The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volscians and Antiates. 5 I. we become rakes': for the gods know, I speak All. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country? 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give 10 him good report for 't, but that he pays himself with being proud. 15 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the pa-20 tricians, 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 25 All. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft-conscienc'd men can be content to say, 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 hin: You inust in no way say, he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o' the city is risen: Why stay we prating here? to the Capitol All. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here? 'The whole history is exactly followed, and many of the principal speeches exactly copied from the Life of Coriolanus in Plutarch. 2 Good is here used in the mercantile sense. 3 Alluding to the proverb, as lean as a rake; which perhaps owes its origin to the thin taper form of the instrument made use of by hay-makers. Dr. Johnson observes, that Rekel, in Islandick, is said to mean a cur-dog, and this was probably the first use among us of the word rake.—As lean as a rake is, therefore, as lean as a dog too worthless to be fed. 1, Enter pray you. 5 And mutually participate, did minister Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus- That envy'd his receipt; even so most fitly S 2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the se-10To the discontented members, the mutinous parts nate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll shew 'em in deeds. They say,poor suitors have strong breaths; they hall know, we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 2 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. 15 20 25 Thither where more attends you; and you slander 30 2 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and 2 Cit. Your belly's answer-What! In this our fabrick, if that they Men. What then?— If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little) Men. Note me this, good friend; their store-houses cramm'd with grain; make 35" True is it, my incorporate friends," quoth he, edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily Confess yourselves wond'rous malicious, 2 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace' with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. "That I receive the general food at first, "Which you do live upon; and fit it is; "Because I am the store-house, and the shop "Of the whole body: But, if you do remember, 40" I send it through the rivers of your blood, "Even to the court, the heart, to the seat' o' the brain; "And, through the cranks and offices of man, "The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins, 45" From me receive that natural competency "Whereby they live: And though that all at once "You,my good friends," (this says thebelly) mark 2 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. [me, Men. "Though all at once cannot Men. There was a time, when all the body's 50" See what I do deliver out to each; "Yet I can make my audit up, that all 2 To scale is to disperse. The word is still used in the North. The meaning is, Though some of you have heard the story, I will spread it yet wider, and diffuse it among the rest. Disgraces are hardships, injuries. Where for whereas. i.e. with a smile not indicating pleasure, but contempt. ⚫i.e, exactly. The heart was anciently esteemed the seat of prudence. Seat for throne. Touching Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 5 Men. Nay,theseare almost thoroughlypersuaded; Mar. They are dissolv'd: Hang'em! [verbs; Men. What is granted them? 20 Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus, 130 2 Cu. We have ever your good word. [flatter Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter, 40 ing? [they say, Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, 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 150 Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, 4 s'death! The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mes. Where's Caius Marcius? Mes. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. to vent Our musty superfluity:-See, our best elders. Enter Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators; Junius Brutus, and Sicinius Velutus. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately The Volces are in arms. [told us; Mar. They have a leader, Tullus 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. You have fought together. [and he Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, 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. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Tit. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, Ere stay behind this business. The meaning is, Thou art a hound, or running dog of the lowest breed, lead'st the pack, when any thing is to be gotten. 2 Bale is an old Saxon word for misery or calamity. i. e. their pity, compassion. The old copy reads-picke my lance; and so the word is still pronounced in Stafordshire, where they say-picke me such a thing, that is, throw any thing that the demander wants. "Meaning, To give the final blow to the nobles. Generosity is high birth. viz. that the Volces Men. That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome They have press'd a power, but it is not known [Reading. "Whether for east, or west: The dearth is great ; The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd, Coninius, Marcius your old enemy, (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you) "And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, "These three lead on this preparation Mar. Nay, let them follow: [Exeunt. [ple, Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the peo- [gods. 20 [grown Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to'gird the Bru. The present wars devour him he is Sic. Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- Sic. Besides, if things go well, Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, Bru. Let's along. The Senate-House in Corioli. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you! "Consider of it." 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us. Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veíl'd, 'till when It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, Enter Volumnia, and Virgilia: They sit down on two low stools, and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express [Exeunt. 50 yourself in a more comfortable sort: If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed,where he would shew most love. When yet he was but tender-body'd, and 55the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels, Auf. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on in this state, To sneer, to gibe. 2 The sense is, that the present wars annihilate his gentler qualities. 3 Me rits and demerits had anciently the same meaning. * i. e. We will learn what he is to do, besides going himself; what are his powers, and what is his appointment. siege us, bring up your army to remove them. That is, If the Romans be was was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleas'd to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak: I tell thee, 5 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? flet it go again; and after it again; and over and Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must 10have you play the idle huswife with me this after 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 15 nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. [self. noon. Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors! Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, 'till my lord return from the wars. Vul. Fie, you confine yourself most unreason20ably: Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. 25 Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire my- Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Enter Valeria, with an Usher, and a Gentlewoman. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little son? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, Than look upon his school-master. 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' ab would, your cambrick were sensible as your sence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall with us. go 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, madain ? Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces have an army torth; against whom Cominius the general is gon, with one part of our Roman power: your lord 45 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 hcnour; and so, I pray, go with us. 50 Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 55 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I look'd upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirm'd countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter. Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, sh 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 solemnness 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. [Excunt. The crown given by the Romans to him that saved the life of a citizen, and was accounted more honourable than any other. 2 Gilt is an obsolete word, meaning a superficial display of gold. 1To mammock is a phrase still used in Staffordshire, and implies to cut in pieces, or to tear. + Crack signifies a boy child. Z z 2 SCENE |