Com. I tell you, he does fit in gold, (1) his eye

Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury
The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him:
'Twas very faintly he said, rise; dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand: What he would do,
He sent in writing after me; what he would not,
(2)Bound with an oath, to yield to his conditions :
So that all hope is vain ;

Unless his noble mother, and his wife,
Who, as I hear, mean to folicit him

For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Volfcian Camp. Enter MENENIUS to the Watch or Guard.

I Watch. Stay: Whence are you?

2 Watch. Stand, and go back.

Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by your leave,

I am an officer of state, and come

To speak with Coriolanus.

I Watch. Whence ?

Men. From Rome.

1 Wat. You may not pass, you must return: our general

Will no more hear from thence.

2 Wat. You'll fee your Rome embrac'd with fire, before

You'll speak with Coriolanus.

Men. Good my friends,

If you have heard your general talk of Rome,
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks,(3)
My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius,

1 Watch. Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name

Is not here passable.

Men. I tell thee, fellow,

Thy general is my lover: I have been

The book of his good acts, whence men have read His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified;

(1) He is inthroned in all the pomp and pride of imperial fplendour. JOH. (2) Here is, I think, a chasm. The speaker's purpose seems to be this: To yield to his conditions is ruin, and better cannot be obtained, fo that all hope is vain. ib. (3) A lot, is here a prize. ib.

For I have ever verify'd my friends(4)
(Of whom he's chief) with all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, fometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a fubtle ground,(5)

I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise
Have almost stamp'd the leafing: Therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.

1 Watch. 'Faith, fir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have utter'd words in your own, you should not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.

Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary of the party of your general.

2 Watch. Howsoever you have been his liar, (as you fay you have) I am one that, telling true under him, must fay, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.

Men. Has he din'd, canst thou tell? for. I would not fpeak with him till after dinner.

I Watch. You are a Roman, are you?
Men. I am as thy general is.

I Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have push'd out of 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 palfy'd interceffion of fuch a decay'd dotard as you feem 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 deceiv'd; therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: You are condemned; our general has fworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

2 Watch. Come, my captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy general.

(4) Shakespeare's mighty talent in painting the manners is especially remarkable in this place. Menenius here, and Polonius in Hamlet, have much of the fame natural character. The difference is only accidental. The one was a fenator in a free ftate; and the other a courtier and minifter to a king; which two circumstances afforded, matter for that inimitable ridicule thrown over the character of Polonius. For the reft, there is an equal complaifance for those they follow; the fame difpofition to be a creature; the fame love of prate; the fame affectation of wisdom, and forwardness to be in business. WARB.

I Watch. My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go; left I let forth your half pint of blood ;-back, that's the utmost of your having :-back. Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,

Enter CORIOLANUS, with AUFIDIUS.

Cor. What's the matter?

Men. 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 gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus: guess, by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i'the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in fuffering: Behold now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee. The glorious Gods fit in hourly synod about thy particular profperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! Oh, my fon, my fon ! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly mov'd to come to thee: but being affured, none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with fighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good Gods afsuage thy wrath, th, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to theeCor. Away!

Men. How! away?

Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are servanted to others: Though I owe

My revenge properly, remiffion lies

In Volscian breasts.(8) That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone.
Mine ears againft your suits are stronger, than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for I lov'd thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy fake,

[Gives him a Letter.

And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius, Was my belov'd in Rome: yet thou behold'stAuf. You keep a constant temper.

[Exeunt.

(8) Though I have a peculiar right in revenge, in the power of-forgive ness the Volfcians are conjoined.

JOH.

Manent the Guard, and MENENIUS.

I Watch. Now, fir, is your name Menenius?
2 Watch. 'Tis a spell, you fee, of much power. You

know the way home again.

I Watch. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back ?(9)

2 Watch. What cause, do you think, I have to swoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general: For fuch things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so flight. He, that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another; let your general do his worst. For you, be what you are, long; and your mifery increase with your age! I say to you, as I was faid to, Away! [Exit.

1 Watch. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 Watch. The worthy fellow is our general : He is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Re-enter CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS.

Cor. We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow
Set down our hoft.-My partner in this action,
You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly
I have born this business.(1)

Auf. Only their ends

You have respected; stopt your ears againft
The general fuit of Rome; never admitted
Private whisper, no, not with such friends
That thought them fure of you.

Cor. This last old man,

Whom with a crack'd heart I have fent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father;
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to fend him: for whose old love, I have
(Though I shew'd fourly to him) once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept: to grace him only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too. Fresh embassies, and suits,

(9) Shent-is brought to destruction. JOHNS.

(1) i. e. How openly, how remotely from artifice or concealment. ibe

Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to. -Ha! what shout is this?

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.-

[Shout within.

Enter VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, VALERIA, young MAR-
CIUS, with Attendants, all in mourning.

My wife comes foremost: then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection !
All bond and privilege of nature, break !
Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate.- [VIRG. courtefies.
What is that curt'sy worth? or those dove's eyes,
Which can make Gods forsworn ?-I melt, and am not
Of stronger earth than others. --My mother bows;

[VOLUMNIA bows.

As if Olympus on a mole-hill should
In fupplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an afpect of interceffion, which

Great Nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volscians
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never

Be fuch a gofling to obey instinct; but stand
As if a man were author of himself,

And knew no other kin.

Vir. My lord and husband !

Cor. These eyes are not the fame I wore in Rome..
Vir. The forrow, that delivers us thus chang'd,

Makes you think so.[2]

Cor. Like a dull actor now,
I have forgot my part, and I am out,
Even to a full disgrace.-Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For that, Forgive our Romans.-O, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now, by the jealous queen of heaven,[3] that kiss
I carried from thee, dear, and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er fince.-You Gods! I prate,

[2] Virgilia makes a voluntary mifinterpretation of her husband's words. He says, 'These eyes are not the same,' meaning, that he saw things with other eyes, or other dispositions. She lays hold on the word eyes, to turn his attention on their present appearance. JOHNS.

[3] That is, by Juno, the guardian of marriage, and confequently the avenger of connubial perfidy.

ib