Coriolanus · Act 4, Scene 2

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Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEdile
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.

Sicinius

Tell them to go home; he’s gone, and we won’t do anything more. The nobles are upset, as we can see they’ve supported him.

Brutus

Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done Than when it was a-doing.

Brutus

Now that we’ve shown our strength, Let’s act more humble after it’s over Than we did while it was happening.

Sicinius

Bid them home: Say their great enemy is gone, and they Stand in their ancient strength.

Sicinius

Tell them to go home: Tell them their greatest enemy is gone, and they Are back to their old power.

Brutus

Dismiss them home.

Brutus

Send them home.

Exit AEdile
Exit AEdile
Brutus

Here comes his mother.

Brutus

Now here comes his mother.

Sicinius

Let’s not meet her.

Sicinius

Let’s not meet her.

Brutus

Why?

Brutus

Why not?

Sicinius

They say she’s mad.

Sicinius

They say she’s gone mad.

Brutus

They have ta’en note of us: keep on your way.

Brutus

They’ve noticed us: let’s keep going.

Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS
Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS
Volumnia

O, ye’re well met: the hoarded plague o’ the gods Requite your love!

Volumnia

Oh, it’s good to see you: may the awful wrath of the gods Reward your love!

Menenius

Peace, peace; be not so loud.

Menenius

Peace, peace; don’t be so loud.

Volumnia

If that I could for weeping, you should hear,-- Nay, and you shall hear some.

Volumnia

If I could cry for you, you’d hear me,-- No, you will hear some of it.

To BRUTUS
To BRUTUS
Volumnia

Will you be gone?

Volumnia

Are you leaving?

Virgilia

[To SICINIUS] You shall stay too: I would I had the power To say so to my husband.

Virgilia

[To SICINIUS] You should stay too: I wish I had the power To say that to my husband.

Sicinius

Are you mankind?

Sicinius

Are you human?

Volumnia

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?

Volumnia

Yes, idiot; is that shameful? Just look at this fool. Wasn’t my father a man? Did you have the nerve To banish him, the one who fought for Rome More than you’ve spoken words?

Sicinius

O blessed heavens!

Sicinius

Oh, blessed heavens!

Volumnia

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.

Volumnia

More noble deeds than your wise words; And for the good of Rome. I’ll tell you what, go: No, you’ll stay too: I wish my son Were in Arabia, with your people before him, His good sword in his hand.

Sicinius

What then?

Sicinius

What then?

Virgilia

What then! He’ld make an end of thy posterity.

Virgilia

What then! He would end your family line.

Volumnia

Bastards and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Volumnia

Bastards and all. A good man, the wounds he bears for Rome!

Menenius

Come, come, peace.

Menenius

Come on, come on, peace.

Sicinius

I would he had continued to his country As he began, and not unknit himself The noble knot he made.

Sicinius

I wish he had stayed loyal to his country The way he started, and not undone The noble bond he created.

Brutus

I would he had.

Brutus

I wish he had.

Volumnia

’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.

Volumnia

"I wish he had"! You stirred up the mob: Cats, who can judge his worth as well As I can understand the mysteries that heaven Keeps hidden from the earth.

Brutus

Pray, let us go.

Brutus

Please, let us go.

Volumnia

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-- Whom you have banish’d, does exceed you all.

Volumnia

Now, please, sir, go: You’ve done a brave thing. Before you go, hear this:-- As much as the Capitol is grander Than the smallest house in Rome, so much my son-- This lady’s husband here, the one you’ve banished-- Exceeds all of you.

Brutus

Well, well, we’ll leave you.

Brutus

Well, well, we’ll leave you.

Sicinius

Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her wits?

Sicinius

Why are we sticking around to be tormented By someone who’s lost their mind?

Volumnia

Take my prayers with you.

Volumnia

Take my blessings with you.

Exeunt Tribunes
Exeunt Tribunes
Volumnia

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.

Volumnia

I wish the gods had nothing else to do But to make sure my curses come true! If I could just meet them Once a day, it would relieve my heart Of all the heavy thoughts inside it.

Menenius

You have told them home; And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me?

Menenius

You’ve told them off; And honestly, you have every right to. Will you join me for dinner?

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.

Volumnia

Anger’s my food; I feast on my own rage, And it’ll starve me if I keep feeding it. Come, let’s go: Stop this weak whining and mourn like I do, In anger, like Juno. Come, come, come.

Menenius

Fie, fie, fie!

Menenius

Ugh, ugh, ugh!

Exuent
Exuent

End of Act 4, Scene 2

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