And through the cranks' and offices of man,
The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins,
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live: And though that all at once,
You, my good friends, (this says the belly,) mark

me,

1 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well.
Men.
Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each;
Yet I can make my audit up,
that all
From me do back receive the flower of all,
And leave me but the bran. What say you to't?
1 Cit. It was an answer: How apply you this?
Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members: For examine
Their counsels, and their cares; digest things rightly,
Touching the weal of the common; you shall find,
No public benefit which you receive,

But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,
And no way from yourselves.-What do you think?
You, the great toe of this assembly?—

Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe?
Men. For that being one o' the lowest, basest,
poorest,

Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'st first to win some vantage.-
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle,
The ono side must have bale. "Hail, noble Marcius.
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissen

tious rogues, That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs? 1 Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will

flatter

Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you

curs,

That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese: You are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,
To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it.' Who deserves

greatness,

Deserves your hate: and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang yo!
Trust ye?

With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter,
That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another?-What's their seeking?

Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stor❜d.

Mar.

Hang 'em! They say?
They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know
What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and
give out

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain
enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,"
And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry'
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per
suaded;

For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

Mar.

They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs;

That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat;

That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods

the belly) through the blood, even to the royal resi 3 Bale is evil or mischief, harm or injury. The word dence, the heart, in which the kingly-crowned under- is pure Saxon, and was becoming obsolete in Shakstanding sits enthroned. The poet, besides the rela-speare's time.

tions in Plutarch, had seen a similar fable in Camden's 4 Coriolanus does not use these two sentences conseRemaines Camden copied it from John of Salisbury,quentially; but first reproaches them with unsteadiness, De Nugis Curialium, b. vi. c. 24. Mr. Douce, in a very then with their other occasional vices.

curious note, has shown the high antiquity of this apo- 5 Your virtue is to speak well of him whom his own logue, which is to be found in several ancient collec-offences have subjected to justice; and to rail at those tions of Esopian Fables: there may be, therefore, as laws by which he whom you praise was punished.' much reason for supposing it the invention of Esop, as 6 i. e. pity, compassion. there is for making him the parent of many others. 1 Cranks are windings; the meandering ducts of the human body.

2 Rascal and in blood are terms of the forest, both here used equivocally. The meaning seems to be, 'thou worthless scoundrel, though thou art in the worst plight for running of all this herd of plebeians, like a deer not in blood, thou takest the lead in this tumult in order to obtain some private advantage to thyself. "Worst in blood' has a secondary meaning of lowest in condition. The modern editions have erroneously a comma as blood, which obscures the sense.

7 Quarry or querre signified slaughtered game of any kind, which was so denominated from being deposited in a square enclosed space in royal hunting.

8 Pick, peck, or picke, i. c. pitch; still in provincial use. The fact is, that, in ancient language, to pick was used for to cast, throw, or hurl; to pitch was to set or fix any thing in a particular spot.

9 Generosity, in the sense of its Latin original, for nobleness, high birth. Thus in Measure for Measure: The generous and gravest citizens.' 10 Emulation is factious contention 11 For inenrgents to debate upon

च

and he

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,
In aught he merit not.
Sic.

Let's hence, and hear

Upon my party, I'd revolt to make
Only my wars with him: he is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.
1 Sen.
Then, worthy Marcius, How the despatch is made and in what fashion,
Attend upon
Cominius to these wars.
More than in singularity, he goes
Com. It is your former promise.
Upon his present action.
Bru.

Mar.
Sir, it is ;
And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou
Saalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face:
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?
Tit.
No, Caius Marcius:
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other,
Ere stay behind this business.

Men.

O, true bred!

8

Let's along.

[Exeunt,

SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House. Enter
TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators.

1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels,
And know how we proceed.

Auf.

Is it not yours?

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I What ever hath been thought on in this state," know,

Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit.

Lead you on:

Noble Lartius!"

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority."
Com.

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone.
[To the Citizens.
Mar.
Nay, let them follow:
The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,
gnaw their garners-Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth: follow.

To

pray,

[Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and
MENEN. Citizens steal away.
Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the

That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention! "Tis not four days gone,
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think,
I have the letter here; yes, here it is:
[Reads.
They have presto a power, but it is not known
Whether for east or west: The dearth is great;
The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius, your old enemy,
(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,)
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you :*
Consider of it.
1 Sen.

Our army's in the field:
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.
Auf.
Nor did you think it folly,
To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when
They needs must show themselves; which in the
hatching,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,
To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen.
Noble Aufidius, 1
Take your commission; hie you to your bands
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they set down before us, for the remove12
Bring up your army; but I think you'll find
They have not prepar'd for us.
Auf.

O, doubt not that;
I speak from certainties. Nay, more.
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike
Till one can do no more.

I have not promoted and preferred you to condign preferments according to your demerits.

S Perhaps the word singularity implies a sarcasm on Coriolanus, and the speaker means to say-after what fashion beside that in which his own singularity of disSo in

4 That is, You have in this mutiny shown fair blos. position invests him, he goes into the field. soms of valour. So in King Henry VIII. :

-To-day he puts forth

The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms,' &c. 5 A gird is a cut, a sarcasm, or stroke of satire. See King Heny IV. Part ii. Act i. Sc. 2.

6The present wars' Shakspeare uses to express the pride of Coriolanus, grounded on his military prowess; which kind of pride, Brutus says, devours him. In Troilus and Cressida, Act ii. Sc. 3. we have:

He that's proud eats up himself.' Perhaps the meaning of the latter member of the sencence is, He is grown too proud of being so valiant to be endured. It is still a common expression to say, 'eat up with pride.'

7 Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning.

"What have been ever thought on in this state." things have,' &c. or read with Steevens, hath, as in We must either suppose this an ellipsis for What the text.

10 i. e. ready; from the old French prest. Thus in the Merchant of Venice, Act i. Sc. 1:-7

say to me what I should do, That in your knowledge may by me be done, And I am prest unto it.'

11 To take in was formerly used as we now use to Cleopatra :take for to subdue, to conquer. Thus in Antony and

cut the Ionian seas, And take in Toryne.'

12 If the Romans besiege us, bring up your army to remove them?

All. The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honours safe!

1 Sen.

2 Sen.

All. Farewell.

Farewell.

Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school master.

Vol. One of his father's moods.
Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack," madam.

Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear Farewell. 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon [Exeunt. him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has SCENE III. Rome. An Apartmennt in Marcius' such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it House. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They go again; and after it again; and over and over sit down on two low stools, and sew. he comes, and up again; catched it again: or Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express your-whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did self in a more comfortable sort: If my son were so set his teeth, and tear it; 0, I warrant, how he my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence mammocked it! wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, her mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter,-I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit

you.

Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire3 myself.
Vol. Indeed, you shall not.

Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum;
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;

As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him:
Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,-
Come on, you cowards, you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome: His bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes;
Like to a harvest-man, that's task'd to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man,
Than gilt his trophy: The breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords' contending.-Tell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent.
Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.

Re-enter Gentlewoman, with VALERIA and her
Usher.

Val. My ladies both, good day to you.
Vol. Sweet madam,-

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little son?

Vir, I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

1 Auracted the attention of every one toward him. 2 The crown given by the Romans to him that saved the life of a citizen, which was accounted more honourable than any other.

3 This verb active (signifying to withdraw) occurs in The Tempest:—

'I will thence

Retire me to my Milan.'

4 Gilt means a superficial display of gold. The word is now obsolete.

Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched.'
King Henry V.

Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
Val. Not out of doors!
Vol. She shall, she shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars.

Val. Fye, you confine yourself most unreasonably; Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would, your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall

go with us.

Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you your husband. excellent news of Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, madam?

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray,

wars.

go with us.
Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey
you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think she would:--Fare you well, then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door, and go along with us. Vir. No: at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.

Lart.
Agreed.
Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy?

5 i. e. a handsome spot of embroidery. We often hear of spotted muslin.

6 To mammock is to tear or cut in pieces.

7 A crack signifies a sprightly forward boy: it is often used by Jonson and his contemporaries :If we could get a witty boy, now, Eugine, That were an excellent crack, I could instruct him To the true height." Devil is an Ass. 'A notable dissembling lad, a crack. Four Prentices of London, 1615

7 From the obscurity of this passage there is good rea son to suspect its correctness. Perhaps we might read sub-some instead of four, words easily confounded in old MSS.; and then the last line may be interrogative, thus: Please you to march,

And some shall quickly draw out my command:
Which men are best inclin'd?

The passage as it stands in the old copy has been thus explained: Coriolanus means to say, that he would appoint four persons to select for his particular, or party, those who are best inclined; and, in order to save time, he proposes to have this choice made while the army is senti-marching forward. The old translation of Plutarch only says:Wherefore, with those that willingly of fered themselves to follow him, he went out of the citie." 8 Gates. 9 Companies of a hundred men