Coriolanus

Act VScene II

An Advanced post of the Volscian camp before Rome

Enter Menenius to the Watch, or Guard.

First Watch

Stay! Whence are you?

Second Watch

Stand, and go back.

Menenius

You guard like men; ’tis well. But by your leave,I am an officer of state and comeTo speak with Coriolanus.

First Watch

From whence?

Menenius

From Rome.

First Watch

You may not pass; you must return. Our generalWill no more hear from thence.

Second Watch

You’ll see your Rome embraced with fire beforeYou’ll speak with Coriolanus.

Menenius

Good my friends,If you have heard your general talk of RomeAnd of his friends there, it is lots to blanksMy name hath touched your ears. It is Menenius.

First Watch

Be it so; go back. The virtue of your nameIs not here passable.

Menenius

I tell thee, fellow,Thy general is my lover. I have beenThe book of his good acts, whence men have readHis fame unparalleled happily amplified;For I have ever verified my friends—Of whom he’s chief—with all the size that verityWould without lapsing suffer. Nay, sometimes,Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praiseHave almost stamped the leasing. Therefore, fellow,I must have leave to pass.

First Watch

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.

Menenius

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

Second 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.

Menenius

Has he dined, can’st thou tell? For I would not speak with him till after dinner.

First Watch

You are a Roman, are you?

Menenius

I am, as thy general is.

First Watch

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.

Menenius

Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

Second Watch

Come, my captain knows you not.

Menenius

I mean thy general.

First 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!

Menenius

Nay, but fellow, fellow—

Enter Coriolanus with Aufidius.

Coriolanus

What’s the matter?

Menenius

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’ 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.

To Coriolanus.

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.

Coriolanus

Away!

Menenius

How? Away?

Coriolanus

Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairsAre servanted to others. Though I oweMy revenge properly, my remission liesIn Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison ratherThan pity note how much. Therefore begone.Mine ears against your suits are stronger thanYour gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,

He gives Menenius a paper.

And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,I will not hear thee speak.—This man, Aufidius,Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st.

Aufidius

You keep a constant temper.

They exit.

The Guard and Menenius remain.

First Watch

Now, sir, is your name Menenius?

Second Watch

’Tis a spell, you see, of much power. You know the way home again.

First Watch

Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your Greatness back?

Second Watch

What cause do you think I have to swoon?

Menenius

I neither care for th’ world nor your general. For such things as you, I can scarce think there’s any, you’re 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.

First Watch

A noble fellow, I warrant him.

Second Watch

The worthy fellow is our general. He is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.

Exeunt.