Auf. Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears? Con. Let him die for't. Cit. [speaking promiscuously.] [Several speak at once. Tear him to pieces, do it presently. He killed my son;-my daughter; He killed my cousin Marcus;-He killed my father.— 2 Lord. Peace, ho; no outrage; - peace. The man' is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o'the earth. 1 His last offence to us Cor. O, that I had him, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword! Auf. Insolent villain! Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. Lords. [AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFI DIUS stands on him. Hold, hold, hold, hold. Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak. 1 Lords. O Tullus, 2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.—Masters all, be quiet; Put up your swords. Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this rage, Provok'd by him you cannot,) the great danger Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice, That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours To call me to your senate, I'll deliver 11 his fame folds in 2 This orb o'the earth.] His fame overspreads the world. -judicious hearing.] Perhaps judicious, in the present instance, signifies judicial; such a hearing as is allowed to criminals in courts of judicature. Thus imperious is used by our author for imperial. Myself your loyal servant, or endure Your heaviest censure. 1 Lord. And mourn you Bear from hence his body, for him: let him be regarded As the most noble corse, that ever herald Did follow to his urn. 2 Lord. 3 His own impatience Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. Auf. And I am struck with sorrow. My rage is gone, Yet he shall have a noble memory. 4 [Exeunt, bearing the Body of CORIOLANUS. A Dead March sounded.5 that ever herald Did follow to his urn.] This allusion is to a custom unknown, I believe, to the ancients, but observed in the publick funerals of English princes, at the conclusion of which a herald proclaims the style of the deceased. STEEVENS. 4 a noble memory.] Memory for memorial. The tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amusing of our author's performances. The old man's merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady's dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modesty in Virgilia; the patrician and military haughtiness in Coriolanus; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian insolence in Brutus and Sicinius, make a very pleasing and interesting variety: and the various revolutions of the hero's fortune fill the mind with anxious curiosity. There is, perhaps, too much bustle in the first Act, and too little in the last. JOHNSON. END OF THE SIXTH VOLUME. |