Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/127

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, IV. vii

Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;

And you are darken'd in this action, sir,

Even by your own.

Auf. I cannot help it now,

Unless, by using means, I lame the foot

Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier,

Even to my person, than I thought he would

When first I did embrace him; yet his nature

In that's no changeling, and I must excuse

What cannot be amended.

Lieu. Yet, I wish, sir,—

I mean for your particular,—you had not

Join'd in commission with him; but either

Had borne the action of yourself, or else

To him had left it solely.

Auf. 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 the 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.

Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?

Auf. All places yields to him ere he sits down;

 5 darken'd: dimmed in glory

action: campaign

6 your own: your own troops

7 using means: employing treachery

11 no changeling: i.e. still what it always was

13 particular: personal advantage

14 commission: authority

15 borne yourself: taken the whole command yourself

21 bears fairly: behaves honorably in all respects

23 achieve: conquer

24–26 yet account; cf. n.

27 carry: take by force

28 sits down: besieges

