If you have heard your general talk of Rome, Men. I tell thee, fellow, Thy general is my lover: I have been your name The book of his good acts, whence men have read For I have ever verified my friends, (Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity7 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. 6 ·lots to blanks,] A lot here is a prize. 7 For I have ever verified my friends, with all the size that verity, &c.] To verify, is to establish by testimony. One may say with propriety, he brought false witnesses to verify his title. Shakspeare considered the word with his usual laxity, as importing rather testimony than truth, and only meant to say, I bore witness to my friends with all the size that verity would suffer. 8 deceitful. upon a subtle ground,] Subtle means smooth, level, perhaps, 9 and in his praise Have, almost, stamp'd the leasing :] i. e. given the sanction of truth to my very exaggerations. 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 groans1 of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant2 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 guardant3 cannot office me from my son Coriolanus: guess, but by my entertain 1 easy groans-] i. e. slight, inconsiderable. 2 — a decayed dotant—] Thus the old copy. Modern editors have read dotard. 3 — a Jack guardant-] This term is equivalent to one still in — a Jack in office; i. e. one who is as proud of his petty consequence, as an excise-man. use ment 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 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 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, Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone. [Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. 1 G. Now, sir, is your name Menenius. 4— Though I owe My revenge properly,] Though I have a peculiar right in revenge, in the power of forgiveness the Volscians are conjoined. for I lov'd thee,] i. e. because. 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again. 6 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? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's 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! 1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exit. He is the [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Tent of Coriolanus. Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, and Others. 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. 8 Auf. Only their ends You have respected; stopp'd your ears against 6 how we are shent —] i. e. shamed, disgraced, made ashamed of ourselves. Mr. Malone says, rebuked, reprimanded. Cole, in his Latin Dict. 1679, renders to shend, increpo. It is so used by many of our old writers. how plainly I have borne this business.] that is, how openly, how remotely from artifice or concealment. A private whisper, no, not with such friends This last old man, Cor. Loved me above the measure of a father; Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge And cannot now accept, to grace him only, I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits, 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 What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes, In supplication nod: and my young boy Great nature cries, Deny not. —Let the Volces |