Coriolanus (1924) Yale/Text/Act IV
ACT FOURTH
Scene One
[Rome. Before a Gate of the City]
Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, with the young Nobility of Rome.
Cor. Come, leave your tears: a brief farewell: the beast
With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother,
Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say extremity was the trier of spirits; 4
That common chances common men could bear;
That when the sea was calm all boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows,
When most struck home,—being gentle, wounded, craves 8
A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.
Vir. O heavens! O heavens!
Cor. Nay, I prithee, woman,— 12
Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome,
And occupations perish!
Cor. What, what, what!
I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say, 16
If you had been the wife of Hercules,
Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat. Cominius,
Droop not; adieu. Farewell, my wife! my mother! 20
I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes. My sometime general,
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld 24
Heart-hardening spectacles; tell these sad women
'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes
As 'tis to laugh at em. My mother, you wot well
My hazards still have been your solace; and 28
Believe 't not lightly—though I go alone
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen
Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen,—your son
Will or exceed the common or be caught 32
With cautelous baits and practice.
Vol. My first son,
Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee awhile: determine on some course,
More than a wild exposture to each chance 36
That starts i' the way before thee.
Cor. O the gods!
Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee
Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us,
And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth 40
A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vast world to seek a single man,
And lose advantage, which doth ever cool
I' the absence of the needer.
Cor. Fare ye well: 44
Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one
That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and 48
My friends of noble touch, when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me aught 52
But what is like me formerly.
Men. That's worthily
As any ear can hear. Come, let's not weep.
If I could shake off but one seven years
From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, 56
I'd with thee every foot.
Cor. Give me thy hand:
Come. Exeunt.
Scene Two
[The Same. A Street near the Gate]
Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus, with the Ædile.
Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.
The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
In his behalf.
Bru. Now we have shown our power,
Let us seem humbler after it is done 4
Than when it was a-doing.
Sic. Bid them home;
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.
Bru. Dismiss them home.
[Exit Ædile.]
Here comes his mother.
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.
Sic. Let's not meet her.
Bru. Why? 8
Sic. They say she's mad.
Bru. They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.
Vol. O! y' are well met. The hoarded plague o' the gods
Requite your love!
Men. Peace, peace! be not so loud. 12
Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,—
Nay, and you shall hear some. [To Brutus.] Will you be gone?
Vir. [To Sicinius.] You shall stay too. I would I had the power
To say so to my husband.
Sic. Are you mankind? 16
Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that strook more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words?
Sic. O blessed heavens! 20
Vol. More noble blows than ever thou wise words;
And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; yet go:
Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, 24
His good sword in his hand.
Sic. What then?
Vir. What then!
He'd make an end of thy posterity.
Vol. Bastards and all.
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! 28
Men. Come, come: peace!
Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
Bru. I would he had. 32
Vol. 'I would he had!' 'Twas you incens'd the rabble:
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.
Bru. Pray, let's go. 36
Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son,— 40
This lady's husband here, this, do you see,—
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic. Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
Exeunt Tribunes.
Vol. Take my prayers with you. 44
I would the gods had nothing else to do
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to 't.
Men. You have told them home, 48
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go.
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do, 52
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Exeunt [Volumnia and Virgilia].
Men. Fie, fie, fie! Exit.
Scene Three
[A Highway between Rome and Antium]
Enter a Roman and a Volsce.
Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me:
your name I think is Adrian.
Vols. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.
Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as 4
you are, against 'em: know you me yet?
Vols. Nicanor? No.
Rom. The same, sir.
Vols. You had more beard, when I last saw 8
you; but your favour is well appeared by your
tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a
note from the Volscian state to find you out there:
you have well saved me a day's journey. 12
Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insur-
rections: the people against the senators, patri-
cians, and nobles.
Vols. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state 16
thinks not so; they are in a most warlike prepara-
tion, and hope to come upon them in the heat of
their division.
Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 20
thing would make it flame again. For the nobles
receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy
Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness to
take all power from the people and to pluck 24
from them their tribunes for ever. This lies
glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for
the violent breaking out.
Vols. Coriolanus banished!
Rom. Banished, sir.
Vols. You will be welcome with this intelli-
gence, Nicanor.
Rom. The day serves well for them now. I 32
have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a
man's wife is when she's fallen out with her
husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will
appear well in these wars, his great opposer, 36
Coriolanus, being now in no request of his
country.
Vols. He cannot choose. I am most for-
tunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: you 40
have ended my business, and I will merrily
accompany you home.
Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell
you most strange things from Rome; all tending 44
to the good of their adversaries. Have you an
army ready, say you?
Vols. A most royal one: the centurions and
their charges distinctly billeted, already in th' 48
entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's
warning.
Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness,
and am the man, I think, that shall set them in 52
present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and
most glad of your company.
Vols. You take my part from me, sir; I have
the most cause to be glad of yours. 56
Rom. Well, let us go together. Exeunt.
Scene Four
[Antium. Before Aufidius' House]
Enter Coriolanus, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.
Cor. A goodly city is this Antium. City,
'Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir
Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars
Have I heard groan and drop: then, know me not, 4
Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones
In puny battle slay me.
Enter a Citizen.
Save you, sir.
Cit. And you.
Cor. Direct me, if it be your will,
Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium? 8
Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state
At his house this night.
Cor. Which is his house, beseech you?
Cit. This, here before you.
Cor. Thank you, sir. Farewell.
Exit Citizen.
O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, 12
Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,
Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise,
Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love
Unseparable, shall within this hour, 16
On a dissension of a doit, break out
To bitterest enmity: so, fellest foes,
Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep
To take the one the other, by some chance, 20
Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends
And interjoin their issues. So with me:
My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon
This enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me, 24
He does fair justice; if he give me way,
I'll do his country service. Exit.
Scene Five
[The Same. A Hall in Aufidius' House]
Music plays. Enter a Servingman.
1. Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is
here! I think our fellows are asleep. [Exit.]
Enter another Servingman.
2. Serv. Where's Cotus? my master calls for
him. Cotus! 4 Exit.
Enter Coriolanus.
Cor. A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I
Appear not like a guest.
Enter the First Servingman.
1. Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence
are you? Here's no place for you: pray, go to 8
the door. Exit.
Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment,
In being Coriolanus.
Enter Second Servant.
2. Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter 12
his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to
such companions? Pray, get you out.
Cor. Away!
2. Serv. 'Away!' Get you away. 16
Cor. Now, th' art troublesome.
2. Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked
with anon.
Enter Third Servingman. The first meets him.
3. Serv. What fellow's this? 20
1. Serv. A strange one as ever I looked on: I
cannot get him out o' the house: prithee, call my
master to him.
3. Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? 24
Pray you, avoid the house.
Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your
hearth.
3. Serv. What are you? 28
Cor. A gentleman.
3. Serv. A marvellous poor one.
Cor. True, so I am.
3. Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up 32
some other station; here's no place for you; pray
you, avoid: come.
Cor. Follow your function; go, and batten on
cold bits. 36 Pushes him away from him.
3. Serv. What, you will not? Prithee, tell
my master what a strange guest he has here.
2. Serv. And I shall. Exit Second Servingman.
3. Serv. Where dwell'st thou? 40
Cor. Under the canopy.
3. Serv. 'Under the canopy!'
Cor. Ay.
3. Serv. Where's that? 44
Cor. I' the city of kites and crows.
3. Serv. 'I' the city of kites and crows!' What
an ass it is! Then thou dwell'st with daws
too? 48
Cor. No; I serve not thy master.
3. Serv. How sir! Do you meddle with my
master?
Cor. Ay; 'tis an honester service than to 52
meddle with thy mistress.
Thou prat'st, and prat'st: serve with thy trencher.
Hence. Beats him away.
Enter Aufidius with the [Second] Servingman.
Auf. Where is this fellow?
2. Serv. Here, sir: I'd have beaten him like a 56
dog, but for disturbing the lords within.
Auf. Whence com'st thou? what wouldst thou? Thy name?
Why speak'st not? Speak, man: what's thy name?
Cor. [Unmuffling.] If, Tullus, 60
Not yet thou know'st me, and, seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.
Auf. What is thy name?
Cor. A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears, 64
And harsh in sound to thine.
Auf. Say, what's thy name?
Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in 't; though thy tackle's torn,
Thou show'st a noble vessel. What's thy name? 68
Cor. Prepare thy brow to frown. Know'st thou me yet?
Auf. I know thee not. Thy name?
Cor. My name is Caius Martius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volsces, 72
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname, Coriolanus: the painful service,
The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country are requited 76
But with that surname; a good memory
And witness of the malice and displeasure
Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains;
The cruelty and envy of the people, 80
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest;
And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be
Whoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity 84
Hath brought me to thy hearth; not out of hope,—
Mistake me not,—to save my life; for if
I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world
I would have 'voided thee; but in mere spite, 88
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that will revenge
Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims 92
Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight,
And make my misery serve thy turn: so use it,
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits to thee, for I will fight 96
Against my canker'd country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But if so be
Thou dar'st not this, and that to prove more fortunes
Th' art tir'd, then, in a word, I also am 100
Longer to live most weary, and present
My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice;
Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,
Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate, 104
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast,
And cannot live but to thy shame, unless
It be to do thee service.
Auf. O Martius, Martius!
Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart 108
A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Should from yond cloud speak divine things,
And say, ''Tis true,' I'd not believe them more
Than thee, all noble Martius. Let me twine 112
Mine arms about that body, where against
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke,
And scarr'd the moon with splinters: here I clip
The anvil of my sword, and do contest 116
As hotly and as nobly with thy love
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I lov'd the maid I married; never man 120
Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here,
Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee, 124
We have a power on foot; and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,
Or lose mine arm for 't. Thou hast beat me out
Twelve several times, and I have nightly since 128
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;
We have been down together in my sleep,
Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat, 131
And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,
Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that
Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy, and, pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome, 136
Like a bold flood o'er-bear. O! come; go in,
And take our friendly senators by the hands,
Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,
Who am prepar'd against your territories, 140
Though not for Rome itself.
Cor. You bless me, gods!
Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have
The leading of thine own revenges, take
Th' one half of my commission, and set down, 144
As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st
Thy country's strength and weakness, thine own ways;
Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,
Or rudely visit them in parts remote, 148
To fright them, ere destroy. But come in:
Let me commend thee first to those that shall
Say yea to thy desires, A thousand welcomes!
And more a friend than e'er an enemy; 152
Yet, Martius, that was much, Your hand: most welcome! Exeunt.
Enter two of the Servingmen.
1. Serv. Here's a strange alteration!
2. Serv. By my hand, I had thought to 156
have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my
mind gave me his clothes made a false report of
him.
1. Serv. What an arm he has! He turned me 160
about with his finger and his thumb, as one would
set up a top.
2. Serv. Nay, I knew by his face that there
was something in him: he had, sir, a kind of face, 164
methought,—I cannot tell how to term it.
1. Serv. He had so; looking as it were,—would
I were hanged but I thought there was more in
him than I could think. 168
2. Serv. So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply
the rarest man i' the world.
1. Serv. I think he is; but a greater soldier
than he you wot on. 172
2. Serv. Who? my master?
1. Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that.
2. Serv. Worth six on him.
1. Serv. Nay, not so neither; but I take him 176
to be the greater soldier.
2. Serv. Faith, look you, one cannot tell how
to say that: for the defence of a town our general
is excellent. 180
1. Serv. Ay, and for an assault too.
Enter the Third Servingman.
3. Serv. O slaves! I can tell you news; news,
you rascals.
Both. What, what, what? let's partake. 184
3. Serv. I would not be a Roman, of all nations;
I had as lief be a condemned man.
Both. Wherefore? wherefore?
3. Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to 188
thwack our general, Caius Martius.
1. Serv. Why do you say 'thwack our
general?'
3. Serv. I do not say, 'thwack our general'; 192
but he was always good enough for him.
2. Serv. Come, we are fellows and friends: he
was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say
so himself. 196
1. Serv. He was too hard for him,—directly
to say the truth on 't: before Corioli he scotched
him and notched him like a carbonado.
2. Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he 200
might have boiled and eaten him too.
1. Serv. But, more of thy news.
3. Serv. Why, he is so made on here
within, as if he were son and heir to Mars; set 204
at upper end o' the table; no question asked
him by any of the senators, but they stand bald
before him. Our general himself makes a mistress
of him; sanctifies himself with 's hand, and turns 208
up the white o' th' eye to his discourse. But the
bottom of the news is, our general is cut i' the
middle, and but one half of what he was yester-
day, for the other has half, by the entreaty and 212
grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and
sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears: he
will mow down all before him, and leave his
passage polled. 216
2. Serv. And he's as like to do 't as any man
I can imagine.
3. Serv. Do 't! he will do 't; for—look you,
sir—he has as many friends as enemies; which 220
friends, sir—as it were—durst not—look you,
sir—show themselves—as we term it—his friends,
whilst he's in directitude.
1. Serv. Directitude! what's that? 224
3. Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest
up again, and the man in blood, they will out of
their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all
with him. 228
1. Serv. But when goes this forward?
3. Serv. To-morrow; to-day; presently. You
shall have the drum strook up this afternoon;
'tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be 232
executed ere they wipe their lips.
2. Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring
world again. This peace is nothing but to rust
iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. 236
1. Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds
peace as far as day does night; it's spritely,
waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a
very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, 240
insensible; a getter of more bastard children than
war's a destroyer of men.
2. Serv. 'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may
be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied 244
but peace is a great maker of cuckolds.
1. Serv. Ay, and it makes men hate one
another.
3. Serv. Reason: because they then less need 248
one another. The wars for my money. I hope
to see Romans as cheap as Volscians. They are
rising, they are rising.
All. In, in, in, in! 252 Exeunt.
Scene Six
[Rome. A Public Place]
Enter the two Tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus.
Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;
His remedies are tame i' the present peace
And quietness o' the people, which before
Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends 4
Blush that the world goes well, who rather had,
Though they themselves did suffer by 't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestering streets, than see
Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going 8
About their functions friendly.
Enter Menenius.
Bru. We stood to 't in good time. Is this Menenius?
Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he. O! he is grown most kind
Of late. Hail, sir!
Men. Hail to you both! 12
Sic. Your Coriolanus is not much miss'd
But with his friends: the commonwealth doth stand,
And so would do, were he more angry at it.
Men. All's well; and might have been much better, if 16
He could have temporiz'd.
Sic. Where is he, hear you?
Men. Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife
Hear nothing from him.
Enter three or four Citizens.
All. The gods preserve you both!
Sic. Good den, our neighbours. 20
Bru. Good den to you all, good den to you all.
1. Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees,
Are bound to pray for you both.
Sic. Live, and thrive!
Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd Coriolanus 24
Had lov'd you as we did.
All. Now the gods keep you!
Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. Exeunt Citizens.
Sic. This is a happier and more comely time
Than when these fellows ran about the streets 28
Crying confusion.
Bru. Caius Martius was
A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent,
O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking,
Self-loving,—
Sic. And affecting one sole throne, 32
Without assistance.
Men. I think not so.
Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation,
If he had gone forth consul, found it so.
Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome 36
Sits safe and still without him.
Enter an Ædile.
Æd. Worthy tribunes,
There is a slave, whom we have put in prison,
Reports, the Volsces with two several powers
Are enter'd in the Roman territories, 40
And with the deepest malice of the war
Destroy what lies before 'em.
Men. 'Tis Aufidius,
Who, hearing of our Martius' banishment,
Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; 44
Which were inshell'd when Martius stood for Rome,
And durst not once peep out.
Sic. Come, what talk you of Martius?
Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be 48
The Volsces dare break with us.
Men. Cannot be!
We have record that very well it can,
And three examples of the like hath been
Within my age. But reason with the fellow, 52
Before you punish him, where he heard this,
Lest you shall chance to whip your information,
And beat the messenger who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.
Sic. Tell not me: 56
I know this cannot be.
Bru. Not possible.
Enter a Messenger.
Mess. The nobles in great earnestness are going
All to the senate-house: some news is coming,
That turns their countenances.
Sic. 'Tis this slave— 60
Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes: his raising;
Nothing but his report.
Mess. Yes, worthy sir,
The slave's report is seconded; and more,
More fearful, is deliver'd.
Sic. What more fearful? 64
Mess. It is spoke freely out of many mouths—
How probable I do not know—that Martius,
Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,
And vows revenge as spacious as between 68
The young'st and oldest thing.
Sic. This is most likely!
Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish
Good Martius home again.
Sic. The very trick on 't.
Men. This is unlikely: 72
He and Aufidius can no more atone
Than violent'st contrariety.
Enter [another] Messenger.
Mess. You are sent for to the senate:
A fearful army, led by Caius Martius, 76
Associated with Aufidius, rages
Upon our territories; and have already
O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and took
What lay before them. 80
Enter Cominius.
Com. O! you have made good work!
Men. What news? what news?
Com. You have holp to ravish your own daughters, and
To melt the city leads upon your pates,
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses,— 84
Men. What's the news? what's the news?
Com. Your temples burned in their cement, and
Your franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd
Into an auger's bore.
Men. Pray now, your news?— 88
You have made fair work, I fear me. Pray, your news?
If Martius should be join'd with Volscians,—
Com. If!
He is their god: he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than Nature, 92
That shapes man better; and they follow him,
Against us brats, with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.
Men. You have made good work, 96
You, and your apron-men; you that stood so much
Upon the voice of occupation and
The breath of garlic-eaters!
Com. He'll shake
Your Rome about your ears.
Men. As Hercules 100
Did shake down mellow fruit. You have made fair work!
Bru. But is this true, sir?
Com. Ay; and you'll look pale
Before you find it other. All the regions
Do smilingly revolt; and who resist 104
Are mock'd for valiant ignorance,
And perish constant fools. Who is 't can blame him?
Your enemies, and his, find something in him.
Men. We are all undone unless 108
The noble man have mercy.
Com. Who shall ask it?
The tribunes cannot do 't for shame; the people
Deserve such pity of him as the wolf
Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they 112
Should say, 'Be good to Rome,' they charg'd him even
As those should do that had deserv'd his hate,
And therein show'd like enemies.
Men. 'Tis true:
If he were putting to my house the brand 116
That should consume it, I have not the face
To say, 'Beseech you, cease.'—You have made fair hands,
You and your crafts! you have crafted fair!
Com. You have brought
A trembling upon Rome, such as was never 120
So incapable of help.
Tribunes. Say not we brought it.
Men. How! Was 't we? We lov'd him; but, like beasts
And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,
Who did hoot him out o' the city.
Com. But I fear 124
They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,
The second name of men, obeys his points
As if he were his officer: desperation
Is all the policy, strength, and defence, 128
That Rome can make against them.
Enter a troop of Citizens.
Men. Here come the clusters.
And is Aufidius with him? You are they
That made the air unwholesome, when you cast
Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at 132
Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;
And not a hair upon a soldier's head
Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs
As you threw caps up will he tumble down, 136
And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter;
If he could burn us all into one coal,
We have deserv'd it.
Omnes. Faith, we hear fearful news.
1. Cit. For mine own part, 140
When I said banish him, I said 'twas pity.
2. Cit. And so did I.
3. Cit. And so did I; and, to say the
truth, so did very many of us. That we did we 144
did for the best; and though we willingly con-
sented to his banishment, yet it was against our
will.
Com. Y' are goodly things, you voices!
Men. You have made 148
Good work, you and your cry! Shall 's to the Capitol?
Com. O! ay; what else? Exeunt both.
Sic. Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd:
These are a side that would be glad to have 152
This true which they so seem to fear. Go home,
And show no sign of fear.
1. Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters,
let's home. I ever said we were i' the wrong 156
when we banished him.
2. Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home.
Exeunt Citizens.
Bru. I do not like this news.
Sic. Nor I. 160
Bru. Let's to the Capitol. Would half my wealth
Would buy this for a lie!
Sic. Pray let us go.
Exeunt Tribunes.
Scene Seven
[A Camp at a small distance from Rome]
Enter Aufidius with his Lieutenant.
Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman?
Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but
Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end; 4
And you are darken'd in this action, sir,
Even by your own.
Auf. I cannot help it now,
Unless, by using means, I lame the foot
Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier, 8
Even to my person, than I thought he would
When first I did embrace him; yet his nature
In that's no changeling, and I must excuse
What cannot be amended.
Lieu. Yet, I wish, sir,— 12
I mean for your particular,—you had not
Join'd in commission with him; but either
Had borne the action of yourself, or else
To him had left it solely. 16
Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure,
When he shall come to his account, he knows not
What I can urge against him. Although it seems,
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent 20
To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly,
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword; yet he hath left undone 24
That which shall break his neck or hazard mine,
Whene'er we come to our account.
Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?
Auf. All places yields to him ere he sits down; 28
And the nobility of Rome are his:
The senators and patricians love him too:
The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty 32
To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them, but he could not 36
Carry his honours even; whether 'twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgment,
To fail in the disposing of those chances 40
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace
Even with the same austerity and garb 44
As he controll'd the war; but one of these,
As he hath spices of them all, not all,
For I dare so far free him, made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit 48
To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues
Lie in th' interpretation of the time;
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair 52
To extol what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;
Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, 56
Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act IV
Scene One
7–9 fortune's . . . cunning; cf. n.
13 red pestilence: plague
14 occupations: mechanical employments
16 Resume: recover
26 fond: as fond, as foolish
32 or . . . common: either do some deed of fame
33 With . . . practice: by the snares and treachery of wily adversaries
first: first and only, eminent
36 exposture: exposure
41 repeal: recall
43 advantage: opportunity to profit by circumstances
44 needer: him who should utilize the advantage
46 wars' surfeits: strains from military service
49 noble touch: proved nobility
53 me formerly: my former self
worthily: as worthily spoken
Scene Two
2 have sided: to have enlisted themselves
11 The hoarded . . . gods: every plague the gods have stored up
14 some: a part
16 say so: i.e. command his presence
mankind: savage; cf. n.
18 foxship: foxlike cunning
19 strook: struck
22 what: something
24 Arabia: the Arabian desert
32 noble knot: i.e. bond of faithful service
44 With: by
46 confirm: note down for execution
48 told . . . home: said all-there is to say
52 faint puling: weak whining; cf. n.
Scene Three
9 favour: face
appeared: made to appear, manifested
11 note: instruction
23 ripe aptness: complete readiness
26 glowing: i.e. like a spark
32 The day: the state of affairs
37 in no request of: unvalued by
39 cannot choose: cannot fail to appear well
48 distinctly billeted: carefully enrolled
49 entertainment: receipt of pay
on foot: under arms
55 my part: the words I should say
Scene Four
3 'fore my wars: confronting me in battle
6 Save: God preserve
8 lies: lodges
12 thy . . . turns: how inconstant you are
13 bosoms seems; cf. n.
15 twin: are joined like twins
17 dissension . . . doit: dispute over the value of half a farthing
18 fellest: fiercest
19 passions: violent emotions
20 To take . . . other; cf. n.
22 interjoin their issues: intermarry their children (to make the league perpetual)
23 hate; cf. n.
25 way: scope, opportunity
Scene Five
14 companions: rascals
25 avoid: get out of
35 Follow . . . function: do your proper business
batten: fatten yourself
41 canopy: sky
47 daws: jackdaws, fools
54 trencher: wooden platter
67 tackle: rigging of ship
77 memory: reminder
84 Whoop'd: hooted
89 full quit of: fully avenged on
91 heart of wreak: vengeful heart
92, 93 maims . . . shame: disgraceful losses of men or territory
97 canker'd: malevolent
spleen: anger
99 prove . . . fortunes: try your fortune further
105 tuns: huge barrels
109 A root . . . envy: one of the old sources of my hate
113 where against: against which
114 grained ash: spear-shaft of tough ash
115 clip: embrace
121 Sigh'd . . . breath: uttered sincerer love sighs
122 dances: makes leap
rapt: enraptured
126 brawn: brawny arm
127 out: outright
132 wak'd: I have awaked
137 o'er-bear: bear all before us; cf. n.
142 absolute: perfect
144 set down: determine
153 S. d. Enter . . . Servingmen; cf. n.
158 gave me: misgave me, made me suspect
162 set up: start spinning
172 he . . . on: the man you know of, i.e. Aufidius; cf. n.
184 let's partake: let us share it
189 thwack: beat
197 directly: candidly
198 scotched: slashed
199 notched: cut
carbonado: steak prepared for broiling
201 boiled; cf. n.
203 made on: made much of, pampered
208 sanctifies . . . hand: fondles his hand as if it were a saint's relic
208, 209 turns . . . eye: gazes upward in reverence
210 bottom: fundamental part
212, 213 by . . . table: the whole table uniting both in requesting and granting
214 sowl: drag
215, 216 leave . . . polled: leave headless bodies where he passes
223 directitude: error for 'discreditude,' discredit (?)
226 in blood: in fine fettle
227 conies: rabbits
230 presently: at once
232 parcel: part
235 nothing: good for nothing
239 audible: noisy (?), quick of hearing (?)
vent: opportunity for action
240 mulled: insipid, like warmed and sweetened wine
241 insensible: sluggish, insensitive
248 Reason: that is natural
251 rising: getting up from table
Scene Six
2 remedies: means of reinstatement
tame: languid, ineffectual; cf. n.
4 hurry: turbulence
7 pestering: blocking up
9 friendly: like good friends
14 But with: except among
27 comely: gracious
29 Crying confusion: shouting for anarchy
32 affecting . . . throne: aiming at individual sovereignty
34 by this: by this time
to . . . lamentation: to the sorrow of us all
35 gone forth: come out, finally become
found: have found
44 Thrusts . . . horns; cf. n.
45 inshell'd: drawn within the shell
stood for: was champion of
47 what: why
59 coming; cf. n.
68, 69 And vows . . . thing; cf. n.
73 atone: grow reconciled
79 O'erborne . . . way: advanced like a wave
82 holp: helped
83 leads: leaden roofs
84 to: before
86 temples . . . cement; cf. n.
87 franchises: public rights
whereon . . . stood: which you asserted
87, 88 confin'd . . . bore: reduced to absolute nullity
94 brats: mere children
97 apron-men: artisans, dressed in aprons
98 voice of occupation: workmen's opinion
103 other: otherwise
104 smilingly: gladly
who resist: those who resist
113 charg'd: would be urging; cf. n.
115 show'd: would appear
118 made fair hands: done fine work
119 crafted; cf. n.
fair: with beautiful results
123 clusters: crowds
125 roar . . . again: yell with pain as he returns
126 second . . . men: the most famous man except Coriolanus
points: instructions
127–129 desperation . . . against them; cf. n.
135 coxcombs: fools' heads
138 coal: hot ember
149 cry: pack (of hounds)
Shall 's: shall we
152 a side: members of a party (i.e. patricians)
Scene Seven
5 darken'd: dimmed in glory
action: campaign
6 your own: your own troops
7 using means: employing treachery
11 no changeling: i.e. still what it always was
13 particular: personal advantage
14 commission: authority
15 borne . . . yourself: taken the whole command yourself
21 bears . . . fairly: behaves honorably in all respects
23 achieve: conquer
24–26 yet . . . account; cf. n.
27 carry: take by force
28 sits down: besieges
34, 35 osprey . . . nature; cf. n.
37 even: steadily
38 out . . . fortune: as a result of constant good fortune
taints: sullies
40 disposing: exploiting
42 Not to be: not capable of being
42, 43 not moving . . . cushion; cf. n.
44 austerity and garb: austere manner
46 spices . . . not all: some flavor of all these faults, but not in full degree
47 free: acquit
48 So: and therefore (i.e. because feared)
48, 49 but . . . utterance; cf. n.
50 Lie in: depend upon
51–53 Cf. n.
55 Rights . . . falter; cf. n.