Sic. Not? Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Red as 'twould burn Rome: and his injury The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him: 'Twas very faintly he said, Rise; dismiss'd me Thus, with his speechless hand: What he would do, He sent in writing after me; what he would not, 80 Bound with an oath, to yield to his conditions: So that all hope is vain ; Unless his noble mother, and his wife, Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him For mercy to his country-Therefore, let's hence, And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The Volscian Camp. Enter MENENIUS to the Watch, or Guard. 1 Watch. Stay: Whence are you? 2 Watch. Stand, and go back. Men. You guard like men; 'tis well But, by your leave, I am an officer of state, and come To speak with Coriolanus. 1 Watch. From whence? Men. From Rome. go 1 Watch. You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence. 2 Watch. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, before You'll speak with Coriolanus. Men. Good my friends, 100 If you have heard your general talk of Rome, name Is not here passable 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, happily, amplified; For I have ever verify'd my friends (Of whom he's chief), with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, 110 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 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 chastly. Therefore, go back. Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general. 121 2 Watch. 2 Watch. Howsoever you have been his liar (as you say, you have), I am one that, telling true under him, must say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back. Men. Has he din'd, canst 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. 128 1 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 shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsy'd 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 deceiv'd; therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemn'd, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon. 141 Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation. 2 Watch. Come, my captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy general. 1 Watch. My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go, lest I let forth your half pint of blood ;back-that's the utmost of your having :-back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow Enter Enter CORIOLANUS, with AUFIDIUS. Cor. What's the matter? 150 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 guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus: guess, 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, 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? 170 Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are servanted to others: Though I owe My revenge properly, my remission lies In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone. Mine ears against your suits are stronger, than 180 [Gives him a Letter. And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Was my belov'd in Rome: yet thou behold'stAuf. You keep a constant 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 shent for keeping your greatness back? 2 Watch. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? 191 Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general: 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 Watch. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 199 2 Watch. The worthy fellow is our general: He is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exeunt. SCENE |