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. 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, Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone. Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee, [Gives a letter. And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold'stAuf. You keep a constant temper. [Exeunt COR. and AUF. 1 G. Now, sir, is your name Menenius? 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power. You know the way home again. 1 G. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back? 2 G. What cause do you think I have to swoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general; for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, 1 "Though I have a peculiar right in revenge, in the power of forgiveness the Volcians are joined." 2 i. e. cause, or because. you are so slight. He that hath a will to die by him- 1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Tent of Coriolanus. Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, and others. Auf. This last old man, Cor. Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow [Shout within. 1 i. e. by his own hands. 2 How plainly is how openly. wwww Enter, in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, lead- My wife comes foremost; then the honored mould Let it be virtuous to be obstinate. What is that curt'sy worth, or those doves' eyes, In supplication nod; and my young boy Great nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volces And knew no other kin. Vir. My lord and husband! Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. Cor. [Kneels. 1 "Virgilia makes a voluntary misinterpretation of her husband's words. He says, 'These eyes are not the same,' meaning that he saw things with other eyes, or other dispositions. She lays hold on the word eyes, to turn his attention on their present appearance.” Of thy deep duty more impression show Vol. I kneel before thee; and unproperly Cor. What is this? Your knees to me? to your corrected son? What cannot be, slight work. Vol. [Kneels. Thou art my warrior; I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady? The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle, Which by the interpretation of full time Cor. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove,3 inform Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou mayst prove To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the war Like a great seamark, standing every flaw.* And saving those that eye thee! Vol. Your knee, sirrah. 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; 1 The hungry beach is the sterile beach. 2 Though the scheme to solicit Coriolanus was originally proposed by Valeria, Plutarch has allotted her no address when she appears with his wife and mother on this occasion. The Poet has followed him. 3 Jupiter was the tutelary god of Rome. 4 A flaw is a violent blast or sudden gust of wind. The things, I have forsworn to grant, may never Again with Rome's mechanics.-Tell me not To allay my rages and revenges, with Your colder reasons. Vol. O, no more, no more! You have said you will not grant us any thing; Are we come hither; since that thy sight, which should row; Making the mother, wife, and child, to see Our wish, which side should win; for either thou With manacles through our streets, or else |