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Menenius Agrippa
Cominius is the head Roman general and a senator. He is Caius Martius’s commander and superior, and it is Cominius that grants Caius Martius the name of “Coriolanus.” Like Menenius, he is a surrogate father figure to Coriolanus and a campaign coach. Cominius is also a skilled orator, as it’s his chronicle of Coriolanus’s military deeds that first proclaims Coriolanus’s worthiness to the public and announces him as a candidate for consul.
Cominius Quotes in Coriolanus
The Coriolanus quotes below are all either spoken by Cominius or refer to Cominius. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 2, Scene 2 Quotes
I shall lack voice. The deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be uttered feebly.
…
At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others. Our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight
When with his Amazonian chin he drove
The bristled lips before him. He bestrid
An o’erpressed Roman and i’ th’ Consul’s view
Slew three opposers. Tarquin’s self he met
And struck him on his knee. In that day’s feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene,
He proved best man i’ th’ field and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-entered thus, he waxèd like a sea,
And in the brunt of seventeen battles since
He lurched all swords of the garland.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Cominius delivers this speech to the Roman senators and tribunes in order to explain Coriolanus’ most recent valiant deeds in the battle at Corioles. He starts with a rhetorical move called humility topos, or feigned humility, in which the speaker pretends to be a terrible orator. This type of gesture might be compared to Marc Antony’s famous funeral speech in another Roman Shakespeare play, Julius Caesar. After this introduction, in which he establishes (by denying) his rhetorical prowess, Cominius describes how Coriolanus first entered war at the age of a boy while Rome fought to expel the dictator Tarquin. “Amazonian Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferend
Before and in Corioles, let me say,
I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyers
And by his rare example made the coward
Turn terror into sport. As weeds before
A vessel under sail, so men obeyed
And fell below his stem. His sword, Death’s stamp,
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed with dying cries. Alone he entered
The mortal gate o’ th’ city, which he painted
With shunless destiny; aidless came off
And with a sudden reinforcement struck
Corioles like a planet.
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Explanation and Analysis:
This excerpt is the second half of Cominius’ speech to the Roman senators and tribunes explaining Coriolanus’ valiant deeds in Corioles. In the first half, Cominius described how Coriolanus started fighting wars when he was only a boy. The second half focuses on the most recent battle, the events of which are so unbelievable that Cominius “cannot speak” about them properly. It’s also of note that “I cannot speak him home” emphasizes Coriolanus’ isolation and foreshadows his banishment and exile from Rome. “The flyers” Cominius refers to are cowards who were fleeing from battle. According to the speech, Coriolanus was Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis.
Act 4, Scene 6 Quotes
He is their god; he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than Nature,
That shapes man better; and they follow him
Against us brats with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies
Or butchers killing flies.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Cominius speaks these lines about Coriolanus after news reaches Rome that Coriolanus has joined forces with the Volscians and is invading Roman territory. Cominius describes how fully Coriolanus has transformed from human to something more than human. He is now a “god” or an unnatural “thing” that is superior to humans. Meanwhile, without Coriolanus the Roman army is figuratively transformed to “brats.” Going even further, Cominius says if the Volscian soldiers are “boys” then the Romans are “summer butterflies,” an image that recalls Young Martius playing with and ultimately killing a butterfly earlier in the play. “Butcher” emphasizes the blood Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor
Act 5, Scene 1 Quotes
Yet one time he did call me by my name.
I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. “Coriolanus”
He would not answer to, forbade all names.
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forged himself a name o’ th’ fire
Of burning Rome.
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Explanation and Analysis:
These lines are excerpted from Cominius’ explanation of what happened when he went to the Volscian camp to try to convince Coriolanus not to invade Rome. Cominius invoked the battles the two had fought and the blood they had shed together – markers of the strong homosocial bond between two soldiers (“our old acquaintance”) – but Coriolanus wouldn’t answer to his name. He is now titleless and has no name, and he will remain nameless until he wins himself a new name in defeating Rome, just like he did in Corioles. To Aufidius and the Volscians, Coriolanus said that only Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accus
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Cominius Character Timeline in Coriolanus
The timeline below shows where the character Cominius appears in Coriolanus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
...superfluity.” Sicinius Velutus and Junius Brutus (the two new tribunes) enter along with Roman general Cominius, his lieutenant Titus Lartius, and other Roman Senators. One senator affirms what Martius just heard...
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...is a lion that [Martius is] proud to hunt.” Martius and Lartius agree to accompany Cominius in the war, and the senators beckon all of the soldiers to return to the...
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Act 1, Scene 2
...that Rome has gathered an army. The report says that included in that army are Cominius, Caius Martius (who is Aufidius’s old enemy, and is hated by Rome more than Aufidius...
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Act 1, Scene 3
...she’ll agree to go with her. The Volscians have gathered an army now pitted against Cominius and part of the Roman army; Caius Martius (and Titus Lartius) are attacking and prevailing...
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Act 1, Scene 4
...with Roman soldiers, are outside the gates of Corioles; a messenger approaches. Martius wagers that Cominius has met the enemy, and Lartius takes the bet, offering his horse against Martius’s. The...
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Act 1, Scene 5
...After they exit, a battle alarum is sounded in the distance, which Martius recognizes as Cominius’s. Martius believes that his enemy, “the man of [his] soul’s hate, Aufidius” is the one...
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Act 1, Scene 6
Near the Roman camp, Cominius enters with Roman soldiers. He commends his troops on a battle well fought, but warns...
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Caius Martius then enters the camp in a bloodied state that Cominius has seen many times before. Martius repeatedly asks if he has come too late, and...
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Cominius asks how Titus Lartius is, and Martius reports that he is busy running the city...
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Cominius believes the nearing army is made up of soldiers from Antium, including Aufidius. Martius asks...
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...himself, Martius selects only a few of them, leaving the rest to some other battle. Cominius commands Martius and his group to march on and live up to the bravery they...
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Act 1, Scene 9
Cominius and the Roman soldiers are met by Martius, whose arm is tied in a sling....
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Cominius insists that Martius not hide his accomplishment and merit, since Rome must know what a...
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Cominius then offers Martius his choice of all of the horses they have taken in the...
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Cominius believes that Martius is being much too modest and cruel to himself. If Caius Martius...
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Coriolanus says he’ll go wash off the blood, after which Cominius will be able to tell if he is blushing. Coriolanus thanks the general, and says...
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Coriolanus, after refusing most gifts from his general, asks Cominius for a favor. Once Coriolanus stayed in the city at a poor man’s house, where...
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Act 2, Scene 1
...(had he not escaped) for all the gold in the city of Corioles. Letters from Cominius have been delivered to the Roman Senate, and they say that Martius has outdone, and...
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Cominius arrives with Titus Lartius, captains, Roman soldiers, a Roman herald, and Coriolanus, who is crowned...
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...that though there are some “old crab trees’ that might not be excited to see Cominius, Lartius, and Coriolanus, he believes the three men should be doted on by Rome.
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Act 2, Scene 2
Roman Senators enter along with the tribunes, Cominius, Menenius, and Coriolanus. Coriolanus stands, and Menenius says it’s time to honor the noble service...
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...rather risk losing all of his limbs in battle than be flattered himself. Menenius tells Cominius to proceed in recounting Coriolanus’s deeds.
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Cominius begins humbly, saying “I shall lack voice,” and he notes that Coriolanus’s deeds should not...
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As for this last battle at Corioles, Cominius claims, he cannot even do Coriolanus justice. Coriolanus stopped soldiers from fleeing, and by his...
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...man,” and a Roman senator says that Coriolanus cannot be honored enough for these deeds. Cominius tells of how Coriolanus denied all the spoils of war he was offered, since for...
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Act 3, Scene 1
Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Lartius, Roman Senators, and other patricians enter a street in Rome. Coriolanus asks Lartius if...
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...and exhibit a calmer, “gentler spirit.” Menenius and a senator try to calm Coriolanus, and Cominius says that the people have been deceived and manipulated by the tribunes, but Coriolanus remains...
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...the minnows,” and makes sure his fellow nobles noticed Sicinius’s use of the absolute “shall.” Cominius remarks that Sicinius was out of line, and Coriolanus launches into a furious speech. He...
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Cominius tries to cut Coriolanus off, saying that they should all go to the marketplace to...
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...them at once. Menenius says he wishes he could fight with the two tribunes, but Cominius says the situation has already gotten too far out of hand. He explains that it’s...
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Act 3, Scene 2
Cominius enters Coriolanus’s house and reports that he has been to the marketplace. He says Coriolanus...
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Cominius reassures Coriolanus that he will be prompted on what to say. Just like Volumnia first...
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...consul, or else they should never trust his ability to flatter again. Volumnia exits, and Cominius warns Coriolanus to answer mildly, as the tribunes have prepared even harsher accusations than before....
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Act 3, Scene 3
Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, and other Senators enter. Aside, Menenius reminds Coriolanus to be calm, and Coriolanus begrudgingly agrees....
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...knowing nothing of service. Menenius reminds Coriolanus that he promised Volumnia to be mild, and Cominius tries to calm him, but he will not be calmed. He says that even if...
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...Rome on pain of death. The people all cry out in support for the banishment. Cominius tries to speak, reminding the tribunes that he himself was once consul and can show...
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...on the city. He says “there is a world elsewhere,” and he exits along with Cominius, Menenius, and the other Roman senators. The people and tribunes rejoice that their enemy has...
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Act 4, Scene 1
Outside a gate of Rome, Coriolanus is saying farewell to Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, and the young nobles of Rome. He tells them to leave their tears, asking for...
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...done six of his tasks herself to save him some of the work. He tells Cominius not to be sad, and says goodbye to his wife and mother. He tells Menenius...
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Volumnia tries to convince Coriolanus to take Cominius with him until he gets settled, and Cominius says he’s happy to go, especially since...
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Act 4, Scene 6
Cominius enters, and sarcastically tells the tribunes that they have done good work, helping to “ravish...
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Menenius thinks they are “all undone,” unless Coriolanus shows mercy. Cominius wonders who will ask for this mercy, since the tribunes and the people certainly cannot,...
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...way to the tribunes and the common people, who shouted Coriolanus out of the city. Cominius fears they’ll soon shout him back in, since Aufidius is acting as an officer to...
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...that Coriolanus consented to the banishment, but the people didn’t really want it to happen. Cominius cries out, “you’re goodly things, you voices!” Menenius again says they have done good work,...
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Act 5, Scene 1
In a public place in Rome, Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, and Brutus discuss Coriolanus. Menenius refuses to go beg Coriolanus for mercy, even though...
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...Coriolanus will listen. He guesses that Coriolanus had not eaten when he refused to hear Cominius. Without food, he says, humans get cold blood and are likely to be unforgiving, while...
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