SCENE II.
A 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.
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,
-- 196 --
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
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.
-- 197 --
Men.
Sirrah, if thy captain knew 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 champion, 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
In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,
-- 198 --
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,
[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 th' 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.
[Exit Watch.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
