TPTT The Tragedy of Coriolanus: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. Rome. Before a gate of the city.
SCENE II. The same. A street near the gate.
SCENE III. A highway between Rome and Antium.
SCENE IV. Antium. Before Aufidius's house.
SCENE V. The same. A hall in Aufidius's house.
SCENE VI. Rome. A public place.
SCENE VII. A camp, at a small distance from Rome.
ACT V
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SCENE II. The same. A street near the gate.
Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEdile
SICINIUS
      Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.
      The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
      In his behalf.
BRUTUS
      Now we have shown our power,
5     Let us seem humbler after it is done
      Than when it was a-doing.
SICINIUS
      Bid them home:
      Say their great enemy is gone, and they
      Stand in their ancient strength.
BRUTUS
10    Dismiss them home.

Exit AEdile

      Here comes his mother.
SICINIUS
      Let's not meet her.
BRUTUS
      Why?
SICINIUS
      They say she's mad.
BRUTUS
15    They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.
Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS
VOLUMNIA
      O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods
      Requite your love!
MENENIUS
      Peace, peace; be not so loud.
VOLUMNIA
      If that I could for weeping, you should hear,--
20    Nay, and you shall hear some.

To BRUTUS

      Will you be gone?
VIRGILIA
      (To SICINIUS) You shall stay too: I would I had the power
      To say so to my husband.
SICINIUS
      Are you mankind?
VOLUMNIA
25    Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.
      Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
      To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
      Than thou hast spoken words?
SICINIUS
      O blessed heavens!
VOLUMNIA
30    More noble blows than ever thou wise words;
      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.
SICINIUS
35    What then?
VIRGILIA
      What then!
      He'ld make an end of thy posterity.
VOLUMNIA
      Bastards and all.
      Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
MENENIUS
40    Come, come, peace.
SICINIUS
      I would he had continued to his country
      As he began, and not unknit himself
      The noble knot he made.
BRUTUS
      I would he had.
VOLUMNIA
45    'I would he had'! 'Twas you incensed the rabble:
      Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
      As I can of those mysteries which heaven
      Will not have earth to know.
BRUTUS
      Pray, let us go.
VOLUMNIA
50    Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
      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--
55    Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
BRUTUS
      Well, well, we'll leave you.
SICINIUS
      Why stay we to be baited
      With one that wants her wits?
VOLUMNIA
      Take my prayers with you.

Exeunt Tribunes

60    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.
MENENIUS
      You have told them home;
65    And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
VOLUMNIA
      Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
      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.
MENENIUS
70    Fie, fie, fie!
Exeunt
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