Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/135

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, V. ii

lanus: guess, but by my entertainment with

him, if thou standest not i' the state of hanging,

or of some death more long in spectatorship,

and crueller in suffering; behold now presently,

and swound for what's to come upon thee. [To

Coriolanus.] 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.

Cor. Away!

Men. How! away!

Cor. 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, begone:

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,

 68 entertainment: reception

70 more spectatorship: which will still more prolong your public ignominy

72 swound: swoon

74 synod: conference

80 your: i.e. the Roman

84 block: block of wood, blockhead

89 servanted: made servants

90 properly: personally

remission: forgiveness, mercy; cf. n.

91–93 That much; cf. n.

95 for: because

