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And power, unto itself most commendable,

Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair

To extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;

Rights by rights fouler, 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.

ACT V. SCENE I.

Rome. A publick place.

Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and Others.

Men. 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 kneel The way into his merey: Nay, if he coy'd To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home. Com. He would not seem 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 answer to: forbad all names;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,

Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fire
Of burning Rome.

Men.

Why, so; you have made 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 less expected: He reply'd,

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Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard

For his 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 the offence.

Men..

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.

Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your aid

In this so never-heeded help, yet do not

Upbraid us 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.

Men.

Sic. I pray you, go to him.

Men.

No; I'll not meddle.

What should I do?

Bru. Only make trial what your love can do

For Rome, towards Marcius.

Men.

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?

Sic.

Yet your good will Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure

As you
Men.

intended well.

I think, he'll hear me.

I'll undertake it:

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.

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

Men.

Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge

Of my success.

Com.

Sic.

Good faith, I'll prove him,

[Exit.

He'll never hear him.

Not?

Com. 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,

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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.

SCENE II.

An advanced Post of the Volcian Camp before Rome. The Guard at their Stations.

Enter to them, MENENIUS.

1 G. Stay: Whence are you?

2 G.

Stand, and go back.

Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by your

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1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our ge

neral

Will no more hear from thence.

2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire,

before

You'll speak with Coriolanus.

Men.

Good my friends,

If you have heard your general talk of Rome,

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