He could not stay to pick them, in a pile Men. For one poor grain Or two? I'm one of thofe : his mother, wife, aid Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue, 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, Grief-fhot with his unkindness: and what then? Sic. Say it be fo; yet your good will, Menenius, Men. I'll undertake it : I think he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip, " And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.- 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" 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 For I have ever magnified my friends, (Of (Of whom he's chief) to all the fize that verity I've tumbled paft the throw; and in his praise 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, Than pity note how much. Therefore be gone ; 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 Auf. Only their ends you have refpected; stopt Not with fuch friends that thought them sure of you. Whom with a crack'd heart I have fent to Rome, In the fame time 'tis made? I will not Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Martius, with My wife comes foremoft, then the honour'd mould What is that curt'fie worth? or those dove's eyes, |