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That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
Flutter'd your Volces in Corioli:
Alone I did it.-Boy!

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.

[Several speak at once.

Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] 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. His last offence to us

Shall have judicious hearing.3-Stand, Aufidius,
And trouble not the peace.

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 AUFIDIUS

stands on him.

Hold, hold, hold, hold.

O Tullus,

Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak.

1 Lord.

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

2

his fame folds in

This orb o' the earth.] His fame overspreads the world. So, before:

3

Johnson.

"The fires i' the lowest hell fold in the people." Steevens. -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. Steevens.

To call me to your senate, I'll deliver
Myself your loyal servant, or endure
Your heaviest censure.

1 Lord.

Bear from hence his body,

And mourn you for him: let him be regarded
As the most noble corse, that ever herald

Did follow to his urn.4

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:-
Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.-
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
Trail your steel pikes.-Though in this city he
Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,

Yet he shall have a noble memory.5

5

Assist. [Exeunt, bearing the Body of CORIOLANUS.

that ever herald

A dead March sounded.

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.

5 — a noble memory.] Memory for memorial. See p. 135, n. 4. Steevens.

6 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.

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ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

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Taurus, lieutenant-general to Cæsar.

Canidius, lieutenant-general to Antony.

Silius, an officer in Ventidius's army.

Euphronius, an ambassador from Antony to Cæsar. Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; attendants on Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer. A Clown.

Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.

Octavia, sister to Cæsar, and wife to Antony.

Charmian,}

attendants on Cleopatra.

Officers, soldiers, messengers, and other attendantë.

SCENE,

Dispersed; in several parts of the Roman empire.

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