ACT V. SCENE 1.-Rome.-A public Place. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and others. Men. No, I'll not go: you hear, what he hath said, Which was sometime his general; who loved him Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name: Till he had forged himself a name i' the fire Men. Why, so; you have made good work: Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon When it was less expected: he replied, It was a bare petition of a state To one whom they had punish'd. Men. Very well: Could he say less? Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard For his private friends: his answer to me was, Men. For one poor grain Or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: if you refuse your aid Condescended unwillingly. + Harassed by exactions. Memorial. Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue, Might stop our countryman. Bru. Only make trial what your love can do Men. Well, and say that Marcius But as a discontented friend, grief-shot Must have that thanks from Rome, after the mea sure As you intended well. Men. I'll undertake it: I think, he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip, him Till he be dieted to my request, Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, Men. Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge [Exit. Com. He'll never hear him. Sic. Not? Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Unless his noble mother, and his wife; For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence, [Exeunt SCENE II.-An advanced Post of the Volcian Camp before Rome.-The Guard at their Stations. Enter to them, MENENIUS. 1 G. Stay whence are you? Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: but by your I am an officer of state, and come To speak with Coriolanus. 1 G. From whence? Men. From Rome. 1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence. 2 G. You'll see your Rome embraced with fire, before You'll speak with Coriolanus. Men. Good my friends, If you have heard your general talk of Rome, Men. I tell thee, fellow, Thy general is my lover+: I have been The book of his good acts, whence men have read His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified; For I have ever verified my friends (Of whom he's chief) with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise Have, almost, stamp'd the leasing¶: therefore, fellow, I must have leave to pass. 1 G. 'Faith, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have utter'd words in your own, you should not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chastely. Therefore, go back. Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general. 2 G. Howsoever you have been his liar (as you say, you have,) I am one that, telling true under * Prizes. § Truth. + Friend. + Proved to. him, must say, you cannot pass. back. Therefore, go Men. Has he dined, canst thou tell? For I would not speak with him till after dinner. 1 G. You are a Roman, are you? 1 G. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have push'd out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old wo men, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decay'd dotant** as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemn'd, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon. Men. Sirral, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation. 2 G. Come, my captain knows you not. 1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go, lest let forth your half pint of blood;-back, that's the utmost of your having:-Back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow, Enter CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. Cor. What's the matter? Men. Now, you companion +, I'll say an errand for you; you shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack I guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus: guess but by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i' the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering; behold now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee. The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no worse. than thy old father Menenius does! O, my son! my son thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured, none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, Jack in office. * Dotard. + Fellow. Mmm and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee. Cor. Away! Men. How! Away? Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My af fairs Are servanted to others: though I owe thee, Take this along; I writ it for thy sake, [Gives a Letter. And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st— Auf. You keep a constant temper. [Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius. 1 G. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 G. Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the way home again. 1 G. Do you hear how we are shent† for keeping your greatness back? 2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon! Men. I neither care for the world, nor your ge neral for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another. Let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and your misery increase with your age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [Exit. 1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: he is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Tent of Coriolanus. Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUs, and others. Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow Set down our host.-My partner in this action, You must report to the Volcian lords, how plainly! I have borne this business. * Because. + Reprimanded. Openly. |