No Fear Shakespeare: Coriolanus: Act 3 Scene 3

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Already have an account? Log in

Previous page Act 3, Scene 2 Next page Act 4, Scene 1

Test your knowledge

Take the Act 3, scenes ii-iii; Act 4, scenes i-iv Quick Quiz

Read the Summary

Read the Summary of Act 3, scenes ii-iii; Act 4, scenes i-iv.

Shakespeare’s Life & Times

Your password reset email should arrive shortly.

Something went wrong

Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 3

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

Take the Act 3, scenes ii-iii; Act 4, scenes i-iv Quick Quiz

Read the Summary of Act 3, scenes ii-iii; Act 4, scenes i-iv.

Dive into our comprehensive guide to ace your Shakespeare assignments

Popular pages: Coriolanus

Full Book Analysis SUMMARY

Character List CHARACTERS

Full Book Quiz QUIZZES

Take a Study Break

QUIZ: Is This a Taylor Swift Lyric or a Quote by Edgar Allan Poe?

The 7 Most Embarrassing Proposals in Literature

The 6 Best and Worst TV Show Adaptations of Books

QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

Original Text	Modern Text
The same. The Forum.	The same. The Forum.
Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS	Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS
BRUTUS In this point charge him home, that he affects Tyrannical power: if he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people, And that the spoil got on the Antiates 5 Was ne’er distributed.	BRUTUS In this point charge him home, that he affects Tyrannical power: if he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people, And that the spoil got on the Antiates Was ne’er distributed.
Enter an Aedile	Enter an Aedile
What, will he come?	What, will he come?
AEDILE He’s coming.	AEDILE He’s coming.
BRUTUS How accompanied?	BRUTUS How accompanied?
AEDILE With old Menenius, and those senators 10 That always favour’d him.	AEDILE With old Menenius, and those senators That always favour’d him.
SICINIUS Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procured Set down by the poll?	SICINIUS Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procured Set down by the poll?
AEDILE I have; ’tis ready.	AEDILE I have; ’tis ready.
SICINIUS 15 Have you collected them by tribes?	SICINIUS Have you collected them by tribes?
AEDILE I have.	AEDILE I have.
SICINIUS Assemble presently the people hither; And when they bear me say ‘It shall be so I’ the right and strength o’ the commons,’ be it either 20 For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them If I say fine, cry ‘Fine;’ if death, cry ‘Death.’ Insisting on the old prerogative And power i’ the truth o’ the cause.	SICINIUS Assemble presently the people hither; And when they bear me say ‘It shall be so I’ the right and strength o’ the commons,’ be it either For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them If I say fine, cry ‘Fine;’ if death, cry ‘Death.’ Insisting on the old prerogative And power i’ the truth o’ the cause.
AEDILE I shall inform them.	AEDILE I shall inform them.
BRUTUS 25 And when such time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confused Enforce the present execution Of what we chance to sentence.	BRUTUS And when such time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confused Enforce the present execution Of what we chance to sentence.
AEDILE Very well.	AEDILE Very well.
SICINIUS 30 Make them be strong and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to give ’t them.	SICINIUS Make them be strong and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to give ’t them.
BRUTUS Go about it.	BRUTUS Go about it.
Exit Aedile	Exit Aedile
Put him to choler straight: he hath been used Ever to conquer, and to have his worth 35 Of contradiction: being once chafed, he cannot Be rein’d again to temperance; then he speaks What’s in his heart; and that is there which looks With us to break his neck.	Put him to choler straight: he hath been used Ever to conquer, and to have his worth Of contradiction: being once chafed, he cannot Be rein’d again to temperance; then he speaks What’s in his heart; and that is there which looks With us to break his neck.
SICINIUS Well, here he comes.	SICINIUS Well, here he comes.
Enter CORIOLANUS , MENENIUS , and COMINIUS , with Senators and Patricians	Enter CORIOLANUS , MENENIUS , and COMINIUS , with Senators and Patricians
MENENIUS 40 Calmly, I do beseech you.	MENENIUS Calmly, I do beseech you.
CORIOLANUS Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour’d gods Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice Supplied with worthy men! plant love among ’s! 45 Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, And not our streets with war!	CORIOLANUS Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour’d gods Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice Supplied with worthy men! plant love among ’s! Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, And not our streets with war!
FIRST SENATOR Amen, amen.	FIRST SENATOR Amen, amen.
MENENIUS A noble wish.	MENENIUS A noble wish.
Re-enter Aedile, with Citizens	Re-enter Aedile, with Citizens
SICINIUS Draw near, ye people.	SICINIUS Draw near, ye people.
AEDILE 50 List to your tribunes. Audience: peace, I say!	AEDILE List to your tribunes. Audience: peace, I say!
CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak.	CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak.
BOTH TRIBUNES Well, say. Peace, ho!	BOTH TRIBUNES Well, say. Peace, ho!
CORIOLANUS Shall I be charged no further than this present? Must all determine here?	CORIOLANUS Shall I be charged no further than this present? Must all determine here?
SICINIUS 55 I do demand, If you submit you to the people’s voices, Allow their officers and are content To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be proved upon you?	SICINIUS I do demand, If you submit you to the people’s voices, Allow their officers and are content To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be proved upon you?
CORIOLANUS 60 I am content.	CORIOLANUS I am content.
MENENIUS Lo, citizens, he says he is content: The warlike service he has done, consider; think Upon the wounds his body bears, which show Like graves i’ the holy churchyard.	MENENIUS Lo, citizens, he says he is content: The warlike service he has done, consider; think Upon the wounds his body bears, which show Like graves i’ the holy churchyard.
CORIOLANUS 65 Scratches with briers, Scars to move laughter only.	CORIOLANUS Scratches with briers, Scars to move laughter only.
MENENIUS Consider further, That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a soldier: do not take 70 His rougher accents for malicious sounds, But, as I say, such as become a soldier, Rather than envy you.	MENENIUS Consider further, That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a soldier: do not take His rougher accents for malicious sounds, But, as I say, such as become a soldier, Rather than envy you.
COMINIUS Well, well, no more.	COMINIUS Well, well, no more.
CORIOLANUS What is the matter 75 That being pass’d for consul with full voice, I am so dishonour’d that the very hour You take it off again?	CORIOLANUS What is the matter That being pass’d for consul with full voice, I am so dishonour’d that the very hour You take it off again?
SICINIUS Answer to us.	SICINIUS Answer to us.
CORIOLANUS Say, then: ’tis true, I ought so.	CORIOLANUS Say, then: ’tis true, I ought so.
SICINIUS 80 We charge you, that you have contrived to take From Rome all season’d office and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical; For which you are a traitor to the people.	SICINIUS We charge you, that you have contrived to take From Rome all season’d office and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical; For which you are a traitor to the people.
CORIOLANUS How! traitor!	CORIOLANUS How! traitor!
MENENIUS 85 Nay, temperately; your promise.	MENENIUS Nay, temperately; your promise.
CORIOLANUS The fires i’ the lowest hell fold-in the people! Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hand clutch’d as many millions, in 90 Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say ‘Thou liest’ unto thee with a voice as free As I do pray the gods.	CORIOLANUS The fires i’ the lowest hell fold-in the people! Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hand clutch’d as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say ‘Thou liest’ unto thee with a voice as free As I do pray the gods.
SICINIUS Mark you this, people?	SICINIUS Mark you this, people?
CITIZENS To the rock, to the rock with him!	CITIZENS To the rock, to the rock with him!
SICINIUS 95 Peace! We need not put new matter to his charge: What you have seen him do and heard him speak, Beating your officers, cursing yourselves, Opposing laws with strokes and here defying 100 Those whose great power must try him; even this, So criminal and in such capital kind, Deserves the extremest death.	SICINIUS Peace! We need not put new matter to his charge: What you have seen him do and heard him speak, Beating your officers, cursing yourselves, Opposing laws with strokes and here defying Those whose great power must try him; even this, So criminal and in such capital kind, Deserves the extremest death.
BRUTUS But since he hath Served well for Rome,—	BRUTUS But since he hath Served well for Rome,—
CORIOLANUS 105 What do you prate of service?	CORIOLANUS What do you prate of service?
BRUTUS I talk of that, that know it.	BRUTUS I talk of that, that know it.
CORIOLANUS You?	CORIOLANUS You?
MENENIUS Is this the promise that you made your mother?	MENENIUS Is this the promise that you made your mother?
COMINIUS Know, I pray you,—	COMINIUS Know, I pray you,—
CORIOLANUS 110 I know no further: Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, Vagabond exile, raying, pent to linger But with a grain a day, I would not buy Their mercy at the price of one fair word; 115 Nor cheque my courage for what they can give, To have’t with saying ‘Good morrow.’	CORIOLANUS I know no further: Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, Vagabond exile, raying, pent to linger But with a grain a day, I would not buy Their mercy at the price of one fair word; Nor cheque my courage for what they can give, To have’t with saying ‘Good morrow.’
SICINIUS For that he has, As much as in him lies, from time to time Envied against the people, seeking means 120 To pluck away their power, as now at last Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers That do distribute it; in the name o’ the people And in the power of us the tribunes, we, 125 Even from this instant, banish him our city, In peril of precipitation From off the rock Tarpeian never more To enter our Rome gates: i’ the people’s name, I say it shall be so.	SICINIUS For that he has, As much as in him lies, from time to time Envied against the people, seeking means To pluck away their power, as now at last Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers That do distribute it; in the name o’ the people And in the power of us the tribunes, we, Even from this instant, banish him our city, In peril of precipitation From off the rock Tarpeian never more To enter our Rome gates: i’ the people’s name, I say it shall be so.
CITIZENS 130 It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away: He’s banish’d, and it shall be so.	CITIZENS It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away: He’s banish’d, and it shall be so.
COMINIUS Hear me, my masters, and my common friends,—	COMINIUS Hear me, my masters, and my common friends,—
SICINIUS He’s sentenced; no more hearing.	SICINIUS He’s sentenced; no more hearing.
COMINIUS Let me speak: 135 I have been consul, and can show for Rome Her enemies’ marks upon me. I do love My country’s good with a respect more tender, More holy and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife’s estimate, her womb’s increase, 140 And treasure of my loins; then if I would Speak that,—	COMINIUS Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show for Rome Her enemies’ marks upon me. I do love My country’s good with a respect more tender, More holy and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife’s estimate, her womb’s increase, And treasure of my loins; then if I would Speak that,—
SICINIUS We know your drift: speak what?	SICINIUS We know your drift: speak what?
BRUTUS There’s no more to be said, but he is banish’d, As enemy to the people and his country: 145 It shall be so.	BRUTUS There’s no more to be said, but he is banish’d, As enemy to the people and his country: It shall be so.
CITIZENS It shall be so, it shall be so.	CITIZENS It shall be so, it shall be so.
CORIOLANUS You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o’ the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men 150 That do corrupt my air, I banish you; And here remain with your uncertainty! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into despair! Have the power still 155 To banish your defenders; till at length Your ignorance, which finds not till it feels, Making not reservation of yourselves, Still your own foes, deliver you as most Abated captives to some nation 160 That won you without blows! Despising, For you, the city, thus I turn my back: There is a world elsewhere.	CORIOLANUS You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o’ the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men That do corrupt my air, I banish you; And here remain with your uncertainty! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into despair! Have the power still To banish your defenders; till at length Your ignorance, which finds not till it feels, Making not reservation of yourselves, Still your own foes, deliver you as most Abated captives to some nation That won you without blows! Despising, For you, the city, thus I turn my back: There is a world elsewhere.
Exeunt CORIOLANUS , COMINIUS , MENENIUS , Senators, and Patricians	Exeunt CORIOLANUS , COMINIUS , MENENIUS , Senators, and Patricians
AEDILE The people’s enemy is gone, is gone!	AEDILE The people’s enemy is gone, is gone!
CITIZENS Our enemy is banish’d! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!	CITIZENS Our enemy is banish’d! he is gone! Hoo! hoo!
Shouting, and throwing up their caps	Shouting, and throwing up their caps
SICINIUS 165 Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath followed you, with all despite; Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city.	SICINIUS Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath followed you, with all despite; Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city.
CITIZENS Come, come; let’s see him out at gates; come. 170 The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come.	CITIZENS Come, come; let’s see him out at gates; come. The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come.
Exeunt	Exeunt