1 Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that. 2 Serv. Worth six of him. 1 Serv. Nay, not so neither; but I take him to be the greater soldier. 2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that for the defence of a town, our general is excellent. 1 Serv. Ay, and for an assault too. Re-enter third Servant. 3 Serv. O, slaves, I can tell you news; news, you rascals. 1. 2. Serv. What, what, what? let's partake. a great maker of cuckolds. but peace SCENE VI-Rome. A public place. Enter Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear His remedies are tame i'the present peace 3 Serv. I would not be a Roman, of all nations;|| And quietness o'the people, which before I had as lieve be a condemned man. 1. 2. Serv. Wherefore? wherefore? 3 Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Marcius. 1 Serv. Why do you say, thwack our general? 3 Serv. I do not say, thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him. 2 Serv. Come, we are fellows, and friends: he was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say so himself. 1 Serv. He was too hard for him directly, to say the truth on't before Corioli, he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado. 2 Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too. I Serv. But, more of thy news? 3 Serv. Why, he is so made on here within, as if he were son and heir to Mars: set at upper end o'the table: no question asked him by any of the senators, but they stand bald before him: Our general himself makes a mistress of him; sanctifies himself with's hand, and turns up the white o'the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i'the middle, and but one half || of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle2 the porter of Rome gates by the ears: He will mow down all before him, and leave his passage polled.3 2 Serv. And he's as like to do't, as any man I can imagine. 3 Serv. Do't? he will do't: For, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which friends, sir, (as it were,) durst not (look you, sir,) show themselves (as we term it,) his friends, whilst he's in directitude. 1 Serv. Directitude! what's that? 3 Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood,4 they will out of their burrows, like coneys after rain, and revel all with him. 1 Serv. But when goes this forward? 3 Serv. To-morrow; to-day, presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis, as it were, a parcels of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips. 2 Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. 1 Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace, as far as day does night; it's sprightly, waking, audible, and full of vent.6 Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled,7 deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children, than war's a destroyer of men. 2 Serv. 'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher; so it cannot be denied, (1) Meat cut across to be broiled. (2) Pull. (3) Cut clear. Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends Enter Menenius. Bru. We stood to't in good time. Is this Me nenius? Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he: O, he is grown most kind Hail to you both! Sic. Your Coriolanus, sir, is not much miss'd, But with his friends; the commonwealth doth stand; And so would do, were he more angry at it. Sic. Enter three or four Citizens. Now the gods keep you! Bru. Caius Marcius was And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance.8 Enter Edile. Ædi. Mes. The nobles, in great earnestness, are going All to the senate-house: some news is come, That turns3 their countenances. Sic. If! Men. You have made good work, You, and your apron men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation,6 and The breath of garlic-eaters! Com. Your Rome about your ears. Men. He will shake As Hercules Did shake down mellow fruit: You have made fair work! Bru. But is this true, sir? Com. Ay; and you'll look pale Before you find it other. All the regions Do smilingly revolt; and, who resist, Are only mock'd for valiant ignorance, And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? Your enemies, and his, find something in him. Men. We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy. Com. Who shall ask it? The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they 'Tis this slave-Should say, Be good to Rome, they charg❜d him Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes:—his raising! Nothing but his report! Mess. Yes, worthy sir, The slave's report is seconded; and more, More fearful is deliver'd. And cowardly nobles, gave way to your clusters, Who did hoot him out o'the city. Com. But, I fear, They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius, The second name of men, obeys his points As if he were his officer :-Desperation Is all the policy, strength, and defence, That Rome can make against them. Enter a troop of Citizens. Men. Here come the clusters.-And is Aufidius with him?-You are they That made the air unwholesome, when you cast Your stinking, greasy caps, in hooting at Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming; And not a hair upon a soldier's head, Which will not prove a whip; as many coxcombs, As you threw caps up, will he tumble down, And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter; If he could burn us all into one coal, We have deserv'd it. Cit. 'Faith, we hear fearful news. 1 Cit. For mine own part When I said, Banish him, I said, 'twas pity. (5) A small round hole: an augre is a carpenter's tool. (6) Mechanics. (7) Revolt with pleasure. 2 Cit. And so did I. 3 Cit. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us: That we did, we did for the best and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will. Com. You are goodly things, you voices! You have made Good work, you and your cry!-Shall us to the Capitol? Men. Com. O, ay; what else? [Exe. Com. and Men. Sic Go, masters, get you home, be not dismay'd; These are a side, that would be glad to have This true, which they so seem to fear. Go home, And show no sign of fear. 1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, 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. Would buy this for a lie! Sic. Pray, let us go. [Exeunt. SCENE VII-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 Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier Lieu. Auf I understand thee well; and be thou sure, Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Auf All places yield to him ere he sits down And the nobility of Rome are his; The senators, and patricians, love him too: To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome, (1) Pack, alluding to a pack of hounds. 73) Helmet. (4) The chair of civil authority. ; To fail in the disposing of those chances peace Even with the same austerity and garb One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; ACT V. SCENE 1-Rome. A public 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 In a most dear particular. He call'd me, father: But what o'that? Go, you that banish'd him, A mile before his tent fall down, and kneel The way into his mercy: Nay, if he coy'd To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home. Com. He would not seem to know me. Men. Till he had forg'd himself a name i'the fire Men. Why, so; you have made good work: Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon When it was less expected: He replied, It was a bare petition of a state To one whom they had punish'd. Men. Could he say less? Very well : Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard For his private friends: His answer to me was, He could not stay to pick them in a pile Of noisome, musty chaff: He said, 'twas folly, For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt, For one poor grain And still to nose the offence. Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your aid No; I'll not meddle. 5) Not all in their full extent. (6) Condescended unwillingly. (7) Harassed by exactions. (8)Memorial. Sic. I pray you, go to him. Men. What should I do? Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome towards Marcius. Men. But as a discontented friend, grief-shot Sic. I'll undertake it. Yet to bite his lip, I think, he'll hear me. Till he be dieted to my request, Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge Of my success. [Exit. 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, And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [Exe. 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. His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified; For I have ever verified3 my friends (Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity4 Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise Have, almost, stamp'd the leasing :6 Therefore, fellow, I must have leave to pass. 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 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, 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. 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. Men. Now, you companion, I'll say an errand Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by for you; you shall know now that I am in estima your leave, I am an officer of state, and come To speak with Coriolanus. 1 G. Men. From whence? From Rome. 1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence. tion; you shall perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son Coriclanus: guess but by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i'the state of hanging, or 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 2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, worse than thy old father Menenius does! O, my before 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? (1) Prizes. (3) Proved to. (2) Friend. (4) Truth. (6) Lie. (5) Deceitful. (9) Jack in office, (7) Dotard. (8) Fellow. Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs In supplication nod: and my young boy In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, [Gives a letter. [Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius. 1 G. Now, sir, is your name Menenius? 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again. Hath an aspect of intercession, which Vir. Cor. These eyes are Cor. My lord and husband! not the same I wore in Rome. that delivers us thus chang'd, Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part, and I am out, [Kneels. 1 G. Do you hear how we are shent2 for keeping|I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip your greatness back? Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I prate, 2 G. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? And the most noble mother of the world Men. I neither care for the world, nor your gene-Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee i'the earth; ral: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so O 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! say to you, as I was said to, Away! [Kneels. Of thy deep duty more impression show [Exeunt. 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. SCENE III-The tent of Coriolanus. 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. Auf. Only their ends You have respected: stopp'd your ears against Cor. Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow Enter in mourning habits, Virgilia, Volumnia, not Vol. Thou art my warrior; The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle, Čor. The god of soldiers, Vol. Your knee, sirrah. I beseech you, peace: Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows;|| That, if you fail in our request, the blame (1) Because. (2) Reprimanded. (3) Openly. (4) A young goose. May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us. (5) Juno. (6) Gust, storm. |