The Watch speaks with the absolute certainty of men who have no personal stake — they've seen their general's transformation and believe in it completely. Watch for how their bluntness becomes the play's harshest verdict on Menenius's confidence.
Stay! Whence are you?
Stop! Where are you from?
Hold it! Where are you coming from?
hey stop where u from
Stand, and go back.
Stop where you are, and go back.
Stop right there and turn around.
turn around now
You guard like men; ’tis well. But by your leave,
I am an officer of state and come
To speak with Coriolanus.
You guard well; that's good. But with your permission, I am a government official and I've come to speak with Coriolanus.
Good work on the guarding. Look, I'm a government official and I need to talk to Coriolanus.
u guard well but im official need to talk to coriolanus
From whence?
Where are you from?
Where are you coming from?
where from?
From Rome.
From Rome.
From Rome.
from rome.
You may not pass; you must return. Our general
Will no more hear from thence.
You can't pass; you have to go back. Our general won't listen to anyone from there anymore.
You're not getting through. You've got to turn around. Our general isn't hearing anything from Rome.
cant go through go back general wont listen to rome
You’ll see your Rome embraced with fire before
You’ll speak with Coriolanus.
Rome will be surrounded by fire before you get to speak with Coriolanus.
Your Rome will be on fire before you ever get to talk to Coriolanus.
rome will burn before u talk to him
Good my friends,
If you have heard your general talk of Rome
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks
My name hath touched your ears. It is Menenius.
Good friends, if you've heard your general talk of Rome and of his friends there, it's far more likely than not that my name has reached your ears. I'm Menenius.
Listen, if your general's been talking about Rome and his people there, he's definitely mentioned me. It's Menenius.
if he talks about rome he probably mentioned me im menenius
Be it so; go back. The virtue of your name
Is not here passable.
So be it; go back. Your name doesn't carry weight here.
Fine; go back. Your name means nothing to us.
ok go back your name dont mean nothing here
I tell thee, fellow,
Thy general is my lover. I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparalleled happily amplified;
For I have ever verified my friends—
Of whom he’s chief—with all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer. Nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,
I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise
Have almost stamped the leasing. Therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.
I tell you, fellow, your general is my friend. I have been the record of his good deeds, through which people have read about his unmatched fame and perhaps made it larger; for I have always described my friends—of whom he's the chief—with all the truth that accuracy would allow, and sometimes, like a bowl on a slippery ground, I've rolled past the mark and almost lied in his praise. Therefore, fellow, you must let me pass.
Listen, this general of yours is like family to me. I'm the guy who's documented everything he's done right, and people have made his reputation even bigger from that. I've always been honest about my friends, especially him, but sometimes I've maybe gone a bit too far, almost made things up in his favor. So you've got to let me through.
im close with your general i documented all his good stuff people know him cause of me i even stretched the truth for him so u gotta let me through
Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf as you have
uttered words in your own, you should not pass here, no, though it were
as virtuous to lie as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.
Look, if you'd lied as many times as you've talked in his favor, you still couldn't pass here, not even if lying were as good as living purely. So go back.
Sir, if you'd told as many lies for him as you've spent words praising him, you still wouldn't be getting through here. Go back.
even if u lied that much for him u still cant pass go back
Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the
party of your general.
Please, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always on your general's side.
Come on, just remember - I'm Menenius. I've always been on your general's team.
remember im menenius always been on his side
Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say you have, I am one that,
telling true under him, must say you cannot pass. Therefore go back.
However much you've lied for him as you claim, I'm someone who must tell the truth under him, and I have to tell you that you cannot pass. So go back.
Even if all you say about lying for him is true, I answer to him by telling the truth, and the truth is you can't get through. Go back.
i gotta tell the truth and truth is u cant go through so go back
This scene is the play's test of personal loyalty against political transformation. Menenius has believed throughout the play that the bond between himself and Coriolanus operates outside politics — it's the bond of an adopted father and son, of thirty years of mutual affection. The scene methodically dismantles that belief. The guards don't know who he is. Coriolanus sends him away with a form letter. The thing Menenius bet everything on — that the personal bond survives the political rupture — turns out not to be true. What makes the scene devastating is that Coriolanus is not cruel: he gives Menenius a letter, he says 'yet for I loved thee' — past tense. He loved him. He doesn't anymore. He's remade himself completely.
Has he dined, can’st thou tell? For I would not speak with him till
after dinner.
Has he eaten yet? Can you tell me? Because I wouldn't want to talk to him until after he's had dinner.
Hey, has he had lunch yet? I'm asking because I'd rather wait until after he eats to talk to him.
did he eat i dont wanna talk til after he eats
You are a Roman, are you?
You're a Roman, aren't you?
You're from Rome, right?
ur from rome right
I am, as thy general is.
I am, as your general is.
I am, just like your general is.
yep like your general is
Then you should hate Rome as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out
your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular
ignorance given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges
with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your
daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as
you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city
is ready to flame in with such weak breath as this? No, you are
deceived. Therefore back to Rome and prepare for your execution. You
are condemned. Our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.
Then you should hate Rome the way he does. Can you possibly think that after you cast out your own best defender and, through foolish mob pressure, gave your enemy your shield, that you can stop his revenge with just the weak complaints of old women, the timid pleading of your daughters, or the shaky appeals of some decrepit old fool like you? Can you think your weak breath will put out the fire your city is ready to burn in? No, you're wrong. Go back to Rome and prepare to die. You're condemned. Our general has sworn no mercy or pardon for you.
Then you should hate Rome the way he does. You really think that after throwing out the one guy who actually protected you and, through stupid mob pressure, handing your enemy your own defenses, you can stop his revenge? What, with complaints from old women, begging from your daughters, or pathetic pleas from some ancient wreck like you? You think your weak voice will stop the fire Rome's about to burn in? No way. Get back to Rome and prepare to die. You're done. Our general has sworn he won't show you any mercy.
u betrayed ur protector gave ur enemy power think old women can stop him think ur weak voice matters go die hes sworn no mercy
Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with
estimation.
Sir, if your captain knew I was here, he would treat me with respect.
Look, if your commander knew I was here, he'd treat me right.
if ur captain knew id be here hed respect me
Come, my captain knows you not.
Listen, my captain doesn't know you.
Sorry, but my captain has no idea who you are.
my captain dont know u
I mean thy general.
I mean your general.
I'm talking about your general, not your captain.
i mean ur general
My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go, lest I let forth your
half pint of blood. Back! That’s the utmost of your having. Back!
My general doesn't care about you. Go back, I'm telling you, or I'll draw the little blood you have. Go back! That's all you're worth. Go back!
My general doesn't give a damn about you. Get out of here, or I'll bleed you dry. Go back! That's all you amount to. Go back!
general dont care about u go back or ill draw ur blood thats all ur worth
Nay, but fellow, fellow—
Wait, but friend, friend—
No, hold on, friend, friend—
wait friend friend
What’s the matter?
What’s the matter?
What’s the matter?
what’s the matter?
Now, you companion, I’ll say an errand for you. You shall know now that
I am in estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack guardant cannot
office me from my son Coriolanus. Guess but by my entertainment with
him if thou stand’st not i’ th’ state of hanging or of some death more
long in spectatorship and crueller in suffering; behold now presently,
and swoon for what’s to come upon thee. [_to Coriolanus_.] The glorious
gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity and love thee
no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son, my son! Thou art
preparing fire for us; look thee, here’s water to quench it. I was
hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none but myself could
move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs, and conjure
thee to pardon Rome and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods
assuage thy wrath and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here, this,
who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee.
Now, guard, listen to this: you'll see that I have status; you'll learn that some sergeant can't keep me away from my son Coriolanus. Just look at how he treats me and guess whether you're facing hanging or some worse, longer death; look now and get ready for what's coming to you. To Coriolanus: The glorious gods hold daily council about your well-being and love you no less than your old father Menenius does! My son, my son! You're preparing fire for us; look, here's water to put it out. I struggled to come see you, but knowing only I could reach you, I've been driven from your gates by my own sighs, and I beg you to forgive Rome and your pleading countrymen. May the good gods take your anger and turn it instead on this stupid guard here, who, like a block of wood, has stopped me from seeing you.
Guard, I'm telling you something now: you're going to see that I matter; you're going to realize some low-ranked soldier can't keep me from my son Coriolanus. Look at how he's about to treat me and guess if you're about to get hanged or something slower and worse. Look right now and get ready. To Coriolanus: The gods themselves think about you constantly and love you just like your old father Menenius does! Son, son! You're going to burn us all down; but look, I've brought water to stop it. It was hard to get here, but I knew you'd only listen to me, so I dragged myself through your gates with sighs, and I'm begging you to have mercy on Rome and all these people begging for their lives. Let the gods take your anger and put it on this useless wood-for-brains guard instead, who blocked me from you.
u see im important now no guard keeps me from my son i brought water for ur fire i struggled here cause only i can reach u please forgive rome merciful gods turn ur anger on this guard not rome
Away!
Away!
Away!
away!
How? Away?
How? Away?
How? Away?
how? away?
The scene ends with a soldier's tribute to Coriolanus that doubles as the play's verdict on what he has become. 'The rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken' — immovable, unfeeling, rooted beyond any weather. These are images of strength, but also of something inhuman. An oak cannot be moved because it has no desire to move. A rock has no feeling. The guards mean it as praise, and it is praise — for a general. But the audience has just watched Menenius, who loved Coriolanus for decades, walk away with a form letter and a single word: 'Away.' The oak that can't be wind-shaken is also the tree that breaks in a storm strong enough.
Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs
Are servanted to others. Though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lies
In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather
Than pity note how much. Therefore begone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,
Wife, mother, child—I don't know them. My business belongs to others now. Though my revenge is rightfully mine, my mercy is in Volscian hands. That we were close will poison my memory more than pity will—I'll forget how much we were to each other. So go away. My ears against your pleas are stronger than your gates are against my army. But because I loved you, take this with you; I wrote it for you.
Wife, mother, child—I don't recognize them. My business is someone else's now. My revenge is mine to take, but my mercy belongs to the Volscians. We were close, yeah, but that'll just make me want to hurt you more, not less. I'll forget everything we meant to each other. So leave. Your words can't reach me any more than your gates can stop my soldiers. But since I did love you once, take this letter. I wrote it for you.
wife mother child i dont know them anymore my mercy aint mine to give being close just makes me hate u more leave utake this letter i wrote for u
And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,
I will not hear thee speak.—This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st.
And I would have sent it. Not another word, Menenius— I will not listen to you speak. This man, Aufidius, Was my valued companion in Rome; yet now you see him here with me.
And I was going to send that to you. But don't say anything else, Menenius. I'm done listening to you. See this man, Aufidius? He was someone I respected in Rome. And now look—we're together.
would've sent this no more talking menenius afidius was respected in rome now we're allies
You keep a constant temper.
You keep a steady resolve.
You stay true to yourself.
u stay steady
Now, sir, is your name Menenius?
Tell me, sir—do you go by Menenius?
So, you're Menenius?
so ur menenius
’Tis a spell, you see, of much power. You know the way home again.
That's magic, see—real powerful stuff. You know the way home.
It's like magic—seriously powerful. You know how to get home.
thats magic man u know the way home
Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your Greatness back?
Did you hear how we got scolded for holding back your Greatness?
You hear how much trouble we got in for trying to stop you?
u hear us get yelled at for stopping u
What cause do you think I have to swoon?
Why would I have reason to faint?
Why would I pass out?
y would i pass out
I neither care for th’ world nor your general. For such things as you,
I can scarce think there’s any, you’re so slight. He that hath a will
to die by himself fears it not from another. Let your general do his
worst. For you, be that you are, long; and your misery increase with
your age! I say to you, as I was said to, away!
I don't care about the world or your general. As for people like you, I can barely believe you exist—you're so insignificant. Someone who wants to die by his own hand doesn't fear it from another. Let your general do his worst. As for you, may you stay as you are long and your misery grow with your years! I say to you what was said to me: get out!
I don't care about the world or your general. People like you—I can barely believe you're real, you're so worthless. If a man decides to kill himself, he doesn't fear someone else doing it. Let your general do whatever he wants. For you, stay useless and get sadder as you age! I'm telling you what was told to me: get lost!
i dont care about the world or ur general people like u are nothing let him do his worst stay useless and miserable get out
A noble fellow, I warrant him.
That's a noble fellow, I swear.
That guy's actually noble, I'm telling you.
hes noble i swear
The worthy fellow is our general. He is the rock, the oak not to be
wind-shaken.
The worthy man is our general. He's the rock, the oak that can't be shaken by wind.
Our general is the real deal. He's solid, like an oak tree that won't bend.
generals the real deal solid like an oak
The Reckoning
One of the cruelest scenes Shakespeare ever wrote — not cruel in a villainous way, but in the way life is cruel. Menenius arrives with absolute confidence in his relationship with Coriolanus, is blocked by guards who treat him with contempt, performs his identity for their benefit, and then gets a single word from Coriolanus: 'Away.' The man who called him father sends him home with a letter. The scene ends with the guards getting the last word — and they're right. Their general is 'the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.'
If this happened today…
The company's founder, who mentored the new CEO, shows up at the executive floor to talk him out of a catastrophic decision. Security stops him. He name-drops. They let him wait. The CEO appears, looks through him, and says: 'This isn't a good time.' He hands the founder a printed letter and goes back inside. The security guards exchange glances: 'Yeah. He's changed.' The founder leaves talking tough. He's destroyed.