Well, and say that Marcius Yet your good will I'll undertake it. Men. Till he be dieted to my request, Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, He'll not hear him. Not? His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified ; I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise 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, 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 popu lar ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think [Exit. 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 do tant 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. Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Unless his noble mother, and his wife; 1 G. Stay: Whence are you? I am an officer of state, and come 1 G. Men. From whence? From Rome. 1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence. Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation. 2 G. Come, my captain knows you not. 1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, I say, Enter Coriolanus and Aufidius. Men. Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you; you shall know now that I am in estima tion; 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 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 2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, worse than thy old father Menenius does! O, my before You'll speak with Coriolanus. Men. Men. The book of his good acts, whence men have read son! my son! thou art preparing fire for us; look Scene III. CORIOLANUS. Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs | In supplication nod: and my young boy In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone. [Gives a letter. [Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius. 1 G. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back? I Hath an aspect of intercession, which My lord and husband! [Kneels Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part, and I am out, Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh, Forgive my tyranny; but do not say, For that, Forgive our Romans.-0, a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! Now by the jealous queen' of heaven, that kiss carried from thee, dear; and my true lip Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I prate, 2 G. What cause do you think, I have to swoon? And the most noble mother of the world Men. I neither care for the world, nor your gene-Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee i'the earth; ral: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so slight. He that hath a will to die Of thy deep duty more impression show Let your Than that of common sons. O, stand up bless'd Vol. by himself, fears it not from another. For you, be that you are, general do his worst. long; and your misery increase with your age! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, [Exit.I kneel before thee; and unproperly say to you, as I was said to, Away! Show duty, as mistaken all the while [Kneels 1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. What is this? 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: Between the child and parent. Cor. rock, the oak not to the wind-shaken. Your knees to me? to your corrected son ? Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach SCENE III-The tent of Coriolanus. Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds Coriolanus, Autidius, and others. Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun; Murd'ring impossibility, to make Set down our host.-My partner in this action, You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly What cannot be, slight work. I have borne this business. Auf. Only their ends He is the [Exeunt. Enter You have respected; stopp'd your ears against This last old man, Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes, Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows, (1) Because. (2) Reprimanded. (3) Openlv. Vol. Thou art my warrior; I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady ? The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle, Cor. The god of soldiers, Your knee, sirrah. Cor. That's my brave boy. Cor. I beseech you, peace: (5) Juno. Hear nought from Rome in private.-Your request? And state of bodies, would bewray' what life Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and Iaking the mother, wife, and child, to see Our wish, which side should win for either thou With manacles thorough our streets, or else These wars determine:2 if I cannot persuade thee Ay, and on mine, Boy. He shall not tread on me; I'll run away, till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Vol. [Rising. Nay, go not from us thus. If it were so, that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy Than can our reasons.-There is no man in th More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me prate Like him by chance:-Yet give us our despatch: Cor. O mother, mother! Auf. I am glad, thou hast set thy mercy and th The Volces whom you serve, you might condemn us, At difference in thee: out of that I'll work As poisonous of your honour: No; our suit To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air, (1) Betray. (2) Concia le. (3) The refinements.! Myself a former fortune [Aside. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Rome. A public place. Enter Menenius and Sicinius. Men. See you yond' coign" o'the Capitol: vond 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. 14) Angle. (5) Stay but for it. 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. 1 Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome : Men. So did he me: and he no more remembers Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, his mother now, than an eight year old horse. The And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he them: walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius, shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum Cry,-Welcome, ladies, welcome !— is a battery. He sits in his state,' as a thing made2 for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished Welcome! 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. Mess. Good news, good news ;-The ladies have The Volces are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone: Sic. Friend, Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain ? 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. Accept my thankfulness. Welcome, ladies! [Exeunt Attendants, If you do hold the same intent wherein Sir, I cannot tell; We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst I know it; When he did stand for consul, which he lost Sir, we have all Great cause to give great thanks. (1) Chair of state. (2) T. resemble. (6) Thought me awarded with good looks. For no less spoil, than glory,Auf ; There was it;For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. At a few drops of women's rheum,' which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour Of our great action; Therefore shall he die, And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark! [Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of the people. 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise. 2 Con. And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear, With giving him glory. 3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage, Ere he express himself, or move the people With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury His reasons with his body. Auf. Here come the lords. Say no more; Enter the Lords of the city. Lords. You are most welcome home. Auf. I have not deserv'd it. But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd What I have written to you? Lords. We have. 1 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;2 making a treaty, where There was a yielding; This admits no excuse. Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him. Enter Coriolanus, with drums and colours; crowd of Citizens with him. Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier; No more infected with my country's love, Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know, That prosperously I have attempted, and With bloody passage, led your wars, even to The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home, Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my nearl Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever I was fore'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie and his own notion My beating to his grave;) shall join to thrust 1 Lord. Auf. Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears? Con. Let him die for't. [Several speak at once. Cit. Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him tc pieces, do it presently. He killed my son;-my daughter;-He killed my cousin Marcus;-He killed my father. 2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage ;--peace. The man is noble, and his fame folds in a This orb o'the earth. His last offence to us Shall have judicious' hearing.-Stand, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace. Cor. O, that I had him, Insolent villain! With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword! Auf. Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [Aufidius and the Conspirators draw, and kill Coriolanus, who falls, and Aufidius stands on him. Lords. O Tullus,2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters all, be quiet; Put up your swords. Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this rage, Provok'd by him, you cannot,) the great danger 1 Lord. Bear from hence his body And mourn you for him: let him be regarded As the most noble corse, that ever herald Did follow to his urn. (5) No more than a boy of tears. (6) His fame overspreads the world. (7) Judicia |