Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, And cannot lofe your way. Men. Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I fhall ere long have knowledge Of my fuccefs. Com. He'll never hear him. Sic. Not? [Exits 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 faid, rife: difmifs'd me Thus, with his fpeechlefs hand. What he would do, He fent in writing after; what he would not, Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions: So that all hope is vain, unlefs his mother And wife,-who (as I hear) mean to follicit him For mercy to his country: therefore hence, And with our fair intreaties hafte them on. [Exeunt SCENE changes to the Volfcian Camp. Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard. Watch Watch. Stand, and go back. 2 Men. You guard like men, 'tis well. But, by your leave, I am an officer of ftate, and come To speak with Coriolanus. 1 Watch. Whence? Men. From Rome. [General 1 Watch. You may not pafs, you must return: our Will no more hear from thence. 2 Watch. You'll fee your Rome embrac'd 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 Thy General is my lover: I have been The book of his good acts; whence men have read For I have ever verified my friends, (Of whom he's chief) with all the size that verity I've tumbled paft the throw; and in his praise 1 Watch. Faith, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have utter'd words in your own, you fhould not pafs here: no, though it were as vir. tuous to lye, as to live chately. Therefore, go back. Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember, my name is Menenius; always factionary of the party of your General. 2 Watch. How foever you have been his liar, (as you fay, you have;) I am one that, telling true under him, muft fay, you cannot pafs. Therefore, go back. Men. Has he din'd, canft thou tell? for I would not speak with him 'till after dinner. 1 Watch. You are a Roman, are you? Men. I am as thy General is. 1 Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pufh'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 eafy 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 flame 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. 1 Watch. My General cares not for you. Back, I fay, fay, go; left I let forth your half pint of blood. Back, that's the utmost of your having, back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow, Enter Coriolanus, with Aufidius. Cor. What's the matter? Men. Now, you companion, I'll fay an errand for you; you fhall know now, that I am in eftimation; you fhall perceive, that a Jack-gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus; guefs but 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 fuffering, 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 Menenius does! Oh 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 myfelf could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with fighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods affuage 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 lies In Volfcian breafts. That we have been familiar, (38) (38) That we have been familiar, Ingrate forgetfulness fhall poifon, rather Ingrate We cannot defire a more fignal inftance of the indolent ftupidity of our editors. Forgetfulness might poijon, in not remembering a conversation of friendship, but how could it, in fuch an action, be faid to pity too? The pointing is abfurd; and the sentiment confequently funk into nonfenfe. As I have regulated the ftops, both Dr. Thirlby aid Mr. Warburton faw with me, they ought to be regulated. I have ftill ventur'd beyond my ingenious friends, in changing poison Ingrate forgetfulness fhall prifon, rather Your gates againft my force. Yet, for I loved thee, [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'ftAuf. You keep a conftant temper. Manent the Guard, and Menenius. [Exeunt. 1 Watch. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 Watch. "Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the way home again. 1 Watch. Do you hear, how we are fhent for keeping your greatnefs back? 2 Watch. What cause, do you think, I have to fwoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your General 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, away! [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-shaken. [Ex. Watch. Re-enter Coriolanus and Aufidius. 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 borne this bufinefs. Auf. Only their ends you have respected; ftopt Your ears against the general fuit of Rome: into prifon: which adds an antithefis, by which the fense seems clearer and more natural: viz. That forgetfulness fhall rather keep it a fecret, that we have been familiar; than pity thall disclose how much we have been fọ. Never admitted private whisper, no, Not with fuch friends that thought them fure of you. Cor. This last old man, Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome, Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow, [Shout withine Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Marcius, with Attendants all in Mourning. My wife comes foremost, 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 obstinate. What is that curt'fy worth? or thofe dove's eyes, In fupplication nod; and my young boy Great nature cries,-Deny not. Let the Volfcians And knew no other kin. Virg. My Lord and husband! Cor. Thefe eyes are not the fame I wore in Rome. Virg. The forrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think fo. |
