Go tell the lords o’ th’ city I am here.
Deliver them this paper.
Go tell the lords o’ th’ city I am here. Deliver them this paper.
Go tell the lords o’ th’ city I am here. Deliver them this paper.
go tell the lords o’ th’ city i am here. deliver them this p
How is it with our general?
How is it with our general?
How is it with our general?
how is it with our general?
Even so
As with a man by his own alms empoisoned
And with his charity slain.
Even so As with a man by his own alms empoisoned And with his charity slain.
Even so As with a man by his own alms empoisoned And with his charity slain.
even so as with a man by his own alms empoisoned and with hi
Most noble sir,
If you do hold the same intent wherein
You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you
Of your great danger.
Most noble sir, If you do hold the same intent wherein You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you Of your great danger.
Most noble sir, If you do hold the same intent wherein You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you Of your great danger.
most noble sir, if you do hold the same intent wherein you w
Sir, I cannot tell.
We must proceed as we do find the people.
Sir, I cannot tell. We must proceed as we do find the people.
Sir, I cannot tell. We must proceed as we do find the people.
sir, i cannot tell. we must proceed as we do find the people
The people will remain uncertain whilst
’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either
Makes the survivor heir of all.
The people will remain uncertain whilst ’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all.
The people will remain uncertain whilst ’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all.
the people will remain uncertain whilst ’twixt you there’s d
I know it,
And my pretext to strike at him admits
A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned
Mine honour for his truth, who being so heightened,
He watered his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing so my friends; and to this end,
He bowed his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unswayable, and free.
I know it, And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned Mine honour for his truth, who being so heightened, He watered his new plants with dews of flattery, Seducing so my friends; and to this end, He bowed his nature, never known before But to be rough, unswayable, and free.
I know it, And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned Mine honour for his truth, who being so heightened, He watered his new plants with dews of flattery, Seducing so my friends; and to this end, He bowed his nature, never known before But to be rough, unswayable, and free.
i know it, and my pretext to strike at him admits a good con
Sir, his stoutness
When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping—
Sir, his stoutness When he did stand for consul, which he lost By lack of stooping—
Sir, his stoutness When he did stand for consul, which he lost By lack of stooping—
sir, his stoutness when he did stand for consul, which he lo
That I would have spoke of.
Being banished for’t, he came unto my hearth,
Presented to my knife his throat. I took him,
Made him joint servant with me, gave him way
In all his own desires; nay, let him choose
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and freshest men; served his designments
In mine own person; holp to reap the fame
Which he did end all his; and took some pride
To do myself this wrong; till at the last
I seemed his follower, not partner; and
He waged me with his countenance as if
I had been mercenary.
That I would have spoke of. Being banished for’t, he came unto my hearth, Presented to my knife his throat. I took him, Made him joint servant with me, gave him way In all his own desires; nay, let him choose Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, My best and freshest men; served his designments In mine own person; holp to reap the fame Which he did end all his; and took some pride To do myself this wrong; till at the last I seemed his follower, not partner; and He waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary.
That I would have spoke of. Being banished for’t, he came unto my hearth, Presented to my knife his throat. I took him, Made him joint servant with me, gave him way In all his own desires; nay, let him choose Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, My best and freshest men; served his designments In mine own person; holp to reap the fame Which he did end all his; and took some pride To do myself this wrong; till at the last I seemed his follower, not partner; and He waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary.
that i would have spoke of. being banished for’t, he came un
So he did, my lord.
The army marvelled at it, and, in the last,
When he had carried Rome and that we looked
For no less spoil than glory—
So he did, my lord. The army marvelled at it, and, in the last, When he had carried Rome and that we looked For no less spoil than glory—
So he did, my lord. The army marvelled at it, and, in the last, When he had carried Rome and that we looked For no less spoil than glory—
so he did, my lord. the army marvelled at it, and, in the la
Coriolanus dies not in battle but in a marketplace, surrounded by conspirators, killed for an act of mercy. The play's deepest irony is that the same quality that got him banished from Rome — his refusal to compromise himself, his insistence on living by his own code rather than others' expectations — also gets him killed by Volscia. He could have lived if he'd accepted Aufidius's definition of his action as betrayal. Instead, he insists on defending his honour, on explaining that mercy to family is compatible with service to his adopted nation. This explanation is his death sentence. Aufidius uses his own words against him: because Coriolanus cannot help but speak his truth, he condemns himself. The play suggests that in a world organized around power and survival, the man of principle is doomed. Coriolanus could have lied, could have accepted shame, could have remained silent. His refusal to do any of these things is what kills him.
There was it
For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him.
At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour
Of our great action. Therefore shall he die,
And I’ll renew me in his fall. But, hark!
There was it For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him. At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour Of our great action. Therefore shall he die, And I’ll renew me in his fall. But, hark!
There was it For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him. At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour Of our great action. Therefore shall he die, And I’ll renew me in his fall. But, hark!
there was it for which my sinews shall be stretched upon him
Your native town you entered like a post
And had no welcomes home, but he returns
Splitting the air with noise.
Your native town you entered like a post And had no welcomes home, but he returns Splitting the air with noise.
Your native town you entered like a post And had no welcomes home, but he returns Splitting the air with noise.
your native town you entered like a post and had no welcomes
And patient fools,
Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
With giving him glory.
And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear With giving him glory.
And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear With giving him glory.
and patient fools, whose children he hath slain, their base
Therefore at your vantage,
Ere he express himself or move the people
With what he would say, let him feel your sword,
Which we will second. When he lies along,
After your way his tale pronounced shall bury
His reasons with his body.
Therefore at your vantage, Ere he express himself or move the people With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounced shall bury His reasons with his body.
Therefore at your vantage, Ere he express himself or move the people With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounced shall bury His reasons with his body.
therefore at your vantage, ere he express himself or move th
Say no more.
Here come the lords.
Say no more. Here come the lords.
Say no more. Here come the lords.
say no more. here come the lords.
You are most welcome home.
You are most welcome home.
You are most welcome home.
you are most welcome home.
I have not deserved it.
But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
What I have written to you?
I have not deserved it. But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused What I have written to you?
I have not deserved it. But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused What I have written to you?
i have not deserved it. but, worthy lords, have you with hee
We have.
We have.
We have.
we have.
And grieve to hear’t.
What faults he made before the last, I think
Might have found easy fines, but there to end
Where he was to begin and give away
The benefit of our levies, answering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding—this admits no excuse.
And grieve to hear’t. What faults he made before the last, I think Might have found easy fines, but there to end Where he was to begin and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge, making a treaty where There was a yielding—this admits no excuse.
And grieve to hear’t. What faults he made before the last, I think Might have found easy fines, but there to end Where he was to begin and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge, making a treaty where There was a yielding—this admits no excuse.
and grieve to hear’t. what faults he made before the last, i
He approaches. You shall hear him.
He approaches. You shall hear him.
He approaches. You shall hear him.
he approaches. you shall hear him.
Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier,
No more infected with my country’s love
Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting
Under your great command. You are to know
That prosperously I have attempted, and
With bloody passage led your wars even to
The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home
Doth more than counterpoise a full third part
The charges of the action. We have made peace
With no less honour to the Antiates
Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver,
Subscribed by th’ Consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what
We have compounded on.
Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, No more infected with my country’s love Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know That prosperously I have attempted, and With bloody passage led your wars even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home Doth more than counterpoise a full third part The charges of the action. We have made peace With no less honour to the Antiates Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver, Subscribed by th’ Consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what We have compounded on.
Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, No more infected with my country’s love Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know That prosperously I have attempted, and With bloody passage led your wars even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home Doth more than counterpoise a full third part The charges of the action. We have made peace With no less honour to the Antiates Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver, Subscribed by th’ Consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what We have compounded on.
hail, lords! i am returned your soldier, no more infected wi
Read it not, noble lords,
But tell the traitor in the highest degree
He hath abused your powers.
Read it not, noble lords, But tell the traitor in the highest degree He hath abused your powers.
Read it not, noble lords, But tell the traitor in the highest degree He hath abused your powers.
read it not, noble lords, but tell the traitor in the highes
“Traitor?” How now?
“Traitor?” How now?
“Traitor?” How now?
“traitor?” how now?
Ay, traitor, Martius.
Ay, traitor, Martius.
Ay, traitor, Martius.
ay, traitor, martius.
Martius?
Martius?
Martius?
martius?
Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think
I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name
Coriolanus, in Corioles?
You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously
He has betrayed your business and given up
For certain drops of salt your city Rome—
I say your city—to his wife and mother,
Breaking his oath and resolution like
A twist of rotten silk, never admitting
Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears
He whined and roared away your victory,
That pages blushed at him and men of heart
Looked wond’ring each at other.
Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name Coriolanus, in Corioles? You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously He has betrayed your business and given up For certain drops of salt your city Rome— I say your city—to his wife and mother, Breaking his oath and resolution like A twist of rotten silk, never admitting Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears He whined and roared away your victory, That pages blushed at him and men of heart Looked wond’ring each at other.
Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name Coriolanus, in Corioles? You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously He has betrayed your business and given up For certain drops of salt your city Rome— I say your city—to his wife and mother, Breaking his oath and resolution like A twist of rotten silk, never admitting Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears He whined and roared away your victory, That pages blushed at him and men of heart Looked wond’ring each at other.
ay, martius, caius martius. dost thou think i’ll grace thee
Hear’st thou, Mars?
Hear’st thou, Mars?
Hear’st thou, Mars?
hear’st thou, mars?
Aufidius is revealed in 5-6 as Coriolanus's true nemesis — not the tribunes, not the people, but another great soldier who sees in Coriolanus a threat to his own dominance. Throughout the play, we've been trained to see Coriolanus's enemies as the tribunes, the people, Rome itself. But 5-6 reveals that Aufidius has been waiting for an opportunity to eliminate him. The accusation of betrayal is strategically timed: it comes the moment Coriolanus is most vulnerable, when his action can be reframed as weakness. Aufidius understands that Coriolanus's integrity is his vulnerability — that he cannot help but defend himself with truth rather than lies. By giving him the chance to explain, Aufidius guarantees his death. The play's final tragedy is that Coriolanus is killed not by ideological enemies but by a fellow soldier motivated by simple jealousy and fear of being surpassed.
Name not the god, thou boy of tears.
Name not the god, thou boy of tears.
Name not the god, thou boy of tears.
name not the god, thou boy of tears.
Ha?
Ha?
Ha?
ha?
No more.
No more.
No more.
no more.
Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart
Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!—
Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever
I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords,
Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion—
Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that
Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join
To thrust the lie unto him.
Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!— Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion— Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join To thrust the lie unto him.
Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!— Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion— Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join To thrust the lie unto him.
measureless liar, thou hast made my heart too great for what
Peace, both, and hear me speak.
Peace, both, and hear me speak.
Peace, both, and hear me speak.
peace, both, and hear me speak.
Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound!
If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there,
That like an eagle in a dovecote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles,
Alone I did it. “Boy”!
Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads, Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound! If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there, That like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles, Alone I did it. “Boy”!
Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads, Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound! If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there, That like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles, Alone I did it. “Boy”!
cut me to pieces, volsces. men and lads, stain all your edge
Why, noble lords,
Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,
Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,
’Fore your own eyes and ears?
Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, ’Fore your own eyes and ears?
Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, ’Fore your own eyes and ears?
why, noble lords, will you be put in mind of his blind fortu
Let him die for’t.
ALL PEOPLE
Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He killed my son! My daughter! He
killed my cousin Marcus! He killed my father!
Let him die for’t. ALL PEOPLE Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin Marcus! He killed my father!
Let him die for’t. ALL PEOPLE Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin Marcus! He killed my father!
let him die for’t. all people tear him to pieces! do it pres
Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace!
The man is noble, and his fame folds in
This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offences to us
Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius,
And trouble not the peace.
Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace! The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offences to us Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace.
Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace! The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offences to us Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace.
peace, ho! no outrage! peace! the man is noble, and his fame
O that I had him,
With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
To use my lawful sword.
O that I had him, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword.
O that I had him, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword.
o that i had him, with six aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, t
Insolent villain!
Insolent villain!
Insolent villain!
insolent villain!
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
Hold, hold, hold, hold!
Hold, hold, hold, hold!
Hold, hold, hold, hold!
hold, hold, hold, hold!
My noble masters, hear me speak.
My noble masters, hear me speak.
My noble masters, hear me speak.
my noble masters, hear me speak.
O Tullus!
O Tullus!
O Tullus!
o tullus!
Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.
Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.
Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.
thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.
Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.—
Put up your swords.
Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.— Put up your swords.
Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.— Put up your swords.
tread not upon him.—masters, all be quiet.— put up your swor
My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage,
Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger
Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice
That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honours
To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver
Myself your loyal servant, or endure
Your heaviest censure.
My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honours To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver Myself your loyal servant, or endure Your heaviest censure.
My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honours To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver Myself your loyal servant, or endure Your heaviest censure.
my lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, provoked by h
Bear from hence his body,
And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded
As the most noble corse that ever herald
Did follow to his urn.
Bear from hence his body, And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded As the most noble corse that ever herald Did follow to his urn.
Bear from hence his body, And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded As the most noble corse that ever herald Did follow to his urn.
bear from hence his body, and mourn you for him. let him be
His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let’s make the best of it.
His own impatience Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. Let’s make the best of it.
His own impatience Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. Let’s make the best of it.
his own impatience takes from aufidius a great part of blame
My rage is gone,
And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up.
Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.—
Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.—
Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory.
Assist.
My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up. Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.— Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.— Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury, Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist.
My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up. Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.— Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.— Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury, Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist.
my rage is gone, and i am struck with sorrow.—take him up. h
The Reckoning
Scene 5-6 is the play's tragic conclusion. Coriolanus dies defending the same principle that got him banished from Rome: his refusal to compromise his own nature. He spared Rome for family; Aufidius sees this as betrayal. Coriolanus cannot live in a world where he must choose between integrity and survival — and when forced to choose, he chooses integrity. He dies cursing Aufidius, the Volscians, and Rome. He's killed not by enemies in battle but by conspirators in a marketplace while trying to explain himself. The play ends with his death mourned even by those who killed him.
If this happened today…
The exiled general who switched sides gets assassinated by his new allies when they decide his previous mercy to his homeland is evidence of disloyalty. He tries to explain, tries to defend his honour, but he's outnumbered and surrounded. They kill him while he's talking.