Coriolanus Act Four – “I shall be loved when I am lack’d.”

Coriolanus Act Four – “I shall be loved when I am lack’d.”  

Coriolanus says goodbye to his wife, Virgilia, and to his mother, Volumniar and friends before the gates of Rome. Volumnia weeps and curses Rome wishing devastation on all the occupations and trades of Rome for banishing Coriolanus. Cominius offers to go with him for part of the journey but he refuses and exits Rome to another city and another fate.  

Elsewhere in Rome, Brutus and Sicinius see that their work is done and when they see  Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius, they try to avid them. Volumnia's eyes are too sharp and she sees Brutus and Sicinius and rails at them for banishing "...him that struck more blows for Rome than thou has spoken words..." Brutus and Sicinius accuse Volumnia of being mad before they depart and leave others to their loss.

We then cross to another part of Rome where a Roman spy meets a Volscian and they talk about the banishment of Coriolanus and they decide that while Rome is in such turmoil, it would be a good time for Tullus Aufidius and the Volscians to strike back. 

A little while later, Coriolanus enters the city of Antium, where Aufidius is presently residing. In a monologue, Coriolanus reveals that he will now attempt to become an ally with his enemy Aufidius and fight against Rome itself. he finds a citizen who directs him to where Aufidius is staying.

The servants of Aufidius refuse to let Coriolanus in because he is dressed like a peasant. Eventually one servant gets Aufidius who initially does not recognise Coriolanus. Coriolnius reveals who he is and says that he offers himself as an ally to the Volscian and if rejected he says that Aufidius can kill him. Aufidius is overwhelmed but accepts Coriolanus as an ally and says that together they will exact a great revenge on Rome. They eat together and plan their war on Rome.  

All is quiet on the Roman front as Brutus and Sicinius congratulate one another for getting rid of Coriolanus.

“We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;

His remedies are tame i' the present peace

And quietness of the people, which before

Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends

Blush that the world goes well, who rather had,

Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold

Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see

Our tradesmen with in their shops and going

About their functions friendly.”

They brag to Menenius that Rome is better off without Coriolanus. Suddenly a messenger enters bring word that the Volscians are preparing attack Rome. A second messenger confirms this and brings the news that Coriolanus is leading the invasion. Menenius and Cominius accuse the tribunes of putting Rome in tis position and when the plebeians come in on the argument, the two tribunes flee the Capitol fearing for their lives.

We then cross back to Aufidius, who is at a small camp outside of Rome. After his initial emotion, he is starting to have second thoughts about joining forces with Coriolanus since he own soldiers seem to like Coriolanus and respect him. Aufidius thinks that Rome will fall easily to Coriolanus so he begins to scheme ways to eventually dispose of Coriolanus:

“All places yield to him ere he sits down;

And the nobility of Rome are his:

The senators and patricians love him too:

The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people

Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty

To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome

As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it

By sovereignty of nature. First he was

A noble servant to them; but he could not

Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,

Which out of daily fortune ever taints

The happy man; whether defect of judgment,

To fail in the disposing of those chances

Which he was lord of; or whether nature,

Not to be other than one thing, not moving

From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace

Even with the same austerity and garb

As he controll'd the war; but one of these--

As he hath spices of them all, not all,

For I dare so far free him--made him fear'd,

So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit,

To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues

Lie in the interpretation of the time:

And power, unto itself most commendable,

Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair

To extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;

Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.

Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,

Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.”