434

T'expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome (25)
As is the Ofprey to the fish, who takes it
By fovereignty of Nature. First, he was
A noble fervant to them, but he could not
Carry his honours even; whether pride,
(Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man) whether defect of judgment,
To fail in the difpofing of thofe chances,
Whereof he was the Lord) or whether nature,
(Not to be other than one thing; not moving
From th' cask to th' cushion; but commanding peace
Even with the fame aufterity and garb,

As he controll'd the war ;) But one of these,
(As he hath spices of them all) not all,
For I dare fo far free him, made him fear'd,
So hated, and fo banish'd; but he has merit
To choak it in the utt'rance: fo our virtues
Lie in th' interpretation of the time;
And power, unto itself moft commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evideņt, as a chair

T' extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail; Right's by right fouler, ftrengths by ftrengths do fail. Come, let's away; when, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou'rt poor'ft of all, then shortly art thou mine. [Exe. I think, he'll be to Rome

(25)

As is the Afpray to the Fish, who takes it

By Sov reingty of Nature.]

Though one's Search might have been very vain to find any fuch Word as Afpray, yet I eafily imagin'd, fomething must be couch'd under the Corruption, in its Nature deftructive to Fish, and that made a Pray of them. And this Sufpicion led me to the Discovery. The Ofprey is a Species of the Eagle, of a ftrong make, that haunts the Sea and Lakes for its Food, and altogether preys on Fish. But how will Coriolanus be to Rome, as the Ofprey to the Fish.

be'll take it

By Sov'reignty of Nature?

Shakespear, 'tis well known, has a Peculiarity in thinking; and, wherever he is acquainted with Nature, is fure to allude to her most uncommon Effects and Operations. I am very apt to imagine, therefore, that the Poet meant, Coriolanus would take Rome by the very Opinion and Terror of his Name, as Fish are taken by the Osprey, thro' an instinctive Fear they have of him.

ACT

ACT

A C T V.

SCENE, a publick Place in Rome.

Enter Menenius, Cominius, Sicinius, Brutus, with others.

MENENIUS.

No, I'll not go: you hear, what he hath faid,

Which was fometime his general; who lov'd him
In a moft dear particular. He call'd me father:
But what of that? go you, that banish'd him,
A mile before his tent, fall down, and knee-
The way into his mercy: nay, if he coy'd
To hear Cominius fpeak, I'll keep at home.
Com. He would not feem to know me.
Men. Do you hear?

Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name :
I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not anfwer to; forbad all names;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
'Till he had forg'd himself name o'th' fire
Of burning Rome.

Men. Why, fo: you've made a good work:
A pair of Tribunes, that have rack'd for Rome,
To make coals cheap: a noble memory:

Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon
When it was leaft expected. He reply'd,
It was a bare petition of a State
To one whom they had punish'd.
Men. Very well, could he fay lefs?
Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard
T 2

For's

For's private friends. His anfwer to me was,
He could not ftay to pick them in a pile
Of noisom musty chaff. He faid, 'twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt,
And ftill to nofe th' offence.

Men. For one poor grain or two?

I'm one of those his mother, wife, his child,
And this brave fellow too, we are the grains;
You are the mufty chaff; and you are smelt
We must be burnt for

Above the moon.

you.

Sic. Nay, pray, be patient; if you refufe your aid In this fo never-needed help, yet do not

Upbraid us with our diftrefs. But, sure, if you
Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,
More than the inftant army we can make,
Might ftop our country-man.

Men. No: I'll not meddle.
Sic. Pray you, go to him.

Men. What should I do?

Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome, tow'rds Marcius.

Men. Well, and fay, that Marcius
Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard (what then?)

But as a difcontented friend, grief-fhot
With his unkindness. Say't be fo?
Sic. Yet your good will

Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure
As you intended well.

Men. I'll undertake it:

I think, he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip,
And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.
He was not taken well, he had not din'd.-
The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we've ftuff'd
Thefe pipes, and thefe conveyances of blood
With wine and feeding, we have fuppler fouls
Than in our prieft-like fafts; therefore I'll watch him
Till he be dieted to my request,

And

Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, And cannot lose your way.

Men. Good faith, I'll prove him,

Speed how it will. I fhall ere long have knowledge

of my

fuccefs.

Com. He'll never hear him.

Sic. Not?

[Exit.

Com. I tell you, he does fit in gold, his eye Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury The goaler to his pity. I kneel'd before him, "Twas very faintly he faid, rife: difmifs'd me Thus, with his fpeechlefs hand. What he would do, He fent in writing after; what he would not, Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions : So that all hope is vain, unless his mother And wife,--who (as I hear mean to follicit him For mercy to his country: therefore hence, And with our fair intreaties hafte them on.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Volfcian Camp.

Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard.

1 Watch. Tay; whence are, you?

ST

and go back.

Men. You guard like men, 'tis well. But, by your leave, I am an officer of State, and come

To fpeak with Coriolanus.

1 Watch. Whence?

Men. From Rome.

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

Will no more hear from thence.

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

My name hath touch'd your ears; it is Menenius.
T 3

1 Watch,

1 Watch. Be it fo, go back; the virtue of your name Is not here paffable.

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 happily amplified:

For I have ever verified my friends,

(Of whom he's chief) with all the fize that verity Would without lapfing fuffer: nay, fometimes, Like to a bowl upon a fubtle ground,

I've 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, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have utter'd words in your own, you fhould not pafs here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chaftly. Therefore, go back.

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

2 Watch. Howfoever you have been his liar, (as you fay, you have ;) I am one that, telling true under him, muft fay, you cannot pafs. Therefore go back.

Men. Has he din'd, canft 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 fhould hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pufh'd out of your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your fhield, think to front his revenges with the eafy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palfied interceffion of fuch a decay'd dotard as you seem to be? can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with fuch weak breath as this? no, you are deceiv'd, therefore back to Rome, and prepare your execution; you are condemn'd, our general has fworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

for

Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would ufe me with eftimation.

I Watch.