I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,
Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius,
Droop not; adieu.-Farewell, my wife!-my
mother!

I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime
general,

I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women, 'Tis fond' to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at 'em.-My mother, you wot well
My hazards still have been your solace and
Believe't not lightly, (though I go alone,
Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen) your

⚫ son

Will or exceed the common, or be caught With cautelous baits and practice.

My first son,

VOL. Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee a while: determine on some course, More than a wild exposture to each chance That starts i' the way before thee.

COR.

O, the gods!

SIC.

Keep on your way.

They have ta'en note of us:

SIC.

a

Are mankind? you VOL. Ay, fool; is that a shame ?-Note but this, fool;

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words?

SIC.
O, blessed heavens !
VOL. More noble blows than ever thou wise
words;

And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-yet go:

Nay, but thou shalt stay too :-I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.

SIC.

VIR.

What then?

What then?

VOL. I would he had! 'Twas you incens'd the rabble ;

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth,
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.

BRU.
Pray, let us go.
VOL. Now, pray, sir, get you gone: [this;-
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear
As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son
(This lady's husband here, this, do you see)
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
BRU. Well, well, we 'll leave you.
SIC.
Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
VOL.
Take my prayers
with
you.-
[Exeunt Tribunes.

I would the gods had nothing else to do,
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.

MEN. You have told them home; And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?

b Cats,-] This is an odd epithet, whether intended for the Tribunes or the rabble. Mr. Collier's annotator would substitute, Curs, but as Volumnia is here upbraiding them for their lack of perception, we surmise the genuine word was Bats, for which Cats" is an easy misprint.

ADR. Hath been! is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

Nic. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

ADR. Coriolanus banished?

Nic. Banished, sir.

ADR. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

Nic. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.

ADR. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.

NIC. I shall, between this and supper, tell you

your favour is well appeared by your tongue.] This may import, your favour is well manifested, or rendered apparent; but Johnson would read,-affeared, and Steevens and Mr. Collier's

most strange things from Rome, all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you?

ADR. A most royal one: the centurions, and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning.

Nic. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company.

ADR. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours. NIC. Well, let us go together.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.—Antium. Before Aufidius' House.

Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.

COR. A goodly city is this Antium. City, 'Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars

Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not, Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with stones, In puny battle slay me.

Enter a Citizen.

Save you, sir.

CIT. And you.
COR.
Direct me, if it be your will,
Where great Aufidius lies: is he in Antium?
CIT. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state at
his house this night.

COR. Which is his house, beseech you?
Crr. This, here before you.

COR. Thank you, sir; farewell. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast