Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what | Enter Three or Four CONSPIRATORS of ACEImercy his mother shall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a Most welcome! Sic. The gods be good unto us! Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. [A flourish with Drums and Trumpets. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Antium.-A Public Place. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants. Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here: Deliver them this paper: having read it, Bid them repair to the market-place; where I, Even in theirs and in the commons' ears, Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse, The city ports by this hath enter'd, and Intends to appear before the people, hoping To purge himself with words: Despatch. [Exeunt Attendants. DIUS'S Faction. 1 Con. How is it with our general? And with his charity slain. 2 Con. Most noble Sir, If you do hold the same intent wherein Auf. Sir, I cannot tell : We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. Auf. I know it; And iny pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd Mine honour for his truth: Who being so heigh ten'd, He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery, 3 Con. Sir, his stoutness, By lack of stooping,- Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth; 1 Con. So he did, my lord: When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd Auf. There was it ; For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. [Drums and Trumpets sound, with great 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise. 2 Con. And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear, With giving him glory. 3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage, Ere he express himself, or move the peopl With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounc'd shali bury His reasons with his body. Auf. Say no more: Here come the lords. Enter the LORDS of the City. Lords. You are most welcome home. But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd Lords. We have. Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him. Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colours; Do more than counterpoise, a full third part, With no less honour to the Antiates, Than shame to the Romans; and we here deliver, Auf. Read it not, noble lords; But tell the traitor in the highest degree Cor. Traitor!-How now ? Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius: Dost thou think I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars? Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears,Cor. Ha! Auf. No more. + Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave !-Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever I was fore'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie and his own notion My beating to his grave,) shall join to thrust 1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. f tears. That like an eagle in a dove-cote, I Flutter'd your voices in Corioli: Alone I did it.-Boy! Auf. why, noble lords, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, 'Fore your own eyes and ears? Con. Let him die for't. [Several speak at once Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces, do it presently. He killed my son :-my daughter;-He killed my cousin Március ;--He killed my father. 2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage ;-peace. Shall have judicious+ hearing.-Stand, Autidius, Cor. Oh! that I had bim, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe Auf. Insolent villain! Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him! [AUFIDIUS and the CONSPIRATORS draw, and kill CORIOLANUS, who jalls, and AUFIDIVE stands on him. Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold! Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak. 1 Lord. O Tullus! 2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters, all, be Put up your swords. [quiet: Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this rage, Provok'd by him, you cannot,) the great danger 1 Lord. Bear from hence his body, 2 Lord. His own impatience Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. Let's make the best of it. Auf. My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow.-Take him up: + No more than a boy of tears. His fame overspreads the world. + Judicial. ABOUT the middle of February, A.U.C. 709, a riotous festival sacred to Pan, and called Lupercalia, was hel¿ in honour of Cesar, when the regal crown was offered him by Antony. In the middle of the following March he was assassinated. November 27, 710, the Triumvirs, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius, met at a small island formed by the river Rhenus, near Bononia, and there agreed upon the cruel proscription introduced in Act IV.---In 711, Brutus and Cassius were totally defeated at Philippi.---Shakspeare appears to have produced this play about the year 1607: one, upon the same subject, had been written by a young Scotch Nobleman, the Earl of Sterline; and in many passages of each, a strong similarity may be traced :---this was probably occasioned by both authors drawing their materials from the same source.---A Latin play on this subject, by Dr. Eedes, of Oxford, who is enumerated amongst the best tragic authors of that ara, was published in 1582.---Dr. Johnson cays of this tragedy :---" Many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and reconcilement of Brutus and Cassius are universally celebrated, but I have never been strongly agitated in perusing it, and think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Shakspeare's plays : his adherence to the real story, and to Roman manners, seems to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius.” SCENE: the first three acts at Rome: afterwards at an Island near Mutina, at Sardis; and nea. Philippi. Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, in respect of a fine workman? I am but, as you would say, a cobler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer he directly. 2 Cit. A trade, Sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, Sir, a meuder of bad soals. Mar. What trade, thou knave! thou naughty knave, what trade? 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, Sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, Sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thon saucy fellow? 2 Cit. Why, Sir, cobble yon. I am, 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor woman's matters, but with awl. indeed, Sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, Sir, we make holiday to see Cesar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings What tributaries follow him to Rome, things? O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, |