ACT V
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
 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.

 [Exeunt]




 CORIOLANUS


ACT V