I seem'd his follower, not partner; and 1 Con. So he did, my lord: The army marvell'd at it. And, in the last, Auf. [Drums and Trumpets sound, with great Shouts of the People. 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise. 2 Con. And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear, With giving him glory. 3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage, Ere he express himself, or move the people With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury His reasons with his body. Auf. Here come the lords. Say no more; Enter the Lords of the City. Lords. You are most welcome home. The 5 He wag'd me with his countenance,] This is obscure. meaning, I think, is, he prescribed to me with an air of authority, and gave me his countenance for my wages; thought me sufficiently rewarded with good looks. JOHNSON. For which my sinews shall be stretch'd-] That is the point on which I will attack him with my utmost abilities. Auf. I have not deserv'd it, But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd And grieve to hear it. What faults he made before the last, I think, Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colours; a Cor. Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier; Do more than counterpoise, a full third part, Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver, Together with the seal o'the senate, what Auf. Read it not noble lords; But tell the traitor, in the highest degree He hath abus'd your powers. 7 Cor. Traitor!-How now? answering us With our own charge;] That is, rewarding us with our own expences; making the cost of war its recompence. I'll Auf. Cor. Ay, traitor, Marcius. Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius; Dost thou think grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name Coriolanus in Corioli? 8 You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously Cor. Auf. No more." Ha! Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!. Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever I was forc'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion (Who wears my stripes impress'd on him; that must bear My beating to his grave;) shall join to thrust 1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces; men and lads, Stain all your edges on me.-Boy! False hound! If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, 8 For certain drops of salt,] For certain tears. 9 Auf. No more.] By these words Aufidius does not mean to put a stop to the altercation; but to tell Coriolanus that he was no more than a "boy of tears." That like an eagle in a dove-cote, I Auf. Why, noble lords, Con. Let him die for't. [Several speak at once. Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces, do it presently. He killed my son;-my daughter; -He killed my cousin Marcus;-He killed my fa ther. 2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage;-peace. The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o'the earth.' His last offence to us Cor. O, that I had him, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword! Auf. Insolent villain! Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFIDIUS stands on him. Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold. O Tullus, Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak. 2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters all, be quiet; swords. Put up your his fame folds in This orb o'the earth.] His fame overspreads the world. 2 -judicious hearing.] Perhaps judicious, in the present instance, signifies judicial; such a hearing as is allowed to criminals in courts of judicature. Thus imperious is used by our author for imperial. Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this rage, Provok'd by him, you cannot,) the great danger Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours To call me to your senate, I'll deliver Myself your loyal servant, or endure Your heaviest censure. 1 Lord. Bear from hence his body, And mourn you for him: let him be regarded 2 Lord. His own impatience Auf. Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist. [Exeunt, bearing the Body of CORIOLANUS. A dead March sounded.' that ever herald Did follow to his urn.] This allusion is to a custom unknown, I believe, to the ancients, but observed in the publick funerals of English princes, at the conclusion of which a herald proclaims the style of the deceased. STEEVENS. 4 a noble memory.] Memory for memorial. The tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amusing of our author's performances. The old man's merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady's dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modesty in Virgilia; the patrician and military haughtiness in Coriolanus; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian insolence in Brutus and Sicinius, make a very pleasing and interesting variety: and the various revolutions of the hero's fortune fill the mind with anxious curiosity. There is, perhaps, too much bustle in the first Act, and too little in the last. JOHNSON. |