He could not stay to pick them, in a pile
Of noisome mufty chaff. He faid, 'twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt
And ftill to nofe th' offence.

Men. For one poor grain

Or two? I'm one of thofe : his mother, wife,
His child, and this brave fellow, 'we're the grains
You are the mufty chaff, and you are smelt
Above the moon. We must be burnt for you.
Sic. Nay, pray be patient: if you refuse your
In this fo-never-needed help, yet do not
Upbraid's with our diftrefs. But fure if you

aid

Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,
More than the inftant army we can make,"

Might ftop our country-man.

Men. No: I'll not meddle.

Sic. Pray you go to him.

Men. Why?what should I do?

Bru. Only make tryal what your love can do For Rome, tow'rds Martius.

Men. Well, and fay that Martius

Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard, but as a difcontented friend

Grief-fhot with his unkindness: and what then?

Sic. Say it be fo; yet your good will, Menenius,
Must have the thanks of Rome after the measure
As you intended well.

Men. I'll undertake it :

I think he'll hear me.

Yet to bite his lip,

"

And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.-
He was not taken well, he had not din'd.
The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then
We powt upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we've ftuff'd
Thefe pipes, and thefe conveyances of blood
With wine and feeding, we have fuppler fouls

Than in our prieft-like fafts: therefore I'll watch him 'Till he be dieted to my request,

And then I'll fet upon him.

Bru. You know the very road into his kindness,

And cannot lofe your way.

Men.

Men. Good faith, I'll prove him,

Of my fuccefs.

[Exit.

Speed how it will. You fhall ere long have knowledge

1

Com. He'll never hear him.

Sic. Not?

Com. I tell you, he does fit in gold, his eye"
Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury
The goaler to his pity. I kneel'd before him,'
'Twas very faintly he said, Rife: dismiss'd me
Thus with his fpeechlefs hand. What he would do,
He fent in writing after; what he would not,
Bound with an oath, not yield to new conditions:
So that all hope is vain, unless from's mother
And wife, who (as I hear) mean to follicit him
For mercy to his country therefore let's hence,
And with our fair intreaties hafte them on.
SCENE. II. The Volfcian Camp.

Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard.

I Watch. Stay: whence are you?

2 Watch. Stand, and go back.

[Exeunt:

Men. You guard like men, 'tis well. But by your leave I am an officer of ftate, and come

To speak with Coriolanus.

I Watch. Whence ?

Men. From Rome.

1 Watch. You may not país, you must return: our GeWill, no more hear from thence.

[neral

2 Watch. You'll fee your Rome embrac'd with fire, before You'll fpeak with Coriolanus.

Men. Good my friends,

If you have heard your General talk of Rome,

And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks,

My name hath touch'd your ears; it is Menenius.

I Watch. Be it fo, go back; the virtue of your name

Is not here paffable.

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 magnified my friends,

(Of

(Of whom he's chief) to all the fize that verity
Would without lapfing fuffer: nay, fometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a fubtle ground

I've tumbled paft the throw; and in his praise
Have, almoft, ftamp'd the leafing.
I must have leave to país.

Therefore, fellow,

I Watch. '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 chaftly. Therefore. go back.

Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary of the party of your General.

2 Watch. Howfoever you have been his liar, as you fay you have; I am one that telling true under him, must say you cannot pafs. Therefore go back.

Men. I am as thy General is.

Men. Has he din'd, canft thou tell? for I would not fpe.k with him 'till after dinner.

1 Watch. You are a Roman, are you?

I Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have push'd out of your gates the very defender of them, and in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your fhield, think to front his revenges with the eafie groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palfied interceffion of fuch a decay'd dotard as you feem to be? can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to fame in, with fuch weak breath as this? no, you are deceiv'd, therefore back to Rome, and prepare for your execution you are condemn'd, our General has fworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy Captain knew I were here, he would ufe me with estimation.

1 Watch. Come, my Captain knows you not. Men. I mean thy General.

I Watch. My General cares not for you. go; left let forth your half pint of blood, moft of your having; back, back.

Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow.

Enter Coriolanus with Aufidius,

Cor. What's the matter?

Back, I fay,

that's the ut

Men

Men. Now, you companion, I'll fay an errand for you § you fhall know now that I am in eftimation; you shall preceive, that a jack-gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus, guefs by my entertainment with him, if thou ftand'ft not i'th'ftate of hanging, or of fome death more long in fpectatorship, and crueller in suffering; behold now prefently, and fwoon for what's to come upon thee.The glorious Gods fit in hourly fynod about thy particular profperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Me nenius does! O my fon, my fon! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly mov'd to come to thee; but being affured none but my felf could move thee, I have been blown out of our gate, with fighs, and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good Gods affwage 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 affairs Are fervanted to others: though I owe

My revenge properly, remiffion lyes

In Volfcian breafts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness fhall prifon, rather

Than pity note how much. Therefore be gone ;
Mine ears against your fuits are stronger than
Your gates against my force. Yet for I loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy fake, [Gives him a letter,
And would have fent it. Another word, Menenius,
I will not hear thee fpeak. This man, Aufidius,
Was my belov'd in Rome; yet thou behold'st
Auf. You keep a conftant temper.

Manent the Guard and Mencnius.

[Exeunt.

1 Watch. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 Watch. "Tis a fpell you fee of much power: 'you know the way home again.

1 Watch: Do you hear how we are fhent for keeping your Greatness back?

2 Watch. What caufe do you think I have to fwoon ? Men. I neither care for th' world, nor your General: VOL. VII.

fox

for fuch things as you, I can scarce think there's any, y'are fo flight. He that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another: let your General do his worst. For you, be what you are, long! and your misery encrease with your age! I fay to you, as I was faid to, Arway! [Exit.

1 Watch. A noble fellow, I warrant him.

2

Watch. The worthy fellow is our General. He's the rock, the oak not to be wind-fhaken.

SCENE III.

Re-enter Coriolanus and Aufidius.

[Ex. Watch.

Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow
Set down our hoft. My partner in this action,
You must report to th' Volfcian Lords how plainly
I've born this business.

Auf. Only their ends you have refpected; stopt
Your ears against the general fuit of Rome :
Never admitted private whisper, no

Not with fuch friends that thought them sure of you.
Cor. This laft old man,

Whom with a crack'd heart I have fent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father:
Nay, Godded me indeed. Their latefi refuge,
Was to fend him: for whofe old love, I have
(Tho' I fhew'd fow'rly to him) once more offer'd
The firft conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept, to grace him only,
That thought he could do more: a very little
I've yielded to. Fresh embaflie, and fuits,
Nor for the ftate, nor private friends hereafter
Will I lend ear to. Ha! what fight is this?
Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow

In the fame time 'tis made? I will not

Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Martius, with
Attendants, all in Mourning.

My wife comes foremoft, then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grand-child to her blood. But out, affection,
All bond and privilege of Nature break!
Let it be virtuous to be obftinate.

What is that curt'fie worth? or those dove's eyes,