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The Tragedy of Coriolanus: Act 5 Scene 4

Scene IV Rome. A public place.

[Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS]

MENENIUS

See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond

corner-stone?

SICINIUS

Why, what of that?

MENENIUS

If it be possible for you to displace it with your

little finger, there is some hope the ladies of

Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him.

But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are

sentenced and stay upon execution.

SICINIUS

Is't possible that so short a time can alter the

condition of a man!

MENENIUS

There is differency between a grub and a butterfly;

yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown

from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a

creeping thing.

SICINIUS

He loved his mother dearly.

MENENIUS

So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother

now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness

of his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he

moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before

his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with

his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a

battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for

Alexander. What he bids be done is finished with

his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity

and a heaven to throne in.

SICINIUS

Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

MENENIUS

I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his

mother shall bring from him: there is no more mercy

in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that

shall our poor city find: and all this is long of

you.

SICINIUS

The gods be good unto us!

MENENIUS

No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto

us. When we banished him, we respected not them;

and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

[Enter a Messenger]

MESSENGER

Sir, if you'ld save your life, fly to your house:

The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune

And hale him up and down, all swearing, if

The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,

They'll give him death by inches.

[Enter a second Messenger]

SICINIUS

What's the news?

SECOND MESSENGER

Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,

The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone:

A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,

No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

SICINIUS

Friend,

Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?

SECOND MESSENGER

As certain as I know the sun is fire:

Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?

Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,

As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!

[Trumpets; hautboys; drums beat; all together]

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,

Tabours and cymbals and the shouting Romans,

Make the sun dance. Hark you!

[A shout within]

MENENIUS

This is good news:

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia

Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,

A city full; of tribunes, such as you,

A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:

This morning for ten thousand of your throats

I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

[Music still, with shouts]

SICINIUS

First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,

Accept my thankfulness.

SECOND MESSENGER

Sir, we have all

Great cause to give great thanks.

SICINIUS

They are near the city?

SECOND MESSENGER

Almost at point to enter.

SICINIUS

We will meet them,

And help the joy.

[Exeunt]