Coriolanus, Act 4 Scene 2 runs 70 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 130 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Coriolanus.
Full Dialogue
Sicinius ♂
Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.
The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
In his behalf.
The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
In his behalf.
Brutus ♂
Now we have shown our power,
Let us seem humbler after it is done
Than when it was a-doing.
Let us seem humbler after it is done
Than when it was a-doing.
Sicinius ♂
Bid them home:
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.
Brutus ♂
Dismiss them home.
Here comes his mother.
Here comes his mother.
Sicinius ♂
Let's not meet her.
Brutus ♂
Why?
Sicinius ♂
They say she's mad.
Brutus ♂
They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.
Volumnia ♀
O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods
Requite your love!
Requite your love!
Menenius ♂
Peace, peace; be not so loud.
Volumnia ♀
If that I could for weeping, you should hear,–
Nay, and you shall hear some.
Will you be gone?
Nay, and you shall hear some.
Will you be gone?
Virgilia ♀
[To SICINIUS] You shall stay too: I would I had the power
To say so to my husband.
To say so to my husband.
Sicinius ♂
Are you mankind?
Volumnia ♀
Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words?
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words?
Sicinius ♂
O blessed heavens!
Volumnia ♀
More noble blows than ever thou wise words;
And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; yet go:
Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.
And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what; yet go:
Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.
Sicinius ♂
What then?
Virgilia ♀
What then!
He'ld make an end of thy posterity.
He'ld make an end of thy posterity.
Volumnia ♀
Bastards and all.
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
Menenius ♂
Come, come, peace.
Sicinius ♂
I would he had continued to his country
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
Brutus ♂
I would he had.
Volumnia ♀
'I would he had'! 'Twas you incensed the rabble:
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.
Brutus ♂
Pray, let us go.
Volumnia ♀
Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:–
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son–
This lady's husband here, this, do you see–
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:–
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son–
This lady's husband here, this, do you see–
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Brutus ♂
Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sicinius ♂
Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
With one that wants her wits?
Volumnia ♀
Take my prayers with you.
I would the gods had nothing else to do
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.
I would the gods had nothing else to do
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.
Menenius ♂
You have told them home;
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
Volumnia ♀
Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go:
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go:
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Menenius ♂
Fie, fie, fie!
70 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Volumnia | 35 | 50.0% |
| Sicinius | 16 | 22.9% |
| Brutus | 10 | 14.3% |
| Menenius | 5 | 7.1% |
| Virgilia | 4 | 5.7% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 35 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 14 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 2 of 7 in Act 4 of Coriolanus.
Scene length vs. play average
At 70 lines, this scene is shorter than the Coriolanus average scene in Coriolanus (~130 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 1 · Next: Act 4 Scene 3
About Act 4 Scene 2 of Coriolanus
Who carries Act 4 Scene 2 of Coriolanus?
Volumnia, with 35 lines — about 50% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 5 speakers and the lead holding 50% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.