MENENIUS Pray now, your news?
You have made fair work, I fear me.--
To the Tribunes
Pray, your news.--
To Cominius
If Martius should be joined with Volscians.
COMINIUS If? He is their god: he leads them like a thing Made by some other deity than nature,
That shapes man better, and they follow him
Against us brats112, with no less confidence Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.
MENENIUS You have made good work,
To the Tribunes
You and your apron-men116: you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation117 and The breath of garlic-eaters118!
COMINIUS He'll shake your Rome about your ears.
To the Tribunes
MENENIUS As Hercules did shake down mellow fruit120.
You have made fair work.
BRUTUS But is this true, sir?
COMINIUS Ay, and you'll look pale
Before you find it other124. All the regions Do smilingly revolt, and who125 resists Are mocked for valiant ignorance,
And perish constant127 fools. Who is't can blame him?
Your enemies and his find something128 in him.
MENENIUS We are all undone129, unless The noble man have mercy.
COMINIUS Who shall ask it?
The tribunes cannot do't for shame: the people
Deserve such pity of him as the wolf
Does of the shepherds: for134 his best friends, if they Should say 'Be good to Rome', they charged135 him even As those should do that had deserved his hate,
And therein showed137 like enemies.
MENENIUS 'Tis true: if he were putting to my house the brand138
That should consume it, I have not the face
To say 'Beseech you, cease.'-- You have made fair
hands141,
To the Tribunes
You and your crafts: you have crafted142 fair!
COMINIUS You have brought
A trembling upon Rome, such as was never
S'incapable of help145.
SICINIUS and BRUTUS Say not we brought it.
MENENIUS How? Was't we? We loved him, But, like beasts and cowardly nobles,
Gave way unto your clusters149, who did hoot Him out o'th'city.
COMINIUS But I fear
They'll roar152 him in again. Tullus Aufidius, The second name of men, obeys his points153
As if he were his officer: desperation
Is all the policy, strength and defence
That Rome can make against them.
Enter a troop of Citizens
MENENIUS Here come the clusters.
And is Aufidius with him? You are they
That made the air unwholesome when you cast
Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at
Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming,
And not a hair upon a soldier's head
Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs163
As you threw caps up will he tumble down,
And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter:
If he could burn us all into one coal166, We have deserved it.
ALL CITIZENS Faith, we hear fearful news.
FIRST CITIZEN For mine own part,
When I said 'Banish him' I said 'twas pity.
SECOND CITIZEN And so did I.
THIRD CITIZEN And so did I: and to say the truth, so did very many of us: that we did, we did for the best, and though we willingly
consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will.
COMINIUS You're goodly things, you voices.
MENENIUS You have made good work,
You and your cry. Shall's177 to the Capitol?
COMINIUS O, ay, what else?
Exeunt [Cominius and Menenius]
SICINIUS Go, masters, get you home: be not dismayed: These are a side180 that would be glad to have This true which they so seem to fear. Go home,
And show no sign of fear.
FIRST CITIZEN The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home.
I ever said we were i'th'wrong when we banished him.
SECOND CITIZEN So did we all. But, come, let's home.
Exeunt Citizens
BRUTUS I do not like this news.
SICINIUS Nor I.
BRUTUS Let's to the Capitol. Would half my wealth Would buy this for a lie188.
SICINIUS Pray, let's go.
Exeunt Tribunes
[Act 4 Scene 7]
running scene 17
Enter Aufidius with his Lieutenant
AUFIDIUS Do they still fly to th'Roman?
LIEUTENANT I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but Your soldiers use him as the grace fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;
And you are darkened5 in this action, sir, Even by your own6.
AUFIDIUS I cannot help it now,
Unless by using means I lame8 the foot Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier,
Even to my person, than I thought he would
When first I did embrace him. Yet his nature
In that's no changeling12, and I must excuse What cannot be amended.
LIEUTENANT Yet I wish, sir --
I mean for your particular15 -- you had not Joined in commission16 with him, but either Have borne the action of yourself17, or else To him had left it solely.
AUFIDIUS I understand thee well, and be thou sure, When he shall come to his account20, he knows not What I can urge21 against him. Although it seems, And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To th'vulgar eye, that he bears23 all things fairly, And shows good husbandry for24 the Volscian state, Fights dragon-like, and does achieve25 as soon As draw his sword: yet he hath left undone
That which shall break his neck or hazard mine,
Whene'er we come to our account.
LIEUTENANT Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry29 Rome?
AUFIDIUS All places yields to him ere he sits down30, And the nobility of Rome are his:
The senators and patricians love him too:
The tribunes are no soldiers, and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal34, as hasty To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish36, who takes it By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them, but he could not
Carry his honours even39: whether 'twas pride, Which out of daily fortune40 ever taints The happy41 man: whether defect of judgement, To fail in the disposing42 of those chances Which he was lord of: or whether nature43, Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From th'casque to th'cushion45, but commanding peace Even with the same austerity and garb46
As he controlled the war. But one of these --
As he hath spices48 of them all -- not all, For I dare so far free49 him -- made him feared, So50 hated, and so banished: but he50 has a merit, To choke it in the utt'rance. So our virtues
Lie in th'interpretation of the time52, And power53, unto itself most commendable, Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair54
T'extol55 what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire: one nail, one nail:
Rights by rights foulder57, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,
Thou art poor'st of all: then shortly art thou mine.
Exeunt
Act 5 [Scene 1]
running scene 18
Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus, the two Tribunes, with others
MENENIUS No, I'll not go: you hear what he1 hath said Which was sometime2 his general: who loved him In a most dear particular. He3 called me 'father': But what o'that?-- Go, you that banished him:
To the Tribunes
A mile before his tent fall down, and knee5
The way into his mercy: nay, if he coyed6
To hear Comi
nius speak, I'll keep at home.
COMINIUS He would not seem to8 know me.
MENENIUS Do you hear?
COMINIUS Yet one time he did call me by my name: I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. 'Coriolanus'
He would not answer to: forbad all names:
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forged himself a name o'th'fire
Of burning Rome.
MENENIUS Why, so! You have made good work:
To the Tribunes
A pair of tribunes that have wracked18 for Rome, To make coals cheap: a noble memory19!
COMINIUS I minded20 him how royal 'twas to pardon When it was less expected. He replied
It was a bare22 petition of a state To one whom they had punished.
MENENIUS Very well: could he say less?
COMINIUS I offered25 to awaken his regard For's private26 friends. His answer to me was He could not stay to pick them in27 a pile Of noisome28 musty chaff. He said 'twas folly For one poor grain or two to leave unburnt,
And still to nose th'offence30.
MENENIUS For one poor grain or two?
I am one of those: his mother, wife, his child,
And this brave fellow too: we are the grains.
You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt
Above the moon. We must be burnt for you.
SICINIUS Nay, pray, be patient: if you refuse your aid In this so never-needed help37, yet do not Upbraid's with our distress38. But sure, if you Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,
More than the instant40 army we can make, Might stop our countryman.
MENENIUS No, I'll not meddle.
SICINIUS Pray you, go to him.
MENENIUS What should I do?
BRUTUS Only make trial what your love can do
For Rome, towards Martius.
MENENIUS Well, and say that Martius return me,
As Cominius is returned, unheard: what then?
But as a discontented friend, grief-shot49
With his unkindness? Say't be so?
SICINIUS Yet your good will
Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure52
As you intended well.
MENENIUS I'll undertake't:
I think he'll hear me. Yet to bite55 his lip And hum at good Cominius much unhearts56 me.
He was not taken well57, he had not dined: The veins unfilled, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon59 the morning, are unapt To give or to forgive: but when we have stuffed
These pipes and these conveyances61 of our blood With wine and feeding, we have suppler62 souls Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him
Till he be dieted to64 my request, And then I'll set upon him.
BRUTUS You know the very road into his kindness, And cannot lose your way.
MENENIUS Good faith, I'll prove68 him, Speed69 how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge Of my success70.
Exit
COMINIUS He'll never hear him.
SICINIUS Not?
COMINIUS I tell you, he does sit in gold73, his eye Red as 'twould burn Rome, and his injury74
The jailer to his pity. I kneeled before him:
'Twas very faintly76 he said 'Rise': dismissed me Thus with his speechless hand. What77 he would do He sent in writing after me: what he would not,
Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions:
So that all hope is vain, unless his noble mother
And his wife, who, as I hear, mean to solicit him
For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 2]
running scene 19
Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard
FIRST WATCHMAN Stay: whence are you?
SECOND WATCHMAN Stand, and go back.
MENENIUS You guard like men: 'tis well.
But, by your leave, I am an officer
Of state, and come to speak with Coriolanus.
FIRST WATCHMAN From whence?
MENENIUS From Rome.
FIRST WATCHMAN You may not pass, you must return: our general will no more hear from thence.
SECOND WATCHMAN You'll see your Rome embraced with fire before you'll speak with Coriolanus.
MENENIUS Good my friends,
If you have heard your general talk of Rome,
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks14, My name hath touched your ears: it is Menenius.
FIRST WATCHMAN Be it so: go back: the virtue16 of your name is not here passable17.
MENENIUS I tell thee, fellow,
The general is my lover19: I have been The book20 of his good acts, whence men have read His fame unparalleled, happily21 amplified: For I have ever verified22 my friends, Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity23
Would without lapsing suffer24: nay, sometimes, Like to a bowl upon a subtle25 ground, I have tumbled past the throw26: and in his praise Have almost stamped the leasing27. Therefore, fellow, I must have leave to pass.
FIRST WATCHMAN Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you should
not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie as to live
chastely32. Therefore, go back.
MENENIUS Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary34 on the party of your general.
SECOND WATCHMAN Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say you have, I am one that, telling true under36 him, must say you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.
MENENIUS Has he dined, canst thou tell? For I would not speak with him till after dinner.
FIRST WATCHMAN You are a Roman, are you?
MENENIUS I am as thy general is.
FIRST WATCHMAN Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender
of them, and in a violent popular ignorance44, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy45
groans of old women, the virginal palms46 of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant47 as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire
your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this?
No, you are deceived: therefore back to Rome, and prepare
for your execution: you are condemned, our general has
sworn you out of52 reprieve and pardon.
MENENIUS Sirrah53, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation54.
FIRST WATCHMAN Come, my captain knows you not.
MENENIUS I mean, thy general.
FIRST WATCHMAN My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go: lest I let forth your half-pint of blood. Back: that's the utmost58
of your having: back.
MENENIUS Nay, but fellow, fellow--
Enter Coriolanus with Aufidius
CORIOLANUS What's the matter?
MENENIUS Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for62 To First
you: you shall know now that I am in estimation:
Watchman
you shall perceive that a jack guardant cannot office64 me from my son Coriolanus: guess but my entertainment65 with him: if thou stand'st not i'th'state of66 hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship67, and crueller in suffering, behold now presently, and swoon for what's to
come upon thee.--The glorious gods sit in hourly
To Coriolanus
synod70 about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son, my
son! Thou art preparing fire for us: look thee, here's
He weeps
water to quench it. I was hardly moved73 to come to thee, but being assured none but myself could move thee, I have been
blown out of our gates with sighs, and conjure75 thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary76 countrymen. The
good gods assuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this
varlet here: this, who like a block78 hath denied my access to thee.
CORIOLANUS Away!
MENENIUS How? Away?
CORIOLANUS Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are servanted to others: though I owe83
My revenge properly, my remission84 lies In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar85, Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for89 I loved thee, Take this along: I writ it for thy sake,
He gives him a letter
And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,
I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st.
AUFIDIUS You keep a constant temper94.
Exeunt [Coriolanus and Aufidius]
The Guard and Menenius [remain]
FIRST WATCHMAN Now, sir, is your name Menenius?
SECOND WATCHMAN 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the way home again.
FIRST WATCHMAN Do you hear how we are shent98 for keeping your greatness back?
SECOND WATCHMAN What cause, do you think, I have to swoon?
MENENIUS I neither care for101 th'world nor your general: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you're so slight102.
He that hath a will to die by himself103 fears it not from another: let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are long104, and your misery increase with your age. I say to you, as I was
said to, 'Away!'
Exit
FIRST WATCHMAN A noble fellow, I warrant him.
SECOND WATCHMAN The worthy fellow is our general. He's the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 3]
running scene 19 continues
Enter Coriolanus and Aufidius
CORIOLANUS We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow Set down our host2. My partner in this action, You must report to th'Volscian lords, how plainly3
I have borne this business.
AUFIDIUS Only their ends5 you have respected, Stopped your ears against the general suit of Rome:
Never admitted a private whisper, no, not with such friends
That thought them sure of you.
CORIOLANUS This last old man,
Whom with a cracked heart I have sent to Rome,
Loved me above the measure of a father,
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge12
Was to send him, for whose old love I have,
Though I showed14 sourly to him, once more offered The first conditions, which they did refuse
Coriolanus Page 12