Soft as the parasite's silk, let him ' be made As if I lov'd my little should be dieted 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 sound, and drums. And when my face is fair, you shall perceive instead of it, the neuter. 5 10 15 A flourish. Cornets. 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, 20' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, 30 Sol. He's the devil. [poison'd, Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My valour's With only suffering stain by him; for him Shall flie out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary, Being naked, sick; nor fane, nor capitol, 35 The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice, Embarquements' all of fury, shall lift up Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it At home, upon my brother's guard, even there, 40 Against the hospitable canon, would I [city; Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the Sol. Will not you go? B Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove: pray you, Tis south the city mills) bring me word thither 50 Sol. I shall, sir. [Exeunt. 'Him for it. The personal him is not unfrequently used by our author, and other writers of his age A phrase from heraldry, signifying, that he would endeavour to suppor i.e. in proportion equal to my power. i.e. the chief men of Corioli "Potch is a word used in the midland counties for a rough, violent push Embarquements mean not only an embarkation, but an embargoing, or impediment. i. e. expected his good opinion of him. i. e. enter into articles. Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius. Sic. Nature teaches beasts 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 shall ask you. Both. Well, sir. converses more with the buttock of the night, than with the forehead of the morning, What I think, I utter; and spend my malice in my breath: Meeting two such wealsmen as you are, 5 (I cannot call you Lycurgusses) if the drink you give me, touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I can't say, your worships have deliver'd the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables; and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men; yet they lye deadly, that tell you you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it, that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson' conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too? 10 15 Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censur'd here in the city, I mean of us o' the right-hand file? Do you? Bru. Why, how are we censur'd? 25 Bru. Come, sir, come, we know you well enough, Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome forenoon, in hearing a cause between an orangewife and a fasset-seller; and then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinch'd with the cholic, you make faces like muminers: set up the bloody flag against all patience, and, in roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing: Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will 30 all the peace you make in their cause, is, calling you not be angry? Both. Well, well, sir, well. Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great Ideal of patience; give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud? Bru. We do it not alone, sir. both the parties knaves; you are a pair of strange ones. Bru. Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table, than a neces35sary bencher in the Capitol. Men. I know, you can do very little alone; for 40 your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: 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 interior survey of your good selves! O, that you could! Bru. What then, sir? Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of as unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, (aliàs, fools) as any in Rome. Men. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose, t is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave, as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be entomb'd in an ass's pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcius is proud; who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors, since Deucalion; 45 though, peradventure, some of the best of them were hereditary hangmen. Good-e'en to your worships: more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you, 50 Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria. How now, my fair as noble ladies, (and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler) whither do you follow your eyes so fast? 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; said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint; hasty, 55 and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion: one that Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcius coming home? 'Alluding to the fable, which says, that every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind him, in which he stows his own. lier-down than an early riser. i, e. blind. i. e. declare war against patience. Rather a late He carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears; 5 A Senate. Trumpets sound. Enter Cominius the 10 Men. A letter for me? It gives me an estate of seven years' health; in which time, I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign pre-15 scription in Galen is but empyric qutique, and, to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded. Vir. O, no, no, no. Vol. O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for't. Men. So do I too, if it be not too much :Brings 'a victory in his pocket?-The wounds become him. 20 Vol. On's brows, Menenius; he comes the 25 third time home with the oaken garland. Men. Has he disciplin'd Aufidius soundly? Vol. Titus Lartius writes,-they fought together, but Aufidius got off. Men. And it was time for him too, I'll warrant 30 him that: an' he had staid by him, I would not have been so fidius'd for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the senate possess'd' of this? Vol. Good ladies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the 35 senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son 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 purchasing. Vir. The gods grant them true! Men. True? I'll be sworn they are true';Where is he wounded?-God save your good worships! [To the Tribunes.] Marcius is coming home he has more cause to be proud.—Where is he wounded? 1401 45 Vol. I' the shoulder, and i' the left arm: There 50 will be large cicatrices to shew the people, when he shall stand for his place. He receiv'd, in the repulse of Tarquin, seven 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-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave: Hark, the trumpets. All. Welcome to Rome, renown'd Coriolanus ! Cor. No more of this, it does offend any hearts Pray now, no more. Com. Look, sir, your mother, Cor. O! You have, I know, petition'd all the gods Vol. Nay, my good soldier, up; My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and Cor. My gracious silence2, hail! Would'st thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home, That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear don. weep, Men. Now the gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet? O my sweet lady, par[To Valeria. Vol. I know not where to turn:-O, welcome home: [all. And welcome, general;-And you are welcome Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could [come: And I could laugh; I am light and heavy. WelA curse begin at very root of's heart, That is not glad to see thee!- -You are three, That Rome should dote on: yet by the faith of [will not We have some old crab-trees here at home, that Be grated to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: We call a nettle, but a nettle; and The faults of fools but folly. men, Com. Ever right. Cor. Menenius, ever, ever, [To his Wife and Mother. [A shout, and flourish. 60 Vol. I have liv'd To see inherited my very wishes, Vol.These are th' ushers of Marcius: before him And the buildings of my fancy: 1i. e. informed. 2 i. e. according to Mr. Steevens, "Thou whose silent tears are more eloquent and grateful to me, than the clamorous applause of the rest," Only Only there's one thing wanting, which I doubt Cor. Know, good mother, I had rather be their servant in my way, [not, Com. On, to the Capitol. [Flourish. Cornets. Are spectacled to see him: Your prattling nurse While she chats him: the kitchen-malkin 2 pins Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens Sic. On the sudden, I warrant him consul. Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not, The commoners, for whom we stand, but they, Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. Tis 20 That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind To hear him speak: Matrons flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended, 25 As to Jove's statue; and the commons made A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and I never saw the like. [shouts : Bru. Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, 130 But hearts for the event. 35 With the least cause, these his new honours; which Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he Sic. Have with you. SCENE II. The Capitol. [Exeunt. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here: How many stand for consulships? 2 Off. Three, they say; but 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's ven geance 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: so 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, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; Than carry it, but by the suit o' the gentry to him, 50 and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them And the desire of the nobles. Nor shewing (as the manner is) his wounds Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it, rather plainly see't.. 1 Of. 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 seeks their 55 hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them 160 for their love. 1 Rapture was a common term at that time used for a fit simply. A kind of mop made of clouts for the use of sweeping ovens: thence a dirty wench.-Maukin in some parts of England signifies a figure of clouts set up to fright birds in gardens; a scarecrow. 3 Lockram was some kind of cheap linen. 4i. e. priests who seldom exhibit themselves to public view.-Seld is often used by ancient writers for seldom. i. e. as if that god who leads him, whatsoever god he be. 2 Of. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who have been supple and courteous to the people; bonneted', without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but 5 he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much,| were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a malice, that, giving itself the lye, 10 would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it. 10f. No more of him; he is a worthy man: Make way, they are coming. 20 A Senate. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of 15 [you, We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Sic. We are convented Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts Bru. Which the rather We shall be blest to do, if he remember Men. That's off, that's off2; I would you rather had been silent: Please you Bru. Most willingly; But yet my caution was more pertinent, Men. He loves your people; 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. Your honours' pardon; I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus 4 The man I speak of cannot in the world 35 I cannot speak him home: He stopt the fliers; A vessel under sail, so men obey'd, [stamp) 55 And to the battle came he; where he did 2 i. e. that is nothing to the purpose. i. e. his chin on which there was no beard. 1 Bonneter, Fr. is, to pull off one's cap. power to recover Rome." 3i. e. raised a The parts of women were, in Shakspeare's time, represented by the most smooth-faced young men to be found among the i.e. the gate was made the scene of death. players. Το |