In peace, what each of them by th' other lofes,

That they combine not there?

Cor. Tufh, tufh

Men. A good demand.

Vol. If it be honour in your wars, to feem
The fame you are not, which for your beft ends
You call your policy: how is't lefs, or worse,
That it shall hold companionship in peace
With honour, as in war; fince that to both
It stand in like request ?

Cor. Why force you this?

Vol. Because it lies on you to fpeak to th' people:
Not by your own inftruction, nor by th' matter
Which your heart prompts you to, but with fuch words
But roted in your tongue; bastards, and fyllables
Of no allowance, to your bofom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a town with gentle words,
Which elfe would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.-

I would diffemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends at stake, requir'd
I should do fo in honour, (27) I'm in this
Your wife, your fon, these fenators, the nobles.-
And you will rather shew 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, fpeak fair: you may falve so
Not what is dangerous prefent, but the lofs

Of what is past.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, my fon,

(27)

---I'm in this

Your wife, your fon: the fenators the nobles,

And you &c.] The pointing of the printed copies make stark nonfenfe of this paffage. Volumnia is perfuading Coriolanus that he ought to flatter the people, as the general fortune was at stake; and fays, that, in this advice, fhe fpeaks as his wife, as his fon; as the Senate, and body of the patricians; who were in fome measure link'd to his conduct. Mr. Warburton.

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 such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant
More learned than the ears ;) (28) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy flout 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 dost confess
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In aking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyfelf (forfooth) hereafter theirs so far,

As thou haft power and perfon.

Men. This but done,

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

As words to little purpofe.

Vol. 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.

Here is Cominius.

Enter Cominius.

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

By calmness, or by abfence: all's in anger.

(28)

waving thy head,

Which often, thus, correcting thy stout beart,] But do any of the ancient, cr modern masters of elocution prefcribe the waving the head, when they treat of action? or how does the waving the head correct the ftoutnefs of the heart, or evidence humility? or lafly, where is the fenfe or grammar of thefe words, Which often thus &c. These queftions are fufficient to flew the abfurd corruption of thefe lines. I would read therefore;

waving thy hand,

Which foften thus, correcting thy fout beart;

This is a very proper precept of action fuiting the occafion; wave thy hand, fays he, and foften the action of it thus,-then flrike upon thy breaft, and by that action fhew the people thou haft corrected thy tout heart. All here is fine and proper. Mr. Warburton,

Men.

Men. Only, fair fpeech.

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

Vol. He muft and will:

Pr'ythee now, fay you will, and go about it.
Cor. Muft I go fhew them my unbarbed fconce
Muft my bafe tongue give to my noble heart
A lye, that it must bear ? well, I will do't:
(29) Yet were there but this fingle plot to lofe,
This mould of Marcius, they to dust should 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 has said, My praifes made thee firft a foldier, so,

To have my praife 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,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe

Small as an eunuch, or the virgin 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 bat in my ftirrup, 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 most inherent bafenefs.

Vol. At thy choice then:

(29) Yet were there but this single plct, to lose

bis 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 Alefh and fubftance of Marcius's body. "Were there no other con"fequences annex'd, fays he, than the deftruction of my body, they fhould grind it to powder; &c.

Ꭲ 4

To

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'dst 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.

Vol. Do your will.

[Exit Volumnia.

Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm Yourself to answer 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.

SCENE changes to the Forum.

Enter Sicinius and Brutus.

[Exeunt,

Bru.TN this point charge him home, that he affects
"Tyrannic power, if he evade us there,

Inforce him with his envy to the people,
And that the spoil, got on the Antiates,
Was ne'er diftributed. What, will he come ?

Enter an Edile.

Ed. He's coming.

Bru. How accompanied ?

Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators

That always favour'd him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by th' poll?

Ed. I have; 'tis ready, here.

Sic. Have you collected them by tribes?
Ed. I have.

Sic. Affemble presently the people hither,

And, when they hear me fay, It fhall be fo,

I' th' right and ftrength o' th' commons; (be it either
For death, or fine, or banishment,) then let them,
If I fay fine, cry fine; if death, cry death;
Infifting on the old prerogative

And power i' th' truth o' th' cause.

Ed. I will inform them.

Bru. And when fuch time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd

Inforce the prefent execution

Of what we chance to fentence.

Ed. Very well.

Sic. Make them be ftrong, and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to giv't them.

Bru. Go about it.

[Exit Edile.

Put him to choler freight; he hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his word

Of contradiction. Being once chaft, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temp'rance; then he speaks

What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.

Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius, with others.
Sic. Well, here he comes.

Men. Calmly, I do befeech you.

Cor. Ay, as an hoftler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by th' volume:-The honour'd gods Keep Rome in fafety, and the chairs of juftice

Supply with worthy men, (30) plant love amongst you, Throng

(30)

-plant love among you

Through our large temples with the fhews of peace, And not our fireets with war.] Though this be the reading of all the copies, it is flat nonsense. ́ There is no verb either expreft,