Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

Dramatis Personae

CAIUS MARCIUS, afterwards CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS

Generals against the Volscians

TITUS LARTIUS

COMINIUS

MENENIUS AGRIPPA, friend to Coriolanus

Tribunes of the People

SICINIUS VELUTUS

JUNIUS BRUTUS

YOUNG MARCIUS, son to Coriolanus

A ROMAN HERALD

NICANOR, a Roman

TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volscians

LIEUTENANT, to Aufidius

CONSPIRATORS, With Aufidius

ADRIAN, a Volscian

A CITIZEN of Antium

TWO VOLSCIAN GUARDS

VOLUMNIA, mother to Coriolanus

VIRGILIA, wife to Coriolanus

VALERIA, friend to Virgilia

GENTLEWOMAN attending on Virgilia

Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Aediles, Lictors,

Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to Aufidius, and

other

Attendants

SCENE: Rome and the neighbourhood; Corioli and the neighbourhood; Antium

ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. A street

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 resolv'd rather to die than tofamish?  ALL. Resolv'd, resolv'd.  FIRST CITIZEN. First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy tothe    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 patriciansgood.    What authority surfeits on would relieve us; if they wouldyield    us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we mightguess    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 isa    gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes ere webecome    rakes; for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread,not in    thirst for revenge.  SECOND CITIZEN. Would you proceed especially against CaiusMarcius?  FIRST CITIZEN. 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 hedid it    to that end; though soft-conscienc'd men can be content tosay 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 hisvirtue.  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 ofaccusations;    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.  FIRST CITIZEN. Soft! who comes here?

Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA

  SECOND CITIZEN. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath alwayslov'd    the people.  FIRST CITIZEN. He's one honest enough; would all the rest wereso!  MENENIUS. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you    With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you.  FIRST CITIZEN. Our business is not unknown to th' Senate; theyhave    had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which nowwe'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 honestneighbours,    Will you undo yourselves?  FIRST 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.  FIRST CITIZEN. Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er car'd forus    yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses cramm'd with    grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repealdaily    any wholesome act established against the rich, and providemore    piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. Ifthe    wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love theybear    us.  MENENIUS. Either you must    Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,    Or be accus'd 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.  FIRST CITIZEN. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not thinkto    fob off our disgrace with a tale. But, an't please you,deliver.  MENENIUS. There was a time when all the body's members    Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd 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 labour 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 answer'd-  FIRST 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.  FIRST CITIZEN. Your belly's answer- What?    The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eye,    The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,    Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,    With other muniments and petty helps    Is this our fabric, if that they-  MENENIUS. What then?    Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? What then?  FIRST CITIZEN. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,    Who is the sink o' th' body-  MENENIUS. Well, what then?  FIRST 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.  FIRST CITIZEN. Y'are 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.  FIRST 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?  FIRST 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?  FIRST 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 MARCIUS

    Hail, noble Marcius!  MARCIUS. Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues    That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,    Make yourselves scabs?  FIRST CITIZEN. We have ever your good word.  MARCIUS. 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 offence 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 favours swims with fins of lead,    And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye?    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 stor'd.  MARCIUS. 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 quarter'd 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?  MARCIUS. They are dissolv'd. Hang 'em!    They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd 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 answer'd,    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?  MARCIUS. 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 unroof'd the city    Ere so prevail'd with me; it will in time    Win upon power and throw forth greater themes    For insurrection's arguing.  MENENIUS. This is strange.  MARCIUS. Go get you home, you fragments.

Enter a MESSENGER, hastily

  MESSENGER. Where's Caius Marcius?  MARCIUS. Here. What's the matter?  MESSENGER. The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.  MARCIUS. I am glad on't; then we shall ha' means to vent    Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with other SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS  FIRST SENATOR. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us:    The Volsces are in arms.  MARCIUS. 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?  MARCIUS. 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 Marcius,    Attend upon Cominius to these wars.  COMINIUS. It is your former promise.  MARCIUS. 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 Marcius;    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 MARCIUS] Follow Cominius; we must follow you;    Right worthy your priority.  COMINIUS. Noble Marcius!  FIRST SENATOR. [To the Citizens] Hence to your homes; begone.  MARCIUS. Nay, let them follow.    The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither    To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutineers,    Your valour puts well forth; pray follow.         Ciitzens steal away. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS  SICINIUS. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?  BRUTUS. He has no equal.  SICINIUS. When we were chosen tribunes for the people-  BRUTUS. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?  SICINIUS. Nay, but his taunts!  BRUTUS. Being mov'd, 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 is well grac'd- cannot    Better be held nor more attain'd 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 Marcius 'O, if he    Had borne the business!'  SICINIUS. Besides, if things go well,    Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall    Of his demerits rob Cominius.  BRUTUS. Come.    Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,    Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults    To Marcius shall be honours, 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. Exeunt

SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with SENATORS of Corioli

  FIRST SENATOR. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,    That they of Rome are ent'red in our counsels    And know how we proceed.  AUFIDIUS. Is it not yours?    What ever 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:    [Reads] 'They have press'd a power, but it is not known    Whether for east or west. The dearth is great;    The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd,    Cominius, Marcius 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 pretences veil'd till when    They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,    It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery    We shall be short'ned 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 Corioli.    If they set down before's, for the remove    Bring up your army; but I think you'll find    Th' have not prepar'd 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 honours.    If we and Caius Marcius 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 honours safe!  FIRST SENATOR. Farewell.  SECOND SENATOR. Farewell.  ALL. Farewell. Exeunt

SCENE III. Rome. MARCIUS' house

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA, mother and wife to MARCIUS; they set them down on two low stools and sew

  VOLUMNIA. I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in amore    comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I shouldfreelier    rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the    embracements of his bed where he would show most love. Whenyet    he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; whenyouth    with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of    kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour fromher    beholding; I, considering how honour would become such aperson-    that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall,if    renown made it not stir- was pleas'd to let him seek dangerwhere    he was to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whencehe    return'd his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I    sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-childthan    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; Itherein    would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I adozen    sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thineand my    good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for theircountry    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 mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes,    Like to a harvest-man that's task'd 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, look'd not lovelier    Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood    At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria    We are fit to bid her welcome. Exit GENTLEWOMAN  VIRGILIA. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!  VOLUMNIA. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee    And tread upon his neck.

Re-enter GENTLEWOMAN, With VALERIA and an usher

  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. Whatare    you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does yourlittle    son?  VIRGILIA. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.  VOLUMNIA. He had rather see the swords and hear a drum thanlook    upon his schoolmaster.  VALERIA. O' my word, the father's son! I'll swear 'tis a very    pretty boy. O' my troth, I look'd upon him a Wednesday halfan    hour together; has such a confirm'd countenance! I saw himrun    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, catch'd it again; or whether his fall enrag'd him, orhow    'twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it. O, I warrant, howhe    mammock'd 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 playthe    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 thethreshold    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 withmy    prayers; but I cannot go thither.  VOLUMNIA. Why, I pray you?  VIRGILIA. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.  VALERIA. You would be another Penelope; yet they say all theyarn    she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full ofmoths.    Come, I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, thatyou    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 excellentnews    of your husband.  VIRGILIA. O, good madam, there can be none yet.  VALERIA. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news fromhim    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 lordand    Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they    nothing doubt prevailing and to make it brief wars. This istrue,    on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.  VIRGILIA. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you ineverything    hereafter.  VOLUMNIA. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will butdisease    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 youmuch    mirth.  VALERIA. Well then, farewell. Exeunt

SCENE IV. Before Corioli

Enter MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with drum and colours, with CAPTAINS and soldiers. To them a MESSENGER

  MARCIUS. Yonder comes news; a wager- they have met.  LARTIUS. My horse to yours- no.  MARCIUS. 'Tis done.  LARTIUS. Agreed.  MARCIUS. 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.  MARCIUS. 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.  MARCIUS. How far off lie these armies?  MESSENGER. Within this mile and half.  MARCIUS. 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 Corioli    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, ourdrums    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 pinn'd with rushes;    They'll open of themselves. [Alarum far off] Hark you faroff!    There is Aufidius. List what work he makes    Amongst your cloven army.  MARCIUS. O, they are at it!  LARTIUS. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

Enter the army of the Volsces

  MARCIUS. 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 trenchesRe-enter MARCIUS, cursing  MARCIUS. 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 abhorr'd    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 me.Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates    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.

[MARCIUS enters the gates]