With ftriving less to be fo. Leffer had been (16)
The thwartings of your difpofitions, if
You had not thew'd them how you were difpos'd
Ere they lack'd power to cross you.

Cor. Let them hang.

Val. Ay, and burn too.

Enter Menenius, with the Senators.

Men. Come, come, you've been too rough, fomething too rough:

You must return, and mend it.

Sen. There's no remedy,
Unless, by not fo doing, our good city
Cleave in the midft, and perish.

Vol. Pray, be counfell'd;

I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.

Men. Well faid, noble woman:

(17) Before he should thus ftoop to th' herd, but that The violent fit o'th' times craves it as phyfick

For the whole ftate, I'd put mine armour on,

Which I can fcarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do ?

Men. Return to th' Tribunes.

(16)

Leffer bad been

The Things that thwart your Dispositions,

The old Copies exhibit it,

The Things of your Difpofitions.

A few Letters replaced, that by fome Carelessness droped out, reftore us the Poet's genuine Reading;

The Thwartings of your Difpofitions.

I am

(17) Before be thus fhould floop to th' Heart,] But how did Coriolanus ftoop to his Heart? he rather, as we vulgarly exprefs it, made his proud Heart ftoop to the Neceffity of the Times. perfuaded, my Emendation gives the true Reading. So, before, in this Play;

Are thefe your Herd?

So, in Julius Cafar;

When be perceived, the common Herd was glad, be refused the Crown, 8cc. And in many other Paffages.

Cor. Well, what then? what then?
Men. Repent what you have fpoke.

Cor. For them?I cannot do it for the Gods,
Muft I then dot to them? gart

Vol. You are too abfolute, 2 or newɔq b'dɔ£ Tho' therein you can never be too

too noble, But when extremities fpeak. Pave heard you fay, Honour and policy, like unfever'd friends,

I'th' war do grow together: grant that, and tell me In peace, what each of them by th' other lofes, That they combine not there?

Cor. Tufh, tufh- H: Font Lar .", I A
Men. A good demand.

Vol. If it be honour in your wars, to feemd a The fame your are not, which for your best ends You call your policy: how is't lefs, or worse, That it fhall hold companionship in peace 59.80 With honour, as in war; fince that to both aged It stands in like request? •gatusy 14.9l ol. Cor. Why force you this? sidon bis 1

Vola Because it hescom you to fpeak to th people: Not by ydur op inftruction, nor byth matter OLL! Which your heart prompts yoq to, but withofbel words But roted in your tongue; bastards and fyllables Of no allowance, to your bofomes truthm isdW Now, this no more difhonours youdatal Than to take in a town with gentle words, Which elfe would put you to your fortune, and The hazard of much blood.turwdi sedi zgrid of I would diffemble with

My fortunes, and my trieure, where

my take requir'd,

Ifhould do fo in honour. (18) I am in this.

813.9

A

(18) = 1 m in this ht or que have a ૦૬ ૪ "Your Wife, your Son: the Senators the Nobles, q C.A. And You, The ffark Nonfenfe of this Palaginting of the printed, Copies makes

is perfuading Coriolanus that he ought to flatter the People, as the general Fortune was at Stake; and fays, that, in this Advice, the fpeaks as his Wife, as his Son; as the Senate, and Body of the Patricians; who were in fome Meature link'd to his 'Conduct." Mr. Warburton.

Yuor

Your Wife, your Son, these Senators, the Nobles.-
And you will rather fhew our general lowts

How you can frown, than fpend a fawn upon 'em,
For the inheritance of their loves, and fafeguard
Of what that want might ruin!

Men. Noble Lady,

Come, go with us, speak fair: you may falve fo
Not what is dangerous prefent, but the lofs
Of what is past.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, my fon,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand,

And thus far having ftretch'd it (here be with them)
Thy knee buffing the ftones; (for in fuch bufinefs
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant
More learned than the ears; (19) waving thy head,
Which foften, thus, correcting thy ftout heart,
Now humble as the ripeft mulberry,

That will not hold the handling: or fay to them,
Thou art their foldier, and, being bred in broils,
Haft not the foft way, which thou doft confefs
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In afking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyfelf (forfooth) hereafter theirs fo far,
As thou haft power and perfon.

Men. This but done,

1

Ev'n as the speaks, why, all their hearts were yours: For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free,

As words to little purpose.

(19)

waving thy Head,

Which often, thus, correcting thy flout Heart.] But do any of the ancient, or modern Masters of Elocution prescribe the waving the Head, when they treat of Action? Or how does the waving the Head correct the Stoutnefs of the Heart, or evidence Humility? Or laftly, where is the Senfe or Grammar of thefe Words, Which often thus, &c? Thefe Questions are fufficient to fhew the abfurd Corruption of thefe Lines. I would read therefore;

-waving thy Hand,

Which foften thus, correcting thy flout Heart;

This is a very proper Precept of Action fuiting the Occafion; Wave thy Hand, fays fhe, and foften the Action of it thus,-then strike upon thy Breaft, and by that Action fhew the People thou haft corrected thy ftout Heart. Mr. Warburton.

All here is fine and proper.

Val. Pr'ythee now,

Go and be rul'd: altho', I know, thou'dft rather
Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf

Than flatter him in a bower.

Enter Cominius.

Here is Cominius.

Com. I've been i'th' market-place, and, Sir, 'tis fit You have strong party, or defend yourself

By calmnefs, or by abfence: all's in anger.
Men. Only, fair speech.

Com. I think, 'twill ferve, if he
Can thereto frame his fpirit.

Vol. He muft and will:

Pr'ythee now, say you will, and go about it.
Cor. Muft I go fhew them my unbarbed fconce?
Muft my base tongue give to my noble heart
A lye, that it muft bear? well, I will do't:
(20) Yet were there but this fingle plot to lofe,
This mould of Marcius, they to duft fhould grind it,
And throw't against the wind. To th' market-place!
You've put me now to fuch a part, which never
I fhall discharge to th' life.

Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.

Vol. Ay, pr'ythee now, fweet fon; as thou haft faid, My praises made thee firft a foldier, fo,

To have my praise for this, perform a part

Thou haft not done before.

Cor. Well, I must do't:.

Away, my difpofition, and poffefs me

Some harlot's fpirit! my throat of war be turn'd,

(20) Yet were there but this fingle Plot, to lofe

This Mould of Marcius,] The Pointing of all the Impreffions fhews, the Editors did not understand this Paffage. What Plot is this, they are dreaming of, to lofe the Mould of Marcius?

But Plot and Mould are but one and the fame Thing; and mean no more than the Flesh and Subftance of Marcius's Body. "Were there no other Confequences annex'd, fays he, than the "Destruction of my Body, they should grind it to Powder, &c."

Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin's voice
That babies lulls afleep! the fmiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and fchool-boys' tears take up
The glaffes of my fight! a beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips, and my arm'd knees,
Which bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms!-I will not do't,-
Left I furceafe to honour mine own truth
And, by my body's action, teach my mind,
A moft inherent baseness.

Vol. At thy choice then :

To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin, let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous ftoutnefs: for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do, as thou lift :
Thy valiantnefs was mine, thou fuck'dft it from me:
But own thy pride thyself.

Cor. Pray, be content:

Mother, I'm going to the market-place:

Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,
Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going:
Commend me to my wife. I'll return Conful,
Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I'th' way of flattery further.

Vel. Do your will.

[Exit Volumnia.

Com. Away, the Tribunes do attend you: arm Yourself to anfwer mildly: for they're prepar'd With accufations, as I hear, more strong

Than are upon you yet.

Cor. The word is mildly-Pray you, let us go Let them accufe me by invention; I

Will answer in mine honour.

Men. Ay, but mildly.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then, mildly. [Exeunt.

SCENE