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 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 easy1 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,

Enter CORIOLANUS and 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 estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack3 guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus; guess, but by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i' the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering. Behold now presently, and swoon

1 i. e. slight, inconsiderable.

2 Dotard. 3 Equivalent to Jack in office.

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,
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 loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

And would have sent it.

[Gives a letter. Another word, Menenius,

I will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold'st-
Auf. 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 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.

1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him.

2 G. The worthy fellow is our general. He is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Tent of Coriolanus.

Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, and others.

Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow
Set down our host.-My partner in this action,
You must report to the Volcian lords, how plainly2
I have borne this business.

Auf.
Only their ends
You have respected; stopped your ears against
The general suit of Rome; never admitted
A private whisper, no, not with such friends
That thought them sure of you.

This last old man,

Cor.
Whom with a cracked heart I have sent to Rome,

Loved 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 showed sourly to him) once more offered
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 to. Fresh embassies, and suits,
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Ha! what shout is this?

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

1 i. e. by his own hands.

[Shout within.

2 How plainly is how openly.

Enter, in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, lead-
ing young MARCIUS, VALERIA, and Attendants.
My wife comes foremost; then the honored mould
Wherein this trunk was framed, 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 doves' eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn?—I melt, and am not
Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows;
As if Olympus to a molehill 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.

Vir.

My lord and husband!

Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus changed, Makes you think so.1

Cor.
Like a dull actor now,
I have forgot my part, and I am out,
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 my true lip
Hath virgined it e'er since. You gods! I
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted. Sink, my knee, i' the earth;

prate,

[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.”—Johnson.

Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sons.

Vol.

O, stand up blessed! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,

I kneel before thee; and unproperly

Show duty, as mistaken all the while
Between the child and parent.

Cor.

[Kneels.

What is this?

Your knees to me? to your corrected son?
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach1
Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun;
Murdering impossibility to make
What cannot be, slight work.

Vol.

Thou art my warrior;
I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?
Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,

The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle,
That's curded by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's temple. Dear Valeria!2
Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours,
Which by the interpretation of full time
May show like all yourself.

Cor.

The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, 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.