eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i' the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle the porter of Rome gates by the ears: He will mow all down before him, and leave his passage polled. 2 Serv. And he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine. 3 Serv. Do't? he will do't: For, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which friends, sir. (as it were,) durst not (look you, sir) show themselves (as we term it) his friends whilst he's in directitude. 1 Serv. Directitude! what's that? 3 Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with him. 1 Serv. But when goes this forward ? He had so looking, as it were, 3 Serv. To-morrow; to-day; presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips. 2 Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. 1 Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace as far as day does night; it's sprightly, waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of Enter MENENIUS. Bru. We stood to't in good time. Is this Menenius? Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he: O, he is grown most kind of late. Hail, sir! Men. Hail to you both! Sic. Your Coriolanus is not much missed but with his friends; the commonwealth doth stand; and so would do, were he more angry at it. better, if he could have temporised. Men. All's well; and might have been much Sic. Where is he, hear you? Men. Nay, I hear nothing; his mother and his wife hear nothing from him. Enter three or four Citizens. Cit. The gods preserve you both! Sic. Good-e'en, our neighbours. Bru. Good-e'en to you all, good-e'en to you all. 1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, Are bound to pray for you both. Live, and thrive! Now the gods keep you! And is Aufidius with him?-You are they Com. O, ay; what else? [Exeunt Coм. and MEN. Sic. Go, masters, get you home, be not dismay'd. These are a side that would be glad to have This true, which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear. 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. Bru. I do not like this news. Bru. Let's to the Capitol:-'Would half my wealth Would buy this for a lie! Enter AUFIDIUS, and his Lieutenant. Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman? Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him; but Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat, Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier, The action of yourself, or else to him Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure, When he shall come to his account, he knows not What I can urge against him. Although it seems, And so he thinks, and is no less apparent To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly, Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down; And the nobility of Rome are his : The senators and patricians love him too: peace Even with the same austerity and garb One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; mine. [Exeunt. SCENE 1.-Rome. A Public Place. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and others. Men. No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath said Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him I Do you hear? Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name : urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops That we have bled together. Coriolanus He would not answer to: forbad all names; Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fire Men. Why, so; you have made good work: A pair of tribunes that have wreck'd for Rome, To make coals cheap, a noble memory! Com. I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon When it was less expected: He replied, was a bare petition of a state To one whom they had punish'd. Could he say less? Very well; Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard For his private friends: His answer to me was, He could not stay to pick them in a pile Of noisome musty chaff: He said, 'twas folly Men. For one poor grain or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, his child, Sic. Nay, pray be patient: If you refuse your aid Men. Sic. Pray you, go to him. Men. No; I'll not meddle. What should I do? Com. 1 tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Unless his noble mother, and his wife; For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence, [Exeunt. SCENE II. An advanced Post of the Volcian Camp before Rome. The Guard at their stations. Enter to them MENENIUS. 1 G. Stay: Whence are you? 2 G. I am an officer of state, and come 1 G. Men. From whence? From Rome. 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, haply amplified ; For I have ever verified my friends (Of whom he's chief) with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, 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 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. Prithee, 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, canst 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 front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, 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, 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. Cor. What's the matter? 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 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 that thy old father Menenius does! O, my son! my son! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. 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 kow not. My affairs Are servanted to others: Though I owe My revenge properly, my remission lies In Volcian breasts. That we have been familiar, Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone. Mine ears against your suits are stronger than Your gates against my force. Yet, for I lov'd thee, Take this along; I writ it for thy sake, [Gives 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. [Exeunt CORIOLANUS and Aufidius. 1 G. Now, sir, is your name Menenius? 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again. |