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you cannot pass。 Therefore go back。 MENENIUS。 Has he din'd； canst thou
tell？ For I would not speak with him till after dinner。 FIRST WATCH。 You
are a Roman； are you？ MENENIUS。 I am as thy general is。 FIRST
WATCH。 Then you should hate Rome； as he does。 Can you； when you
have push'd 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 decay'd dotant as you
seem to be？ Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready
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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 condemn'd； 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
WATCH。 Come； my captain knows you not。 MENENIUS。 I mean thy
general。 FIRST WATCH。 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。 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。 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
lov'd thee； Take this along； I writ it for thy sake ＇Gives 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'st。 AUFIDIUS。 You
keep a constant temper。 Exeunt CORIOLANUS and Aufidius FIRST
WATCH。 Now； sir； is your name Menenius？ SECOND WATCH。 'Tis a
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spell； you see； of much power！ You know the way home again。 FIRST
WATCH。 Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back？
SECOND WATCH。 What cause； do you think； I have to swoon？
MENENIUS。 I neither care for th' world nor your general； for such things
as you； I can scarce think there's any； y'are 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 WATCH。 A noble fellow； I
warrant him。 SECOND WATCH。 The worthy fellow is our general； he's
the rock； the oak not to be wind…shaken。 Exeunt
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SCENE III。 The tent of CORIOLANUS
Enter CORIOLANUS； AUFIDIUS； and others
CORIOLANUS。 We will before the walls of Rome to…morrow Set
down our host。 My partner in this action； You must report to th' Volscian
lords how plainly I have borne this business。 AUFIDIUS。 Only their ends
You have respected； stopp'd your ears against The general suit of Rome；
never admitted A private whisper… no； not with such friends That thought
them sure of you。 CORIOLANUS。 This last old man； Whom with crack'd
heart I have sent to Rome； Lov'd me above the measure of a father； Nay；
godded me indeed。 Their latest refuge Was to send him； for whose old love
I have… Though I show'd sourly 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 to； fresh
embassies and suits； Nor from the state nor private friends； hereafter Will I
lend ear to。 ＇Shout within＇ Ha！ what shout is this？ Shall I be tempted to
infringe my vow In the same time 'tis made？ I will not。
Enter； in mourning habits； VIRGILIA； VOLUMNIA； VALERIA；
YOUNG MARCIUS； with attendants
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。 What is that curtsy worth？ or those doves' eyes； Which can
make gods forsworn？ I melt； and am not Of stronger earth than others。 My
mother bows； As if Olympus to a molehill should In supplication nod； and
my young boy Hath an aspect of intercession which Great nature cries
'Deny not。' Let the Volsces Plough Rome and harrow Italy； I'll never Be
such a gosling to obey instinct； but stand As if a man were author of
himself And knew no other kin。 VIRGILIA。 My lord and husband！
CORIOLANUS。 These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome。 VIRGILIA。
The sorrow that delivers us thus chang'd Makes you think so。
CORIOLANUS。 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
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my revenge！ Now； by the jealous queen of heaven； that kiss I carried from
thee； dear； and my true lip Hath virgin'd it e'er since。 You gods！ I prate；
And the most noble mother of the world Leave unsaluted。 Sink； my knee；
i' th' earth； ＇Kneels＇ Of thy deep duty more impression show Than that of
common sons。 VOLUMNIA。 O； stand up blest！ Whilst with no softer
cushion than the flint I kneel before thee； and unproperly Show duty； as
mistaken all this while Between the child and parent。 ＇Kneels＇
CORIOLANUS。 What's this？ Your knees to me； to your corrected son？
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach Fillip the stars； then let the
mutinous winds Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun； Murd'ring
impossibility； to make What cannot be slight work。 VOLUMNIA。 Thou art
my warrior； I holp to frame thee。 Do you know this lady？ CORIOLANUS。
The noble sister of Publicola； The moon of Rome； chaste as the icicle
That's curdied by the frost from purest snow； And hangs on Dian's temple…
dear Valeria！ VOLUMNIA。 This is a poor epitome of yours； Which by th'
interpretation of full time May show like all yourself。 CORIOLANUS。
The god of soldiers； With the consent of supreme Jove； inform Thy
thoughts with nobleness； that thou mayst prove To shame unvulnerable；
and stick i' th' wars Like a great sea…mark； standing every flaw； And saving
those that eye thee！ VOLUMNIA。 Your knee； sirrah。 CORIOLANUS。
That's my brave boy。 VOLUMNIA。 Even he； your wife； this lady； and
myself； Are suito