But what o'that? Go, you that banish'd him, The Nay, if he coy'd' I'll keep at home. Com. He would not seem to know me. Men. Do you hear? Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name: I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops Coriolanus He would not answer to forbad all names; 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 18 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, 6 Condescended unwillingly. 7 Harassed by exactions. 8 Memorial. His child, and this brave fellow too, we are the grains: You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt Above the moon: We must be burnt for you. Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your aid In this so never-heeded help, yet do not Upbraid us with our distress. But, sure, if you Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue, More than the instant army we can make, Might stop our countryman. Men. Sic. I pray you, go to him. Men. 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 With his unkindness? Say't be so? Sic. Yet your good will Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me. To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd Till he be dieted to my request, 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 Com. I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him ; 'Twas very faintly he said, Rise; dismiss'd me Thus, with his speechless hand: What he would do, He sent in writing after me; what he would nòt, Bound with an oath, to yield to his conditions ; So, that all hope is vain, Unless his noble mother, and his wife; Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence, And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [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, You'll speak with Coriolanus. Men. Good my friends, If you have heard your general talk of Rome, And of his friends there, it is lots 9 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 lover: 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 3 Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, Like to a bowl upon a subtle 4 ground, I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise Have, almost, stamp'd the leasing: 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 chastly. Therefore, go back. 9 Prizes. Friend. 2 Proved to. 3 Truth. 4 Deceitful. 5 Lie, 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, can'st 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, Dotard. |