TPTT The Tragedy of Coriolanus: ACT V
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
SCENE I. Rome. A public place.
SCENE II. Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome. Two Sentinels on guard.
SCENE III. The tent of Coriolanus.
SCENE IV. Rome. A public place.
SCENE V. The same. A street near the gate.
SCENE VI. Antium. A public place.
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SCENE II. Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome. 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
5     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
10    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,
15    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
20    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,
25    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
30    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
35    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
40    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
45    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
50    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
55    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
60    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:
65    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
70    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!
75    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
80    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
85    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,
90    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

95    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
100   '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
105   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
110   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.
Exeunt
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