you, let’s to him.

335

     Exeunt.

 

3.2 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

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

 

Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far

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.

 

3.3 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?

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.

 

BRUTUS     Go about it.

 

     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!

 

COMINIUS

 

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.

 

4.1 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 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

 

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

 

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.

 

4.2 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 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.