Titus Lartius, baving fet a guard upon Corioli, going with a drum and trumpet toward Ceminius and Caius Marcius, enters with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers, and a Scout. Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: Keep your duties, As I have fet them down. If I do fend, dispatch Lieu. Fear not our care, fir. Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us — Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, That, with the fufty plebeians, hate thine honours, 10" Our Rome hath fuch a foldier!" 15 20 [Excunt. 25 Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, [Here they fight, and certain Volces come to the aid of Aufidius. Marcius fights till they be driven in breathless. Officious, and not valiant!-you have fham'd me In your condemned feconds. [Exeunt fighting. SCEN E IX. The Roman Camp. Flourish, Alarum. A retreat is founded. Enter at ene door, Cominius ruith the Romans; at another door, Marcius, with his arm in a scarf, &c. Com. If I fhould tell thee o'er this thy day's work, 30 35 40 45 155 Yet cam'ft thou to a morfel of this feast, Enter Titus Lartius, with his power, from the purfuit. And tent themfelves with death. Of all the horses, (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store) of all The treafure, in the field atchiev'd, and city, Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart confent to take [Along flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Mar- Mar. May thefe fame inftruments, which you profane, [mhall Never found more! When drums and trumpets I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be 60 Made all of falfe-fac'd foothing! When steel grows 1 Coriolanus may mean, that as all the soldiers have offered to attend him on this expedition, and he wauts only a part of them, he will submit the selection to four indifferent perfons, that he himself may efcape the charge of partiality. 2 i. e. the gates. 3. e. thrown into grateful trepidation. The meaning is,-1 his man performed the action, and we only filled up the shew. not be remembered. 5 That is, Soft Soft as the parafite's filk, let him' be made As if I lov'd my little fhould be dieted In praifes fauc'd with lyes. Com, Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report, than grateful As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius Bear the addition nobly ever! [Flourish. Trumpets found, and drums. Omnes. Caius Marcius Coriolanus ! And when my face is fair, you fhall perceive To the fairness of my power 3. Com. So, to our tent : Where, ere we do repofe us, we will write To Rome of our fuccefs.-You, Titus Lartius, Lart. I fhall, my lord. Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now Com. Take it: 'tis yours.-What is't? At a poor man's houfe; he us'd me kindly : He cry'd to me; I faw him prifoner; But then Aufidius was within my view, And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you To give my poor hoft freedom. Com. O, well begg'd! Were he the butcher of my fon, he should inftead of it, the neuter. Be free, as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus. Cor. By Jupiter, forgot :— I am weary: yea, my memory is tir'd.5 Have we no wine here? 10 15 Com. Go we to our tent: The blood upon your visage dries; 'tis time A fcurif. SCENE The Camp of the Volces. Carnets. X. [Excunt. Enter Tullus Aufidius bloody, with two or three Soldiers. Auf. The town is ta'en! Sol. "Twill be deliver'd back on good condition. I would, I were a Roman; for I cannot, 20I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, 25 30 35 Auf. Bolder, though not fo fubtle: My valour's [city; Wath my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the Sol. Will not you go? 1 Him for it. The personal bim is not unfrequently used by our author, and other writers of his age, 2 A phrase from heraldry, fignifying, that he would endeavour to fupport 3 i. e. in proportion equal to my power. 4 i. e. the chief men of Corioli. 6 Petch is a word ufed in the midland counties for a rough, violent push. 7 Embarquements mean not only an embarkation, but an embargoing, or impediment. his good opinion of him. 5 i. e. enter into articles. SCENE İ. Rome. ACT Enter Menenius, with Sicinius, and Brutus. Men. HE augurer tells me, we fhall have Bru. Good, or bad? Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius. Sic. Nature teaches beafts to know their friends. Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius. Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear. Men. He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I fhall afk you. Both. Well, fir. II. [converfes more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning. What I think, I utter; and fpend my malice in my 5 (I cannot call you Lycurguffes) if the drink you breath: Meeting two such wealfmen as you are, give me, touch my palate adversly, I make a crooked face at it. I can't fay, your worships have deliver'd the matter well, when I find the afs in 10 and though I must be content to bear with thofe compound with the major part of your fyllables: that fay you are reverend grave men; yet they lye deadly, that tell you you have good faces. If you fee this in the map of my microcofm, follows it, can your biffon 3 confpectuities glean out of this that I am known well enough too? What harm character, if I be known well enough too? 15 Bru. Come, fir, come, we know you well enough. Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitious for poor knaves' Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that 20 caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome you two have not in abundance? Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but ftor'd with all. Sic. Efpecially, in pride. Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Men. This is ftrange now: Do you two know how you are cenfur'd here in the city, I mean of us o' the right hand file? Do you? Bru. Why, how are we cenfur'd? forenoon, in hearing a caufe between an orangewife and a faffet-feller; and then rejourn the controverfy of three-pence to a fecond day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between 25 party and party, if you chance to be pinch'd with the cholic, you make faces like mummers: fet up the bloody flag against all patience 4, and, in roar. ing for a chamber-pot, difmifs the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing: Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will you 30 all the peace you make in their caufe, is, calling not be angry? Both. Well, well, fir, well. Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occafion will rob you of a great deal of patience; give your difpofitions the reins, and be 35 angry at your pleafures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being fo. You blame Marcius for being proud? Bru. We do it not alone, fir. both the parties knaves: you are a pair of strange ones. Bru, Come, come, you are well understood to bencher in the Capitol. be a perfecter giber for the table, than a neceffary Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they fhall encounter fuch ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak beft unto the purpofe, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and Men. I know, you can do very little alone; for 40 your beards deferve not fo honourable a grave, as your helps are many; or elfe your actions would grow wondrous fingle: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: Oh, that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an inte-45 rior furvey of your good felves! O, that you could! Bru. What then, fir? Men. Why, then you should difcover a brace of as unmeriting, proud, violent, tefty magiftrates, (alias, fools) as any in Rome. 1501 Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humourous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in't: faid to be fomething imperfect, in favouring the first complaint; hafty, 55 and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion: one that to ftuff a botcher's cufhion, or to be entomb'd in approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Alluding to the fable, which fays, that every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind him, in which he flows his own. down than an early rifer. 3 i. e. blind. 4 i, e. declare war against patience. Rather a late lier Vol. Val. Good ladies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the 35 fenate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my fon the whole name of the war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly. Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him. Men. Wondrous? ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchafing. Vir. The gods grant them true? Vel. True? pow, wow. 40 Men. True? I'll be fworn they are true;-45 Where is he wounded?-God fave your good worfhips! [To the Tribunes.] Marcius is coming home: he has more caufe to be proud.-Where is he wounded? Vol. I the fhoulder, and i' the left arm: There 50 will be large cicatrices to fhew the people, when he shall stand for his place. He receiv'd in the repulfe of Tarquin, feven hurts i' the body. Men. One i' the neck, and one too i' the thigh:There's nine that I know. Vol. He had before this last expedition, twentyfive wounds upon him. Men. Now 'tis twenty-feven: every gafh was an enemy's grave: Hark, the trumpets. he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears; Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight All. Welcome to Rome, renown'd Coriolanus! Com. Look, fir, your mother, Would't thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd That weep'ft to see me triumph? Ah, my dear, Men. Now the gods crown thee Cor. And live you yet? O my sweet lady, par don. [To Valeria. Vol. I know not where to turn:-O welcome home; weep, And welcome, general;-And you are welcome all. men, Com. Ever right. Cor. Menenius, ever, ever. [To bis Wife and Mother. Vol. I have liv'd [Afbout, and flourish. 60 To fee inherited my very wishes, Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him And the buildings of my fancy : i. e. informed. 2 i. e. according to Mr. Steevens, "Thou whofe filent tears are more eloquent and grateful to me, than the clamorous applaufe of the reft." Only Only there's one thing wanting, which I doubt not, But our Rome will caft upon thee. Cor. Know, good mother, I had rather be their fervant in my way, Than fway with them in theirs. Com. On, to the Capitol. [Flourish. Cornets. [Exeunt in ftate, as before. Brutus and Sicinius come forward. Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared fights Are fpectacled to fee him: Your prattling nurse Into a rapture lets her baby cry, While the chats him: the kitchen malkin 2 pins Are fmother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd Sie. On the fudden, I warrant him conful. Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go fleep. Sic. He cannot temperately tranfport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Lofe thofe he hath won. He ftill hath held them; that, to his power, he would Have made them mules, filenc'd their pleaders, and Difproperty'd their freedoms: holding them, 5 In human action and capacity, Of no more foul, nor fitnefs for the world, Sic. This, as you say, suggested At fome time when his foaring infolence Shall reach the people, (which time shall not want, If he be put upon't; and that's as easy, As to fet dogs on fheep) will be the fire 15 To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze Shall darken him for ever. Enter a Minger. Bru. What's the matter? [thought, Mef. You are fent for to the Capitol. 'Tis 20 That Marcius fhall be conful: I have feen The dumb men throng to fee him, and the blind To hear him fpeak: Mations flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he pafs'd: the nobles bended, 25 As to Jove's ftatue; and the commons made A fhower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts: I never faw the like. Bru. In that there's comfort. 351 Sic. Doubt not, The commoners, for whom we stand, but they, Upon their ancient malice, will forget, With the leaft caufe, these his new honours; which Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for conful, never would he Appear i' the market-place, nor on him put The napless vefture of humility: Nor fhewing (as the manner is) his wounds To the people, beg their stinking breaths. Sic. 'Tis right. 40 Enter tavo Officers, to lay cushions. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almoft here: How many ftand for confulthips? 2 Off. Three, they fay: but 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er lov'd them; and there be many that they have lov'd, 45 they know not wherefore: fo that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love, or hate him, manifefts the true knowledge he has in their difpofition; and, out of his noble careleffness, lets them plainly fee 't. Bru. It was his word: O, he would mifs it, rather Than carry it, but by the fuit o' the gentry to him, 5 And the defire of the nobles. Sic. I with no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it In execution. Bru. 'Tis moft like, he will. Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good will's A fure deftruction. Bru. So it must fall out To him, or our authorities. For an end, We must fuggeft the people, in what hatred 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he wav'd indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he feeks their 55 hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully difcover him their oppofite. Now, to feem to affect the malice and difpleafure of the people, is as bad as that which he diflikes, to flatter them for 16o their love. Rapture was a common term at that time used for a fir fimply. 2 A kind of mop made of clouts for the ufe of fweeping ovens: thence a dirty wench. Maukin in fome parts of England fignifies a figure of clouts fet up to fright birds in gardens, a fcarecrow. 3 Lockram was fome kind of cheap linen. 4 i. e. priefts who jeldom exhibit themselves to public view. Seld is often used by ancient writers for feldum. 5 i. c. as if that god who leads bim, whatfoever god he be. 2 Off. |