The Tragedy of Coriolanus

SCENE II. Rome. The Capitol

[Enter two OFFICERS, to lay cushions.]

FIRST OFFICER

 
Come, come; they are almost here. How many stand for consulships?
 
 
SECOND OFFICER. Three, they say; but 'tis thought of every one Coriolanus will carry it.
 
 
FIRST OFFICER. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud and loves not the common people.
 
 
SECOND OFFICER. Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't.
 
 
FIRST OFFICER. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite. Now to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he dislikes, – to flatter them for their love.
 
 
SECOND OFFICER. He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to have them at all, into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise were a malice that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.
 

FIRST OFFICER

 
No more of him; he is a worthy man.: make way, they are coming.
 

[A sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, COMINIUS the Consul,

 
MENENIUS, CORIOLANUS, Senators, SICINIUS and BRUTUS. The Senators
take their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by themselves.]
 

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 perform'd
By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom
We met here both to thank and to remember
With honours like himself.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Speak, good Cominius:
Leave nothing out for length, and make us think
Rather our state's defective for requital
Than we to stretch it out. – Masters o' the people,
We do request your kindest ears; and, after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
To yield what passes here.
 

SICINIUS

 
We are convented
Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts
Inclinable to honour and advance
The theme of our assembly.
 

BRUTUS

 
Which the rather
We shall be bless'd to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people than
He hath hereto priz'd them at.
 

MENENIUS

 
That's off, that's off;
I would you rather had been silent. Please you
To hear Cominius speak?
 

BRUTUS

 
Most willingly.
But yet my caution was more pertinent
Than the rebuke you give it.
 

MENENIUS

 
He loves your people;
But tie him not to be their bedfellow. —
Worthy Cominius, speak.
 

[CORIOLANUS rises, and offers to go away.]

 
Nay, keep your place.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Your Honours' pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again
Than hear say how I got them.
 

BRUTUS

 
Sir, I hope
My words disbench'd you not.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
No, sir; yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but your people,
I love them as they weigh.
 

MENENIUS

 
Pray now, sit down.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun
When the alarum were struck, than idly sit
To hear my nothings monster'd.
 

[Exit.]

MENENIUS

 
Masters o' the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, —
That's thousand to one good one, – when you now see
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
Than one on's ears to hear it? – Proceed, Cominius.
 

COMINIUS

 
I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be utter'd feebly. – It is held
That valour is the chiefest virtue, and
Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others; our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin he drove
The bristled lips before him: he bestrid
An o'erpress'd Roman and i' the consul's view
Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,
And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene,
He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea;
And in the brunt of seventeen battles since
He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,
Before and in Corioli, let me say,
I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers;
And by his rare example made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as weeds before
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd,
And fell below his stem: his sword, – death's stamp, —
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd
The mortal gate of the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny; aidless came off,
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck
Corioli like a planet. Now all's his:
When, by and by, the din of war 'gan pierce
His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit
Re-quick'ned what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd
Both field and city ours he never stood
To ease his breast with panting.
 

MENENIUS

 
Worthy man!
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
He cannot but with measure fit the honours
Which we devise him.
 

COMINIUS

 
Our spoils he kick'd at;
And looked upon things precious as they were
The common muck of the world: he covets less
Than misery itself would give; rewards
His deeds with doing them; and is content
To spend the time to end it.
 

MENENIUS

 
He's right noble:
Let him be call'd for.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Call Coriolanus.
 

OFFICER

 
He doth appear.
 

[Re-enter CORIOLANUS.]

MENENIUS

 
The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd
To make thee consul.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I do owe them still
My life and services.
 

MENENIUS

 
It then remains
That you do speak to the people.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I do beseech you
Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot
Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,
For my wounds' sake to give their suffrage: please you
That I may pass this doing.
 

SICINIUS

 
Sir, the people
Must have their voices; neither will they bate
One jot of ceremony.
 

MENENIUS

 
Put them not to't: —
Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and
Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.
 

BRUTUS

 
Mark you that?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
To brag unto them, – thus I did, and thus; —
Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,
As if I had receiv'd them for the hire
Of their breath only!
 

MENENIUS

 
Do not stand upon't. —
We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them; – and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.
 

SENATORS

 
To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
 

[Flourish. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]

 

BRUTUS

 
You see how he intends to use the people.
 

SICINIUS

 
May they perceive's intent! He will require them
As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give.
 

BRUTUS

 
Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here: on the market-place
I know they do attend us.
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III. Rome. The Forum

[Enter several 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 are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous: and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. 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. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured; and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?
THIRD CITIZEN. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, – 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head; but if it were at liberty 'twould, sure, southward.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Why that way?
THIRD CITIZEN. To lose itself in a fog; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience' sake, to help to get thee a wife.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
You are never without your tricks: – you may, you may.
 
 
THIRD CITIZEN. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues; therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him.
 

ALL

 
Content, content.
 

[Exeunt.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.]

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 roar'd, and ran
From the noise of our own drums.'
 

MENENIUS

 
O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that: you must desire them
To think upon you.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Think upon me! Hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by 'em.
 

MENENIUS

 
You'll mar all:
I'll leave you. Pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholesome manner.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Bid them wash their faces
And keep their teeth clean.
 

[Exit MENENIUS.]

 
So, here comes a brace:
 

[Re-enter two citizens.]

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

FIRST CITIZEN

 
We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Mine own desert.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Your own desert?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Ay, 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.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

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

CORIOLANUS

 
Well then, I pray, your price o' the 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?
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
You shall ha' it, worthy sir.
 
 
CORIOLANUS. A match, sir. – There's in all two worthy voices begg'd. – I have your alms: adieu.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
But this is something odd.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
An 'twere to give again, – but 'tis no matter.
 

[Exeunt two citizens.]

[Re-enter other two citizens.]

 
CORIOLANUS. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.
 
 
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. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man and give it bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.
 
 
FOURTH CITIZEN. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily.
 

THIRD 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 further.
 

BOTH CITIZENS

 
The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!
 

[Exeunt citizens.]

CORIOLANUS

 
Most sweet voices! —
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this wolvish toge should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick that do 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 heap'd
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 suffer'd, the other will I do.
Here come more voices.
 

[Re-enter other three citizens.]

 
Your voices: for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices bear
Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six
I have seen and heard of; for your voices have
Done many things, some less, some more: your voices:
Indeed, I would be consul.
 

FIFTH CITIZEN

 
He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.
 
 
SIXTH CITIZEN. Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people!
 

ALL THREE CITIZENS

 
Amen, amen. – God save thee, noble consul!
 

[Exeunt.]

CORIOLANUS

 
Worthy voices!
 

[Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS.]

MENENIUS

 
You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice: – remains
That, in the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Is this done?
 

SICINIUS

 
The custom of request you have discharg'd:
The people do admit you; and are summon'd
To meet anon, upon your approbation.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Where? at the senate-house?
 

SICINIUS

 
There, Coriolanus.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
May I change these garments?
 

SICINIUS

 
You may, sir.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,
Repair to the senate-house.
 

MENENIUS

 
I'll keep you company. – Will you along?
 

BRUTUS

 
We stay here for the people.
 

SICINIUS

 
Fare you well.
 

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.]

 

 
He has it now; and by his looks methinks
'Tis warm at his heart.
 

BRUTUS

 
With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.
Will you dismiss the people?
 

[Re-enter citizens.]

SICINIUS

 
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.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Amen, sir: – to my poor unworthy notice,
He mocked us when he begg'd our voices.
 

THIRD CITIZEN

 
Certainly;
He flouted us downright.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
No, 'tis his kind of speech, – he did not mock us.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says
He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us
His marks of merit, wounds received for's country.
 

SICINIUS

 
Why, so he did, I am sure.
 

CITIZENS

 
No, no; no man saw 'em.
 

THIRD CITIZEN

 
He said he had wounds, which he could show in private;
And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
'I would be consul,' says he; 'aged custom
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your voices therefore:' when we granted that,
Here was, 'I thank you for your voices, – thank you, —
Your most sweet voices: – now you have left your voices
I have no further with you:' – was not this mockery?
 

SICINIUS

 
Why either were you ignorant to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices?
 

BRUTUS

 
Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd, – when he had no power,
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy; ever spake against
Your liberties, and the charters that you bear
I' the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency and sway o' the state,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might
Be curses to yourselves? You should have said,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Translate his malice towards you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.
 

SICINIUS

 
Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit
And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article
Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler
And pass'd him unelected.
 

BRUTUS

 
Did you perceive
He did solicit you in free contempt
When he did need your loves; and do you think
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you
When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies
No heart among you? Or had you tongues to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment?
 

SICINIUS

 
Have you
Ere now denied the asker, and now again,
Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow
Your su'd-for tongues?
 

THIRD CITIZEN

 
He's not confirm'd: we may deny him yet.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
And will deny him:
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

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

BRUTUS

 
Get you hence instantly; and tell those friends
They have chose a consul that will from them take
Their liberties, make them of no more voice
Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking
As therefore kept to do so.
 

SICINIUS

 
Let them assemble;
And, on a safer judgment, all revoke
Your ignorant election: enforce his pride
And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not
With what contempt he wore the humble weed;
How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
Th' apprehension of his present portance,
Which, most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.
 

BRUTUS

 
Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd, —
No impediment between, – but that you must
Cast your election on him.
 

SICINIUS

 
Say you chose him
More after our commandment than as guided
By your own true affections; and that your minds,
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do
Than what you should, made you against the grain
To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.
 

BRUTUS

 
Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you,
How youngly he began to serve his country,
How long continued: and what stock he springs of —
The noble house o' the Marcians; from whence came
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, darling of the people,
And nobly nam'd so, twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.
 

SICINIUS

 
One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.
 

BRUTUS

 
Say you ne'er had done't, —
Harp on that still, – but by our putting on:
And presently when you have drawn your number,
Repair to the Capitol.
 

CITIZENS

 
We will so; almost all
Repent in their election.
 

[Exeunt.]

BRUTUS

 
Let them go on;
This mutiny were better put in hazard
Than stay, past doubt, for greater:
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.
 

SICINIUS

 
To the Capitol,
Come: we will be there before the stream o' the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.
 

[Exeunt.]

ACT III

SCENE I. Rome. A street

[Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS,

 
Senators, and Patricians.]
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Tullus Aufidius, then, had made new head?
 

LARTIUS

 
He had, my lord; and that it was which caus'd
Our swifter composition.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
So then the Volsces stand but as at first;
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road
Upon's again.
 

COMINIUS

 
They are worn, lord consul, so
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Saw you Aufidius?
 

LARTIUS

 
On safeguard he came to me; and did curse
Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town; he is retir'd to Antium.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Spoke he of me?
 

LARTIUS

 
He did, my lord.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
How? What?
 

LARTIUS

 
How often he had met you, sword to sword;
That of all things upon the earth he hated
Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes
To hopeless restitution, so he might
Be call'd your vanquisher.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
At Antium lives he?
 

LARTIUS

 
At Antium.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I wish I had a cause to seek him there,
To oppose his hatred fully. – Welcome home. [To Laertes.]
 

[Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]

 
Behold! these are the tribunes of the people;
The tongues o' the common mouth. I do despise them,
For they do prank them in authority,
Against all noble sufferance.
 

SICINIUS

 
Pass no further.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Ha! what is that?
 

BRUTUS

 
It will be dangerous to go on: no further.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
What makes this change?
 

MENENIUS

 
The matter?
 

COMINIUS

 
Hath he not pass'd the noble and the commons?
 

BRUTUS

 
Cominius, no.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Have I had children's voices?
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place.
 

BRUTUS

 
The people are incens'd against him.
 

SICINIUS

 
Stop,
Or all will fall in broil.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Are these your herd? —
Must these have voices, that can yield them now,
And straight disclaim their tongues? – What are your offices?
You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?
Have you not set them on?
 

MENENIUS

 
Be calm, be calm.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot,
To curb the will of the nobility:
Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule,
Nor ever will be rul'd.
 

BRUTUS

 
Call't not a plot:
The people cry you mock'd them; and of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd;
Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, – call'd them
Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Why, this was known before.
 

BRUTUS

 
Not to them all.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Have you inform'd them sithence?
 

BRUTUS

 
How! I inform them!
 

COMINIUS

 
You are like to do such business.
 

BRUTUS

 
Not unlike,
Each way, to better yours.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Why, then, should I be consul? By yond clouds,
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow tribune.
 

SICINIUS

 
You show too much of that
For which the people stir: if you will pass
To where you are bound, you must inquire your way,
Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be so noble as a consul,
Nor yoke with him for tribune.
 

MENENIUS

 
Let's be calm.
 

COMINIUS

 
The people are abus'd; set on. This palt'ring
Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus
Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely
I' the plain way of his merit.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Tell me of corn!
This was my speech, and I will speak't again, —
 

MENENIUS

 
Not now, not now.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Not in this heat, sir, now.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Now, as I live, I will. – My nobler friends,
I crave their pardons:
For the mutable, rank-scented many, 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 plough'd for, sow'd, and scatter'd,
By mingling them with us, the honour'd number,
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they have given to beggars.
 

MENENIUS

 
Well, no more.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
No more words, we beseech you.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
How! no more!
As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay against those measles
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them.
 

BRUTUS

 
You speak o' the 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'?
 

COMINIUS

 
'Twas from the canon.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
'Shall'!
O good, but most unwise patricians! why,
You grave but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra leave to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but
The horn and noise o' the monster, wants not spirit
To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less
When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,'
His popular 'shall,' against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take
The one by the other.
 

COMINIUS

 
Well, on to the market-place.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth
The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas us'd
Sometime in Greece, —
 

MENENIUS

 
Well, well, no more of that.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Though there the people had more absolute power, —
I say they nourish'd disobedience, fed
The ruin of the state.
 

BRUTUS

 
Why shall the people give
One that speaks thus their voice?
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I'll give my reasons,
More worthier than their voices. They know the corn
Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd
They ne'er did service for't; being press'd to the war,
Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,
They would not thread the gates, – this kind of service
Did not deserve corn gratis: being i' the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them. The accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the motive
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bisson multitude 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' the 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 barr'd, 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, and wish
To jump a body with a dangerous physic
That's sure of death without it, – at once 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 the ill which doth control't.
 

BRUTUS

 
Has said enough.
 

SICINIUS

 
Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer
As traitors do.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee! —
What should the people do with these bald tribunes?
On whom depending, their obedience fails
To the greater bench: in a rebellion,
When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,
Then were they chosen; in a better hour
Let what is meet be said it must be meet,
And throw their power i' the dust.
 

BRUTUS

 
Manifest treason!
 

SICINIUS

 
This a consul? no.
 

BRUTUS

 
The aediles, ho! – Let him be apprehended.
 

SICINIUS

 
Go call the people [Exit BRUTUS.]; in whose name myself
Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,
A foe to the public weal. Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Hence, old goat!
SENATORS and PATRICIANS.
We'll surety him.
 

COMINIUS

 
Aged sir, hands off.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones
Out of thy garments.
 

SICINIUS

 
Help, ye citizens!
 

[Re-enter Brutus, with the AEDILES and a rabble of Citizens.]

MENENIUS

 
On both sides more respect.
 

SICINIUS

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

BRUTUS

 
Seize him, aediles.
 

PLEBEIANS

 
Down with him! down with him!
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
Weapons, weapons, weapons!
 

[They all bustle about CORIOLANUS.]

 
Tribunes! patricians! citizens! – What, ho! —
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, Citizens!
 

CITIZENS

 
Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace!
 

MENENIUS

 
What is about to be? – I am out of breath;
Confusion's near: I cannot speak. – You tribunes
To the people, – Coriolanus, patience: —
Speak, good Sicinius.
 

SICINIUS

 
Hear me, people: peace!
 

CITIZENS

 
Let's hear our tribune: peace! —
Speak, speak, speak.
 

SICINIUS

 
You are at point to lose your liberties;
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,
Whom late you have nam'd for consul.
 

MENENIUS

 
Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.
 

SICINIUS

 
What is the city but the people?
 

CITIZENS

 
True,
The people are the city.
 

BRUTUS

 
By the consent of all, we were establish'd
The people's magistrates.
 

CITIZENS

 
You so remain.
 

MENENIUS

 
And so are like to do.
 

COMINIUS

 
That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation,
And bury all which yet distinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruin.
 

SICINIUS

 
This deserves death.
 

BRUTUS

 
Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it. – We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o' the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death.
 

SICINIUS

 
Therefore lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.
 

BRUTUS

 
Aediles, seize him!
 

CITIZENS

 
Yield, Marcius, yield!
 

MENENIUS

 
Hear me one word;
Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.
 

AEDILES

 
Peace, peace!
 

MENENIUS

 
Be that you seem, truly your country's friends,
And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.
 

BRUTUS

 
Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous
Where the disease is violent. – Lay hands upon him
And bear him to the rock.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
No; I'll die here. [Draws his sword.]
There's some among you have beheld me fighting;
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.
 

MENENIUS

 
Down with that sword! – Tribunes, withdraw awhile.
 

BRUTUS

 
Lay hands upon him.
 

MENENIUS

 
Help Marcius, help,
You that be noble; help him, young and old!
 

CITIZENS

 
Down with him, down with him!
 

[In this mutiny the TRIBUNES, the AEDILES, and the people are beat in.]

MENENIUS

 
Go, get you to your house; be gone, away!
All will be nought else.
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
Get you gone.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
Stand fast;
We have as many friends as enemies.
 

MENENIUS

 
Shall it be put to that?
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
The gods forbid:
I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause.
 

MENENIUS

 
For 'tis a sore upon us
You cannot tent yourself; be gone, beseech you.
 

COMINIUS

 
Come, sir, along with us.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
I would they were barbarians, – as they are,
Though in Rome litter'd, – not Romans, – as they are not,
Though calv'd i' the porch o' the Capitol.
 

MENENIUS

 
Be gone;
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;
One time will owe another.
 

CORIOLANUS

 
On fair ground
I could beat forty of them.
 

MENENIUS

 
I could myself
Take up a brace o' the best of them; yea, the two tribunes.
 

COMINIUS

 
But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic;
And manhood is call'd foolery when it stands
Against a falling fabric. – Will you hence,
Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear
What they are used to bear.
 

MENENIUS

 
Pray you be gone:
I'll try whether my old wit be in request
With those that have but little: this must be patch'd
With cloth of any colour.
 

COMINIUS

 
Nay, come away.
 

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, and others.]

FIRST PATRICIAN

 
This man has marr'd his fortune.
 

MENENIUS

 
His nature is too noble for the world:
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,
Or Jove for's power to thunder. His heart's his mouth:
What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent;
And, being angry, does forget that ever
He heard the name of death.
 

[A noise within.]

 
Here's goodly work!
 

SECOND PATRICIAN

 
I would they were a-bed!
 

MENENIUS

 
I would they were in Tiber!
What the vengeance, could he not speak 'em fair?
 

[Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the rabble.]

SICINIUS

 
Where is this viper
That would depopulate the city and
Be every man himself?
 

MENENIUS

 
You worthy tribunes, —
 

SICINIUS

 
He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock
With rigorous hands: he hath resisted law,
And therefore law shall scorn him further trial
Than the severity of the public power,
Which he so sets at nought.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
He shall well know
The noble tribunes are the people's mouths,
And we their hands.
 

CITIZENS

 
He shall, sure on't.
 

MENENIUS

 
Sir, sir, —
 

SICINIUS

 
Peace!
 

MENENIUS

 
Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt
With modest warrant.
 

SICINIUS

 
Sir, how comes't that you
Have holp to make this rescue?
 

MENENIUS

 
Hear me speak: —
As I do know the consul's worthiness,
So can I name his faults, —
 

SICINIUS

 
Consul! – what consul?
 

MENENIUS

 
The consul Coriolanus.
 

BRUTUS

 
He consul!
 

CITIZENS

 
No, no, no, no, no.
 

MENENIUS

 
If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,
I may be heard, I would crave a word or two;
The which shall turn you to no further harm
Than so much loss of time.
 

SICINIUS

 
Speak briefly, then;
For we are peremptory to dispatch
This viperous traitor: to eject him hence
Were but one danger; and to keep him here
Our certain death: therefore it is decreed
He dies to-night.
 

MENENIUS

 
Now the good gods forbid
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserved children is enroll'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!
 

SICINIUS

 
He's a disease that must be cut away.
 

MENENIUS

 
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 dropt it for his country;
And what is left, to lose it by his country
Were to us all, that do't and suffer it
A brand to the end o' the world.
 

SICINIUS

 
This is clean kam.
 

BRUTUS

 
Merely awry: when he did love his country,
It honour'd him.
 

MENENIUS

 
The service of the foot,
Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was.
 

BRUTUS

 
We'll hear no more. —
Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence;
Lest his infection, being of catching nature,
Spread further.
 

MENENIUS

 
One word more, one word.
This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find
The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will, too late,
Tie leaden pounds to's heels. Proceed by process;
Lest parties, – as he is belov'd, – break out,
And sack great Rome with Romans.
 

BRUTUS

 
If it were so, —
 

SICINIUS

 
What do ye talk?
Have we not had a taste of his obedience?
Our aediles smote? ourselves resisted? – come, —
 

MENENIUS

 
Consider this: – he has been bred i' the wars
Since 'a could draw a sword, and is ill school'd
In bolted language; meal and bran together
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him and undertake to bring him
Where he shall answer, by a lawful form,
In peace, to his utmost peril.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Noble tribunes,
It is the humane way: the other course
Will prove too bloody; and the end of it
Unknown to the beginning.
 

SICINIUS

 
Noble Menenius,
Be you then as the people's officer. —
Masters, lay down your weapons.
 

BRUTUS

 
Go not home.
 

SICINIUS

 
Meet on the market-place. – We'll attend you there:
Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed
In our first way.
 

MENENIUS

 
I'll bring him to you. —
 

[To the SENATORS.] Let me desire your company: he must come,

 
Or what is worst will follow.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Pray you let's to him.
 

[Exeunt.]