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Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome.
[Two Sentinels on guard. Enter to them MENENIUS]
FIRST SENATOR
Stay: whence are you.
SECOND SENATOR
Stand, and go back.
MENENIUS
You guard like men, 'tis well. But by your leave, I am an officer of state,
and come to speak with Coriolanus.
FIRST SENATOR
From whence?
MENENIUS
From Rome.
FIRST SENATOR
You may not pass, you must return: our general will no more hear from
thence.
SECOND SENATOR
, ,
, ,
,
You'll see | your Rome | embraced | with fire,|
before
,
2 , ,
You'll speak | with Cori|olan|us.
MENENIUS
, ,
Good | my friends,
, ,
, ,
,
If you | have heard | your gene|ral talk | of
Rome,
, ,
, ,
,
And of | his friends | there, it | is lots | to
blanks,
, ,
, 2 , x
My name | hath touched | your ears:| it is
Men|enius.
FIRST SENATOR
2 , ,
, , ,
Be it so,| go back:| the vir|tue of | your name,
, ,
, 2
Is not | here pas/sable.
MENENIUS
, ,
I | tell thee | fellow,
, ,
, ,
,
The gene|ral is | my lov|er: I | have been
,
, ,
, ,
The book | of his / good acts,| whence^men | have
read
, ,
2 , ,
,
His name | unpar|alleled*, hap|ly amp|lified:
??
, ,
, ,
,
For I | have ev|er ver|ified | my friends,
, ,
, 2 ,
, 2
(Of whom | he's chief)| with all* the | size that
| verity
, 2
, , T
T T
Would without | lapsing | suffer:| nay,
sometimes,
,
, , ,
,
Like to | a bowl | upon | a sub|tle ground
2 , ,
, ,
,
I have tum|bled past | the throw:| and in | his
praise
, 2
, ,
, ,
Have (almost^)|stamped the | leasing.| Therefore
| fellow,
,
, ,
I must | have leave | to pass. \\
FIRST SENATOR
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.
MENENIUS
Prithee fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the
party of your general.
SECOND SENATOR
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.
MENENIUS
Has he dined canst thou tell? for I would not speak with him, till after
dinner.
FIRST SENATOR
You are a Roman, are you?
MENENIUS
I am as thy general is.
FIRST SENATOR
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.
MENENIUS
Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.
SECOND SENATOR
Come, my captain knows you not.
MENENIUS
I mean thy general.
FIRST SENATOR
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.
MENENIUS
Nay but fellow, fellow.
[Enter CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS]
CORIOLANUS
What's the matter?
MENENIUS
Now you companion: I'll say an errand for you: You shall know now that I am
in estimation: you shall perceive, that a Jack guardant cannot office me from
my son Coriolanus, guess but by my entertainment with him: if thou standst
not in the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship,
and crueller in suffering, behold now presently, and swooned for what's to
come upon thee. The glorious gods sit in hourly synod 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. 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.
CORIOLANUS
Away.
MENENIUS
How? Away?
CORIOLANUS
T Tx
T T T T
2 ,
Wife, mother, child,| I know not.| My affairs
??
, , , , ,
Are serv|anted | to oth|ers: though | I owe
2 ,
, , ,
,
My revenge | proper|ly, my | remis|sion lies
, ,
, 2 ,
,
In Vol|scian breasts.| That we have | been
fa|miliar,
, ,
, , , 2->
Ingrate | forget|fulness | shall pois|on rath||er
, , ,
, ,
Than pi|ty: note | how much,| Therefore | be
gone.
,
, , ,
,
Mine ears | against | your suits,| are strong|er
than
,
, , ,
2 ,
Your gates | against | my force.| Yet for I |
loved thee,
T T . T
, ,
,
Take this along,| I writ | it for | thy sake,
,
x , , ,
2 ->
And would | have sent it.| Anoth|er word |
Menen||ius,
, 2
, ,
, , 2 ->
I | will not hear | thee speak.| This^man |
Aufid||ius
, 2 ,
, , ,
Was | my beloved | in Rome:| yet thou | beholdst.
AUFIDIUS
You keep a constant temper.
[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS]
FIRST SENATOR
Now sir, is your name Menenius?
SECOND SENATOR
'Tis a spell you see of much power:
You know the way home again.
FIRST SENATOR
Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back?
SECOND SENATOR
What cause do you think I have to swoon?
MENENIUS
I neither care for the world, nor your general: for such things as you, I can
scarce think there's any, you're so 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. I say to you,
as I was said to, Away.
[Exit]
FIRST SENATOR
A noble fellow I warrant him.
SECOND SENATOR
The worthy fellow is our general. He's the rock, the oak not to be
wind-shaken.
[Exeunt]