3208He was not taken well, he had not din'd,

3209The Veines vnfill'd, our blood is cold, and then

3210We powt vpon the Morning, are vnapt

3211To giue or to forgiue; but when we haue stufft

3212These Pipes, and these Conueyances of our blood

3213With Wine and Feeding, we haue suppler Soules

3214Then in our Priest-like Fasts: therefore Ile watch him

3215Till he be dieted to my request,

3216And then Ile set vpon him.

3217Bru. You know the very rode into his kindnesse,

3218And cannot lose your way.

3219Mene. Good faith Ile proue him,

3220Speed how it will. I shall ere long, haue knowledge

3221Of my successe. Exit.

3222Com. Hee'l neuer heare him.

3223Sicin. Not.

3224Com. I tell you, he doe's sit in Gold, his eye

3225Red as 'twould burne Rome: and his Iniury

3226The Gaoler to his pitty. I kneel'd before him,

3227'Twas very faintly he said Rise: dismist me

3228Thus with his speechlesse hand. What he would do

3229He sent in writing after me: what he would not,

3230Bound with an Oath to yeeld to his conditions:

3231So that all hope is vaine, vnlesse his Noble Mother,

3232And his Wife, who (as I heare) meane to solicite him

3233For mercy to his Countrey: therefore let's hence,

3234And with our faire intreaties hast them on. Exeunt

32361. Wat. Stay: whence are you.

32372. Wat. Stand, and go backe.

3238Me. You guard like men, 'tis well. But by your leaue,

3239I am an Officer of State, & come to speak with Coriolanus

32401 From whence? Mene. From Rome.

32411 You may not passe, you must returne: our Generall

3242will no more heare from thence.

32432 You'l see your Rome embrac'd with fire, before

3244You'l speake with Coriolanus.

3245Mene. Good my Friends,

3246If you haue heard your Generall talke of Rome,

3247And of his Friends there, it is Lots to Blankes,

3248My name hath touch't your eares: it is Menenius.

32491 Be it so, go back: the vertue of your name,

3250Is not heere passable.

3251Mene. I tell thee Fellow,

3252Thy Generall is my Louer: I haue beene

3253The booke of his good Acts, whence men haue read

3254His Fame vnparalell'd, happely amplified:

3255For I haue euer verified my Friends,

3256(Of whom hee's cheefe) with all the size that verity

3257Would without lapsing suffer: Nay, sometimes,

3258Like to a Bowle vpon a subtle ground

3259I haue tumbled past the throw: and in his praise

3260Haue (almost) stampt the Leasing. Therefore Fellow,

3261I must haue leaue to passe.

32621 Faith Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalfe,

3263as you haue vttered words in your owne, you should not

3264passe heere: no, though it were as vertuous to lye, as to

3265liue chastly. Therefore go backe.

3266Men. Prythee fellow, remember my name is Menenius,

3267alwayes factionary on the party of your Generall.

32682 Howsoeuer you haue bin his Lier, as you say you

3269haue, I am one that telling true vnder him, must say you

3270cannot passe. Therefore go backe.

3271Mene. Ha's he din'd can'st thou tell? For I would not

3272speake with him, till after dinner.

32731 You are a Roman, are you?

3274Mene. I am as thy Generall is.

32751 Then you should hate Rome, as he do's. Can you,

3276when you haue pusht out your gates, the very Defender

3277of them, and in a violent popular ignorance, giuen your

3278enemy your shield, thinke to front his reuenges with the

3279easie groanes of old women, the Virginall Palms of your

3280daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a de-

3281cay'd Dotant as you seeme to be? Can you think to blow

3282out the intended fire, your City is ready to flame in, with

3283such weake breath as this? No, you are deceiu'd, therfore

3284backe to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are

3285condemn'd, our Generall has sworne you out of repreeue

3286and pardon.

3287Mene. Sirra, if thy Captaine knew I were heere,

3288He would vse me with estimation.

32891 Come, my Captaine knowes you not.

3290Mene. I meane thy Generall.

32911 My Generall cares not for you. Back I say, go: least

3292I let forth your halfe pinte of blood. Backe, that's the vt-

3293most of your hauing, backe.

3294Mene. Nay but Fellow, Fellow.

3296Corio. What's the matter?

3297Mene. Now you Companion: Ile say an arrant for you:

3298you shall know now that I am in estimation: you shall

3299perceiue, that a Iacke gardant cannot office me from my

3300Son Coriolanus, guesse but my entertainment with him: if

3301thou stand'st not i'th state of hanging, or of some death

3302more long in Spectatorship, and crueller in suffering, be-

3303hold now presently, and swoond for what's to come vpon

3304thee. The glorious Gods sit in hourely Synod about thy

3305particular prosperity, and loue thee no worse then thy old

3306Father Menenius do's. O my Son, my Son! thou art pre-

3307paring fire for vs: looke thee, heere's water to quench it.

3308I was hardly moued to come to thee: but beeing assured

3309none but my selfe could moue thee, I haue bene blowne

3310out of your Gates with sighes: and coniure thee to par-

3311don Rome, and thy petitionary Countrimen. The good

3312Gods asswage thy wrath, and turne the dregs of it, vpon

3313this Varlet heere: This, who like a blocke hath denyed

3314my accesse to thee.

3315Corio. Away.

3316Mene. How? Away?

3317Corio. Wife, Mother, Child, I know not. My affaires

3318Are Seruanted to others: Though I owe

3319My Reuenge properly, my remission lies

3320In Volcean brests. That we haue beene familiar,

3321Ingrate forgetfulnesse shall poison rather

3322Then pitty: Note how much, therefore be gone.

3323Mine eares against your suites, are stronger then

3324Your gates against my force. Yet for I loued thee,

3325Take this along, I writ it for thy sake,

3326And would haue sent it. Another word Menenius,

3327I will not heare thee speake. This man Auffidius

3328Was my belou'd in Rome: yet thou behold'st.

3329Auffid. You keepe a constant temper. Exeunt

33311 Now sir, is your name Menenius?

33322 'Tis a spell you see of much power:

3333You know the way home againe.

33341 Do you heare how wee are shent for keeping your

3335greatnesse backe?

33362 What cause do you thinke I haue to swoond?

3337Menen. I neither care for th' world, nor your General:

3338for such things as you. I can scarse thinke ther's any, y'are

3339so slight. He that hath a will to die by himselfe, feares it