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| The Tragedy of Coriolanus |
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| Coriolanus
| Act 4, Scene 2
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Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEdileSICINIUS
Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.BRUTUS
The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
In his behalf.
Now we have shown our power,SICINIUS
Let us seem humbler after it is done
Than when it was a-doing.
Bid them home:BRUTUS
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.
Dismiss them home.SICINIUS
Exit AEdile
Here comes his mother.
Let's not meet her.BRUTUS
Why?SICINIUS
They say she's mad.BRUTUS
They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.VOLUMNIA
Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS
O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the godsMENENIUS
Requite your love!
Peace, peace; be not so loud.VOLUMNIA
If that I could for weeping, you should hear,--VIRGILIA
Nay, and you shall hear some.
To BRUTUS
Will you be gone?
[To SICINIUS] You shall stay too: I would I had the powerSICINIUS
To say so to my husband.
Are you mankind?VOLUMNIA
Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.SICINIUS
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words?
O blessed heavens!VOLUMNIA
More noble blows than ever thou wise words;SICINIUS
And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; yet go:
Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.
What then?VIRGILIA
What then!VOLUMNIA
He'ld make an end of thy posterity.
Bastards and all.MENENIUS
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
Come, come, peace.SICINIUS
I would he had continued to his countryBRUTUS
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
I would he had.VOLUMNIA
'I would he had'! 'Twas you incensed the rabble:BRUTUS
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.
Pray, let us go.VOLUMNIA
Now, pray, sir, get you gone:BRUTUS
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:--
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son--
This lady's husband here, this, do you see--
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Well, well, we'll leave you.SICINIUS
Why stay we to be baitedVOLUMNIA
With one that wants her wits?
Take my prayers with you.MENENIUS
Exeunt Tribunes
I would the gods had nothing else to do
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.
You have told them home;VOLUMNIA
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,MENENIUS
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go:
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Fie, fie, fie!
Exeunt
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Shakespeare homepage
| Coriolanus
| Act 4, Scene 2
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