fay, go; left I let forth your half pint of blood. Back, that's the utmost of your having, back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,- Enter Coriolanus, with Aufidius. Cor. What's the matter? Men. Now, you companion, I'll fay an errand for you; you fhall know now, that I am in estimation; you fhall perceive, that a Jack-gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus; guefs but my entertainment with him; if thou ftand'ft not i' th' ftate of hanging, or of fome death more long in fpectatorship, and crueller in fuffering, behold now prefently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee.-The glorious gods fit in hourly fynod about thy particular profperity, and love thee no worfe than thy old father Menenius does! Oh, my fon, my fon! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly mov'd to come to thee; but being affured, none but myfelf could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with fighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods affuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my accefs to thee Cor. Away! Men. How, away? Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. Are fervanted to others: though I owe My revenge properly, remiffion lies My affairs. In Volfcian breafts. That we have been familiar, (38) (38) -That we have been familiar, Ingrate forgetfulness fhall poifon, rather Ingrate We cannot defire a more fignal inftance of the indolent ftupidity of our editors. Forgetfulness might poifon, in not remembering a converfation of friendship, but how could it, in fuch an action, be faid? to pity too? The pointing is abfurd; and the fentiment confequently funk into nonfenfe. As I have regulated the ftops, both Dr. Thirlby and Mr. Warburton faw with me, they ought to be regulated. I have fill ventur'd beyond my ingenious friends, in changing poifon Thy General is my lover: I have been 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 fize that verity Would without lapfing fuffer: nay, fometimes, Like to a bowl upon a fubtle ground, I've tumbled paft the throw; and in his praise I Watch. Faith, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have utter'd words in your own, you should not pafs here: no, though it were as virtuous to lye, as to live chately. Therefore, go back. Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember, my name is Menenius; always factionary of the party of your General. 2 Watch. Howfoever you have been his liar, (as you fay, you have ;) I am one that, telling true under him, muft fay, you cannot pafs. Therefore, go back. Men. Has he din'd, canft thou tell? for I would not speak with him 'till after dinner. Watch. You are a Roman, are you? Men. I am as thy General is. 1 Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pufh'd out of your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your fhield, think to front his revenges with the eafy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palfied interceffion of fuch a decay'd dotard as you seem to be? can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with fuch weak breath as this? no, you are deceiv'd, therefore back to Rome, and prepare for your execution; you are condemn'd, our General has fworn you out of reprieve and pardon. Men. Sirrah, if thy Captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation. 1 Watch. Come, my Captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy General. 1 Watch. My General cares not for you. Back, I fay, fay, go; left I let forth your half pint of blood. Back, that's the utmost of your having, back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow, Enter Coriolanus, with Aufidius. Cor. What's the matter? Men. Now, you companion, I'll fay an errand for you; you fhall know now, that I am in eftimation you fhall perceive, that a Jack-gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus; guess but my entertainment with him; if thou ftand'ft not i' th' ftate of hanging, or of fome death more long in fpectatorship, and crueller in fuffering, behold now prefently, and fwoon for what's to come upon thee.-The glorious gods fit in hourly fynod about thy particular profperity, and love thee no worfe than thy old father Menenius does! Oh, my fon, my fon! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly mov'd to come to thee; but being affured, none but myfelf could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with fighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods affuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my accefs to thee Cor. Away! Men. How, away? Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are fervanted to others: though I owe My revenge properly, remiffion lies In Volfcian breafts. That we have been familiar, (38) (38) That we have been familiar, Ingrate forgetfulness fball poifon, rather Than pity: Note how much-] Ingrate We cannot defire a more fignal inftance of the indolent ftupidity of our editors. Forgetfulness might poifon, in not remembering a converfation of friendship, but how could it, in fuch an action, be faid to pity too? The pointing is abfurd; and the fentiment confequently funk into nonfenfe. As I have regulated the ftops, both Dr. Thirlby and Mr. Warburton faw with me, they ought to be regulated. I have ftill ventur'd beyond my ingenious friends, in changing poifon Ingrate forgetfulness shall prifon, rather Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone: And would have fent it. [Gives him a letter. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Manent the Guard, and Menenius. [Exeunts I Watch. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 Watch. 'Tis a fpell, you fee, of much power: you know the way home again. I Watch. Do you hear, how we are fhent for keeping your greatness back? 2 Watch. What caufe, do you think, I have to swoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your General: for fuch things as you, I can fcarce think there's any, y'are fo flight. He, that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another: let your General do his worst. For you, be what you are, long; and your mifery encrease with your age! I fay to you, as I was faid to, away!-[Exit. 1 Watch. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 Watch. The worthy fellow is our General. He's the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. Re-enter Coriolanus and Aufidius. [Ex. Watch. Cor. We will, before the walls of Rome to-morrow Auf. Only their ends you have refpected; ftopt into prifon which adds an antithefis, by which the fenfe feems clearer and more natural: viz. That forgetfulness fhall rather keep it a fecret, that we have been familiar; than pity fhall disclose how much we have been fo. Never admitted private whisper, no, Not with fuch friends that thought them fure of you. Cor. This laft old man, Whom with a crack'd heart I have fent to Rome, : Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow, [Shout within. Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Marcius, with Attendants all in Mourning. My wife comes foremost, then the honour'd mould Let it be virtuous, to be obftinate. What is that curt'fy worth? or those dove's eyes, In fupplication nod; and my young boy- Great nature cries,-Deny not. Let the Volfcians And knew no other kin. Virg. My Lord and husband! Cor. These eyes are not the fame I wore in Rome. Virg. The forrow, that delivers us thus chang'd Makes you think fo. Cor. |