Act V, Scene 4

Rome. A public place.

[Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS]

• Menenius Agrippa. See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond 3730
  corner-stone?

• Sicinius Velutus. Why, what of that?

• Menenius Agrippa. 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. 3735
  But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are
  sentenced and stay upon execution.

• Sicinius Velutus. Is't possible that so short a time can alter the
  condition of a man!

• Menenius Agrippa. There is differency between a grub and a butterfly; 3740
  yet your butterfly was a grub. This CORIOLANUS is grown
  from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a
  creeping thing.

• Sicinius Velutus. He loved his mother dearly.

• Menenius Agrippa. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother 3745
  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 3750
  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
  and a heaven to throne in.

• Sicinius Velutus. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. 3755

• Menenius Agrippa. 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. 3760

• Sicinius Velutus. The gods be good unto us!

• Menenius Agrippa. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto
  us. When we banished him, we respected not them;
  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,
  They'll give him death by inches. 3770

[Enter a second Messenger]

• Sicinius Velutus. What's the news?

• Second Messenger. Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,
  The Volscians are dislodged, and CORIOLANUS gone:
  A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, 3775
  No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

• Sicinius Velutus. 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? 3780
  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, 3785
  Make the sun dance. Hark you!

[A shout within]

• Menenius Agrippa. This is good news:
  I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia
  Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians, 3790
  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!

[Music still, with shouts]

• Sicinius Velutus. 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 Velutus. They are near the city? 3800

• Second Messenger. Almost at point to enter.

• Sicinius Velutus. We will meet them,
  And help the joy.

[Exeunt]