Coriolanus

  Of contradiction. Being once chafed35, he cannot

  Be reined again to temperance: then he speaks

  What's in his heart, and that is there which looks37

  With us38 to break his neck.

  Enter Coriolanus, Menenius and Cominius, with others [Senators and Patricians]

  SICINIUS Well, here he comes.

  MENENIUS Calmly, I do beseech you.

  To Coriolanus

  CORIOLANUS Ay, as an ostler, that for th'poorest piece40

  Will bear the knave by th'volume. Th'honoured41 gods

  Keep Rome in safety and the chairs of justice

  Supplied with worthy men: plant love among's43,

  Throng our large temples with the shows44 of peace,

  And not our streets with war!

  FIRST SENATOR Amen, amen.

  MENENIUS A noble wish.

  Enter the Aedile with the Plebians [Citizens]

  SICINIUS Draw near, ye people.

  AEDILE List to your tribunes. Audience49: peace, I say.

  CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak.

  SICINIUS and BRUTUS Well, say.-- Peace, ho!

  CORIOLANUS Shall I be charged no further than this present52?

  Must all determine53 here?

  SICINIUS I do demand54

  If you submit you to the people's voices,

  Allow56 their officers, and are content

  To suffer lawful censure57 for such faults

  As shall be proved upon you.

  CORIOLANUS I am content.

  MENENIUS Lo, citizens, he says he is content.

  The warlike service he has done, consider: think

  Upon the wounds his body bears, which show

  Like graves i'th'holy churchyard.

  CORIOLANUS Scratches with briers, scars to move laughter only.

  MENENIUS Consider further

  That when he speaks not like a citizen,

  You find him like a soldier: do not take

  His rougher accents68 for malicious sounds,

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

  Rather than envy you70.

  COMINIUS Well, well, no more.

  CORIOLANUS What is the matter

  That being passed for consul with full voice,

  I am so dishonoured that the very74 hour

  You take it off again?

  SICINIUS Answer to us76.

  CORIOLANUS Say, then: 'tis true, I ought so77.

  SICINIUS We charge you that you have contrived78 to take

  From Rome all seasoned79 office, and to wind

  Yourself into a power tyrannical80,

  For which you are a traitor to the people.

  CORIOLANUS How?82 Traitor?

  MENENIUS Nay, temperately: your promise.

  CORIOLANUS The fires i'th'lowest hell fold in84 the people!

  Call me their traitor, thou injurious85 tribune?

  Within86 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 free89

  As I do pray the90 gods.

  SICINIUS Mark you this, people?

  ALL CITIZENS To th'rock, to th'rock with him!

  SICINIUS Peace!

  We need not put94 new matter to his charge:

  What you have seen him do and heard him speak,

  Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,

  Opposing laws with strokes97, and here defying

  Those whose great power must try him.

  Even this, so criminal, and in such capital99 kind,

  Deserves th'extremest death.

  BRUTUS But since he hath served well for Rome--

  CORIOLANUS What do you prate102 of service?

  BRUTUS I talk of that, that know it.

  CORIOLANUS You?

  MENENIUS Is this the promise that you made your mother?

  COMINIUS Know, I pray you--

  CORIOLANUS I'll know no further:

  Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,

  Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger109

  But with a grain a day, I would not buy

  Their mercy at the price of one fair word,

  Nor check112 my courage for what they can give,

  To have't113 with saying 'Good morrow.'

  SICINIUS For that114 he has,

  As much as in him lies115, from time to time

  Envied against116 the people, seeking means

  To pluck away their power, as117 now at last

  Given hostile strokes, and that not118 in the presence

  Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers

  That doth distribute it. In the name o'th'people,

  And in the power of us the tribunes, we,

  Even from this instant, banish him our city,

  In peril of precipitation123

  From off the rock Tarpeian, never more

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

  I say it shall be so.

  ALL CITIZENS It shall be so, it shall be so: let him away:

  He's banished, and it shall be so.

  COMINIUS Hear me, my masters, and my common friends--

  SICINIUS 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,

  My dear wife's estimate, her womb's136 increase,

  And treasure of my loins: then if I would

  Speak that--

  SICINIUS We know your drift. Speak what?

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

  As enemy to the people and his country.

  It shall be so.

  ALL CITIZENS It shall be so, it shall be so.

  CORIOLANUS You common cry144 of curs, whose breath I hate

  As reek145 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 remain148 with your uncertainty.

  Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts:

  Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes150,

  Fan you into despair: have the power still151

  To banish your defenders, till at length

  Your ignorance, which finds not till it feels153,

  Making but reservation of yourselves154,

  Still your own foes155, deliver you

  As most abated156 captives to some nation

  That won you without blows, despising,

  For158 you, the city. Thus I turn my back:

  There is a world elsewhere.

  Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, [Menenius, Senators and Patricians. The Citizens] all shout, and throw up their caps

  AEDILE The people's enemy is gone, is gone!

  ALL CITIZENS Our enemy is banished, he is gone. Hoo-oo!

  SICINIUS Go see him out at gates, and follow him

  As he hath followed you, with all despite163:

  Give him deserved vexation164. Let a guard

  Attend us through the city.

  ALL CITIZENS Come, come, let's see him out at gates: come.

  The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come.

  Exeunt

  Act 4 [Scene 1]

  running scene 11

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

  CORIOLANUS Come, leave1 your tears: a brief farewell: the beast

  With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother,

  Where is your ancient courage? You were used3

  To say extremities4 was the trier of spirits,

  That common chances5 common men could bear:

  That when the sea was calm, all boats alike

  Showed mastership in floating.
Fortune's7 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 conned11 them.

  VIRGILIA O heavens! O heavens!

  CORIOLANUS Nay, I prithee, woman--

  VOLUMNIA Now the red pestilence14 strike all trades in Rome,

  And occupations15 perish!

  CORIOLANUS What, what, what?

  I shall be loved when I am lacked17. Nay, mother,

  Resume that spirit, when you were wont18 to say,

  If you had been the wife of Hercules19,

  Six of his labours20 you'd have done, and saved

  Your husband so much sweat. Cominius,

  Droop not: adieu. Farewell, my wife, my mother:

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

  Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,

  And venomous to thine eyes. My sometime25 general,

  I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld

  Heart-hardening spectacles. Tell these sad women

  'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes28,

  As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My mother, you wot29 well

  My hazards still30 have been your solace, and

  Believe't not lightly31: though I go alone,

  Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen32

  Makes feared and talked of more than seen: your son

  Will or exceed the common34, or be caught

  With cautelous baits and practice35.

  VOLUMNIA My first son,

  Whither will thou go? Take good Cominius

  With thee awhile: determine on some course

  More than a wild exposture39 to each chance

  That starts40 i'th'way before thee.

  VIRGILIA O the gods!

  COMINIUS I'll follow42 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 repeal45, we shall not send

  O'er the vast world to seek a single man,

  And lose advantage47, which doth ever cool

  I'th'absence of the needer.

  CORIOLANUS Fare ye well:

  Thou hast years upon thee, and thou art too full

  Of the wars' surfeits51 to go rove with one

  That's yet unbruised: bring52 me but out at gate.

  Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and

  My friends of noble touch54: when I am forth,

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

  While I remain above the ground, you shall

  Hear from me still, and never of me aught

  But what is like me formerly.

  MENENIUS That's worthily

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

  If I could shake off but one seven61 years

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

  I'd with thee, every foot63.

  CORIOLANUS Give me thy hand: come.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 2]

  running scene 12

  Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus, with the Aedile

  SICINIUS Bid them all home1: he's gone, and we'll no further.

  The nobility are vexed, whom we see have sided

  In his behalf.

  BRUTUS Now we have shown our power,

  Let us seem humbler after it is done

  Than when it was a-doing.

  SICINIUS Bid them home: say their great enemy is gone,

  And they stand in their ancient8 strength.

  BRUTUS Dismiss them home.

  [Exit Aedile]

  Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Menenius

  Here comes his mother.

  SICINIUS Let's not meet her.

  BRUTUS Why?

  SICINIUS They say she's mad13.

  BRUTUS They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.

  VOLUMNIA O, you're well met:

  Th'hoarded plague o'th'gods requite16 your love!

  MENENIUS Peace, peace: be not so loud.

  VOLUMNIA If that I could for weeping, you should hear--

  Nay, and you shall hear some. Will you be gone?

  VIRGILIA You shall stay too: I would I had the power

  To the Tribunes

  To say so to my husband.

  SICINIUS Are you mankind22?

  To Volumnia

  VOLUMNIA Ay, fool: is that a shame? Note but this, fool:

  Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship24

  To banish him that struck more blows for Rome

  Than thou hast spoken words?

  SICINIUS O blessed heavens!

  VOLUMNIA More noble blows than ever thou wise words,

  And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what: yet go:

  Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would30 my son

  Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before31 him,

  His good sword in his hand.

  SICINIUS What then?

  VIRGILIA What then? He'd make an end of thy posterity34.

  VOLUMNIA Bastards and all.

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

  MENENIUS Come, come, peace.

  SICINIUS I would he had continued to his country

  As he began, and not unknit39 himself

  The noble knot40 he made.

  BRUTUS I would he had.

  VOLUMNIA 'I would he had'? 'Twas you incensed the rabble:

  Cats43, that can judge as fitly of his worth

  As I can of those mysteries which heaven

  Will not have earth to know.

  BRUTUS Pray, let's go.

  VOLUMNIA Now pray, sir, get you gone.

  You have done a brave48 deed: ere you go, hear this:

  As far as doth the Capitol exceed

  The meanest50 house in Rome, so far my son --

  This lady's husband here, this, do you see? --

  Whom you have banished, does exceed you all.

  BRUTUS Well, well, we'll leave you.

  SICINIUS Why stay we to be baited54

  With one that wants her wits?

  Exeunt Tribunes

  VOLUMNIA Take my prayers with you.

  I would the gods had nothing else to do

  But to confirm my curses. Could I meet 'em58

  But once a day, it would unclog my heart

  Of what lies heavy to't60.

  MENENIUS You have told them home61,

  And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup62 with me?

  VOLUMNIA Anger's my meat63: I sup upon myself,

  And so shall starve with feeding64. Come, let's go:

  Leave this faint puling65 and lament as I do,

  In anger, Juno-like66. Come, come, come.

  Exeunt [Volumnia and Virgilia]

  MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie!

  Exit

  [Act 4 Scene 3]

  running scene 13

  Enter [Nicanor], a Roman, and [Adrian] a Volsce

  NICANOR I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I

  think, is Adrian.

  ADRIAN It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.

  NICANOR I am a Roman, and my services are, as you are,

  against 'em5. Know you me yet?

  ADRIAN Nicanor? No?

  NICANOR The same, sir.

  ADRIAN You had more beard when I last saw you, but your

  favour9 is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in

  Rome? I have a note10 from the Volscian state to find you out

  there. You have well saved me a day's journey.

  NICANOR There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the

  people against the senators, patricians and nobles.

  ADRIAN Hath been? Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so:

  they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come

  upon them in the heat of their division.

/>   NICANOR The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would

  make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the

  banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a

  ripe20 aptness to take all power from the people and to pluck

  from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing21, I can tell

  you, and is almost mature22 for the violent breaking out.

  ADRIAN Coriolanus banished?

  NICANOR Banished, sir.

  ADRIAN You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

  NICANOR The day serves well for them26 now. I have heard it

  said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's

  fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will

  appear well in these wars, his great opposer Coriolanus being

  now in no request of30 his country.

  ADRIAN He cannot choose31. I am most fortunate, thus

  accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my business,

  and I will merrily accompany you home.

  NICANOR I shall between this34 and supper tell you most

  strange things from Rome, all tending to the good of their

  adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

  ADRIAN A most royal one: the centurions and their charges37,

  distinctly billeted already in th'entertainment38, and to be on

  foot at an hour's warning.

  NICANOR I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the

  man, I think, that shall set them in present41 action. So, sir,

  heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

  ADRIAN You take my part43 from me, sir: I have the most cause

  to be glad of yours.

  NICANOR Well, let us go together.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 4]

  running scene 14

  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 wars3

  Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not,

  Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones

  In puny6 battle slay me.

  Enter a Citizen

  Save7 you, sir.

  CITIZEN And you.

  CORIOLANUS Direct me, if it be your will,

  Where great Aufidius lies10: 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.

  Exit Citizen

  O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast16 sworn,

  Whose double17 bosoms seem to wear one heart,

  Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise

  Are still19 together: who twin, as 'twere, in love,

  Unseparable, shall within this hour,

  On a dissension of a doit21, break out

  To bitterest enmity: so fellest22 foes,

  Whose passions and whose plots23 have broke their sleep

  To take the one the other, by some chance,

  Some trick25 not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends