Coriolanus: Act 3, Scenes 1 & 2
In which the public banishes Coriolanus, but he believes in the power of “a world elsewhere.”
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ACT 3
Scene 2
Enter Coriolanus with Nobles.
CORIOLANUS
Let them pull all about mine ears, present me
Death on the wheel or at wild horses’ heels,
Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock,
That the precipitation might down stretch
Below the beam of sight, yet will I still 5
Be thus to them.
NOBLE You do the nobler.
CORIOLANUS I muse my mother
Does not approve me further, who was wont
To call them woolen vassals, things created 10
To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads
In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder
When one but of my ordinance stood up
To speak of peace or war.
Enter Volumnia.
I talk of you. 15
Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me
False to my nature? Rather say I play
The man I am.
VOLUMNIA O sir, sir, sir,
I would have had you put your power well on 20
Before you had worn it out.
CORIOLANUS Let go.
VOLUMNIA
You might have been enough the man you are
With striving less to be so. Lesser had been
The thwartings of your dispositions if 25
You had not showed them how you were disposed
Ere they lacked power to cross you.
CORIOLANUS Let them hang!
VOLUMNIA Ay, and burn too.
Enter Menenius with the Senators.
MENENIUS, to Coriolanus
Come, come, you have been too rough, something 30
too rough.
You must return and mend it.
FIRST SENATOR There’s no remedy,
Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst and perish. 35
VOLUMNIA Pray be counseled.
I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.
MENENIUS Well said, noble woman. 40
Before he should thus stoop to th’ herd—but that
The violent fit o’ th’ time craves it as physic
For the whole state—I would put mine armor on,
Which I can scarcely bear.
CORIOLANUS What must I do? 45
MENENIUS
Return to th’ Tribunes.
CORIOLANUS Well, what then? What then?
MENENIUS Repent what you have spoke.
CORIOLANUS
For them? I cannot do it to the gods.
Must I then do ’t to them? 50
VOLUMNIA You are too absolute,
Though therein you can never be too noble
But when extremities speak. I have heard you say
Honor and policy, like unsevered friends,
I’ th’ war do grow together. Grant that, and tell me 55
In peace what each of them by th’ other lose
That they combine not there?
CORIOLANUS Tush, tush!
MENENIUS A good
demand. 60
VOLUMNIA
If it be honor in your wars to seem
The same you are not, which for your best ends
You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse
That it shall hold companionship in peace
With honor as in war, since that to both 65
It stands in like request?
CORIOLANUS Why force you this?
VOLUMNIA
Because that now it lies you on to speak
To th’ people, not by your own instruction,
Nor by th’ matter which your heart prompts you, 70
But with such words that are but roted in
Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables
Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth.
Now, this no more dishonors you at all
Than to take in a town with gentle words, 75
Which else would put you to your fortune and
The hazard of much blood.
I would dissemble with my nature where
My fortunes and my friends at stake required
I should do so in honor. I am in this 80
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you will rather show our general louts
How you can frown than spend a fawn upon ’em
For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard
Of what that want might ruin. 85
MENENIUS Noble lady!—
Come, go with us; speak fair. You may salve so,
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss
Of what is past.
VOLUMNIA I prithee now, my son, 90
Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand,
And thus far having stretched it—here be with
them—
Thy knee bussing the stones—for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ ignorant 95
More learnèd than the ears—waving thy head,
Which often thus correcting thy stout heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry
That will not hold the handling. Or say to them
Thou art their soldier and, being bred in broils, 100
Hast not the soft way, which thou dost confess
Were fit for thee to use as they to claim,
In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou hast power and person. 105
MENENIUS This but done
Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours;
For they have pardons, being asked, as free
As words to little purpose.
VOLUMNIA Prithee now, 110
Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf
Than flatter him in a bower.
Enter Cominius.
Here is Cominius.
COMINIUS
I have been i’ th’ marketplace; and, sir, ’tis fit 115
You make strong party or defend yourself
By calmness or by absence. All’s in anger.
MENENIUS
Only fair speech.
COMINIUS I think ’twill serve, if he
Can thereto frame his spirit. 120
VOLUMNIA He must, and will.—
Prithee, now, say you will, and go about it.
CORIOLANUS
Must I go show them my unbarbèd sconce? Must I
With my base tongue give to my noble heart
A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do ’t. 125
Yet, were there but this single plot to lose,
This mold of Martius, they to dust should grind it
And throw ’t against the wind. To th’ marketplace!
You have put me now to such a part which never
I shall discharge to th’ life. 130
COMINIUS Come, come, we’ll prompt
you.
VOLUMNIA
I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said
My praises made thee first a soldier, so,
To have my praise for this, perform a part 135
Thou hast not done before.
CORIOLANUS Well, I must do ’t.
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot’s spirit! My throat of war be turned,
Which choirèd with my drum, into a pipe 140
Small as an eunuch or the virgin voice
That babies lull asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys’ tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar’s tongue
Make motion through my lips, and my armed knees, 145
Who bowed but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath received an alms. I will not do ’t,
Lest I surcease to honor mine own truth
And, by my body’s action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness. 150
VOLUMNIA At thy choice, then.
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonor
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin. Let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death 155
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine; thou suck’st it from me,
But owe thy pride thyself.
CORIOLANUS Pray be content.
Mother, I am going to the marketplace. 160
Chide me no more. I’ll mountebank their loves,
Cog their hearts from them, and come home
beloved
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going.
Commend me to my wife. I’ll return consul, 165
Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I’ th’ way of flattery further.
VOLUMNIA Do your will.
Volumnia exits.
COMINIUS
Away! The Tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself
To answer mildly, for they are prepared 170
With accusations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet.
CORIOLANUS
The word is “mildly.” Pray you, let us go.
Let them accuse me by invention, I
Will answer in mine honor. 175
MENENIUS Ay, but mildly.
CORIOLANUS Well, mildly be it, then. Mildly.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Sicinius and Brutus.
BRUTUS
In this point charge him home, that he affects
Tyrannical power. If he evade us there,
Enforce him with his envy to the people,
And that the spoil got on the Antiates
Was ne’er distributed. 5
Enter an Aedile.
What, will he come?
AEDILE He’s coming.
BRUTUS How accompanied?
AEDILE
With old Menenius, and those senators
That always favored him. 10
SICINIUS Have you a catalogue
Of all the voices that we have procured,
Set down by th’ poll?
AEDILE I have. ’Tis ready.
SICINIUS
Have you collected them by tribes? 15
AEDILE I have.
SICINIUS
Assemble presently the people hither;
And when they hear me say “It shall be so
I’ th’ right and strength o’ th’ commons,” be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them 20
If I say “Fine,” cry “Fine,” if “Death,” cry “Death,”
Insisting on the old prerogative
And power i’ th’ truth o’ th’ cause.
AEDILE I shall inform them.
BRUTUS
And when such time they have begun to cry, 25
Let them not cease, but with a din confused
Enforce the present execution
Of what we chance to sentence.
AEDILE Very well.
SICINIUS
Make them be strong and ready for this hint 30
When we shall hap to give ’t them.
BRUTUS Go about it.
Aedile exits.
Put him to choler straight. He hath been used
Ever to conquer and to have his worth
Of contradiction. Being once chafed, he cannot 35
Be reined again to temperance; then he speaks
What’s in his heart, and that is there which looks
With us to break his neck.
Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius, with
others (Senators).
SICINIUS Well, here he comes.
MENENIUS, aside to Coriolanus Calmly, I do beseech 40
you.
CORIOLANUS, aside to Menenius
Ay, as an hostler that for th’ poorest piece
Will bear the knave by th’ volume.—Th’ honored
gods
Keep Rome in safety and the chairs of justice 45
Supplied with worthy men! Plant love among ’s!
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace
And not our streets with war!
FIRST SENATOR Amen, amen.
MENENIUS A noble wish. 50
Enter the Aedile with the Plebeians.
SICINIUS Draw near, you people.
AEDILE
List to your tribunes. Audience! Peace, I say!
CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak.
BOTH TRIBUNES Well, say.—Peace, ho!
CORIOLANUS
Shall I be charged no further than this present? 55
Must all determine here?
SICINIUS I do demand
If you submit you to the people’s voices,
Allow their officers, and are content
To suffer lawful censure for such faults 60
As shall be proved upon you.
CORIOLANUS I am content.
MENENIUS
Lo, citizens, he says he is content.
The warlike service he has done, consider. Think
Upon the wounds his body bears, which show 65
Like graves i’ th’ holy churchyard.
CORIOLANUS Scratches with
briars,
Scars to move laughter only.
MENENIUS Consider further, 70
That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a soldier. Do not take
His rougher accents for malicious sounds,
But, as I say, such as become a soldier
Rather than envy you. 75
COMINIUS Well, well, no more.
CORIOLANUS What is the matter,
That, being passed for consul with full voice,
I am so dishonored that the very hour
You take it off again? 80
SICINIUS Answer to us.
CORIOLANUS Say then. ’Tis true, I ought so.
SICINIUS
We charge you that you have contrived to take
From Rome all seasoned office and to wind
Yourself into a power tyrannical, 85
For which you are a traitor to the people.
CORIOLANUS
How? Traitor?
MENENIUS Nay, temperately! Your promise.
CORIOLANUS
The fires i’ th’ lowest hell fold in the people!
Call me their traitor? Thou injurious tribune! 90
Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,
In thy hands clutched as many millions, in
Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say
“Thou liest” unto thee with a voice as free
As I do pray the gods. 95
SICINIUS Mark you this, people?
ALL PLEBEIANS To th’ rock, to th’ rock with him!
SICINIUS Peace!
We need not put new matter to his charge.
What you have seen him do and heard him speak, 100
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,
Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him—even this,
So criminal and in such capital kind,
Deserves th’ extremest death. 105
BRUTUS But since he hath
Served well for Rome—
CORIOLANUS What do you prate of service?
BRUTUS I talk of that that know it.
CORIOLANUS You? 110
MENENIUS
Is this the promise that you made your mother?
COMINIUS Know, I pray you—
CORIOLANUS I’ll know no further.
Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,
Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger 115
But with a grain a day, I would not buy
Their mercy at the price of one fair word,
Nor check my courage for what they can give,
To have ’t with saying “Good morrow.”
SICINIUS For that he has, 120
As much as in him lies, from time to time
Envied against the people, seeking means
To pluck away their power, as now at last
Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers 125
That doth distribute it, in the name o’ th’ people
And in the power of us the Tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city
In peril of precipitation
From off the rock Tarpeian, never more 130
To enter our Rome gates. I’ th’ people’s name,
I say it shall be so.
ALL PLEBEIANS
It shall be so, it shall be so! Let him away!
He’s banished, and it shall be so.
COMINIUS
Hear me, my masters and my common friends— 135
SICINIUS
He’s sentenced. No more hearing.
COMINIUS Let me speak.
I have been consul and can show for Rome
Her enemies’ marks upon me. I do love
My country’s good with a respect more tender, 140
More holy and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife’s estimate, her womb’s increase,
And treasure of my loins. Then if I would
Speak that—
SICINIUS We know your drift. Speak what? 145
BRUTUS
There’s no more to be said, but he is banished
As enemy to the people and his country.
It shall be so.
ALL PLEBEIANS It shall be so, it shall be so!
CORIOLANUS
You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate 150
As reek o’ th’ rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcasses of unburied men
That do corrupt my air, I banish you!
And here remain with your uncertainty;
Let every feeble rumor shake your hearts; 155
Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,
Fan you into despair! Have the power still
To banish your defenders, till at length
Your ignorance—which finds not till it feels,
Making but reservation of yourselves, 160
Still your own foes—deliver you
As most abated captives to some nation
That won you without blows! Despising
For you the city, thus I turn my back.
There is a world elsewhere. 165
Coriolanus, Cominius, with others (Senators) exit.
AEDILE
The people’s enemy is gone, is gone.
ALL PLEBEIANS
Our enemy is banished; he is gone. Hoo, hoo!
They all shout and throw up their caps.
SICINIUS
Go see him out at gates, and follow him,
As he hath followed you, with all despite.
Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard 170
Attend us through the city.
ALL PLEBEIANS
Come, come, let’s see him out at gates! Come!
The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come!
They exit.