ACT 1 Scene 1 Enter First Citizen FIRST CITIZEN (Speaking to AUDIENCE) Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. First, you know Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people. Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at our own price. Is ’t a verdict? They think we are too dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularise their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes - the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. Shall we proceed especially against Caius Martius? He’s a very dog to the commonality. Consider you what services he has done for his country. We could be content to give him good report for ’t, but that he pays himself with being proud. I say unto you, what he hath done famously he did it to that end. Though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud, which he is. He hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. Enter Menenius Agrippa. FIRST CITIZEN Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath always loved the people, and one honest enough. Would all the rest were so! MENENIUS What work’s in hand? Where go you with bats and clubs? Speak, I pray you. FIRST CITIZEN Our business is not unknown to th’ Senate. They have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we’ll show ’em in deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too. MENENIUS Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, will you undo yourselves? FIRST CITIZEN We cannot, sir; we are undone already. MENENIUS I tell you, friends, most charitable care Have the patricians of you. For your wants, Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them Against the Roman state. For the dearth, The gods, not the patricians, make it, and Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, You are transported by calamity Thither where more attends you, and you slander The helms o’ th’ state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies. FIRST CITIZEN Care for us? They ne’er cared for us yet. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there’s all the love they bear us. MENENIUS Either you must confess yourselves wondrous malicious Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you A pretty tale. It may be you have heard it, But since it serves my purpose, I will venture To stale’t a little more. FIRST CITIZEN Well, I’ll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale. MENENIUS There was a time when all the body’s members Rebelled against the belly, thus accused it: That only like a gulf it did remain I’ th’ midst o’ th’ body, idle and unactive, Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing Like labour with the rest, where th’ other instruments Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, And, mutually participate, did minister Unto the appetite and affection common Of the whole body. The belly answered— FIRST CITIZEN Well, sir, what answer made the belly? MENENIUS Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile, Which ne’er came from the lungs, but even thus— For, look you, I may make the belly smile As well as speak—it tauntingly replied To th’ discontented members, the mutinous parts That envied his receipt; even so most fitly As you malign our senators for that They are not such as you. FIRST CITIZEN Your belly’s answer—what? MENENIUS I will tell you, If you’ll bestow a small—of what you have little— Patience awhile, you’st hear the belly’s answer. SECOND CITIZEN You’re long about it. MENENIUS Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answered: “True is it, my incorporate friends,” quoth he, “That I receive the general food at first Which you do live upon; and fit it is, Because I am the storehouse and the shop Of the whole body. But, if you do remember, I send it through the rivers of your blood Even to the court, the heart, to th’ seat o’ th’ brain; And, through the cranks and offices of man, The strongest nerves and small inferior veins From me receive that natural competency Whereby they live. And though that all at once, You, my good friends”—this says the belly, mark me— “Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each, Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flour of all, And leave me but the bran.” What say you to ’t? FIRST CITIZEN It was an answer. How apply you this? MENENIUS The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members. For examine Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly Touching the weal o’ th’ common, you shall find No public benefit which you receive But it proceeds or comes from them to you And no way from yourselves. What do you think, You, the great toe of this assembly? FIRST CITIZEN I the great toe? Why the great toe? MENENIUS For that, being one o’ th’ lowest, basest, poorest, Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost. Enter Caius Martius. Hail, noble Martius. MARTIUS Thanks.—What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs? FIRST CITIZEN We have ever your good word. MARTIUS He that will give good words to thee will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you; The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese. You are no surer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is To make him worthy whose offense subdues him, And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness Deserves your hate; and your affections are A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. Hang you! Trust you? With every minute you do change a mind And call him noble that was now your hate, Him vile that was your garland. What’s the matter, That in these several places of the city You cry against the noble senate, who, Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another?—What’s their seeking? MENENIUS For corn at their own rates, whereof they say The city is well stored. MARTIUS Hang ’em! They say? They’ll sit by th’ fire and presume to know What’s done i’ th’ Capitol, who’s like to rise, Who thrives, and who declines; side factions and give out Conjectural marriages, making parties strong And feebling such as stand not in their liking Below their cobbled shoes. They say there’s grain enough? Would the nobility lay aside their ruth And let me use my sword, I’d make a quarry With thousands of these quartered slaves as high As I could pick my lance. MENENIUS Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you, What says the other troop? MARTIUS They are dissolved. They said they were an-hungry, sighed forth proverbs That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds They vented their complainings, which being answered And a petition granted them—a strange one, To break the heart of generosity And make bold power look pale—they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o’ th’ moon, Shouting their emulation. MENENIUS What is granted them? MARTIUS Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice. One’s Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. S’death! The rabble should have first unroofed the city Ere so prevailed with me. Enter Messenger hastily. MESSENGER Where’s Caius Martius? MARTIUS Here. What’s the matter? MESSENGER The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. MARTIUS I am glad on ’t. Then we shall ha’ means to vent our musty superfluity. Enter Sicinius Velutus and Junius Brutus (two Tribunes); plus Cominius, Titus Lartius, and a Senator SENATOR Martius, ’tis true that you have lately told us: The Volsces are in arms. MARTIUS They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to ’t. I sin in envying his nobility, And, were I anything but what I am, I would wish me only he. COMINIUS You have fought together? MARTIUS Were half to half the world by th’ ears and he Upon my party, I’d revolt, to make Only my wars with him. He is a lion That I am proud to hunt. SENATOR Then, worthy Martius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. COMINIUS It is your former promise. MARTIUS Sir, it is, And I am constant.—Titus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face. What, art thou stiff? Stand’st out? LARTIUS No, Caius Martius, I’d lean upon one crutch and fight with t’ other Ere stay behind this business. SENATOR Your company to th’ Capitol, where I know Our greatest friends attend us. LARTIUS (to Cominius) Lead you on.— (To Martius) Follow Cominius. We must follow you. SENATOR (to AUDIENCE) Hence to your homes, begone. MARTIUS Nay, let them follow. The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither To gnaw their garners. Pray follow. They exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain. SICINIUS Was ever man so proud as is this Martius? BRUTUS He has no equal. Marked you his lip and eyes? SICINIUS Nay, but his taunts. BRUTUS The present wars devour him! He is grown Too proud to be so valiant. SICINIUS Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius. BRUTUS His fame cannot Better be held nor more attained than by A place below the first; for what miscarries Shall be the General’s fault. SICINIUS Besides, if things go well, Opinion that so sticks on Martius shall Of his demerits rob Cominius. BRUTUS Half all Cominius’ honours are to Martius, Though Martius earned them not. SICINIUS Let’s hence and hear How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion. BRUTUS Let’s along. They exit
ACT 1 Scene 2 Enter Tullus Aufidius with a Volscian Soldier. SOLDIER So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are entered in our counsels And know how we proceed. AUFIDIUS Is it not yours? ’Tis not four days gone Since I heard thence. I have the letter here. (He reads.) “They have pressed a power, but it is not known Whether for east or west. The dearth is great. The people mutinous; and, it is rumuored Cominius, plus Martius your old enemy, And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, These three lead on this preparation Whither ’tis bent. Most likely ’tis for you. Consider of it.” SOLDIER Our army’s in the field. We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us. AUFIDIUS Nor did you think it folly To keep your great pretences veiled till when They needs must show themselves, which, in the hatching, It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery We shall be shortened in our aim, which was To take in many towns ere almost Rome Should know we were afoot. SOLDIER Noble Aufidius, Let us alone to guard Corioles. If they set down before ’s, for the remove Bring up your army. But I think you’ll find They’ve not prepared for us. AUFIDIUS O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties. Nay, more, Some parcels of their power are forth already, And only hitherward. I leave your Honours. If we and Caius Martius chance to meet, ’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more. SOLDIER May the gods assist you! AUFIDIUS And keep your men safe. SOLDIER Farewell. AUFIDIUS Farewell. Both exit.
ACT 1 Scene 3 Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius. They set them down on two low stools and sew. VOLUMNIA I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for a day of kings’ entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honour would become such a person, was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. VIRGILIA But had he died in the business, madam, how then? VOLUMNIA Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. VIRGILIA Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. VOLUMNIA Indeed you shall not. Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum, See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair; As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him. Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus: “Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear, Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes Like to a harvestman that’s tasked to mow Or all or lose his hire. VIRGILIA His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood! VOLUMNIA Away, you fool! It more becomes a man Than gilt his trophy. VIRGILIA Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! VOLUMNIA He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee And tread upon his neck. Come, lay aside your stitchery. VIRGILIA No, good madam, I will not out of doors. VOLUMNIA Not out of doors? VIRGILIA Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars. VOLUMNIA Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. VIRGILIA I cannot go thither. VOLUMNIA Why, I pray you? You would be another Penelope. Yet they say all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, you shall go with me. VIRGILIA No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth. VOLUMNIA We may find excellent news of your husband. VIRGILIA O, good madam, there can be none yet. VOLUNNIA In earnest, we may. Your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioles. They are no doubt prevailing, and making it a brief war, and so, I pray, go with me. VIRGILIA No, at a word, madam. Indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth. VOLUMNIA Well, then, farewell. VOLUMNIA exits one way, VIRGILIA the other a moment after.
ACT 1 Scene 4 Enter Martius & Titus Lartius, as before the city of Corioles. Enter to them Roman Soldiers. MARTIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met? LARTIUS My horse to yours, no. MARTIUS ’Tis done. LARTIUS Agreed. MARTIUS (to Soldier) Say, has our general met the enemy? ROMAN SOLDIER They lie in view but have not spoke as yet. LARTIUS So the good horse is mine. MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you. LARTIUS No, I’ll nor sell nor give him. Lend you him I will for half a hundred years. MARTIUS (To Soldier) How far off lie these armies? ROMAN SOLDIER Within this mile and half. MARTIUS Then shall we hear their ’larum and they ours. Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, That we with smoking swords may march from hence To help our fielded friends!—Come, hold your nerve. They fear us not but issue forth their city.— Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields.— Come, you fellows! He that retires, I’ll take him for a Volsce, And he shall feel mine edge. Exit Martius. The others follow, shortly. Enter Volsce soldiers.Re-enter Martius, pursuing them. Brief fight and the Volsce soldiers exit as Roman Soldiers enter. MARTIUS (To Roman Soldier) All the contagion of the south light on you, You shames of Rome! You souls of geese, That bear the shapes of men, how have you run! All hurt behind! Mend, and charge home, Or, by the fires of heaven, I’ll leave the foe And make my wars on you. Come on! The gates are ope. So now prove good seconds! ’Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers. Mark me, and do the like. Martius runs off after the Volscians. ROMAN SOLDIER (To Audience) Foolhardiness, not I. See, they have shut him in! Enter Titus Lartius. LARTIUS What is become of Martius? ROMAN SOLDIER Slain, sir, doubtless. Following the fliers at the very heels, With them he entered, who upon the sudden Clapped to their gates. He is himself alone, To answer all the city. LARTIUS O, noble fellow, Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, And when it bows, stand’st up! Thou art left, Martius. A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, Were not so rich a jewel. Thou was a soldier Even to Cato’s wish, and with The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds Thou mad’st thine enemies shake, as if the world Were feverous and did tremble. Enter Martius, bleeding, as if from Corioles, assaulted by the enemy. ROMAN SOLDIER Look, sir! LARTIUS O, ’tis Martius! Let’s fetch him off. They exit the stage towards Martius, who shrugs off Lartius’ help, and the scene continues directly into...
ACT 1 Scene 5 MARTIUS Alas, what help the General needs! To him! There is the man of my soul’s hate, Aufidius, Piercing our Romans. Then, valiant Titus, take Convenient numbers to make good the city, Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste To help Cominius. LARTIUS Worthy sir, thou bleed’st. Thy exercise hath been too violent For a second course of fight. MARTIUS Sir, praise me not. My work hath yet not warmed me. Fare you well. The blood I drop is rather physical Than dangerous to me. To Aufidius thus I will appear and fight. LARTIUS May the fair goddess Fortune Fall deep in love with thee, and her great charms Misguide thy opposers’ swords! They clasp arms. Martius exits. . LARTIUS Thou worthiest Martius! (To Roman Soldier) Go sound thy trumpet in the marketplace. Call thither all the officers o’ th’ town, Where they shall know our mind. Away! Roman Soldier exits. Lartius exits after.
ACT 1 Scene 6 Enter Cominius, as in retire post-battle. COMINIUS My soldiers have well fought! We are come off Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, though, We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck, By interims and conveying gusts we have heard The charges of our friends. The citizens Of Corioles give Lartius and Martius battle. Enter Martius, still bloody. COMINIUS Who’s yonder, That does appear as he were flayed? (Realising) O gods… He has the stamp of Martius, and I have Before-time seen him thus. MARTIUS Come I too late? COMINIUS The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor More than I know the sound of Martius’ tongue. MARTIUS Come I too late? COMINIUS Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, But mantled in your own. MARTIUS O, let me clip you In arms as sound as when I wooed, in heart As merry as when our nuptial day was done And tapers burnt to bedward! They embrace. COMINIUS Flower of warriors, how is ’t with Titus Lartius? MARTIUS As with a man busied about decrees, Condemning some to death and some to exile; Holding Corioles in the name of Rome. COMINIUS How prevailed you? MARTIUS Will the time serve to tell? I do not think. Where is the enemy? Are you lords o’ th’ field? If not, why cease you till you are so? COMINIUS Martius, we have at disadvantage fought And did retire to win our purpose. MARTIUS I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, By th’ blood we have shed together, by th’ vows we have made To endure friends, that you directly set me Against Aufidius and his Antiates. COMINIUS Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath And balms applied to you, yet dare I never Deny your asking. Take your choice of those That best can aid your action. MARTIUS Those are they That most are willing. If any such be here— As it were sin to doubt—that love this painting Wherein you see me smeared; if any fear Lesser his person than an ill report; If any think brave death outweighs bad life, And that his country’s dearer than himself; Let him alone, or so many so minded, Wave thus to express his disposition And follow Martius. He waves his sword. Silence. O, me alone! Make you a sword of me? If these shows be not outward, which of you But is four Volsces? None of you but is Able to bear against the great Aufidius A shield as hard as his. A certain number, Though thanks to all, must I select from you. The rest shall bear the business in some other fight, As cause will be obeyed. Please you to march, And I shall quickly draw out my command, Which men are best inclined. COMINIUS March on, my fellow. Exeunt.
ACT 1 Scene 7 Enter Titus Lartius and Roman Soldier. LARTIUS So, let the ports be guarded. Keep your duties As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve For a short holding. If we lose the field, We cannot keep the town. ROMAN SOLDIER Fear not my care, sir. LARTIUS Hence to th’ Roman camp. Exeunt.
ACT 1 Scene 8 Enter Martius and Aufidius at opposite doors. MARTIUS I’ll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker. AUFIDIUS We hate alike. Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot. MARTIUS Let the first budger die the other’s slave, And the gods doom him after! AUFIDIUS If I fly, Martius, Hollo me like a hare. MARTIUS Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioles’ walls And made what work I pleased. ’Tis not my blood Wherein thou seest me masked. For thy revenge, Wrench up thy power to th’ highest. AUFIDIUS Wert thou the Hector That was the whip of your bragged progeny, Thou shouldst not scape me here. They fight, and when Martius has the upper hand certain Volsces come in to the aid of Aufidius. AUFIDIUS (To the Volsces) Officious and not valiant, you have shamed me in your condemnèd seconds! Martius fights till they be driven off breathless. Exit Aufidius, after them. Exit Martius, separately.
ACT 1 Scene 9 Enter, at one door Cominius with the Romans; at another door Martius, with his arm in a scarf, limping. COMINIUS, to Martius If I should tell thee o’er this thy day’s work, Thou ’t not believe thy deeds. But I’ll report it Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend and shrug, In the end admire; where the dull tribunes, That with the fusty plebeians hate thine honours, Shall say against their hearts “We thank the gods Our Rome hath such a soldier.” Enter Titus Lartius with soldiers. LARTIUS Here is the steed, we the caparison. Hadst thou beheld— MARTIUS Pray now, no more. My mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise me grieves me. I have done As you have done—that’s what I can; Induced as you have been—that’s for my country. COMINIUS You shall not be The grave of your deserving. Rome must know The value of her own. ’Twere a concealment Worse than a theft, to hide your noble doings. Therefore, before our army hear me speak. MARTIUS I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remembered. COMINIUS Should they not, Well might they fester ’gainst ingratitude And tent themselves with death. Of all the Treasure in this field achieved and city, We render you the tenth, to be ta’en forth Before the common distribution. MARTIUS I thank you, general, But cannot make my heart consent to take A bribe to pay my sword. I do refuse it And stand upon my common part with those That have beheld the doing. They all cry “Martius, Martius!” and encourage the audience to join in the chant. May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall I’ th’ field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be Made of false-faced soothing! No more, I say. For that I have not washed my nose that bled, Or foiled some debile wretch—which, without note, Here’s many else have done—you shout me forth In acclamations hyperbolical, In praises sauced with lies. COMINIUS Too modest are you, More cruel to your good report than grateful To us that give you truly. By your patience, If ’gainst yourself you be incensed, we’ll put you, Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles, Then reason safely with you. Therefore be it known, As to us to all the world, that Caius Martius Wears this war’s garland. And from this time hence, For what he did before Corioles, call him, With all th’ applause and clamour of the host, Martius Caius Coriolanus! ALL Martius Caius Coriolanus! CORIOLANUS I will go wash; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush or no. COMINIUS So, to our tent, Where, ere we do repose us, we will write To Rome of our success.—You, Titus Lartius, Must to Corioles back. Send to Rome The best, with whom we may articulate For their own good and ours. LARTIUS I shall, my lord. CORIOLANUS The gods begin to mock me. I, that now Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg Of my lord general. COMINIUS Take ’t, ’tis yours. What is ’t? CORIOLANUS I sometime lay here in Corioles At a poor man’s house; he used me kindly. I saw him prisoner; I request you To give my poor host freedom. COMINIUS Deliver him, Titus. LARTIUS Martius, his name? CORIOLANUS By Jupiter, forgot! Have we no wine here? COMINIUS The blood upon your visage dries; ’tis time It should be looked to. Come. They all move to one side of the stage, to dress Coriolanus’ wounds.
ACT 1 Scene 10 Enter Tullus Aufidius, opposite side of the stage. He speaks as, on the other side of the stage, Coriolanus’ wounds are dressed by Cominius and Lartius. AUFIDIUS The town is ta’en. ’Twill be delivered back On good condition, or so I am told. I would I were a Roman, for I cannot, Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition? What good condition can a treaty find I’ th’ part that is at mercy? Five times, Martius, I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter As often as we eat. By th’ elements, If e’er again I meet him beard to beard, He’s mine, or I am his. Mine emulation Hath not that honour in ’t it had; for where I thought to crush him in an equal force, True sword to sword, I’ll potch at him some way Or wrath or craft may get him. He’s the devil. Bolder! Though not so subtle. My valour’s poisoned With only suff’ring stain by him; for him Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep nor sanctuary, Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol, The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice, Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up Their rotten privilege and custom ’gainst My hate to Martius. Where I find him, were it At home, upon my brother’s guard, even there, Against the hospitable canon, would I Wash my fierce hand in ’s heart. Exit Aufidius.
ACT 2 Scene 1 Enter Menenius with Sicinius and Brutus. MENENIUS The augurer tells me we shall have news tonight. BRUTUS Good news? MENENIUS Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Martius. SICINIUS Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. MENENIUS Pray you, who does the wolf love? SICINIUS The lamb. MENENIUS Ay, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the noble Martius. BRUTUS He’s a lamb indeed, that baas like a bear. MENENIUS He’s a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. Tell me one thing that I shall ask you. In what enormity is Martius poor in, that you two have not in abundance? BRUTUS He’s poor in no one fault, but stored with all. SICINIUS Especially in pride. BRUTUS And topping all others in boasting. MENENIUS You blame Martius for being proud. BRUTUS We do it not alone, sir. MENENIUS I know you can do very little alone. Your abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone. You talk of pride. O, that you could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O, that you could! BRUTUS What then? MENENIUS Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as any in Rome. SICINIUS Menenius, you are known well enough, too. MENENIUS I am known to be a humorous patrician and one that loves a cup of hot wine; one that converses more with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the morning. What I think I utter, and spend my malice in my breath. BRUTUS Come, sir, come; we know you well enough. MENENIUS You know neither me, yourselves, nor anything. You are a pair of strange ones. Our very priests must become mockers if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. Good e’en to your Worships. More of your conversation would infect my brain! He begins to exit. Brutus and Sicinius stand aside. Enter Volumnia and Virgilia. How now, my as fair as noble ladies— whither do you follow your eyes so fast? VOLUMNIA Honourable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches. MENENIUS Ha? Martius coming home? VOLUMNIA Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation. MENENIUS Hoo! Martius coming home? VOLUMNIA Look, here’s a letter from him. (She produces a paper.) The state hath another, his wife another, and I think there’s one at home for you. MENENIUS A letter for me? VIRGILIA Yes, certain, there’s a letter for you; I saw ’t. MENENIUS A letter for me! Is he not wounded? He was wont to come home wounded. VOLUMNIA O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for ’t. MENENIUS So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings he victory in his pocket, the wounds become him. Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly? VOLUMNIA Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but Aufidius got off. MENENIUS Is the Senate possessed of this? VOLUMNIA Yes, yes, yes. The Senate has letters from the General, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war. VIRGILIA In troth, there’s wondrous things spoke of him. MENENIUS I’ll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded? VOLUMNIA I’ th’ shoulder and i’ th’ left arm. He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him. MENENIUS Now it’s twenty-seven. Every gash was an enemy’s grave. (A shout and flourish.) Hark, the trumpets! VOLUMNIA These are the ushers of Martius: before him He carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears. Death, that dark spirit, in ’s nervy arm doth lie, Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die. Enter Cominius and Titus Lartius, between them Coriolanus crowned with an oaken garland, with Soldiers. LARTIUS Know, Rome, that all alone Martius did fight Within Corioles’ gates, where he hath won, With fame, a name to Martius Caius; these In honour follows “Coriolanus.” Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus. ALL Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus! CORIOLANUS No more of this. It does offend my heart. Pray now, no more. COMINIUS Look, sir, your mother. CORIOLANUS (To Volumnia) You have, I know, petitioned all the gods For my prosperity. Kneels. VOLUMNIA Nay, my good soldier, up. He stands. My gentle Martius, worthy Caius, and By deed-achieving honour newly named— What is it? Coriolanus must I call thee? MENENIUS Now the gods crown thee! He embraces Coriolanus. CORIOLANUS And live you yet? MENENIUS A hundred thousand welcomes! I could weep, And I could laugh; I am light and heavy. Welcome. CORIOLANUS Menenius ever. (to Volumnia and Virgilia) Your hand and yours. Ere in our own house I do shade my head, The good patricians must be visited, From whom I have received not only greetings, But with them change of honours. VOLUMNIA I have lived To see inherited my very wishes And the buildings of my fancy. Only There’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not but Our Rome will cast upon thee. CORIOLANUS Know, good mother, I had rather be their servant in my way Than sway with them in theirs. COMINIUS On, to the Capitol. They exit in state, as before. Brutus and Sicinius come forward. BRUTUS All tongues speak of him, and the blearèd sights Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurse Into a rapture lets her baby cry While she clambers the walls to eye him. Stalls Are smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsed With variable complexions, all agreeing In earnestness to see him. SICINIUS On the sudden I warrant him consul. BRUTUS Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. SICINIUS Doubt not the commoners, for whom we stand. They, upon their ancient malice, will forget With the least cause these his new honours. BRUTUS I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he Appear i’ th’ marketplace, nor would he show, As the manner is, his wounds to th’ people. SICINIUS I wish no better Than have him hold that purpose and to put it In execution. BRUTUS ’Tis most like he will. SICINIUS It shall be to him then a sure destruction. BRUTUS It must, or our authority will end. We must suggest the people in what hatred He still hath held them; that to ’s power he would Have made them mules, dispropertied their freedoms; Holding them of no more soul nor fitness Than camels in war, who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows. SICINIUS This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence Shall touch the people, will then be his fire To kindle their dry stubble, and their blaze Shall darken him forever. Enter a Messenger. BRUTUS What’s the matter? MESSENGER You are sent for to the Capitol. ’Tis thought That Martius shall be consul. I have seen The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind To hear him speak; matrons flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he passed. BRUTUS Let’s to the Capitol, And carry with us ears and eyes for th’ time, But hearts for the event. They exit.
ACT 2 Scene 2 Enter a Roman Soldier, to lay cushions, as it were in the Capitol. He addresses the audience. ROMAN SOLDIER Come, come. They are almost here. Three, they say, stand for consulships, but ’tis thought of everyone Coriolanus will carry it. A brave fellow, but he’s vengeance proud and loves not the common people. There hath been many great men that have flattered the people who ne’er loved them. Coriolanus neither cares whether they love or hate him and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see ’t. But he hath deserved worthily of his country, and hath so planted his honours in their eyes and his actions in their hearts that for their tongues to be silent and not confess so much were a kind of ingrateful injury. Hold fast. They are coming. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, a Senator, Sicinius and Brutus – Sicinius and Brutus take their places by themselves. All sit, but Coriolanus stands. MENENIUS Having determined of the Volsces and To send for Titus Lartius, it remains, As the main point of this our after-meeting, To gratify his noble service that Hath thus stood for his country. Therefore, please you, Most reverend and grave elders, to desire The present consul and last general In our well-found successes to report A little of that worthy work performed By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom We met here both to thank and to remember With honours like himself. Coriolanus sits. SENATOR Speak, good Cominius. Leave nothing out for length. (To the Audience and 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 have hearts most Inclinable to honour and advance The theme of our assembly. BRUTUS Which the rather We shall be blest to do if he remember A kinder value of the people than He hath hereto prized them at. MENENIUS That’s off, that’s off! I would you rather had been silent. Worthy Cominius, speak. Coriolanus rises and offers to go away. Nay, keep your place. 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 My words disbenched you not? CORIOLANUS No, sir. Yet oft, When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. You soothed not, therefore hurt not; but your people, I love them as they weigh. That is to say-- MENENIUS Pray now, sit down! CORIOLANUS I had rather have one scratch my head i’ th’ sun When the alarum were struck than idly sit To hear my nothings monstered. Coriolanus exits. MENENIUS Masters of the people, you now see He had rather venture all his limbs for honour Than one on’s ears to hear it.—Proceed, Cominius. COMINIUS I shall lack voice. The deeds of Coriolanus Should not be uttered feebly. It is held That valour is the chiefest virtue and Most dignifies the haver; if it be, The man I speak of cannot in the world Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years, When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought Beyond the mark of others. Our then dictator, Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight. He bestrid an o’erpressed Roman and in view Slew three opposers. Tarquin’s self he met And struck him on his knee. In that day’s feats, He proved best in the field. His pupil age Man-entered thus, he waxèd like a sea, And in the brunt of seventeen battles since He lurched all swords of the garland. For this last, Before and in Corioles, let me say, I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyers And by his rare example made the coward Turn terror into sport. As weeds before A vessel under sail, so men obeyed And fell below his stem. His sword, Death’s stamp, Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying cries. Alone he entered The mortal gate o’ th’ city; aidless came off And with a sudden reinforcement struck Corioles; and until we could call Both field and city ours, he never stood To ease his breast with panting. MENENIUS Worthy man! SENATOR He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him. COMINIUS He looked upon things precious as they were The common muck of the world. He covets less Than misery itself would give, rewards His deeds with doing them, and is content To spend the time to end it. MENENIUS He’s right noble. Let him be called for. SENATOR (To Soldier) Call Coriolanus. Roman Soldier exits. MENENIUS He doth appear. Enter Coriolanus. MENENIUS The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased 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, 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. SICINIUS Sir, the people Must have their voices; neither will they bate One jot of ceremony. MENENIUS, (to Coriolanus) 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 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 received them for the hire Of their breath only! MENENIUS Do not stand upon ’t.— (To audience and Tribunes) We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them, and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honour. SENATOR To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! They exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain. BRUTUS You see how he intends to use the people. SICINIUS May they perceive’s intent! Come, we’ll inform them Of our proceedings here. They exit.
ACT 2 Scene 3 Enter FOUR CITIZENS. FIRST CITIZEN Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. SECOND CITIZEN We may, sir, if we will. THIRD CITIZEN We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do; for, if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. FOURTH CITIZEN Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude, of the which, we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members. SECOND CITIZEN And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. THIRD CITIZEN I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south, and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o’ th’ compass. SECOND CITIZEN Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly? THIRD CITIZEN No way. Your wit is strongly wedged up in a blockhead. FIRST CITIZEN Are you all resolved to give your voices? SECOND CITIZEN I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility, with Menenius, clearly in conversation. FOURTH CITIZEN Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behaviour. FIRST CITIZEN We are not to stay all together. Every one of us has a single honour in giving him our own voices with our own tongues. (FOUR CITIZENS take various places within the audience.) MENENIUS O sir, you are not right. Have you not known The worthiest men have done ’t? CORIOLANUS What must I say? “I pray, sir?”—plague upon ’t! I cannot bring My tongue to such a pace. “Look, sir, my wounds! I got them in my country’s service when Some certain of your brethren roared and ran From th’ noise of our own drums.” MENENIUS O me, the gods! You must not speak of that. You must desire them To think upon you. CORIOLANUS Think upon me? Hang ’em! I would they would forget me. MENENIUS You’ll mar all. Pray you, speak to ’em, I pray you, In wholesome manner. Menenius exits. CORIOLANUS Bid them wash their faces And keep their teeth clean. To the audience and Citizens. So, here is a brace.— You know the cause, all, of my standing here. THIRD CITIZEN We do, sir. Tell us what hath brought you to ’t. CORIOLANUS Mine own desert. FOURTH CITIZEN Your own desert? CORIOLANUS Ay, but not mine own desire. FIRST CITIZEN How, not your own desire? CORIOLANUS No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging. SECOND CITIZEN You must think if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you. CORIOLANUS Well then, I pray, your price o’ th’ consulship? FIRST CITIZEN The price is to ask it kindly. CORIOLANUS Kindly, sir, I pray, let me ha ’t. I have wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private.—Your good voice, sir. What say you? FIRST CITIZEN You shall ha ’t, worthy sir. CORIOLANUS A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms. Adieu. FIRST CITIZEN (To the nearby audience) But this is something odd. SECOND CITIZEN ’Tis no matter. 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. THIRD CITIZEN You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly. CORIOLANUS Your enigma? THIRD CITIZEN You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends. You have not indeed loved the common people. CORIOLANUS You should account me the more virtuous that I have not been common in my love. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. FOURTH CITIZEN You have received many wounds for your country. CORIOLANUS I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices and so trouble you no farther. BOTH The gods give you joy, sir, heartily. CORIOLANUS Most sweet voices! Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here To beg of Hob and Dick that does appear Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to ’t. What custom wills, in all things should we do ’t? The dust on antique time would lie unswept And mountainous error be too highly heaped For truth to o’erpeer. Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go To one that would do thus. I am half through; The one part suffered, the other will I do. To Audience. Here are more voices.— Your voices! For your voices I have fought; Watched for your voices; for your voices bear Of wounds two dozen odd. Battles thrice six I have seen and heard of; for your voices have Done many things, some less, some more. Your voices! FIRST CITIZEN He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man’s voice. SECOND 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! CORIOLANUS Worthy voices! Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius. CORIOLANUS Is this done? MENENIUS You have stood your limitation, and the Tribunes Endue you with the people’s voice. BRUTUS The custom of request you have discharged. Remains that you anon do meet the Senate. CORIOLANUS Where? At the Senate House? SICINIUS There, Coriolanus. CORIOLANUS May I change these garments? SICINIUS You may, sir. CORIOLANUS That I’ll straight do and, knowing myself again, Repair to th’ Senate House. MENENIUS I’ll keep you company.—Will you along? BRUTUS We stay here for the people. SICINIUS Fare you well. Coriolanus and Menenius exit. SICINIUS (To Audience and Citizens within it.) How now, my masters, have you chose this man? FIRST CITIZEN He has our voices, sir. BRUTUS We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. THIRD CITIZEN Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice, He mocked us when he begged our voices. FIRST CITIZEN No, ’tis his kind of speech. He did not mock us. THIRD CITIZEN He used us scornfully. He should have showed us His marks of merit, wounds received for ’s country. SICINIUS Why, so he did, I am sure. THIRD CITIZEN He said he had wounds, which he could show in private. FOURTH CITIZEN “I would be consul,” says he. “Agèd custom, But by your voices, will not so permit me; Your voices therefore.” THIRD CITIZEN: When we granted that, Here was “Thank you. Now you have left your voices, I have no further with you.” Was not this mockery? BRUTUS Could you not have told him As you were lessoned? When he had no power, But was a petty servant to the state, He was your enemy; and, now arriving A place of potency and sway o’ th’ state, If he should still malignantly remain Fast foe to th’ plebeii, your voices might Be curses to yourselves. SICINIUS You should have ta’en th’ advantage of his choler And passed him unelected. BRUTUS Do you think that his contempt shall not be bruising to you When he hath power to crush? THIRD CITIZEN He’s not confirmed. We may deny him yet. SECOND CITIZEN And will deny him! 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. SICINIUS Let them assemble And, on a safer judgment, all revoke Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride And his old hate unto you. BRUTUS Lay a fault on us, your tribunes, That we laboured 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. Lay the fault on us. BRUTUS Ay, spare us not. SICINIUS Say you have found, Scaling his present bearing with his past, That he’s your fixèd enemy. BRUTUS And presently, when you have drawn your number, Repair to th’ Capitol. FIRST CITIZEN We will so. Citizens exit. SICINIUS To th’ Capitol, come. We will be there before the stream o’ th’ people, And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own, Which we have goaded onward. BRUTUS And if, as his nature is, he fall in rage With their refusal, both observe and answer The vantage of his anger. They exit.
ACT 3 Scene 1 Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Titus Lartius, and a Senator. CORIOLANUS Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? LARTIUS He had, my lord, and that it was which caused Our swifter composition. CORIOLANUS So then the Volsces stand but as at first, Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road Upon ’s again. COMINIUS They are worn so, lord consul, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. CORIOLANUS Saw you Aufidius? LARTIUS On safeguard he came to me, and did curse Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town. He is retired to Antium. CORIOLANUS Spoke he of me? LARTIUS He did, my lord. CORIOLANUS How? What? LARTIUS How often he had met you sword to sword; That of all things upon the earth he hated Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes To hopeless restitution, so he might Be called your vanquisher. CORIOLANUS At Antium lives he? LARTIUS At Antium. CORIOLANUS I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully. (Embracing Lartius) Welcome home. Enter Sicinius and Brutus. Behold, these are the tribunes of the people, The tongues o’ common mouths. I do despise them. SICINIUS Pass no further. BRUTUS It will be dangerous to go on. No further. CORIOLANUS What makes this change? COMINIUS Hath he not passed the noble and the common? BRUTUS Cominius, no. CORIOLANUS Have I had children’s voices? SENATOR Tribunes, give way. He shall to th’ marketplace. BRUTUS The people are incensed against him. SICINIUS Stop, or all will fall in broil. CORIOLANUS Are these your herd? Must these have voices, that can yield them now And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices? You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Have you not set them on? MENENIUS Be calm, be calm. CORIOLANUS It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot, To curb the will of the nobility. Suffer ’t, and live with such as cannot rule Nor ever will be ruled. BRUTUS Call ’t not a plot. The people cry you mocked them; and, of late, When corn was given them gratis, you called them Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. CORIOLANUS Why, this was known before. BRUTUS Not to them all. CORIOLANUS Have you informed them since? BRUTUS How? I inform them? LARTIUS 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, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Your fellow tribune. SICINIUS You show too much of that For which people stir. You must inquire your way, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit, Or never be so noble as a consul, Nor yoke with him for tribune. MENENIUS Let’s be calm. COMINIUS This palt’ring Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus Deserved dishonoured rubs. CORIOLANUS Tell me of corn? This was my speech, and I will speak ’t again. MENENIUS Not now, not now. SENATOR Not in this heat, sir, now. CORIOLANUS Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends, I crave their pardons. For The mutable, rank-scented meiny, let them Regard me, as I do not flatter, and Therein behold themselves. I say again, In soothing them, we nourish ’gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, Which we ourselves have plowed for, sowed, and scattered By mingling them with us, the honoured number, Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given to beggars. MENENIUS Well, no more. SENATOR No more words, we beseech you. CORIOLANUS How? No more? As for my country I have shed my blood, Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs Coin words till their decay against those measles Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought The very way to catch them. BRUTUS You speak o’ th’ people As if you were a god to punish, not A man of their infirmity. SICINIUS ’Twere well We let the people know ’t. MENENIUS What, what? His choler? CORIOLANUS Choler? Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, By Jove, ’twould be my mind. SICINIUS It is a mind That shall remain a poison where it is, Not poison any further. CORIOLANUS “Shall remain”? Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you His absolute “shall”? LARTIUS ’Twas from the canon. CORIOLANUS “Shall”? O good but most unwise patricians, hear you This “shall?” The horn and noise o’ the monsters! Be not as fools. They choose their magistrate, And such a one as he, who puts his “shall,” His popular “shall,” against a graver bench Than ever frowned 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 May enter ’twixt the gap of both and take The one by th’ other. COMINIUS Well, on to th’ marketplace. CORIOLANUS Whoever gave that counsel to give forth The corn o’ th’ storehouse gratis, as ’twas used Sometime in Greece— MENENIUS Well, well, no more of that. CORIOLANUS Though there the people had more absolute power, I say they nourished 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 Was not our recompense, resting well assured They ne’er did service for ’t. Being pressed to th’ war, Even when the navel of the state was touched, They would not thread the gates. This kind of service Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i’ th’ war, Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they showed 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? 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 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! 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 Of general ignorance—it must omit Real necessities and give way the while To unstable slightness. Purpose so barred, it follows Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you— You that will be less fearful than discreet, That love the fundamental part of state More than you doubt the change on ’t, that prefer A noble life before a long — pluck out The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonour Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should become ’t, Not having the power to do the good it would For th’ ill which doth control ’t. 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, On whom depending, their obedience fails To th’ greater bench? In a rebellion, Then were they chosen. In a better hour, Let what is meet be said it must be meet, And throw their power i’ th’ dust. BRUTUS Manifest treason! SICINIUS This a consul? No. BRUTUS Let him be apprehended. SICINIUS I call the people; in whose name myself Attach thee as a traitorous innovator! CORIOLANUS Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. SICINIUS Help, you citizens! Enter two soldiers/citizens with an Aedile. MENENIUS On both sides more respect! SICINIUS Here’s he that would take from you all your power. BRUTUS Seize him. The soldiers and citizens bustle about Coriolanus. MENENIUS Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus! Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace! What is about to be? Coriolanus, patience!— Speak, good Sicinius! SICINIUS Hear me, people! Peace! (Everyone stops) SICINIUS You are at point to lose your liberties. Martius would have all from you, Martius, Whom late you have named for consul. MENENIUS This is the way to kindle, not to quench! SENATOR To unbuild the city and to lay all flat! SICINIUS What is the city but the people? SOLDIER True, the people are the city. BRUTUS By the consent of all, we were established The people’s magistrates. AEDILE You so remain. CORIOLANUS That is the way to lay the city flat, To bring the roof to the foundation In heaps and piles of ruin. SICINIUS This deserves death. BRUTUS We do here now pronounce, Upon the part o’ th’ people, 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 Seize him! 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 of me. MENENIUS Down with that sword!—Tribunes, withdraw awhile. BRUTUS Lay hands upon him! In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Aedile, the Soldiers/Citizens are beaten away by Coriolanus and exit. LARTIUS (to Coriolanus) Go, get you to your house. Begone, away. All will be naught else. CORIOLANUS Stand fast! We have as many friends as enemies. SENATOR I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house; Leave us to cure this cause. MENENIUS For ’tis a sore upon us You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you. COMINIUS Come, sir, along with us. CORIOLANUS I would they were barbarians, as they are, Though in Rome littered; not Romans, as they are not, Though calved i’ th’ porch o’ th’ Capitol. MENENIUS Begone! Put not your worthy rage into your tongue. CORIOLANUS On fair ground I could beat forty of them. COMINIUS But manhood is called foolery when it stands Against a falling fabric. LARTIUS Will you hence? MENENIUS (to Coriolanus) Pray you, begone, Coriolanus. I’ll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little. This must be patched With cloth of any colour. COMINIUS So, come away. Coriolanus, Lartius and Cominius exit. SENATOR This man has marred his fortune. MENENIUS His nature is too noble for the world. 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. (Enter Sicinius and Brutus) Here’s goodly work. SENATOR I would they were abed! MENENIUS I would they were in Tiber. SICINIUS Where is this viper That would depopulate the city and Be every man himself? MENENIUS You worthy tribunes— BRUTUS He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands. He hath resisted law. MENENIUS Do not cry havoc where you should but hunt With modest warrant. 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. If I may be heard, I would crave a word. SICINIUS Speak briefly then, For it is decreed he dies tonight. MENENIUS Now the good gods forbid That our renownèd Rome should eat her own. SICINIUS He’s a disease that must be cut away. MENENIUS O, he’s a limb that has but a disease— 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 dropped it for his country. BRUTUS When he did love his country, it honoured him. SICINIUS The service of the foot, Being once gangrened, is not then respected For what before it was. BRUTUS We’ll hear no more. We’ll to his house, and--- MENENIUS One word more, one word! Consider this: he has been bred i’ th’ wars Since he could draw a sword, and is ill schooled In bolted language. 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. SENATOR Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Will prove too bloody. SICINIUS Noble Menenius, Be you then as the people’s officer. BRUTUS Meet on the marketplace. We shall attend; But if you bring not Martius, we’ll proceed In our first way. MENENIUS I’ll bring him to you straight. (To Senator) Let me desire your company. SENATOR Let’s to him. All exit.
ACT 3 Scene 2 Enter Coriolanus. CORIOLANUS Let them pull all about mine ears, present me Death on the wheel or at wild horses’ heels, Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, That the precipitation might down stretch Below the beam of sight, yet will I still Be thus to them. 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 In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder When one but of my ordinance stood up To speak of peace or war. Enter Volumnia. I talk of you. Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me False to my nature? Rather say I play The man I am. VOLUMNIA O sir, sir, sir, I would have had you put your power well on Before you had worn it out. (She takes his hand) CORIOLANUS Let go. VOLUMNIA You might have been enough the man you are With striving less to be so. Lesser had been The thwartings of your dispositions if You had not showed them how you were disposed Ere they lacked power to cross you. CORIOLANUS Let them hang! VOLUMNIA Ay, and burn too. Enter Menenius with the Senator. MENENIUS, (to Coriolanus) Come, you have been too rough! You must return and mend it. SENATOR There’s no remedy, Unless, by not so doing, our good city Cleave in the midst and perish. VOLUMNIA Pray be counseled. I have a heart as little apt as yours, But yet a brain that leads my use of anger To better vantage. MENENIUS Well said, noble woman. CORIOLANUS What must I do? MENENIUS Return to th’ Tribunes. CORIOLANUS Well, 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 But when extremities speak. I have heard you say Honour and policy, like unsevered friends, I’ th’ war do grow together. Grant that, and tell me In peace what each of them by th’ other lose That they combine not there? MENENIUS A good demand. 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 rooted in Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth. I would dissemble with my nature where My fortunes and my friends at stake required I should do so in honour. MENENIUS Noble lady! (To Coriolanus) Come, go with us; speak fair. You may salve so. VOLUMNIA I prithee now, my son, Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand, Thy knee bussing the stones, waving thy head, Now humble as the ripest mulberry That will not hold the handling. Or say to them Thou art their soldier and, being bred in broils, Hast not the soft way, which thou dost confess Were fit for thee to use as they to claim, In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far As thou hast power and person. MENENIUS This but done Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours. VOLUMNIA Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf Than flatter him in a bower. Enter Cominius. COMINIUS I have been i’ th’ marketplace; and, sir, ’tis fit You make strong party or defend yourself By calmness or by absence. All’s in anger. MENENIUS Only fair speech. COMINIUS I think ’twill serve, if he Can thereto frame his spirit. VOLUMNIA He must, and will.— Prithee, now, say you will, and go about it. CORIOLANUS Must I with base tongue give to my noble heart A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do ’t. Yet, were there but this single plot to lose, This mold of Martius, they to dust should grind it And throw ’t against the wind. To th’ marketplace! You have put me now to such a part which never I shall discharge to th’ life. COMINIUS Come, come, we’ll prompt you. VOLUMNIA My praises made thee first a soldier, so, To have my praise for this, perform a part Thou hast not done before. CORIOLANUS Away, my disposition, and possess me Some harlot’s spirit! My throat of war be turned Into a pipe that babies lull asleep! Knaves’ smiles tent my cheeks, and boys’ tears take up The glasses of my sight! I will not do ’t, 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. For I mock at death with as big heart as thou. Thy valiantness was mine; thou suck’st it from me, But owe thy pride thyself. Do as thou list. CORIOLANUS Mother, I am going to the marketplace. Chide me no more. I’ll mountebank their loves, Cog their hearts from them, and come home beloved Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going. Commend me to my wife. I’ll return consul, Or never trust to what my tongue can do I’ th’ way of flattery further. VOLUMNIA Do your will. Volumnia exits. COMINIUS The Tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself To answer mildly, for they are prepared With accusations stronger than before. 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. They exit. ACT 3 Scene 3 Enter Sicinius and Brutus from one side, and an Aedile from the other. AEDILE He’s coming. BRUTUS How accompanied? AEDILE With old Menenius, and the senator That always favored him. SICINIUS Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procured? AEDILE I have. SICINIUS Assemble presently the people hither; And when they hear me say “Fine,” cry “Fine,” if “Death,” cry “Death.”. AEDILE I shall inform them. BRUTUS And when such time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confused Enforce execution of what we sentence. AEDILE Very well. BRUTUS Go about it. Aedile exits. Put him to choler straight, so he cannot Be reined again to temperance; then he speaks What’s in his heart, and that is there which looks With us to break his neck. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius with a Senator. SICINIUS Well, here he comes. MENENIUS, (aside to Coriolanus) Calmly, I do beseech you. SENATOR (Similarly aside to Coriolanus) Amen, amen. Enter the Aedile with two citizens. SICINIUS Draw near, you people. AEDILE (To Audience) List to your tribunes. Peace, I say! CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak. BRUTUS Well, say. CORIOLANUS Shall I be charged no further than this present? Must all determine here? SICINIUS If you submit you to the people’s voices, Allow their officers, and are content To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be proved upon you. CORIOLANUS I am content. MENENIUS Lo, citizens, he says he is content. The warlike service he has done, consider. Think Upon the wounds his body bears. CORIOLANUS Scratches with briars, Scars to move laughter only. MENENIUS Consider further, That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a soldier. Do not take His rougher accents for malicious sounds. CORIOLANUS What is the matter, That, being passed for consul with full voice, I am so dishonoured that the very hour You take it off again? SICINIUS Answer to us. CORIOLANUS Say then. SICINIUS We charge you that you have contrived to take From Rome all seasoned office and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical, For which you are a traitor to the people. CORIOLANUS How? Traitor? MENENIUS Nay, temperately! Your promise! CORIOLANUS The fires i’ th’ lowest hell fold in the people! Call me their traitor? Thou injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hands clutched as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say “Thou liest” unto thee with a voice as free As I do pray the gods. SICINIUS Mark you this, people? What you have seen him do and heard him speak, Beating your officers, cursing yourselves, Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying Those whose great power must try him—even this, Deserves th’ extremest death. BRUTUS But since he hath served well for Rome— CORIOLANUS What do you prate of service? MENENIUS Is this the promise that you made your mother? COMINIUS Know, I pray you— CORIOLANUS I will know no further. Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger But with a grain a day, I would not buy Their mercy at the price of one fair word. SICINIUS For that he has given such hostile strokes, In the name o’ th’ people, and in the power Of us Tribunes, we even from this instant Banish him from our city, never more To enter our Rome gates. SECOND CITIZEN It shall be so! Let him away! FIRST CITIZEN He’s banished, and it shall be so. COMINIUS Hear me, my masters and my common friends— BRUTUS He’s sentenced. No more hearing. COMINIUS Let me speak. I have been consul and can show for Rome 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. BRUTUS There’s no more to be said, he’s banished As enemy to the people and his country. CITIZENS/AEDILE (Ideally encouraging the audience) It shall be so! It shall be so! CORIOLANUS (Losing it!) You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate 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 rumor shake your hearts; 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, 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. Coriolanus exits, followed by Cominius and Senator. AEDILE The people’s enemy is gone! Citizens cheer. All exit.
ACT 4 Scene 1 Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Lartius, Menenius and Cominius. CORIOLANUS Come, leave your tears. A brief farewell. The beast With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother, Where is your ancient courage? You were used To say extremities was the trier of spirits; That common chances common men could bear; That when the sea was calm, all boats alike Showed mastership in floating; fortune’s blows When most struck home, being gentle wounded craves A noble cunning. You were used to load me With precepts that would make invincible The heart that conned them. VIRGILIA O heavens! O heavens! CORIOLANUS Nay, I prithee, woman— VOLUMNIA Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish! CORIOLANUS I shall be loved when I am lacked. Nay, mother, Resume that spirit when you were wont to say If you had been the wife of Hercules, Six of his labors you’d have done and saved Your husband so much sweat.—Cominius, Droop not - Lartius, farewell - My wife and mother, I’ll do well yet.—Thou old and true Menenius, Thy tears are salter than a younger man’s And venomous to thine eyes VIRGILIA Whither wilt thou go? VOLUMNIA Take Cominius With thee awhile. Determine on some course More than a wild exposure to each chance That starts i’ th’ way before thee. VIRGILIA O the gods! COMINIUS I’ll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us And we of thee; so if the time thrust forth A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send O’er the vast world to seek a single man. CORIOLANUS Thou hast years upon thee, and thou art too full Of the wars’ surfeits to go rove with one That’s yet unbruised. Bring me but out at gate.— Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and My friends of noble touch. When I am forth, Bid me farewell, and smile. While I remain Above the ground, you shall hear from me still. LARTIUS That’s worthily as any ear can hear. MENENIUS If I could shake off but one seven years By the good gods, I’d with thee every foot. CORIOLANUS Give me thy hand. Come. They exit.
ACT 4 Scene 2 Enter Sicinius, and Brutus. SICINIUS He’s gone, and the nobility are vexed. BRUTUS Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done Than when it was a-doing. SICINIUS 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. VOLUMNIA O, you’re well met. The hoarded plague o’ th’ gods Requite your love! MENENIUS Peace, peace! Be not so loud. VOLUMNIA to the Tribunes If that I could for weeping, you should hear— Nay, and you shall hear some. SICINIUS, to Volumnia Are you mankind? VOLUMNIA Ay, fool, is that a shame? Note but this, fool. Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome Than thou hast spoken words? SICINIUS O blessèd heavens! VOLUMNIA More noble blows than ever thou wise words, And for Rome’s good. I would my son Were in Arabia and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. SICINIUS What then? VIRGILIA What then? He’d make an end of thy posterity. VOLUMNIA Bastards and all. VIRGILIA Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! SICINIUS I would he had continued to his country As he began, and not unknit himself The noble knot he made. VOLUMNIA “I would he had”? ’Twas you incensed the rabble. Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth As I can of those mysteries which heaven Will not have Earth to know. BRUTUS to Sicinius Pray, let’s go. VIRGILIA Now, pray, sir, get you gone. You have done a brave deed. VOLUMNIA Ere you go, hear this: As far as doth the Capitol exceed The meanest house in Rome, so far my son Whom you have banished, does exceed you all. BRUTUS We’ll leave you. SICINIUS Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her wits? Tribunes exit. VOLUMNIA Take my prayers with you. I would the gods had nothing to do but Confirm my curses. MENENIUS You have told them home, And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me? VOLUMNIA Anger’s my meat. I sup upon myself And so shall starve with feeding. (To Virgilia.) Come, let’s go. They exit. MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie! He exits.
ACT 4 Scene 4 (Scene 3 – cut) Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised, and muffled. CORIOLANUS A goodly city is this Antium. City, ’Tis I that made thy widows. Many an heir Of these fair edifices ’fore my wars Have I heard groan and drop. Then, know me not. Enter a Citizen. Save you, sir. CITIZEN And you. CORIOLANUS Direct me, if it be your will, Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium? CITIZEN He is, and feasts the nobles of the state At his house this night. CORIOLANUS Which is his house, beseech you? CITIZEN This here before you. CORIOLANUS Thank you, sir. Farewell. Citizen exits. O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise Are still together, who twin, as ’twere, in love Unseparable, shall within this hour, On a dissension of a doit, break out To bitterest enmity; so fellest foes, Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep To take the one the other, by some chance, Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends And interjoin their issues. So with me: My birthplace hate I, and my love’s upon This enemy town. I’ll enter. If he slay me, He does fair justice; if he give me way, I’ll do his country service. He exits.
ACT 4 Scene 5 Music plays. Enter Coriolanus. CORIOLANUS A goodly house. The feast smells well, but I Deserve no entertainment in being Coriolanus. Enter First Servant. FIRST SERVANT Whence are you, sir?—Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions?—Pray, get you out. CORIOLANUS Away! FIRST SERVANT Away? Get you away. CORIOLANUS Now th’ art troublesome. FIRST SERVANT Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon. Enter Second Servant SECOND SERVANT What fellow’s this? FIRST SERVANT A strange one as ever I looked on. I cannot get him out o’ th’ house. SECOND SERVANT What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house. CORIOLANUS Let me but stand. I will not hurt your hearth. SECOND SERVANT What are you? CORIOLANUS A gentleman. SECOND SERVANT A marv’llous poor one. CORIOLANUS True, so I am. FIRST SERVANT Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station. Here’s no place for you. CORIOLANUS (Pushes him away from him.) Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits. SECOND SERVINGMAN What, you will not?—Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here. FIRST SERVANT And I shall. Second Servant exits. SECOND SERVANT Where dwell’st thou? CORIOLANUS Under the canopy. SECOND SERVANT Under the canopy? CORIOLANUS Ay. SECOND SERVANT Where’s that? CORIOLANUS I’ th’ city of kites and crows. SECOND SERVANT I’ th’ city of kites and crows? What an ass it is! Then thou dwell’st with daws too? CORIOLANUS No, I serve not thy master. SECOND SERVINGMAN How, sir? Do you meddle with my master? CORIOLANUS Ay, ’tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress. Thou prat’st and prat’st. Enter Aufidius with the First Servant. AUFIDIUS Where is this fellow? FIRST SERVANT Here, sir. I’d have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within. (Aufidius waves off First Servant and Second Servant. They exit.) AUFIDIUS Whence com’st thou? What wouldst thou? Thy name? Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name? CORIOLANUS (Removing his muffler but not turning) Not yet thou know’st me, and seeing me, dost not Think me for the man I am. AUFIDIUS What is thy name? CORIOLANUS A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears And harsh in sound to thine. AUFIDIUS Say, what’s thy name? Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy voice Bears a command in ’t. Though thy tackle’s torn, Thou show’st a noble vessel. What’s thy name? CORIOLANUS Prepare thy brow to frown. (Turning, but keeping his hood up) Know’st thou me yet? AUFIDIUS I know thee not. Thy name? CORIOLANUS (Removing his hood) My name is Caius Martius, who hath done To thee particularly and to all the Volsces Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may My surname Coriolanus. The painful service, The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood Shed for my thankless country are requited But with that surname, a good memory And witness of the malice and displeasure Which thou shouldst bear me. Only that name remains. The cruelty and envy of the people, Permitted by our dastard nobles, who Have all forsook me, hath devoured the rest, And suffered me by th’ voice of slaves to be Whooped out of Rome. Now this extremity Hath brought me to thy hearth, not out of hope— Mistake me not—to save my life; for if I had feared death, of all the men i’ th’ world I would have ’voided thee, but in mere spite, To be full quit of those my banishers, Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge Thine own particular wrongs, speed thee straight And make my misery serve thy turn. So use it That my revengeful services may prove As benefits to thee, for I will fight Against my cankered country with the spleen Of all the under fiends. But if so be Thou dar’st not this, and that to prove more fortunes Thou ’rt tired, then, in a word, I also am Longer to live most weary, and present My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice, Which not to cut would show thee but a fool, Since I have ever followed thee with hate, Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country’s breast, And cannot live but to thy shame, unless It be to do thee service. AUFIDIUS O Martius, Martius, Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter Should from yond cloud speak divine things And say ’tis true, I’d not believe them more Than thee, all-noble Martius. Let me twine Mine arms about that body, whereagainst My grainèd ash an hundred times hath broke And scarred the moon with splinters. They embrace. Here I clip The anvil of my sword and do contest As hotly and as nobly with thy love As ever in ambitious strength I did Contend against thy valor. Know thou first, I loved the maid I married; never man Sighed truer breath. But that I see thee here, Thou noble thing, more dances my rapt heart Than when I first my wedded mistress saw Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars, I tell thee We have a power on foot, and I had purpose Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn Or lose mine arm for ’t. Thou hast beat me out Twelve several times, and I have nightly since Dreamt of encounters ’twixt thyself and me; We have been down together in my sleep, Unbuckling helms, fisting each other’s throat, And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius, Had we no other quarrel else to Rome but that Thou art thence banished, we would muster all From twelve to seventy and, pouring war Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome, Like a bold flood o’erbear ’t. O, come, go in, And take our friendly senators by th’ hands, Who now are here, taking their leaves of me, Who am prepared against your territories, Though not for Rome itself. CORIOLANUS You bless me, gods! AUFIDIUS Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have The leading of thine own revenges, take Th’ one half of my commission and set down— As best thou art experienced, since thou know’st Thy country’s strength and weakness—thine own ways, Whether to knock against the gates of Rome, Or rudely visit them in parts remote To fright them ere destroy. But come in. Let me commend thee first to those that shall Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! And more a friend than ere an enemy— Yet, Martius, that was much. Your hand. Most welcome! Coriolanus and Aufidius exit.
ACT 4 Scene 6 Enter Sicinius and Brutus. BRUTUS We hear not of him, neither need we fear him. Here do we make his friends blush that the world Goes well, who would rather have beholded Dissentious numbers pest’ring streets than see Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going About their functions friendly. Enter Menenius. SICINIUS Hail, sir. MENENIUS Hail to you both. SICINIUS Your Coriolanus is not much missed But with his friends. Where is he, hear you? MENENIUS Nay, I hear nothing; His mother and his wife hear nothing from him. SICINIUS This is a happier and more comely time Than when citizens ran about the streets Crying confusion. BRUTUS Caius Martius was A worthy officer, but insolent, O’ercome with pride, past all thinking self-loving. SICINIUS And affecting one sole throne, without assistance. MENENIUS I think not so. BRUTUS Our Rome sits safe and still without him here. Enter Messenger MESSENGER Worthy tribunes, the Volsces with two powers Are entered in the Roman territories, And with the deepest malice of the war Destroy what lies before ’em. MENENIUS ’Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Martius’ banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world. BRUTUS Go see this rumourer whipped. It cannot be The Volsces dare break with us. MENENIUS Cannot be? We have record that very well it can, And three examples of the like hath been Within my age. But reason with the fellow Before you punish him, where he heard this, Lest you shall chance to whip your information And beat the messenger who bids beware Of what is to be dreaded. MESSENGER The nobles in great earnestness are going All to the Senate House. Some news is coming That turns their faces. SICINIUS ’Tis this rumourer — Go whip him ’fore the people’s eyes. MESSENGER But, sir, The man’s report is seconded, and more. It is spoke freely out of many mouths— How probable I do not know—that Martius, Joined with Aufidius, leads a power ’gainst Rome. Enter Cominius, angry. COMINIUS (to the Tribunes) O, you have made good work! MENENIUS What news? What news? COMINIUS, (to the Tribunes) You have holp to ravish your own daughters and To melt the city leads upon your pates— MENENIUS What’s the news? COMINIUS, (to the Tribunes) Your temples burnèd in their cement, and Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined Into an auger’s bore. MENENIUS Pray now, your news! If Martius should be joined with Volscians— COMINIUS If? He is their god; he leads them like a thing Made by some other deity than Nature. They follow him, against us brats, with no Less confidence than butchers killing flies. MENENIUS, (to the Tribunes) You and your apron-men have made good work, You that stood upon breath of garlic eaters! COMINIUS He’ll shake your Rome about your ears. MENENIUS We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy. COMINIUS Who shall ask it? The Tribunes cannot do ’t for shame; the people Deserve such pity of him as the wolf Does of the shepherds. MENENIUS ’Tis true. COMINIUS (To the Tribunes) You have brought A trembling upon Rome such as was never So incapable of help. SICINIUS Say not we brought it. MENENIUS How? Was ’t we? We loved him, but like beasts And cowardly nobles gave way unto your clusters, Who did hoot him out o’ th’ city. COMINIUS Tullus Aufidius, The second name of men, obeys his points As if he were his officer. Desperation Is all the policy, strength, and defence That Rome can make against them. MENENIUS Shall we to the Capitol? COMINIUS O, ay, what else? Both exit. BRUTUS I do not like this news. SICINIUS Nor I. BRUTUS Let’s to the Capitol. Would half my wealth Would buy this for a lie. Brutus and Sicinius exit.
ACT 4 Scene 7 Enter Aufidius. AUFIDIUS I do not know what witchcraft’s in him, but My soldiers use him as the grace ’fore meat, Their talk at table, and their thanks at end; And I am dark’ned in this action, ay, I cannot help it now, unless by using Means I lame the foot of our design. All places yields to him ere he sits down, And the nobility of Rome are his; The Senators and Patricians love him too. The Tribunes are no soldiers, and their people Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty To expel him thence. I think he’ll be to Rome As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it By sovereignty of nature. First, he was A noble servant to them. Whether ’twas pride, Which out of daily fortune ever taints The happy man; whether defect of judgment, To fail in the disposing of those chances Which he was lord of; or whether nature, Not to be other than one thing, not moving From th’ casque to th’ cushion; but one of these— As he hath spices of them all—made him feared, So hated, and so banished. So our virtues Lie in th’ interpretation of the time, And power, unto itself most commendable, Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair T’ extol what it hath done. One fire drives out one fire, one nail one nail; Rights by rights falter; strengths by strengths do fail. I must away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou art poor’st of all; then shortly art thou mine. Exeunt.
ACT 5 Scene 1 Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus (the two Tribunes), with others. MENENIUS No, I’ll not go. You hear what he hath said To his sometime his general, who loved him In a most dear particular. He called me father, But what o’ that? Nay, if he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I’ll keep at home. COMINIUS He would not seem to know me. I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops That we have bled together. “Coriolanus” He would not answer to, forbade all names. He was a kind of nothing, titleless, Till he had forged himself a name o’ th’ fire Of burning Rome. MENENIUS, to the Tribunes Why, so; you have made good work! A pair of tribunes that have wracked Rome! COMINIUS I offered to awaken his regard For ’s private friends. His answer to me was He could not stay to pick them in a pile Of noisome musty chaff. He said ’twas folly For one poor grain or two to leave unburnt And still to nose th’ offense. MENENIUS For one poor grain or two! I am one of those! His mother, wife, and you. (To the Tribunes) You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt Above the moon. We must be burnt for you. BRUTUS If your good tongue would be our country’s pleader-- MENENIUS No, I’ll not meddle. SICINIUS Pray you, go to him. MENENIUS (After a pause) I’ll undertake ’t. I think he’ll hear me. He exits. COMINIUS He’ll never hear him. SICINIUS Not? COMINIUS I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Red as ’twould burn Rome; and his injury The jailor to his pity. All hope is vain. They exit.
ACT 5 Scene 2 Enter Menenius to Coriolanus and Aufidius. MENENIUS Thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here’s water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs, and conjure thee to pardon Rome. CORIOLANUS Away! MENENIUS How? Away? CORIOLANUS Mine ears against your suits are stronger than Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee, Take this along; I writ it for thy sake, He gives Menenius a paper. And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak.—This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st. AUFIDIUS You keep a constant temper. Exit Coriolanus. Aufidius and Menenius remain. AUFIDIUS Now, sir, is your name Menenius? MENENIUS I neither care for th’ world nor for you. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not from another. Do your worst. For you, I say to you as I was said to: away! He exits. AUFIDIUS A noble fellow, I warrant him. Aufidius exits. (Or possibly remains)
ACT 5 Scene 3 Enter Coriolanus and Aufidius (or Coriolanus to Aufidius, depending on the end of the previous scene). CORIOLANUS We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow Set down our host. My partner in this action, You must report to th’ Volscian lords how plainly I have borne this business. AUFIDIUS You have stopped your ears against The general suit of Rome, never admitted A private whisper, not even with such friends That thought them sure of you. CORIOLANUS This last old man, Whom with a cracked heart I have sent to Rome, Loved me above the measure of a father, Nay, godded me indeed. Fresh embassies and suits, Not from the state nor private friends, hereafter Will I lend ear to. Shout within. Ha? What shout is this? Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow In the same time ’tis made? I will not. Enter Virgilia and Volumnia My wife comes foremost, then the honoured mold Wherein this trunk was framed. But out, affection! Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. Virgilia curtsies. What is that curtsy worth? Or those doves’ eyes, Which can make gods forsworn? I melt and am not Of stronger earth than others. Volumnia bows. My mother bows, As if Olympus to a molehill should In supplication nod; Let the Volsces Plow Rome and harrow Italy, I’ll never Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand As if a man were author of himself, And knew no other kin. VIRGILIA My lord and husband. CORIOLANUS These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. VIRGILIA The sorrow that delivers us thus changed Makes you think so. CORIOLANUS Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part, and I am out, Even to a full disgrace. Forgive my tyranny, but do not say For that “Forgive our Romans.” You gods! I prate And the most noble mother of the world Leave unsaluted. He kneels VOLUMNIA O, stand up blest, (Coriolanus rises) Whilst with no softer cushion than the flint I kneel before thee and unproperly Show duty, as mistaken all this while Between the child and parent. She kneels. CORIOLANUS What’s this? Your knees to me? To your corrected son? He raises her up. Then let the mutinous winds Strike the proud cedars ’gainst the fiery sun, Murdering impossibility to make What cannot be slight work. VOLUMNIA Thou art my warrior; I holp to frame thee. CORIOLANUS I beseech you, peace; and do not bid me Dismiss my soldiers or capitulate Again with Rome’s mechanics. Tell me not Wherein I seem unnatural; desire not T’ allay my rages and revenges with Your colder reasons. VOLUMNIA O, no more, no more! For we have nothing else to ask but that Which you deny already. Yet we will ask, That if you fail in our request, the blame May hang upon your hardness. Therefore hear us. CORIOLANUS Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark, for I’ll Hear naught from Rome in private. (He sits) Your request? VOLUMNIA Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment And state of bodies would bewray what life We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither; since that thy sight, which should Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts, Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow, Making the mother and the wife to see The beloved son, the dear husband, tearing His country’s bowels out. Alack, so we must lose The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, Our comfort in the country. We must find An evident calamity, though we had Our wish, which side should win, for either thou Must as a foreign recreant be led With manacles through our streets, or else Triumphantly tread on thy country’s ruin. For myself, son, I purpose not to wait on fortune till These wars determine. If I cannot persuade thee Rather to show a noble grace to both parts Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner March to assault thy country than to tread— Trust to ’t, thou shalt not—on thy mother’s womb That brought thee to this world. CORIOLANUS (Rising, as though to leave) I have sat too long. VOLUMNIA Nay, go not from us thus. If it were so, that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us as poisonous of your honour. No, our suit Is that you reconcile them, and each side shall Give the all-hail to thee and cry “Be blest For making up this peace!” Thou know’st, great son, The end of war’s uncertain, but this certain, That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name Whose repetition will be dogged with curses, Whose chronicle thus writ: “The man was noble, But with his last attempt he wiped it out, Destroyed his country, and his name remains To th’ ensuing age abhorred.” Speak to me, son. Think’st thou it honourable for a noble man Still to remember wrongs?—Daughter, speak you. He cares not for weeping.—There’s no man living More bound to ’s mother, yet here he lets me prate Like one i’ th’ stocks. Thou hast never in thy life Showed thy dear mother any courtesy When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood, Has clucked thee to the wars and safely home, Loaden with honour.—He turns away!— Down, lady! Let us shame him with our knees. To his surname Coriolanus ’longs more pride Than pity to our prayers. Down! An end. They kneel. Coriolanus does not look at them. VIRGILIA So, we will home to Rome And die among our neighbours. They rise. VOLUMNIA Come, let us go. I am hushed until our city be afire, And then I’ll speak a little. CORIOLANUS O mother, mother! What have you done? You have won a happy victory to Rome, But, for your son—believe it, O, believe it!— Most dangerously you have with him prevailed, If not most mortal to him. But let it come.— Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, I’ll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, Were you in my stead, would you have heard A mother less? Or granted less, Aufidius? AUFIDIUS I was moved withal. CORIOLANUS I dare be sworn you were. And, sir, it is no little thing to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, What peace you’ll make advise me. He speaks with Volumnia and Virgilia aside. AUFIDIUS (aside) I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour At difference in thee. Out of that I’ll work Myself a former fortune. CORIOLANUS, to the Women Ay, by and by; But we will drink together, and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have countersealed. Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you. All the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. They exit.
ACT 5 Scene 4 Enter Menenius and Sicinius. MENENIUS See you yond cornerstone? SICINIUS Why, what of that? MENENIUS If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hope in ’t. SICINIUS Is ’t possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? MENENIUS There is difference between a grub and a butterfly, yet your butterfly was a grub. This Martius is grown from man to dragon. SICINIUS He loved his mother dearly. MENENIUS So did he me; and he no more remembers his mother now than an eight-year-old horse. SICINIUS He may yet show us all mercy. MENENIUS There is no more mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger. SICINIUS The gods be good unto us. MENENIUS No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them; And he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Enter Brutus. BRUTUS Good news, good news! The ladies have prevailed! SICINIUS Friend, art thou certain this is true? BRUTUS As certain as I know the sun is fire. MENENIUS This is good news. I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians A city full; of tribunes such as you A sea and land full. (Exit Menenius) SICINIUS We’ll meet them also, and help the joy. Exit Brutus and Sicinius.
ACT 5 Scene 5 Enter Menenius, with Volumnia and Virgilia passing over the stage as he speaks. MENENIUS (To Audience) Behold our patroness, the life of Rome! Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, And make triumphant fires. Strew flowers before Them, unshout the noise that banished Martius, Repeal him with the welcome of his mother. Cry “Welcome, ladies, welcome!” Menenius greets Volumnia and Virgilia and they exit.
ACT 5 Scene 6 Enter Tullus Aufidius. AUFIDIUS The lords o’ th’ city know I am here. I delivered them a paper to read, Bid them repair to th’ marketplace, where I Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse Intends t’ appear before the people, hoping To purge himself with words. Enter three Conspirators. Most welcome! FIRST CONSPIRATOR How is it with our general? AUFIDIUS As with a man by his own alms empoisoned And with his charity slain. SECOND CONSPIRATOR Most noble sir, If you do hold the same intent wherein You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you Of your great danger. AUFIDIUS Sir, I cannot tell. We must proceed as we do find the people. THIRD CONSPIRATOR The people will remain uncertain whilst ’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. AUFIDIUS I know it. I raised him, and I pawned Mine honour for his truth, who, being so heightened, He watered his new plants with dews of flattery, Seducing so my friends; and to this end, He bowed his nature, never known before But to be rough, unswayable, and free. THIRD CONSPIRATOR Sir, his stoutness When he did stand for consul, which he lost By lack of stooping— AUFIDIUS That I would have spoke of. Being banished for ’t, he came unto my hearth, Presented to my knife his throat. I took him, Made him joint servant with me, gave him way In all his own desires; nay, let him choose Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, My best and freshest men; and took some pride To do myself this wrong; till at the last I seemed his follower, not partner; and He waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary. FIRST CONSPIRATOR So he did, my lord. The army marvelled at it, and, in the last, When he had carried Rome and that we looked For no less spoil than glory— AUFIDIUS At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour Of our great action. Therefore shall he die, And I’ll renew me in his fall. Drums and trumpets within. FIRST CONSPIRATOR Your native town you entered like a post And had no welcomes home, but he returns Splitting the air with noise. SECOND CONSPIRATOR And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear With giving him glory. THIRD CONSPIRATOR Therefore at your vantage, Ere he express himself or move the people With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. AUFIDIUS Say no more. Enter Lord Here comes a Lord. LORD You are most welcome home. AUFIDIUS I have not deserved it. But, worthy lord, have you with heed perused What I have written to you? LORD I have, as have my peers, and grieve to hear ’t. What faults he made before the last, I think Might have found easy fines, but there to end Where he was to begin and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge, making a treaty where There was a yielding—this admits no excuse. Enter Coriolanus, followed by Lartius. Sicinius and Brutus drift on during the scene – to be directed. AUFIDIUS He approaches. You shall hear him. CORIOLANUS Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, No more infected with my country’s love Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know That prosperously I have attempted, and With bloody passage led your wars even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home Doth more than counterpoise a full third part The charges of the action. We have made peace With no less honour to the Antiates Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver, Subscribed by’ th’ Consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what We have compounded on. He offers the Lord a paper. AUFIDIUS Read it not, noble lord, But tell the traitor in the highest degree He hath abused your powers. (To Conspirators) Seize the bloody traitor. (The Conspirators seize Coriolanus and subdue him with beating during the next dialogue) CORIOLANUS “Traitor”? How now? AUFIDIUS Ay, traitor, Martius. CORIOLANUS Martius? AUFIDIUS Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name Coriolanus, in Corioles? You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously He has betrayed your business and given up For certain drops of salt your city Rome— I say your city—to his wife and mother, Breaking his oath and resolution like A twist of rotten silk, never admitting Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his mother’s tears He whined and roared away your victory, That pages blushed at him and men of heart Looked wond’ring each at other. CORIOLANUS Hear’st thou, Mars? AUFIDIUS Name not the god, thou boy of tears. CORIOLANUS Ha? AUFIDIUS No more. CORIOLANUS Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? (Coriolanus breaks free of the Conspirators – to be directed) Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion— Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join To thrust the lie unto him. (The Conspirators are able to subdue Coriolanus a second time and this time bind him – to be directed) LARTIUS Peace, all, and hear me speak! (There is a pause, and then Coriolanus is struck a blow by the Lord. The Conspirators take this as their cue and draw knives. The execution of Coriolanus: to be directed, but key ‘cuts’ are marked where required.) CORIOLANUS Cut me to pieces, Volsces. (Cut) Men and lads, Stain all your edges on me. (Cut) “Boy”? (Cut) False hound! (Cut) If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there That like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles, Alone I did it. (Cut) “Boy”! LARTIUS I beg you-- Hold! (They hold. Aufidius approaches Coriolanus as he speaks and lifts his head – at a point to be directed.) AUFIDIUS Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, ’Fore your own eyes and ears? ALL Let him die for ’t. / Tear him to pieces! / He killed my son! / He is monstrous! LARTIUS Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace! The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o’ th’ Earth. Stand, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace. CORIOLANUS O, that I had him, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword. AUFIDIUS Insolent villain! (Aufidius releases his hold on Coriolanus and turns away. There is no saving Coriolanus now.) ALL CONSPIRATORS Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him! (Conspirators fall on Martius in a frenzy and kill him. To be directed. It ends only when Lartius pushes through.) LARTIUS Hold! For Jupiter’s sake! (He kneels by Coriolanus’ body) - Hold! AUFIDIUS My noble masters, hear me speak-- LARTIUS You hath done a deed whereat valour will weep. Tread not upon him.— Put up your swords. Put them up! AUFIDIUS My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honours To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver Myself your loyal servant or endure Your heaviest censure. Lartius cuts Coriolanus’ bonds and tries to take up his body. Conspirators seize him and pull him away. LARTIUS Bear from hence his body. Let him be regarded As the most noble corpse that ever Herald did follow to his urn. Exit Lartius, escorted by Conspirators, plus Lord, Sicinius and Brutus, all except Aufidius and Coriolanus’ body. AUFIDIUS His own impatience Takes from my soul a great part of blame. I’ll make the best of it. (He lifts Coriolanus’ head) My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow.— (As though realising he’s not alone, he drops Coriolanus’ head. To Audience) Take him up. Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.— Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury, Yet…he shall have a noble memory. Exeunt.