What then?
VIRGILIA
What then?
He’d make an end of thy posterity.
VOLUMNIA Bastards and all.
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Romeǃ MENENIUS Come, come, peace.
SICINIUS
I would he had continued to his country
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
BRUTUS
I would he had.
VOLUMNIA
‘I would he had’! ’Twas you incensed 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.
BRUTUS (to Sicinius) Pray, let’s go.
VOLUMNIA 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—
This lady’s husband here, this, do you see?—
Whom you have banished does exceed you all.
BRUTUS
Well, well, we’ll leave you.
SICINIUS
Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
Exeunt tribunes
VOLUMNIA Take my prayers with you.
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.
MENENIUS
You have told them home
And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me?
VOLUMNIA
Anger’s my meat, I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding.
(To Virgilia) Come, let’s go.
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Exeunt Volumnia and Virgilia
MENENIUS
Fie, fie, fie.
Exit
4.3 Enter Nicanor, a Roman, and Adrian, a Volscian
NICANOR I know you well, sir, and you know me. Your name, I think, is Adrian.
ADRIAN It is so, sir. Truly, I have forgot you.
NICANOR I am a Roman, and my services are, as you are, against ’em. Know you me yet?
ADRIAN Nicanor, no?
NICANOR The same, sir.
ADRIAN You had more beard when I last saw you, but your favour is well approved 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.
NICANOR There hath been in Rome strange insurrections, the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.
ADRIAN Hath been?—is it ended then? Our state thinks not so. They are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.
NICANOR The main blaze of it is past, but a small 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 from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.
ADRIAN Coriolanus banished?
NICANOR Banished, sir.
ADRIAN You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.
NICANOR The day serves well for them now. I 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 Coriolanus being now in no request of his country.
ADRIAN He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.
NICANOR I shall between this and supper tell you most strange things from Rome, all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?
ADRIAN A most royal one—the centurions and their charges distinctly billeted already in th’entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour’s warning.
NICANOR I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.
ADRIAN You take my part from me, sir. I have the most cause to be glad of yours.
NICANOR Well, let us go together. Exeunt
4.4 Enter Coriolanus in mean apparel, disguised and muffled
CORIOLANUS
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,
Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones
In puny battle slay me.
Enter a Citizen
Save you, sir.
CITIZEN
And you.
CORIOLANUS Direct me, if it be your will,
Where great Aufidius lies. Is he in Antium?
CITIZEN
He is, and feasts the nobles of the state
At his house this night.
CORIOLANUS
Which is his house, beseech you?
CITIZEN
This here before you.
CORIOLANUS
Thank you, sir. Farewell.
Exit Citizen
O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,
Whose double bosoms seem 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,
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,
Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends
And interjoin their issues. So with me.
My birthplace hate I, and my love’s upon
This enemy town. I’ll enter. If he slay me,
He does fair justice; if he give me way,
I’ll do his country service.
Exit
4.5 Music plays. Enter a Servingman
FIRST SERVINGMAN Wine, wine, wine! What service is here? I think our fellows are asleep.
⌈Exit⌉
Enter a Second Servingman
SECOND SERVINGMAN Where’s Cotus? My master calls for him. Cotus!
Exit
Enter Coriolanus, as before
CORIOLANUS A goodly house. The feast
Smells well, but I appear not like a guest.
Enter the First Servingman
FIRST SERVINGMAN What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here’s no place for you. Pray go to the door.
Exit
CORIOLANUS
I have deserved no better entertainment In being Coriolanus.
Enter Second Servingman
SECOND SERVINGMAN Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray get you out.
CORIOLANUS Away!
SECOND SERVINGMAN Away? Get you away.
CORIOLANUS Now thou’rt troublesome.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.
Enter Third Servingman. The First meets him
THIRD SERVINGMAN What fellow’s this?
FIRST SERVINGMAN A strange one as ever I looked on. I cannot get him out o’th’ house. Prithee, call my master to him.
THIRD SERVINGMAN (to Coriolanus) What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.
CORIOLANUS
Let me but stand. I will not hurt your hearth.
THIRD SERVINGMAN What are you?
CORIOLANUS A gentleman.
THIRD SERVINGMAN A marvellous poor one.
C
ORIOLANUS True, so I am.
THIRD SERVINGMAN Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station. Here’s no place for you. Pray you, avoid. Come.
CORIOLANUS
Follow your function. Go and batten on cold bits.
He pushes him away from him
THIRD SERVINGMAN What, you will not?—Prithee tell my master what a strange guest he has here.
SECOND SERVINGMAN And I shall.
Exit Second Servingman
THIRD SERVINGMAN Where dwell’st thou?
CORIOLANUS Under the canopy.
THIRD SERVINGMAN Under the canopy?
CORIOLANUS Ay.
THIRD SERVINGMAN Where’s that?
CORIOLANUS I’th’ city of kites and crows.
THIRD SERVINGMAN I‘th’ city of kites and crows? What an ass it is! Then thou dwell’st with daws, too?
CORIOLANUS No, I serve not thy master.
THIRD SERVINGMAN How, sir? Do you meddle with my master?
CORIOLANUS Ay, ‘tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress. Thou prat’st and prat’st. Serve with thy trencher. Hence!
He beats him away.
Enter Aufidius, with the Second Servingman
AUFIDIUS Where is this fellow?
SECOND SERVINGMAN Here, sir. I’d have beaten him like a dog but for disturbing the lords within.
⌈The Servingmen stand aside⌉
AUFIDIUS
Whence com‘st thou? What wouldst thou? Thy name?
Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name?
CORIOLANUS ⌈unmuffling his head⌉
If, Tullus,
Not yet thou know’st me, and seeing me dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.
AUFIDIUS What is thy name?
CORIOLANUS
A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears
And harsh in sound to thine.
AUFIDIUS
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?
CORIOLANUS
Prepare thy brow to frown. Know’st thou me yet?
AUFIDIUS I know thee not. Thy name?
CORIOLANUS
My name is Caius Martius, who hath done
To thee particularly, and to all the Volsces,
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
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,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devoured the rest,
And suffered me by th’ voice of slaves to be
Whooped out of Rome. Now this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth. Not out of hope—
Mistake me not—to save my life, for if
I had feared death, of all the men i‘th’ world
I would have ’voided thee, but in mere spite
To be full quit of those my banishers
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge
Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims
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
Against my cankered country with the spleen
Of all the under-fiends. But if so be
Thou dar‘st not this, and that to prove more fortunes
Thou’rt tired, then, in a word, I also am
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 followed thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country’s breast,
And cannot live but to thy shame unless
It be to do thee service.
AUFIDIUS O Martius, Martius!
Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart
A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Should from yon cloud speak divine things
And say “Tis true’, I’d not believe them more
Than thee, all-noble Martius. Let me twine
Mine arms about that body whereagainst
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke,
And scarred the moon with splinters.
(He embraces Coriolanus)
Here I clip
The anvil of my sword, and do contest
As hotly and as nobly with thy love
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I loved the maid I married; never man
Sighed 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
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
Dreamt of encounters ‘twixt thyself and me—
We have been down together in my sleep,
Unbuckling helms, fisting each other’s throat—
And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,
Had we no other quarrel else to Rome but that
Thou art thence banished, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy, and, pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,
Like a bold flood o’erbear’t. O, come, go in,
And take our friendly senators by th’ hands
Who now are here taking their leaves of me,
Who am prepared against your territories,
Though not for Rome itself.
CORIOLANUS
You bless me, gods.
AUFIDIUS
Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have
The leading of thine own revenges, take
Th‘one half of my commission and set down—
As best thou art experienced, 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
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 ere an enemy;
Yet, Martius, that was much. Your hand. Most
welcome!
Exeunt
⌈The two Servingmen come forward⌉
FIRST SERVINGMAN Here’s a strange alteration!
SECOND SERVINGMAN By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel, and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him.
FIRST SERVINGMAN What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb as one would set up a top.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him. He had, sir, a kind of face, methought—I cannot tell how to term it.
FIRST SERVINGMAN He had so, looking, as it were—wou)d I were hanged but I thought there was more in him than I could think.
SECOND SERVINGMAN So did I, I’ll be sworn. He is simply the rarest man i’th’ world.
F
IRST SERVINGMAN I think he is yet a greater soldier than he you wot on.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Who, my master?
FIRST SERVINGMAN Nay, it’s no matter for that.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Worth six on him.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Nay, not so, neither; but I take him to be the greater soldier.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that. For the defence of a town our general is excellent.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Ay, and for an assault too.
Enter the Third Servingman
THIRD SERVINGMAN O, slaves, I can tell you news—news, you rascals!
FIRST and SECOND SERVINGMEN What, what, what? Let’s partake.
THIRD SERVINGMAN I would not be a Roman of all nations.
I had as lief be a condemned man.
FIRST and SECOND SERVINGMEN Wherefore? Wherefore?
THIRD SERVINGMAN Why, here’s he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Martius.
FIRST SERVINGMAN Why do you say ‘thwack our general’?
THIRD SERVINGMAN I do not say ‘thwack our general’; but he was always good enough for him.
SECOND SERVINGMAN Come, we are fellows and friends. He was ever too hard for him. I have heard him say so himself.
FIRST SERVINGMAN He was too hard for him directly. To say the truth on’t, before Corioles he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.
SECOND SERVINGMAN An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too.
FIRST SERVINGMAN But more of thy news!
THIRD SERVINGMAN Why, he is so made on here within as if he were son and heir to Mars; set at upper end o‘th’ 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 up the white o’th’ eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i’th’ middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday, for the other has half by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He’ll go, he says, and sowl the porter of Rome gates by th’ ears. He will mow all down before him, and leave his passage polled.
SECOND SERVINGMAN And he’s as like to do’t as any man I can imagine.
THIRD SERVINGMAN Do’t? He will do’t; for look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies; which friends, sir, as it were durst not—look you, sir—show themselves, as we term it, his friends whilst he’s in dejectitude.
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 357
