Bru. Which the rather He hath hereto priz'd them at. Men. That's off, that's off;' I would you rather had been silent: Please you Bru. Most willingly: He loves your people; But yet my caution was more pertinent, Men. But tie him not to be their bedfellow. Worthy Cominius, speak.-Nay, keep your place. [CORIOLANUS rises, and offers to go away. 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. Your honours' pardon ; Than hear say how I got them. Bru. Sir, I hope, No, sir: yet oft, My words dis-bench'd you not. people, I love them as they weigh. Men. Pray now, sit down. Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun, When the alarum were struck, than idly sit To hear my nothings monster'd. Men. [Exit CORIOLANUS. Masters o'the people, pose. That's off, that's off;] That is, that is nothing to the pur Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter,2 (That's thousand to one good one,) when you now see, He had rather venture all his limbs for honour, Than one of his ears to hear it?-Proceed, Cominius. Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus Should not be utter'd fecbly.—It is held, That valour is the chiefest virtue, and The man I speak of cannot in the world how can he flatter,] The reasoning of Menenius is this: How can he be expected to practise flattery to others, who abhors it so much, that he cannot hear it even when offered to himself? 3 When Tarquin made a head for Rome,] When Tarquin who had been expelled, raised a power to recover Rome. his Amazonian chin-] i. e. his chin on which there was no beard. 5. And struck him on his knee:] This does not mean that he gave Tarquin a blow on the knee, but gave him such a blow as occasioned him to fall on his knee. "When he might act the woman in the scene,] It has been more than once mentioned, that the parts of women were, in Shakspeare's time, represented by the most smooth-faced young men to be found among the players. But here is a great anachronism. There were no theatres at Rome for the exhibition of plays for about two hundred and fifty years after the death of Coriolanus. And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since, For this last, I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers; And fell below his stem: his sword (death's stamp) Men. Worthy man! 1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the ho "To "He lurch'd all swords o'the garland.] To lurch, in Shak-. speare's time, signified to win a maiden set at cards, &c. lurch all swords of the garland," therefore, was, to gain from all other warriors the wreath of victory, with ease, and incontestable superiority. every motion Was tim'd with dying cries.] The cries of the slaughtered regularly followed his motion, as musick and a dancer accompany each other. 9 The mortal gate-] The gate that was made the scene of death. 1 1 He cannot but with measure fit the honours-] That is, no Which we devise him. Com. Men. Let him be call'd for. 1 Sen. Off. He doth appear, He's right noble ; Call for Coriolanus. Re-enter CORIOLANUS. Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd I do beseech you, Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honour with your form.3 honour will be too great for him; he will show a mind equal to any elevation. Than misery-] Misery for avarice; because a miser signifies avaricious. Cor. It is a part That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. Bru. Mark you that? Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus;Show them the unaking scars which I should hide, As if I had receiv'd them for the hire Of their breath only Men. Do not stand upon't. We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! As if he did contemn what he requested Should be in them to give. Bru. Come, we'll inform them [Exeunt. Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, SCENE III. The same. The Forum. Enter several Citizens. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 3 Your honour with your form.] Your form, may mean the form which custom prescribes to you. • We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them;] We entreat you, tribunes of the people, to recommend and enforce to the plebians, what we propose to them for their approbation; namely the appointment of Coriolanus to the consulship. |