Coriolanus

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 any thing 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’ld 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

No, Caius Marcius;
I’ll lean upon one crutch and fight with t’ 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

To Cominius. Lead you on.
To Marcius. Follow Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Cominius Noble Marcius! First Senator To the Citizens. Hence to your homes; be gone! Marcius

Nay, let them follow:
The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners,
Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. Citizens steal away. Exeunt all but Sicinius and Brutus.

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 moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. Sicinius Be-mock 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’s well graced, can not
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 the 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 earned 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 his singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.

Brutus Lets 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 entered 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 press’d 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 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. A room in Marcius’ house.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia: they set them 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 plucked 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 the wall,