SCENE II.
The Volscian Camp before Rome. The Guards at their Stations.
Enter to them, Menenius.
1 G.
Stay! Whence are you?
2 G.
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 G.
From whence?
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 blanks6 note,
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 lover7 note: I have been
-- 250 --
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified;
For I have ever verified my friends,
(Of whom he's chief) with all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer: 11Q0890 nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,
I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise
Have almost stamp'd the leasing8 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 chastely. Therefore, go back.
Men.
Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius,
always factionary on the party of your general.
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, canst 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 groans of old women, the virginal
palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession
of such a decayed dotant 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.
-- 251 --
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.
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 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: guess, but 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 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 properly, my remission lies
In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
-- 252 --
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 thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,
[Gives a Paper.
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 Coriolanus and Aufidius.
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 shent9 note for keeping
your greatness back?
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 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 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.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
