SCENE III.

A Tent. Enter CORIOLANUS, and AUFIDIUS.

Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow Set down our host.-My partner in this action, You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly I have borne this business.

Auf. Only their ends

You have respected; stopp'd your ears against
The general suit of Rome; never admitted
A private whisper, no, not with such friends
That thought them sure of you.

Cor. This last old man,

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Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father;
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to send him: for whose old love, I have
(Though I shew'd sourly to him) once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept, to grace him only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits, 220
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Hal what shout is this?

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.-

M

[Shout within.

Enter

Enter VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, VALERIA, and young MARCIUS, with Attendants, all in Mourning.

My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection! All bond and privilege of nature, break!

Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate.

What is that curt'sy worth? or those dove's eyes, Which can make gods forsworn?—I melt, and am

not

231

Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows ;
As if Olympus to a mole-hill should

In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which

Great nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volsces
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never
Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand,
As if a man were author of himself,

And knew no other kin.

Vir. My lord and husband!

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Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so.

Cor. 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.-O, a kiss,
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!

250 Now

Now by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I prate,
And the most noble mother of the world

Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i' the earth!

Of thy deep duty more impression shew
Than that of common sons.

Vol. O, stand up blest!

Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,
I kneel before thee; and unproperly

Shew duty, as mistaken all the while

[Kneels.

260

[Kneels.

C

Between the child and parent.

Cor. What is this?

Your knees to me! to your corrected son !
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillop the stars: then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun;
Murd'ring impossibility, to make

What cannot be, slight work.

Vol. Thou art my warrior;

I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?

270

[Pointing to VALERIA.

Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,

The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle

That's curdled by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's temple: Dear Valeria!

Vol. This is a poor epitome of your's,

[Shewing young MARCIUS. Which by the interpretation of full time Mij

May

May shew like all yourself.

Cor. The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform

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Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may'st

prove

To shame invulnerable, and stick i' the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,
And saving those that eye thee!

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;

The things, I have forsworn to grant, may never
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me

Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate

Again with Rome's mechanics :-Tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural: Desire not

To allay my rages and revenges, with

Your colder reasons.

Vol. Oh, no more, no more!

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300

You have said, you will not grant us any thing;
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
Which you deny already: Yet we will ask;
That, if we fail in our request, the blame
May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private.-Your request ?

Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our rai

ment

And state of bodies would bewray what life
We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself,
How more unfortunate than all living women

Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which

should

310

Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with com

forts,

Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sor

row;

Making the mother, wife, and child, to see
The son, the husband, and the father, tearing
His country's bowels out. And to poor we,
Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us
Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort
That all but we enjoy: For how can we,
Alas! how can we for our country pray,
Whereto we are bound; together with thy victory,
Whereto we are bound? Alack or we must lose
The country, our dear nurse; or else thy person,
Our comfort in the country. We must find
An evident calamity, though we had

Our wish, which side should win: for either thou
Must, as a foreign recreant, be led
With manacles thorough our streets; or else
Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin;
And bear the palm, for having bravely shed
Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,
I purpose not to wait on fortune, 'till

Miij

319

329

These