Cor. The noble sister of Publicola, Cor. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou mayst prove To shame invulnerable, and stick i' the wars Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,* And saving those that eye thee! Vol. Your knee, Sirrah. Cor. That's my brave boy. Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you. Cor. I beseech you, peace: Or, if you'd ask, remember this before; The things, I have forsworn to grant, may never Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate Again with Rome's mechanics :-Tell me not To allay my rages and revenges, with Your colder reasons. Vol. O, no more, no more! You have said, you will not grant us anything; The son, the husband, and the father, tearing Whereto we are bound; together with thy victory, Our wish, which side should win for either thou * Gust. + Betray. With manacles thorough our streets, or else These wars determine:* if I cannot persuade thee Vir. Ay, and on mine, That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name Boy. He shall not tread on me; I'll run away, till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. I have sat too long. Vol. Nay go not from us thus. If it were that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy The Volces whom you serve, you might condemn us, As poisonous of your honour: No; our suit Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volces May say, This mercy we have show'd; the Romans, For making up this peace! Thou know'st, great son, To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air, When she (poor hen !) fond of no second brood, Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee, [Rising. That thou restrain'st from me the duty, which Like him by chance:-Yet give us our despatch: And then I'll speak a little. Cor. O, mother, mother! [Holding VOLUM. by the hands, silent. What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! Auf, I was moved withal. Cor. I dare be sworn, you were: And, Sir, it is no little thing, to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good Sir, I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you, Auf. I am glad, thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour [Aside. [The ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS. Cor. Ay, by-and-by; [To VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, &c. But we will drink together; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd. Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you: all the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. SCENE IV-Rome. A public place. Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS. [Exeunt. Men. See you yond' coign‡ o' the Capitol: yond' corner stone? Sic. Why, what of that? Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his * Argue for. + I. e. my former. * Angle. mother, may prevail with him. But I say, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution. Sic. Is't possible, that so short a time can alter the condition of a man? Men. There is differency between a grub, and a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing. Sic. He loved his mother dearly. Men. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tiger; that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you. Sic. The gods be good unto us! Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house; Enter another MESSENGER. Sic. What's the news? Mess. Good news, good news;-The ladies have prevail'd, The Volces are dislodged, and Marcius gone: A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins. Sic. Friend, Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain ? Mess. As certain as I know the sun is fire: Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it? Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide, As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you; [Trumpets and Hautboys sounded, and Drums beaten, The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, Men. This is good news: I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia [Shouting again. A sea and land full: You have pray'd well to-day; *Stay but for. + Chair of state. To resemble. This morning, for ten thousand of your throats [Shouting and Music. Sic. First, the gods bless you for their tidings: next, Accept my thankfulness. Mess. Sir, we have all Great cause to give great thanks. Sic. They are near the city? Mess. Almost at point to enter. Sic. We will meet them, and help the joy. [Going. Enter the Ladies, accompanied by SENATORS, PATRICIANS, and People. They pass over the Stage. 1 Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome: Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them: Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius, Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; Cry, Welcome, ladies, welcome !- All. Welcome, ladies! Welcome! [A flourish with Drums and Trumpets. Exeunt. SCENE V-Antium. A Public Place. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants. Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here: [Exeunt Attendants. Enter Three or Four CONSPIRATORS of AUFIDIUS's Faction. Most welcome! 1 Con. How is it with our general? Auf. Even so, As with a man by his own alms empoison'd, And with his charity slain. 2 Con. Most noble Sir, If you do hold the same intent wherein You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you Of your great danger. Auf. Sir, I cannot tell; We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst "Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. Auf. I know it; And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I raised him, and I pawn'd Mine honour for his truth: Who being so heighten'd, He bow'd his nature, never known before |