1 Watch. My General cares not for you. Back, I fay, go; left I let forth your half-pint of Blood : that's the utmost of your Having. Back, back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,————

Enter Coriolanus, with Aufidius.

Cor. What's the matter?

---

Men. Now, you companion, I'll fay an errand for you; you shall know now, that I am in eftimation; you fhall perceive, that a Jack-gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus; guess but my entertainment with him; if thou ftand'ft not i'th' ftate of hanging, or of fome death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in fuffering, behold now presently, and fwoon for what's to come upon thee. The glorious Gods fit in hourly fynod about thy particular profperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! Oh my fon, my fon! 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 affured, none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with fighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary Countrymen. The good Gods affuage 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 fervanted to others: though I owe

My revenge properly, remiffion lies

In Volfcian breats. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate Forgetfulnefs fhall poifon, rather

Than Pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone;
Mine ears against your suits are stronger than
Your gates againft my force. Yet, for I loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy fake,

[Gives him a letter.

And

Another word, Menenius,

And would have fent it.
I will not hear thee fpeak.-This man, Aufidius,
Was my belov'd in Rome; yet thou behold'ft-
Auf. You keep a conftant temper.

Manent the Guard, and Menenius.

Exeunt.

I Watch. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 Watch. Tis a Spell, you fee, of much power: you know the way home again.

I Watch. Do you hear, how we are fhent for keeping your Greatnefs back?

2 Watch. What cause do you think, I have to fwoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your General: for fuch things as you, I can scarce think there's any, y'are fo flight. 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 mifery increafe with your age! I fay to you, as I was faid to, Away

[Exit.

I 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-fhaken. [Ex. Watch.

Cor.

Re-enter Coriolanus and Aufidius.

E will before the Walls of Rome to

WE

morrow

Set down our Hoft. My Partner in this action, You must report to th' Volfcian lords, how plainly I've borne this bufinefs.

Auf. Only their Ends you have respected; stopt Your ears against the general fuit of Rome : Never admitted private whisper, no,

Not with fuch friends that thought them fure of you.

Cor. This laft old man,

Whom with a crack'd heart I have fent to Rome,

Lov'd me above the measure of a father;

Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to fend him for whofe old love, I have
(Tho' I fhew'd fourly to him) once more offer'd
The firft conditions; (which they did refufe,
And cannot now accept.) to grace him only,
That thought he could do more a very little
I've yielded to. Fresh embaffy, and suits,
Nor from the State, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Ha! what fhout is this?

[Shout within. Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow, In the fame time 'tis made? I will not

Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Marcius, with Attendants all in Mourning.

My wife comes foremoft, then the honour'd mould Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection! All bond and privilege of nature break!

Let it be virtuous, to be obftinate.

What is that curt'fy worth? or thofe dove's eyes,
Which can make Gods forfworn? I melt, and am not
Of ftronger earth than others: my mother bows,
As if Olympus to a mole-hill fhould

In fupplication nod; and my young boy
Hath an afpect of interceffion, which
Great Nature cries,-Deny not.

Let the Volfcians.

Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never.

Be fuch a gofling to obey inftinct; but ftand.
As if a man were author of himself,

And knew no other kin.

Virg. My lord and huiband!

Cor. Thefe eyes are not the fame I wore in Rome. Virg. The forrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think fo.

Cor. Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my Part, and I am out,

Even to a full difgrace, Beft of my flesh,

Forgive

Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For That, forgive our Romans.-O, a kifs
Long as my exile, fweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous Queen of heav'n, that kifs
I carried from thee, Dear; and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er fince.-You Gods! I
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unfaluted: fink, my knee, i' th' earth; [kneels.
Of thy deep duty more impreffion fhew
Than that of common fons.

Vol. O ftand up bleft!

Whilft with no softer cushion than the flint

I kneel before thee, and unproperly

Shew duty as mistaken all the while
Between the child and parent.

Cor. What is this?

prate;

[kneels

Your knees to me? to your corrected son ?
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillip the stars: then, let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery Sun
Murd'ring impoffibility, to make

What cannot be, flight work.

Vol. Thou art my warrior,

I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?
Cor. The noble fifter of Poplicola,

The moon of Rome; chafte as the ificle,
That's curdled by the froft from pureft fnow,
And hangs on Dian's Temple: dear Valeria!
Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours,

[Shewing young Marcius. Which by the interpretation of full time

May fhew like all yourself.

Cor. The God of foldiers,

With the confent of fupreme Jove, inform

Thy thoughts with Nobleness, that thou may'ft prove To fhame unvulnerable, and ftick i' th' wars

Like a great fea-mark, ftanding every flaw,

And faving thofe that eye thee!

Vol. Your knee, firrah.

Cor. That's my brave boy.

Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself Are fuitors to you.

Cor. I beseech you, peace:

Or, if you'd afk, remember this before;

The thing, I have forfworn to grant, may never
Be held by you denial. Do not bid me

Difmifs my foldiers, or capitulate

Again with Rome's Mechanics. Tell me not,
Wherein I feem unnatural: defire not
T'allay my rages and revenges, with

Your colder reasons.

Vol. Oh, no more; no more :

You've faid, you will not grant us any thing:
For we have nothing else to ask, but That
Which you deny already: yet we will afk,
That if we fail in our requeft, the Blame
May hang upon your Hardnefs; therefore hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volfcians, mark; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private.-Your request ?
Vol. Should we be filent and not speak, our raiment
And flate of bodies would bewray what life
We've led fince thy Exile. Think with thy felf,
How more unfortunate than all living women
Are we come hither; fince thy fight, which should
Make our Eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with
comforts,

Conftrains them weep, and shake with fear and forrow;
Making the mother, wife, and child to fee,
The fon, the hufband, and the father tearing.
His Country's bowels out: and to poor we,
Thine enmity's moft capital; thou barr'ft us
Our prayers to the Gods, which is a comfort
That all but we enjoy. For how can we,
Alas! how can we, for our Country pray,
Whereto we're bound? together with thy victory,
Whereto we're bound? Alack or we must lofe

The