He’s to
make his requests by particulars39, wherein every one of us
has a single honour40, 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 Citizens]
MENENIUS O sir, you are not right: have you not known
The worthiest men have done’t?
CORIOLANUS What must I say?
‘I pray, sir’? Plague upon’t, I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace48: ‘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, like the virtues55
Which our divines lose by ’em.
MENENIUS You’ll mar all:
I’ll leave you: pray you, speak to ’em, I pray you,
In wholesome59 manner.
Exit
CORIOLANUS Bid them wash their faces
And keep their teeth clean.
Enter three of the Citizens
So, here comes a brace62.
You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.
THIRD CITIZEN We do, sir: tell us what hath brought you to’t.
CORIOLANUS Mine own desert.
SECOND CITIZEN Your own desert?
CORIOLANUS Ay, but not mine own desire.
THIRD CITIZEN How not your own desire?
CORIOLANUS No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor
with begging.
THIRD 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 kindly73.
CORIOLANUS Kindly, sir, I pray let me ha’t: I have wounds to show
you, which shall be yours75 in private: your good voice, sir:
what say you?
SECOND CITIZEN You shall ha’t, worthy sir.
CORIOLANUS A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy voices78
begged: I have your alms: adieu.
THIRD CITIZEN But this is something80 odd.
SECOND CITIZEN An ’twere81 to give again — but ’tis no matter.
Exeunt [Citizens]
Enter two other Citizens
CORIOLANUS Pray you now, if it may stand82 with the tune of your
voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.
FOURTH CITIZEN You have deserved nobly of your country, and
you have not deserved nobly.
CORIOLANUS Your enigma86?
FOURTH CITIZEN You have been a scourge87 to her enemies, you
have been a rod88 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 sworn91
brother the people to earn a dearer estimation of them:92 ’tis a
condition they account gentle93: and since the wisdom of their
choice is rather to have my hat94 than my heart, I will practise
the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly95:
that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular96
man and give it bountiful97 to the desirers. Therefore, beseech
you, I may be consul.
FIFTH CITIZEN We hope to find you our friend, and therefore give
you our voices heartily.
FOURTH CITIZEN You have received many wounds for your country.
CORIOLANUS I will not seal102 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 hire108 which first we do deserve.
Why in this wolvish tongue110 should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick that does appear
Their needless vouches111? Custom calls me to’t.
What custom wills, in all things should we do’t?
The dust on antique time113 would lie unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heaped
For truth to o’erpeer115. Rather than fool it so,
Let the high office and the honour go
To one that would do thus117. I am half through:
The one part suffered, the other will I do.
Enter three Citizens more
Here come more voices.
Your voices120! For your voices I have fought,
Watched121 for your voices: for your voices bear
Of wounds two dozen odd: battles thrice six
I have seen and heard of123: for your voices have
Done many things, some less, some more: your voices!
Indeed I would be consul.
SIXTH CITIZEN He has done nobly, and cannot go without any
honest man’s voice.
SEVENTH CITIZEN Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him
joy, and make him good friend to the people.
ALL CITIZENS Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul.
CORIOLANUS Worthy voices!
[Exeunt Citizens]
Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius
MENENIUS You have stood your limitation132, and the tribunes
Endue you with the people’s voice: remains133
That in th’official marks134 invested, you
Anon135 do meet the senate.
CORIOLANUS Is this done?
SICINIUS The custom of request137 you have discharged:
The people do admit you, and are summoned
To meet anon, upon your approbation139.
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,
Repair145 to th’senate house.
MENENIUS I’ll keep you company.— Will you along?
To the Tribunes
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’s heart.
BRUTUS With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds151.
Will you dismiss the people?
Enter the Plebeians [Citizens]
SICINIUS How now, my masters153, 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 notice156,
He mocked us when he begged our voices.
THIRD CITIZEN Certainly: he flouted158 us downright.
FIRST CITIZEN No, ’tis his kind of speech159: he did not mock us.
SECOND CITIZEN Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says
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.
ALL 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: ‘Agèd 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 with173 you.’ Was not this mockery?
SICINIUS Why either were you ignorant174 to see’t,
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices?
BRUTUS Could you not have told him
To the Citizens
As you were lessoned178: when he had no power,
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy, ever180 spake against
Your liberties and the charters181 that you bear
I’th’body of the weal: and now arriving182
A place of potency and sway o’th’state183,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to th’plebeii185, your voices might
Be curses to yourselves. You should have said
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for188, so his gracious nature
Would think upon189 you for your voices, and
Translate190 his malice towards you into love,
Standing your friendly lord191.
SICINIUS Thus to have said,
To the Citizens
As you were fore-advised, had touched193 his spirit
And tried his inclination: from him plucked
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had called you up196, have held him to:
Or else it would have galled197 his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article198
Tying him to aught199: so putting him to rage,
You should have ta’en th’advantage of his choler200
And passed him unelected.
BRUTUS Did you perceive
To the Citizens
He did solicit you in free203 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 cry207
Against the rectorship208 of judgement?
SICINIUS Have you, ere now, denied the asker209,
To the Citizens
And now again, of him that did not ask but mock,
Bestow your sued-for211 tongues?
THIRD CITIZEN He’s not confirmed: 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 piece215 ’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 therefor220 kept to do so.
SICINIUS Let them assemble, and on a safer221 judgement
To the Citizens
All revoke your ignorant election: enforce222 his pride,
And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not
With what contempt he wore the humble weed,
How in his suit225 he scorned you: but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
Th’apprehension of his present portance227,
Which most gibingly, ungravely228, he did fashion
After the inveterate229 hate he bears you.
BRUTUS Lay a fault on230 us, your tribunes,
To the Citizens
That we laboured, no impediment between231,
But that you must cast your election on him.
SICINIUS Say you chose him more after our commandment
To the Citizens
Than as guided by your own true affections234, and that
Your minds, preoccupied with what you rather must do
Than what you should, made you against the grain236
To voice237 him consul. Lay the fault on us.
BRUTUS Ay, spare us not: say we read lectures to238 you,
To the Citizens
How youngly239 he began to serve his country,
How long continued, and what stock he springs of,
The noble house o’th’Martians, from whence came
That Ancus Martius, Numa242’s daughter’s son,
Who after great Hostilius243 here was king:
Of the same house Publius and Quintus244 were,
That our best water brought by conduits245 hither:
And Censorinus246 that was so surnamed,
And nobly named so, twice being censor247,
Was his great ancestor.
SICINIUS One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought250
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling253 his present bearing with his past,
That he’s your fixèd enemy, and revoke
Your sudden255 approbation.
BRUTUS Say, you ne’er had done’t—
Harp on that still — but by our putting on257:
And presently258, when you have drawn your number,
Repair259 to th’Capitol.
ALL We will so: almost all repent in their election.
Exeunt Plebeians [Citizens]
BRUTUS Let them go on:
This mutiny were better put in hazard262,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater263:
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer265
The vantage of his anger.
SICINIUS To th’Capitol, come:
We will be there before the stream o’th’people,
And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own269,
Which we have goaded onward.
Exeunt
running scene 8
Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the gentry, Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators
CORIOLANUS Tullus Aufidius then had made new head1?
LARTIUS He had, my lord, and that it was which caused
Our swifter composition3.
CORIOLANUS So then the Volsces stand but as at first,
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road5
Upon’s again.
COMINIUS They are worn7, lord consul, so,
That we shall hardly in our ages8 see
Their banners wave again.
CORIOLANUS Saw you Aufidius?
To Lartius
LARTIUS On safeguard11 he came to me, and did curse
Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely12
Yielded the town: he is retired to Antium13.
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, so20 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. Welcome home.
Enter Sicinius and Brutus
Behold, these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o’th’common mouth. I do despise them,
For they do prank them28 in authority,
Against all noble sufferance29.
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 passed the noble and the common35?
BRUTUS Cominius, no.
CORIOLANUS Have I had children’s voices?
FIRST SENATOR Tribunes, give way: he shall to th’market-place.
BRUTUS The people are incensed against him.
SICINIUS Stop, or all will fall in broil40.
CORIOLANUS Are these your herd?
Must these have voices42, that can yield them now
And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices43?
You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth44?
Have you not set them on45?
MENENIUS Be calm, be calm.
CORIOLANUS It is a purposed47 thing, and grows by plot,
To curb the will of the nobility:
Suffer’t, and live49 with such as cannot rule
Nor ever will be ruled.
BRUTUS Call’t not a plot:
The people cry you mocked them, and of late52,
When corn was given them gratis, you repined53,
Scandalled54 the suppliants for the people, called them
Time-pleasers55, flatterers, foes to nobleness.
CORIOLANUS Why, this was known before.
BRUTUS Not to them all.
CORIOLANUS Have you informed them sithence58?
BRUTUS How? I inform them?
CORIOLANUS You are like60 to do such business.
BRUTUS Not unlike each way to better yours61.
CORIOLANUS Why then should I be consul? By yond62 clouds,
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow tribune.
SICINIUS You show too much of that65
For which the people stir: if you will pass
To where you are bound, you must inquire your way,
Which you are out of68, with a gentler spirit,
Or never be so noble as a consul,
Nor yoke70 with him for tribune.
MENENIUS Let’s be calm.
COMINIUS The people are abused: set on. This palt’ring72
Becomes not Rome: nor has Coriolanus
Deserved this so dishonoured rub, laid falsely74
I’th’plain75 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 meinie82,
Let them regard83 me, as I do not flatter,
And therein behold themselves84: I say again,
In soothing85 them, we nourish gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition86,
Which we ourselves have ploughed for, sowed and scattered,
By mingling them with us, the honoured88 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 measles96
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought97
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 infirmity100.
SICINIUS ’Twere well we let the people know’t.
MENENIUS What, what, his choler102?
CORIOLANUS Choler? Were I as patient103 as the midnight sleep,
By Jove, ’twould be my mind104.
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 minnows108? Mark you
His absolute ‘shall’?
COMINIUS ’Twas from the canon110.
CORIOLANUS ‘Shall’? O good but most unwise patricians: why,
You grave but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra113 here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory114 ‘shall’, being but
The horn and noise o’th’monster’s, wants115 not spirit
To say he’ll turn your current116 in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake118
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools: if you are not,
Let them have cushions by121 you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,
When, both your voices blended, the123 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 bench126
Than ever frowned in Greece. By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches
To know, when two authorities are up129,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion130
May enter ’twixt the gap of both, and take131
The one by132 th’other.
COMINIUS Well, on to th’market-place.
CORIOLANUS Whoever gave that counsel to give forth
The corn o’th’storehouse gratis, as ’twas used135
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 recompense145, resting well assured
They ne’er did service for’t: being pressed146 to th’war,
Even when the navel of the state was touched147,
They would not thread148 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 for151 them. Th’accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native153
Of our so frank154 donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied digest155
The senate’s courtesy? Let deeds express
What’s like157 to be their words: ‘We did request it,
We are the greater poll158, and in true fear
They gave us our demands.’ Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares161 fears, which will in time
Break ope the locks o’th’senate162, and bring in
The crows163 to peck the eagles.
MENENIUS Come, enough.
BRUTUS Enough with over-measure165.
CORIOLANUS No, take more.
What may be sworn by, both divine and human,
Seal what I end withal. This double worship168,
Where one part does disdain with cause, the other
Insult without all reason: where gentry170, title, wisdom,
Cannot conclude171 but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance, it must omit172
Real necessities, and give way the while173
To unstable slightness. Purpose so barred174, it follows,
Nothing is done to purpose175. Therefore, beseech you —
You that will be less fearful than discreet176,
That love177 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 physic180
That’s sure of death without it — at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue182: let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonour183
Mangles true judgement, and bereaves184 the state
Of that integrity185 which should become’t,
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For th’ill187 which doth control’t.
BRUTUS He’s said enough.
SICINIUS He’s spoken like a traitor, and shall answer189
As traitors do.
CORIOLANUS Thou wretch, despite191 o’erwhelm thee!
What should the people do with these bald192 tribunes?
On whom depending, their obedience fails
To th’greater bench194? In a rebellion,
When what’s not meet, but what must be, was law195,
Then were they chosen: in a better hour,
Let what is meet197 be said it must be meet,
And throw their power i’th’dust.
BRUTUS Manifest treason.
SICINIUS This a consul? No.
BRUTUS The aediles201, ho!
Enter an Aedile
Let him be apprehended202.
SICINIUS Go, call the people:—
[Exit Aedile]
in whose name myself
To Coriolanus
Attach thee as a traitorous innovator205,
A foe to th’public weal206. Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer207.
CORIOLANUS Hence, old goat!
ALL PATRICIANS We’ll surety209 him.
COMINIUS Agèd sir, hands off.
To Sicinius
CORIOLANUS Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones
To Sicinius
Out of thy garments.
SICINIUS Help, ye citizens!
Enter a rabble of Plebeians [Citizens] with the Aediles
MENENIUS On both sides more respect.
SICINIUS Here’s he that would take from you all your power.
BRUTUS Seize him, aediles!
ALL CITIZENS 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!
ALL Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace!
MENENIUS What is about to be? I am out of breath:
Confusion222’s near: I cannot speak. You, tribunes
To th’people, Coriolanus, patience!
Speak, good Sicinius.
SICINIUS Hear me, people, peace.
ALL CITIZENS Let’s hear our tribune: peace! Speak, speak, speak!
SICINIUS You are at point to lose227 your liberties:
Martius would have all from you: Martius,
Whom late you have named 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?
ALL CITIZENS True, the people are the city.
BRUTUS By the consent of all, we were established the people’s
magistrates.
ALL CITIZENS You so remain.
MENENIUS And so are like to do.
CORIOLANUS That is the way to lay the city flat,
To bring the roof to the foundation,
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges240,
In heaps and piles of ruin.
SICINIUS This deserves death.
BRUTUS Or let us stand to243 our authority,
Or let us lose it: we do here pronounce,
Upon the part245 o’th’people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy
Of present247 death.
SICINIUS Therefore lay hold of him:
Bear him to th’rock Tarpeian249, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.
BRUTUS Aediles, seize him.
ALL CITIZENS Yield, Martius, yield.
MENENIUS Hear me one word: beseech you, tribunes,
Hear me but a word.
AEDILES Peace, peace!
MENENIUS Be that256 you seem, truly your country’s friend,
And temp’rately257 proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.
BRUTUS Sir, those cold259 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 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 me265.
MENENIUS Down with that sword: tribunes, withdraw a while.
BRUTUS Lay hands upon him.
COMINIUS Help Martius, help! You that be noble, help him,
young and old.
ALL CITIZENS Down with him, down with him.
Exeunt
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 naught else272.
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 prithee, noble friend, home to thy house:
Leave us to cure this cause278.
MENENIUS For ’tis a sore upon us,
You cannot tent280 yourself: be gone, beseech you.
COMINIUS Come, sir, along with us.
CORIOLANUS I would they were barbarians, as they are,
Though in Rome littered283: not Romans, as they are not,
Though calved284 i’th’porch o’th’Capitol.
MENENIUS Be gone:
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue:
One time will owe another287.
CORIOLANUS On fair ground I could beat forty of them.
MENENIUS I could myself take up a brace289 o’th’best of them,
yea, the two tribunes.
COMINIUS But now ’tis odds beyond arithmetic291,
And manhood is called foolery292 when it stands
Against a falling fabric293. Will you hence,
Before the tag return, whose rage doth rend294
Like interrupted waters and o’erbear295
What they are used to bear?
MENENIUS Pray you be gone:
To Coriolanus
I’ll try whether my old wit be in request298
With those that have but little: this must be patched299
With cloth of any colour.
COMINIUS Nay, come away.
Exeunt Coriolanus and Cominius
A PATRICIAN This man has marred his fortune.
MENENIUS His nature is too noble for the world:
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident304,
Or Jove for’s power to thunder: his heart’s his mouth305:
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.
A PATRICIAN I would they were abed.
MENENIUS I would they were in Tiber.
1 comment