Two Sentinels on guard.
Enter to them, MENENIUS First Senator Stay: whence are you? Second Senator Stand, and go back. MENENIUS You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave, I am an officer of state, and come To speak with Coriolanus. First Senator From whence? MENENIUS From Rome. First Senator You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence. Second Senator You'll see your Rome embraced with fire before You'll speak with Coriolanus. MENENIUS Good my friends, If you have heard your general talk of Rome, And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks, My name hath touch'd your ears it is Menenius. First Senator Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name Is not here passable. MENENIUS I tell thee, fellow, The general is my lover: I have been The book of his good acts, whence men have read His name 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: 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 leasing: therefore, fellow, I must have leave to pass. First Senator 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 Senator 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, canst thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner. First Senator You are a Roman, are you? MENENIUS I am, as thy general is. First Senator 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 Senator Come, my captain knows you not. MENENIUS I mean, thy general. First Senator 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 and 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 standest 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.
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 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 loved thee, Take this along; I writ it for thy sake Gives a letter And would have rent 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.
Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS First Senator Now, sir, is your name Menenius? Second Senator 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the way home again. First Senator Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back? Second Senator What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? MENENIUS I neither care for the world nor your general: for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, ye'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 Senator A noble fellow, I warrant him. Second Senator The worthy fellow is our general: he's the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.
