ACT IV. SCENE, before the Gates of Rome. Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, with the young Nobility of Rome. C CORIOLANUS. Ome, leave your tears: a brief farewel: the beaft With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother, Where is your ancient Courage? you were us'd To fay, Extremity was the trier of fpirits, That common chances common men could bear; That, when the Sea was calm, all boats alike Shew'd mafter hip in floating. Fortune's blows, When most struck home, being gently warded, craves A noble Cunning. You were us'd to load me With precepts, that would make invincible The heart that conn'd them. Vir. Oh heav'ns! O heav'ns! Cor. Nay, I pr'ythee, woman Vol. Now the red peftilence ftrike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish. Cor. What! what! what! I shall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother, Six of his labours you'd have done, and fav'd Droop not; adieu: farewel, my wife! my mother! And venomous to thine eyes. My fometime General, I've seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld As 'tis to laugh at 'em. Mother, you wot, Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen :) your Son Will, or exceed the common, or be caught Vol. My firft Son, Where will you go? take good Gominius With thee a while; determine on fome course, That starts i'th' way before thee. Cor. O'the Gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devife with thee Gor. Fare ye.well:sty Thou'ft years upon thee, and thou art too full That's yet unbruis'd; bring me but out at gate. As Men. That's worthily any ear can hear. Come, let's not weep. If I could shake off but one seven years. From these old arms and legs, by the good Gods, I'd with thee every foot. Cor. Give me thy hand. [Exeunt. Enter Enter Sicinius and Brutus, with the Edile. Sic. Bid them all home, he's gone; and we'll no fur ther. Vex'd are the Nobles, who, we fee, have fided Bru. Now we have fhewn our Power, Sic. Bid them home; Say, their great enemy is gone, and they Bru. Difmifs them home. Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius. Sic. Let's not meet her. Bru. Why? Sic. They fay, he's mad. Bru. They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way. The hoorded plague o'th' Gods requite your love! Vol. If that I could for weeping, you fhould hear- Nay, and you fhall hear fome, Power To fay fo to my Husband. Sic. Are you man-kind?: Vol. Ay, fool: is that a fhame? note but this fool. Was not a Man my Father? hadft thou foxfhip To banish him that ftruck more blows for Rome, Than thou haft fpoken words Sic. Oh bleffed heav'ns! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wife words, And for Rome's Good-I'll tell thee what-yet goNay, but thou shalt stay too I would, my Son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand.. Sic. What then? Virg. What then? he'd make an end of thy Pofterity. Vol. Baftards, and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! Men. Come, come, peace. Sic. I would, he had continued to his Country As he began, and not unknit himself The noble Knot he made. Bru. I would, he had. Vol. I would, he had! rabble: 'twas you incens'd the Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth, Bru. Pray, let us go. Vol. Now, pray, Sir, get you gone. You've done a brave deed: ere you go, hear this The meaneft houfe in Rome; fo far my Son, Sic. Why ftay you to be baited I wish, the Gods had nothing elfe to do, [Ex. Tribunes But to confirm my Curfes! Could I meet 'em Of what lyes heavy to't. Men. You've told them home, And, by my troth, have caufe: you'll fup with me?.. And fo fhall ftarve with feeding: come, let's go, In Rom. I SCENE changes to Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volfcian. Know you well, Sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian. Vol. It is fo, Sir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman, but my fervices are as you are, against 'em. Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor? no. Rom. The fame, Sir. Vol. You had more beard when I laft faw you, but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volfcian State to find you out there. You have well faved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange infurrections: the People against the Senators, Patricians, and Nobles.. Vol. Hath been! is it ended then? our State thinks not fo they are in a moft warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their divifion. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the Nobles receive fo to heart the Banifhment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptnefs to take all Power from the People, and to pluck from them their Tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you; and is almoft mature for the violent breaking out. Vol. Coriolanus, banish'd? Rom. Banifh'd, Sir. Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. Rom. The day ferves well for them now. I have heard it faid, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great Oppofer Coriolanus being now in no request of his Country. |