First Sen. ^note
Stay: whence are you? ^note

Sec. Sen. ^note
Stand, and go ^note back ^note.

Men.
You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave,
I am an officer of state, and come
To speak with Coriolanus. ^note

First Sen.
From whence? ^note

Men.
From Rome.

First Sen.
You may not pass, you must return: our general
Will no more hear from thence ^note. ^note

Sec. Sen.
You'll see your Rome embraced 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 blanks ^note
My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius.

First Sen.
Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name
Is not here passable.

Men.
I tell thee, fellow ^note,

Thy general is my lover: I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparallel'd haply ^note amplified;
For I have ever verified ^note my friends,
Of whom he's chief, with ^note all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,
I have ^note tumbled past the throw, and in his praise
Have almost stamp'd the leasing: therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.

First Sen.

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 chastely. Therefore go back.

Men.

Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on ^note the party of your general.

Sec. Sen.

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.

First Sen.

You are a Roman, are you?

Men.

I am, as ^note thy general is.

First Sen.

Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out ^note 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 ^note groans of old women, the virginal palms ^note of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant ^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 ^note captain knew ^note I were here, he would use me with estimation ^note.

Sec. Sen. ^note

Come, my captain knows you not.

Men.

I mean, thy general.

First Sen.

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. ^note

Men.

Nay, but, fellow, fellow,—