And power, unto itself most commendable, One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do fail. 'Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. 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. Do you hear? Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fire Men. Why, so; you have made good work : A pair of tribunes that have rack'd+ for Rome, To make coals cheap: A noble memory ! • Condescended unwillingly. + Memorial. 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, Of noisome, musty chaff: He said, 'twas folly, Men. For one poor grain Or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, Might stop our countryman. Men. Sic. I pray you, go to him. Men. your aid No; I'll not meddle. What should I do? Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome towards Marcius. Men. Well, and say that Marcius Return me, as Cominius is return'd, But as a discontented friend, grief-shot Sic. Yet your good will Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure As you intended well. Men. I think, he'll hear me. I'll undertake it. Yet to bite his lip, And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me. He was not taken well; he had not din'd: The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd 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. Com. Sic. [Exit. 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, [Exeunt. SCENE II. An advanced post of the Volcian camp before Rome. The Guard at their stations. Enter to them, Menenius. 1 G. Stay: Whence are you? 2 G. Stand, and go back. Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by 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. 2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, before You'll speak with Coriolanus. If Men. Good my friends, you have heard your general talk of Rome, And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks, My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius. 1 G. Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name Is not here passable. Men. I tell thee, fellow, Thy general is my lovert: I have been The book of his good acts, whence men have read His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified; For I have ever verified my friends (Of whom he's chief), with all the size that verity § 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 t: Therefore, fel low, 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 Roine, 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, * Deceitful. + Lie. Dotard. |