The Tragedy of Coriolanus

THE TRAGEDY OF CORIOLANUS

by William Shakespeare

PERSONS REPRESENTED

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman

TITUS LARTIUS, General against the Volscians

COMINIUS, General against the Volscians

MENENIUS AGRIPPA, Friend to Coriolanus

SICINIUS VELUTUS, Tribune of the People

JUNIUS BRUTUS, Tribune of the People

YOUNG MARCIUS, son to Coriolanus

A ROMAN HERALD

TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volscians

LIEUTENANT, to Aufidius

Conspirators with Aufidius

A CITIZEN of Antium

TWO VOLSCIAN GUARDS

VOLUMNIA, Mother to Coriolanus

VIRGILIA, Wife to Coriolanus

VALERIA, Friend to Virgilia

GENTLEWOMAN attending on Virgilia

Roman and Volscian Senators, Patricians, Aediles, Lictors,

Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants to Aufidius, and other

Attendants

SCENE: Partly in Rome, and partly in the territories of the Volscians and Antiates

ACT I

SCENE I. Rome. A street

[Enter a company of mutinous citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons.]

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.
 

ALL

 
Speak, speak.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?
 

ALL

 
Resolved, resolved.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.
 

ALL

 
We know't, we know't.
FIRST CITIZEN. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?
 

ALL

 
No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
One word, good citizens.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us; if they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. – Let us revenge this with our pikes ere we become rakes: for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Consider you what services he has done for his country?
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Nay, but speak not maliciously.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. I say unto you, what he hath done famously he did it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.
 
 
SECOND CITIZEN. What he cannot help in his nature you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o' the city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!
 

ALL

 
Come, come.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Soft! who comes here?
 

SECOND CITIZEN

 
Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
He's one honest enough; would all the rest were so!
 

[Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA.]

MENENIUS

 
What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you
With bats and clubs? the matter? speak, I pray you.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too.
 

MENENIUS

 
Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours,
Will you undo yourselves?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
We cannot, sir; we are undone already.
 

MENENIUS

 
I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the patricians of you. For your wants,
Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them
Against the Roman state; whose course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong link asunder than can ever
Appear in your impediment: for the dearth,
The gods, not the patricians, make it; and
Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack,
You are transported by calamity
Thither where more attends you; and you slander
The helms o' th' state, who care for you like fathers,
When you curse them as enemies.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us.
 

MENENIUS

 
Either you must
Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you
A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it;
But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture
To stale't a little more.
 
 
FIRST CITIZEN. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver.
 

MENENIUS

 
There was a time when all the body's members
Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it: —
That only like a gulf it did remain
I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest; where th' other instruments
Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answered, —
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
 

MENENIUS

 
Sir, I shall tell you. – With a kind of smile,
Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus, —
For, look you, I may make the belly smile
As well as speak, – it tauntingly replied
To the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly
As you malign our senators for that
They are not such as you.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Your belly's answer? What!
The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,
With other muniments and petty helps
Is this our fabric, if that they, —
 

MENENIUS

 
What then? —
'Fore me, this fellow speaks! – what then? what then?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,
Who is the sink o' the body, —
 

MENENIUS

 
Well, what then?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
The former agents, if they did complain,
What could the belly answer?
 

MENENIUS

 
I will tell you;
If you'll bestow a small, – of what you have little, —
Patience awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer.
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
You are long about it.
 

MENENIUS

 
Note me this, good friend;
Your most grave belly was deliberate,
Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd:
'True is it, my incorporate friends,' quoth he,
'That I receive the general food at first
Which you do live upon; and fit it is,
Because I am the storehouse and the shop
Of the whole body: but, if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood,
Even to the court, the heart, – to the seat o' the brain;
And, through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live: and though that all at once
You, my good friends,' – this says the belly, – mark me, —
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
Ay, sir; well, well.
 

MENENIUS

 
'Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each,
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flour of all,
And leave me but the bran.' What say you to't?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
It was an answer: how apply you this?
 

MENENIUS

 
The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members; for, examine
Their counsels and their cares; digest things rightly
Touching the weal o' the common; you shall find
No public benefit which you receive
But it proceeds or comes from them to you,
And no way from yourselves. – What do you think,
You, the great toe of this assembly?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
I the great toe? why the great toe?
 

MENENIUS

 
For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'st first to win some vantage. —
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs:
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;
The one side must have bale. —
 

[Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.]

 

 
Hail, noble Marcius!
 

MARCIUS

 
Thanks. – What's the matter, you dissentious rogues
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?
 

FIRST CITIZEN

 
We have ever your good word.
 

MARCIUS

 
He that will give good words to thee will flatter
Beneath abhorring. – What would you have, you curs,
That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ic,
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is
To make him worthy whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness
Deserves your hate; and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye!
With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile that was your garland. What's the matter,
That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another? – What's their seeking?
 

MENENIUS

 
For corn at their own rates; whereof they say
The city is well stor'd.
 

MARCIUS

 
Hang 'em! They say!
They'll sit by th' fire and presume to know
What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise,
Who thrives and who declines; side factions, and give out
Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain enough!
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth
And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.
 

MENENIUS

 
Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?
 

MARCIUS

 
They are dissolved: hang 'em!
They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs, —
That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat,
That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not
Corn for the rich men only: – with these shreds
They vented their complainings; which being answer'd,
And a petition granted them, – a strange one,
To break the heart of generosity,
And make bold power look pale, – they threw their caps
As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon,
Shouting their emulation.
 

MENENIUS

 
What is granted them?
 

MARCIUS

 
Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. – 'Sdeath!
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city
Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time
Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection's arguing.
 

MENENIUS

 
This is strange.
 

MARCIUS

 
Go get you home, you fragments!
 

[Enter a MESSENGER, hastily.]

MESSENGER

 
Where's Caius Marcius?
 

MARCIUS

 
Here: what's the matter?
 

MESSENGER

 
The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
 

MARCIUS

 
I am glad on't: then we shall ha' means to vent
Our musty superfluity. – See, our best elders.
 

[Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS.]

FIRST SENATOR

 
Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us: —
The Volsces are in arms.
 

MARCIUS

 
They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I sin in envying his nobility;
And were I anything but what I am,
I would wish me only he.
 

COMINIUS

 
You have fought together.
 

MARCIUS

 
Were half to half the world by the ears, and he
Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make
Only my wars with him: he is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Then, worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
 

COMINIUS

 
It is your former promise.
 

MARCIUS

 
Sir, it is;
And I am constant. – Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?
 

TITUS LARTIUS

 
No, Caius Marcius;
I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with the other
Ere stay behind this business.
 

MENENIUS

 
O, true bred!
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Your company to the Capitol; where, I know,
Our greatest friends attend us.
 

TITUS LARTIUS

 
Lead you on.
Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy your priority.
 

COMINIUS

 
Noble Marcius!
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Hence to your homes; be gone!
 

[To the Citizens.]

MARCIUS

 
Nay, let them follow:
The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither
To gnaw their garners. – Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth: pray follow.
 

[Exeunt Senators, COM., MAR, TIT., and MENEN. Citizens steal away.]

SICINIUS

 
Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
 

BRUTUS

 
He has no equal.
 

SICINIUS

 
When we were chosen tribunes for the people, —
 

BRUTUS

 
Mark'd you his lip and eyes?
 

SICINIUS

 
Nay, but his taunts!
 

BRUTUS

 
Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods.
 

SICINIUS

 
Bemock the modest moon.
 

BRUTUS

 
The present wars devour him: he is grown
Too proud to be so valiant.
 

SICINIUS

 
Such a nature,
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder
His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.
 

BRUTUS

 
Fame, at the which he aims, —
In whom already he is well grac'd, – cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To th' utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius 'O, if he
Had borne the business!'
 

SICINIUS

 
Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
 

BRUTUS

 
Come:
Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,
In aught he merit not.
 

SICINIUS

 
Let's hence and hear
How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than in singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.
 

BRUTUS

 
Let's along.
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House

[Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain SENATORS.]

FIRST SENATOR

 
So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels
And know how we proceed.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
Is it not yours?
What ever have been thought on in this state,
That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention! 'Tis not four days gone
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think
I have the letter here; yes, here it is:
 

[Reads.]

 

 
'They have pressed a power, but it is not known
Whether for east or west: the dearth is great;
The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, —
Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, —
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you:
Consider of it.'
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Our army's in the field:
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
Nor did you think it folly
To keep your great pretences veil'd till when
They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,
It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,
To take in many towns ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
Noble Aufidius,
Take your commission; hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli:
If they set down before's, for the remove
Bring up your army; but I think you'll find
They've not prepared for us.
 

AUFIDIUS

 
O, doubt not that;
I speak from certainties. Nay, more,
Some parcels of their power are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike
Till one can do no more.
 

ALL

 
The gods assist you!
 

AUFIDIUS

 
And keep your honours safe!
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Farewell.
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
Farewell.
ALL. Farewell.
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III. Rome. An apartmnet in MARCIUS' house

[Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA; they sit down on two low stools and sew.]

 
VOLUMNIA. I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort; if my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I, – considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall if renown made it not stir; – was pleased to let him seek danger where he was to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.
 

VIRGILIA

 
But had he died in the business, madam? how then?
 
 
VOLUMNIA. Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely, – had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.
 

[Enter a GENTLEWOMAN.]

GENTLEWOMAN

 
Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
 

VIRGILIA

 
Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
 

VOLUMNIA

 
Indeed you shall not.
Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum;
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:
Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus: —
'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear
Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes,
Like to a harvest-man that's tasked to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.
 

VIRGILIA

 
His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!
 

VOLUMNIA

 
Away, you fool! It more becomes a man
Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords contending. – Tell Valeria
We are fit to bid her welcome.
 

[Exit GENTLEWOMAN.]

VIRGILIA

 
Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
 

VOLUMNIA

 
He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.
 

[Re-enter GENTLEWOMAN, with VALERIA and her Usher.]

VALERIA

 
My ladies both, good-day to you.
 

VOLUMNIA

 
Sweet madam.
 

VIRGILIA

 
I am glad to see your ladyship.
VALERIA. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. – How does your little son?
 

VIRGILIA

 
I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.
 
 
VOLUMNIA. He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster.
 
 
VALERIA. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday, half an hour together: has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again; or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked it!
 

VOLUMNIA

 
One on's father's moods.
 

VALERIA

 
Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
 

VIRGILIA

 
A crack, madam.
VALERIA. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.
 

VIRGILIA

 
No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
 

VALERIA

 
Not out of doors!
 

VOLUMNIA

 
She shall, she shall.
 
 
VIRGILIA. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.
 
 
VALERIA. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably; come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
 
 
VIRGILIA. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.
 

VOLUMNIA

 
Why, I pray you?
 

VIRGILIA

 
'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.
 
 
VALERIA. You would be another Penelope; yet they say all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. – Come, you shall go with us.
 

VIRGILIA

 
No, good madam, pardon me; indeed I will not forth.
VALERIA. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband.
 

VIRGILIA

 
O, good madam, there can be none yet.
VALERIA. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.
 

VIRGILIA

 
Indeed, madam?
 
 
VALERIA. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: – the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.
 
 
VIRGILIA. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in everything hereafter.
 
 
VOLUMNIA. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.
 
 
VALERIA. In troth, I think she would. – Fare you well, then. – Come, good sweet lady. – Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door and go along with us.
 

VIRGILIA

 
No, at a word, madam; indeed I must not. I wish you much mirth.
 

VALERIA

 
Well then, farewell.
 

[Exeunt.]