2 Cit. Amen, sir: To my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices. 3 Cit. Certainly, he flouted us down-right. mock us. [says, 5 -2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but He us'd us scornfully: he should have shew'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his counSic. Why, so he did, I am sure. [try. All. No, no man saw 'em. 3 Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, Sic. Why, either, were you ignorant to see 't1? To yield your voices? As Bru. Could you not have told him, 1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to Sic. Let them assemble; 20 A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd, (No impediment between) but that you must Cast your election on him. Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided you were lesson'd,—When he had no power, 25 Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do bear But was a petty servant to the state, Sic. Thus to have said, As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit, Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage, Bru. Did you perceive, He did solicit you in free contempt, bodies Than what you should, made you against the grain 1 i. e. did you want knowledge to discern it? Bru. Say, you ne'er had done 't, (Harp on that still) but by our putting on: All. We will so: almost all Repent in their election. Bru. Let them go on; [Exeunt Citizens. This mutiny were better put in hazard, Sic. To the Capitol, come; 60 We will be there before the stream o' the people; And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt. 2 i. e. with contempt open and unrestrained. Object his pride. * i. e. carriage. i. e. weighing his past and present behaviour. i. e. mark, catch, and improve the opportunity which his hasty anger will afford us. АСТ Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully.--Welcome home. [To Lartius. Enter Sicinius, and Brutus. Behold! these are the tribunes of the people, 30 Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. Cor. Have you inform'd them since? Cor. You are like to do such business. Each way, to better yours. [clouds, Cor. Why then should I be consul? "By yon Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Your fellow-tribune. Sic. You shew too much of that, For which the people stir: If you will pass To where you are bound, you must enquire your [palt'ring Com. The people are abus'd:-Set on.-This Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely The tongues o' the commonmouth. I do despise 35 Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak 't again ;~~ Men. Not now, not now. Sen. Not in this heat, sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends, 40I crave their pardons : For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them Regard me as I do not flatter, and Therein behold themselves: I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate 45 The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd, and scatter'd, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that 50 Which they have given to beggars. Men. Well, no more. Sen. No more words, we beseech you. As for my country I have shed my blood, [teeth 55 Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs, Coin words 'till their decay, against those meazels You being their mouths, why rule you not their 1 Plume, deck, upon any one. up with the corn. dignify themselves. i. e. shuffling. • Mesell is used, 4 The metaphor is from men's setting a bull-dog or mastiff • Cockle is a weed which grows Falsely for treacherously. in Pierce Plowman's Vision, for a leper. Which They would not thread the gates': this kind of service Did not deserve corn gratis: Being i' the war, Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they shew'd 5 Most valour, spoke not for then? : The accusation Which they have often made against the senate, All cause unborn, could never be the native' Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? How shall this bosom multiplied digest 10 The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express What's like to be their words:-" We did request it ; "We are the greater poll, and in true fear "They gave us our demands:"-Thus we debase 15 The nature of our seats, and make the rabble Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope The locks o' the senate, and bring in the crows To peck the eagles 20 Men. Come, enough. Bru. Enough, with over-measure. What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal-This double worship,-Where one part does disdain with cause, the other 25 Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom, Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no [lows Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, 30 To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it fol If they be senators: and they are no less, Com. Well,-on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o' the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece, Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute power) I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed The ruin of the state. Bru. Why, shall the people give One, that speaks thus, their voice? Cor. I'll give my reasons, [the corn More worthier than their voices. They know, Was not our recompence; resting well assur'd They ne'er did service for 't: Being press'd to the war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, 35 Nothing is done to purpose: therefore, beseech To jump a body' with a dangerous physic, 40 The sweet which is their poison: Your dishonour [swer Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall anAs traitors do. Cor. Thou wretch! despight o'erwhelm thee! What should the peopledowiththese bald tribunes? 50 On whom depending, their obedience fails To the greater bench: In a rebellion, When what's not meet, but what must be, was Then were they chosen: in a better hour, Let what is meet, be said, it must be meet, 55 And throw their power i' the dust. Bru. Manifest treason. Sic. This a consul? no. [law, Bru. The ædiles, ho! Let him be apprehended. Alluding to his A minnow is one of the smallest river fish, called in some counties a pink. having called him Triton before. "Meaning, that senators and plebeians are equal, when the That is, pass them. › Or, highest taste is best pleased with that which pleases the lowest. natural parent. • i. e. fear. To jump anciently signified to jolt, to give a rude concussion to any thing. To jump a body may therefore mean, to put it into a violent agitation or commotion. Integrity is in this place, soundness, uniformity, consistency. Re-enter Brutus with a rabble of Citizens, with Men. On both sides more respect. Take from you all your power. Bru. Seize him, ædiles. All. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons ! 15 There's some among you have beheld me fighting; [They all bustle about Coriolanus. 20 You that be noble; help him, young and old! Tribunes, patricians, citizens !—what, ho!— All. Peace, peace, peace: stay, hold, peace! breath; All. Down with him, down with him! [Exeunt. [bunes 25 All will be naught else. -You, tri Confusion's near; I cannot speak:- Sic. Hear me, people :—— -Peace. All. Let's hear our tribunes:-Peace. Speak, 30 speak, speak. Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties: Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, Whom late you nam'd for consul. Men. Fie, fie, fie! This is the way to kindle, not to quench. i Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat. The people are the city. Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd The people's magistrates. All. You so remain. Men. And so are like to do. Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat; Sic. This deserves death. Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him; Bear him to the rock Tarpeïan, and from thence 1 35 40 2 Sen. Get you gone. We have as many friends as enemies. 1 Sen. The gods forbid ! I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house; Men. For 'tis a sore upon us, You cannot tent yourself: Be gone, 'beseech you. Cor. I would they were barbarians, (as they are, are not, [gone. Though calv'd i' the porch o' the Capitol.)-Be Men. Put not your worthy rage into your tongue; One time will owe another. Cor. On fair ground, I could beat forty of them. Men. I could myself [tribunes. 45 Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two Men. Pray you, be gone! I'll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little; this must be 55 With cloth of any colour. [patch'd 1 Dr. Johnson on this passage, remarks, that he knows not whether to owe in this place means to possess by right, or to be indebted. Either sense may be admitted. One time, in which the people are seditious, will give us power in some other time: or, this time of the people's predominance will run them in debt; that is, will lay them open to the law, and expose them hereafter to more servile subjection. The lowest of the populace are still denominated by those a little above them, Tag, rag, and bobtail. 3 A 1 Sen. 1 Sen. This man has marr'd bis fortune. What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; [Anoise within. 5 2 Sen. I would they were a-bed! [vengeance, 10 Men. I would they were in Tiber!-What, the Could he not speak 'em fair? Enter Brutus and Sicinius, with the rabble again. That will depopulate the city, and Men. You worthy tribunes,- Sic. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeïan rock 1 Cit. He shall well know, The noble triunes are the people's mouths, All. He shall sure out. Men. Sir, sir, Sic. Peace. [but hunt 15 Bru. Merely awry: When he did love his coun It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot Being once gangren'd, is not then respected Bru. We'll hear no more: Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Men. One word more, one word. Sic. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? wars Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd in boulted language; meal and bran together He throws without distinction. Give me leave, 30 I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him Where he shall answer, by a lawful form, (In peace) to his utmost peril. 1 Sen. Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course 35 Will prove too bloody; and the end of it Unknown to the beginning. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good 40 Sic. Speak briefly then; For we are peremptory, to dispatch Men. Now the good gods forbid, Sic. Noble Menenius, Be you then as the people's officer: [you there: Men. I'll bring him to you:- [must come, 45 Let me desireyour company. [To the Senators. He Or what is worst will follow. 150 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him. SCENE [Exeunt. II. Coriolanus's House. Enter Coriolanus, with Patricians. Cor. Let them pull all about mine ears; present me Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels; Sic. He's a disease that must be cut away. Enter Volumnia. 1i. e. Do not give the signal for unlimited slaughter, &c.-To cry hacock, was, I believe, originally a sporting phrase, from hufoc, which in Saxon signifies a hawk.-It was afterwards used in war, and seems to have been the signal for general slaughter. 2i. e. Awry. Hence a kambrel for a crooked stick, or the bend in a horse's hinder leg.-The Welch word for crooked is kam. |