Coriolanus Act 3.2.3

Scene 3.2.3

A Senate’s plea

Menenius and his entourage of Consuls saw the lady of the house and rushed over. He wished to speak to her on the son. He knew her too well, so he raised his voice to be heard lest it be spoken direct.

“Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough: you must return to mend it.” Menenius lowered his head while he approached the lady.

“There’s no remedy unless …by not doing so, our good city cleave in the midst and perish.” A Consul at the rear spoke out wisely. It was a play well orchestrated by the devious elder man to spur the moment. Lady Volumnia heard those words and it was said in her house which she had the right to reply.

“Pray be counseled. I have a heart as little apt as yours”, Volumnia tried to express her feminine sympathy. “But yet a brain that leads my use of anger… to better vantage.”

Well, chosen with the pause to her words, while she scanned the expressions of the Consuls. They had shown irate initially, but she downplayed her words to soothe their ego with a humbler ending. They will listen if it would benefit them for then.

“Well said, Noble …woman.” Menenius seize the moment to express his unison with her, but cautioned on that she was still a woman. “Maybe we should not stoop to the herd.”

The expression that most women were driven by emotional states and may ruled within it.

“What must I do?” The impetuous Coriolanus stepped forth. Menenius smiled that his raging protégé had arrived once again.

“Faced them once more.” Menenius replied. It was politics to sometimes test the limits. Or faced it.

“What then?” Coriolanus blasted out.

“Why, repent what you had done.” Menenius told him flatly. He was like the matador to gauge the bull’s new direction.

“For them? I cannot do that.” Coriolanus shouted out but Volumnia held her hands to her son. She had seen the reaction of the others. These elderly members of the Consuls are not there partially of their birthright but they do bear some characteristics that bear their staying power as Consuls. What she had seen, called for a strategic withdrawal by her son. He needed to be tempered down, or he will fail before he was to reach the peak.

“If it be honor in your wars to seem you are not for your best here. Any policy how is it less or worse, it shall hold companionship in peace with honor as in war.” Volumnia spoke of her life experiences, where she had compromised on her choice with her ideals to where she was. She had disliked Commoners as much as she liked Volsces, but there are times, you got to comfort yourself with the likes of them when it’s needed.

“It lies to you to speak to the Commoners, not by your own instructions but with such …words that are but rotted in your tongue; though these are bastards and syllables to your bosom’ truth.” Note the word rotted that she had described as if it was rancid to be swallowed as well.

“Now, this is no more dishonor to you than to take their heart with your words, which else would put you to your fortune.” Volumnia stared at her son’s eyes. It said listen to your mother as you had done since birth. “I am in this, your wife, your son, these …Consuls, the Nobles that you show our Commoners …lout”.

The last syllable she spoke when her hands reached to pull his ears to her lips. She cradled her son in her arms; his hurt was felt by her, but it was a needed task for all of them. She then pulled his head up and continued.

“How you can frown that spend a fawn upon them for the inheritance of their loves and safeguard of what that they might want ruined.”

The Consuls within hearing distance held their breath until Menenius lauded the lady for her wisdom.

“Noble lady!” It was a finer selection of definition for the mother, well chosen by the crafty man. “Come, go with us; speak fair; you may salve so not what is dangerous present, but also the loss of what had passed.”

“I plea thee now, my son.” Volumnia gave her son the sweet smile. “Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand, and thus far having to stretched it, knee brushing the gravels, for in such business, action is eloquence, and the eyes of the …Commoners more learned than their ears could correct their hardened hearts.”

“Thou art their soldier and being bred in battles has not the soft way which thou confess, fit for thee to use as the claimed but thou will frame thyself as though have power and person.” Volumnia spoke in riddles, but she was indicating to him that even with his heroic upbringing, he must sometimes frame himself in a softer frame to please the others.

“Go”, Volumnia saw her son’ hardships should he act on her words but she must prevail for his sake. Her tears appeared on her eye lids when she told him these words. “I know thou had rather follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf than flatter him in a bower.”

It was then Cominius barged in way past the standing Consuls to approach Coriolanus.

“I have been to the market place.” Its fit you make fortifications to your home or defend yourself by calmness and by absences, your anger.”

“Only fair speech.” Menenius added in with his crafty smile while Cominius glared at him.

“I think that will serve if he can frame his pitch.” Cominius replied which Volumnia rushed forth to speak for Coriolanus.

“He will.” Volumnia turned to Coriolanus and told him to go as what she had asked him to do. Coriolanus looked to her and asked.

“Must I go shown them my unbarbed sconce?” Coriolanus voiced his dissent. He loved his mother and duly worshiped her like an idol, but the years of being away in battles had also set in him some new views of his perceptions. More to it, with his marriage to Virgilia, he had been shaped with his talks to her, and later with her. He loved his wife as much as his mother, although he seldom displayed both in togetherness.

“A lie I must bear? Well, I would do it.” Coriolanus relented on his own resolve. “This single …plot to lose the mould of Marcius hat to dust should grind it and throw it against the wind.”

To him then, Caius Marcius would be hidden while Coriolanus the people’s champion would come forth. It would be a mask to hide his true self.

“Yonder to the market place!” Coriolanus spoke out loudly. “You have put me now to such a part which never I shall discharge in my other face.”

Volumnia kissed her son, and then wished him well.

“My praises made thee first a soldier, so to have my praise for this, performance of a part thou has not done before.”

“Well, I must do it. My disposition had been possessed by a harlot’s spirit! My war drums into a lullaby pipe that lulls babies to sleep! A beggar’s tongue make motions though my lips and my knees bowed like in a stirrup!’ Coriolanus spoke of his new vision on himself; ever humbling to the wishes of the Commoners. It pained him, but it was needed for his mother wishes then.

“At thy choice then, to beg of thee, it’s my dishonor than thou of them.” Volumnia held her son to her bosom, and shared his grief. “Let thy mother feel thy pride than fear of this, Do as thou list, thy valiantness was mine, thou sucked it from me but owe thy pride thyself.”

“Pray be content, Mother.” Coriolanus consoled his mother. He loved her than to place his own pride before her wishes. 

“I am going to the market place. Chide me no more. I will return consul. Commend me to my wife.”

Volumnia nodded and left the hall to the assembled. Cominius then pushed a path passed the assembled for Coriolanus to leave the house and be on his way to the market place.

“Mildly, Coriolanus.” Menenius whispered to him.

“Mildly I be then, mildly.” Coriolanus replied back.