Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentry,
Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators. CORIOLANUS
Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? LARTIUS
He had, my lord, and that it was which caused
Our swifter composition. CORIOLANUS
So then the Volsces stand but as at first,
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road 5
Upon ’s again. COMINIUS They are worn, lord consul, so,
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again. CORIOLANUS Saw you Aufidius? 10 LARTIUS
On safeguard he came to me, and did curse
Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town. He is retired to Antium. CORIOLANUS
Spoke he of me? LARTIUS He did, my lord. 15 CORIOLANUS How? What? LARTIUS
How often he had met you sword to sword;
That of all things upon the earth he hated
Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes
To hopeless restitution, so he might 20
Be called your vanquisher. CORIOLANUS At Antium lives he? LARTIUS At Antium. CORIOLANUS
I wish I had a cause to seek him there,
To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. 25 | On a street in Rome, Coriolanus, Cominius, and Titus Lartius have a little chit-chat about Tullus Aufidius. Apparently, Aufidius has slapped together a new Volscian army that is ready to rumble with Rome again. Oh, this can't be good. |
Enter Sicinius and Brutus. Behold, these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o’ th’ common mouth. I do despise
them,
For they do prank them in authority
Against all noble sufferance. 30 SICINIUS Pass no further. CORIOLANUS Ha? What is that? BRUTUS
It will be dangerous to go on. No further. CORIOLANUS What makes this change? MENENIUS The matter? 35 COMINIUS
Hath he not passed the noble and the common? BRUTUS
Cominius, no. CORIOLANUS Have I had children’s voices? FIRST SENATOR
Tribunes, give way. He shall to th’ marketplace. BRUTUS
The people are incensed against him. 40 SICINIUS Stop,
Or all will fall in broil. | Now Sicinius and Brutus show up with more bad news: the plebeians have
changed their minds and no longer want Coriolanus to be elected consul.
They're all "Gee. Tough break, Coriolanus." |
CORIOLANUS Are these your herd?
Must these have voices, that can yield them now
And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your 45
offices?
You being their mouths, why rule you not their
teeth?
Have you not set them on? MENENIUS Be calm, be calm. 50 CORIOLANUS
It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot,
To curb the will of the nobility.
Suffer ’t, and live with such as cannot rule
Nor ever will be ruled. | Coriolanus is seriously ticked off when he hears the news. He accuses
the tribunes of turning the people against him. (Which they did, by the
way.) |
BRUTUS Call ’t not a plot. 55
The people cry you mocked them; and, of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repined,
Scandaled the suppliants for the people, called them
Timepleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. CORIOLANUS
Why, this was known before. 60 BRUTUS Not to them all. CORIOLANUS
Have you informed them sithence? BRUTUS How? I inform
them? COMINIUS You are like to do such business. 65 BRUTUS
Not unlike, each way, to better yours. CORIOLANUS
Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds,
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow tribune. SICINIUS You show too much of that 70
For which the people stir. If you will pass
To where you are bound, you must inquire your
way,
Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit,
Or never be so noble as a consul, 75
Nor yoke with him for tribune. MENENIUS Let’s be calm. COMINIUS
The people are abused, set on. This palt’ring
Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus
Deserved this so dishonored rub, laid falsely 80
I’ th’ plain way of his merit. | Naturally, Sicinius and Brutus act all innocent and go through a big "Who, us?" routine. |
CORIOLANUS Tell me of corn?
This was my speech, and I will speak ’t again. MENENIUS
Not now, not now. FIRST SENATOR Not in this heat, sir, now. 85 CORIOLANUS Now, as I live, I will.
My nobler friends, I crave their pardons. For
The mutable, rank-scented meiny, let them
Regard me, as I do not flatter, and
Therein behold themselves. I say again, 90In soothing them, we nourish ’gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plowed for, sowed, and
scattered
By mingling them with us, the honored number, 95
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they have given to beggars. MENENIUS Well, no more. FIRST SENATOR
No more words, we beseech you. CORIOLANUS How? No more? 100
As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay against those measles
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them. 105 BRUTUS You speak o’ th’ people
As if you were a god to punish, not
A man of their infirmity. SICINIUS ’Twere well
We let the people know ’t. 110 MENENIUS What, what? His choler? CORIOLANUS Choler?
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,
By Jove, ’twould be my mind. SICINIUS It is a mind 115
That shall remain a poison where it is,
Not poison any further. CORIOLANUS “Shall remain”?
Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you
His absolute “shall”? 120 COMINIUS ’Twas from the canon. CORIOLANUS “Shall”?
O good but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer, 125
That with his peremptory “shall,” being but
The horn and noise o’ th’ monster’s, wants not spirit
To say he’ll turn your current in a ditch
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake 130
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators; and they are no less
When, both your voices blended, the great’st taste 135
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate,
And such a one as he, who puts his “shall,”
His popular “shall,” against a graver bench
Than ever frowned in Greece. By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base! And my soul aches 140
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter ’twixt the gap of both and take
The one by th’ other. COMINIUS Well, on to th’ marketplace. 145 CORIOLANUS
Whoever gave that counsel to give forth
The corn o’ th’ storehouse gratis, as ’twas used
Sometime in Greece— MENENIUS Well, well, no more of that. | Then Coriolanus does exactly what the tribunes were hoping he would do. He flips out and turns into a giant rage-a-holic who says all the wrong things. He bashes the plebeians and goes off about how much he hates them and why he thinks the "rabble" shouldn't have any say in how a government is run. |
CORIOLANUS
Though there the people had more absolute power, 150
I say they nourished disobedience, fed
The ruin of the state. BRUTUS Why shall the people give
One that speaks thus their voice? CORIOLANUS I’ll give my reasons, 155
More worthier than their voices. They know the
corn
Was not our recompense, resting well assured
They ne’er did service for ’t. Being pressed to th’ war,
Even when the navel of the state was touched, 160
They would not thread the gates. This kind of
service
Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i’ th’ war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they showed
Most valor, spoke not for them. Th’ accusation 165
Which they have often made against the Senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied digest
The Senate’s courtesy? Let deeds express 170
What’s like to be their words: “We did request it;
We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands.” Thus we debase
The nature of our seats and make the rabble
Call our cares fears, which will in time 175
Break ope the locks o’ th’ Senate and bring in
The crows to peck the eagles. MENENIUS Come, enough. BRUTUS
Enough, with over-measure. CORIOLANUS No, take more! 180
What may be sworn by, both divine and human,
Seal what I end withal! This double worship—
Where one part does disdain with cause, the other
Insult without all reason, where gentry, title,
wisdom 185
Cannot conclude but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance—it must omit
Real necessities and give way the while
To unstable slightness. Purpose so barred, it follows
Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech 190
you—
You that will be less fearful than discreet,
That love the fundamental part of state
More than you doubt the change on ’t, that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish 195
To jump a body with a dangerous physic
That’s sure of death without it—at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonor
Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state 200
Of that integrity which should become ’t,
Not having the power to do the good it would
For th’ ill which doth control ’t. | Coriolanus then threatens to take away the plebeians' right to elect tribunes. |
BRUTUS ’Has said enough. SICINIUS
’Has spoken like a traitor and shall answer 205
As traitors do. CORIOLANUS Thou wretch, despite o’erwhelm thee!
What should the people do with these bald tribunes,
On whom depending, their obedience fails
To th’ greater bench? In a rebellion, 210
When what’s not meet but what must be was law,
Then were they chosen. In a better hour,
Let what is meet be said it must be meet,
And throw their power i’ th’ dust. BRUTUS Manifest treason. 215 SICINIUS This a consul? No. BRUTUS The aediles, ho! Let him be apprehended. Enter an Aedile. SICINIUS
Go, call the people; Aedile exits. in whose name
myself
Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, 220
A foe to th’ public weal. Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer. CORIOLANUS Hence, old goat. ALL PATRICIANS
We’ll surety him. COMINIUS, to Sicinius Agèd sir, hands off. 225 CORIOLANUS, to SiciniusHence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones
Out of thy garments. | Big mistake. Sicinius and Brutus accuse Coriolanus of treason and demand that he be arrested ASAP. (Remember, the whole concept of a Roman Republic revolves around the idea that the government is elected by voters who have a say in how things should be run.) |
SICINIUS Help, you citizens! Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles. MENENIUS On both sides more respect! SICINIUS
Here’s he that would take from you all your power. 230 BRUTUS Seize him, aediles. ALL PLEBEIANS Down with him, down with him! SECOND SENATOR Weapons, weapons, weapons!
They all bustle about Coriolanus.
Tribunes, patricians, citizens, what ho!
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens! 235 ALL Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace! MENENIUS
What is about to be? I am out of breath.
Confusion’s near. I cannot speak. You, tribunes
To th’ people!—Coriolanus, patience!—
Speak, good Sicinius. 240 SICINIUS Hear me, people! Peace! ALL PLEBEIANS
Let’s hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak. SICINIUS
You are at point to lose your liberties.
Martius would have all from you, Martius,
Whom late you have named for consul. 245 MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench. FIRST SENATOR
To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. SICINIUS
What is the city but the people? ALL PLEBEIANS True, 250
The people are the city. BRUTUS
By the consent of all, we were established
The people’s magistrates. ALL PLEBEIANS You so remain. MENENIUS And so are like to do. 255 CORIOLANUS
That is the way to lay the city flat,
To bring the roof to the foundation
And bury all which yet distinctly ranges
In heaps and piles of ruin. SICINIUS This deserves death. 260 BRUTUS
Or let us stand to our authority
Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o’ th’ people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy
Of present death. 265 SICINIUS Therefore lay hold of him,
Bear him to th’ rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him. BRUTUS Aediles, seize him! ALL PLEBEIANS
Yield, Martius, yield! 270 MENENIUS Hear me one word.
Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. AEDILES Peace, peace! MENENIUS
Be that you seem, truly your country’s friend,
And temp’rately proceed to what you would 275
Thus violently redress. BRUTUS Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous
Where the disease is violent.—Lay hands upon him,
And bear him to the rock. 280
Coriolanus draws his sword. CORIOLANUS No, I’ll die here.
There’s some among you have beheld me fighting.
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. MENENIUS
Down with that sword!—Tribunes, withdraw awhile. BRUTUS
Lay hands upon him! 285 MENENIUS Help Martius, help!
You that be noble, help him, young and old! ALL PLEBEIANS Down with him, down with him! In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Aediles, and the People
are beat in.
| By this time, the mob of plebeians has rushed back onto the scene to demand Coriolanus' death. |
MENENIUS, to Coriolanus
Go, get you to your house. Begone, away.
All will be naught else. 290 SECOND SENATOR Get you gone. CORIOLANUS Stand fast!
We have as many friends as enemies. MENENIUS
Shall it be put to that? FIRST SENATOR The gods forbid!— 295
I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause. MENENIUS For ’tis a sore upon us
You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you. COMINIUS Come, sir, along with us. 300 CORIOLANUS
I would they were barbarians, as they are,
Though in Rome littered; not Romans, as they are
not,
Though calved i’ th’ porch o’ th’ Capitol. MENENIUS Begone! 305
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue.
One time will owe another. CORIOLANUS On fair ground
I could beat forty of them. MENENIUS I could myself 310
Take up a brace o’ th’ best of them, yea, the two
tribunes. COMINIUS
But now ’tis odds beyond arithmetic,
And manhood is called foolery when it stands
Against a falling fabric. To Coriolanus. Will you 315
hence,
Before the tag return, whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters and o’erbear
What they are used to bear? MENENIUS, to Coriolanus Pray you, begone. 320
I’ll try whether my old wit be in request
With those that have but little. This must be patched
With cloth of any color. COMINIUS Nay, come away.
Coriolanus and Cominius exit. | Fortunately for Coriolanus, the Senators help him escape the angry mob. |
PATRICIAN This man has marred his fortune. 325 MENENIUS
His nature is too noble for the world.
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident
Or Jove for ’s power to thunder. His heart’s his
mouth;
What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent, 330
And, being angry, does forget that ever
He heard the name of death. A noise within.
Here’s goodly work. PATRICIAN I would they were abed! MENENIUS
I would they were in Tiber. What the vengeance, 335
Could he not speak ’em fair? Enter Brutus and Sicinius with the rabble again. SICINIUS Where is this viper
That would depopulate the city and
Be every man himself? MENENIUS You worthy tribunes— 340 SICINIUS
He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock
With rigorous hands. He hath resisted law,
And therefore law shall scorn him further trial
Than the severity of the public power
Which he so sets at naught. 345 FIRST CITIZEN He shall well know
The noble tribunes are the people’s mouths
And we their hands. ALL PLEBEIANS He shall, sure on ’t. MENENIUS Sir, sir— 350 SICINIUS Peace! MENENIUS
Do not cry havoc where you should but hunt
With modest warrant. SICINIUS Sir, how comes ’t that you
Have holp to make this rescue? 355 MENENIUS Hear me speak.
As I do know the Consul’s worthiness,
So can I name his faults. SICINIUS Consul? What consul? MENENIUS The consul Coriolanus. 360 BRUTUS He consul? ALL PLEBEIANS No, no, no, no, no! MENENIUS
If, by the Tribunes’ leave, and yours, good people,
I may be heard, I would crave a word or two,
The which shall turn you to no further harm 365
Than so much loss of time. SICINIUS Speak briefly then,
For we are peremptory to dispatch
This viperous traitor. To eject him hence
Were but one danger, and to keep him here 370
Our certain death. Therefore it is decreed
He dies tonight. MENENIUS Now the good gods forbid
That our renownèd Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deservèd children is enrolled 375
In Jove’s own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own. SICINIUS
He’s a disease that must be cut away. | Sicinius tells the mob that Coriolanus is a "disease that must be cut
away." (Get your highlighters out because that's important. More on this
in "Symbols.") |
MENENIUS
O, he’s a limb that has but a disease—
Mortal to cut it off; to cure it easy. 380
What has he done to Rome that’s worthy death?
Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost—
Which I dare vouch is more than that he hath
By many an ounce—he dropped it for his country;
And what is left, to lose it by his country 385
Were to us all that do ’t and suffer it
A brand to th’ end o’ th’ world. SICINIUS This is clean cam. BRUTUS
Merely awry. When he did love his country,
It honored him. 390 SICINIUS The service of the foot,
Being once gangrened, is not then respected
For what before it was. BRUTUS We’ll hear no more.
Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence, 395
Lest his infection, being of catching nature,
Spread further. MENENIUS One word more, one word!
This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find
The harm of unscanned swiftness, will too late 400
Tie leaden pounds to ’s heels. Proceed by process,
Lest parties—as he is beloved—break out
And sack great Rome with Romans. BRUTUS If it were so— SICINIUS What do you talk? 405
Have we not had a taste of his obedience?
Our aediles smote! Ourselves resisted! Come. MENENIUS
Consider this: he has been bred i’ th’ wars
Since he could draw a sword, and is ill schooled
In bolted language; meal and bran together 410
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I’ll go to him and undertake to bring him
Where he shall answer by a lawful form,
In peace, to his utmost peril. FIRST SENATOR Noble tribunes, 415
It is the humane way: the other course
Will prove too bloody, and the end of it
Unknown to the beginning. SICINIUS Noble Menenius,
Be you then as the people’s officer.— 420
Masters, lay down your weapons. BRUTUS Go not home. SICINIUS
Meet on the marketplace. To Menenius. We’ll
attend you there,
Where if you bring not Martius, we’ll proceed 425
In our first way. MENENIUS I’ll bring him to you.
To Senators. Let me desire your company. He must
come,
Or what is worst will follow. 430 FIRST SENATOR Pray you, let’s to him. All exit. | Menenius finally stops the rioting when he tells the mob that he'll try
to talk some sense into Coriolanus and promises to bring him to the
marketplace for a public meeting. |