University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Coriolanus, Galesus.
Coriolanus.
Thou good old Man!
Close let me strain thee to my faithful Heart,
Which now is doubly thine, united more
By the Protection which thy Country gives me,
Than by our former Friendship.

Galesus.
Strange Event!
This is thy Work, almighty Providence!
Whose Power, beyond the Stretch of human Thought,
Revolves the Orbs of Empire; bids them sink
Deep in the deadning Night of thy Displeasure,
Or rise majestic o'er a wondering World.
The Gods by thee—I see it, Coriolanus,—
Mean to exalt us, and depress the Romans.

Coriolanus.
Galesus, yes, the Gods have sent me hither;
Those righteous Gods, who, when vindictive Justice
Excites them to destroy a worthless People,
Make their own Crimes and Follies strike the Blow.

Galesus.
Cherish these Thoughts, that teach us what we are,
And tame the Pride of Man. There is a Power,
Unseen that rules th'illimitable World,
That guides its Motions, from the brightest Star,
To the least Dust of this sin-tainted Mold;
While Man, who madly deems himself the Lord
Of all, is nought but Weakness and Dependance.
This sacred Truth, by sure Experience taught,
Thou must have learnt, when, wandering all alone,
Each Bird, each Insect, flitting thro' the Sky,
Was more sufficient for itself, than thou—
Ah the full Image of thy Woes dissolves me!
The Pangs that must have torn, at parting from thee,
Thy Mother and thy Wife. I cannot think
Of that sad Scene without some Drops of Pity!

Coriolanus.
Who was it forc'd me to that bitter Parting?
Who, in one cruel hasty Moment, chas'd me
From Wife, from Children, Friends, and Houshold Gods,
Me! who so often had protected theirs?
Who, from the sacred City of my Fathers
Drove me with Nature's Commoners to dwell,
To lodge beneath their wide unshelter'd Roof,
And at their Table feed? O blast me, Gods!
With ev'ry Woe! Debility of Mind,
Dishonour, just Contempt, and palsy'd Weakness,
If I forgive the Villains! yes Galesus,
Yes, I will offer to the Powers of Vengeance
A great, a glorious Victim—a whole City!—
Why, Tullus, this Delay?

Galesus.
May Coriolanus
Be to the Volscian Nation, and himself,
The dread, the godlike Instrument of Justice!
But let not Rage and Vengeance mix their Rancour;
Let them not trouble with their fretful Storm,
Their angry Gleams, that Azure, where enthron'd
The calm Divinity of Justice sits
And pities, while she punishes, Mankind.

Coriolanus.
What saidst thou? What, against the Powers of Vengeance?
The Gods gave honest Anger, just Revenge,
To be the awful Guardians of the Rights
And native Dignity of Human kind.
O were it not for them, the saucy World
Would grow a noisome Nest of little Tyrants!
Each Carrion Crow, on Eagle Merit perch'd,
Would peck his Eyes out, and the mungril Cur
At pleasure bait the Lyon—No, Galesus,
I would not rashly, nor on light Occasion,
Receive the deep Impression in my Breast;
But when the Base, the Brutal and Unjust,
Or worse than all, th'Ungrateful, stamp it there,
O I will then with Luxury supreme,
Enjoy the Pleasure of offended Gods,
A righteous, just Revenge!—Behold my Soul.

[Enter an Officer.
Officer.
My Lords, th'assembled Chiefs desire your Presence.

Galesus.
Come, noble Marcius; let my joyful Hand
Conduct thee thither—Doubt not thy Reception
Will be proportion'd to thy Fame and Merit.