Coriolanus

Coriolanus

ACT V SCENE IV	Rome. A public place.
	Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS
MENENIUS	See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond
	corner-stone?
SICINIUS	Why, what of that?
MENENIUS	If it be possible for you to displace it with your	5
	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
	sentenced and stay upon execution.
SICINIUS	Is't possible that so short a time can alter the	10
	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.	15
SICINIUS	He loved 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	20
	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 finished with
	his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity	25
	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	30
	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 banished him, we respected not them;	35
	and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.
	Enter a Messenger
Messenger	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,	40
	They'll give him death by inches.
	Enter a second Messenger
SICINIUS	What's the news?
Second Messenger	Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,
	The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone:
	A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,	45
	No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.
SICINIUS	Friend,
	Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?
Second Messenger	As certain as I know the sun is fire:
	Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?	50
	Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
	As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!
	Trumpets; hautboys; drums beat; all together
	The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
	Tabours and cymbals and the shouting Romans,
	Make the sun dance. Hark you!	55
	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:	60
	This morning for ten thousand of your throats
	I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
	Music still, with shouts
SICINIUS	First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,
	Accept my thankfulness.
Second Messenger	Sir, we have all	65
	Great cause to give great thanks.
SICINIUS	They are near the city?
Second Messenger	Almost at point to enter.
SICINIUS	We will meet them,
	And help the joy.	70
	Exeunt