Coriolanus Scene 4.2.1.

Scene 4.2.1

The quarrel on the street

Sicinius and Brutus had taken an audience view of the farewell party. Brutus was glad that the charade was over. He had played the role to portray that hero into a villain. It was all part of the working of theirs to win votes and also to quash the new champion. They had done it before with subtle treachery means but with Coriolanus, they had to resort to the direct approach. It was not planned, but an act of impromptu that had escalated to the near boiling moment of a civil war. 

A war which they hoped would not have come to real war for they had just survived one other with the Volsces. The emotions were high and the ambers of the fire were stroked to fuel it. They were lucky the arrogant bastard had played to their game and got himself cornered.

Coriolanus was banished.

Brutus breathed in a deep pull.

Thank the Gods it was all over.

Rome was free once again.

That last statement he smiled to himself.

Rome would never be free until the people of Rome learned to live like Romans.

One Roman’s for One Rome.

“Bid them home, he’s gone and we will proceed on. The Nobility, we have vexed those who had supported him.” Sicinius intruded into Brutus thoughts.

“Now we have shown our power, let us be seen humbler after this than appeared as if it was doing.” Brutus was calling for remedial actions. He felt embarrassed to go the extent of separating the son from his father, son from his mother, husband from his wife, a devoted Roman from his country. That last bit was lame. Coriolanus departure was his own doing, and not because he loved Rome. He loved himself too much as a Noble.

“I think not.” Sicinius motioned to Brutus. “She’s coming.”

Brutus saw the arrival of the ladies and the charmer of the Consuls. Sicinius pulled Brutus to get away, but Brutus was edging to hear the ladies.

“They said she’s mad.” Sicinius replied. He had heard tales of the older lady. The servants of the Noble household area talked freely among themselves. Some of their tales are made believe but the true ones are passed more freely. One of it was on the lady name Volumnia. They had named her the Witch, but her power was not of magical spells but the influencing ones. She had coaxed it from the Generals and Consuls, and with her influences. They said she was in association with the Gods of Hades.

“She had her dark notes of all in the Consul….” Sicinius was interrupted when Volumnia called out to him.

“You are well met, the hoarded plague of the Gods requite your love!” Volumnia raised her voice towards the two there. Menenius tried to caution the lady to be more subtle.

“Peace, my lady. Peace...” Menenius pleaded. He had just seen a conflict had ended and would not see another erupt before he had his rest. We, the Consuls, are always creating conflicts but in between we needed some respite.

“So that you could hear some weeping! Nay, and you shall hear some.” Volumnia glared to the tormentors of her son. 

“You shall stay. I would if I had the power to say so to my husband….. and son.”

“Are you of …” Sicinius tried to mock her, for the ladies of Rome were mostly husband compliant.

“A fool? Is that a shame? Note this, you fool. My family was all men. You had banished the last one that struck more blows for Rome than house spoken words.” Volumnia glared at the Consul. “His father, and him had more noble blows than those wise words you ever spoke.”

“What then?” Sicinius had lost his control. He confronted the elder lady and then at the younger one. It was Virgilia emotions which came out.

“What then?” Virgilia held back the words she had on her tongue. She composed herself and uttered more ‘ladylike’ words. “He would make an end of thy posterity.”

“Bastards and all.” Volumnia uttered her profanities. “Good men they were. The wounds they bear for Rome.”

“I would he had continued for his country and not knitted himself to be a Consul.” Sicinius finally voiced out his real motive. He had feared Coriolanus would take over their influence on the Commoners. “I would he had ….”

“I would he had! It was you incensed the rabble that judges his worth. Like the mysteries which heaven forbids earth to know...?” Volumnia cursed under her breath. She had heard more things that ever leaked to the Commoners would create a revolt.

“Let us go.” Brutus had heard enough. 

“Sir, get you gone. You have done a brave deed. Take my prayers with you.” Volumnia spat out her words. “I would, the Gods had nothing else to do but to confirm my curses.”

Her audience gone, but still seen a distance away but her fury was still inside her.

“Could I meet them, but once a day it would unclog my heart of what lies heavy to it.” Volumnia continued on. Menenius approached the lady and held her hand.

“They are gone. Come and have supper with me.” Menenius sighed that it might all end then. He wanted to go home and take his rest.