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Hear nothing from him.

Enter Three or Four CITIZENS.

Cit. The gods preserve you both 1
Sic. Good-e'en, our neighbours.

Bru. Good-e'en to you all, good-e'en to you all.

1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees,

re bound to pray for you both

Sic. Live, and thrive!

Sic. This is most likely !

Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may Good Marcius home again.

Sic. The very trick on't.
Men. This is unlikely:

He and Autidius can no more atone,
Than violentest contrariety.

Enter another MESSENGER.

Mess. You are sent for to the senate : A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius, Associated with Aufidius, rages

wish

Upon our territories; and have already, O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and

Bru. Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd What lay before them.

Coriolanus

Had lov'd you as we did.

Cit. Now the gods keep you! Both Tri. Farewell, farewell,

[Exeunt CITIZENS.

Sic. This is a happier and more comely time, Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying Confusion.

Bru. Cains Marcius was

A worthy officer i'the war; but insolent, O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, Self-loving.

Sic. And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance..

Men. I think not so.

Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so.

Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Sits safe and still without him.

Enter EDILE.

Ed. Worthy tribunes,

[Rome

There is a slave whom we have put in prison,
Reports, the Volsces with two several powers
Are entered in the Roman territories;
And with the deepest malice of the war
Destroy what lies before them.

Men. "Tis Aufidius,

Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment,
Thrusts forth his horns again into the world:
Which were inshell'd, when Marcius stood + for

Rome,

And durst not once peep out.

Sic. Come, what talk you

Of Marcius ?

Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be,

The Volsces dare break with us.

Men. Cannot be !

We have record, that very well it can ;
And three examples of the like have been
Within my age. But reason with the fellow,
Before you punish him, where he heard this:
Lest you should chance to whip your information,
And beat the messenger who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.

Sic. Tell not me:

I know this cannot be.

Bru. Not possible.

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Enter CоMINIUS.

Com. Oh! you have made good work! Men. What news? what news?

[took

Com. You have holp to ravish your own daugh ters, and

To melt the city leads upon your pates;
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses-
Men. What's the news? what's the news?
Com. Your temples burn'd in their cement;
and

Your franchises, whereon you stood confin'd
Into an augre's bore. +

Men. Pray now, your news?

You have made fair work, I fear me :-Pray, your news?

If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,-
Com. If!

He is their god; he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than nature,
That shapes inan better; and they follow him.
Against us brats, with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.

Men. You have made good work,

You and your apron men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation,

The breath of garlic-eaters ?

Com. He will shake

Your Rome about your ears.
Men. As Hercules

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Should say, Be good to Rome, they charg'd him As those should do that had deserv'd his hate, And therein show'd like enemies.

Men. 'Tis true:

If he were putting to my horse the brand
That should consume it, I have not the face
To say, 'Beseech you, cease.--You have made

fair bands,

You and your crafts! you have crafted fair!
Com. You have brought

A trembling upon Rome, such as was never
So incapable of help.

Tri. Say not, we brought it.

Men. How! Was it we? We lov'd him; but

like beasts,

And cowardly nobles, gave way to your clusters Who did hoot him out o' the city.

Com. But, I fear

• Unite. carpenter's tool. with pleasure.

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They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,
The second name of men, obeys his points
As if he were his officer:-Desperation
Is all the policy, strength, and defence,
That Rome can make against them.

Enter a troop of CITIZENS.

Men. Here comes the clusters.-
And is Aufidius with him?-You are they
That made the air unwholesome, when you cast
Your stinking, greasy caps, in hooting at
Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;
And not a hair upon a soldier's head,
Which will not prove a whip; as many coxcombs
As you threw caps up, will he tumble down,
And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter:
If he could burn us all into one coal,
We have deserv'd it.

Cit. 'Faith, we hear fearful news.
1 Cit. For mine own part.

When I said, banish him, I said, 'twas pity. 2 Cit. And so did I.

3 Cit. And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very many of us: That we did, we did for the best and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will.

Com. You are goodly things, you voices!
Men. You have made

Good work, you and your cry! -Shall us to the
Capitol ?

Com. Oh! ay; what else?

[Exeunt Cox. and MEN. Sic. Go, masters, get you home, be not dismay'd:

These are a side that would be glad to have
This true, which they so seem to fear. Go home,
And show no sign of fear.

1 Cit. The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home. I ever said we were i'the wrong, when we banished him.

2 Cit. So did we all. But come, let's home.
[Exeunt CITIZENS.
Bru. I do not like this news.
Sic. Nor I.
Bru. Let's to the Capitol :-'Would half my
wealth

Would buy this for a lie!

Sic. Pray, let us go.

[Exeunt.

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What I can urge against him. Although it seems,
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly,
And shews good husbandry for the Volscian state;
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword; yet he hath left undone
That which shall break his neck, or hazard mine,
Whene'er we come to our account.

Pack, alluding to a pack of hounds.

Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry

Rome?

Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down :
And the nobility of Rome are his :

The senators and patricians love him too:
The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty
To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome,
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them; but he could not
Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgement,
To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From the casque † to the cushion, but cominand-
ing peace

Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controll'd the war; but, one of these
(As he hath spices of them all, not all,
For I dare so far free him,) made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: But he has a merit,
To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues
Lie in the interpretation of the time:
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair
To extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;
Rights by rights fouler, strengths by strengths do
fail.

Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine, Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I-Rome.-A Public Place. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRU TUS and others.

Men. No, I'll not go you hear what he hath
said,

Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him
In a most dear particular. He call'd me, father:
But what o'that? Go, you that banish'd him,
A mile before his tent fall down, and kneel
The way into his mercy: Nay, if he coy'd ||
To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.
Com. He will not seem to know me.
Men. Do you hear?

Com. Yet one time he did call me by my

name:

I urg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to forbad all names:
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forg'd himself a name i'the fire
Of burning Rome.

Men. Why, so; you have made good work:
A pair of tribunes that have rack'd ¶ for Rome,
To make coals cheap: A noble memory! **

Com. I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon
When it was less expected: He replied,
It was a bare petition of a state
To one whom they had punish'd.
Men. Very well:

Could he say less?

Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard
For his private friends: His answer to me was,
He could not stay to pick them in a pile
of noisome, musty chaff: He said 'twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt,
And still to noise the offence.

Men. For one poor grain

or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, His child, and this brave fellow too, we are the grains:

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You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt Above the moon: We must be burnt for you. Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your aid

In this so never-heeded help, yet do not
Upbraid us with our distress. But sure, if you
Would be your country's pleader, your good
tongue,

More than the instant army we can make,
Might stop our countryman.

Men. No; I'll not meddle.
Sic. I pray you, go to him.
Men. What should I do?

Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome towards Marcius.

Men. Well, and say that Marcius
Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard; what then?-

But as a discontented friend, grief-shoi
With his unkindness? Say't be so?

Sic. Yet your good will

Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure,

As you intended well.

Men. I'll undertake it:

I think he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip,
And ham at good Cominius, much unhearts me.
He was not taken well; he had not din'd:
The veins unfill'd, the blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt

To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd
These pipes and these conveyances of our blood
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch
him

Till he be dieted to my request,

And then I'll set upon him.

1 G. Be it so; go back: the virtue of your naine Is not here passable.

Men. I tell thee, fellow,

Thy general is my lover: I have been

The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparallel'd, haply, amplified;
For I have ever verified + my friends,

(Of whom he's chief,) with all the size that verity f

Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ý ground,

I have tumbled past the throw; and, in his praise,

Have almost stamp'd the leasing: Therefore fellow,

I must have leave to pass.

1 G. 'Faith, Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf, as you have uttered words in your own, you should not pass here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.

Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.

2 G. Howsoever you have been his liar, (as you say you have) I am one that, telling true under him, must say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.

Men. Has he dined, can'st thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner. 1 G. You are a Roman, are you? Men. I am as thy general is.

1 G. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to frout his revenges with the easy groans

Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, of old women, the virginal palins of your daughAnd cannot lose your way.

Men. Good faith, I'll prove him,

Speed how it will. I shall ere iong have knowledge

Of my success.

Com. He'll never hear him.
Sic. Not?

"Exit.

Com. I tell you; he does sit in gold his eye
Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury
The jailer to his pity. I kneel'd before him;
'Twas very faintly he said, Rise; dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand: What he would do,
He sert in writing after me; what he could not,
Bound with an oath, to yield to his conditions:
So that all hope is vain,

Unless his noble mother, and his wife,
Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him
For mercy to his country-Therefore, let's hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.

[Exeunt.

ters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant ¶ as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; therefore back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemned, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.

2 G. Come, my captain knows you not. Men. I mean, thy general.

1 G. My general cares not for you. Back, 1 say, go, lest I let forth your half pint of blood; -back,-that's the utmost of your having:

back.

Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,—

Enter CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. Cor. What's the matter?

Men. Now you companion, ** I'll say an erSCENE II.-An advanced Post of the Vol-rand for you; you shall know now that I am in scian Camp, before Rome. The GUARD at estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack + their Stations.

Enter to them, MENENIUS.

1 G. Stay: Whence are you?

2 G. Stand, and go back.

guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolauus: guess, but by my entertainment with him, if thou stand'st not i'the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering: behold now presently, and

Men. You guard like men; 'tis well: But, by swoon for what's to come upon thee.-The glo

your leave,

I am an officer of state, and come

To speak with Coriolanus.

1 G. From whence?

Men. From Rome.

rious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son! my on! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come

1 G. You may not pass, you must return: our to thee; but being assured none but myself general

Will no more hear from thence.

could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs and conjure thee to pardon

2 G. You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire, Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen.

before

You'll speak with Coriolanus.

Men. Good my friends,

If you have heard your general talk of Rome,
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks,
My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Mene

nius.

• Prizes.

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?

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Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not.

affairs

Are servanted to others: Though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lies
In Volscian breasts. That we have been
miliar,

My | In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which

| Great nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volsces Plough Rome and harrow Italy; I'll never fa- Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand As if a man were author of himself, And knew no other kin.

Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
Than pity note how much.-Therefore, be gone.
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,

[Gives a Letter. And would have sent it. Another word, nenius,

1 will not hear thee speak.-This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'stAuf. You keep a constant temper.

Vir. My lord and husband!

Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore
Rome.

Vir. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'a
Makes you think so.

Cor. Like a dull actor now,

Me-I have forgot my part, and I am out,
Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For that, Forgive our Romans.-Öb, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous queen * of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I prate,
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i'the earth;
[Kneels.
Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sous.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFID. 1 G. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius? 2 G. 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: You know the way home again.

1 G. Do you hear how we are shent ing your greatness back?

2 G. What cause, do you think, I swoon?

:

for keephave to

Men. I neither care for the world, nor your general for such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, you are so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another. Let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are long; and your misery increase with vour age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [Exit.

1 G. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 G. The worthy fellow is our general: He is the roo, the oak not to be wind-shaken.

[Exeunt.

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The first conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept, to grace hin only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits,
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Ha! what shout is this?
[Shout within.

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.-
Enter in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VO
LUMNIA, leading young MARCIUS, VALERIA,
and ATTENDANTS.

My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould

Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her band
The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of nature, break!
Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.-
What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn ?-I melt, and

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Vol. Oh! stand up bless'd! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint I kneel before thee; and unproperly Show duty, as mistaken all the while Between the child and parent. Cor. What is this?

[Kneels

Your knees to me? to your corrected son
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun;
Murd'ring impossibility, to make
What cannot be, slight work.

Vol. Thou art my warrior:

I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady ↑
Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,
The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle
That's curded by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's temple: Dear Valeria!
Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours,
Which, by the interpretation of full time,
May show like all yourself.

Cor. The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may'st

prove

To shame unvulnerable, and stick i'the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw, t
And saving those that eye thee!

Vol. Your knee, Sirrah.

Cor. That's my brave boy.

Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you.

Cor. I beseech you, peace:

Or, if you'd ask, remember this before:
The things I have forsworn to grant, may never
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate

Again with Rome's mechanics: Tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural: Desire not
To allay my rages and revenges, with
Your colder reasons.

Vol. Oh! no more, no more!
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
You have said, you will not grant us any thing;
Which you deny already: Yet we will ask,
That, if you fail in our request, the blame
May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.
Cor. Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for
we'll
[quest f
Hear nought from Rome in private.-Your re-
Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our

rai.nent

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Make your eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comfort,

Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and

sorrow;

Making the mother, wife, and child, to see
The son, the husband, and the father, tearing
His country's bowels out. And to poor we,
Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us
Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort
That all but we enjoy; for how can we,
Alas! how can we for our country pray,
Whereto we are bound; together with thy victory,
Whereto we are bound? Alack or we must lose
The country, our dear nurse; or else thy person,
Our comfort in the country. We must find
An evident calamity, though we had

Our wish, which side should win for either thou
Must, as a foreign miscreant, be led

With manacles through our streets, or else
Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin;
And bear the palm for having bravely shed
Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,
I purpose not to wait on fortune, till
These wars determine; • if I cannot persuade thee
Rather to show a noble grace to both parts,
Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner
March to assault thy country, than to tread
(Trust to't, thou shalt not,) on thy mother's womb,
That brought thee to this world.

Vir. Ay, and on mine,

That brought you forth this boy, to keep your Living to time.

[name

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demn us,

As poisonous of your honour: No; our suit
Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volsces
May say, This mercy we have show'd; the
Romans,

This we receiv'd; and each in either side
Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, Be bless'd
For making up this peace! Thou know'st,
great son,

The end of war's uncertain; but this certain,
That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit
Which thou shalt thereby reap, is such a name,
Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses:
Whose chronicle thus writ,-The man was noble,
But with his last attempt he wip'd it out;
Destroyed his country: and his name remains
To the ensuing age, abhorr'd. Speak to me,

son:

Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour,
To imitate the graces of the gods;

To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air,
And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt
That should but rive an oak. Why dost not
speak?

Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man
Still to remember wrongs ?-Daughter, speak you;
He cares not for your weeping.-Speak thou, boy:
Perhaps thy childishness will move him more
Than can our reasons.-There is no man in the

world

[prate More bound to his mother; yet here he lets me Like one i'the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy ; When she (poor hen!) fond of no second brood, Has cluck'd thee too the wars, and safely home, Loaden with honour. Say, my request's unjust, And spurn me back: But, if it be not so, Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee,

That thou restrain'st from me the duty, which To a mother's part belongs.-He turns away: Down, ladies; let us shaine him with our knees.

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To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride,
Than pity to our prayers. Down; an end:
This is the last ;-So we will home to Rome,
And die among our neighbours.--Nay, behold us:
This boy, that cannot tell what he would have,
But kneels, and holds up hands, for fellowship,
Does reason our petition with more strength
Than thou hast to deny't.-Come, let us go:
This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;
His wife is in Corioli, and his child
Like him by chance :-Yet give us our despatch:
I am hush'd until our city be atire,
And then I'll speak a little.

Cor. O mother, mother!

[Holding VOLUMNIA by the Hands, silent. What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,

The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O!
You have won a happy victory to Rome:
But, for your son,-believe it, oh! believe it,
Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,
If not most mortal to him. But, let it come :
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Au.
fidius,

Were you in my stead, say, would you have heard
A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?
Auf. I was mov'd withal.

Cor. I dare be sworn you were:
And, Sir, it is no little thing, to make
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good Sir,
What peace you'll make, advise me: For my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray
you,

Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife! Auf. I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour

At difference in thee: out of that I'll work
Myself a former fortune.

[Aside. [The ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS. Cor. Ay, by and by:

[TO VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, &c. But we will drink together; and you shall bear A better witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd. Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you all the swords In Italy, and her confederate arins, Could not have made this peace.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Rome.-A public Place.

Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS. Men. See you yond' coign o'the Capitol: yond' corner stone?

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?

a

Men. There is differency between a grub and butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius 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 remembers 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 ý for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity, and a heaven to throue in.

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

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