When most struck home, being gentle wounded,

craves

A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens !

Cor.

Nay, I pr'ythee, woman,—

Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in

Rome,

And occupations perish!

Cor.

What, what, what!
I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius,
Droop not; adieu:-Farewell, my wife! my mother!
I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,

And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime general,
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld
Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women
"Tis fond* to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot well,
My hazards still have been your solace and
Believe't not lightly (though I go alone

Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen,) your

son

Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous + baits and practice.

Vol.
My first son,
Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee a while: Determine on some course,
More than a wild exposture § to each chance
That starts i'the way before thee.

Cor. O the gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us,

* Foolish.

Insidious.

‡ Noblest.

§ Exposure.

And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth
A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vast world, to seek a single man ;
And lose advantage, which doth ever cool
I'the absence of the needer.

Cor. Fare ye well;Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and My friends of noble touch*, when I am forth, Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come. While I remain above the ground, you shall Hear from me still; and never of me aught But what is like me formerly.

Men.

That's worthily

As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.-
If I could shake off but one seven years

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Cor.

Come.

Give me thy hand :

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same. A street near the gate.

Enter Sicinius, Brutus, and an Ædile.

Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.

The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided

In his behalf.

Bru.

Now we have shown our power,

Bid them home:

Let us seem humbler after it is done,
Than when it was a doing.

Sic.

Say, their great enemy is gone, and they

Stand in their ancient strength..

True metal.

Keep on your way.

Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague o'the gods

Requite your love!

Men.

Peace, peace; be not so loud. Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should

hear,

Nay, and you shall hear some.-Will you be gone? [To Brutus. Vir. You shall stay too: [To Sicin.] I would, I had the power To say so to my husband.

Sic.

Are you mankind? Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame ?—Note but this,

fool.

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship* To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, Than thou hast spoken words?

Sic.

O blessed heavens ! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise

words;

And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-Yet

go:

Nay, but thou shalt stay too :-I would my son

Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,

His good sword in his hand.

Sic.

Vir.

What then?

What then?

He'd make an end of thy posterity.

Vol. Bastards, and all.

* Mean cunning.

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country, As he began; and not unknit himself

The noblest knot he made.

Bru.

I would he had.

Vol. I would he had? "Twas you incens'd the

rabble:

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth,
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.

Bru.

Pray, let us go.

Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone:

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the Capitol exceed

The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son
(This lady's husband here, this do you see,)
Whom you have banish'd, docs exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.

Sic.

Why stay we to be baited

With one that wants her wits?

Vol.

Take my prayers with you.

I would the gods had nothing else to do,

[Exeunt Tribunes. But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them But once a day, it would unclog my heart Of what lies heavy to't.

Men.

You have told them home, And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with

me?

Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go : Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. Men. Fye, fye, fye!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A highway between Rome and Antium.

Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting.

Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me : your name, I think, is Adrian.

Vol. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.

Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against them: Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor? No.

Rom. The same, sir.

Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour* is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome ? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.

Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.

Vol. Coriolanus banished?

Rom. Banished, sir.

Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have

* Countenance.