SCENE II.
The Volcian 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,
-- 474 --
I am an officer of state, and come
To speak with Coriolanus.
1 Watch.
From 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.
Men.
Good my friends,
If you have heard your general talk of Rome,
And of his friends there, it is 9 notelots 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, hapily, amplified;
1 note
For I have ever verify'd my friends,
-- 475 --
(Of whom he's chief) with all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground2 note
,
I have 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
-- 476 --
Menenius, always factionary on 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, can'st 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 easy groans of old women,
3 note
the virginal palms of your daughters, or with
-- 477 --
the palsy'd intercession of such a decay'd dotant4 note as
you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended
-- 478 --
fire your 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 knew I were here, he
would use me with estimation.
2 Watch.
Come, my captain knows you not.
Men.
I mean, thy general.
1 Watch.
My general cares not for you. 5 note
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,—
-- 479 --
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 guardant cannot office
me from my son Coriolanus: 6 note
guess, 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 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 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: 7 note
Though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lyes
In Volcian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
-- 480 --
Than pity note how much.—Therefore, be gone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger, than
Your gates against my force. Yes, for I lov'd 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 8 note
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, 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 Watch.
A noble fellow, I warrant him.
2 Watch.
The worthy fellow is our general: He is
the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.
[Exeunt.
-- 481 --
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
