Coriolanus

FIRST GUARD.
From whence?

MENENIUS.
From Rome.

FIRST GUARD.
You may not pass; you must return: our general
Will no more hear from thence.

SECOND GUARD.
You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire before
You'll speak with Coriolanus.

MENENIUS.
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 Menenius.

FIRST GUARD.
Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name
Is not here passable.  

MENENIUS.
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
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle 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.

FIRST GUARD.
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.

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

SECOND GUARD.
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.  

MENENIUS.
Has he dined, canst thou tell? For I would not speak with him
till after dinner.

FIRST GUARD.
You are a Roman, are you?

MENENIUS.
I am as thy general is.

FIRST GUARD.
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 front
his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal
palms of your daughters, 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.

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

SECOND GUARD.
Come, my captain knows you not.

MENENIUS.
I mean thy general.

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

MENENIUS.
Nay, but fellow, fellow,--

[Enter CORIOLANUS with AUFIDIUS.]

CORIOLANUS.
What's the matter?

MENENIUS.
Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you; you shall know