Bru. I do not like th.s news. Sic. Nor I. Bru. Let's to the Capitol :-'Would, half my wealth Would buy this for a lie! Pray, let us go. [Exeunt. As draw his sword: yet he hath left undone Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down; The senators, and patricians, love him too : A Camp; at a small distance from The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people Lieu. Yet I wish, sir, (I mean, for your particular,) you had not Join'd in commission with him: but either Had borne the action of yourself, or else To him had left it solely. Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure, To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly, Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome, From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace Even with the same austerity and garb As he controll'd the war; but, one of these. For I dare so far free him,) made him fear'd, One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; ACT V. A publick Place. SCENE I. Rome. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and others. Men. No, I'll not go: you hear, what he hath Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him name: 1 urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops Men. Why, so; you have made good work : Com. I 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 Volscian Camp before Rome. The Guard at their stations. Enter to them MENENIUS. : 1 G. Stay Whence are you? 2 G. Stand, and go back. Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by your leave, I am an officer of state, and come 1 G. From whence? The book of his good acts, whence men have read (Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise 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 chastly. 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 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. 1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, I say; 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 2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, than thy old father Menenius does! O, my son! before Men. From Rome. 1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence. You'll speak with Coriolanus. Men. Men. 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 affairs Are servanted to others: Though I owe My revenge properly, my remission lies In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, And would have sent it. [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 for keeping your greatness back? 2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? The first conditions, which they did refuse, Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow Enter, in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, leading young MARCIUS, VALERIA, and Attendants. My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection! All bond and privilege of nature, break! I have forgot my part, and I am out, prate, Thou art my warrior; The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle, Cor. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may'st prove To allay my rages and revenges, with Your colder reasons. Vol. O, no more, no more! You have said, you will not grant us any thing; Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses; Whose chronicle thus writ, The man was noble, But with his last attempt he wip'd it out; To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air, Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our rai- Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you: ment, 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 An evident calamity, though we had With manacles thorough our streets, or else That brought thee to this world. Vir. Ay, and on mine, That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name Living to time. Boy. He shall not tread on me; I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. son, The end of war's uncertain; but this certain, That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit Which thou shalt thereby reap, is such a name, More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me prate, 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, 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 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 prevail'd, 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, say, would you have heard A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius? Auf. I was mov'd withal. Cor. I dare be sworn, you were : And, sir, it is no little thing, to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, What peace you'll make, advise me for my part, I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you, 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, SCENE IV. Rome. A publick Place. Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS. The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, Men. A city full; of tribunes, such as you, A sea and land full: You have pray'd well today; Men. See you yond' coign o'the Capitol; yond' | This morning, for ten thousand of your throats corner-stone? I'd not have given a doit. 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? 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 that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you. tiger; Hark, how they joy! [Shouting and musick. Sic. First, the gods bless you for their tidings: Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants. [Exeunt Attendants. Enter Three or Four Conspirators of Aufidius' faction. Most welcome! 1 Con. How is it with our general? Auf. Even so, As with a man by his own alms empoison'd, And with his charity slain. 2 Con. Most noble sir, If you do hold the same intent wherein You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you Of your great danger. Auf. Sir, I cannot tell; We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3 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 rais'd him, and I pawn'd Mine honour for his truth: Who being so heighten'd, He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery, Seducing so my friends: and, to this end, |