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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。 LIEUTENANT。 Sir； I beseech you； think you he'll carry Rome？
AUFIDIUS。 All places yield 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 judgment； 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
controll'd the war； but one of these… As he hath spices of them all… not all；
For I dare so far free him… made him fear'd； So hated； and so banish'd。 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
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not a tomb so evident as a cheer 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
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ACT V。
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SCENE I。 Rome。 A public place
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 lov'd him In a most dear particular。 He call'd
me father； But what o' 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 speak； I'll keep at home。 COMINIUS。 He would not seem to
know me。 MENENIUS。 Do you hear？ COMINIUS。 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 answer to； forbid all names；
He was a kind of nothing； titleless； Till he had forg'd himself a name i' th'
fire Of burning Rome。 MENENIUS。 Why； so！ You have made good work。
A pair of tribunes that have wrack'd for 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 punish'd。 MENENIUS。 Very well。 Could he say less？
COMINIUS。 I offer'd 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。 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： 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。 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 Marcius。 MENENIUS。 Well； and say
that Marcius Return me； as Cominius is return'd； 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
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measure As you intended well。 MENENIUS。 I'll undertake't； 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 have stuff'd 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。 MENENIUS。 Good faith； I'll prove him； Speed how
it will。 I shall ere long have knowledge 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 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； 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 solicit him For mercy to his country。 Therefore let's hence； And
with our fair entreaties haste them on。 Exeunt
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SCENE II。 The Volscian camp before Rome
Enter MENENIUS to the WATCH on guard
FIRST WATCH。 Stay。 Whence are you？ SECOND WATCH。 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
WATCH。 From whence？ MENENIUS。 From Rome。 FIRST WATCH。 You
may not pass； you must return。 Our general Will no more hear from thence。
SECOND WATCH。 You'll see your Rome embrac'd 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 WATCH。 Be it so； go
back。 The virtue of your name 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 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 WATCH。 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 WATCH。 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 din'd； canst thou
tell？ For I would not sp