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The Tragedy of Coriolanus, V. iv

Sic. Why, what of that?

Men. If it be possible for you to displace it

with your little finger, there is some hope the

ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may

prevail with him. But I say, there is no hope

in 't. Our throats are sentenced and stay upon

execution.

Sic. Is 't possible that so short a time can alter

the condition of a man?

Men. There is differency between a grub and

a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This

Martius is grown from man to dragon: he has

wings; he's more than a creeping thing.

Sic. He loved his mother dearly.

Men. So did he me; and he no more remem-

bers his mother now than an eight-year-old

horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe

grapes: when he walks, he moves like an engine,

and the ground shrinks before his treading: he

is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like

a knell, and his 'hum!' is a battery. He sits in his

state, as a thing made for Alexander. What

he bids be done is finished with his bidding. He

wants nothing of a god but eternity and a heaven

to throne in.

Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what

mercy his mother shall bring from him: there is

no more mercy in him than there is milk in a

 8 stay upon: await

12 differency: difference

20 engine: piece of artillery

22 corslet: breastplate

22, 23 talks battery; cf. n.

24 state: chair of state

as Alexander: like a statue of Alexander the Great

25 finished bidding: as good as done when he commands it

27 throne: enthrone himself

29 in character: as he is

