NOBLE You do the nobler. CORIOLANUS I muse my mother
Does not approve me further, who was wont
To call them woolen vassals, things created 10
To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads
In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder
When one but of my ordinance stood up
To speak of peace or war. Enter Volumnia. I talk of you. 15
Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me
False to my nature? Rather say I play
The man I am. | Next he blames his mom, Volumnia, for all his problems. (Seems solid to
us.) He says it was her idea for him to act like a phony politician in
the first place. |
Enter Menenius with the Senators. MENENIUS, to Coriolanus
Come, come, you have been too rough, something 30
too rough.
You must return and mend it. FIRST SENATOR There’s no remedy,
Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst and perish. 35 VOLUMNIA Pray be counseled.
I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger
To better vantage. MENENIUS Well said, noble woman. 40
Before he should thus stoop to th’ herd—but that
The violent fit o’ th’ time craves it as physic
For the whole state—I would put mine armor on,
Which I can scarcely bear. CORIOLANUS What must I do? 45 MENENIUS
Return to th’ Tribunes. CORIOLANUS Well, what then? What then? MENENIUS Repent what you have spoke. CORIOLANUS
For them? I cannot do it to the gods.
Must I then do ’t to them? 50 | Menenius rushes in and begs Coriolanus to go back and apologize to the people. |
VOLUMNIA You are too absolute,
Though therein you can never be too noble
But when extremities speak. I have heard you say
Honor and policy, like unsevered friends,
I’ th’ war do grow together. Grant that, and tell me 55
In peace what each of them by th’ other lose
That they combine not there? CORIOLANUS Tush, tush! MENENIUS A good
demand. 60 VOLUMNIA
If it be honor in your wars to seem
The same you are not, which for your best ends
You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse
That it shall hold companionship in peace
With honor as in war, since that to both 65
It stands in like request? CORIOLANUS Why force you this? VOLUMNIA
Because that now it lies you on to speak
To th’ people, not by your own instruction,
Nor by th’ matter which your heart prompts you, 70
But with such words that are but roted in
Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables
Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth.
Now, this no more dishonors you at all
Than to take in a town with gentle words, 75
Which else would put you to your fortune and
The hazard of much blood.
I would dissemble with my nature where
My fortunes and my friends at stake required
I should do so in honor. I am in this 80
Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you will rather show our general louts
How you can frown than spend a fawn upon ’em
For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard
Of what that want might ruin. 85 MENENIUS Noble lady!—
Come, go with us; speak fair. You may salve so,
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss
Of what is past. VOLUMNIA I prithee now, my son, 90
Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand,
And thus far having stretched it—here be with
them—
Thy knee bussing the stones—for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ ignorant 95
More learnèd than the ears—waving thy head,
Which often thus correcting thy stout heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry
That will not hold the handling. Or say to them
Thou art their soldier and, being bred in broils, 100
Hast not the soft way, which thou dost confess
Were fit for thee to use as they to claim,
In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou hast power and person. 105 MENENIUS This but done
Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours;
For they have pardons, being asked, as free
As words to little purpose. VOLUMNIA Prithee now, 110
Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf
Than flatter him in a bower. Enter Cominius. Here is Cominius. COMINIUS
I have been i’ th’ marketplace; and, sir, ’tis fit 115
You make strong party or defend yourself
By calmness or by absence. All’s in anger. MENENIUS
Only fair speech. COMINIUS I think ’twill serve, if he
Can thereto frame his spirit. 120 VOLUMNIA He must, and will.—
Prithee, now, say you will, and go about it. CORIOLANUS
Must I go show them my unbarbèd sconce? Must I
With my base tongue give to my noble heart
A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do ’t. 125
Yet, were there but this single plot to lose,
This mold of Martius, they to dust should grind it
And throw ’t against the wind. To th’ marketplace!
You have put me now to such a part which never
I shall discharge to th’ life. 130 COMINIUS Come, come, we’ll prompt
you. VOLUMNIA
I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said
My praises made thee first a soldier, so,
To have my praise for this, perform a part 135
Thou hast not done before. | Then mom chimes in that Coriolanus needs to go to the people and tell
them what they want to hear—i.e. that he's sorry and didn't mean what he
said, even if, you know, he doesn't really mean it. |
CORIOLANUS Well, I must do ’t.
Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot’s spirit! My throat of war be turned,
Which choirèd with my drum, into a pipe 140
Small as an eunuch or the virgin voice
That babies lull asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys’ tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar’s tongue
Make motion through my lips, and my armed knees, 145
Who bowed but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath received an alms. I will not do ’t,
Lest I surcease to honor mine own truth
And, by my body’s action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness. 150 VOLUMNIA At thy choice, then.
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonor
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin. Let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death 155
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine; thou suck’st it from me,
But owe thy pride thyself. CORIOLANUS Pray be content.
Mother, I am going to the marketplace. 160
Chide me no more. I’ll mountebank their loves,
Cog their hearts from them, and come home
beloved
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going.
Commend me to my wife. I’ll return consul, 165
Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I’ th’ way of flattery further. VOLUMNIA Do your will. Volumnia exits. COMINIUS
Away! The Tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself
To answer mildly, for they are prepared 170
With accusations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet. CORIOLANUS
The word is “mildly.” Pray you, let us go.
Let them accuse me by invention, I
Will answer in mine honor. 175 MENENIUS Ay, but mildly. CORIOLANUS Well, mildly be it, then. Mildly. They exit. | Coriolanus waffles but then finally agrees to do it and tells everyone he's not happy about it. |