Coriolanus Act 3.1.2

Scene 3.1.2

A brawl on the street

The call from the Consul Sicinius was heard by the Commoners. The few took the first steps and the others soon followed close. Menenius rushed forward to stand in between the two groups.

“Both sides more respect please.” Menenius held up his arms. Sicinius kept on his instigating in a louder voice.

“Here’s he that would take from you all your power.” The Commoners heard the words and stirred up their emotions. They chanted down with him towards the Consuls. They had bustle around Coriolanus who was protected by the Audiles. Menenius tried to soothe the Commoners, but Sicinius had the Commoners riled up.

“You are at the point of losing your liberties; Marcius would have named for consul.” Sicinius looked to the Commoners. “What is the city without the Commoners?”

The Commoners roared their agreement to that. Brutus saw the emotions and rushed in with his words.

“We are the established magistrates.” He shouted and got his unison support. He felt the exhilaration of being popular like before. Cominius shook his head at the development of the situation. He feared a rebellion if this was not checked. 

He looked to the Consuls for consultation.

“That which it’s going may soon lay the city flat; to bring the roof to the foundation and bury all which we see to become heaps and piles of ruin.” Cominius does not fear battles, but he was not weary of it.

“This deserves death!” The voice of Sicinius could be heard. He was inciting the Commoners to revolt.

“Let us stand to our authority, or let us lose it.” Brutus echoed the threat. “We do here pronounce upon the part of the Commoners, in whose power we were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy of death.”

“Lay hold of him, and bear him to the gallows.” Sicinius incited more. He then turned to Audiles. “Seize that man.”

The Commoners all chanted in unison to have Coriolanus be chains, and sent to the gallows but Menenius rushed forth to protect his protégé.

“Hear me. Hear me please.” Menenius pleaded to the Commoners while the Audiles sought to protect the Consuls. “Be that you seem, truly your country’s friend, and proceed to what you would this violently redress?”

“Sir, those cold ways are very poisonous where the disease is violent.” Brutus glared to Coriolanus while he speaks. He spoke of the man arrogance and undeserving of the Consul post. “Send him to the gallows where he belonged.”

“No, I will die here.” Coriolanus had heard enough of the taunting. He stepped forth to face the Commoners. “There are some among you have beheld me fighting.”

Coriolanus saw some wore the battle fatigues jackets or remnants of its uniform.

“Come forth and try upon yourselves what you have seen me done.”

Menenius was shaken by the cry of Coriolanus. The man is mad to incite more of these rabbles. He must stop it. He moved to speak to Coriolanus but he was pushed by the rush of the Commoners. They had been challenged and rose to it. It was madness then when good men trampled over each other to raise their fists against one other. The Audiles pulled out their electro truncheons and swung at the maddening crowd. He himself was kicked and punched before he was dragged by a Samaritan to the corner. He saw the Audiles had earlier called for reinforcements and the trucks arrived to dislodge more of their numbers to push back the Commoners. He saw Marcius, with one arm holding the Commoners by the neck while he kicked with his right leg at another. He fought as if he was fighting the Volsces, but let the Gods forgive him for his foes then was his friends. Lartius the good friend of Marcius stood with his back to the hero and rendered his assistance as ferocious towards the Commoners. Cominius was shielded by the few of his command and was retreating back to the Senate.

What of the two instigators” He found them seeking refuge behind the Commoners. They are a laughable lot, citing rebellion and yet yield not a blood to feed it.

“Go; get you to your homes.” Menenius pleaded from his corner but Coriolanus was like a demented creature that actually enjoyed the fight. He denied on the statement made by Menenius.

“Stand fast! We have as many friends as enemies.” Coriolanus delighted in the fight for he was once unleashed to do what he does best. He had lost count of the numbers he had bloodied or maimed. Alas, he held back from killing for they were still Roman subjects. Other Consuls had seen fit to end the fight and asked for a withdrawal. Even Cominius had returned to called on Coriolanus to stop.

“I would they were barbarians, as they are though in Rome, they littered.” Coriolanus broke another arm in the Commoners.

“Be gone. Put not your worthy rage into your tongue.” Menenius approached the hero. He stood before him from the Commoners. “I will try whether my old wits be in request with those that have but little to listen.”

Cominius had reached Coriolanus and without hesitation pulled him away leaving Menenius to parlay with the Commoners. One of the wounded approached Menenius.

“This man had marred his fortune.”

“His nature too noble for the world; he would not flatter even the Gods for favors. His heart in his mouth; what it forges, he will speak. In anger, he forgets that life have its limitations.”

It was then Sicinius made his timely yet safe entrance. He asked for Coriolanus.

“Where’s the viper? He had depopulate the city and ~” The Commoners heard him. They added their support to him.

These tribunes are the people’ mouths and we their arms

“Peace, sirs. Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt with modest warrant.” Menenius stood up to calm the Commoners. “Hear me speak: as I do know the Consul worthiness, so can I name his fault.”

“Consul? What Consul?” Sicinius taunt back.

“Coriolanus! He whom I speak of.” Menenius explained himself but the Commoners taunt back they are no longer keen to hear the name mentioned. Menenius insisted that he be heard.

“If, by the tribunes leave, and yours of the good Commoners.” Menenius humbled himself towards the crowd. “I may be heard; I would crave a word or two: that which shall turn you to no further harm than so much loss of time.”

“Speak briefly then for we are preemptory to dispatch this viper, to eject him. Nevertheless he shall die tonight.”

“God forbid your words that our renowned Rome, whose gratitude towards her deserved children is enrolled should now eat up her own.” Menenius sighed on seeing the alarming attitude of the Commoners but Sicinius added in more of his stirred venoms.

“He’s a disease that must be cut away.” Sicinius added on. He was enjoying the moment of fame.

“O, he’s a disease that must be cut away.” Menenius turned to sarcasm. “What has he done to Rome that’s worthy death? Killing our enemies, the blood he had lost for his country; and what is left to lose it by country were to us all that do it, and suffer it a brand to the end of the world.”

“That’s karma.” Sicinius quoted out. He was in some therapy group for his sometimes misgivings on his action. He does have an erratic conscience beneath the skin. “The service of the foot being once gangrened is not then respected for what before it was.”

“We will hear no more.” Brutus called for the end of the talks. “Pursue him to his house and pluck him thence, lest his infection, being of catching nature, spread further.”

The Commoners agreed. It was becoming a lynch mob these Commoners had become. Menenius was not willing to have Romans of any ranks fighting among themselves. He would mark their anger towards him. He would be their voice. He had to take over the situation.

“Give me leave. I will go to him.” Menenius voiced out. “I will go to him where he shall answer by a lawful form.”

“It’s the humanity way.” Another Consul who was still there voiced his agreement. “The other way will prove be too bloody and the end of it, unknown to the beginning.”

“Good, we will let you have your way. Bring him to the market place or we will march to his.” Sicinius agreed to the older man. Menenius sighed that the other had consented.

“I will bring him to you.” Menenius replied.