#corio!tom

‘We were all worried about it. How long can you suspend a human being upside down by his ankles? It was such a weird sensation every night. Inside myself, of course I was aware of the power of the scene. But inside myself it was almost a relief that the story was over. That whatever was required from me internally, to give this amazing story shape and meaning, it’s over. The rest is silence.’

Know thou first, I loved the maid I married; never man sigh’d 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.

‘Thou art my warrior; I helped to frame thee.’

‘Say, what’s thy name? Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face bears a command in’t; though thy tackle’s torn. Thou show’st a noble vessel: what is thy name?’

‘The blood I drop is rather physical than dangerous to me: to Aufidius thus I will appear, and fight.’

‘Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees. To his surname Coriolanus ’longs more pride than pity to our prayers. Down: an end; this is the last: so we will home to Rome, and die among our neighbours. Nay, behold’s: this boy, that cannot tell what he would have but kneels and holds up bands for fellowship, does reason our petition with more strength than thou hast to deny it.’