PREV | MENU | NEXT

Coriolanus

Act 4, Scene 6

Rome. A public place.	A public place in Rome.
Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS	SICINIUS and BRUTUS enter.
SICINIUS We hear not of him, neither need we fear him; His remedies are tame i’ the present peace And quietness of the people, which before Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends Blush that the world goes well, who rather had, Though they themselves did suffer by’t, behold Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see Our tradesmen with in their shops and going About their functions friendly.	SICINIUS We haven’t heard about him, so we don’t need to fear him. It would be easy to deal with him now, given the peace and quietness of the people, who were in such chaos before. Now we’re making his friends blush because things are going so smoothly. His friends are the ones who would’ve chosen—to their own detriment—to see people arguing in the streets rather than have our tradesmen back in their shops and happily doing their jobs.
BRUTUS We stood to’t in good time.	BRUTUS We turned things around quickly.
Enter MENENIUS	MENENIUS enters.
Is this Menenius?	Is this Menenius?
SICINIUS ’Tis he, ’tis he: O, he is grown most kind of late.	SICINIUS It’s him, it’s him. He has become very kind lately.
BOTH TRIBUNES Hail sir!	BOTH TRIBUNES Greetings, sir!
MENENIUS Hail to you both!	MENENIUS Greetings to you both!
SICINIUS Your Coriolanus Is not much miss’d, but with his friends: The commonwealth doth stand, and so would do, Were he more angry at it.	SICINIUS Coriolanus is not missed much by anyone but his friends now. The people would rise up against him if he were still angry at them.
MENENIUS All’s well; and might have been much better, if He could have temporized.	MENENIUS That’s good. But things would have gone much better if he could have compromised.
SICINIUS Where is he, hear you?	SICINIUS Where is he? Have you heard?
MENENIUS Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife Hear nothing from him.	MENENIUS No, I hear nothing. His mother and his wife hear nothing from him.
Enter three or four Citizens	Three or four Citizens enter.
CITIZENS The gods preserve you both!	CITIZENS The gods preserve you both!
SICINIUS God-den, our neighbours.	SICINIUS Good evening, neighbors.
BRUTUS God-den to you all, god-den to you all.	BRUTUS Good evening to you all, good evening to you all.
FIRST CITIZEN Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, Are bound to pray for you both.	FIRST CITIZEN Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, keep you both in our prayers.
SICINIUS Live, and thrive!	SICINIUS Live and thrive!
BRUTUS Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish’d Coriolanus Had loved you as we did.	BRUTUS Farewell, kind neighbors. We wished Coriolanus had cared for you as much as we do.
CITIZENS Now the gods keep you!	CITIZENS Now the gods keep you!
BOTH TRIBUNES Farewell, farewell.	BOTH TRIBUNES Farewell, farewell.
Exeunt Citizens	The Citizens exit.
SICINIUS This is a happier and more comely time Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying confusion.	SICINIUS This is a happier and more pleasant time than when the people ran in the streets, shouting their wild demands.
BRUTUS Caius Martius was A worthy officer i’ the war; but insolent, O’ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, Self-loving,—	BRUTUS Caius Martius was a brave officer in the war, but he was stubborn, overcome with pride, unreasonably ambitious, narcissistic . . .
SICINIUS And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance.	SICINIUS And he thought there should be only one governing body without any counterbalancing powers.
MENENIUS I think not so.	MENENIUS I don’t think that’s so.
SICINIUS We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so.	SICINIUS If despite our protests he had become consul, we would know this to be true by now.
BRUTUS The gods have well prevented it, and Rome Sits safe and still without him.	BRUTUS The gods have skillfully prevented it, and Rome sits safe and sound without him.
Enter an Aedile	An Aedile enters.
AEDILE Worthy tribunes, There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports, the Volsces with two several powers Are enter’d in the Roman territories, And with the deepest malice of the war Destroy what lies before ’em.	AEDILE Worthy tribunes, we’ve just put a slave in prison who says that the Volsces, in two separate armies, have entered Roman territories and are furiously destroying everything in sight.
MENENIUS ’Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Martius’ banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; Which were inshell’d when Martius stood for Rome, And durst not once peep out.	MENENIUS It’s Aufidius. Hearing of Martius’ banishment, he’s thrusting his horns into the world again. When Martius defended Rome, Aufidius was contained and didn’t once dare to strike out.
SICINIUS Come, what talk you Of Martius?	SICINIUS Why are you talking about Martius now?
BRUTUS Go see this rumourer whipp’d. It cannot be The Volsces dare break with us.	BRUTUS Go stop this rumor. The Volsces can’t have dared to break our peace treaty.
MENENIUS Cannot be! We have record that very well it can, And three examples of the like have been Within my age. But reason with the fellow, 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.	MENENIUS They can’t? We’ve seen many times that they very well can, three times within my own lifetime in fact. Talk with the prisoner before you beat him. Find out where he heard this. Don’t run the risk of punishing the informant who warns you of dreaded news.
SICINIUS Tell not me: I know this cannot be.	SICINIUS Don’t tell me what to do. I know this can’t be true.
BRUTUS Not possible.	BRUTUS It’s not possible.
Enter a Messenger	A Messenger enters.
MESSENGER The nobles in great earnestness are going All to the senate-house: some news is come That turns their countenances.	MESSENGER The nobles are all hurrying to the Senate house. Some news has come that’s making them scowl.
SICINIUS ’Tis this slave;— Go whip him, ’fore the people’s eyes:—his raising; Nothing but his report.	SICINIUS It’s this slave. Go whip him in public view. He’s incited everyone with just his report.
MESSENGER Yes, worthy sir, The slave’s report is seconded; and more, More fearful, is deliver’d.	MESSENGER Worthy sir, the slave’s report has been confirmed, and the news is worse than we feared.
SICINIUS What more fearful?	SICINIUS What could be worse?
MESSENGER It is spoke freely out of many mouths— How probable I do not know—that Martius, Join’d with Aufidius, leads a power ’gainst Rome, And vows revenge as spacious as between The young’st and oldest thing.	MESSENGER Many people, though I don’t know how much they actually know, are openly declaring that Martius has joined with Aufidius and is leading an army against Rome and that he vows revenge on everyone alive.
SICINIUS This is most likely!	SICINIUS This is highly likely!
BRUTUS Raised only, that the weaker sort may wish Good Martius home again.	BRUTUS The weak common people have only been incited in order to welcome Martius home again.
SICINIUS The very trick on’t.	SICINIUS It’s a trick.
MENENIUS This is unlikely: He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety.	MENENIUS That’s unlikely. He and Aufidius can’t agree on anything other than to fight each other.
Enter a second Messenger	A second Messenger enters.
SECOND MESSENGER You are sent for to the senate: 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.	SECOND MESSENGER You’ve been called to the Senate. A frightening army, led by Caius Martius and in conjunction with Aufidius, rages in our territories. They’ve already overcome everything in their way, burned it, and took whatever was left.
Enter COMINIUS	COMINIUS enters.
COMINIUS O, you have made good work!	COMINIUS (to the tribunes) Oh, this is all your fault!
MENENIUS What news? what news?	MENENIUS What news do you have? What news?
COMINIUS You have holp to ravish your own daughters and To melt the city leads upon your pates, To see your wives dishonour’d to your noses,—	COMINIUS You’ve helped to rape your own daughters and melt the city’s lead roofs on your own heads, to see your wives dishonored before your own eyes—
MENENIUS What’s the news? what’s the news?	MENENIUS What’s the news? What’s the news?
COMINIUS Your temples burned in their cement, and Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined Into an auger’s bore.	COMINIUS Your temples have been burned down to their foundations, and your political power reduced to the size of a pinhole.
MENENIUS Pray now, your news? You have made fair work, I fear me.—Pray, your news?— If Martius should be join’d with Volscians,—	MENENIUS Please, give us your news now. You’ve made your point, What’s your news? If Martius has joined with Volsces—
COMINIUS If! 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 butterflies, Or butchers killing flies.	COMINIUS If? Then he is their god. He leads them as if he were a thing made by some other deity than nature, one that makes stronger men. And they follow him, against us children, with the confidence of boys pursuing summer butterflies or butchers killing flies.
MENENIUS You have made good work, You and your apron-men; you that stood so up much on the voice of occupation and The breath of garlic-eaters!	MENENIUS (to the tribunes) This is all your doing, you and the tradesmen you represent. You that built your power on the workmen’s votes and the wishes of the lower class!
COMINIUS He will shake Your Rome about your ears.	COMINIUS He’ll bring Rome to its knees.
MENENIUS As Hercules Did shake down mellow fruit. You have made fair work!	MENENIUS The city is ready to fall like the ripe fruits Hercules had to shake down from the trees. You are responsible for all of this!
BRUTUS But is this true, sir?	BRUTUS But is this true, sir?
COMINIUS Ay; and you’ll look pale Before you find it other. All the regions Do smilingly revolt; and who resist Are mock’d for valiant ignorance, And perish constant fools. Who is’t can blame him? Your enemies and his find something in him.	COMINIUS Yes, and you’ll be dead before it’s otherwise. All the regions are revolting. Whoever resists is mocked for their ignorant courage and then killed as a loyal fool. Who can blame Martius? Your enemies and his find something in him.
MENENIUS We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy.	MENENIUS We’re all doomed unless he has mercy on us.
COMINIUS Who shall ask it? The tribunes cannot do’t for shame; the people Deserve such pity of him as the wolf 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 show’d like enemies.	COMINIUS Who will ask him for mercy? The tribunes are too ashamed, the people deserve his pity like the wolf deserves the shepherds’, and as for his best friends, if they were to ask him to “be good to Rome,” they would be asking of him what his enemies ought to ask, and that would make them appear to be his enemies.
MENENIUS ’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, You and your crafts! you have crafted fair!	MENENIUS It’s true. If he were about to burn my house, I wouldn’t be bold enough to say, “I beg you, stop.” You and your crafty ways! You’ve crafted a real mess here!
COMINIUS You have brought A trembling upon Rome, such as was never So incapable of help.	COMINIUS You’ve brought to Rome a panic without remedy like never before.
BOTH TRIBUNES Say not we brought it.	BOTH TRIBUNES We didn’t bring it.
MENENIUS How! Was it we? we loved him but, like beasts And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters, Who did hoot him out o’ the city.	MENENIUS What? How is it our fault? We supported him but, like beasts and cowardly nobles, we gave way into your crowds of people who drove him out of the city.
COMINIUS But I fear 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 defence, That Rome can make against them.	COMINIUS But I fear the crowds will roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, the second most famous warrior, obeys Martius’ orders as if he were his officer. Desperation is the only defense that Rome can make against them.
Enter a troop of Citizens	A troop of Citizens enter.
MENENIUS Here come the clusters. And is Aufidius with him? You are they That made the air unwholesome, when you cast Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at 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; if he could burn us all into one coal, We have deserved it.	MENENIUS Here come the crowds. Is Aufidius with him? You’re the ones that made the air unwholesome when you tossed up your stinking greasy caps, hooting at Coriolanus’ exile. Now he’s coming, and there’s not a hair on a soldier’s head that won’t become a whip. He’ll cut off every fool’s head that had tossed up a hat to repay you for your votes. If he could burn us all into one coal, we would deserve it.
CITIZENS Faith, we hear fearful news.	CITIZENS Wait, we hear frightening news.
FIRST CITIZEN For mine own part, When I said, banish him, I said ’twas pity.	FIRST CITIZEN At least for me, when I said banish him, I said it out of pity.
SECOND CITIZEN And so did I.	SECOND CITIZEN And 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.	THIRD CITIZEN And so did I. In truth, so did most of us. What we did, we did for the best. And though we agreed to his banishment, it wasn’t what we wanted.
COMINIUS Ye are goodly things, you voices!	COMINIUS You’re making excuses for yourselves!
MENENIUS You have made Good work, you and your cry! Shall’s to the Capitol?	MENENIUS You’ve made a mess, you and your pack! Should we go to the capitol?
COMINIUS O, ay, what else?	COMINIUS Yes, where else?
Exeunt COMINIUS and MENENIUS	COMINIUS and MENENIUS exit.
SICINIUS Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay’d: 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.	SICINIUS Go, masters, get yourselves home. Don’t be dismayed. These people are a faction that would happily have these fears come true. 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’ the wrong when we banished him.	FIRST CITIZEN May the gods be good to us! Come, masters, let’s go home. I always said we were wrong to banish him.
SECOND CITIZEN So did we all. But, come, let’s home.	SECOND CITIZEN We all did. But come, let’s go home.
Exeunt Citizens	The Citizens exit.
BRUTUS I do not like this news.	BRUTUS I don’t like this news.
SICINIUS Nor I.	SICINIUS Nor do I.
BRUTUS Let’s to the Capitol. Would half my wealth Would buy this for a lie!	BRUTUS Let’s go to the capitol. I’d give half my wealth for this to be a lie!
SICINIUS Pray, let us go.	SICINIUS Let’s go.
Exeunt	All exit.