In human action and capacity, Of no more foul nor fitness for the world, Than camels in their war, who have their provender Only for bearing burdens, and fore blows For finking under them. Sic. (15) This, as you fay, fuggefted To kindle their dry ftubble; and their blaze (15) -This, as you fav, fuggefted At fome time, when his fouring inflence Shail teach the pe ple, which, (time shall not want, is to fet dogs on fheep) will be the fire To kinale their dry wble; and their blaze Shall darken him for ever.] As nominatives are fometimes wanting to the verb, fo, on the other hand, as this paffage has been all along pointed, we have a redundance: for two relative pronouns, this and which, ftand as nominatives to will be.There is, befides, one word still in this fentence, which, notwithstanding the concurrence of the printed copies, I fufpect to have admitted a small corrup tion. Why fhould it be imputed as a crime to Coriolanus, that he was prompt to teach the people? Or how was it any foaring infolence in a patrician to attempt this? The Poet must certainly have wrote; -When his foaring infolence Shall reach the people; i. e. When it shall extend to impeach the conduct, or touch I would kill that too; which, being past my steel, For here too we must correct, reach. I regulated and amended this paffage in the appendix to my Shakespeare Restored; and Mr Pope has reformed it, with me, in his last edition. Enter a Meffenger. Bru. What's the matter? Mef. You're fent for to the capitol: 'tis thought That Marcius fhall be conful: I have feen The dumb men throng to fee him, and the blind To hear him fpeak; the matrons flung their gloves, Ladies and maids their fearfs and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he paffed; the nobles bended As to Jove's ftatue, and the commons made A fhower and thunder with their caps and fhouts: I never faw the like. Bru. Let's to the capitol, And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, Sic. Have with you. SCENE changes to the Capitol. Enter two Officers, to lay Cushions. [Exeunt 1 Of. Come, come, they are almost here; how many stand for confulfhips? 2 Off. Three, they fay; but 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave fellow, but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the people, who never loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore; so that if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifefts the true knowledge he has in their difpofition, and out of his noble carelessnefs lets them plainly fee't, 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm: but he feeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their oppofite. Now to feem to affect the malice and difpleafure of the people, is as bad as that which he diflikes, to flatter them for their love. 2 Off. He hath deferved worthily of his country: and his afcent is not by fuch eafy degrees as those who have been fupple and courteous to the people; bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath fo planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be filent, and not confefs fo much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwife, were a malice, that, giving itself the lye, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it. 10f. No more of him, he is a worthy man: make way, they are coming. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of the People, Lictors before them; CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS the Conful: SICINIUS and BRUTUS take their places by themselves. Men. Having determined of the Volscians, and To fend for Titus Lartius, it remains, As the main point of this our after-meeting, Hath thus food for his country. Therefore, please you, Moft reverend and grave elders, to defire By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom We met here, both to thank, and to remember With honours like himfelf. 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think Than we to ftretch it out. Masters o' th' people, Sic. We are convented Upon a pleafing treaty; (16) and have hearts Bru. Which the rather We shall be bleft to do, if he remember Men. That's off, that's off: ----- I would you rather had been filent: please you To hear Cominius speak? Bru. Moft willingly: But yet my caution was more pertinent The theme of our affembly.] Without doubt it would have been more proper for the tribune, who is here addressing himfelf to the fenate, to have faid: The theme of your effembly. But Shakespeare, contrary to the truth of hiftory, makes the tribunes fit in the Senate, as part of that body. For 'till the Lex Attinia (which Attinius is fuppofed by Sigonins, De Vetere Italia jure, to have been contemporary with Quintus Metellus Macedonicus ;) the tribunes had not the privilege of entering the fenate, but had feats placed for them near the door, on the outside of the house. 1 Mr Warburton. Men. He loves your people, But tie him not to be their bed-fellow: [Coriolanus rifes and offers to go away. Nay, keep your place. Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never fhame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. Your Honour's pardon: I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Bru. Sir, I hope My words dibenched you not? When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. Men. Pray now, fit down. Cor. I had rather have one fcratch my head i' When the alarm were struck, than idly fit To hear my nothings monstered. [Exit Coriolonus. Men. Mafters of the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, That valour is the chiefeft virtue, and The man I fpeak of cannot in the world When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought |