Coriolanus Act 3.3.1 & 3.3.2

Scene 3.3.1

The Forum

The market place was still filled by the Commoners with their appointed Consuls stroking the embers on the Coriolanus issue. Brutus walked up to Sicinius who was in a chat with some ladies in the corner. He pulled Sicinius hand to get him to the side.

“We need to charge the man. Charge him home on his tyrannical power. If he evade us there, move onto the envy to the people.” Brutus laid his strategy. “We will nail him then.”

Sicinius was not listening and watching the three ladies he was trying to impress with his charms. He saw the Audile approaching them. Brutus asked the Audile on Coriolanus.

“Will he come?” Brutus was getting impatient. He dislikes the non-activity.

The Audile nodded.

“He’s accompanied. Old Menenius and those Consuls that tails behind that man.” The Audile replied.

“Have you a catalogue of all the voices that we have procured on the poll?” Sicinius asked. “By tribes?”

The Audile nodded again.

“Then assemble them. When they hear me say ‘It shall be so I the right and strength of the Commoners, be it either for death, for fine, or banishment, then let them with me. I say ‘Fine’, cry ‘Fine’ if Death cry ‘Death’!” Sicinius gave the order.

“When such time they have begun to cry, let them not cease, but with the din confused enforce the present execution of what we chance to sentence.” Brutus sided with the other.

The Audile nodded again. Probably an infliction of working too long as Audile.

“Make them strong, and ready for this hint which we would give to them.” Sicinius fortified his words with a pat on the back. Audile left for the awaiting task.

“Here he comes.” Sicinius smiled. He was to take center stage.

Scene 3.3.2

The Mock Court

Coriolanus stepped into the market place with his friends and friendlier Consuls. Arms engaged in a vice grip, they marched in to the confidence of united we stand, separated we shall …..flight perhaps. Menenius broke rank and walked ahead. He had his arms raised to the Commoner

“Calm, I asked all of you.” Menenius gave his ‘assuring’ smile. He was then approached by Coriolanus whom he lent his voice to whisper while he hunched his shoulders. “Humble like the hostler, that for the poorest piece, he will bear the knave by volume.”

They soon approached the Commoners who had stood their ground at the market place. Menenius the charmer stepped forth and made his opening speech.

“The Gods keep Rome in safety.” Menenius tried to hint that the Gods had played Coriolanus as the Champion. “They supplied us with worthy men. Walk our streets with the show of peace and not with war.”

The other two other Consuls stepped forth. They called on the Commoners to congregate around the Consuls, like in a siege. Just when the Audile called the Commoners to behave and listen but Coriolanus had called for his audience.

 “First, let me speak.” Coriolanus jolted to the front. The two opposing Consuls smiled at the one to speak. They liken the situation like the one who walked into the fire unaware.

“Shall I be charged no further than this present? Must all to determine are here?” Coriolanus looked to the assembled juries.

“If you submit to the Commoners’ voices, allow their officers, and are content to suffer the lawful censure for such faults as shall be proved upon you?” Sicinius asked Coriolanus who nodded. Sicinius was to continue when Menenius cut in.

“He says he is content. The warlike service he has done, consider; think upon the wounds on his body bears, which show like graves in the churchyard.” The old charmer chided the Commoners. “Consider further, that when he speaks not as Roman, you will find him a soldier’ do not take his ….rougher accents for malicious sounds, and….”

“Well, well, no more.” Sicinius snapped in. He was bore with the compliments and false accolades. “We charge you that you have contrived to take from Rome, and to wind yourself into a power tyrannical for which you are a traitor to the people.”

“What! Traitor?” Coriolanus succumbed to his emotions. Menenius pulled at him to calm down.

“The fires in Hell burned them!” Coriolanus lashed out. “Call me their traitor! Thou injurious Consuls. Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, in thy hands clutched as many millions, in thy tongue both numbers, I would say those lie unto thee w with a voice as free as I do pray the Gods.”

“He mocked us, Commoners.” Sicinius laid the embers on the fire. The Commoners shouted for the tone alike the lynch mob.

“Peace!’ Sicinius shouted out. “We need no more proof to his charge. What you had seen him do and heard him speaks, beating your officers, cursing yourselves. He opposed the laws with strokes, and here defying those great power must try hi, so criminal and in such capital kind, deserves extreme death.”

“You…” Coriolanus exploded out, but Menenius reminded him of his promise to his mother. Coriolanus shrugged him off.

“I will …” Coriolanus paused in his words. “Let them pronounce the steep death, vagabond exile, flayed and pent to linger but with a grain a day, I would not buy their mercy at the price of one fair word, nor check my courage for what they can give.”

“Hear me, my masters, and my common friends.” Cominius tried to soothe the Commoners.

“He’s sentenced; no more hearing.” Sicinius retort.

“Please let me speak.” Cominius pleaded. “I have been Consul, and can show for Rome her enemies upon me. I do love my country….”

“We know your drift. Speak no more.” Sicinius raised his Voice. “There’s no more to be said.”

“He is banished.” Brutus spoke out without thinking. He looked to Sicinius. “As enemy to the Commoners and his country.”

The Commoners echoed the support for that. That riled Coriolanus to explode in emotion.

“You common cry of curs whose breaths I hate as it reek of the rotten fens, whose loves I prize as the dead carcasses of unburied men that do corrupt my air.” Coriolanus spat at the ground. “I banish you. Let every feeble rumor shake your hearts! Your enemies fan you into despair! Despising for you the city, thus I turn my back: there is a world elsewhere.”

Coriolanus turned to walk away. The other Consuls saw their newly staged up Consul had turned tail, they also did the same. The Commoners cheered when they realized they had won.

“Our enemy is banished.”