OBSERVATIONS. THE HE tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amufing of our author's performances. The old man's merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady's dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modefty in Virgilia ; the patrician and military haughtiness in Coriolanus ; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian infolence in Brutus and Sicinius, make a very pleafing and interefting variety: and the various revolutions of the hero's fortune fill the mind with anxious curiofity. There is, perhaps, too much bustle in the first act, and too little in the laft. JOHNSON. The whole hiftory is exactly followed, and many of the principal speeches exactly copied from the Life of Coriolanus in Plutarch. РОРЕ. Of this play, there is no edition before that of the "players, in folio, in 1623. JOHNSON. PERSONS REPRESENTED. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman. COMINIUS, MENENIUS AGRIPPA, Friend to Coriolanus. TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volfcians. Young MARCIUS, Son to Coriolanus. Confpirators with Aufidius. VOLUMNIA, Mother to Coriolanus. VIRGILIA, Wife to Coriolanus. VALERIA, Friend to Virgilia. Roman and Volfcian Senators, Ediles, Litors, Soldiers, Common People, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants. The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians and Antiates. CORIOLANUS. ACT I. SCENE I. A Street in Rome. Enter a Company of mutinous Citizens, with Staves, Clubs, and other Weapons. I Citizen. BEFORE we proceed any further, hear me speak. Speak, fpeak. 1 Cit. You are refolv'd rather to die, than to famish? All. Refolv'd, resolv❜d. I Cit. First, you know Caius Marcius is the chief enemy to the people. All. We know't, we know't. 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict? All. No more talking on't; let it be done : away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good citizens. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good. What authority furfeits on, would relieve us. If they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear.[1] The leannefs that afflicts us, the object of our mifery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them.-Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes [2] for the Gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? All. Against him firft; he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Confider you what fervices he has done for his country? [1] They think that the charge of maintaining us is more than we are worth. JOHNS. [2] I believe the proverb, 'as lean as a rake,' owes its origin to the thin taper form of the inftrument made ufe of by hay-makers. As thin as a whipping-poft,' is another proverb of the fame kind. STEEV. VOL. VI. I 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud. All. Nay, but speak not malicioufly. 1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end. Though foft-confcienced men can be content to fay, it was for his country; he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: You muft in no way say, he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are thofe? The other fide o'the city is rifen: Why stay we prating here? To the Capitol All. Come, come. I Cit. Soft ;-who comes here? Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA. 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people. 1 Cit. He's one honest enough; would, all the reft were fo! Men. What works, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you. 2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the fenate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in deeds. They fay, poor fuitors have strong breaths; they fhall know we have ftrong arms too. Men. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 2 Cit. We cannot, fir; we are undone already. |