William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (508 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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LIEUTENANT
Yet I wish, sir
I mean for your particular—you had not
Joined in commission with him, but either
Have borne the action of yourself or else
To him had left it solely.
Joined in commission with him, but either
Have borne the action of yourself or else
To him had left it solely.
AUFIDIUS
I understand thee well, and be thou sure,
When he shall come to his account, he knows not
What I can urge against him. Although it seems—
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To th’ vulgar eye—that he bears all things fairly
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword, yet he hath left undone
That which shall break his neck or hazard mine
Whene’er we come to our account.
When he shall come to his account, he knows not
What I can urge against him. Although it seems—
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To th’ vulgar eye—that he bears all things fairly
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword, yet he hath left undone
That which shall break his neck or hazard mine
Whene’er we come to our account.
LIEUTENANT
Sir, I beseech you, think you he’ll carry Rome?
AUFIDIUS
All places yields to him ere he sits down,
And the nobility of Rome are his.
The senators and patricians love him too.
The tribunes are no soldiers, and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty
To expel him thence. I think he’ll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them, but he could not
Carry his honours even. Whether ‘twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgement,
To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From th’ casque to th’ cushion, but commanding peace
Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controlled the war: but one of these—
As he hath spices of them all—not all,
For I dare so far free him—made him feared,
So hated, and so banished. But he has a merit
To choke it in the utt’rance. So our virtues
Lie in th‘interpretation of the time,
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair
T’extol what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire, one nail one nail;
Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let’s away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,
Thou art poor’st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
And the nobility of Rome are his.
The senators and patricians love him too.
The tribunes are no soldiers, and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty
To expel him thence. I think he’ll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them, but he could not
Carry his honours even. Whether ‘twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgement,
To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From th’ casque to th’ cushion, but commanding peace
Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controlled the war: but one of these—
As he hath spices of them all—not all,
For I dare so far free him—made him feared,
So hated, and so banished. But he has a merit
To choke it in the utt’rance. So our virtues
Lie in th‘interpretation of the time,
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair
T’extol what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire, one nail one nail;
Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let’s away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,
Thou art poor’st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
Exeunt
Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius and Brutus, the two tribunes, with others
MENENIUS
No, I’ll not go. You hear what he hath said
Which was sometime his general, who loved him
In a most dear particular. He called me father,
But what o’ that? (To the tribunes) Go, you that
banished him.
A mile before his tent fall down, and knee
The way into his mercy. Nay, if he coyed
To hear Cominius speak, I’ll keep at home.
Which was sometime his general, who loved him
In a most dear particular. He called me father,
But what o’ that? (To the tribunes) Go, you that
banished him.
A mile before his tent fall down, and knee
The way into his mercy. Nay, if he coyed
To hear Cominius speak, I’ll keep at home.
COMINIUS
He would not seem to know me.
MENENIUS (
to the tribunes
) Do you hear?
to the tribunes
) Do you hear?
COMINIUS
Yet one time he did call me by my name.
I urged our old acquaintance and the drops
That we have bled together. ‘Coriolanus’
He would not answer to, forbade all names.
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forged himself a name o’th’ fire
Of burning Rome.
I urged our old acquaintance and the drops
That we have bled together. ‘Coriolanus’
He would not answer to, forbade all names.
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forged himself a name o’th’ fire
Of burning Rome.
MENENIUS (
to the tribunes
)
to the tribunes
)
Why, so! You have made good work.
A pair of tribunes that have wracked fair Rome
To make coals cheap—a noble memory!
A pair of tribunes that have wracked fair Rome
To make coals cheap—a noble memory!
COMINIUS
I minded him how royal ’twas to pardon
When it was less expected. He replied
It was a bare petition of a state
To one whom they had punished.
When it was less expected. He replied
It was a bare petition of a state
To one whom they had punished.
MENENIUS Very well.
Could he say less?
COMINIUS
I offered to awaken his regard
For’s private friends. His answer to me was
He could not stay to pick them in a pile
Of noisome, musty chaff. He said ‘twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt
And still to nose th’offence.
For’s private friends. His answer to me was
He could not stay to pick them in a pile
Of noisome, musty chaff. He said ‘twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt
And still to nose th’offence.
MENENIUS
For one poor grain or two?
I am one of those. His mother, wife, his child,
And this brave fellow too—we are the grains.
(
To the tribunes
) You are the musty chaff, and you are
smelt
Above the moon. We must be burnt for you.
And this brave fellow too—we are the grains.
(
To the tribunes
) You are the musty chaff, and you are
smelt
Above the moon. We must be burnt for you.
SICINIUS
Nay, pray be patient. If you refuse your aid
In this so never-needed help, yet do not
Upbraid’s with our distress. But sure, if you
Would be your country’s pleader, your good tongue,
More than the instant army we can make,
Might stop our countryman.
In this so never-needed help, yet do not
Upbraid’s with our distress. But sure, if you
Would be your country’s pleader, your good tongue,
More than the instant army we can make,
Might stop our countryman.
MENENIUS
No, I’ll not meddle.
SICINIUS
Pray you go to him.
MENENIUS
What should I do?
BRUTUS
Only make trial what your love can do
For Rome towards Martius.
For Rome towards Martius.
MENENIUS
Well, and say that Martius return me,
As Cominius is returned, unheard—what then?
But as a discontented friend, grief-shot
With his unkindness? Say’t be so?
As Cominius is returned, unheard—what then?
But as a discontented friend, grief-shot
With his unkindness? Say’t be so?
SICINIUS
Yet your good will
Must have that thanks from Rome after the measure
As you intended well.
As you intended well.
MENENIUS
I’ll undertake’t.
I think he’ll hear me. Yet to bite his lip
And ’hmh’ at good Cominius much unhearts me.
He was not taken well, he had not dined.
The veins unfilled, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we have stuffed
These pipes and these conveyances of our blood
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts. Therefore I’ll watch him
Till he be dieted to my request,
And then I’ll set upon him.
And ’hmh’ at good Cominius much unhearts me.
He was not taken well, he had not dined.
The veins unfilled, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we have stuffed
These pipes and these conveyances of our blood
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts. Therefore I’ll watch him
Till he be dieted to my request,
And then I’ll set upon him.
BRUTUS
You know the very road into his kindness,
And cannot lose your way.
And cannot lose your way.
MENENIUS
Good faith, I’ll prove him.
Speed how it will, I shall ere long have knowledge
Of my success.
Of my success.
Exit
COMINIUS He’ll never hear him.
SICINIUS Not?
COMINIUS
I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye
Red as ‘twould burn Rome, and his injury
The jailer to his pity. I kneeled before him;
’Twas very faintly he said ‘Rise’, dismissed me
Thus with his speechless hand. What he would do
He sent in writing after me, what he would not,
Bound with an oath to hold to his conditions.
So that all hope is vain unless his noble mother
And his wife, who as I hear mean to solicit him
For mercy to his country. Therefore let’s hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.
Red as ‘twould burn Rome, and his injury
The jailer to his pity. I kneeled before him;
’Twas very faintly he said ‘Rise’, dismissed me
Thus with his speechless hand. What he would do
He sent in writing after me, what he would not,
Bound with an oath to hold to his conditions.
So that all hope is vain unless his noble mother
And his wife, who as I hear mean to solicit him
For mercy to his country. Therefore let’s hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.
Exeunt
5.2Enter Menenius to the Watch or guard
FIRST WATCHMAN Stay. Whence are you?
SECOND WATCHMAN 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 WATCHMAN From whence?
MENENIUS
From Rome.
FIRST WATCHMAN You may not pass, you must return.
Our general will no more hear from thence.
SECOND WATCHMAN
You’ll see your Rome embraced with fire before
You’ll speak with Coriolanus.
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 touched your ears. It is Menenius.
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks
My name hath touched your ears. It is Menenius.
FIRST WATCHMAN
Be it so; go back. The virtue of your name
Is not here passable.
Is not here passable.
MENENIUS I tell thee, fellow,
Thy general is my lover. I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparalleled happily 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 stamped the leasing. Therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparalleled happily 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 stamped the leasing. Therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.
FIRST WATCHMAN 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 WATCHMAN 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 WATCHMAN You are a Roman, are you?
MENENIUS I am as thy general is.
FIRST WATCHMAN 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.
FIRST WATCHMAN Come, my captain knows you not.
MENENIUS I mean thy general.
FIRST WATCHMAN 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 with Aufidius
CORIOLANUS What’s the matter?
MENENIUS (
to First Watchman
) 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 stand‘st not i’th’ 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! (
Weeping
) 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 our 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!
to First Watchman
) 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 stand‘st not i’th’ 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! (
Weeping
) 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 our 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,
And would have sent it. Another word, Menenius,
I will not hear thee speak.—This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome; yet thou behold’st.
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,
He gives him a letter
And would have sent 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 WATCHMAN Now, sir, is your name Menenius?
SECOND WATCHMAN ’Tis a spell, you see, of much power.
You know the way home again.
FIRST WATCHMAN Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back?
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