of the beastly Plebeians. I will be bold to take my leave [Brutus and Sicinius fiand afide.

of you.

SCENE II.

As Menenius is going out, enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria.

How now my as fair as noble ladies, and the moon, were fhe earthly, no nobler; whither do you follow your eyes

fo fast?

Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go.

Men. Ha! Marcius coming home?

Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation.

Men. Take my cup, Jupiter, and I thank thee hoo, Marcius coming home!

Both. Nay, 'tis true.

Vol. Look, here's a letter for him; the ftate hath another, his wife another, and I think there's one at home for you.

Men. I will make my very house reel to-night: A letter for me!

Vir. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you, I saw't.

Men. A letter for me! it gives me an estate of seven years' health; in which time I will make a lip at the phyfician; the moft fovereign prefcription in Galen is but empiric, and to this prefervative of no better report than a horfe-drench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded.

Vir. Oh. no, no, no.

Vol. Oh, he is wounded, I thank the gods for't.

Men. So do I too, if he be not too much; brings he a victory in his pocket, the wounds become him.

Vol. On's brows, Menenius; he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.

Men. Hath he difcliplin'd Aufidius foundly?

Vol. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, but Aufidius got off.

Men. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that if he had ftaid by him, I would not have been

:

fo

Is wanting, which I doubt not but our Rome
Will caft upon thee.

Cor. Know, good mother, I

Had rather be their fervant in my way,

Than way with them in theirs.

Com. On, to the Capitol.

[Flourish Cornets.

[Exeunt in flate, as before.

SCENE IV. Brutus and Sicinius come forward.

Bru. All tongues fpeak of him, and the bleared fights
Are fpectacled to fee him. Your prattling nurse
Into a rapture + lets her baby cry,

While fhe chats him: the kitchen malkin pins
Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck,

Clamb'ring the walls to eye him; ftalls, bulks, windows, Are fmother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd < With variable complexions; all agreeing

In carneftnefs to fee him: feld-fhown flamins
Do prefs among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar ftation: our veil'd dames
Commit the ware of white and damask in

• Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to th' wanton spoil
• Of Phoebus' burning kiffes; fuch a pother,
As if that whatsoever god who leads him,
• Were flily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful pofture.

Sic. On the fudden,

I warrant him Conful.

Bru. Then our office may,

During his power, go fleep.

Sic. He cannot temp'rately transport his honours, From where he should begin and end, but will

Lose those he hath won.

Bru. In that there's comfort.

Sic. Doubt not,

The commoners, for whom we ftand, but they,

Upon their ancient malice, will forget,

With the leaft caufe, these his new honours; which
That he will give, make I as little question

As

† rapture, a common term, at that time used for a fit, fimply. So, to be rap'd, fignified, to be in a fit.

All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus ! Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart; Pray now, no more.

Com. Look, Sir, your mother,

Cor. Oh!

You have, I know, petition'd all the gods

For my profperity.

Vol. Nay, my good foldier, up:

My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and
By deed-atchieving honour newly nam'd,
What is it, Coriolanus, muft I call thee?
But oh, thy wife-

Cor. " My gracious filence, hail!

[Kneels.

Would't thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home,
That weep'ft to fee me triumph! Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,

And mothers that lack fons..

Men. Now the gods crown thee!

Cor. And live you yet? O my fweet Lady, pardon.

(To Valeria, Vol. I know not where to turn.. O welcome home; And welcome, General! y'are welcome all.

Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep, And I could laugh, I'm light and heavy ;-welcome! A curfe begin at very root on's heart,

That is not glad to fee thee -You are three
That Rome fhould doat on : yet, by the faith of men,
We've fome old crab-trees here at home, that will not
Be grafted to your relish. Welcome, warriors!
We call a nettle, but a nettle; and

The faults of fools, but folly.

Com. Ever right.

Cor. Menenius, ever, ever.

Her. Give way there, and go on.

Cor. Your hand, and your's.

Ere in our own houfe I do fhade my head,

The good Patricians must be visited;

From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings,

But, with them, change of honours.

Vol. I have lived,

To Tee inherited my very wishes,

And buildings of my fancy; only one thing

VOL. VI.

E e..

Is wanting, which I doubt not but our Rome
Will caft upon thee.

Cor. Know, good mother, I

Had rather be their fervant in my way,

Than fway with them in theirs.

Com. On, to the Capitol.

[Flourish. Cornets.

[Exeunt in flate, as before.

SCENE IV. Brutus and Sicinius come forward.

Bru. All tongues fpeak of him, and the bleared fights
Are fpectacled to fee him. Your prattling nurse
Into a rapture + lets her baby cry,

While fhe chats him: the kitchen malkin pins
Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck,
Clamb'ring the walls to eye him; ftalls, bulks, windows,
Are fmother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
. With variable complexions; all agreeing
In earneftnefs to fee him: feld-fhown flamins
Do prefs among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar ftation: our veil'd dames
Commit the ware of white and damask in
Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to th' wanton spoil
• Of Phoebus' burning kiffes; fuch a pother,
As if that whatsoever god who leads him,
• Were flily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful pofture.

Sic. On the fudden,

I warrant him Conful.

Bru. Then our office may,

During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temp'rately tranfport his honours, From where he should begin and end, but will

Sic. Doubt not,

The commoners, for whom we ftand, but they,

Upon their ancient malice, will forget,

With the least cause, these his new honours; which
That he will give, make I as little question

As

trapture, a common term, at that time used for a fit, fimply

So, to be rap'd, signified, to be in a fit.

As he is prone to do't.

Bru. I heard him swear,

Were he to ftand for Conful, never would he
Appear i' th' market-place, nor on him put
The naplefs vefture of humility;

Nor fhewing, as the manner is, his wounds
To th' people, beg their stinking breaths.
Sic. 'Tis right.

Bru. It was his word: oh, he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the suit o' th' gentry,

And the defire o' th' Nobles.

Sic. I with no better,.

Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it
In execution.

Bru. 'Tis most like he will.

Sic. It fhall be to him then, as our good wills, A fure deftruction..

Bru. So it must fall out

To him, or our authorities.

For an end,

We must fuggeft the people, in what hatred

He ftill hath held them; that to's power he would
Have made them mules, filenc'd their pleaders, and
Difproperty'd their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more. foul nor fitnefs for the world,
Than camels in the war; who have their provender
Only for bearing burdens and fore blows

For finking under them..

Sic. This, as you fay, fuggefted

At some time, when his foaring infolence

Shall reach the people, (which time shall not want,
If he be put upon't; and that's as easy,
As to fet dogs on sheep), will be the fire

To kindle their dry ftubble; and their blaze

Shall darken him for ever.

Enter a Meffenger.

Bru. What's the matter?

Mell. You're fent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought, That Marcius fhall be Conful: I have feen

The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind
To hear him speak; the matrons flung their gloves,

E e 2.

Ladies