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the graces of the gods； To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' th' air； And
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yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt That should but rive an oak。 Why dost
not speak？ Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man Still to remember
wrongs？ Daughter； speak you： He cares not for your weeping。 Speak thou；
boy； Perhaps thy childishness will move him more Than can our reasons。
There's no man in the world More bound to's mother； yet here he lets me
prate Like one i' th' stocks。 Thou hast never in thy life Show'd thy dear
mother any courtesy； When she； poor hen； fond of no second brood； Has
cluck'd thee to the wars； and safely home Loaden with honour。 Say my
request's unjust； And spurn me back； but if it be not so； Thou art not
honest； and the gods will plague thee； That thou restrain'st from me the
duty which To a mother's part belongs。 He turns away。 Down； ladies； let us
shame him with our knees。 To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride
Than pity to our prayers。 Down。 An end； This is the last。 So we will home
to Rome； And die among our neighbours。 Nay； behold's！ This boy； that
cannot tell what he would have But kneels and holds up hands for
fellowship； Does reason our petition with more strength Than thou hast to
deny't。 Come； let us go。 This fellow had a Volscian to his mother； His wife
is in Corioli； and his child Like him by chance。 Yet give us our dispatch。 I
am hush'd until our city be afire； And then I'll speak a little。 ＇He holds her
by the hand； silent＇ CORIOLANUS。 O mother； mother！ What have you
done？ Behold； the heavens do ope； The gods look down； and this
unnatural scene They laugh at。 O my mother； mother！ O！ You have won a
happy victory to Rome； But for your son… believe it； O； believe it！… Most
dangerously you have with him prevail'd； If not most mortal to him。 But
let it come。 Aufidius； though I cannot make true wars； I'll frame
convenient peace。 Now； good Aufidius； Were you in my stead； would you
have heard A mother less； or granted less； Aufidius？ AUFIDIUS。 I was
mov'd withal。 CORIOLANUS。 I dare be sworn you were！ And； sir； it is no
little thing to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion。 But； good sir； What
peace you'll make； advise me。 For my part； I'll not to Rome； I'll back with
you； and pray you Stand to me in this cause。 O mother！ wife！ AUFIDIUS。
＇Aside＇ I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour At difference in
thee。 Out of that I'll work Myself a former fortune。 CORIOLANUS。 ＇To
the ladies＇ Ay； by and by； But we will drink together； and you shall bear A
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better witness back than words； which we； On like conditions； will have
counter…seal'd。 Come； enter with us。 Ladies； you deserve To have a temple
built you。 All the swords In Italy； and her confederate arms； Could not
have made this peace。 Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 Rome。 A public place
Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS
MENENIUS。 See you yond coign o' th' Capitol； yond cornerstone？
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 sentenc'd； 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 lov'd 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 finish'd 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 banish'd him we respected not
them； and； he returning to break our necks； they respect not us。
Enter a MESSENGER
MESSENGER。 Sir； if you'd 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 another MESSENGER
SICINIUS。 What's the news？ SECOND MESSENGER。 Good news；
good news！ The ladies have prevail'd； The Volscians are dislodg'd； and
Marcius gone。 A merrier day did never yet greet Rome； No； not th'
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expulsion of the Tarquins。 SICINIUS。 Friend； Art thou certain this is true？
Is't 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 th' gates。 Why；
hark you！ ＇Trumpets； hautboys； 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。
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！ ＇Sound still
with the 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？
MESSENGER。 Almost at point to enter。 SICINIUS。 We'll meet them； And
help the joy。 Exeunt
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SCENE V。 Rome。 A street near the gate
Enter two SENATORS With VOLUMNIA； VIRGILIA； VALERIA；
passing over the stage； 'With other LORDS
FIRST SENATOR。 Behold our patroness； the life of Rome！ Call all
your tribes together； praise the gods； And make triumphant fires； strew
flowers before them。 Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius； Repeal him
with the welcome of his mother； ALL。 Welcome； ladies； welcome！ ＇A
flourish with drums and trumpets。 Exeunt＇
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SCENE VI。 Corioli。 A public p