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 back3 note.
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.
From whence4 note?
Men.
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, before
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 to blanks5 note
,
-- 199 --
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 lover6 note: I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read7 note
His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified;
For I have ever verified my friends,
(Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity8 note
-- 200 --
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground9 note
,
I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise
Have, almost, stamp'd the leasing1 note
: 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.
Men.
Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is
Menenius, always factionary on the party of your
general.
-- 201 --
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 groans2 note
of old women,
the virginal palms of your daughters3 note
, or with
the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant4 note
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.
-- 202 --
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 companion5 note, I'll say an errand
for you; you shall know now that I am in estimation;
you shall perceive that a Jack guardant6 note cannot
office me from my son Coriolanus: guess, but
by my entertainment with him7 note
, 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 for what's to come
upon thee.—The glorious gods sit in hourly synod8 note
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
-- 203 --
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 properly9 note
, 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 thee1 note
,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,
[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'st—
Auf.
You keep a constant temper.
[Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufid.
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 shent2 note
for keeping
your greatness back?
-- 204 --
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, you are so slight. He that hath a will
to die by himself3 note, 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.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
