The Tragedy of Coriolanus

ACT V

SCENE I. Rome. A public place

[Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS and BRUTUS, and others.]

MENENIUSNo, I'll not go: you hear what he hath saidWhich was sometime his general; who lov'd himIn a most dear particular. He call'd me father:But what o' that? Go, you that banish'd him;A mile before his tent fall down, and kneeThe way into his mercy: nay, if he coy'dTo hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.COMINIUSHe would not seem to know me.MENENIUSDo you hear?COMINIUSYet one time he did call me by my name:I urged our old acquaintance, and the dropsThat we have bled together. CoriolanusHe would not answer to: forbad all names;He was a kind of nothing, titleless,Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fireOf burning Rome.MENENIUSWhy, so! – you have made good work!A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome,To make coals cheap, – a noble memory!COMINIUSI minded him how royal 'twas to pardonWhen it was less expected: he replied,It was a bare petition of a stateTo one whom they had punish'd.MENENIUSVery well:Could he say less?COMINIUSI offer'd to awaken his regardFor's private friends: his answer to me was,He could not stay to pick them in a pileOf noisome musty chaff: he said 'twas folly,For one poor grain or two, to leave unburntAnd still to nose the offence.MENENIUSFor one poor grainOr 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 smeltAbove the moon: we must be burnt for you.SICINIUSNay, pray be patient: if you refuse your aidIn this so never-needed help, yet do notUpbraid's with our distress. But, sure, if youWould be your country's pleader, your good tongue,More than the instant army we can make,Might stop our countryman.MENENIUSNo; I'll not meddle.SICINIUSPray you, go to him.MENENIUSWhat should I do?BRUTUSOnly make trial what your love can doFor Rome, towards Marcius.MENENIUSWell, and say that MarciusReturn me, as Cominius is return'd,Unheard; what then?But as a discontented friend, grief-shotWith his unkindness? Say't be so?SICINIUSYet your good-willMust have that thanks from Rome, after the measureAs you intended well.MENENIUSI'll undertake't;I think he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lipAnd hum at good Cominius much unhearts me.He was not taken well: he had not din'd;The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and thenWe pout upon the morning, are unaptTo give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'dThese pipes and these conveyances of our bloodWith wine and feeding, we have suppler soulsThan in our priest-like fasts. Therefore I'll watch himTill he be dieted to my request,And then I'll set upon him.BRUTUSYou know the very road into his kindnessAnd cannot lose your way.MENENIUSGood faith, I'll prove him,Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledgeOf my success.

[Exit.]

COMINIUSHe'll never hear him.SICINIUSNot?COMINIUSI tell you he does sit in gold, his eyeRed as 'twould burn Rome: and his injuryThe gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him;'Twas very faintly he said 'Rise'; dismissed meThus, with his speechless hand: what 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 himFor mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence,And with our fair entreaties haste them on.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. An Advanced post of the Volscian camp before Rome. The Guards at their station

[Enter to them MENENIUS.]

FIRST GUARDStay: whence are you?SECOND GUARDStand, and go back.MENENIUSYou guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave,I am an officer of state, and comeTo speak with Coriolanus.FIRST GUARDFrom whence?MENENIUSFrom Rome.FIRST GUARDYou may not pass; you must return: our generalWill no more hear from thence.SECOND GUARDYou'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire beforeYou'll speak with Coriolanus.MENENIUSGood my friends,If you have heard your general talk of RomeAnd of his friends there, it is lots to blanksMy name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius.FIRST GUARDBe it so; go back: the virtue of your nameIs not here passable.MENENIUSI tell thee, fellow,Thy general is my lover: I have beenThe book of his good acts, whence men have readHis fame unparallel'd, haply amplified;For I have ever verified my friends, —Of whom he's chief, – with all the size that verityWould without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,I have tumbled past the throw: and in his praiseHave almost stamp'd the leasing: therefore, fellow,I must have leave to pass.FIRST GUARD. 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 chastely. Therefore, go back.MENENIUS. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.SECOND GUARD. Howsoever you have been his liar, – as you say you have, I am one that, telling true under 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 GUARDYou are a Roman, are you?MENENIUSI am as thy general is.FIRST GUARD. 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 ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant 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 of reprieve and pardon.MENENIUS. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here he would use me with estimation.SECOND GUARDCome, my captain knows you not.MENENIUSI mean thy general.FIRST GUARD. My general cares not for you. Back, I say; go, lest I let forth your half pint of blood; – back; that's the utmost of your having: – back.MENENIUSNay, but fellow, fellow, —

[Enter CORIOLANUS with AUFIDIUS.]

CORIOLANUSWhat's the matter?MENENIUS. Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you; you shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall perceive that a jack guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus: guess but by my entertainment with him if thou standest not i' the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship and crueller in suffering; behold now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee. – The glorious gods sit in hourly synod 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 water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee.CORIOLANUSAway!MENENIUSHow! away!CORIOLANUSWife, mother, child, I know not. My affairsAre servanted to others: though I oweMy revenge properly, my remission liesIn Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, ratherThan pity note how much. – Therefore be gone.Mine ears against your suits are stronger thanYour gates against my force. Yet, for I lov'd thee,Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

[Gives 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!AUFIDIUSYou keep a constant temper.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS.]

FIRST GUARDNow, sir, is your name Menenius?SECOND GUARD. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the way home again.FIRST GUARDDo you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back?SECOND GUARDWhat cause, do you think, I have to swoon?MENENIUS. I neither care for the world nor your general; for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, y'are so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not from another. Let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and your misery increase with your age! I say to you, as I was said to, away!

[Exit.]

FIRST GUARDA noble fellow, I warrant him.SECOND GUARD. The worthy fellow is our general: he is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III. The tent of CORIOLANUS

[Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, and others.]

CORIOLANUSWe will before the walls of Rome to-morrowSet down our host. – My partner in this action,You must report to the Volscian lords how plainlyI have borne this business.AUFIDIUSOnly their endsYou have respected; stopped your ears againstThe general suit of Rome; never admittedA private whisper, no, not with such friendsThat thought them sure of you.CORIOLANUSThis last old man,Whom with crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,Lov'd me above the measure of a father;Nay, godded me indeed. Their latest refugeWas to send him; for whose old love I have, —Though I show'd sourly to him, – once more offer'dThe first conditions, which they did refuse,And cannot now accept, to grace him only,That thought he could do more, a very littleI have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits,Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafterWill I lend ear to. —

[Shout within.]

Ha! what shout is this?Shall I be tempted to infringe my vowIn the same time 'tis made? I will not.

[Enter, in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, leading YOUNG MARCIUS, VALERIA, and attendants.]

My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mouldWherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her handThe grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection!All bond and privilege of nature, break!Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. —What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes,Which can make gods forsworn? – I melt, and am notOf stronger earth than others. – My mother bows,As if Olympus to a molehill shouldIn supplication nod: and my young boyHath an aspect of intercession whichGreat nature cries "Deny not.' – Let the VolscesPlough Rome and harrow Italy: I'll neverBe such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand,As if a man were author of himself,And knew no other kin.VIRGILIAMy lord and husband!CORIOLANUSThese eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.VIRGILIAThe sorrow that delivers us thus chang'dMakes you think so.CORIOLANUSLike a dull actor now,I have forgot my part and I am out,Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,For that, 'Forgive our Romans.' – O, a kissLong as my exile, sweet as my revenge;Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kissI carried from thee, dear; and my true lipHath virgin'd it e'er since. – You gods! I prate,And the most noble mother of the worldLeave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i' the earth;

[Kneels.]

Of thy deep duty more impression showThan that of common sons.VOLUMNIAO, stand up bless'd!Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,I kneel before thee; and unproperlyShow duty, as mistaken all this whileBetween the child and parent.

[Kneels.]

CORIOLANUSWhat is this?Your knees to me? to your corrected son?Then let the pebbles on the hungry beachFillip the stars; then let the mutinous windsStrike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun,;Murdering impossibility, to makeWhat cannot be, slight work.VOLUMNIAThou art my warrior;I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?CORIOLANUSThe noble sister of Publicola,The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicleThat's curded by the frost from purest snow,And hangs on Dian's temple: – dear Valeria!VOLUMNIAThis is a poor epitome of yours,Which, by the interpretation of full time,May show like all yourself.CORIOLANUSThe god of soldiers,With the consent of supreme Jove, informThy thoughts with nobleness; that thou mayst proveTo shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the warsLike a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,And saving those that eye thee!VOLUMNIAYour knee, sirrah.CORIOLANUSThat's my brave boy.VOLUMNIAEven he, your wife, this lady, and myself,Are suitors to you.CORIOLANUSI beseech you, peace:Or, if you'd ask, remember this before, —The thing I have forsworn to grant may neverBe held by you denials. Do not bid meDismiss my soldiers, or capitulateAgain with Rome's mechanics. – Tell me notWherein I seem unnatural: desire notTo allay my rages and revenges withYour colder reasons.VOLUMNIAO, no more, no more!You have said you will not grant us anything;For we have nothing else to ask but thatWhich you deny already: yet we will ask;That, if you fail in our request, the blameMay hang upon your hardness; therefore hear us.CORIOLANUSAufidius, and you Volsces, mark: for we'llHear nought from Rome in private. – Your request?VOLUMNIAShould we be silent and not speak, our raimentAnd state of bodies would bewray what lifeWe have led since thy exile. Think with thyself,How more unfortunate than all living womenAre we come hither: since that thy sight, which shouldMake our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts,Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow;Making the mother, wife, and child, to seeThe son, the husband, and the father, tearingHis country's bowels out. And to poor we,Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st usOur prayers to the gods, which is a comfortThat all but we enjoy; for how can we,Alas, how can we for our country pray,Whereto we are bound, – together with thy victory,Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must loseThe country, our dear nurse, or else thy person,Our comfort in the country. We must findAn evident calamity, though we hadOur wish, which side should win; for either thouMust, as a foreign recreant, be ledWith manacles through our streets, or elseTriumphantly tread on thy country's ruin,And bear the palm for having bravely shedThy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,I purpose not to wait on fortune tillThese wars determine: if I can not persuade theeRather to show a noble grace to both partsThan seek the end of one, thou shalt no soonerMarch to assault thy country than to tread, —Trust to't, thou shalt not, – on thy mother's wombThat brought thee to this world.VIRGILIAAy, and mine,That brought you forth this boy, to keep your nameLiving to time.BOY'A shall not tread on me;I'll run away till I am bigger; but then I'll fight.CORIOLANUSNot of a woman's tenderness to be,Requires nor child nor woman's face to see.I have sat too long.

[Rising.]

VOLUMNIANay, go not from us thus.If it were so that our request did tendTo save the Romans, thereby to destroyThe Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us,As poisonous of your honour: no; our suitIs that you reconcile them: while the VolscesMay say 'This mercy we have show'd,' the Romans'This we receiv'd,' and each in either sideGive the all-hail to thee, and cry, 'Be bless'dFor making up this peace!' Thou know'st, great son,The end of war's uncertain; but this certain,That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefitWhich thou shalt thereby reap is such a nameWhose repetition will be dogg'd with curses;Whose chronicle thus writ: – 'The man was noble,But with his last attempt he wip'd it out;Destroy'd his country, and his name remainsTo the ensuing age abhorr'd.' Speak to me, son:Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour,To imitate the graces of the gods,To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air,And yet to charge thy sulphur with a boltThat should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?Think'st thou it honourable for a noble manStill to remember wrongs? – Daughter, speak you:He cares not for your weeping. – Speak thou, boy:Perhaps thy childishness will move him moreThan can our reasons. – There's no man in the worldMore bound to's mother; yet here he lets me prateLike one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy lifeShow'd thy dear mother any courtesy;When she, – poor hen, – fond of no second brood,Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home,Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust,And spurn me back: but if it be not so,Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee,That thou restrain'st from me the duty whichTo a mother's part belongs. – He turns away:Down, ladies: let us shame him with our knees.To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more prideThan pity to our prayers. Down: an end;This is the last. – So we will home to Rome,And die among our neighbours. – Nay, behold's:This boy, that cannot tell what he would haveBut kneels and holds up hands for fellowship,Does reason our petition with more strengthThan thou hast to deny't. – Come, let us go:This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;His wife is in Corioli, and his childLike him by chance. – Yet give us our despatch:I am hush'd until our city be afire,And then I'll speak a little.CORIOLANUS

[After holding VOLUMNIA by the hands, in silence.]

O mother, mother!What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,The gods look down, and this unnatural sceneThey laugh at. O my mother, mother! O!You have won a happy victory to Rome;But for your son, – believe it, O, believe it,Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,If not most mortal to him. But let it come. —Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,Were you in my stead, would you have heardA mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?AUFIDIUSI was mov'd withal.CORIOLANUSI dare be sworn you were:And, sir, it is no little thing to makeMine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and, pray youStand to me in this cause. – O mother! wife!AUFIDIUS

[Aside.] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour

At difference in thee; out of that I'll workMyself a former fortune.

[The Ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS.]

CORIOLANUS

[To VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, &c.] Ay, by and by;

But we'll drink together; and you shall bearA better witness back than words, which we,On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd.Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserveTo have a temple built you: all the swordsIn Italy, and her confederate arms,Could not have made this peace.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE IV. Rome. A public place

[Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS.]

MENENIUSSee you yond coign o' the Capitol, – yond corner-stone?SICINIUSWhy, what of that?MENENIUS. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution.SICINIUS. Is't possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man?MENENIUS. There is differency between a grub and a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon; he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing.SICINIUSHe loved his mother dearly.MENENIUS. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with his eye, talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity, and a heaven to throne in.SICINIUSYes, mercy, if you report him truly.MENENIUS. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him. There is no more mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you.SICINIUSThe gods be good unto us!MENENIUS. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him we respected not them; and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

[Enter a MESSENGER

MESSENGERSir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house:The plebeians have got your fellow-tribuneAnd hale him up and down; all swearing, ifThe Roman ladies bring not comfort homeThey'll give him death by inches.

[Enter a second MESSENGER.]

SICINIUSWhat's the news?SECOND MESSENGERGood news, good news; – the ladies have prevail'd,The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone:A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.SICINIUSFriend,Art thou certain this is true? is't most certain?SECOND MESSENGERAs certain as I know the sun is fire:Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tideAs the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!

[Trumpets and hautboys sounded, drums beaten, aand shouting within.]

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,Make the sun dance. Hark you!

[Shouting within.]

MENENIUSThis is good news.I will go meet the ladies. This VolumniaIs worth of consuls, senators, patricians,A city full: of tribunes such as you,A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:This morning for ten thousand of your throatsIed not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

[Shouting and music.]

SICINIUSFirst, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,Accept my thankfulness.SECOND MESSENGERSir, we have allGreat cause to give great thanks.SICINIUSThey are near the city?MESSENGERAlmost at point to enter.SICINIUSWe'll meet them,And help the joy.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE V. Rome. A street near the gate

[Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, VALERIA, &c., accompanied by Senators,

Patricians, and Citizens.]FIRST SENATORBehold our patroness, the life of Rome!Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them:Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius,Repeal him with the welcome of his mother;Cry, 'Welcome, ladies, welcome!' —ALLWelcome, ladies,Welcome!

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VI. Antium. A public place

[Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with attendants.]

AUFIDIUSGo tell the lords o' the city I am here:Deliver them this paper; having read it,Bid them repair to the market-place: where I,Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuseThe city ports by this hath enter'd andIntends t' appear before the people, hopingTo purge himself with words: despatch.

[Exeunt attendants.]

[Enter three or four CONSPIRATORS of AUFIDIUS' faction.]

Most welcome!FIRST CONSPIRATORHow is it with our general?AUFIDIUSEven soAs with a man by his own alms empoison'd,And with his charity slain.SECOND CONSPIRATORMost noble sir,If you do hold the same intent whereinYou wish'd us parties, we'll deliver youOf your great danger.AUFIDIUSSir, I cannot tell:We must proceed as we do find the people.THIRD CONSPIRATORThe people will remain uncertain whilst'Twixt you there's difference: but the fall of eitherMakes the survivor heir of all.AUFIDIUSI know it;And my pretext to strike at him admitsA good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'dMine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,Seducing so my friends; and to this endHe bow'd his nature, never known beforeBut to be rough, unswayable, and free.THIRD CONSPIRATORSir, his stoutnessWhen he did stand for consul, which he lostBy lack of stooping, —AUFIDIUSThat I would have spoken of:Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth;Presented to my knife his throat: I took him;Made him joint-servant with me; gave him wayIn all his own desires; nay, let him chooseOut of my files, his projects to accomplish,My best and freshest men; serv'd his designmentsIn mine own person; holp to reap the fameWhich he made all his; and took some prideTo do myself this wrong: till, at the last,I seem'd his follower, not partner; andHe wag'd me with his countenance as ifI had been mercenary.FIRST CONSPIRATORSo he did, my lord:The army marvell'd at it; and, in the last,When he had carried Rome, and that we look'dFor no less spoil than glory, —AUFIDIUSThere was it; —For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.At a few drops of women's rheum, which areAs cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labourOf our great action: therefore shall he die,And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

[Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of the people.]

FIRST CONSPIRATORYour native town you enter'd like a post,And had no welcomes home; but he returnsSplitting the air with noise.SECOND CONSPIRATORAnd patient fools,Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tearWith giving him glory.THIRD CONSPIRATORTherefore, at your vantage,Ere he express himself or move the peopleWith what he would say, let him feel your sword,Which we will second. When he lies along,After your way his tale pronounc'd shall buryHis reasons with his body.AUFIDIUSSay no more:Here come the lords.

[Enter the LORDS of the city.]