Coriolanus - Act 5 - Scene 2

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