open declaration of it: he could not bear to hear his | riolanus that I bear. For I never had other benefit of nothings monstered.'

Pray you, no more; my mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise me, grieves me.' But yet his pride was his greatest characteristic: Which out of daily fortune ever taints The happy man.'

This it was that made him seek distinction from the
ordinary herd of popular heroes; his honour must be
won by difficult and daring enterprise, and worn in
silence. It was this pride which was his overthrow; and
from which the moral of the piece is to be drawn. He
had thrown himself with the noble and confiding mag-
nanimity of a hero into the hands of an enemy, know-
ing that the truly brave are ever generous; but two
suns could not shine in one hemisphere; Tullus Aufi-
dius found he was darkened by his light, and he ex-
claims :-

He bears himself more proudlier
Even to my person than I thought he would
When I did first embrace him: Yet his nature
In that's no changeling.'

the true and painful service I have done, and the extreme dangers I have been in, but this surname: a good memory and witness of the malice and displeasure thou shouldest bear me. Indeed the name only remaineth with me; for the rest, the envy and cruelty of the people of Rome have taken from me, by the suf ferance of the dastardly nobility and magistrates, who have forsaken me, and let me be banished by the people. This extremity hath now driven me to come as a poor suitor, to take thy chimney-hearth, not of any hope I have to save my life thereby. For if I feared death, I would not have come hither to put myself in hazard; but pricked forward with desire to be revenged of them that have thus banished me, which now I do begin, by putting my person in the hands of their enemies. Wherefore if thou hast any heart to be wreaked of the injuries thy enemies have done thee, speed thee now, and let my misery serve thy turn, and so use it as my service may be a benefit to the Volces; promising thee that I will fight with better good-will for all you, than I did when I was against you, knowing that they fight more valiantly who know the force of the enemy, than such as have never proved it. And if it be so that thou dare not, and that thou art weary to prove The closeness with which Shakspeare has followed fortune any more, then am I also weary to live his original, Sir Thomas North's translation of Plu- any longer. And it were no wisdom in thee to save the tarch, will be observed upon comparison of the fol- life of him who hath been heretofore thy mortal enelowing passage, with the parallel scene in the play, my, and whose service now can nothing help or pleadescribing Coriolanus's flight to Antium, and his re- sure thee.'-Tullus, hearing what he said, was a mar. ception by Aufidius. It was even twilight when he vellous glad man, and, taking him by the hand, he entered the city of Antium, and many people met him said to him, "Stand up, O Martius, and be of good in the streets, but no man knew him. So he went im-cheer, for in proffering thyself unto us, thou doest us mediately to Tullus Aufidius' house; and when he great honour: and by this means thou mayest hope came thither he got him up straight to the chimney also of greater things at all Volces' hands." So he hearth, and sat him down, and spake not a word to feasted him for that time, and entertained him in the any man, his face all muffled over. They of the house honourablest manner he could, talking with him of no spying him, wondered what he should be, and yet they other matter at that present; but within a few days durst not bid him rise. For ill-favouredly muffled and after they fell to consultation together in what sort they disguised as he was, yet there appeared a certain ma- should begin their wars.' jesty in his countenance and in his silence; whereupon they went to Tullus, who was at supper, to tell him of the strange disguising of this man. Tullus rose presently from the board, and, coming towards him, asked him what he was, and wherefore he came. Then Martius unmuffled himself, and, after he had paused awhile, making no answer, he said unto himself, If thou knowest me not yet, Tullus, and seeing me, dost not perhaps believe me to be the man I am indeed, I must of necessity discover myself to be that I am. I am Caius Martius, who hath done to thyself particularly, and to all the Volces generally, great hurt and mischief, which I cannot deny for my surname of Co-year 1610.

In the scene of the meeting of Coriolanus with his wife and mother, when they come to supplicate him to spare Rome, Shakspeare has adhered very closely to his original. He felt that it was sufficient to give it merely a dramatic form. The speech of Volumnia, as we have observed in a note, is almost in the very words of the old translator of Plutarch.

The time comprehended in the play is about four years; commencing with the secession to the Mons Sacer, in the year of Rome 262, and ending with the death of Coriolanus, A. U. C. 266.

Malone conjectures it to have been written in the

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman.

TITUS LARTIUS, Generals against the Volcians.
COMINIUS,

MENENIUS AGRIPPA, Friend to Coriolanus.
SICINIUS VELUTUS, Tribunes of the People.
JUNIUS BRUtus,

Young MARCIUS, Son to Coriolanus.

A Roman Herald.

TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volcians.
Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Conspirators with Aufidius.

A Citizen of Antium.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Rome. A Street. Enter a Company of mutinous Citizens, with Staves, Clubs, and other Weapons.

1 Citizen.

BEFORE we proceed any further, hear me speak. Cit. Speak, speak. [Several speaking at once. 1 Cit. You are all resolved rather to die, than to famish?

Two Volcian Guards.

VOLUMNIA, Mother to Coriolanus.
VIRGILIA, Wife to Coriolanus.
VALERIA, Friend to Virgilia.
Gentlewoman, attending Virgilia

Roman and Volcian Senators, Patricians, Ediles,
Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Messenger, Servants
to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

SCENE-partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volcians and Antiates.

Cit. 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 surfeits on, would relieve us; If they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely; but they think, we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance: our sufferance is a gain to them.-Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become 1 Good, in a commercial sense. As in Eastward Hoe:'-known good men, well monied.' 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at Again in the Merchant of Venice:

Cit. Resolved, resolved.

1 Cit. First you know, Caius Marcius is chief

enemy to the people.

Cit. We know't, we know't.

our own price. Is't a verdict

'Antonio's a good man.'

ful version of the text. "Though some of you have 1 It should be remembered that as lean as a rake' is heard the story, I will spread it yet wider, and diffuse it an old proverbial expression. There is, as Warburton among the rest." There is nothing of this in Shakobserves, a miserable joke intended :- Let us now re-speare; and indeed I cannot avoid looking upon the venge this with forks, before we become rakes,' a pike, or pike-fork, being the ancient term for a pitchfork. The origin of the proverb is doubtless as lean as a rache or ræcc,' (pronounced rake,) and signifying a greyhound.

3 The old copies have "scale't a little more ;" for 8 The heart was anciently esteemed the seat of the unwhich Theobald judiciously proposed stale. To this derstanding. See the next note. There has been Warburton objects petulantly enough, it must be con- strange confusion in the appropriation of some parts of fessed, because to scale signifies to weigh; so indeed it this dialogue in all editions, even to the last by Mr. Bosdoes, and many other things; none of which, however, well. Not to encumber the page, I must request the bear any relation to the text. Steevens too prefers scale, reader to compare this with the former editions, and which he proves from a variety of authorities to mean have no doubt he will approve the transposition of scatter, disperse, spread :' to make any of them, how-names which has been here made.

ever, suit his purpose, he is obliged to give an unfaith- 9 Shakspeare uses seat for throne. I send it (says

And through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins,
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live: And though that all at once,
You, my good friends, (this says the belly,) mark

me,

1 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well.
Men.

Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each;
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flower of all,
And leave me but the bran. What say you to't?
1 Cit. It was an answer: How apply you this?
Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And the mutinous members: For examine
you
Their counsels, and their cares; digest things rightly,
Touching the weal of the common; you shall find,
No public benefit which you receive,

But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,
And no way from yourselves.-What do you think?
You, the great toe of this assembly?—

Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe?
Men. For that being one o' the lowest, basest,
poorest,

Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,2
Lead'st first to win some vantage.-

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle,
The one side must have bale. Hail, noble Marcius.
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissen

tious rogues,

That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?
1 Cit.
We have ever your good word.
Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will

flatter

Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you

curs,

That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares';
Where foxes, geese: You are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,
To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it." Who deserves

greatness,

Deserves your hate: and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye!
Trust ye?

With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter,
That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another?-What's their seeking?

Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof,

they say,

The city is well stor'd.

Mar.

Hang 'em! They say?
They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know
What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and
give out

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain
enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,
And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry"
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per
suaded;

For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

Mar.

They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth pro

verbs;

That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat;

That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods

sent not

Corn for the rich men only:-With these shreds
They vented their complainings; which being an-
swer'd,

And a petition granted them, a strange one
(To break the heart of generosity,

And make bold power look pale,) they threw their

caps

As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon,
Shouting their emulation.10
Men.
What is granted them?
of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus,
Mar. Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath!
Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time
Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection's arguing."
This is strange.
Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!
Enter a Messenger.

the belly) through the blood, even to the royal resi 3 Bale is evil or mischief, harm or injury. The word dence, the heart, in which the kingly-crowned under- is pure Saxon, and was becoming obsolete in Shakstanding sits enthroned. The poet, besides the rela-speare's time.

tions in Plutarch, had seen a similar fable in Camden's 4 Coriolanus does not use these two sentences censeRemaines ; Camden copied it from John of Salisbury, quentially; but first reproaches them with unsteadiness, De Nugis Curialium, b. vi. c. 24. Mr. Douce, in a very then with their other occasional vices. curious note, has shown the high antiquity of this apo- 5 Your virtue is to speak well of him whom his own logue, which is to be found in several ancient collec-offences have subjected to justice; and to rail at those tions of sopian Fables: there may be, therefore, as laws by which he whom you praise was punished.' much reason for supposing it the invention of sop, as there is for making him the parent of many others. 1 Cranks are windings; the meandering ducts of the human body.

2 Rascal and in blood are terms of the forest, both here used equivocally. The meaning seems to be, "thou worthless scoundrel, though thou art in the worst plight for running of all this herd of plebeians, like a deer not in blood, thou takest the lead in this tumult in order to obtain some private advantage to thyself. Worst in blood' has a secondary meaning of lowest in condition. The modern editions have erroneously a comma at blood, which obscures the sense.

6 i. e. pity, compassion.

7 Quarry or queri e signified slaughtered game of any kind, which was so denominated from being deposited in a square enclosed space in royal hunting.

8 Pick, peck, or picke, i. e. pitch; still in provincial use. The fact is, that, in ancient language, to pick was used for to cast, throw, or hurl, to pitch was to set or fix any thing in a particular spot.

9 Generosity, in the sense of its Latin original, for nobleness, high birth. Thus in Measure for Measure:"The generous and gravest citizens.' 10 Emulation is factions contention 11 For insurgents to debate upon.

Mar. They have a leader,

Tallus Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I sin in envying his nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me only he.
Com.

CORIOLANUS.

You have fought together.
Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears,

and he

Upon my party, I'd revolt to make
Only my wars with him: he is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.

1 Sen.

217

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits' rob Cominius.

Besides, if things go well,

Bru.

Come:

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,
In aught he merit not.

Sic.

8

Then, worthy Marcius, How the despatch is made: and in what fashion,
Let's hence, and hear
More than in singularity, he goes
Upon his present action.
Bru.

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I What ever hath been thought on in this state, know,

your homes, be
Mar.
[To the Citizens.
The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,
Nay, let them follow:
To gnaw their garners-Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and
MENEN. Citizens steal away.
Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the
people,

Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes?
Sic.

Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to girds the gods.

Sic. Bemock the modest moon.
Bru. The present wars devour him: he is
Too proud to be so valiant.

9

That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention! "Tis not four days gone,
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think,
I have the letter here; yes, here it is:
They have prestio a
[Reads.
power, but it is not known
Whether for east or west: The dearth is great;
The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius, your old enemy,
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,"
(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,)
These three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you:
Consider of it.
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
1 Sen. Our army's in the field:
Nor did you think it folly,
To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when
They needs must show themselves; which in the
hatching,

To answer us.
Auf.

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,
To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen.
Noble Aufidius,
Take your commission; hie you to your bands:
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they set down before us, for the remove12
Bring up your army; but I think you'll find
They have not prepar'd for us.
Auf.

O, doubt not that;
I speak from certainties. Nay, more.
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.

If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike
Till one can do no more.

1 i. e. immoveable in my resolution. So in Julius I have not promoted and preferred you to condign

preferments according to your demerits.'"

S Perhaps the word singularity implies a sarcasm on Coriolanus, and the speaker means to say-after what fashion beside that in which his own singularity of dis

4 That is, You have in this mutiny shown fair blos- position invests him, he goes into the field. soms of valour. So in King Henry VIII. :

6 The present wars' Shakspeare uses to express the pride of Coriolanus, grounded on his military prowess; which kind of pride, Brutus says, devours him. In Troilus and Cressida, Act ii. Sc. 3. we have :He that's proud eats up himself. Perhaps the meaning of the latter member of the sentence is, 'He is grown too proud of being so valiant to be endured. It is still a common expression to say, 'eat up with pride.'

7 Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning.

'What have been ever thought on in this state." things have,' &c. or read with Steevens, hath, as in the text. We must either suppose this an ellipsis for What

10 i. e. ready; from the old French prest. Thus in the Merchant of Venice, Act i. Sc. 1:

say to me what I should do,
That in your knowledge may by me be done,
And I am prest unto it.'

Cleopatra :-
11 To take in was formerly used as we now use to
take for to subdue, to conquer. Thus in Antony and

cut the Ionian seas,
And take in Toryne.'

remove them.'
12 If the Romans besiege us, bring up your army to

All. The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honours safe!

1 Šen.

2 Sen.

All. Farewell.

Farewell.

SCENE III. Rome. An Apartmennt in Marcius' House. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit down on two low stools, and sew.

Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear drum, than look upon his school master.

Vol. One of his father's moods.
Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack," madam.

Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear Farewell. 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon [Exeunt. him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after go again; and after it again; and over and over a gilded butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it he Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express your-whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did comes, and up again; catched it again: or self in a more comfortable sort: If my son were so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence mammocked it! wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of] my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, her mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleased to let him scek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak.2 I tell thee, daughter,-I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a

man.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam? how then?

Vol. Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: Had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius,-I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out

of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit

vou.

Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire3 myself.
Vol. Indeed, you shall not.

Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum;
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;

As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him:
Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,-
Come on, you cowards, you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome: His bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes;
Like to a harvest-man, that's task'd to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man,
Than gilt his trophy: The breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords' contending.-Tell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome.
[Exit Gent.

Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.

Re-enter Gentlewoman, with VALERIA and her
Usher.

Val. My ladies both, good day to you.
Vol. Sweet madam,-

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot," in good faith.-How does your little son?

Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

1 Attracted the attention of every one toward him. 2 The crown given by the Romans to him that saved the life of a citizen, which was accounted more honourable than any other.

3 This verb active (signifying to withdraw) occurs in The Tempest:---

'I will thence

Retire me to my Milan.'

4 Gilt means a superficial display of gold. The word is now obsolete.

Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched.'
King Henry V.

Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She shall, she shall.

over the threshold, till my lord return from the Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not

wars.

Val. Fye, you confine yourself most unreasonably; Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. "Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would, your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband.

Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, madam?

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.

Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think she would:--Fare you well, then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door, and go along with us. Vir. No: at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth. Val. Well, then, farewell. SCENE IV. Before Corioli. Enter, with Drum and Colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Officers and Soldiers. To them a Messenger.

Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy?

5 i. e. a handsome spot of embroidery. We often hear of spotted muslin.

6 To mammock is to tear or cut in pieces.

7 A crack signifies a sprightly forward boy: it is often used by Jonson and his contemporaries:'If we could get a witty boy, now, Eugine, That were an excellent crack, I could instruct him To the true height." Devil is an Ass. 'A notable dissembling lad, a crack.' Four Prentices of London, 1613.