Enter the two Tribunes. Sicinius and Brutus.SICINIUS We hear not of him, neither need we fear him. His remedies are tame—the present peace, And quietness of the people, which before Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends5 Blush that the world goes well, who rather had, Though they themselves did suffer by ’t, behold Dissentious numbers pest’ring streets than see Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going About their functions friendly.BRUTUS 10 We stood to ’t in good time.Enter Menenius. Is this Menenius?SICINIUS ’Tis he, ’tis he. O, he is grown most kind Of late.—Hail, sir.MENENIUS Hail to you both.SICINIUS 15 Your Coriolanus is not much missed But with his friends. The commonwealth doth stand, And so would do were he more angry at it.
215
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 6
MENENIUS All’s well, and might have been much better if He could have temporized.SICINIUS 20Where is he, hear you?MENENIUS Nay, I hear nothing; His mother and his wife hear nothing from him.Enter three or four Citizens.ALL ⌜CITIZENS, to the Tribunes⌝ The gods preserve you both!SICINIUS 25 Good e’en, our neighbors.BRUTUS Good e’en to you all, good e’en to you all.FIRST CITIZEN Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees Are bound to pray for you both.SICINIUS Live, and thrive!BRUTUS 30 Farewell, kind neighbors. We wished Coriolanus Had loved you as we did.ALL ⌜CITIZENS⌝ Now the gods keep you!BOTH TRIBUNES Farewell, farewell.Citizens exit.SICINIUS This is a happier and more comely time35 Than when these fellows ran about the streets Crying confusion.BRUTUS Caius Martius was A worthy officer i’ th’ war, but insolent, O’ercome with pride, ambitious, past all thinking40 Self-loving.SICINIUS And affecting one sole throne, without assistance.MENENIUS I think not so.SICINIUS We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so.
217
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 6
BRUTUS 45 The gods have well prevented it, and Rome Sits safe and still without him.Enter an Aedile.AEDILE Worthy tribunes, There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports the Volsces with two several powers50 Are entered in the Roman territories, And with the deepest malice of the war Destroy what lies before ’em.MENENIUS ’Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Martius’ banishment,55 Thrusts forth his horns again into the world, Which were inshelled when Martius stood for Rome, And durst not once peep out.SICINIUS Come, what talk you of Martius?BRUTUS Go see this rumorer whipped. It cannot be60 The Volsces dare break with us.MENENIUS 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 fellow65 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.SICINIUS Tell not me.70 I know this cannot be.BRUTUS Not possible.Enter a Messenger.MESSENGER The nobles in great earnestness are going
219
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 6
All to the Senate House. Some news is coming That turns their countenances.SICINIUS 75 ’Tis this slave— Go whip him ’fore the people’s eyes—his raising, Nothing but his report.MESSENGER Yes, worthy sir, The slave’s report is seconded, and more,80 More fearful, is delivered.SICINIUS What more fearful?MESSENGER It is spoke freely out of many mouths— How probable I do not know—that Martius, Joined with Aufidius, leads a power ’gainst Rome85 And vows revenge as spacious as between The young’st and oldest thing.SICINIUS This is most likely!BRUTUS Raised only that the weaker sort may wish Good Martius home again.SICINIUS 90The very trick on ’t.MENENIUS This is unlikely; He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violent’st contrariety.Enter ⌜a Second⌝ Messenger.⌜SECOND⌝ MESSENGER You are sent for to the Senate.95 A fearful army, led by Caius Martius Associated with Aufidius, rages Upon our territories, and have already O’erborne their way, consumed with fire and took What lay before them.Enter Cominius.COMINIUS, ⌜to the Tribunes⌝ 100 O, you have made good work!MENENIUS What news? What news?
221
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 6
COMINIUS, ⌜to the Tribunes⌝ You have holp to ravish your own daughters and To melt the city leads upon your pates,105 To see your wives dishonored to your noses—MENENIUS What’s the news? What’s the news?COMINIUS, ⌜to the Tribunes⌝ Your temples burnèd in their cement, and Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined Into an auger’s bore.MENENIUS 110 Pray now, your news?— You have made fair work, I fear me.—Pray, your news? If Martius should be joined with Volscians—COMINIUS If?115 He is their god; he leads them like a thing Made by some other deity than Nature, That shapes man better; and they follow him Against us brats with no less confidence Than boys pursuing summer butterflies120 Or butchers killing flies.MENENIUS, ⌜to the Tribunes⌝ You have made good work, You and your apron-men, you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation and The breath of garlic eaters!COMINIUS 125 He’ll shake your Rome about your ears.MENENIUS As Hercules did shake down mellow fruit. You have made fair work.BRUTUS But is this true, sir?COMINIUS Ay, and you’ll look pale130 Before you find it other. All the regions Do smilingly revolt, and who resists Are mocked for valiant ignorance And perish constant fools. Who is ’t can blame him? Your enemies and his find something in him.
223
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 6
MENENIUS 135We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy.COMINIUS Who shall ask it? The Tribunes cannot do ’t for shame; the people Deserve such pity of him as the wolf140 Does of the shepherds. For his best friends, if they Should say “Be good to Rome,” they charged him even As those should do that had deserved his hate And therein showed like enemies.MENENIUS 145 ’Tis true. If he were putting to my house the brand That should consume it, I have not the face To say “Beseech you, cease.”—You have made fair hands,150 You and your crafts! You have crafted fair!COMINIUS You have brought A trembling upon Rome such as was never S’ incapable of help.TRIBUNES 155 Say not we brought it.MENENIUS How? Was ’t we? We loved him, but like beasts And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters, Who did hoot him out o’ th’ city.COMINIUS But I fear160 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 defense That Rome can make against them.Enter a troop of Citizens.MENENIUS 165 Here come the clusters.— And is Aufidius with him? You are they
225
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 6
That made the air unwholesome when you cast Your stinking, greasy caps in hooting at170 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 And pay you for your voices. ’Tis no matter.175 If he could burn us all into one coal, We have deserved it.ALL ⌜CITIZENS⌝ Faith, we hear fearful news.FIRST CITIZEN For mine own part, When I said banish him, I said ’twas pity.SECOND CITIZEN 180And so did I.THIRD CITIZEN And so did I. And, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did we did for the best; and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will.COMINIUS 185You’re goodly things, you voices!MENENIUS You have made good work, you and your cry!— Shall ’s to the Capitol?COMINIUS O, ay, what else?Both exit.SICINIUS Go, masters, get you home. Be not dismayed.190 These are a side that would be glad to have This true which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear.FIRST CITIZEN The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let’s home. I ever said we were i’ th’ wrong when195 we banished him.SECOND CITIZEN So did we all. But, come, let’s home.Citizens exit.BRUTUS I do not like this news.SICINIUS Nor I.
227
Coriolanus
ACT 4. SC. 7
BRUTUS Let’s to the Capitol. Would half my wealth200 Would buy this for a lie.SICINIUS Pray, let’s go.Tribunes exit.