1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, | Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon 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. 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; Bru. Let's to the Capitol: Would half my And the nobility of Rome are his : wealth Would buy this for a lie. Sic. SCENE VII. The senators, and patricians, love him too. Pray, let us go. [Exeunt. Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty A Camp; at a small distance from Rome. 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, Their talk at table, and their thanks at end; And you are darken'd in this action, sir, Even by your own. Auf. Lieu. Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure, To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome, peace Even with the same austerity and garb For I dare so far free him,) made him fear'd, One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Come, let's away. ACT V. SCENE I. 1 Rome. A publick 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 Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fire Condescended unwillingly. I'll undertake it: Yet to bite his lip, I think, he'll hear me. And then I'll set upon him. Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, And cannot lose your way. Men. Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge Of my success. [Erit. Com. Sic. He'll never hear him. Not? 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, 1 G. 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 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. 2 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 9 Deceitful 7 Prizes. 1 Lie. 8 Friend. 2 Dotard. 3 Fellow. 4 Jack in office. no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O, my son! 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 the 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, [Exeunt CORIOL. 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 6 for keeping your greatness back? 2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general for such things as you, I can scarce think there is 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 your 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 rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exeunt. 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 7 I have borne in this business. Auf. Cor. offer'd Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter Will I lend ear to. - Ha! what shout is this? [Shout within. Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes, Vir. Cor. These eyes are Rome. Cor. My lord and husband! not the same I wore in Vir. The sorrow that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so. 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! Now by the jealous queen 8 of heaven, that kiss carried from thee; 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 show Than that of common sons. [Kneels. |