demned: our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon. Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation. 2nd Gua. Come, my captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy general. 1st Gua. 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 CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. 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 but by my entertainment with him if thou standst 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? Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My Are servanted to others: though I owe [Gives a letter. And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'stAuf. You keep a constant temper. [Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. 1st Gua. Now, sir, is your name Menenius? 2nd Gua. "Tis a spell, you see, of much power. You know the way home again. 1st Gua. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back? ; 2nd Gua. What cause do you think I have to swoon? 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. 1st Gua. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2nd Gua. The worthy fellow is our general: he is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exeunt. I have forgot my part, and I am out, Or if you'd ask, remember this before,— You have said you will not grant us anything: Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment And state of bodies would bewray what life Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts, Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow: Making the mother, wife, and child, to see Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son, I purpose not to wait on fortune till These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner As poisonous of your honour :-no; our suit The end of war's uncertain: but this certain, To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air, He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy: More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me prate Like one i' the stocks! Thou hast never in thy life [Holding VOLUMNIA by the hands, silent. What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! You have won a happy victory to Rome: But for your son,-believe it, O believe it, Most dangerously you have with him prevailed, If not most mortal to him. But let it come.Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius, Were you in my stead, would you have heard A mother less or granted less, Aufidius? Auf. I was moved withal. Sic. Is 't possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? Men. There is differency between a grub and a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing. Sic. He loved his mother dearly. Men. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery: he sits in his state as a thing made for Alexander: what he bids be done, is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him. There is no more mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger: that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you. Sic. The gods be good unto us! Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them: and he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain? Mess. As certain as I know the sun is fire: Where have you lurked, that you make doubt of it? Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide, As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you! [Trumpets and hautboys sounded, and drums beaten, all together. Shouting also within. The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Romans, Make the sun dance. Hark you! [Shouting again. I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia A sea and land full. You have prayed well to-day: Accept my thankfulness. Mess. Sir, we have all [Going. Enter the Ladies, accompanied by Senators, Patricians, and People. They pass over the stage. 1st Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome! Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, And make triumphant fires: strew flowers before them: Unshout the noise that banished Marcius: All. Welcome, ladies! welcome! 3rd Con. The people will remain uncertain whilst 'Twixt you there 's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. Auf. I know it: And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned Mine honour for his truth: who being so heightened, He watered his new plants with dews of flattery, When he did stand for consul, which he lost Auf. That I would have spoken of:- 1st Lord. And grieve to hear it. What faults he made before the last, I think Might have found easy fines: but there to end Where he was to begin, and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge; making a treaty where There was a yielding: this admits of no excuse. Auf. He approaches: you shall hear him. Enter CORIOLANUS, with drums and colours; a crowd of Citizens with him. Cor. Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier: Do more than counterpoise, a full third part, I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stolen name You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously |