And through the cranks' and offices of man, me, 1 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: 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, Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is, greatness, Deserves your hate: and your affections are With every minute you do change a mind; Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stor❜d. Mar. Hang 'em! They say? Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, Would the nobility lay aside their ruth," Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per For though abundantly they lack discretion, Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs; That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods 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 conseRemaines 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 Esopian Fables: there may be, therefore, as laws by which he whom you praise was punished.' much reason for supposing it the invention of Esop, as 6 i. e. pity, compassion. 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 as blood, which obscures the sense. 7 Quarry or querre 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. c. 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 factious contention 11 For inenrgents to debate upon च and he Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Let's hence, and hear Upon my party, I'd revolt to make Mar. Men. O, true bred! 8 Let's along. [Exeunt, SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House. Enter 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, Auf. Is it not yours? 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I What ever hath been thought on in this state," know, Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. Lead you on: Noble Lartius!" Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. To pray, [Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome Our army's in the field: It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2 Sen. If they set down before us, for the remove12 O, doubt not that; 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 disSo in 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. : -To-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms,' &c. 5 A gird is a cut, a sarcasm, or stroke of satire. See King Heny IV. Part ii. Act i. Sc. 2. 6The 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 sencence 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 We must either suppose this an ellipsis for What the text. 10 i. e. ready; from the old French prest. Thus in the Merchant of Venice, Act i. Sc. 1:-7 say to me what I should do, That in your knowledge may by me be done, And I am prest unto it.' 11 To take in was formerly used as we now use to Cleopatra :take for to subdue, to conquer. Thus in Antony and cut the Ionian seas, And take in Toryne.' 12 If the Romans besiege us, bring up your army to remove them? All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honours safe! 1 Sen. 2 Sen. All. Farewell. Farewell. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school master. Vol. One of his father's moods. 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 SCENE III. Rome. An Apartmennt in Marcius' such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it House. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They go again; and after it again; and over and over sit down on two low stools, and sew. he comes, and up again; catched it again: or Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express your-whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did self in a more comfortable sort: If my son were so set his teeth, and tear it; 0, 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 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, 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 Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire3 myself. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him: Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Re-enter Gentlewoman, with VALERIA and her Val. My ladies both, good day to you. 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 Auracted 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.' 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. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the 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 your husband. excellent news of 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 This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, wars. go with us. 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. Lart. 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, 1615 Now, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work; That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded friends!'-Come, blow thy blast. Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? The Volces enter and pass over the Stage. They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, my fellows; He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce, Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting. Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you; You shames of Rome! you herd of3Boils and plagues Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, Another Alarum. The Volces and Romans re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The Volces retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates. So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good seconds: "Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. [He enters the gates, and is shut in. 1 i. e, our friends who are in the field of battle. 2 The poet means-No, nor a man that fears you more than he; but he often entangles himself in the use of less and more. 3' You herd of cowards! Marcius would probably have said, but his rage prevents him. 4 The old copy reads:-- "Who sensibly outdares' Sensible is here having sensation. So before:-'I would your cambrick were as sensible as your finger.' Though Coriolanus has the feeling of pain like other men, he is more hardy in daring exploits than his senseless sword, for after it is bent, he yet stands firm In the field. A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, 1 Rom. This will I carry to Rome 3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off. Enter MARCIUS, and TITUS LARTIUS, with a Trumpet. Mar. See here these movers, that do prize their hours9 At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, And hark, what noise the general makes!-To Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight. 5 We have a similar thought in Othello:- 6 The old copy has erroneously Calues wish; the error would easily arise: Shakspeare wrote, accord. ing to the mode of his time, Catoes wish,' omitting to cross the f, and forming the o inaccurately. Cato was not born till the year of Rome 519, that is, 255 years after the death of Coriolanus; but the poet was led into the anachronism by following Plutarch. some say the earth Was feverous, and did shake." 7 Macbeth. 9 Make remain, is an old manner of speaking, which means no more than remain. 9 i. e. their time. Johnson adopted Pope's reading -honours; for which there was no necessity. Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place; Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Enter a Messenger. May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news? Com. Mess. Above an hour, my lord. Com. "Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How could'st thou in a mile confound' an hour, Mess. Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, To let him slip at will. Com. Where is that slave, Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? Where is he? Call him hither. Mar. Let him alone, He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, The common file (A plague!-Tribunes for them!) A So in King Henry VI. Part i. Act i. Sc. 3:He did confound the best part of an hour,' &c. Confound is here used not in its common acceptation, but in the sense of to erpend: conterere tempus. They have plac'd their men of trust? Com. Though I could wish If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, And follow Marcius. [They all shout and wave their swords; take Q me, alone! Make you a sword of me? A shield as hard as his. A certain number, Com. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. The Gates of Corioli. TITUS LARTIUS, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with a drum and trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Marcius, enters with a Lieutenant, a Party of Soldiers, and a Scout. Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch Fear not our care, sir, 7 From the obscurity of this passage there is good rea son to suspect its correctness. Perhaps we might read sub-some instead of four, words easily confounded in old MSS.; and then the last line may be interrogative, thus: Please you to march, 2 i. e. towards bed or rest, or the time of resting. Compounds were formerly made at pleasure, by joining ward to the thing towards which the action Lended. 3 i. e. remitting his ransom. 4 i. e. in the front are the soldiers of Antium. Shakspeare uses Antiates as a trisyllable, as if it had been written Antiats. 5 i. e. do not let slip the present lime.' 6 And some shall quickly draw out my command: The passage as it stands in the old copy has been thus explained: Coriolanus means to say, that he would appoint four persons to select for his particular, or party, those who are best inclined; and, in order to save time, he proposes to have this choice made while the army is senti-marching forward. The old translation of Plutarch only says:Wherefore, with those that willingly of fered themselves to follow him, he went out of the citie." 8 Gates. 9 Companies of a hundred men 6 The old copy reads Lessen. The reading of the text was introduced by Steevens His person means his personal danger. We have nearly the same ment in Troilus and Cressida : • If there be one among the fair'st of Greece |