University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

The back Scene opens, and discovers Coriolanus as described above.
Coriolanus, Tullus.
Tullus,
after some Silence.
Illustrious Stranger—for thy high Demeanour
Bespeaks thee such—who art thou?

Coriolanus.
[Rising and unmuffling his Face.
View me, Tullus—
[After some pause.
Dost thou not know me?

Tullus.
No. That noble Front
I never saw before. What is thy Name?

Coriolanus.
Does not the secret Voice of hostile Instinct,
Does not thy swelling Heart declare me to thee?

Tullus.
Gods! can it be?—

Coriolanus.
Yes. I am Caius Marcius;
Known to thy smarting Country by the Name
Of Coriolanus. That alone is left me,
That empty Name, for all my Toils, my Service,
The Blood which I have shed for thankless Rome.
Behold me banish'd thence, a Victim yielded
By her weak Nobles to the maddening Rabble.
I seek Revenge. Thou may'st employ my Sword,
With keener Edge, with heavier Force against her,
Than e'er it fell upon the Volscian Nation.
But if thou, Tullus, dost refuse me this,
The only Wish of my collected Heart,
Where every Passion in one burning Point
Concenters, give me Death: Death from thy Hand
I sure have well deserv'd—Nor shall I blush
To take or Life or Death from Attius Tullus.

Tullus.
O Caius Marcius! in this one short Moment,
That we have friendly talk'd, my ravish'd Heart
Has undergone a great, a wonderous Change.
I ever held thee in my best Esteem;
But this Heroic Confidence has won me,
Stampt me at once thy Friend. I were indeed
A Wretch as mean as this thy Trust is noble,
Could I refuse thee thy Demand—Yes, Marcius!
Thou hast thy Wish! take half of my Command:
If that be not enough, then take the whole.
We have, my Friend, a gallant Force on Foot,
An Army, Marcius, fit to follow thee.
Go, lead them on, and take thy full Revenge.
All should unite to punish the Ungrateful.
Ingratitude is Treason to Mankind.

Coriolanus,
embracing him.
Thus, generous Tullus, take a Soldier's Thanks,
Who is not practis'd in the Gloss of Words—
Thou Friend indeed! Friend to my Cause, my Quarrel!
Friend to the darling Passion of my Soul!
All else I set at nought!—Immortal Gods!
I am new-made, and wonder at myself!
A little while ago, and I was nothing;
A powerless Reptile, crawling on the Earth,
Curs'd with a Soul that restless wish'd to wield
The Bolts of Jove! I dwelt in Erebus,
I wander'd through the hopeless Glooms of Hell,
Stung with Revenge, tormented by the Furies!
Now, Tullus, like a God, you draw me thence,
Throne me amidst the Skies, with Tempest charg'd,
And put the ready Thunder in my Hand!

Tullus.
What I have promis'd, Marcius, I will do.
Within an Hour at farthest we expect
The Freedman of Galesus back from Rome,
Who carry'd to the Senate our Demands.
Their Answer will, I doubt not, end the Truce,
And instant draw our angry Swords against them.
Till then retire within my inmost Tent,
Unknown to all but me, that when our Chiefs
Meet in full Council to declare for War,
I may produce thee to their wondering Eyes,
As if descended from avenging Heaven
To humble lofty Rome, and teach her Justice.

Coriolanus.
To thy Direction, Tullus, I resign
My future Life: my Fate is in thy Hands;
And, if I judge aright, the Fate of Rome.