Coriolanus

by William Shakespeare

SECOND CONSPIRATOR And patient fools,

  Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear

  With giving him glory.

  THIRD CONSPIRATOR Therefore, at your vantage61, Ere he express himself, or move the people

  With what he would say, let him feel your sword,

  Which we will second. When he lies along64, After your way his tale pronounced65 shall bury His reasons66 with his body.

  Enter the Lords of the city

  AUFIDIUS Say no more: here come the lords.

  ALL THE LORDS You are most welcome home.

  AUFIDIUS I have not deserved it.

  But, worthy lords, have you with heed70 perused What I have written to you?

  ALL THE LORDS We have.

  FIRST LORD And grieve to hear't.

  What faults he made before the last, I think

  Might have found easy fines75: but there to end Where he was to begin, and give away

  The benefit of our levies, answering77 us With our own charge78, making a treaty where There was a yielding79 -- this admits no excuse.

  AUFIDIUS He approaches: you shall hear him.

  Enter Coriolanus marching with Drum and Colours, the Commoners being with him

  CORIOLANUS Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, No more infected with my country's love

  Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting

  Under your great command. You are to know

  That prosperously I have attempted85 and With bloody passage led your wars even to

  The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home

  Doth more than counterpoise a full third part88

  The charges89 of the action. We have made peace With no less honour to the Antiates90

  Than shame to th'Romans. And we here deliver,

  Subscribed92 by th'consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o'th'senate, what

  We have compounded94 on.

  He gives the Lords a paper

  AUFIDIUS Read it not, noble lords,

  But tell the traitor in the highest degree

  He hath abused your powers.

  CORIOLANUS Traitor? How now?

  AUFIDIUS Ay, traitor, Martius.

  CORIOLANUS Martius?

  AUFIDIUS Ay, Martius, Caius Martius: dost thou think I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name,

  'Coriolanus' in Corioles?

  You lords and heads o'th'state, perfidiously104

  He has betrayed your business, and given up,

  For certain drops of salt106, your city Rome: I say 'your city' to his wife and mother,

  Breaking his oath and resolution like

  A twist of rotten silk, never admitting109

  Counsel o'th'war: but at his nurse's tears

  He whined and roared away your victory,

  That pages blushed at him and men of heart112

  Looked wond'ring each at others.

  CORIOLANUS Hear'st thou, Mars?

  AUFIDIUS Name not the god, thou boy of tears.

  CORIOLANUS Ha?

  AUFIDIUS No more.

  CORIOLANUS Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy? O slave!--

  Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

  I was forced to scold121. Your judgements, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion122 --

  Who wears my stripes123 impressed upon him, that Must bear my beating to his grave -- shall join

  To thrust the lie unto him.

  FIRST LORD Peace, both, and hear me speak.

  CORIOLANUS Cut me to pieces, Volsces: men and lads, Stain all your edges128 on me. 'Boy'! False hound, If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,

  That, like an eagle in a dovecote, I

  Fluttered131 your Volscians in Corioles.

  Alone I did it. 'Boy'!

  AUFIDIUS Why, noble lords,

  Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune134, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,

  'Fore your own eyes and ears?

  ALL CONSPIRATORS Let him die for't.

  ALL [THE] PEOPLE Tear him to pieces! Do it presently138!

  Shouting individually

  He killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin

  Marcus! He killed my father!

  SECOND LORD Peace, ho! No outrage141: peace!

  The man is noble, and his fame folds in142

  This orb o'th'earth. His last offences to us

  Shall have judicious hearing. Stand144, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace.

  CORIOLANUS O that I had him, with six Aufidiuses,

  Drawing his sword

  Or more, his tribe, to use my lawful sword!

  AUFIDIUS Insolent villain!

  Drawing his sword

  ALL CONSPIRATORS Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

  Draw both the Conspirators, and kill Martius, who falls: Aufidius stands on him

  LORDS Hold, hold, hold, hold!

  AUFIDIUS My noble masters, hear me speak.

  FIRST LORD O Tullus!

  SECOND LORD Thou hast done a deed whereat153

  To Aufidius

  Valour will weep.

  THIRD LORD Tread not upon him, masters:

  To Aufidius and the Conspirators

  All be quiet: put up your swords.

  AUFIDIUS My lords,

  When you shall know -- as in this rage,

  Provoked by him, you cannot -- the great danger

  Which this man's life did owe160 you, you'll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it161 your honours To call me to your senate, I'll deliver162

  Myself your loyal servant, or endure

  Your heaviest censure164.

  FIRST LORD Bear from hence his body,

  And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded

  As the most noble corpse that ever herald

  Did follow to his urn.

  SECOND LORD His own impatience

  Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.

  Let's make the best of it.

  AUFIDIUS My rage is gone,

  And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up:

  Help three o'th'chiefest soldiers: I'll be one174.

  Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:

  Trail176 your steel pikes. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,

  Which to this hour bewail the injury,

  Yet he shall have a noble memory179. Assist.

  Exeunt bearing the body of Martius. A dead march sounded

  TEXTUAL NOTES

  F = First Folio text of 1623, the only authority for the play

  F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632

  F3 = a correction introduced in the Third Folio text of 1663-64

  F4 = a correction introduced in the Fourth Folio text of 1685

  Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor

  SD = stage direction

  SH = speech heading (i.e. speaker's name)

  List of parts = Ed

  1.1.13 on = Ed. F = one 56 you. For = Ed. F = you for 81 stale't = Ed. F = scale't 98 tauntingly = Ed. F = taintingly 166 geese: you are = Ed. F = Geese you are: 195 pick = F. Ed = pitch 210 Shouting = Ed. F = Shooting 215 unroofed = Ed. F = vnroo'st 225 SD Junius = F4 (Iunius). F = Annius 242 Lartius = Ed. F = Lucius 255 your = F4. F = you 259 SD remain = Ed. F = Manet 280 of = F. Ed = on

  1.2.5 on = Ed. F = one 17 Whither = Ed. F = Whether

  1.3.33 that's = F2. F = that 40 sword, contemning. = Ed. F = sword. Contenning, 79 yarn = Ed. F = yearne Ithaca = Ed. F = Athica

  1.4.36 boils = Ed. F = Byles 47 followed = F2. F = followes. Ed = Follow/Follow me 50 SD gates = F2. F = Gati 52 SD is shut in this direction is transferred from the end of the stage direction five lines previously. It has been repositioned because Martius has lines to speak after this direction in F; furthermore, the gates do not shut until the soldier remarks upon it 63 left =F. Ed = lost 66 Cato's = Ed. F = Calues

  1.5.4 honours
= Ed. F = hours 7 them, = F3. F = them. 9 him. = F3. F = him

  1.6.6 The = F. Ed = Ye 63 Antiates = Ed. F = Antients. F could make sense as "ancients" is a common spelling of "ensigns"; however, seven lines later reference is made to the "Antiats," suggesting an earlier error 83 Lesser = F3. F = Lessen 97 I = Ed. F = foure

  1.9.0 SD Flourish moved from before "Alarum" since it should herald the entry of the Romans 45 beheld = F. Ed = upheld 51 An overture = F. Ed = a coverture/an ovator. If the coverture reading is preferred, it would mean a "covering," possibly signifying a special garment. Ovator means "one who receives a public ovation" 54 shout = Ed. F = shoot 70, 71 Martius = Ed. F = Marcus 72 SH CORIOLANUS = Ed. F = Martius (F speech heading changes to Cor., Corio., Coriol. with effect from return to Rome in Act 2)

  1.10.23 Embarquements = F. Ed = Embargements

  2.1.13 SH SICINIUS and BRUTUS = Ed. F = Both. This emendation, for the purposes of clarification, also occurs at lines 22 and 25 16 with all = F3. F = withall 22 How are = F2. F = ho ware 52 can = F. Ed = cannot. The Folio reading can be defended if one agrees that Menenius is being sarcastic 56 tell you = F. Ed = tell you, you 58 bisson = Ed. F = beesome 64 faucet = Ed. F = Forset 77 are. When ... purpose, it = F4. F = are, when ... purpose. It 84 Good e'en = Ed. F = Godden 97 SH VIRGILIA and VALERIA = Ed. F = 2. Ladies. 144 SD A ... flourish moved from F's original positioning after "Hark, the trumpets" 153 'Coriolanus' = Ed. F = Martius Caius Coriolanus 169 wear = F2. F = were 172 SH CORIOLANUS = Ed. F = Com. 213 gauded = F (gawded). Ed = guarded 247 authorities ... end.= F (Authorities, ... end.). Ed = authorities. For an end, 259 teach = F. Ed = touch

  2.2.65 SH FIRST SENATOR = Ed. F = Senat. 83 one on's = Ed. F = on ones 93 chin = F (Shinne) 110 took: ... foot = Ed. F = tooke ... foot: Ed = took.... foot 155 thus': = F3 (thus,). F = thus 163 SH SENATORS = Ed. F = Senat.

  2.3.25 wedged = F (wadg'd) 34 it. I say, = Ed. F = it, I say. 37 all together = F (altogether) 61 SD three = F. Ed = two. The speech headings were also altered by Rowe, in keeping with the emendation 66 but not = Ed. F = but 84 SH FOURTH CITIZEN = Ed. F = I. This is to distinguish between these two other citizens and the three who have just exited 99 SH FIFTH CITIZEN = Ed. F = 2. 108 starve = Ed. F = sterue 109 hire = F2 (hier). F = higher 110 tongue = F. Ed = toge 127 SH SIXTH CITIZEN = Ed. F = I.Cit. 129 SH SEVENTH CITIZEN = Ed. F = 2.Cit. 246 And ... surnamed = Ed. Delius suggests inserting a line derived from North's Plutarch, possibly missed by the compositor's eyeskip from And to And.

  3.1.5 road = F (roade). Ed = raid 38 SH FIRST SENATOR = Ed. F = Senat. (throughout scene) 54 suppliants = F4. F = Suppliants: 60 SH CORIOLANUS = Ed. F = Com. 72 on. = Ed. F = on, 111 good = Ed. F = God! 117 he = F. Ed = they 118 ignorance = F. Ed = impotence 153 native = F. Ed = motive 155 bosom multiplied = F. Ed = bisson multitude 169 Where one = Ed. F = Whereon 188, 189 He's = F (Ha's) 194 bench? = Ed. F = Bench, 208 SH ALL PATRICIANS = Ed. F = All. 216 SH ALL CITIZENS = Ed. F = All. (throughout scene) 238 SH CORIOLANUS = Ed. F = Com. 260 poisonous = F. Ed = poisons 271 your = Ed. F = our 274 SH CORIOLANUS = Ed. F = Com. 281 SH COMINIUS = F2. F = Corio. 282 SH CORIOLANUS = Ed. F = Mene. 285 SH MENENIUS = Ed. The speech heading has been moved from three lines above 302 SH A PATRICIAN = F (Patri.) 343 our = Ed. F = one 385 him = Ed. F = bring him in peace (thought to be an error by the compositor, anticipating two lines later) 402 SH FIRST SENATOR = F (Sena.)

  3.2.7 SH A PATRICIAN = Ed. F = Noble. 31 SH FIRST SENATOR = F (Sen.) 39 herd = Ed. F = heart 65 you on = F. Ed = on you 92 With = Ed. F = Which 119 bear? Well, = Ed. F = beare well? 120 plot to lose = Ed. F = Plot, to loose

  3.3.12 poll = F (Pole) 40 for th' = F2 (forth). F = fourth 44 Throng = Ed. F = Through 51 SH SICINIUS and BRUTUS = F (Both Tri.) 68 accents = Ed. F = Actions 84 hell fold = Ed. F = hell. Fould 87 clutched = Ed. F = clutcht: 92 SH ALL CITIZENS = Ed. F = All. (throughout scene) 132 for = Ed. F = from 159 SD Menenius ... Patricians = Ed. F = with Cumalijs. It seems that the compositor misunderstood a direction for Coriolanus and Cominius to exit "with the others" and set it as a proper name

  4.1.5 chances = F2. F = chances. 26 thee = F (the) 37 will thou = F. F2 = will you. Ed = wilt thou 41 SH VIRGILIA = Ed. F = Corio.

  4.2.28 words, = Ed. F = words.

  4.3.1 SH NICANOR = Ed. F = Rom. The speech heading "Roman" has been altered to the character's proper name throughout the scene 3 SH ADRIAN = Ed. F = Volsce. The speech heading "Volsce" has been altered to the character's proper name throughout the scene 9 appeared = F. Ed = approved 33 will = F2. F = well

  4.4.17 seem = F4 (seeme). F = seemes 27 hate = Ed. F = haue. Ed = leave

  4.5.10 SD Servingman = Ed. F = Seruant. 79 Whooped = Ed. F = Hoop'd 129 no other = F. F3 = no 133 o'erbear't = Ed. F = o're-beate. Ed = o'erbear 150 SD The ... forward = Ed. F = Enter two of the Seruingmen. The Servingmen have clearly overheard the dialogue between Aufidius and Coriolanus, so it is necessary for them to remain onstage, rather than exit and reenter 169 on = F (one) 177 SH FIRST and SECOND SERVINGMAN = Ed. F = Both. (throughout scene) 179 lief = F (liue) 192 boiled = F (boyld). Ed = broiled 223 sprightly walking = F. Ed = sprightly, walking 224 sleepy = F3 (sleepie). F = sleepe

  4.6.22 SH ALL CITIZENS = F (All.) (throughout scene) 70 come = Ed. F = coming 91 SH SECOND MESSENGER = Ed. F = Mes. 146 SH SICINIUS and BRUTUS = F (Tri.) 168 SH ALL CITIZENS = Ed. F = Omnes.

  4.7.39 'twas = F3. F = 'was 41 defect = F2. F = detect 51 virtues = F2. F = Vertue 57 foulder = Ed. F = fouler.

  5.1.18 for = F. Ed = fair 79 yield to his = F. Ed = hold to his/yield no new/yield to no

  5.2.62 errand = Ed. F = arrant 68 swoon = Ed. F = swoond 75 our = F4. F = your 87 pity = Ed. F = pitty: 100 swoon = Ed. F = swoond

  5.3.51 prate = Ed. F = pray 68 holp = Ed. F = hope 72 curdied = F. Ed candied 89 thing = F. Ed = things 124 through = F. Ed = thorough 137 SH YOUNG MARTIUS = Ed. F = Boy. 160 fine = Ed. F = fiue 163 charge = Ed. F = change 165 noble man = F2. F = Nobleman 174 clucked = Ed. F = clock'd 180 him with = F2. F = him with him with 190 his = F. Ed = this

  5.5.4 Unshout = F (Vnshoot)

  5.6.37 projects to accomplish, = F3. F = projects, to accomplish 64-65 Second.... way= Ed. F = second, ... way. 131 Fluttered = F3. F = Flatter'd 149 SD kill = F4. F = kils

  SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS

  ACT 1 SCENE 1

  Lines 1-157: Roman citizens are preparing to mutiny over recent food shortages, believing that the patricians are hoarding corn and charging high prices for it. One citizen urges them all "rather to die than to famish," and the crowd agrees. He tells them that Caius Martius (later Coriolanus) is "chief enemy to the people," and again the crowd agrees. Another citizen says they must acknowledge Martius' reputation as a war hero, but the First Citizen argues that Martius "pays himself with being proud." Shouts are heard and they realize that the "other side o'th'city is risen." As they set off for the Capitol, they meet Menenius and tell him the senate has known of the people's discontent for a fortnight and that they now intend to exchange "strong breaths" for "strong arms." Menenius argues that the patricians have the "most charitable care" for them and tells them "a pretty tale": an allegory about "a time when all the body's members Rebelled against the belly," believing that it was hoarding all the food for itself, while they did all the work. The "belly" replied that it was "the storehouse and the shop Of the whole body," responsible for distributing the nutrition that enabled all the parts to work. They are interrupted by Martius.

  Lines 158-259: Martius shows his contempt for the citizens, calling them "dissentious rogues" and "scabs." He accuses them of being fickle, liking "nor peace nor war" and "call[ing] him noble that was now your hate." Menenius explains that the citizens believe the "city is well stored" with grain, and Martius scornfully exclaims that the citizens know nothing: their beliefs are all stories told "by th'fire." He reports that the other uprising has been quelled, and that the senate have allowed the citizens to choose "Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms," including Sicinius and Brutus. He expresses disapproval and tells the "fragments" of th
e crowd to go home. A messenger brings news that the Volsces are prepared for war, and Martius callously suggests that this will help rid Rome of the "musty superfluity" of citizens. Members of the senate arrive to confirm that war is imminent, and Martius mentions the leader of the Volsces, Tullus Aufidius, calling him a "lion." A senator reminds Martius of his promise to serve as second to Cominius, and Martius says that he will be "constant" to this. The senators ask Cominius to lead them to the Capitol and the citizens disperse.

  Lines 260-294: Sicinius and Brutus discuss Martius' pride. Sicinius wonders that Martius' "insolence can brook to be commanded / Under Cominius," but Brutus points out that if they fail, Cominius will be blamed, but if it goes well, the credit will go to Martius.

  ACT 1 SCENE 2

  In Corioles, Aufidius and the Volscian senators discuss the forthcoming conflict. Aufidius is angry that the Romans appear to be informed about Volscian military plans, although, ironically, he has a letter informing him of movements in Rome. The senators send Aufidius into battle, confident that Rome will not be prepared, although he is certain it will be and telling them that he and his "old enemy" Caius Martius have sworn to fight to the death.

  ACT 1 SCENE 3

  In Rome, the focus shifts from the public/political sphere to a private, domestic setting as Martius' mother and wife sit sewing, although their conversation concerns Martius and the forthcoming conflict. Volumnia tells Virgilia that she should "rejoice" in her husband's absence, as the "honour" that he wins at war is better than "the embracements of his bed." She describes how, even though he was "the only son of [her] womb," and still "tender-bodied," she encouraged Martius to go to war when he was younger. Virgilia asks how she would have felt if Martius had died, but Volumnia argues that she would have been proud that her son had died "nobly" for Rome. The arrival of Valeria is announced, and Virgilia begs to be allowed to retire. Volumnia refuses her request, telling her that she expects news of Martius, and imagining his valiant but bloody deeds in battle. She describes how Martius will "beat Aufidius' head below his knee / And tread upon his neck." Virgilia is horrified, but her mother-in-law calls her a "fool." Valeria enters and comments on the ladies' sewing, a strange counterpoint to the talk of violence, before asking after Martius and Virgilia's son. Volumnia boasts of her grandson's bloodthirsty nature, describing how he caught a "gilded butterfly" and then "set his teeth to tear it." Valeria invites the ladies to go visiting with her, but Virgilia refuses, insisting that she will not leave her home until Martius returns from the wars. The others try to persuade her but she is unmoved.