Volscian Camp.
Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard.
1 Watch.
Stay: whence are you?
2 Watch.
Stand, and go back.
Men.
You guard like men, 'tis well. But, by your leave,
I am an Officer of State, and come
To speak with Coriolanus.
1 Watch.
Whence?
Men.
From Rome.
1 Watch.
You may not pass, you must return: our General
Will no more hear from thence.
2 Watch.
You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, before
You'll speak with Coriolanus.
-- 105 --
Men.
Good my friends,
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.
1 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've 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 virtuous
to lie, as to live chastly. Therefore, go back.
Men.
Pr'ythee, fellow, remember, my name is Menenius;
always factionary of 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.
1 Watch.
You are a Roman, are you?
Men.
I am as thy General is.
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, think to front
his revenges with the easie groans of old women, the
virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied
intercession of such a decay'd Dotard as you seem to
be? can you think to blow out the intended fire your
-- 106 --
city is ready to 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 know I were here, he
would use me with estimation.
1 Watch.
Come, my Captain knows you not.
Men.
I mean, thy General.
1 Watch.
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, 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 estimation;
you shall perceive, that a Jack-gardant cannot office
me from my son Coriolanus; guess but my entertainment
with him; if thou stand'st not i'th' 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 synod about thy particular prosperity,
and love thee no worse than thy old father
Menenius does! Oh my son, my son! thou art preparing
fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench
it. I was hardly mov'd to come to thee; but being
assured, none but my self could move thee, I have
been blown out of our gates with sighs; and conjure
thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary Countrymen.
The good Gods asswage 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, remission lyes
-- 107 --
In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,(38) note
Ingrate Forgetfulness shall prison, 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,
[Gives him a letter.
And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,
I 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 swoon?
Men.
I neither care for the world, nor your General:
for such things as you, I can scarce think there's
any, y'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 what you are, long; and
your misery encrease with your age! I say to you, as
I was said to, Away!—
[Exit.
1 Watch.
A noble fellow, I warrant him.
2 Watch.
The worthy fellow is our General. He's
the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.
[Ex. Watch.
-- 108 --
Re-enter Coriolanus and Aufidius.
Cor.
We will before the Walls of Rome to morrow
Set down our Host. My Partner in this action,
You must report to th' Volscian lords how plainly
I've borne this business.
Auf.
Only their Ends you have respected; stopt
Your ears against the general suit of Rome:
Never admitted private whisper, no,
Not with such friends that thought them sure of you.
Cor.
This last old man,
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
(Tho' I shew'd sow'rly 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've yielded to. Fresh embassie, 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 time 'tis made? I will not—
Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Marcius, with Attendants all in Mourning.
My wife comes foremost, then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of Nature break!
Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate.
What is that curt'sie worth? or those dove's eyes,
Which can make Gods forsworn? I melt, and am not
Of stronger 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 Volscians
-- 109 --
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 same I wore 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,
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 heav'n, that kiss
I carried from thee, Dear; and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er since.—You Gods! I prate;(39) note
-- 110 --
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i'th' earth;
[kneels.
Of thy deep duty more impression shew
Than that of common sons.
Vol.
O stand up blest!
Whilst with no softer cushion than the flint
I kneel before thee, and unproperly
Shew duty as mistaken all the while,
[kneels.
Between the child and parent.
Cor.
What is this?
Your knees to me? to your corrected son?
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillop the stars: then, let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery Sun:
Murd'ring 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 Poplicola,
The moon of Rome; chaste as the isicle,
That's curdled by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's Temple: dear Valeria!—
Vol.
This is a poor epitome of yours,
[shewing young Marcius.
Which by th' interpretation of full time
May shew like all your self.
Cor.
The God of soldiers,
With the consent of supream Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with Nobleness, that thou may'st prove
-- 111 --
To Shame unvulnerable, and stick i'th' wars
Like a great sea-mark, 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 my self,
Are suitors to you.
Cor.
I beseech you, peace:
Or, if you'd ask, remember this before;
The thing, I have forsworn to grant, may never
Be held by you denial. Do not bid me
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate
Again with Rome's Mechanicks. Tell me not,
Wherein I seem unnatural: desire not
T'allay my rages and revenges, with
Your colder reasons.
Vol.
Oh, no more; no more:
You've said, you will not grant us any thing:
For we have nothing else to ask, but That
Which you deny already: yet we will ask,
That if we fail in our request, the Blame
May hang upon your Hardness; therefore hear us.
Cor.
Aufidius, and you Volscians, mark; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private.—Your request?
Vol.
Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment
And state of bodies would bewray what life
We've lead since thy Exile. Think with thy self,
How more unfort'nate than all living women
Are we come hither; since thy sight, which should
Make our Eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts,
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're bound? together with thy victory,
-- 112 --
Whereto we're bound? Alack! or we must lose
The Country, our dear nurse; or else thy person,
Our comfort in the Country. We must find
An eminent calamity, tho' we had
Our wish, which side shou'd win. For either thou
Must, as a foreign Recreant, be led
With manacles along 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 my self, son,
I purpose not to wait on Fortune, 'till
These wars determine: if I can't perswade 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 too,
That brought you forth this Boy, to keep your name
Living to time.
Boy.
He shall not tread on me:
I'll run away till I'm 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've 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
The Volscians whom you serve, you might condemn us,
As poysonous of your Honour. No; our suit
Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volscians
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,
Which thou shalt thereby reap, is such a Name,
Whose repetition will be dogg'd with Curses:
Whose Chronicle thus writ, ‘the man was noble—
-- 113 --
‘But with his last attempt he wip'd it out,
‘Destroy'd his Country, and his name remains
‘To th' ensuing age, abhorr'd.’ Speak to me, son:
Thou hast affected the first strains of honour,
To imitate the graces of the Gods;
To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'th' air,
And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt,(40) note
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;
Perhaps, thy childishness will move him more
Than can our reasons. There's no man in the world
More bound to's mother, yet here he lets me prate
Like one i'th' Stocks. Thou'st never in thy life
Shew'd thy dear mother any courtesie;
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,
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 's sir-name Coriolanus 'longs more pride,
Than pity to our prayers. Down; and 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,
Does reason our petition with more strength
Than thou hast to deny't. Come, let us go:
This fellow had a Volscian to his mother:(41) note
-- 114 --
His wife is in Corioli, and this child
Like him by chance; yet give us our dispatch:
I'm husht, until our City be afire;
And then I'll speak a little.
Cor.
O mother, mother!—
[Holds her by the hands, silent.
What have you done? behold, the heav'ns do ope,
The Gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. Oh, my mother, mother! oh!
You've won a happy victory to Rome:
But for your son, believe it, oh, believe it,
Most dang'rously you have with him prevail'd,
If not most mortal to him. Let it come:—
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 too was mov'd.
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,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you, and pray you
Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife!—
Auf.
I'm glad, thou'st set thy mercy and thy honour
At difference in thee; out of That I'll work
My self a former fortune.
[Aside.
Cor.
Ay, by and by; but we will drink together;
And you shall bear
[To Vol. Virg. &c.
A better witness back than words, which we,
On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd.
Come, enter with us: Ladies, you deserve
-- 115 --
To have a Temple built you: all the swords
In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this Peace.
[Exeunt.
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
