The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements23 all of fury, shall lift up
Their rotten24 privilege and custom gainst
My hate to Martius. Where I find him, were it
At home, upon my brother's guard26, even there,
Against the hospitable canon27, would I
Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to th'city:
Learn how 'tis held, and what29 they are that must
Be hostages for Rome.
FIRST SOLDIER Will not you go?
AUFIDIUS I am attended32 at the cypress grove. I pray you --
'Tis south33 the city mills -- bring me word thither
How the world goes, that to the pace of it
I may spur on my journey.
FIRST SOLDIER I shall, sir.
[Exeunt]
Act 2 [Scene 1]
running scene 5
Enter Menenius with the two Tribunes of the people, Sicinius and Brutus
MENENIUS The augurer1 tells me we shall have news tonight.
BRUTUS Good or bad?
MENENIUS Not according to the prayer of the people3, for they
love not Martius.
SICINIUS Nature teaches beasts5 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 baas10 like a bear.
MENENIUS He's a bear indeed that lives like a lamb. You two are
old men: tell me one thing that I shall ask you.
SICINIUS and BRUTUS Well, sir.
MENENIUS In what enormity14 is Martius poor in that you two
have not in abundance?
BRUTUS He's poor in no one fault, but stored16 with all.
SICINIUS Especially in pride.
BRUTUS And topping all others in boasting.
MENENIUS This is strange now: do you two know how you are
censured here in the city, I mean of us o'th'right-hand file20?
Do you?
SICINIUS and BRUTUS Why? How are we censured?
MENENIUS Because you talk of pride now: will you not be
angry?
SICINIUS and BRUTUS Well, well, sir, well.
MENENIUS Why, 'tis no great matter: for a very little thief of26
occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your
dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures28, at the
least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so: you blame
Martius for being proud.
BRUTUS We do it not alone, sir.
MENENIUS I know you can do very little alone, for your helps
are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single33:
your abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone. You
talk of pride: O, that you could turn your eyes toward35 the
napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of
your good selves! O, that you could!
BRUTUS What then, sir?
MENENIUS Why, then you should discover a brace39 of
unmeriting, proud, violent, testy40 magistrates, alias fools, as
any in Rome.
SICINIUS Menenius, you are known well enough too.
MENENIUS I am known to be a humorous43 patrician, and one
that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber44
in't: said to be something imperfect45 in favouring the first
complaint, hasty and tinder-like upon too trivial motion46: one
that converses more with the buttock of the night47 than with
the forehead of the morning. What I think, I utter, and spend48
my malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen49 as you
are -- I cannot call you Lycurguses50 -- if the drink you give
me touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it51. I
can say your worships have delivered52 the matter well, when I
find the ass in compound53 with the major part of your
syllables. And though I must be content to bear with those
that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly55 that
tell you have good faces: if you see this in the map of my
microcosm57, follows it that I am known well enough too?
What harm can your bisson conspectuities58 glean out of this
character59, if I be known well enough too?
BRUTUS Come, sir, come, we know you well enough.
MENENIUS You know neither me, yourselves nor anything: you
are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs62: you wear out a
good wholesome forenoon63 in hearing a cause between an
orange-wife and a faucet-seller, and then rejourn64 the
controversy of threepence to a second day of audience65.
When you are hearing a matter between party and party66, if
you chance to be pinched67 with the colic, you make faces like
mummers, set up the bloody flag68 against all patience, and in
roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding69,
the more entangled by your hearing: all the peace you make169
in their cause is calling both the parties knaves. You are a
pair of strange ones.
BRUTUS Come, come, you are well understood to be a
perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher74 in the
Capitol.
MENENIUS Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall
encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When77 you
speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of
your beards, and your beards deserve not so honourable a
grave as to stuff a botcher80's cushion, or to be entombed in an
ass's pack-saddle: yet you must be saying, 'Martius is proud',
who, in a cheap82 estimation, is worth all your predecessors
since Deucalion, though peradventure83 some of the best of
'em were hereditary hangmen. Good e'en84 to your worships:
more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the
herdsmen of the beastly plebeians. I will be bold to take my
leave of you.
Brutus and Sicinius [stand] aside
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Valeria
How now, my as fair as noble ladies: and the moon88, were she
earthly, no nobler: whither do you follow your eyes89 so fast?
VOLUMNIA Honourable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches:
for the love of Juno91, let's go.
MENENIUS Ha? Martius coming home?
VOLUMNIA Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation93.
MENENIUS Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo, Martius
coming home?
He throws up his cap
VIRGILIA and VALERIA Nay, 'tis true.
VOLUMNIA Look, here's a letter from him: the state hath another, his wife
another, and, I think, there's one at home
for you.
MENENIUS I will make my very house reel tonight: a letter
for me?
VIRGILIA Yes, certain, there's a letter for you: I saw't.
MENENIUS A letter for me? It gives me an estate104 of seven years'
health, in which time I will make a lip at105 the physician: the
most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic106, and
to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench107.
Is he not wounded? He was wont108 to come home wounded.
VIRGILIA O, no, no, no.
VOLUMNIA O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for't.
MENENIUS So do I too, if it be not too much: brings a111 victory in
his pocket? The wounds become him.
VOLUMNIA On's brows113: Menenius, he comes the third time
home with the oaken garland.
MENENIUS Has he disciplined115 Aufidius soundly?
VOLUMNIA Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but
Aufidius got off.
MENENIUS And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that:
an he had stayed by him, I would not have been so 'fidiussed119
for all the chests in Corioles, and the gold that's in them. Is
the senate possessed121 of this?
VOLUMNIA Good ladies, let's go. Yes, yes, yes: the senate has
letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole
name of the war: he hath in this action124 outdone his former
deeds doubly.
VALERIA In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.
MENENIUS Wondrous: ay, I warrant you, and not without his
true purchasing128.
VIRGILIA The gods grant them true.
VOLUMNIA True? Pow waw!130
MENENIUS True? I'll be sworn they are true. Where
To the Tribunes
is he wounded?-- God save your good worships! Martius is
coming home: he has more cause to be proud.-- Where is he
wounded?
VOLUMNIA I'th'shoulder, and i'th'left arm: there will be large
cicatrices136 to show the people, when he shall stand for his
place: he received in the repulse of Tarquin137 seven hurts
i'th'body.
MENENIUS One i'th'neck, and two i'th'thigh: there's nine139 that I
know.
VOLUMNIA 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 nervy148 arm doth lie,
Which being advanced, declines149, and then men die.
A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter Cominius the general, and Titus Lartius: between them Coriolanus, crowned with an oaken garland with Captains and Soldiers, and a Herald
HERALD Know, Rome, that all alone Martius did fight
Within Corioles' gates: where he hath won,
With fame, a name to152 'Martius Caius':
These in honour follows153 'Coriolanus'.
Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!
Sound [a] flourish
ALL Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!
CORIOLANUS No more of this, it does offend my heart:
Pray now, no more.
COMINIUS Look, sir, your mother.
CORIOLANUS O, you have, I know, petitioned all the gods
For my prosperity160.
Kneels
VOLUMNIA Nay, my good soldier, up:
He rises
My gentle162 Martius, worthy Caius,
And by deed-achieving honour163 newly named:
What is it? 'Coriolanus' must I call thee?
But O, thy wife!
CORIOLANUS My gracious166 silence, hail.
To Virgilia
Wouldst thou have laughed had I come coffined home,
That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioles wear,
And mothers that lack sons.
MENENIUS Now the gods crown thee!
CORIOLANUS And live you yet? O my sweet lady, pardon.
To Valeria
VOLUMNIA I know not where to turn. O, welcome home:
And welcome, general, and you're welcome all.
MENENIUS A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep
And I could laugh, I am light and heavy: welcome:
A curse bein at very root on's177 heart
That is not glad to see thee. You are three
That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men,
We have some old crab-trees180 here at home that will not
Be grafted to your relish181. Yet welcome, warriors:
We182 call a nettle but a nettle and
The faults of fools but folly.
COMINIUS Ever right.
CORIOLANUS Menenius, ever, ever.
HERALD Give186 way there, and go on.
CORIOLANUS Your hand, and yours.
To Volumnia and Virgilia
Ere in our own house I do shade188 my head,
The good patricians must be visited,
From whom I have received not only greetings,
But with them change of honours191.
VOLUMNIA I have lived
To see inherited193 my very wishes,
And the buildings of my fancy194: only
There's one thing wanting195, which I doubt not but
Our Rome will cast196 upon thee.
CORIOLANUS Know, good mother,
I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway199 with them in theirs.
COMINIUS On, to the Capitol.
Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before
Enter Brutus and Sicinius
BRUTUS All tongues speak of him, and the bleared201 sights
Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling202 nurse
Into a rapture203 lets her baby cry
While she chats him: the kitchen malkin204 pins
Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy205 neck,
Clamb'ring the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks206, windows
Are smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsed207
With variable complexions, all agreeing208
In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens209
Do press among the popular throngs and puff210
To win a vulgar station211: our veiled dames
Commit the war of white and damask212 in
Their nicely gauded cheeks to th'wanton spoil213
Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother214
As if that whatsoever god who leads him215
Were slily crept into his human powers216,
And gave him graceful posture217.
SICINIUS On the sudden, I warrant218 him consul.
BRUTUS Then our office may, during his power219, go sleep.
SICINIUS He cannot temp'rately transport his honours
From where he should begin and end220, but will
Lose those he hath won.
BRUTUS In that there's comfort.
SICINIUS Doubt not
The commoners, for whom we stand225, but they
Upon their ancient226 malice will forget
With the least cause these his new honours, which227
That he will give them make I as little question
As229 he is proud to do't.
BRUTUS I heard him swear,
Were he to stand for consul, never would he
Appear i'th'market-place nor on him put
The napless vesture233 of humility,
Nor, showing, as the manner is, his wounds
To th'people, beg their stinking breaths235.
SICINIUS 'Tis right.
BRUTUS It was his word: O, he would miss it237 rather
Than carry it but238 by the suit of the gentry to him,
And the desire of the nobles.
SICINIUS I wish no better
Than have him hold that purpose and to put it
In execution.
BRUTUS 'Tis most like243 he will.
SICINIUS It shall be to him then, as our good wills244:
A sure destruction.
BRUTUS So it must fall out246
To him or our authorities for an end.
We must suggest248 the people in what hatred
He still249 hath held them: that to's power he would
Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders250,
And dispropertied251 their fre
edoms, holding them,
In human action and capacity252,
Of no more soul nor fitness for the world
Than camels in their war, who have their provand254
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them.
SICINIUS This, as you say, suggested
At some time when his soaring insolence
Shall teach the people -- which time shall not want259,
If he be put upon't260, and that's as easy
As to set dogs on sheep -- will be his fire
To kindle their dry stubble, and their blaze
Shall darken263 him for ever.
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: matrons268 flung gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he passed: the nobles bended270
As to Jove271's statue, and the commons made
A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts:
I never saw the like.
BRUTUS Let's to the Capitol,
And carry with us ears and eyes for th'time275,
But hearts for the event276.
SICINIUS Have with you277.
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 2]
running scene 6
Enter two Officers, to lay cushions, as it were, in the Capitol
FIRST OFFICER Come, come, they are almost here: how many
stand for consulships?
SECOND OFFICER Three, they say: but 'tis thought of3 everyone
Coriolanus will carry it.
FIRST OFFICER That's a brave fellow: but he's vengeance5 proud,
and loves not the common people.
SECOND OFFICER Faith, there hath been many great men7 that
have flattered the people, who ne'er loved them8: and there be
many that they have loved, they know not wherefore9: 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 in12
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 waved16 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 opposite19. Now to seem to affect19 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 degrees23 as those who, having
been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without24
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
Coriolanus Page 6