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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 knee
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?

Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name:
I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to: forbad all names;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fire
Of burning Rome.

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 2!

Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon
When least it was expected: he replied,
It was a bare' petition of a state,

To one whom they had punish'd.
Men. Very well:

Could he say less?

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, And still to nose the offence.

Men. For one poor grain or two?

I am one of those; his mother, wife, 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. [aid

Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your In this so never-needed help, yet do not Upbraid us with our distress. But sure, if you Wouldbeyourcountry'spleader, yourgoodtoifgue, More than the instant army we can make, Might stop our countrymen.

Men. No; I'll not meddle.

5

Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard; what then?—

But as a discontented friend, grief-shot
With his unkindness? Say 't be so?

Sic. Yet your good will

[sure

Must have that thanks from Rome, after the ineaAs you intended well.

Men. I'll undertake it:

I think he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip,

10 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
We pout upon the morning, are unapt

To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd 15 These pipes, and these conveyances of our blood With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls [him Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch "Till he be dieted to my request,

20

25

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. He'll never hear him.
Sic. Not?

[Exit.

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:
30 '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 not,
Bound with an oath, to yield to his conditions*:
So that all hope is vain;

35 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.

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Sic. Pray you, go to him.

50

Men. From Rome.

Men. What should I do?

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2 Watch. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, before

To rack means to harass by exactions.-The meaning is, You that have been such good stewards for the Roman people, as to get their houses burnt over their heads, to save them the expence of coals. Memory for memorial. A bare petition means only a mere petition. 4 Dr. Johnson is of opinion, that here is a chasm.-The speaker's purpose seems to be this: To yield to his condition is ruin, and better cannot be obtained; so that all hope is vain.

You'll

You'll speak with Coriolanus.
Men. Good my friends,

CORIOLANUS.

If 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. 5
i Watch. 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, happily, 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: Therefore,
fellow,

I must have leave to pass.

1 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 pass here: no, though it were as virtucus 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 Watch. 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 din'd, canst 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.

4

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have push'd out of your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, 40 think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsy'd intercession of such a decay'd dotant as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to 45 flame in, with such 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 sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

2 Watch. Come, my captain knows Men. I mean, thy general.

you not.

[Act 5. Scene 2.

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, with Aufidius.
Cor. What's the matter? .

Men. Now, you companion, I'll say an errand
for you: you shall know now, that I am in esti-
mation: you shall perceive that a Jack guardant
cannot office me from my son Coriolanus: guess,
by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not
'the state of hanging, or of some death more
long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering; be
upon thee. The glorious gods sit in hourly synod
hold now presently, and swoon for what's to come
about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no
worse than thy old father Menenius does! O, my
son, my son! thou art preparing fire for us; look
thee, here's water to quench it.
moved to come to thee: but being assur❜d, none
I was hardly
but myself could move thee, I have been blown
pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen.
out of your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to
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!

Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are servanted to others: Though I owe

My revenge properly, my remission lies

In Volcian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather

Than pity note how much.-Therefore be gone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger, than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for I lov'd thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,
[Gives him a letter.
will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius,
Was my belov'd in Rome: yet thou behold'st-
Auf. "You keep a constant temper. [Exeunt.

Manent the Guard, and Menenius.

1 Watch. Now, sir, is your name Menenius? 2 Watch. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again.

1 Watch. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back?

2 Watch. What cause, do you think, I have to 50 swoon?

Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another. Let

1 Watch. My general cares not for you. Back, 55 your general do his worst. For you, be that you

A lot here is a prize. testimony. One may say with propriety, he brought false witnesses to verify his title.-Shakspeare 2 Dr. Johnson explains this passage thus: To verify is to establish by considered the word with his usual laxity, as importing rather testimony than truth, and only meant to say, I bore witness to my friends with all the size that verity would suffer. level. By virginal palms may be understood the holding up the hands in supplication. 3 Subtle means smooth, Though I have a peculiar right in revenge, in the power of forgiveness the Volcians are conjoined. • Shent means shumed, disgraced, made ashamed of ourselves.

5 i. e.

are,

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Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father;

Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to send him: for whose old love, I have
(Though I shew'd sourly to him)once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept, to grace him only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits,
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Ha! What shout is this?
[Shout within.

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same tine 'tis made? I will not.-

Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Mar

5

[10]

Even to a full disgrace.--Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For that, Forgive our Romans.-O, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear; and by my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er smce.-You gods! I prate,
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i' the earth;
[Kneels.

Of the deep duty more impression shew
Than that of common sons.

Vol. O, stand up blest!

Whilst, with no soiter cushion than the flint,
151 kneel before thee; and unproperly
Shew duty, as mistaken all the while [Knecls.
Between the child and parent.

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cius, with Attendants, all in mourning.
My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mold
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of nature, break!
Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate.---
What is that curt'sy worth? or those dove's eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn?--I melt, and 45

am not

Ofstronger earth than others.-My mother bows;
As if Olympus to a mole-hill should

In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great Nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volces
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never
Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand,
As if a man were author of himself,
And knew no other kin.

Virg. My lord and husband!

Cor. These eyes are not the samelwore in Rome. Virg. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so.

Cor. Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my part, and I am out,

e. bow openly.

Cor. The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness: that thou may'st
prove

40 To shame invulnerable, and stick i' the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw',
And saving those that eye thee!
Vol. Your knee, sirrah.

ii. e. Juno.

Cor. That's my brave boy.

Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you.

Cor. I beseech you, peace:

Or, if you'd ask, remember this before;
50 The things, I have forsworn to grant, may never
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate

Again with Rome's mechanics:-Tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural: Desire not

55 To allay my rages and revenges, with
Your colder reasons.

Vol. Oh, no more, no more!

You have said, you will not grant us any thing; For we have nothing else to ask, but that 60 Which you deny already: Yet, we will ask; That, if we fail in our request, the blame

i.e. every gust, every storm.

Max

May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volces, mark; for we'll
Hear noughtfrom Romeinprivate.-Yourrequest?
Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our
raiment

Which thou shalt thereby reap, is such a name, Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses; Whose chronicle thus writ,- Themanwasnoble, "But with his last attempt he wip'd it out, 5" Destroy'd his country, and his name remains "To the ensuing age,abhorr'd." Speak to me,son: Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour, To imitate the graces of the gods;

And state of bodies would bewray what life
We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself,
How more unfortunate than all living women
Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which
should
[comforts, 10
Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with
'Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and

sorrow;

Making the mother, wife, and child, to see
The son, the husband, and the father, tearing
His country's bowels out. And to poor we,
Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us
Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort
That all but we enjoy: For how can we,
Alas! how can we for our country pray,
Whereto we are bound; together withthy victory,
Whereto we are bound? Alack! or we must lose
The country, our dear nurse; or else thy person,
Our comfort in the country. We must find
An evident calamity, though we had
Our wish, which side should win: for either thou
Must, as a foreign recreant, be led

With manacles thorough our streets; or else
Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin;
And bear the palm, for having bravely shed
Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,
I purpose not to wait on fortune, 'till
These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee
Rather to shew a noble grace to both parts,
Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner
March to assault thy country, than to tread
(Trust to 't, thou shalt not) on thy mother's womb,
That brought thee to this world.

Virg. Ay, and mine,

20

world

To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air,
And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt
That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?
Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man
Still to remember wrongs?-Daughter,speak you;
He cares not for your weeping.-Speak thou, boy;
15 Perhaps, thy childishness will move him more
Than can our reasons.-There is no man in the
[prate,
More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me
Like one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy
Shew'd thy dear mother any courtesy; [life
When she, (poor hen !) fond of no second brood,
Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home,
Loaden with honour. Say, my request's unjust,
And spurn me back: But, if it be not so,
25 Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee,
That thou restrain'st from me the duty, which
To a mother's part belongs.-He turns away:
Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.
To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride,
30 Than pity to our prayers. Down: An end:
This is the last:-So we will home to Rome,
And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold us :
This boy, that cannot tell what he would have,
But kneels, and holds up hands, for fellowship,
35 Does reason our petition with more strength
Than thou hast to deny 't.-Come, let us go:
This fellow had a Volce to his mother;
His wife is in Corioli, and this child
Like him by chance :-Yet give us our dispatch:

4

That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name 40 I am hush'd until our city be afire,
Living to time.

Boy. He shall not tread on me;

I'll run away 'till I am bigger, but then I'll fight.
Cor. Not of a woman's tenderness to be,
Requires nor child nor woman's face to see.
I have sat too long.

Vol. Nay, go not from us thus.

If it were so, that our request did tend

To save the Romans, thereby to destroy

[us,

And then I'll speak a little.
Cor. Mother, mother!-

[Holds her by the hands, silent.
What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,
45 The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O!
You have won a happy victory to Rome:
But, for your son,-believe it, O, believe it,
Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd, .

The Volces whom you serve, you might condemn 50 If not most mortal to him. But, let it come:-
As poisonous of your honour: No; our suit
Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volces
May say, "This mercy we have shew'd;" the]
Romans,

"This we receiv'd;" and each in either side
Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, "Be blest
"For making up this peace!" Thou know'st,great

son,

The end of war's uncertain; but this certain,
That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit

55

Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,
Were you in my stead, say, would you have heard
A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?
Auf. I was mov'd withal.

Cor. I dare be sworn, you were:
And, sir, it is no little thing, to make

Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, What peace you'll make, advise me: For my part, (60 I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you: and pray you,

That is, constrains the eye to weep, and the heart to shake. much, and yet be merciful.

4 i. e. argue for.

2 The meaning is, to threaten i.e. keeps me in a state of ignominy, talking to no purpose.

Stand

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[Aside. 5 [The Ladies make signs to Coriolanus. Cor. Ay, by-and-by; But we will drink together; and you shall bear [To Volumnia, Virgilia, &c. A better witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have counter-scal'd. Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you: all the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace.

SCENE IV.

The Forum in Rome.

Enter Menenius and Sicinius.

[Excunt. 15

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Art thou certain, this is true; is it most certain ?
Mes. As certain, as I know the sun is fire:
Where haveyou lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch so hurry'd the blown tide,
As the recomforted through the gates. Why,
hark you;

[Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all together.
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and files,
Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,
Make the sun dance. Hark you! [A shout within,
Men. This is good news:

Men. See you yon coign o' the Capitol; yon 201 will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia

corner-stone?

Sic. Why, what of that?

Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome,especially his mother, may prevail with him. 25 But, I say, there is no hope in 't; our throats are sentenc'd, and stay upon execution.

Sic. Is 't possible, that so short a time can alter the condition of a man?

Men. There is difference between a grub, and 30 a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing.

Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly,

Men. So did he me: and he no more remembers 35 his mother now, than an eight-year old horse'. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his 40 hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in.

Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tiger; and that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you.

Sic. The gods be good unto us!

Men.No,in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banish'd him, we respected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a Messenger.
Mes.Sir,if you'd save your life, fly to your house:
The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune,
And hale him up and down; all swearing, if
The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.

45

50

Is worth, of consuls, senators, patricians,
A city full; of tribunes, such as you,
A sea and land full: You have pray'd well to-day;
This morning, for ten thousand of your throats
I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
[Sound still, with the shouts.
Sic. First, the gods bless you for your tidings:
Accept my thankfulness.
[next,
Mes. Sir, we have all great cause to give great
thanks.

Sic. They are near the city?
Mes. Almost at point to enter.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.[Exeunt. Enter two Senators, with the Ladies passing over the stage, &c. &c.

Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome:
Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,
And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before
them:

Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius,
Repeal him with the welcome of his mother;
Cry,-Welcome, ladies, welcome!-
All. Welcome, ladies, welcome!

[4 Flourish with drums and trumpets.

SCENE V.

A public Place in Antium.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.
Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here:
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to the market-place; where I,
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. He I accuse,
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
55 Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: Dispatch.-Most
welcome!

Enterthreeor four Conspiratorsef Aufidius' faction.
1 Con. How is it with our general ?

60 Auf. Even so,

As with a man by his own alms impoison'd,

'I will take advantage of this concession to restore myself to my former credit and power. intelligitur remembers his dam.

3 B

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