Hear nothing from him. Enter Three or Four CITIZENS. Cit. The gods preserve you both 1 Bru. Good-e'en to you all, good-e'en to you all. 1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, re bound to pray for you both Sic. Live, and thrive! Sic. This is most likely ! Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may Good Marcius home again. Sic. The very trick on't. He and Autidius can no more atone, Enter another MESSENGER. Mess. You are sent for to the senate : A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius, Associated with Aufidius, rages wish Upon our territories; and have already, O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd What lay before them. Coriolanus Had lov'd you as we did. Cit. Now the gods keep you! Both Tri. Farewell, farewell, [Exeunt CITIZENS. Sic. This is a happier and more comely time, Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying Confusion. Bru. Cains Marcius was A worthy officer i'the war; but insolent, O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, Self-loving. Sic. And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance.. Men. I think not so. Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so. Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Sits safe and still without him. Enter EDILE. Ed. Worthy tribunes, [Rome There is a slave whom we have put in prison, Men. "Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, Rome, And durst not once peep out. Sic. Come, what talk you Of Marcius ? Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be, The Volsces dare break with us. Men. Cannot be ! We have record, that very well it can ; Sic. Tell not me: I know this cannot be. Bru. Not possible. Enter CоMINIUS. Com. Oh! you have made good work! Men. What news? what news? [took Com. You have holp to ravish your own daugh ters, and To melt the city leads upon your pates; Your franchises, whereon you stood confin'd Men. Pray now, your news? You have made fair work, I fear me :-Pray, your news? If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,- He is their god; he leads them like a thing Men. You have made good work, You and your apron men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation, The breath of garlic-eaters ? Com. He will shake Your Rome about your ears. Should say, Be good to Rome, they charg'd him As those should do that had deserv'd his hate, And therein show'd like enemies. Men. 'Tis true: If he were putting to my horse the brand fair bands, You and your crafts! you have crafted fair! A trembling upon Rome, such as was never Tri. Say not, we brought it. Men. How! Was it we? We lov'd him; but like beasts, And cowardly nobles, gave way to your clusters Who did hoot him out o' the city. Com. But, I fear • Unite. carpenter's tool. with pleasure. They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, Enter a troop of CITIZENS. Men. Here comes the clusters.- Cit. 'Faith, we hear fearful news. When I said, banish him, I said, 'twas pity. 2 Cit. And so did I. 3 Cit. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us: That we did, we did for the best and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will. Com. You are goodly things, you voices! Good work, you and your cry! -Shall us to the Com. Oh! ay; what else? [Exeunt Cox. and MEN. Sic. Go, masters, get you home, be not dismay'd: These are a side that would be glad to have 1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home. I ever said we were i'the wrong, when we banished him. 2 Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home. Would buy this for a lie! Sic. Pray, let us go. [Exeunt. What I can urge against him. Although it seems, Pack, alluding to a pack of hounds. Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome? Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down : The senators and patricians love him too: Even with the same austerity and garb One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I-Rome.-A Public Place. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRU TUS and others. Men. No, I'll not go you hear what he hath Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name: I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops Men. Why, so; you have made good work: Com. I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon Could he say less? Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard Men. For one poor grain or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, His child, and this brave fellow too, we are the grains: You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt Above the moon: We must be burnt for you. Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your aid In this so never-heeded help, yet do not More than the instant army we can make, Men. No; I'll not meddle. Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome towards Marcius. Men. Well, and say that Marcius But as a discontented friend, grief-shoi Sic. Yet your good will Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure, As you intended well. Men. I'll undertake it: I think he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip, To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd Till he be dieted to my request, And then I'll set upon him. 1 G. Be it so; go back: the virtue of your naine 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 (Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity f Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, 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 G. 'Faith, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have uttered words in your own, you should not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chastely. Therefore, go back. Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general. 2 G. 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 dined, can'st thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner. 1 G. You are a Roman, are you? Men. I am as thy general is. 1 G. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to frout his revenges with the easy groans Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, of old women, the virginal palins of your daughAnd cannot lose your way. Men. Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I shall ere iong have knowledge Of my success. Com. He'll never hear him. "Exit. Com. I tell you; he does sit in gold his eye Unless his noble mother, and his wife, [Exeunt. ters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed 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 deceived; therefore back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemned, 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. 2 G. Come, my captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy general. 1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, 1 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. Cor. What's the matter? Men. Now you companion, ** I'll say an erSCENE II.-An advanced Post of the Vol-rand for you; you shall know now that I am in scian Camp, before Rome. The GUARD at estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack + their Stations. Enter to them, MENENIUS. 1 G. Stay: Whence are you? 2 G. Stand, and go back. guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolauus: guess, but 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 Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by swoon for what's to come upon thee.-The glo your leave, I am an officer of state, and come To speak with Coriolanus. 1 G. From whence? Men. From Rome. rious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son! my on! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come 1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our to thee; but being assured none but myself general Will no more hear from thence. could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs and conjure thee to pardon 2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. before You'll speak with Coriolanus. Men. Good my friends, If you have heard your general talk of Rome, nius. • Prizes. 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. affairs Are servanted to others: Though I owe My | In supplication nod: and my young boy | Great nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volsces Plough Rome and harrow Italy; I'll never fa- Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand As if a man were author of himself, And knew no other kin. Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather Take this along: I writ it for thy sake, [Gives a Letter. And would have sent it. Another word, nenius, 1 will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'stAuf. You keep a constant temper. Vir. My lord and husband! Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'a Cor. Like a dull actor now, Me-I have forgot my part, and I am out, [Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFID. 1 G. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again. 1 G. Do you hear how we are shent ing your greatness back? 2 G. What cause, do you think, I swoon? : for keephave to 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 vour age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [Exit. 1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: He is the roo, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exeunt. The first conditions, which they did refuse, Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her band Vol. Oh! stand up bless'd! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint I kneel before thee; and unproperly Show duty, as mistaken all the while Between the child and parent. Cor. What is this? [Kneels Your knees to me? to your corrected son Vol. Thou art my warrior: I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady ↑ Cor. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform prove To shame unvulnerable, and stick i'the wars Vol. Your knee, Sirrah. Cor. That's my brave boy. Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you. Cor. I beseech you, peace: Or, if you'd ask, remember this before: Again with Rome's mechanics: Tell me not Vol. Oh! no more, no more! rai.nent Make your eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comfort, Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow; Making the mother, wife, and child, to see Our wish, which side should win for either thou With manacles through our streets, or else Vir. Ay, and on mine, That brought you forth this boy, to keep your Living to time. [name demn us, As poisonous of your honour: No; our suit This we receiv'd; and each in either side The end of war's uncertain; but this certain, son: Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour, To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air, Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man world [prate More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me Like one i'the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy ; When she (poor hen!) fond of no second brood, Has cluck'd thee too the wars, and safely home, Loaden with honour. Say, my request's unjust, And spurn me back: But, if it be not so, Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee, That thou restrain'st from me the duty, which To a mother's part belongs.-He turns away: Down, ladies; let us shaine him with our knees. To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride, Cor. O mother, mother! [Holding VOLUMNIA by the Hands, silent. What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene Were you in my stead, say, would you have heard Cor. I dare be sworn you were: Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife! Auf. I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour At difference in thee: out of that I'll work [Aside. [The ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS. Cor. Ay, by and by: [TO VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, &c. But we will drink together; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd. Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you all the swords In Italy, and her confederate arins, Could not have made this peace. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Rome.-A public Place. Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS. Men. See you yond' coign o'the Capitol: yond' corner stone? Sic. Why, what of that? Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenced, and stay † upon execution. Sic. Is't possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? a Men. There is differency between a grub and 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 ý for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity, and a heaven to throue in. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report bim truly. |