COMINIUS.
I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye
Red as ’twould burn Rome; and his injury
The jailer to his pity. I kneeled before him;
’Twas very faintly he said “Rise”; dismissed me
Thus with his speechless hand. What he would do
He sent in writing after me; what he
Would 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.]
SCENE II. An Advanced post of the Volscian camp before Rome.
Enter Menenius to the Watch, or Guard.
FIRST WATCH.
Stay! Whence are you?
SECOND WATCH.
Stand, and go back.
MENENIUS.
You guard like men; ’tis well. But by your leave,
I am an officer of state and come
To speak with Coriolanus.
FIRST WATCH.
From whence?
MENENIUS.
From Rome.
FIRST WATCH.
You may not pass; you must return. Our general
Will no more hear from thence.