Coriolanus, Act 5 Scene 4 runs 69 lines of dialogue, spoken by 4 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 130 lines. This scene is part of Act 5 of Coriolanus.
Full Dialogue
Menenius ♂
See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond
corner-stone?
corner-stone?
Sicinius ♂
Why, what of that?
Menenius ♂
If it be possible for you to displace it with your
little finger, there is some hope the ladies of
Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him.
But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are
sentenced and stay upon execution.
little finger, there is some hope the ladies of
Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him.
But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are
sentenced and stay upon execution.
Sicinius ♂
Is't possible that so short a time can alter the
condition of a man!
condition of a man!
Menenius ♂
There is differency between a grub and a butterfly;
yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown
from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a
creeping thing.
yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown
from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a
creeping thing.
Sicinius ♂
He loved his mother dearly.
Menenius ♂
So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother
now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness
of his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he
moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before
his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with
his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a
battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for
Alexander. What he bids be done is finished with
his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity
and a heaven to throne in.
now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness
of his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he
moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before
his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with
his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a
battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for
Alexander. What he bids be done is finished with
his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity
and a heaven to throne in.
Sicinius ♂
Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.
Menenius ♂
I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his
mother shall bring from him: there is no more mercy
in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that
shall our poor city find: and all this is long of
you.
mother shall bring from him: there is no more mercy
in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that
shall our poor city find: and all this is long of
you.
Sicinius ♂
The gods be good unto us!
Menenius ♂
No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto
us. When we banished him, we respected not them;
and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.
us. When we banished him, we respected not them;
and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.
Messenger ♂
Sir, if you'ld save your life, fly to your house:
The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune
And hale him up and down, all swearing, if
The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.
The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune
And hale him up and down, all swearing, if
The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.
Sicinius ♂
What's the news?
Second Messenger ♂
Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,
The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone:
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.
The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone:
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.
Sicinius ♂
Friend,
Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?
Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?
Second Messenger ♂
As certain as I know the sun is fire:
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
Tabours and cymbals and the shouting Romans,
Make the sun dance. Hark you!
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
Tabours and cymbals and the shouting Romans,
Make the sun dance. Hark you!
Menenius ♂
This is good news:
I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,
A city full; of tribunes, such as you,
A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:
This morning for ten thousand of your throats
I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,
A city full; of tribunes, such as you,
A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:
This morning for ten thousand of your throats
I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
Sicinius ♂
First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,
Accept my thankfulness.
Accept my thankfulness.
Second Messenger ♂
Sir, we have all
Great cause to give great thanks.
Great cause to give great thanks.
Sicinius ♂
They are near the city?
Second Messenger ♂
Almost at point to enter.
Sicinius ♂
We will meet them,
And help the joy.
And help the joy.
69 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Menenius | 36 | 52.2% |
| Sicinius | 14 | 20.3% |
| Second Messenger | 14 | 20.3% |
| Messenger | 5 | 7.2% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 36 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 17 lines.
Total speakers on stage
4 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 5
This is Scene 4 of 6 in Act 5 of Coriolanus.
Scene length vs. play average
At 69 lines, this scene is shorter than the Coriolanus average scene in Coriolanus (~130 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 5 Scene 3 · Next: Act 5 Scene 5
About Act 5 Scene 4 of Coriolanus
Who carries Act 5 Scene 4 of Coriolanus?
Menenius, with 36 lines — about 52% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 4 speakers and the lead holding 52% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.