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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. 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 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

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 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.

AUFIDIUS.

You keep a constant temper.

Exeunt CORIOLANUS and Aufidius

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, 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 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's the rock, the

oak not to be wind-shaken. Exeunt

SCENE III. The tent of CORIOLANUS

Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, and others

CORIOLANUS.

We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow

Set down our host. My partner in this action,

You must report to th' Volscian lords how plainly

I have borne this business.

AUFIDIUS.

Only their ends

You have respected; stopp'd your ears against

The general suit of Rome; never admitted

A private whisper- no, not with such friends

That thought them sure of you.

CORIOLANUS.

This last old man,

Whom with crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,

Lov'd me above the measure of a father;

Nay, godded me indeed. Their latest refuge

Was to send him; for whose old love I have-

Though I show'd sourly to him- once more offer'd

The first conditions, which they did refuse

And cannot now accept. To grace him only,

That thought he could do more, a very little

I have yielded to; fresh embassies and suits,

Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter

Will I lend ear to. [Shout within] Ha! what shout is this?

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow

In the same time 'tis made? I will not.

Enter, in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, VALERIA,

YOUNG MARCIUS, with attendants

My wife comes foremost, then the honour'd mould

Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand

The grandchild to her blood. But out, affection!

All bond and privilege of nature, break!

Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.

What is that curtsy worth? or those doves' eyes,

Which can make gods forsworn? I melt, and am not

Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows,

As if Olympus to a molehill should

In supplication nod; and my young boy

Hath an aspect of intercession which

Great nature cries 'Deny not.' Let the Volsces

Plough Rome and harrow Italy; I'll never

Be such