Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with staves,
clubs, and other weapons.

FIRST CITIZEN Before we proceed any further, hear me
speak.
ALL Speak, speak!
FIRST CITIZEN You are all resolved rather to die than to
famish?
ALL Resolved, resolved!
FIRST CITIZEN First, you know Caius Martius is chief
enemy to the people.
ALL We know ’t, we know ’t!
FIRST CITIZEN Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at
our own price. Is ’t a verdict?
ALL No more talking on ’t; let it be done. Away, away!
SECOND CITIZEN One word, good citizens.
FIRST CITIZEN We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians
good. What authority surfeits on would
relieve us. If they would yield us but the superfluity
while it were wholesome, we might guess they
relieved us humanely. But they think we are too
dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our
misery, is as an inventory to particularize their
abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let
us revenge this with our pikes ere we become

---

rakes; for the gods know I speak this in hunger for
bread, not in thirst for revenge.
SECOND CITIZEN Would you proceed especially against
Caius Martius?
ALL Against him first. He’s a very dog to the
commonalty.
SECOND CITIZEN Consider you what services he has
done for his country?
FIRST CITIZEN Very well, and could be content to give
him good report for ’t, but that he pays himself
with being proud.
SECOND CITIZEN Nay, but speak not maliciously.
FIRST CITIZEN I say unto you, what he hath done
famously he did it to that end. Though soft-conscienced
men can be content to say it was for
his country, he did it to please his mother and to be
partly proud, which he is, even to the altitude of
his virtue.
SECOND CITIZEN What he cannot help in his nature you
account a vice in him. You must in no way say he
is covetous.
FIRST CITIZEN If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations.
He hath faults, with surplus, to tire in
repetition. ( Shouts within. ) What shouts are these?
The other side o’ th’ city is risen. Why stay we prating
here? To th’ Capitol!
ALL Come, come!

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

FIRST CITIZEN Soft, who comes here?
SECOND CITIZEN Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that
hath always loved the people.
FIRST CITIZEN He’s one honest enough. Would all the
rest were so!

---

MENENIUS
What work ’s, my countrymen, in hand? Where go
you
With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you.
SECOND CITIZEN Our business is not unknown to th’
Senate. They have had inkling this fortnight what
we intend to do, which now we’ll show ’em in
deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths;
they shall know we have strong arms too.
MENENIUS
Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest
neighbors,
Will you undo yourselves?
SECOND CITIZEN
We cannot, sir; we are undone already.
MENENIUS
I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the patricians of you. For your wants,
Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them
Against the Roman state, whose course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong link asunder than can ever
Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,
The gods, not the patricians, make it, and
Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack,
You are transported by calamity
Thither where more attends you, and you slander
The helms o’ th’ state, who care for you like fathers,
When you curse them as enemies.
SECOND CITIZEN Care for us? True, indeed! They ne’er
cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their
storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for
usury to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome
act established against the rich, and provide
more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain

---

the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will;
and there’s all the love they bear us.
MENENIUS
Either you must confess yourselves wondrous
malicious
Or be accused of folly. I shall tell you
A pretty tale. It may be you have heard it,
But since it serves my purpose, I will venture
To stale ’t a little more.
SECOND CITIZEN Well, I’ll hear it, sir; yet you must not
think to fob off our disgrace with a tale. But, an ’t
please you, deliver.
MENENIUS
There was a time when all the body’s members
Rebelled against the belly, thus accused it:
That only like a gulf it did remain
I’ th’ midst o’ th’ body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labor with the rest, where th’ other instruments
Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answered—
SECOND CITIZEN Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
MENENIUS
Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile,
Which ne’er came from the lungs, but even thus—
For, look you, I may make the belly smile
As well as speak—it tauntingly replied
To th’ discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly
As you malign our senators for that
They are not such as you.
SECOND CITIZEN Your belly’s answer—what?
The kingly crownèd head, the vigilant eye,
The counselor heart, the arm our soldier,

---

Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,
With other muniments and petty helps
In this our fabric, if that they—
MENENIUS What then?
’Fore me, this fellow speaks. What then? What then?
SECOND CITIZEN
Should by the cormorant belly be restrained,
Who is the sink o’ th’ body—
MENENIUS Well, what then?
SECOND CITIZEN
The former agents, if they did complain,
What could the belly answer?
MENENIUS I will tell you,
If you’ll bestow a small—of what you have little—
Patience awhile, you’st hear the belly’s answer.
SECOND CITIZEN
You’re long about it.
MENENIUS Note me this, good friend;
Your most grave belly was deliberate,
Not rash like his accusers, and thus answered:
“True is it, my incorporate friends,” quoth he,
“That I receive the general food at first
Which you do live upon; and fit it is,
Because I am the storehouse and the shop
Of the whole body. But, if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood
Even to the court, the heart, to th’ seat o’ th’ brain;
And, through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live. And though that all at once,
You, my good friends”—this says the belly, mark
me—
SECOND CITIZEN
Ay, sir, well, well.

---

MENENIUS “Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each,
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flour of all,
And leave me but the bran.” What say you to ’t?
SECOND CITIZEN
It was an answer. How apply you this?
MENENIUS
The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members. For examine
Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly
Touching the weal o’ th’ common, you shall find
No public benefit which you receive
But it proceeds or comes from them to you
And no way from yourselves. What do you think,
You, the great toe of this assembly?
SECOND CITIZEN I the great toe? Why the great toe?
MENENIUS
For that, being one o’ th’ lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost.
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead’st first to win some vantage.
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs.
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;
The one side must have bale.

Enter Caius Martius.

Hail, noble Martius.
MARTIUS
Thanks.—What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues,
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?
SECOND CITIZEN We have ever your good word.
MARTIUS
He that will give good words to thee will flatter
Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,

---

That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you;
The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese. You are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is
To make him worthy whose offense subdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness
Deserves your hate; and your affections are
A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favors swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang you! Trust
you?
With every minute you do change a mind
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile that was your garland. What’s the matter,
That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another?—What’s their seeking?
MENENIUS
For corn at their own rates, whereof they say
The city is well stored.
MARTIUS Hang ’em! They say?
They’ll sit by th’ fire and presume to know
What’s done i’ th’ Capitol, who’s like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines; side factions and
give out
Conjectural marriages, making parties strong
And feebling such as stand not in their liking
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there’s grain
enough?
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth
And let me use my sword, I’d make a quarry

---

With thousands of these quartered slaves as high
As I could pick my lance.
MENENIUS
Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you,
What says the other troop?
MARTIUS They are dissolved. Hang
’em!
They said they were an-hungry, sighed forth
proverbs
That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat,
That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent
not
Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds
They vented their complainings, which being
answered
And a petition granted them—a strange one,
To break the heart of generosity
And make bold power look pale—they threw their
caps
As they would hang them on the horns o’ th’ moon,
Shouting their emulation.
MENENIUS What is granted them?
MARTIUS
Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice. One’s Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. ’Sdeath!
The rabble should have first unroofed the city
Ere so prevailed with me. It will in time
Win upon power and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection’s arguing.
MENENIUS This is strange.
MARTIUS Go get you home, you fragments.

Enter a Messenger hastily.

---

MESSENGER
Where’s Caius Martius?
MARTIUS Here. What’s the matter?
MESSENGER
The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
MARTIUS
I am glad on ’t. Then we shall ha’ means to vent
Our musty superfluity.

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, ( two Tribunes ) ;
Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

See our best elders.
FIRST SENATOR
Martius, ’tis true that you have lately told us:
The Volsces are in arms.
MARTIUS They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to ’t.
I sin in envying his nobility,
And, were I anything but what I am,
I would wish me only he.
COMINIUS You have fought together?
MARTIUS
Were half to half the world by th’ ears and he
Upon my party, I’d revolt, to make
Only my wars with him. He is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.
FIRST SENATOR Then, worthy Martius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
COMINIUS
It is your former promise.
MARTIUS Sir, it is,
And I am constant.—Titus Lartius , thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face.
What, art thou stiff? Stand’st out?

---

LARTIUS No, Caius Martius,
I’ll lean upon one crutch and fight with t’ other
Ere stay behind this business.
MENENIUS O, true bred!
FIRST SENATOR
Your company to th’ Capitol, where I know
Our greatest friends attend us.
LARTIUS , to Cominius Lead you on.—
To Martius. Follow Cominius. We must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.
COMINIUS Noble Martius.
FIRST SENATOR , to the Citizens
Hence to your homes, begone.
MARTIUS Nay, let them follow.
The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither
To gnaw their garners.
Citizens steal away.
Worshipful mutineers,
Your valor puts well forth.—Pray follow.
They exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain.
SICINIUS
Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?
BRUTUS He has no equal.
SICINIUS
When we were chosen tribunes for the people—
BRUTUS
Marked you his lip and eyes?
SICINIUS Nay, but his taunts.
BRUTUS
Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods—
SICINIUS Bemock the modest moon.
BRUTUS
The present wars devour him! He is grown
Too proud to be so valiant.

---

SICINIUS Such a nature,
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder
His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.
BRUTUS Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he’s well graced, cannot
Better be held nor more attained than by
A place below the first; for what miscarries
Shall be the General’s fault, though he perform
To th’ utmost of a man, and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Martius “O, if he
Had borne the business!”
SICINIUS Besides, if things go well,
Opinion that so sticks on Martius shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
BRUTUS Come.
Half all Cominius’ honors are to Martius,
Though Martius earned them not, and all his faults
To Martius shall be honors, though indeed
In aught he merit not.
SICINIUS Let’s hence and hear
How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion,
More than his singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.
BRUTUS Let’s along.
They exit.

Enter Tullus Aufidius with Senators of Corioles.

FIRST SENATOR
So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are entered in our counsels
And know how we proceed.

---

AUFIDIUS Is it not yours?
Whatever have been thought on in this state
That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention? ’Tis not four days gone
Since I heard thence. These are the words—I think
I have the letter here. Yes, here it is.
( He reads. ) They have pressed a power, but it is not
known
Whether for east or west. The dearth is great.
The people mutinous; and, it is rumored,
Cominius, Martius your old enemy,
Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation
Whither ’tis bent. Most likely ’tis for you.
Consider of it.
FIRST SENATOR Our army’s in the field.
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.
AUFIDIUS Nor did you think it folly
To keep your great pretenses veiled till when
They needs must show themselves, which, in the
hatching,
It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery
We shall be shortened in our aim, which was
To take in many towns ere almost Rome
Should know we were afoot.
SECOND SENATOR Noble Aufidius,
Take your commission; hie you to your bands.
Let us alone to guard Corioles.
If they set down before ’s, for the remove
Bring up your army. But I think you’ll find
They’ve not prepared for us.
AUFIDIUS O, doubt not that;
I speak from certainties. Nay, more,

---

Some parcels of their power are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your Honors.
If we and Caius Martius chance to meet,
’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike
Till one can do no more.
ALL The gods assist you!
AUFIDIUS And keep your Honors safe!
FIRST SENATOR Farewell.
SECOND SENATOR Farewell.
ALL Farewell.
All exit.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife
to Martius. They set them down on two low stools
and sew.

VOLUMNIA I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself
in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my
husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence
wherein he won honor than in the embracements
of his bed where he would show most love. When
yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of
my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked
all gaze his way, when for a day of kings’ entreaties
a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding,
I, considering how honor would become
such a person—that it was no better than picture-like
to hang by th’ wall, if renown made it not
stir—was pleased to let him seek danger where he
was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him,
from whence he returned, his brows bound with
oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy
at first hearing he was a man-child than now in
first seeing he had proved himself a man.

---

VIRGILIA But had he died in the business, madam, how
then?
VOLUMNIA Then his good report should have been my
son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me
profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my
love alike and none less dear than thine and my
good Martius, I had rather had eleven die nobly
for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out
of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

GENTLEWOMAN Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to
visit you.
VIRGILIA
Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
VOLUMNIA Indeed you shall not.
Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum,
See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair;
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him.
Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus:
“Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow
With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes
Like to a harvestman that’s tasked to mow
Or all or lose his hire.
VIRGILIA
His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood!
VOLUMNIA
Away, you fool! It more becomes a man
Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier
Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood
At Grecian sword, contemning.—Tell Valeria
We are fit to bid her welcome. Gentlewoman exits.

---

VIRGILIA
Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
VOLUMNIA
He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee
And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman.

VALERIA My ladies both, good day to you.
VOLUMNIA Sweet madam.
VIRGILIA I am glad to see your Ladyship.
VALERIA How do you both? You are manifest housekeepers.
What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in
good faith. How does your little son?
VIRGILIA I thank your Ladyship; well, good madam.
VOLUMNIA He had rather see the swords and hear a
drum than look upon his schoolmaster.
VALERIA O’ my word, the father’s son! I’ll swear ’tis a
very pretty boy. O’ my troth, I looked upon him o’
Wednesday half an hour together. H’as such a confirmed
countenance. I saw him run after a gilded
butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again,
and after it again, and over and over he comes,
and up again, catched it again. Or whether his fall
enraged him or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth
and tear it. O, I warrant how he mammocked it!
VOLUMNIA One on ’s father’s moods.
VALERIA Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.
VIRGILIA A crack, madam.
VALERIA Come, lay aside your stitchery. I must have
you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.
VIRGILIA No, good madam, I will not out of doors.
VALERIA Not out of doors?
VOLUMNIA She shall, she shall.
VIRGILIA Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the
threshold till my lord return from the wars.

---

VALERIA Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably.
Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
VIRGILIA I will wish her speedy strength and visit her
with my prayers, but I cannot go thither.
VOLUMNIA Why, I pray you?
VIRGILIA ’Tis not to save labor, nor that I want love.
VALERIA You would be another Penelope. Yet they say
all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill
Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambric
were sensible as your finger, that you might leave
pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.
VIRGILIA No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will
not forth.
VALERIA In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent
news of your husband.
VIRGILIA O, good madam, there can be none yet.
VALERIA Verily, I do not jest with you. There came
news from him last night.
VIRGILIA Indeed, madam!
VALERIA In earnest, it’s true. I heard a senator speak it.
Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth, against
whom Cominius the General is gone with one
part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius
are set down before their city Corioles. They
nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief
wars. This is true, on mine honor, and so, I pray, go
with us.
VIRGILIA Give me excuse, good madam. I will obey you
in everything hereafter.
VOLUMNIA Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will
but disease our better mirth.
VALERIA In troth, I think she would.—Fare you well,
then.—Come, good sweet lady.—Prithee, Virgilia,
turn thy solemness out o’ door, and go along with
us.

---

VIRGILIA No, at a word, madam. Indeed, I must not. I
wish you much mirth.
VALERIA Well, then, farewell.
Ladies exit.

Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Trumpet , Drum,
and Colors, with Captains and Soldiers, as before
the city of Corioles. To them a Messenger.

MARTIUS
Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
LARTIUS
My horse to yours, no.
MARTIUS ’Tis done.
LARTIUS Agreed.
MARTIUS , to Messenger
Say, has our general met the enemy?
MESSENGER
They lie in view but have not spoke as yet.
LARTIUS
So the good horse is mine.
MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you.
LARTIUS
No, I’ll nor sell nor give him. Lend you him I will
For half a hundred years.—Summon the town.
MARTIUS How far off lie these armies?
MESSENGER Within this mile and half.
MARTIUS
Then shall we hear their ’larum and they ours.
Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work,
That we with smoking swords may march from
hence
To help our fielded friends!—Come, blow thy blast.
They sound a parley.

---

Enter two Senators with others on the walls of Corioles.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
FIRST SENATOR
No, nor a man that fears you less than he:
That’s lesser than a little. Drum afar off.
Hark, our drums
Are bringing forth our youth. We’ll break our walls
Rather than they shall pound us up. Our gates,
Which yet seem shut, we have but pinned with
rushes.
They’ll open of themselves. Alarum far off.
Hark you, far off!
There is Aufidius. List what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.
They exit from the walls.
MARTIUS O, they are at it!
LARTIUS
Their noise be our instruction.—Ladders, ho!

Enter the Army of the Volsces as through the city gates.

MARTIUS
They fear us not but issue forth their city.—
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields.—Advance,
brave Titus.
They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,
Which makes me sweat with wrath.—Come on, my
fellows!
He that retires, I’ll take him for a Volsce,
And he shall feel mine edge.
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches.
They exit, with the Volsces following.

Enter Martius cursing, with Roman soldiers.

---

MARTIUS
All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! You herd of—Boils and
plagues
Plaster you o’er, that you may be abhorred
Farther than seen, and one infect another
Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!
All hurt behind. Backs red, and faces pale
With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home,
Or, by the fires of heaven, I’ll leave the foe
And make my wars on you. Look to ’t. Come on!
If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches. Follow ’s!

Another alarum. The Volsces re-enter and are driven
back to the gates of Corioles, which open to admit
them.

So, now the gates are ope. Now prove good
seconds!
’Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
Not for the fliers. Mark me, and do the like.
Martius follows the fleeing Volsces through
the gates, and is shut in.
FIRST SOLDIER Foolhardiness, not I.
SECOND SOLDIER Nor I.
FIRST SOLDIER See they have shut him in.
Alarum continues.
ALL To th’ pot, I warrant him.

Enter Titus Lartius.

LARTIUS
What is become of Martius?
ALL Slain, sir, doubtless.

---

FIRST SOLDIER
Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters, who upon the sudden
Clapped to their gates. He is himself alone,
To answer all the city.
LARTIUS O, noble fellow,
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And when it bows, stand’st up! Thou art left,
Martius.
A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato’s wish, not fierce and terrible
Only in strokes, but with thy grim looks and
The thunderlike percussion of thy sounds
Thou mad’st thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.

Enter Martius, bleeding, as if from Corioles, assaulted
by the enemy.

FIRST SOLDIER Look, sir.
LARTIUS O, ’tis Martius!
Let’s fetch him off or make remain alike.
They fight, and all enter the city, exiting the stage.

Enter certain Romans, with spoils.

FIRST ROMAN This will I carry to Rome.
SECOND ROMAN And I this.
THIRD ROMAN A murrain on ’t! I took this for silver.

Enter Martius, and Titus Lartius with a Trumpet.

MARTIUS
See here these movers that do prize their hours
At a cracked drachma. Cushions, leaden spoons,

---

Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would
Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,
Ere yet the fight be done, pack up. Down with them!
The Romans with spoils exit.
Alarum continues still afar off.
And hark, what noise the General makes! To him!
There is the man of my soul’s hate, Aufidius,
Piercing our Romans. Then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city,
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste
To help Cominius.
LARTIUS Worthy sir, thou bleed’st.
Thy exercise hath been too violent
For a second course of fight.
MARTIUS Sir, praise me not.
My work hath yet not warmed me. Fare you well.
The blood I drop is rather physical
Than dangerous to me. To Aufidius thus
I will appear and fight.
LARTIUS Now the fair goddess Fortune
Fall deep in love with thee, and her great charms
Misguide thy opposers’ swords! Bold gentleman,
Prosperity be thy page!
MARTIUS Thy friend no less
Than those she placeth highest! So farewell.
LARTIUS Thou worthiest Martius! Martius exits.
Go sound thy trumpet in the marketplace.
Call thither all the officers o’ th’ town,
Where they shall know our mind. Away!
They exit.

Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with Soldiers.

COMINIUS
Breathe you, my friends. Well fought! We are come
off
Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands
Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs,
We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,
By interims and conveying gusts we have heard
The charges of our friends. The Roman gods
Lead their successes as we wish our own,
That both our powers, with smiling fronts
encount’ring,
May give you thankful sacrifice!

Enter a Messenger.

Thy news?
MESSENGER
The citizens of Corioles have issued
And given to Lartius and to Martius battle.
I saw our party to their trenches driven,
And then I came away.
COMINIUS Though thou speakest truth,
Methinks thou speak’st not well. How long is ’t
since?
MESSENGER Above an hour, my lord.
COMINIUS
’Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums.
How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour
And bring thy news so late?
MESSENGER Spies of the Volsces
Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel

---

Three or four miles about; else had I, sir,
Half an hour since brought my report. He exits.

Enter Martius, bloody .

COMINIUS Who’s yonder,
That does appear as he were flayed? O gods,
He has the stamp of Martius, and I have
Before-time seen him thus.
MARTIUS Come I too late?
COMINIUS
The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor
More than I know the sound of Martius’ tongue
From every meaner man.
MARTIUS Come I too late?
COMINIUS
Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
But mantled in your own.
MARTIUS O, let me clip you
In arms as sound as when I wooed, in heart
As merry as when our nuptial day was done
And tapers burnt to bedward! They embrace.
COMINIUS
Flower of warriors, how is ’t with Titus Lartius?
MARTIUS
As with a man busied about decrees,
Condemning some to death and some to exile;
Ransoming him or pitying, threat’ning th’ other;
Holding Corioles in the name of Rome
Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
To let him slip at will.
COMINIUS Where is that slave
Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?
Where is he? Call him hither.
MARTIUS Let him alone.
He did inform the truth. But for our gentlemen,

---

The common file—a plague! Tribunes for them!—
The mouse ne’er shunned the cat as they did budge
From rascals worse than they.
COMINIUS But how prevailed you?
MARTIUS
Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.
Where is the enemy? Are you lords o’ th’ field?
If not, why cease you till you are so?
COMINIUS
Martius, we have at disadvantage fought
And did retire to win our purpose.
MARTIUS
How lies their battle? Know you on which side
They have placed their men of trust?
COMINIUS As I guess,
Martius,
Their bands i’ th’ vaward are the Antiates ,
Of their best trust; o’er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.
MARTIUS I do beseech you,
By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By th’ blood we have shed together, by th’ vows we
have made
To endure friends, that you directly set me
Against Aufidius and his Antiates,
And that you not delay the present, but,
Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,
We prove this very hour.
COMINIUS Though I could wish
You were conducted to a gentle bath
And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
Deny your asking. Take your choice of those
That best can aid your action.
MARTIUS Those are they
That most are willing. If any such be here—

---

As it were sin to doubt—that love this painting
Wherein you see me smeared; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;
If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country’s dearer than himself;
Let him alone, or so many so minded,
Wave thus to express his disposition
And follow Martius. He waves his sword.
They all shout and wave their swords,
take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps.
O, me alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volsces? None of you but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
Though thanks to all, must I select from all.
The rest shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obeyed. Please you to march,
And I shall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are best inclined.
COMINIUS March on, my fellows.
Make good this ostentation, and you shall
Divide in all with us.
They exit.

Titus Lartius, having set a guard upon Corioles, going
with Drum and Trumpet toward Cominius and Caius
Martius, enters with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers,
and a Scout.

LARTIUS
So, let the ports be guarded. Keep your duties
As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch
Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve

---

For a short holding. If we lose the field,
We cannot keep the town.
LIEUTENANT Fear not our care, sir.
LARTIUS Hence, and shut your gates upon ’s.
( To the Scout. ) Our guider, come. To th’ Roman
camp conduct us.
They exit, the Lieutenant one way, Lartius another.

Alarum, as in battle.
Enter Martius and Aufidius at several doors.

MARTIUS
I’ll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee
Worse than a promise-breaker.
AUFIDIUS We hate alike.
Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor
More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot.
MARTIUS
Let the first budger die the other’s slave,
And the gods doom him after!
AUFIDIUS If I fly, Martius,
Hollo me like a hare.
MARTIUS Within these three hours,
Tullus,
Alone I fought in your Corioles’ walls
And made what work I pleased. ’Tis not my blood
Wherein thou seest me masked. For thy revenge,
Wrench up thy power to th’ highest.
AUFIDIUS Wert thou the
Hector
That was the whip of your bragged progeny,
Thou shouldst not scape me here.

Here they fight, and certain Volsces come in
the aid of Aufidius.

---

( To the Volsces. ) Officious and not valiant, you have
shamed me
In your condemnèd seconds.
Martius fights till they be driven in breathless.
Aufidius and Martius exit, separately.

Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter, at one
door, Cominius with the Romans; at another door
Martius, with his arm in a scarf.

COMINIUS , to Martius
If I should tell thee o’er this thy day’s work,
Thou ’t not believe thy deeds. But I’ll report it
Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles;
Where great patricians shall attend and shrug,
I’ th’ end admire; where ladies shall be frighted
And, gladly quaked, hear more; where the dull
tribunes,
That with the fusty plebeians hate thine honors,
Shall say against their hearts “We thank the gods
Our Rome hath such a soldier.”
Yet cam’st thou to a morsel of this feast,
Having fully dined before.

Enter Titus Lartius with his power, from the pursuit.

LARTIUS O general,
Here is the steed, we the caparison.
Hadst thou beheld—
MARTIUS Pray now, no more. My mother,
Who has a charter to extol her blood,
When she does praise me grieves me. I have done
As you have done—that’s what I can;
Induced as you have been—that’s for my country.
He that has but effected his good will
Hath overta’en mine act.

---

COMINIUS You shall not be
The grave of your deserving. Rome must know
The value of her own. ’Twere a concealment
Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,
To hide your doings and to silence that
Which, to the spire and top of praises vouched,
Would seem but modest. Therefore, I beseech you—
In sign of what you are, not to reward
What you have done—before our army hear me.
MARTIUS
I have some wounds upon me, and they smart
To hear themselves remembered.
COMINIUS Should they not,
Well might they fester ’gainst ingratitude
And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses—
Whereof we have ta’en good and good store—of all
The treasure in this field achieved and city,
We render you the tenth, to be ta’en forth
Before the common distribution
At your only choice.
MARTIUS I thank you, general,
But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe to pay my sword. I do refuse it
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.
A long flourish. They all cry “Martius, Martius!”
and cast up their caps and lances.
Cominius and Lartius stand bare.
May these same instruments, which you profane,
Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall
I’ th’ field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be
Made all of false-faced soothing! When steel grows
Soft as the parasite’s silk, let him be made
An ovator for th’ wars! No more, I say.
For that I have not washed my nose that bled,
Or foiled some debile wretch—which, without note,

---

Here’s many else have done—you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical,
As if I loved my little should be dieted
In praises sauced with lies.
COMINIUS Too modest are you,
More cruel to your good report than grateful
To us that give you truly. By your patience,
If ’gainst yourself you be incensed, we’ll put you,
Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles,
Then reason safely with you. Therefore be it known,
As to us to all the world, that Caius Martius
Wears this war’s garland, in token of the which
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging. And from this time,
For what he did before Corioles, call him,
With all th’ applause and clamor of the host,
Martius Caius Coriolanus! Bear
Th’ addition nobly ever!

Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.

ALL
Martius Caius Coriolanus!
CORIOLANUS I will go wash;
And when my face is fair, you shall perceive
Whether I blush or no. Howbeit, I thank you.
I mean to stride your steed and at all times
To undercrest your good addition
To th’ fairness of my power.
COMINIUS So, to our tent,
Where, ere we do repose us, we will write
To Rome of our success.—You, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioles back. Send us to Rome
The best, with whom we may articulate
For their own good and ours.
LARTIUS I shall, my lord.

---

CORIOLANUS
The gods begin to mock me. I, that now
Refused most princely gifts, am bound to beg
Of my lord general.
COMINIUS Take ’t, ’tis yours. What is ’t?
CORIOLANUS
I sometime lay here in Corioles
At a poor man’s house; he used me kindly.
He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;
But then Aufidius was within my view,
And wrath o’erwhelmed my pity. I request you
To give my poor host freedom.
COMINIUS O, well begged!
Were he the butcher of my son, he should
Be free as is the wind.—Deliver him, Titus.
LARTIUS
Martius, his name?
CORIOLANUS By Jupiter, forgot!
I am weary; yea, my memory is tired.
Have we no wine here?
COMINIUS Go we to our tent.
The blood upon your visage dries; ’tis time
It should be looked to. Come.
A flourish of cornets. They exit.

Enter Tullus Aufidius bloody, with two or three Soldiers.

AUFIDIUS The town is ta’en.
SOLDIER
’Twill be delivered back on good condition.
AUFIDIUS Condition?
I would I were a Roman, for I cannot,
Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition?
What good condition can a treaty find

---

I’ th’ part that is at mercy? Five times, Martius,
I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me
And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter
As often as we eat. By th’ elements,
If e’er again I meet him beard to beard,
He’s mine, or I am his. Mine emulation
Hath not that honor in ’t it had; for where
I thought to crush him in an equal force,
True sword to sword, I’ll potch at him some way
Or wrath or craft may get him.
SOLDIER He’s the devil.
AUFIDIUS
Bolder, though not so subtle. My valor’s poisoned
With only suff’ring stain by him; for him
Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep nor sanctuary,
Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol,
The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up
Their rotten privilege and custom ’gainst
My hate to Martius. Where I find him, were it
At home, upon my brother’s guard, even there,
Against the hospitable canon, would I
Wash my fierce hand in ’s heart. Go you to th’ city;
Learn how ’tis held and what they are that must
Be hostages for Rome.
SOLDIER Will not you go?
AUFIDIUS
I am attended at the cypress grove. I pray you—
’Tis south the city mills—bring me word thither
How the world goes, that to the pace of it
I may spur on my journey.
SOLDIER I shall, sir. ACT 2 Scene 1 MENENIUS
They exit, Aufidius through one door,
Soldiers through another.

Enter Menenius with the two Tribunes of the people,
Sicinius and Brutus.

The augurer tells me we shall have news
tonight.
BRUTUS Good or bad?
MENENIUS Not according to the prayer of the people,
for they love not Martius.
SICINIUS Nature teaches beasts 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 baas 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.
BOTH Well, sir.
MENENIUS In what enormity is Martius poor in, that
you two have not in abundance?
BRUTUS He’s poor in no one fault, but stored 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 file, do you?

---

BOTH Why, how are we censured?
MENENIUS Because you talk of pride now, will you not
be angry?
BOTH Well, well, sir, well?
MENENIUS Why, ’tis no great matter; for a very little
thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience.
Give your dispositions the reins, and be
angry at your pleasures, 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 single. Your abilities are too infantlike
for doing much alone. You talk of pride. O,
that you could turn your eyes toward the napes
of your necks and make but an interior survey of
your good selves! O, that you could!
BOTH What then, sir?
MENENIUS Why, then you should discover a brace of
unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias
fools, as any in Rome.
SICINIUS Menenius, you are known well enough, too.
MENENIUS I am known to be a humorous patrician and
one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of
allaying Tiber in ’t; said to be something imperfect
in favoring the first complaint, hasty and tinder-like
upon too trivial motion; one that converses
more with the buttock of the night than with the
forehead of the morning. What I think I utter,
and spend my malice in my breath. Meeting two
such wealsmen as you are—I cannot call you
Lycurguses—if the drink you give me touch my
palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot
say your Worships have delivered the matter
well when I find the ass in compound 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 deadly that tell you
have good faces. If you see this in the map of my
microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough
too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities
glean out of this character, 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 legs. You wear out a good wholesome forenoon
in hearing a cause between an orange-wife
and a faucet-seller, and then rejourn the controversy
of threepence to a second day of audience.
When you are hearing a matter between party and
party, if you chance to be pinched with the colic,
you make faces like mummers, set up the bloody
flag against all patience, and, in roaring for a
chamber pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding,
the more entangled by your hearing. All the peace
you make 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
bencher in the Capitol.
MENENIUS Our very priests must become mockers if
they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as
you are. When you speak best unto the purpose, it
is not worth the wagging of your beards, and your
beards deserve not so honorable a grave as to
stuff a botcher’s cushion or to be entombed in an
ass’s packsaddle. Yet you must be saying Martius is
proud, who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all
your predecessors since Deucalion, though peradventure
some of the best of ’em were hereditary

---

hangmen. Good e’en 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.
He begins to exit. Brutus and Sicinius stand aside.

Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria.

How now, my as fair as noble ladies—and the
moon, were she earthly, no nobler—whither do
you follow your eyes so fast?
VOLUMNIA Honorable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches.
For the love of Juno, let’s go!
MENENIUS Ha? Martius coming home?
VOLUMNIA Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous
approbation.
MENENIUS Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee! ( He
throws his cap in the air. ) Hoo! Martius coming
home?
VALERIA , VIRGILIA Nay, ’tis true.
VOLUMNIA Look, here’s a letter from him. She produces
a paper. 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 estate of
seven years’ health, in which time I will make a lip
at the physician. The most sovereign prescription
in Galen is but empiricutic and, to this preservative,
of no better report than a horse drench. Is he not
wounded? He was wont 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 he
victory in his pocket, the wounds become him.

---

VOLUMNIA On ’s brows, Menenius. He comes the third
time home with the oaken garland.
MENENIUS Has he disciplined 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 ’fidiused for all the chests in Corioles and
the gold that’s in them. Is the Senate possessed 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 action 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 purchasing.
VIRGILIA The gods grant them true.
VOLUMNIA True? Pow waw!
MENENIUS True? I’ll be sworn they are true. Where is
he wounded? ( To the Tribunes. ) 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 cicatrices to show the people when he
shall stand for his place. He received in the repulse
of Tarquin seven hurts i’ th’ body.
MENENIUS One i’ th’ neck and two i’ th’ thigh—there’s
nine 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 nervy arm doth lie,
Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die.
A sennet.

Enter Cominius the General and Titus Lartius, between
them Coriolanus crowned with an oaken garland, with
Captains and Soldiers and a Herald. Trumpets sound.

HERALD
Know, Rome, that all alone Martius did fight
Within Corioles’ gates, where he hath won,
With fame, a name to Martius Caius; these
In honor follows “Coriolanus.”
Welcome to Rome, renownèd Coriolanus.
Sound flourish.
ALL
Welcome to Rome, renownèd 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 prosperity. Kneels.
VOLUMNIA Nay, my good soldier, up.
He stands.
My gentle Martius, worthy Caius, and
By deed-achieving honor newly named—
What is it? Coriolanus must I call thee?
But, O, thy wife—
CORIOLANUS My gracious silence, hail.
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? ( To Valeria. ) O, my sweet lady,
pardon.
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 begin at very root on ’s 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 trees here at home that will
not
Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors!
We call a nettle but a nettle, and
The faults of fools but folly.
COMINIUS Ever right.
CORIOLANUS Menenius ever, ever.
HERALD
Give way there, and go on!
CORIOLANUS , to Volumnia and Virgilia Your hand
and yours.
Ere in our own house I do shade my head,
The good patricians must be visited,
From whom I have received not only greetings,
But with them change of honors.
VOLUMNIA I have lived
To see inherited my very wishes
And the buildings of my fancy. Only
There’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not but
Our Rome will cast upon thee.

---

CORIOLANUS Know, good mother,
I had rather be their servant in my way
Than sway with them in theirs.
COMINIUS On, to the Capitol.
Flourish of cornets. They exit in state, as before.

Brutus and Sicinius come forward.

BRUTUS
All tongues speak of him, and the blearèd sights
Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurse
Into a rapture lets her baby cry
While she chats him. The kitchen malkin pins
Her richest lockram ’bout her reechy neck,
Clamb’ring the walls to eye him. Stalls, bulks,
windows
Are smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsed
With variable complexions, all agreeing
In earnestness to see him. Seld-shown flamens
Do press among the popular throngs and puff
To win a vulgar station. Our veiled dames
Commit the war of white and damask in
Their nicely-gauded cheeks to th’ wanton spoil
Of Phoebus’ burning kisses. Such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god who leads him
Were slyly crept into his human powers
And gave him graceful posture.
SICINIUS On the sudden
I warrant him consul.
BRUTUS Then our office may,
During his power, go sleep.
SICINIUS
He cannot temp’rately transport his honors
From where he should begin and end, but will
Lose those he hath won.
BRUTUS In that there’s comfort.

---

SICINIUS Doubt
not
The commoners, for whom we stand, but they
Upon their ancient malice will forget
With the least cause these his new honors—which
That he will give them make I as little question
As he is proud to do ’t.
BRUTUS I heard him swear,
Were he to stand for consul, never would he
Appear i’ th’ marketplace nor on him put
The napless vesture of humility,
Nor showing, as the manner is, his wounds
To th’ people, beg their stinking breaths.
SICINIUS ’Tis right.
BRUTUS
It was his word. O, he would miss it rather
Than carry it but 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 like he will.
SICINIUS
It shall be to him then as our good wills,
A sure destruction.
BRUTUS So it must fall out
To him, or our authority’s for an end.
We must suggest the people in what hatred
He still hath held them; that to ’s power he would
Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders, and
Dispropertied their freedoms; holding them
In human action and capacity
Of no more soul nor fitness for the world
Than camels in their war, who have their provand
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 touch the people—which time shall not want
If he be put upon ’t, and that’s as easy
As to set dogs on sheep—will be his fire
To kindle their dry stubble, and their blaze
Shall darken him forever.

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; matrons flung gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he passed; the nobles bended
As to Jove’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’ time,
But hearts for the event.
SICINIUS Have with you.
They exit.

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 of
everyone 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 hath 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, bonneted, without any further deed to
have them at all into their estimation and report;
but he hath so planted his honors 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’s a worthy man.
Make way. They are coming.

A sennet. Enter the Patricians and the Tribunes of the
people, Lictors before them; Coriolanus, Menenius,
Cominius the consul. The Patricians sit. Sicinius

---

93

Coriolanus

ACT 2. SC. 2

and Brutus take their places by themselves.
Coriolanus stands.

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 performed
By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom
We met here both to thank and to remember
With honors like himself. Coriolanus sits.
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. ( To the Tribunes. )
Masters o’ th’ 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 honor and advance
The theme of our assembly.
BRUTUS Which the rather
We shall be blest to do if he remember
A kinder value of the people than
He hath hereto prized 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 Honors, pardon.
I had rather have my wounds to heal again
Than hear say how I got them.
BRUTUS Sir, I hope
My words disbenched you not?
CORIOLANUS No, sir. Yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You soothed 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’ th’ sun
When the alarum were struck than idly sit
To hear my nothings monstered. Coriolanus exits.
MENENIUS Masters of 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 honor
Than one on ’s ears to hear it.—Proceed, Cominius.
COMINIUS
I shall lack voice. The deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be uttered feebly. It is held
That valor is the chiefest virtue and

---

Most dignifies the haver; if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpoised. 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’erpressed Roman and i’ th’ 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’ th’ field and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-entered thus, he waxèd like a sea,
And in the brunt of seventeen battles since
He lurched all swords of the garland. For this last,
Before and in Corioles, let me say,
I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyers
And by his rare example made the coward
Turn terror into sport. As weeds before
A vessel under sail, so men obeyed
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 entered
The mortal gate o’ th’ city, which he painted
With shunless destiny; aidless came off
And with a sudden reinforcement struck
Corioles 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
Requickened 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 called

---

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 honors
Which we devise him.
COMINIUS Our spoils he kicked 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 called for.
FIRST SENATOR Call Coriolanus.
OFFICER He doth appear.

Enter Coriolanus.

MENENIUS
The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased
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 , to Coriolanus Put them not to ’t.
Pray you, go fit you to the custom, and

---

Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honor with your form.
CORIOLANUS It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.
BRUTUS , to Sicinius Mark you that?
CORIOLANUS
To brag unto them “Thus I did, and thus!”
Show them th’ unaching scars, which I should hide,
As if I had received 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 honor.
SENATORS
To Coriolanus come all joy and honor!
Flourish cornets. Then they exit. Sicinius and
Brutus remain.
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 th’ marketplace
I know they do attend us.
They exit.

Enter seven or eight 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
abram, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely
colored; 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’ th’ 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 blockhead.
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.

Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility, with Menenius.

Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark
his behavior. 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 honor
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. Citizens exit.
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 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 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. He exits.
CORIOLANUS Bid them wash their faces
And keep their teeth clean.

---

Enter three of the Citizens.

So, here comes a brace.—
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 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 ’t, worthy sir.
CORIOLANUS A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy
voices begged. I have your alms. Adieu.
THIRD CITIZEN , to the other Citizens But this is something
odd.
SECOND CITIZEN An ’twere to give again—but ’tis no
matter. These citizens exit.

Enter two other 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.
FOURTH CITIZEN You have deserved nobly of your
country, and you have not deserved nobly.
CORIOLANUS Your enigma?

---

FOURTH 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 practice
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 bountiful
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 seal your knowledge with showing
them. I will make much of your voices and so
trouble you no farther.
BOTH The gods give you joy, sir, heartily.
Citizens exit.
CORIOLANUS Most sweet voices!
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here
To beg of Hob and Dick that does 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 heaped
For truth to o’erpeer. Rather than fool it so,
Let the high office and the honor go
To one that would do thus. I am half through;
The one part suffered, the other will I do.

---

Enter three Citizens more.

Here come more voices.—
Your voices! For your voices I have fought;
Watched 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.
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 Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul.
Citizens exit.
CORIOLANUS Worthy voices!

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 th’ official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the Senate.
CORIOLANUS Is this done?
SICINIUS
The custom of request you have discharged.
The people do admit you, and are summoned
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 th’ Senate House.
MENENIUS
I’ll keep you company.—Will you along?
BRUTUS
We stay here for the people.
SICINIUS Fare you well.
Coriolanus and Menenius exit.
He has it now; and by his looks, methinks,
’Tis warm at ’s heart.
BRUTUS With a proud heart he wore
His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?

Enter the Plebeians.

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 begged 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 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 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 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 lessoned? 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’ th’ body of the weal; and, now arriving
A place of potency and sway o’ th’ state,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to th’ 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-advised, had touched his spirit
And tried his inclination; from him plucked
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had called you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have galled his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article
Tying him to aught. So putting him to rage,

---

You should have ta’en th’ advantage of his choler
And passed 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 sued-for 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 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 therefor 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 scorned 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 labored,
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,
Preoccupied 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’ th’ Martians, from whence came
That Ancus Martius, 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, that was so surnamed,
And nobly namèd so, twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.
SICINIUS One thus descended,
That hath besides 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 fixèd 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 th’ Capitol.
ALL We will so. Almost all
Repent in their election. Plebeians exit.
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 th’ Capitol, come.
We will be there before the stream o’ th’ people,
And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.
They exit.

Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentry,
Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators.

CORIOLANUS
Tullus Aufidius then had made new head?
LARTIUS
He had, my lord, and that it was which caused
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 retired 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 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 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 passed the noble and the common?
BRUTUS
Cominius, no.
CORIOLANUS Have I had children’s voices?
FIRST SENATOR
Tribunes, give way. He shall to th’ marketplace.
BRUTUS
The people are incensed 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 purposed 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 ruled.
BRUTUS Call ’t not a plot.
The people cry you mocked them; and, of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repined,
Scandaled the suppliants for the people, called them
Timepleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.
CORIOLANUS
Why, this was known before.
BRUTUS Not to them all.
CORIOLANUS
Have you informed 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 abused, set on. This palt’ring
Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus
Deserved this so dishonored rub, laid falsely
I’ th’ 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 meiny, 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 plowed for, sowed, and
scattered
By mingling them with us, the honored 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’ th’ 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 here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory “shall,” being but
The horn and noise o’ th’ monster’s, 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 learned,
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 frowned 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 th’ other.
COMINIUS Well, on to th’ marketplace.
CORIOLANUS
Whoever gave that counsel to give forth
The corn o’ th’ storehouse gratis, as ’twas used
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 recompense, resting well assured
They ne’er did service for ’t. Being pressed to th’ war,
Even when the navel of the state was touched,
They would not thread the gates. This kind of
service
Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i’ th’ war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they showed
Most valor, spoke not for them. Th’ accusation
Which they have often made against the Senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied 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’ th’ 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 barred, 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 dishonor
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 th’ 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 th’ 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’ th’ dust.
BRUTUS Manifest treason.
SICINIUS This a consul? No.
BRUTUS The aediles, ho! Let him be apprehended.

Enter an Aedile.

SICINIUS
Go, call the people; Aedile exits. in whose name
myself
Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,
A foe to th’ public weal. Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer.
CORIOLANUS Hence, old goat.
ALL PATRICIANS
We’ll surety him.
COMINIUS , to Sicinius Agèd sir, hands off.
CORIOLANUS , to Sicinius
Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones
Out of thy garments.
SICINIUS Help, you citizens!

Enter a rabble of Plebeians 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 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!

---

ALL 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 th’ people!—Coriolanus, patience!—
Speak, good Sicinius.
SICINIUS Hear me, people! Peace!
ALL PLEBEIANS
Let’s hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak.
SICINIUS
You are at point to lose 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 PLEBEIANS True,
The people are the city.
BRUTUS
By the consent of all, we were established
The people’s magistrates.
ALL PLEBEIANS 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 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’ th’ people, in whose power

---

We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy
Of present death.
SICINIUS Therefore lay hold of him,
Bear him to th’ rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.
BRUTUS Aediles, seize him!
ALL PLEBEIANS
Yield, Martius, 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 friend,
And temp’rately 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 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 me.
MENENIUS
Down with that sword!—Tribunes, withdraw awhile.
BRUTUS
Lay hands upon him!
MENENIUS Help Martius, help!
You that be noble, help him, young and old!
ALL PLEBEIANS Down with him, down with him!

In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Aediles, and the People
are beat in.

MENENIUS , to Coriolanus
Go, get you to your house. Begone, away.
All will be naught 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 prithee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause.
MENENIUS For ’tis a sore upon us
You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you.
COMINIUS Come, sir, along with us.
CORIOLANUS
I would they were barbarians, as they are,
Though in Rome littered; not Romans, as they are
not,
Though calved i’ th’ porch o’ th’ Capitol.
MENENIUS Begone!
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’ th’ best of them, yea, the two
tribunes.
COMINIUS
But now ’tis odds beyond arithmetic,
And manhood is called foolery when it stands
Against a falling fabric. To Coriolanus. Will you
hence,
Before the tag return, whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters and o’erbear
What they are used to bear?
MENENIUS , to Coriolanus Pray you, begone.
I’ll try whether my old wit be in request
With those that have but little. This must be patched
With cloth of any color.

---

COMINIUS Nay, come away.
Coriolanus and Cominius exit.
PATRICIAN This man has marred 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.
PATRICIAN I would they were abed!
MENENIUS
I would they were in Tiber. What the vengeance,
Could he not speak ’em fair?

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 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 naught.
FIRST CITIZEN He shall well know
The noble tribunes are the people’s mouths
And we their hands.
ALL PLEBEIANS 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?
ALL PLEBEIANS 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 tonight.
MENENIUS Now the good gods forbid
That our renownèd Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deservèd children is enrolled
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 dropped 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 th’ end o’ th’ world.
SICINIUS This is clean cam.
BRUTUS
Merely awry. When he did love his country,
It honored him.
SICINIUS 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 unscanned swiftness, will too late
Tie leaden pounds to ’s heels. Proceed by process,
Lest parties—as he is beloved—break out
And sack great Rome with Romans.
BRUTUS If it were so—
SICINIUS What do you talk?
Have we not had a taste of his obedience?
Our aediles smote! Ourselves resisted! Come.
MENENIUS
Consider this: he has been bred i’ th’ wars
Since he could draw a sword, and is ill schooled
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 marketplace. To Menenius. We’ll
attend you there,
Where if you bring not Martius, we’ll proceed
In our first way.
MENENIUS I’ll bring him to you.
To Senators. Let me desire your company. He must
come,
Or what is worst will follow.
FIRST SENATOR Pray you, let’s to him.
All exit.