University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Galesus, Titus.
Galesus.
Indeed! my Titus, I had Hopes that Rome,
Vext as she is with her domestic Broils,
Her Frontier weak, her Armies unprepar'd,
Might have comply'd with our Demands, and given us
The same Alliance granted to the Latines.

Titus.
The Senate scarce would hear the Terms I offer'd;
But order'd me to bear this Answer back:
“If first the Volsci take up Arms, the Romans
“Will be the last to lay them down.”

Galesus.
Alas!
This Answer seals the Doom of many a Wretch.
Unchain'd Bellona from her Temple rushes,
With all the Crimes and Vices in her Train.
Earth fades at her Approach. To rural Peace,
Fair Plenty, and the social Joy of Cities,
Soon will succeed Rage, Rapine, Devastation,
Each cruel Horror sanctify'd by Names.
O Mortals! Mortals! when will you, content
With Nature's Bounty, that in fuller Flow,
Still as your Labours open more its Sources,
Abundant gushes o'er the happy World;
When will you banish Violence, and Outrage,
To dwell with Beasts of Prey in Woods and Desarts?

Titus.
Never till Rome shall change her conquering Maxims.

Galesus.
Her haughty Spirit now will soar beyond
Its usual Pitch, upborne by Caius Marcius.
Stands he not for the Consulate?

Titus.
He did.
But is no more a Citizen of Rome.

Galesus.
What mean'st thou, Titus?

Titus.
Marcius is from Rome
Banish'd for ever.

Galesus.
O immortal Powers!
On what Pretence could they to Exile doom
Their wisest Captain, and their bravest Soldier?
Nor less renown'd for Piety, for Justice,
An uncorrupted Heart, and purest Manners.

Titus.
The Charge against him was entirely groundless,
What not his Enemies themselves believ'd,
Affecting of tyrannic Power in Rome.
His real Crime was only some hot Words,
Struck from his fiery Temper, in the Senate,
Against those factious Ministers of Discord,
The Tribunes of the People. They to Rage,
And frantic Fury, rous'd the mad Plebeians;
By whom supported in their bold Attempt,
They durst presume to summon to the Bar
Of an enrag'd and partial Populace,
The most illustrious Senator of Rome.
To this the Nobles yielded—and, with his,
Gave up their own and Childrens Rights for ever.

Galesus.
O shameful Weakness in a Roman Senate,
So much renown'd for Firmness! Yet, my Titus,
Spite of my Love to Marcius, I must own it,
The vigorous Soil whence his Heroic Virtues
Luxuriant rise, if not with careful Hand
Severely weeded, teems with Imperfections.
His lofty Spirit brooks no Opposition.
His Rage, if once offended, knows no Bounds.
He deems Plebeians, with Patrician Blood
Compar'd, the Creatures of a lower Species,
Mere menial Hands by Nature meant to serve him.

Titus.
It was this high Patrician Pride undid him.
The furious People triumph'd in his Ruin
As if they had expell'd another Tarquin:
While, like a captive Train, the vanquish'd Nobles
Hung their dejected Heads in silent Shame.
Marcius alone seem'd unconcern'd; tho' deep
The latent Tempest boil'd within his Breast,
Choak'd up and smother'd with excessive Rage.

Galesus.
You were his Guest at Rome, and therefore, Titus,
Might on this sad Occasion be permitted
To join your Tears with his domestic Friends.
Saw you that moving Scene?

Titus.
I did, Galesus.
I follow'd Marcius home—His Mother, there,
Veturia, the most venerable Matron
These Eyes have e'er beheld, and soft Volumnia,
His lovely, virtuous Wife, amidst his Children,
Spread on the Ground, lay lost in dumb Despair.
He swelling stood a while, and could not speak,
Th'affronted Hero struggling with the Man;
Then thus at last he broke the gloomy Silence:
“'Tis done. The guilty Sentence is pronounc'd.
“Ungrateful Rome has cast me from her Bosom.
“Support this Blow with Fortitude and Courage,
“As it becomes two generous Roman Matrons.
“I recommend my Children to your Care.
“Farewel. I go, I quit, without Regret,
“A City grown an Enemy to Virtue.”

Galesus.
Oh godlike Marcius! oh unconquer'd Strength
And Dignity of Mind! How much superior
Is such a Soul to all the Power of Fortune!

Titus.
This said, he sternly try'd to break away:
When, holding in her Hand his eldest Son,
Veturia follow'd; while the poor Volumnia,
All drown'd in Tears, and bearing in one Arm
Their youngest, yet an Infant, with the other
Hung clinging at his Knees—he, turning to them,
Half soften'd, half severe, breath'd from his Soul
These broken Accents—“Cease your vain Complaints.
“Mother, you have no more a Son; and thou,
“Thou best of Women! thou, my dear Volumnia!
“No more a Husband”—Pierc'd with these dire Words,
Volumnia lifeless sunk: and off he flung,
With wild Precipitation.

Galesus.
Thy sad Tale
Blinds my old Eyes with Tears—But whither, tell me,
O whither, Titus, bent he then his Course?

Titus.
Where the blind Genius of regardless Rage
And Desperation led. On to the Gate,
Capena call'd, attended by the Nobles,
He stalk'd in sullen Majesty along;
Nor deign'd a Word. A godlike virtuous Anger
Beam'd thro' his Features, and sublim'd his Air.
With downcast Eyes he walk'd; or if aside
He chanc'd to look, each Look was great Reproach.
Thus in emphatic Silence, that made Words
Void and insipid all, he parted from them,
The Day preceding my Return from Rome;
Nor has been heard of since, lost in th'Abyss
Of his own Woes.

Galesus.

SCENE II.

Changes to Tullus's Tent.
Coriolanus, Tullus.
Coriolanus.
Forgive me, Tullus, if I count the Moments
That stop the Purpose of thy noble Kindness,
And keep me here confin'd in tame Inaction.
Why lingers Titus?

Tullus.
Calm thy restless Heart,
Brave Marcius; every Minute I expect him.
Soon from the Cloud that hides thee, shalt thou break
With double Brightness; soon thy firey Rage
Shall wither all the Strength and Pride of Rome.

Coriolanus.
O righteous Jove, Protector of the Injur'd!
If from my earliest Youth, with pious Awe,
I still have reverenc'd thy all-powerful Justice,
Still by her sacred Dictates rul'd my Actions,
O let that Justice now support my Cause,
And arm my strong Right-hand with all her Terrors!
When that is done, be Life or Death my Lot,
As thy almighty Pleasure shall determine.

[Enter an Officer to Tullus.
Officer.
My Lord, Galesus asks Admittance to you.

Tullus.
Marcius, retire an Instant, till I hear
The Business brings him hither—Bid him enter.

[Exit Officer and Coriolanus.
[Enter Galesus.

SCENE III.

Tullus, Galesus.
Galesus.
Tullus, the Roman Senate has return'd
No other Answer, to our late Demands,
But absolute Denial and Defiance.

Tullus.
It is what I expected—We shall teach them
An humbler Language soon—Hast thou assembled,
As I desir'd, the Volscian Chiefs in Council?

Galesus.
Titus is gone to summon their Attendance.

Tullus.
It is enough—Come forth, my noble Guest!
And shew Galesus how the Gods assist us.

SCENE IV.

Coriolanus, Tullus, Galesus.
Galesus.
O My astonish'd Soul! what do I see?
What! Caius Marcius! Caius Marcius here,
Beneath one Tent with Tullus?

Tullus.
Ay, and more,
With Tullus, now his Friend and fellow Soldier.
Yes, thou shalt see him thundering at the Head
Of Volscian Armies; he, who oft has carry'd
Destruction thro' their Ranks—Your Leave a Moment,
While to our Chiefs, and Fathers, I announce
Their unexpected Guest.

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.

SCENE VI.

The back Scene opens, and discovers the Deputies of the Volscian States, assembled in Council. They rise and salute Coriolanus; then resume their Places.
Galesus, Tullus, Coriolanus, Senators.
Galesus.
Assembled States, and Captains of the Volsci,
Behold the Chief so much renown'd in War;
Our once so formidable Foe, but now
Our proffer'd Friend and Soldier—Caius Marcius.

1st Senator.
We give him hearty Welcome, from our Souls!

Coriolanus.
Most noble Chiefs, and Fathers of the Volsci,
I need not say, how by the People's Rage,
And the poor Weakness of the timid Nobles,
I am expell'd from Rome. Had I confin'd
My Wishes merely to a safe Retreat,
Some Latine City might have given me that;
Or any nameless Corner. What imports it,
Where a tame patient Exile rots in Silence?
But, Volscian Lords, permit me to declare,
I would at once cut short my useless Days,
Rather than be that despicable Wretch,
Who neither can take Vengeance on his Foes,
Nor serve his Friends. That is my Temper, Chiefs.
I shall be glad to merit, by my Sword,
Th'Asylum which I seek among the Volsci.
Rome is our common Foe: Then let us join
Our common Suffering, Passions, and Resentments.
Yes, tho' but one, I bring so many Wrongs,
So large a Share of powerful Enmity,
Into the War, as gives me the Presumption,
To offer to the Volscian States th'Alliance
Even of my single Arm.—

Tullus.
That single Arm
Is in itself a numerous Army, Marcius;
The Volscians so esteem it—But proceed.

Coriolanus.
I will not mention, Volscian Chiefs, what Talent
The World allows me to possess in War:
But be it what it will, you may employ it.
Soldier, or Captain, in whatever Station
You place me, I will lose each Drop of Blood,
Or with this Hand I'll fix the Volscian Standard
On the proud Towers of Capitolian Jove.

Tullus.
Chiefs of the Volscian League, I give you Joy
Of our new Citizen, the noble Marcius.
The Genius of the Volscian State has sent him,
Whetted by Wrongs into a keener Hatred
Than that we bear to Rome. It were contemning,
With impious self-sufficient Arrogance,
This Bounty of the Gods, not to accept,
With every Mark of Honour, of his Service.
I, Volscians, I, even Attius Tullus, give,
First of you all, my Voice, that Caius Marcius
Be now receiv'd to high Command among us;
That instantly we do appoint him General
Of half our Troops, which here, with your Consent,
I to him yield.—Speak, Chiefs, is this your Pleasure?

1st Senator.
It is,—We give unanimous Consent.

Tullus,
embracing him.
Marcius, I joy to call thee my Companion,
And Collegue in this War.

Coriolanus.
By all the Gods!
Thou art the generous Victor of my Soul!
Yes, Tullus, I am conquer'd by thy Virtue.

Galesus.
Tho' I have oft, on great Occasions, Tullus,
Beheld thee in the Senate, and the Field,
Cover'd with Glory; yet, I must avow,
I never saw thee shew such genuine Greatness,
Such true Sublimity of Soul, as now.
To scorn th'all-powerful Charm of selfish Passions,
Chiefly the dazzling Pride of Emulation,
That noble Weakness of Heroic Minds,
To sink thyself that thou may'st raise thy Country;
To put the Sword into thy Rival's Hand,
And twine thy promis'd Laurels round his Brow—
O 'tis a Flight beyond the highest Point
Of Martial Glory! and what few can reach.
Go forth, the chosen Ministers of Justice;
And may that awful Power, whose secret Hand
Sways all our Passions, turns our partial Views
All to its own dread Purposes, attend you!

Coriolanus.
I burn to enter on the glorious Task
You now have mark'd me out. How flow the Time
To the warm Soul, that in the very Instant
It forms, would execute, a great Design.
'Tis my Advice we march direct to Rome;
We cannot be too quick. Let the first Dawn
See us in bright Array before her Walls.
Perhaps when they behold their Exile there,
Back'd by your Force, some conscious Hearts among them
May feel th'Alarm of Guilt.

Tullus.
I much approve
Of this Advice. 'Tis what I thought before,
Ere strengthen'd, Marcius, by thy mighty Arm:
But now 'tis doubly right. Here, Volscian Chiefs,
Here let our Council terminate—The Troops
Have had Repose sufficient. Strait to Rome,
Come, let us urge our March—As yet the Stars
Ride in their middle Watch: we shall with Ease,
Reach it by Dawn.—

Coriolanus.
Yes, we have time—too much!
Six tedious Hours till Morn—But hence! away!
My Soul on Fire anticipates the Dawn.