And yours.
Volumnia
I’ve lived to see my wishes granted.
There’s only one thing wanting, and now Rome
Will give you that.
Coriolanus
Good mother,
I’d rather be their slave in my own way
Than their master in theirs.
Cominius
To the Capitol!
(All go out except the tribunes)
Sicinius
What a to-do!
As if a god had come down on the earth!
Believe me, he’ll be consul before you know it.
Brutus
For us tribunes that would be good night.
Sicinius
His mission was to turn away the Volscians.
No more. You might as well command the wolf
To chase the fox away from the chicken house
And stop at that. He’s taken Corioli.
Brutus
And by so doing stirred the Volscians up
Against us for years to come.
Sicinius
Now listen how a city drunk with triumph
Echoes the praises of that lawless man!
Today every saddler’s boasting to his wife
That Corioli’s been given him as a bonus.
How will he ever find room for three or four
Patrician villas in his cellar? That’s all
They want to know. And we’re just spoil-sports.
Brutus
On the other hand
He breaks the rules of every game he plays.
I’ve heard that if he deigns to stand for consul
He will not speak in the market as customary
Or show himself in a worn-out toga, or
Display his wounds to the people. That, he says
Would be to beg for votes. Yet if he did it
He’d likely hit the mark.
Sicinius
I hope he stands
By his proud purpose.
(Enter a Messenger)
Brutus
What’s the matter?
Messenger
You’re summoned to the Capitol. Everyone thinks
That Marcius will be consul. I have seen
The deaf crowding to see him, the blind
To hear him. Ladies are flinging gloves
Young girls are tearing off their scarves and tossing
Them down upon him. The patricians
Are bowing to him as if he were Jupiter’s statue.
The commoners are clapping their rough hands.
I never saw the like.
Brutus
To the Capitol!
(All go out)
2
Rome. The Capitol.
Attendants are laying cushions.
First Come, come, they’ll soon be here. How many are standing for the consulate?
Second Three, so they say; but everyone thinks Coriolanus will carry it off.
First A good man, but damnably proud; he has no love for the common people.
Second There have been great men who flattered the people more, yet didn’t love them. And there are some that the people have loved, without knowing why. In other words, when they love, they don’t know why, and they hate for no better reason. Consequently, if Coriolanus doesn’t care whether they love him or hate him, it only shows his intelligence. They’re coming.
(Enter Cominius, the Consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, Senators, Sicinius, and Brutus)
Menenius
Now that the matter of the Volscians is settled
The main business before this second session is
To glorify the man who conquered them
For Rome. Permit, then, noble elders, that
The present consul and recent general
Should say a few words of the warlike valor
Displayed by our Caius Marcius Coriolanus.
Senator
Speak, consul, and your words need not be few.
Tribunes, lend ear, and presently in the assembly
Of the people, argue to obtain approval
Of what is here decided.
Sicinius
We are here
Amicably disposed, not disinclined
To honor and support the object of
This session.
Brutus
Most particularly if he shows
A little more respect for the common people
Than hitherto.
Menenius
That’s out of place.
You’d have done better to say nothing. Would
You hear Cominius speak?
Brutus
Most willingly.
And yet my warning was more pertinent
Than your rebuke.
Menenius
He loves your people surely.
Just don’t press him to be their bed-fellow.
Speak, Cominius.
(Coriolanus stands up and wants to go)
Come, come, sit down.
Senator
Don’t be afraid to hear
Of things that you were not afraid to do.
Coriolanus
Forgive me, I would rather cure my wounds
Than hear tell how I came by them.
Brutus
I hope
My words are not driving you away, sir.
Coriolanus
No, sir. Often
When blows have made me stay, I’ve fled from words.
Since you don’t flatter me, you don’t offend
Me either. And as for your people, I love them
As much as they deserve.
Menenius
Come, be seated.
Coriolanus
I’d rather have someone scratch my head in the sun
When the alarm is sounded, than sit idly
While such a fuss is made about my nothings.
(Coriolanus goes out)
Menenius
You see the kind of man he is.
He’d rather venture all his limbs for honor
Than risk an ear to hear about it. Proceed, Cominius.
Cominius
My voice will be inadequate. In times
Like these such deeds as Coriolanus does
Should not be uttered feebly. At sixteen
When Tarquin marched on Rome, he went to battle.
With beardless chin he drove the bristled lips
Before him. At an age when he might have played
The parts of women on the stage, he won
The crown of oak. Then, grown to manhood
He bore the brunt of seventeen battles
And robbed all swords of the garland. To his prowess
Before and in Corioli, I cannot
Do justice. Those who were taking to their heels
He stopped, and by his rare example made
The last of cowards exult in war as a sport.
Like rushes before a vessel under sail
Battle lines swayed and fell before his prow.
He was a bloody instrument, whose every movement
Brought cries of death. Alone, he entered
The deadly city gate, almost unaided
Returned, and then with sudden reinforcement
Struck Corioli like a meteor.
Menenius
There’s a man!
Senator
In fullest measure he deserves the honors
That we propose.
He kicked away the spoils
As other men would kick the dust from their path.
Menenius
Call him! Call him!
Senator
Call Coriolanus.
(An attendant brings Coriolanus in)
Menenius
Coriolanus, the senate unanimously
Elects you consul.
Coriolanus
I still owe them
My life and service.
Menenius
Then you have only to
Address the people.
Coriolanus
I beseech you
Let me omit that custom. I cannot
Unbutton my coat, stand naked and entreat them
To elect me for my wounds. I beg you
Let me forgo that usage!
Sicinius
Sir, the people
Must have their voice, and they will not forgo
One jot of ceremony.
Menenius
Incline please to the custom. Do as all
Consuls have done before you.
No more nor less.
Coriolanus
It’s a part
I blush to play. The people should be made
To do without such spectacles.
Brutus
Did you hear that?
Coriolanus
To stand before them bragging: I did this
And that could not have been done without me.
And show my mended wounds and say: My friends,
I came by these to make you vote for me.
Menenius
Better give in. Now, tribunes of the people
Make our decision known.—To the new consul
We wish all joy and honor.
Senators
All joy and honor!
(The Senators go out with Coriolanus)
Brutus
You see how he means to treat the people.
3
Rome. The Forum.
Enter Citizens.
First Citizen Once and for all: if he asks for our votes, we can’t deny them.
Second Citizen We can if we want to, friend.
First Citizen Yes, we have the power, but it’s a power we haven’t the power to use. Because if he shows us his wounds and tells us his noble exploits, we’ve got to show a certain amount of noble appreciation. He’s indispensable.
Second Citizen Like a neck with a goiter.
First Citizen What do you mean by that?
Second Citizen A neck is indispensable even if it has a goiter. The goiter is his pride.
First Citizen I still say that if he were friendlier there’d be no better man.
Second Citizen Here he comes.
First Citizen And in a plain toga as the law requires.
Second Citizen Let’s see how he behaves.
First Citizen Let’s wait until he stops and then pass by him singly or by twos or threes. He will have to make his request of each one of us, and then each one of us will give him his vote.
Second Citizen If he wants to.
(Coriolanus has entered with Menenius Agrippa)
Menenius
No, sir, you are not right. You’re well aware
The greatest men have done it.
Coriolanus
What must I say?
Please, sir! No, damn it, my tongue
Sticks in my throat. Look, sir, my wounds.
I got them in my country’s service, when
Some of you fellows howled and fled
From the sound of your own drums.
Menenius
Ye gods, not that!
Not your opinions!
Coriolanus
Let them forget me as
They’ve always forgotten honor and gratitude.
Hang ’em!
Menenius
Don’t spoil it all, I beg you.
Speak to them. And please, please, speak sensibly.
Coriolanus
Tell them to wash their faces
And clean their teeth.
(Menenius goes out)
Well, here comes
The first batch.
You know, friends, why I’m standing here?
First Citizen Yes, sir, we know. Tell us what brought you to it?
Coriolanus My own merit.
First Citizen Your own merit?
Coriolanus Yes, not my own desire.
First Citizen What? Not your own desire?
Coriolanus
No, it was never my desire
To beg from the poor.
Second Citizen The poor?
First Citizen To beg? Don’t let that worry you. If we give you something, it’s because we hope to get something in return.
Coriolanus
Very well, then what’s the price of the consulship?
Second Citizen
The price is that you ask for it politely.
Coriolanus
Politely?
Sir, let me have it. I have wounds
That I can show you in private. Sir, your vote!
Well, what’s your answer?
First Citizen
You shall have it, sir.
Coriolanus
Is it a deal, sir?
There, that’s two worthy voices begged.
I’ve got your pennies! So good-bye!
First Citizen
This is very odd.
Second Citizen
If I had to give again … But never mind.
(Both go out. Enter The Man with a Child)
Coriolanus
Sir, I should like to be consul.
The Man (pointing out Coriolanus’ toga to the child) That’s the plain toga, Tertius, they’ve got to wear it when they plead in the marketplace. It has no pockets, that’s to keep him from buying votes, ha ha ha. Otherwise, you see, he might buy them. Ha ha ha. But he’ll get my vote because he’s taken one more city for Rome. He’ll get it. (Goes out)
Coriolanus Many thanks, sir.
(Enter two citizens)
A word, sirs. It’s the regulation
That all should see how for a high honor
I wear my shoes out in the market place …
Third Citizen I’m glad to see that, sir, if only because of my trade.
Coriolanus What is your trade, sir?
Third Citizen To tell you the truth, sir, it’s mere patchwork compared to yours.
Coriolanus What is your trade then?
Third Citizen (archly) A trade I can practice with a clearer conscience than certain noble lords can practice theirs. It consists in improving the wretched walks of life.
Coriolanus Your trade.
Fourth Citizen Begging your pardon, sir, he’s a shoemaker. And you have his vote because war raises the price of shoes and you are the living embodiment of war, sir.
(Another citizen joins them)
Coriolanus Ha ha ha! I’m studying the trades here. This gentleman is a shoemaker, and what are you, sir?
Fifth Citizen I’m a gardener, sir.
Coriolanus And what does your trade teach you about the state? Because you are being asked to make a decision concerning the state.
Fifth Citizen
My garden, sir, that little realm
Of flowerbeds and turnip patches, has taught me
That even the noble rose of Corinth must
Be pruned of undue pride of growth, or else
It cannot thrive. Moreover, it must humble
Itself to having leeks and cabbages and
Such plants of low descent, but passing useful
Watered and cultivated by its side.
Coriolanus
What does all that mean, vote?
Fifth Citizen
It seems to me the garden would grow wild