Coriolanus
Act V, Scene 4
Rome. A public place.
Hark, how they joy!
From: Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare
Charles Cowden Clarke, Mary Cowden Clarke, 1866
- Enter Menenius and Sicinius.
Menenius
1- See you yond coign a’ th’ Capitol, yond cornerstone?
Sicinius Velutus
2- Why, what of that?
Menenius
3 - 6- 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 sentenc’d, and stay upon execution.
Sicinius Velutus
7 - 8- Is’t possible that so short a time can alter the condition
- of a man?
Menenius
9 - 11- There is differency between a grub and a butterfly, yet your
- butterfly was a grub. This Martius is grown from man to
- dragon: he has wings, he’s more than a creeping thing.
Sicinius Velutus
12- He lov’d his mother dearly.
Menenius
13 - 21- 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 finish’d with his
- bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity and a heaven
- to throne in.
Sicinius Velutus
22- Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.
Menenius
23 - 26- 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 Velutus
27- The gods be good unto us!
Menenius
28 - 30- No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When
- we banish’d him, we respected not them; and, he returning to
- break our necks, they respect not us.
- Enter Third Messenger.
Third Messenger
31 - 35- 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 First Messenger.
Sicinius Velutus
36- What’s the news?
First Messenger
37 - 40- Good news, good news! The ladies have prevail’d,
- The Volscians are dislodg’d, and Martius gone.
- A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
- No, not th’ expulsion of the Tarquins.
Sicinius Velutus
41 - 42- Friend,
- Art thou certain this is true? Is’t most certain?
First Messenger
43 - 49- 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 th’ gates. Why, hark you!
- Trumpets, hoboys, drums beat, all together.
- The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,
- Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,
- Make the sun dance. Hark you!
- A shout within.
Menenius
50 - 56- 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 today.
- This morning for ten thousand of your throats
- I’d not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
- Sound still with the shouts.
Sicinius Velutus
57 - 58- First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,
- Accept my thankfulness.
First Messenger
59 - 60- Sir, we have all
- Great cause to give great thanks.
Sicinius Velutus
61- They are near the city?
First Messenger
62- Almost at point to enter.
Sicinius Velutus
63 - 64- We’ll meet them
- And help the joy.
- Exeunt.