art 3. Scene 3.] Men. Calmly, I do beseech you. Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume.-The honour'd gods Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice 1 Sen. Amen, amen! Men. A noble wish. What you have seen him do, and heard him spea 10 [sent? 15 Cor. Shall I be charg'd no further than this pre Must all determine here? Sic. I do demand, If you submit you to the people's voices, To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be prov'd upon you? Cor. I am content. Men. Lo, citizens, he says he is content: Bru. But since he hath Cor. What do you prate of service? [mothe Men. Is this the promise that you made yo Cor. I'll know no further: Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeïan death, (As much as in him lies) from time to time The warlike service he has done, consider; think 25 Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presenc Upon the wounds his body bears, which shew Like graves i' the holy church-yard. [only. Cor. Scratches with briers,scars to move laughter That when he speaks not like a citizen, 2 Rather than envy you. Com. Well, well, no more. Cor. What's the matter, That being past for consul with full voice, Sic. Answer to us. Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so. [take Men. Nay; temperately: Your promise. Sic. Mark you this, people? All.To the rock with him! to the rock with him! We need not lay new matter to his charge; Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers From off the rock Tarpeïan, never more All. It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away I have been consul, and can shew from Rome, My country's good, with a respect more tende 50 Sic. We know your drift: Speak what? [ha All. It shall be so, it shall be so. 2 i. e. would bear being called a knave as often as would fill out a volume. Envy is here take at large for malignity, or ill intention. i. e. all office established and settled by time. i. e. behav with signs of hatred to the people 5 Ae in this instance would seem to have the nower of na my Cor. What, what, what! 30 Cor. O the gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Cor. Fare ye well: Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full Men. That's worthily As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.- I shall be lov'd,when I am lack'd. Nay, mother, [wel!, Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen) your Cor. Give me thy hand :-Come. SCENE II. [Exeunt. The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided 55 In his behalf. Bru. Now we have shewn our power, 3 i. e. foolish. calls this 'Abated is dejected, subdued, depressed in spirits. 2 The sense is, When fortune strikes her hardest blows, to be wounded, and yet continue calm, requires a generous policy. He calmness cunning, because it is the effect of reflection and philosophy. artful and false tricks, and treason. First, i. e. noblest, and most eminent of men. true metal unallay'd: a metaphor taken from trying gold on the touchstone. by 4 i. e. Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague peace; be not so loud. [hear;- Vir. [To Sicin.] You shall stay too: I would, To say so to my husband. Sic. Are you mankind1? [fool. Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a shame ?—Note but this Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship2 To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, Than thou hast spoken words? Sic. O blessed heavens! [words; Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-Yet go; Nay, but thou shalt stay too:-I would my son Sic. What then? Vir. What then? He'd make an end of thy posterity. Vol. Bastards, and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! Men. Come, come, peace, Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country, 25 30 Fol, Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, SCENE III. Between Rome and Antium. [Exeunt. Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volcian state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 35 thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies 40 glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Vol. Coriolanus banish'd? Vol. You will be welcome with this intelli45/gence, Nicanor. Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear 50well in these wars, his great opposer Coriolanus being now in no request of his country. Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accom55pany you home. Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you more strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? 1 Dr. Johnson here remarks, that the word mankind is used maliciously by the first speaker, and taken perversely by the second. A mankind woman is a woman with the roughness of a man, and, in an aggravated sense, a woman ferocious, violent, and eager to shed blood. In this sense Sicinius asks Volumnia, if she be mankind. She takes mankind for a human creature, and accordingly cries out: "Note but this fool.-Was not a man my father?" 2 i. e. cunning enough. Vol. A most royal one: the centurions, and] their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment', and to be on foot at an hour's warning. Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, 5 and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company. Vol. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours. Rom. Well, let us go together. SCENE IV. Antium. Before Aufidius's House. 10 [Exeunt. Enter Coriolanus, in mean apparel, disguis'd and 15 with anon. muffled. Cor, A goodly city is this Antium: City, "Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir Of these fair edifices for my wars Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not; 20 Lest that thywives with spits, and boys with stones, Enter a Citizen. In puny battle slay me.-Save you, sir. Cit. And you. Cor. Direct me, if it be your will, Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state At his house this ni..ht. Cor. Which is his house, 'beseech you? Cor. Thank you, sir; farewell. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, [sleep Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, SCENE V. A Hall in Aufidius's House. Music plays. Enter a Serving-man, 25 Enter a third Servant. The first meets him. 3 Serv. What fellow's this? 1 Serv. A strange one as ever I look'd on: I cannot get him out o' the house: Pr'ythee, call my master to him. 3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow ? Pray you, avoid the house. [hearth, Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your 3 Serv. What are you? Cor. A gentleman. 3 Serv. A marvellous poor one. Cor. True, so I am. 3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station: here's no place for you; 30 pray you, avoid: come. 35 401 45 [Exit. 1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep. Enter another Serving-man. [Exit. 50 2 Ser. Where's Cotus? my master calls for 55 him. Cotus! [Exit. Enter Coriolanus. Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I Appear not like a guest. Cor. Follow your function, go, And batten on cold bits, [Pushes him away. 3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here. 2 Serv. And I shall. 3 Serv. Where dwell'st thou? Cor. Under the canopy. 3 Serv. Under the canopy? Cor. Ay. 3 Serv. Where's that? Cor. I' the city of kites and crows. [Exit, 3 Serv. I' the city of kites and crows?-What an ass it is!Then thou dwell'st with daws too? Cor. No, I serve not thy master, [ter? 3 Serv. How,sir! Do you meddle with my masCor. Ay; 'tis an honester service, than to meddle with thy mistress: Thou prat'st,and prat'st; serve with thy trencher, hence! [Beats him away. Enter Aufidius, with the second Serving-man. Auf. Where is this fellow? 2 Serv. Here, sir; I'd have beaten him like a Jog, but for disturbing the lords within. Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldest thou? Thy name? Why speak'st not: Speak, man: What's thy name? Not yet thou know'st me, and seeing me, dost not 60 Commands me name myself. That is, though not actually encamped, yet already in pay.-To entertain an army is to take them into pay. Companion was formerly used in the same sense as we now use the word fellow. Auf. Auf. What is thy name? Cor. A name unimusical to the Volces' ears, And harsh in sound to thine. Auf. Say, what's thy name? Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest; I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world [tunes And make my misery serve thy turn; so use it, Auf. O Marcius, Marcius, [heart Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter 10 Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here, We have a power on foot; and I had purpose 15 Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that O, come, go in, 20 And take our friendly senators by the hands; Who now are here, taking their leaves of me, Who am prepar'd against your territories, Though not for Rome itself. 25 30 Cor. You bless me, gods! [have Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt The leading of thine own revenges, take The one half of my commission, and set down,As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st Thy country's strength and weakness,-thine own ways: Whether to knock against the gates of Rome, To fright them, ere destroy. But come in: Let me commend thee first to those, that shall 35 Say, yea, to thy desires. A thousand welcomes! And more a friend than e'er an enemy; Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: Most welcome! [Exeunt. 40 1 Serv. Here's a strange alteration! 2 Serv. By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me, his clothes made a false report of him. 1 Serv. What an arm he has! He turn'd me about with his finger and his thumb, as one would 45 set up a top. [say, 50 Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and 1 Memory for memorial. territory. 2 Serv. Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him: He had, sir, a kind of face, methought, I cannot tell how to term it. 1 Serv. He had so; looking, as it were,Would I were hang'd, but I thought there was more in him than I could think. 2 Serv. So did I, I'll be sworn: He is simply the rarest man i' the world. 1 Serv. I think he is: but a greater soldier 55 than he, you wot one. 2 Serv. Who? my master? 1 Serv. Nay, it's no matter for that. 2 Serv. Worth six of him. 1 Serv. Nay, not so neither: but I take him to 60 be the greater soldier. 2 Serv. 'Faith, look you, one cannot tell how ? i. e. resentment or revenge, i. e, disgraceful diminutions of to |