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. What the vengeance!310
Could he not speak 'em fair311?
Enter Brutus and Sicinius with the rabble again
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 rigorous317 hands: he hath resisted law,
And therefore law shall scorn318 him further trial
Than the severity of the public power
Which he so sets320 at naught.
FIRST CITIZEN He shall well know the noble tribunes are
The people's mouths, and we their hands.
ALL CITIZENS He shall, sure on't323.
MENENIUS Sir, sir--
SICINIUS Peace!
MENENIUS Do not cry havoc326 where you should but hunt
With modest warrant327.
SICINIUS Sir, how com'st that you have holp328
To make this rescue329?
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?
ALL CITIZENS No, no, no, no, no.
MENENIUS If, by the tribunes' leave336, 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 peremptory341 to dispatch
This viperous traitor: to eject him hence342
Were but our danger, and to keep him here
Our certain death: therefore it is decreed
He dies tonight.
MENENIUS Now the good gods forbid
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserved children is enrolled348
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam349
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:
Mortal353 to cut it off: to cure it, easy.
What has he done to Rome that's worthy death?
Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost --
Which I dare vouch is more than that he hath
By many an ounce -- he dropped it for his country:
And what is left, to lose it by358 his country,
Were to us all that do't and suffer359 it,
A brand360 to th'end o'th'world.
SICINIUS This is clean cam361.
BRUTUS Merely362 awry:
When he did love his country, it honoured him.
MENENIUS The service of the foot,
Being once gangrened, 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 unscanned373 swiftness, will too late
Tie leaden pounds to's heels. Proceed by process374,
Lest parties375, as he is beloved, break out,
And sack great Rome with Romans.
BRUTUS If it were so?
SICINIUS What378 do ye talk?
To Menenius
Have we not had a taste of his obedience?
Our aediles smote380, ourselves resisted? Come.
MENENIUS Consider this: he has been bred i'th'wars
Since a382 could draw a sword, and is ill-schooled
In bolted language: meal and bran383 together
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him
Where386 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 beginning391.
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 attend396 you there,
Where, if you bring not Martius, we'll proce
ed
In our first way.
MENENIUS I'll bring him to you.
Let me desire your company: he must come,
To the Senators
Or what is worst will follow.
FIRST SENATOR Pray you, let's to him.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 2]
running scene 9
Enter Coriolanus with Nobles
CORIOLANUS Let them pull all about mine ears, present me1
Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels2,
Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock,
That the precipitation4 might down stretch
Below the beam5 of sight, yet will I still
Be thus to them.
Enter Volumnia
A PATRICIAN You do the nobler.
CORIOLANUS I muse8 my mother
Does not approve me further, who was wont9
To call them woollen vassals10, things created
To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads11
In congregations, to yawn12, be still and wonder,
When one but of my ordinance13 stood up
To speak of peace or war.-- I talk of you:
To Volumnia
Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me
False to my nature? Rather say I play
The man I am.
VOLUMNIA O, sir, sir, sir,
I would have had you put your power well on19,
Before you had worn it out.
CORIOLANUS Let go21.
VOLUMNIA You might have been enough the man you are,
With striving less to be so: lesser23 had been
The things of your dispositions, if
You had not showed them how ye were disposed
Ere they lacked power to cross26 you.
CORIOLANUS Let them hang.
VOLUMNIA Ay, and burn too.
Enter Menenius with the Senators
MENENIUS Come, come, you have been too rough, something29 too rough:
You must return and mend it.
FIRST SENATOR There's no remedy:
Unless by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst33 and perish.
VOLUMNIA Pray, be counselled:
To Coriolanus
I have a heart as little apt35 as yours,
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger
To better vantage37.
MENENIUS Well said, noble woman:
Before he should thus stoop to th'herd, but39 that
The violent fit o'th'time craves it as physic40
For the whole state, I would put mine armour on,
Which I can scarcely bear.
CORIOLANUS What must I do?
MENENIUS Return to th'tribunes.
CORIOLANUS Well, what then? What then?
MENENIUS Repent what you have spoke.
CORIOLANUS For them? I cannot do it to the gods:
Must I then do't to them?
VOLUMNIA You are too absolute49,
Though therein50 you can never be too noble,
But when extremities speak. I have heard you say,
Honour and policy, like unsevered52 friends,
I'th'war do grow together: grant that, and tell me
In peace what each of them by th'other lose,
That they combine not there.
CORIOLANUS Tush, tush!
MENENIUS A good demand57.
VOLUMNIA If it be honour in your wars to seem58
The same you are not, which for your best ends
You adopt your policy, how is it less60 or worse
That it shall hold companionship in peace61
With honour, as in war, since that to both
It stands in like request?
CORIOLANUS Why force64 you this?
VOLUMNIA Because that now it lies you on65 to speak to th'people,
Not by your own instruction66, nor by th'matter
Which your heart prompts you, but with such words
That are but roted68 in your tongue, though but
Bastards and syllables of no allowance69
To your bosom's truth. Now this no more
Dishonours you at all than to take in71
A town with gentle words, which else would put72 you
To your fortune and the hazard of much blood.
I would dissemble with my nature where74
My fortunes and my friends at stake required
I should do so in honour. I am in this76
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles:
And you will rather show our general78 louts
How you can frown than spend a fawn79 upon 'em,
For the inheritance80 of their loves, and safeguard
Of what that want81 might ruin.
MENENIUS Noble lady!--
Come, go with us: speak fair: you may salve83 so,
To Coriolanus
Not84 what is dangerous present, but the loss
Of what is past.
VOLUMNIA I prithee now, my son,
Go to them, with this bonnet87 in thy hand,
And thus far having stretched it -- here be with them88 --
Thy knee bussing89 the stones: for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th'ignorant
More learned than the ears -- waving91 thy head,
With often thus correcting thy stout92 heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry
That will not hold94 the handling: or say to them,
Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils95
Hast not the soft96 way which, thou dost confess,
Were fit97 for thee to use as they to claim,
In asking their good loves, but thou wilt frame98
Thyself, forsooth99, hereafter theirs so far
As thou hast power and person100.
MENENIUS This but done,
Even as she speaks102, why, their hearts were yours:
For they have pardons, being asked, as free103
As words to little purpose.
VOLUMNIA Prithee now,
Go, and be ruled: although I know thou hadst rather
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf
Than flatter him in a bower108.
Enter Cominius
Here is Cominius.
COMINIUS I have been i'th'market-place: and, sir, 'tis fit
You make strong party111, or defend yourself
By calmness or by absence: all's in anger.
MENENIUS Only fair speech.
COMINIUS I think 'twill serve, if he can thereto frame his spirit.
VOLUMNIA He must, and will:
Prithee now, say you will, and go about it.
CORIOLANUS Must I go show them my unbarbed sconce117?
Must I with my base tongue give to my noble heart
A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single plot120 to lose,
This mould121 of Martius, they to dust should grind it
And throw't against the wind. To th'market-place:
You have put me now to such a part which never
I shall discharge to th'life124.
COMINIUS Come, come, we'll prompt you.
VOLUMNIA I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said
My praises made thee first a soldier, so
To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou hast not done before.
CORIOLANUS Well, I must do't:
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot's spirit: my throat of war132 be turned,
Which choired133 with my drum, into a pipe
Small134 as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lull135 asleep: the smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys' tears take up136
The glasses of my sight137: a beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips, and my armed knees,
Who bowed but i
n my stirrup, bend like his
That hath received an alms140. I will not do't,
Lest I surcease141 to honour mine own truth
And by my body's action teach my mind
A most inherent143 baseness.
VOLUMNIA At thy choice, then:
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin: let
Thy mother rather feel147 thy pride than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness148: for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list149:
Thy valiantness was mine, thou sucked'st it from me,
But owe151 thy pride thyself.
CORIOLANUS Pray, be content:
Mother, I am going to the market-place:
Chide me no more. I'll mountebank154 their loves,
Cog155 their hearts from them, and come home beloved
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going:
Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul,
Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I'th'way of flattery further.
VOLUMNIA Do your will.
Exit
COMINIUS Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm161 yourself
To answer mildly: for they are prepared
With accusations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet.
CORIOLANUS The word165 is 'mildly'. Pray you, let us go:
Let them accuse me by invention166: I
Will answer in mine honour.
MENENIUS Ay, but mildly.
CORIOLANUS Well, mildly be it then: mildly.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 3]
running scene 10
Enter Sicinius and Brutus
BRUTUS In this point charge him home, that he affects1
Tyrannical power: if he evade us there,
Enforce him with his envy3 to the people,
And that the spoil got on4 the Antiates
Was ne'er distributed.
Enter an Aedile
What, will he come?
AEDILE He's coming.
BRUTUS How accompanied?
AEDILE With old Menenius, and those senators
That always favoured him.
SICINIUS Have you a catalogue11
Of all the voices that we have procured
Set down by th'poll13?
AEDILE I have: 'tis ready.
SICINIUS Have you collected them by tribes15?
AEDILE I have.
SICINIUS Assemble presently17 the people hither:
And when they hear me say 'It shall be so,
I'th'right and strength o'th'commons', be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them
If I say 'Fine', cry 'Fine!', if 'Death', cry 'Death!',
Insisting on the old prerogative22
And power i'th'truth o'th'cause23.
AEDILE I shall inform them.
BRUTUS And when such time they have begun to cry25,
Let them not cease, but with a din confused
Enforce the present execution27
Of what we chance to sentence.
AEDILE Very well.
SICINIUS Make them be strong and ready for this hint
When we shall hap31 to give't them.
BRUTUS Go about it.
[Exit Aedile]
Put33 him to choler straight: he hath been used
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth34
Coriolanus Page 9