Coriolanus Quotes
Volsce Politician: So your opinion is, Aufidius, that they of Rome are entered in our counsels and know how we proceed?
Tullus Aufidius: Is it not yours? 'Tis not four days gone since I heard thence. By the discovery, we shall be shortened in our aim.
Volsce Politician: And it is rumored Martius, your old enemy, leads on this preparation.
Tullus Aufidius: If we and Caius Martius chance to meet, 'tis sworn between us we shall ever strike 'till one can do no more. If ever again I meet him beard to beard, he's mine, or I am his.
Tullus Aufidius: Is it not yours? 'Tis not four days gone since I heard thence. By the discovery, we shall be shortened in our aim.
Volsce Politician: And it is rumored Martius, your old enemy, leads on this preparation.
Tullus Aufidius: If we and Caius Martius chance to meet, 'tis sworn between us we shall ever strike 'till one can do no more. If ever again I meet him beard to beard, he's mine, or I am his.
Movie: Coriolanus
General Cominius: The news is the Volsces are in arms. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that'll put you to it.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: I sin in envying his nobility. And were I anything but what I am, I wish me only he.
1st Senator: You have fought together?
Caius Martius Coriolanus: He is a lion that I am proud to hunt.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: I sin in envying his nobility. And were I anything but what I am, I wish me only he.
1st Senator: You have fought together?
Caius Martius Coriolanus: He is a lion that I am proud to hunt.
Movie: Coriolanus
Tullus Aufidius: Five times, Martius, I have fought with thee. So often has thou beat me, and would do so, I fear, should we encounter as often as we eat. For where I thought to crush him in an equal force, true sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way. Or wrath or craft may get him.
Volsce Lieutenant: He's the devil.
Tullus Aufidius: Bolder, though not so subtle. Nor sleep, nor sanctuary, being naked, sick, the prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice shall lift up their rotten privilege and custom against my hate to Martius. Where I find him, were it at home, upon my brother's guard, even there, will I wash my fierce hand in his heart.
Volsce Lieutenant: He's the devil.
Tullus Aufidius: Bolder, though not so subtle. Nor sleep, nor sanctuary, being naked, sick, the prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice shall lift up their rotten privilege and custom against my hate to Martius. Where I find him, were it at home, upon my brother's guard, even there, will I wash my fierce hand in his heart.
Movie: Coriolanus
General Cominius: Be it known, as to us, to all the world, that Caius Martius wears this war's garland. And from this time, for what he did before Corioles, call him, with all the applause and clamor of the host, Caius Martius Coriolanus. Bear the addition nobly ever.
Movie: Coriolanus
Tullus Aufidius: Do they still fly to the Roman?
Volsce Lieutenant: I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but your soldiers use him as the grace before meat, their talk at table, and their thanks at end. And you are darkened in this action, sir.
Tullus Aufidius: He bears himself more proud, even to my person, than I thought he would when first I did embrace him.
Volsce Lieutenant: Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?
Tullus Aufidius: I think he'll be to Rome as is the osprey to the fish, who takes it by sovereignty of nature.
Volsce Lieutenant: I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but your soldiers use him as the grace before meat, their talk at table, and their thanks at end. And you are darkened in this action, sir.
Tullus Aufidius: He bears himself more proud, even to my person, than I thought he would when first I did embrace him.
Volsce Lieutenant: Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?
Tullus Aufidius: I think he'll be to Rome as is the osprey to the fish, who takes it by sovereignty of nature.
Movie: Coriolanus
Volsce Lieutenant: How is it with our general?
Tullus Aufidius: As with a man by his own charity slain.
Volsce Lieutenant: Our soldiers will remain uncertain whilst 'twixt you there's difference, but the fall of either makes the survivor heir of all.
Tullus Aufidius: I know it, and my pretext to strike at him admits a good construction. I raised him, and I pawned mine honor for his truth, who, being so heightened, he watered his new plants with dews of flattery, seducing so my friends. At the last, I seemed his follower, not his partner, and he waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary.
Volsce Lieutenant: So he did, my lord. The army marveled at it. And in the last, when he had carried Rome and that we looked for no less spoil than glory...
Tullus Aufidius: There was it! For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him. At a few drops of women's rheum, which are as cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labor of our great action. Therefore shall he die, and I'll renew me in his fall.
Tullus Aufidius: As with a man by his own charity slain.
Volsce Lieutenant: Our soldiers will remain uncertain whilst 'twixt you there's difference, but the fall of either makes the survivor heir of all.
Tullus Aufidius: I know it, and my pretext to strike at him admits a good construction. I raised him, and I pawned mine honor for his truth, who, being so heightened, he watered his new plants with dews of flattery, seducing so my friends. At the last, I seemed his follower, not his partner, and he waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary.
Volsce Lieutenant: So he did, my lord. The army marveled at it. And in the last, when he had carried Rome and that we looked for no less spoil than glory...
Tullus Aufidius: There was it! For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him. At a few drops of women's rheum, which are as cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labor of our great action. Therefore shall he die, and I'll renew me in his fall.
Movie: Coriolanus
[last lines]Caius Martius Coriolanus: I am returned your soldier, no more infected with my country's love than when I parted hence, but still subsisting under your great command. We have made peace with no less honor to the Volscians than shame to the Romans.
Tullus Aufidius: Tell the traitor, in the highest degree, he hath abused your powers.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Traitor? How now?
Tullus Aufidius: Aye, traitor, Martius.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Martius?
Tullus Aufidius: Aye, Martius. Caius Martius. Dost thou think I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stolen name Corioloanus? [to his soldiers]
Tullus Aufidius: Perfidiously he hath betrayed your business and given up, for certain drops of salt, your city, Rome. I say your city, for his wife and mother, breaking his oath and resolution like a twist of rotten silk. Never admitting counsel of the war, but at his nurse's tears, he whined and roared away your victory.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Hear'st thou, Mars?
Tullus Aufidius: Name not the god, thou boy of tears.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Measureless liar, thou has made my heart too great for what contains it. Boy? O slave. Cut me to pieces, Volsces! Men and lads, stain all your edges on me! Boy? If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there that, like an eagle in a dovecote, I fluttered your Volscians in Corioles. Alone I did it. Boy.
Tullus Aufidius: [to his soldiers]Let him die for it.
Tullus Aufidius: Tell the traitor, in the highest degree, he hath abused your powers.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Traitor? How now?
Tullus Aufidius: Aye, traitor, Martius.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Martius?
Tullus Aufidius: Aye, Martius. Caius Martius. Dost thou think I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stolen name Corioloanus? [to his soldiers]
Tullus Aufidius: Perfidiously he hath betrayed your business and given up, for certain drops of salt, your city, Rome. I say your city, for his wife and mother, breaking his oath and resolution like a twist of rotten silk. Never admitting counsel of the war, but at his nurse's tears, he whined and roared away your victory.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Hear'st thou, Mars?
Tullus Aufidius: Name not the god, thou boy of tears.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Measureless liar, thou has made my heart too great for what contains it. Boy? O slave. Cut me to pieces, Volsces! Men and lads, stain all your edges on me! Boy? If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there that, like an eagle in a dovecote, I fluttered your Volscians in Corioles. Alone I did it. Boy.
Tullus Aufidius: [to his soldiers]Let him die for it.
Movie: Coriolanus
Menenius: [taking Coriolanus to meet the commoners]Have you not known the worthiest men have done it?
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Custom calls me to it. What custom wills, in all things should we do it. What must I say? Look, sir, my wounds. I got them in my country's service.
Menenius: O me, the gods! You must not speak like that. You must desire them to think upon you.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Think upon me? Hang 'em. I would they would forget me.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Custom calls me to it. What custom wills, in all things should we do it. What must I say? Look, sir, my wounds. I got them in my country's service.
Menenius: O me, the gods! You must not speak like that. You must desire them to think upon you.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Think upon me? Hang 'em. I would they would forget me.
Movie: Coriolanus
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Tullus Aufidius then has assembled a new army?
Titus Lartius: He has, my lord.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Saw you Aufidius?
Titus Lartius: He's retired to Antium.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Spoke he of me?
Titus Lartius: He did, my lord.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: How? What?
Titus Lartius: How often he had met you, sword to sword. That of all things upon the earth, he hated your person most.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: At Antium lives he?
Titus Lartius: At Antium.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: I wish I had cause to seek him there, to oppose his hatred fully.
Titus Lartius: He has, my lord.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Saw you Aufidius?
Titus Lartius: He's retired to Antium.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: Spoke he of me?
Titus Lartius: He did, my lord.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: How? What?
Titus Lartius: How often he had met you, sword to sword. That of all things upon the earth, he hated your person most.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: At Antium lives he?
Titus Lartius: At Antium.
Caius Martius Coriolanus: I wish I had cause to seek him there, to oppose his hatred fully.
Movie: Coriolanus
Tullus Aufidius: I raised him, and I pawned mine honor for his truth. Who, being so heightened, he watered his new plants with dews of flattery, seducing so my friends. At the last I seemed his follower, not partner. And he waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary.
Movie: Coriolanus
Tullus Aufidius: [to Coriolanus]Know thou, I loved the maid I married, never man sighed truer breath. But that I see thee here, thou noble thing... more dances my rapt heart than when I first my wedded mistress saw bestride my threshold.
Movie: Coriolanus