And carry with us ears and Sic. Have with you. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Changes to the Capitol. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions. 1 Off many stand for Confulships? OME, come, they are almost here. How 2 Off. Three, they fay; but 'tis thought of every one Coriolanus will carry it. 1 Off. That's a brave Fellow, but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common People. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great Men that have flatter'd the People, who ne'er lov'd them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore; fo that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love, or hate him, manifefts the true knowledge he has in their difpofition, and out of his noble careleffnefs lets them plainly fee't. 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, 'he war'd indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he feeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their oppofite. Now to feem to affect the malice and displeasure of the People, is as bad as That, which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love. 9-carry with us ears and eyes, &c.] That is, let us obferve what paffes, but keep our hearts fixed on our defign of M m 2 crushing Coriolanus. he wav'd] That is, he would wave indifferently. 2 Off. 2 Off. He hath deferved worthily of his Country, and his afcent is not by fuch eafy degrees as thofe, who have been fupple and courteous to the People, bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report; but he hath fo planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be filent, and not confefs fo much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a malice, that, giving itfelf the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it. 1 Off. No more of him, he is a worthy man. Make way, they are coming. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of the People, Litors before them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the Conful: Sicinius and Brutus take their places ly themselves. Men. Having determin'd of the Volfcians, and To fend for Titus Lartius, it remains, As the main point of this our after-meeting, To gratify his noble service, that Hath thus ftood for his Country. Therefore, please you, Most reverend and grave Elders, to defire The prefent Conful, and laft General By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 2 Supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted,] The fenfe, I think, requires that we fhould read, unbonnetted. Who have rifen only by pulling off their hats to the people. Bonnetted may relate to people, but not without harfhne s. 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius; Leave nothing out for length, and make us think, Than we to ftretch it out. Mafters o' th' People, We do request your kindest ear; and, after, 3 Your loving motion toward the common Body, To yield what paffes here. Sic. We are convented Upon a pleafing Treaty; and have hearts + The Theam of our Affembly. We shall be bleft to do, if he remember Men. That's off, that's off. I would, you rather had been filent. Please you Bru. Moft willingly; But yet my caution was more pertinent, Than the rebuke you give it. Men. He loves your People, But tye him not to be their bed-fellow. [Coriolanus rifes, and offers to go away. Nay, keep your place. I Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear 3 Your loving motion toward the common Body. Your kind interpofition with the common people. The Theam of our Ambly.] Here is a fault in the expreffion: And had it affected our Author's knowledge of nature, I fhould have adjudged it to his tranfcribers or editors; but as it affects only his knowledge in hiftory, I fuppofe it to be his own. He fould have faid your Affembly. For 'till the Lex Attina (the author of which is fuppofed by Sigonius, [De vetere Italia Jue] to have been contemporary with Quintus Metellus Macedonicus) the Tribunes had not the privilege of entring the Senate, but had feats placed for them near the door on the outfide of the house. WAR 5 That's off, that's off] That is, that is nothing to the purpose. M m 3 What ! 1 What you have nobly done. Cor. Your Honours' pardon. I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Bru. Sir, I hope, My words dif-bench'd you not? Cor. No, Sir; yet oft, When blows have made me ftay, I fled from words, Men. Pray now, fit down. Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i' th' Sun, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, The Man, I speak of, cannot in the world 6-how can he flatter,] The reasoning of Menenius is this: How can he be expected to practife flattery to others, who abhors it fo much, that he cannot hear it even when offered to him felf. • When Tarquin made a bead for Rome,-] When Tarquin, who had been expelled, raised a power to recover Rome. And ! And ftruck him on his knee; in that day's feats, And, in the brunt of seventeen battles fince, I cannot speak him home; he stopt the fliers, 7 And fell below his ftern. His fword, death's ftamp, And with a fudden re-enforcement ftruck Corioli, like a planet. Nor all's this; 7 Men. Worthy Man! 1 Sen. 9 He cannot but with meafure fit the Ho nours, every motion Was tim'd with dying cries.-] The cries of the flaughtered regularly followed his motions, as mufick and a dancer accompany each other. The mortal Gate-] The Gate that was made the scene of death. 9 He cannot but with measure fit the Honours,] That is, no honour will be too great for him; he will fhew a mind equal to any elevation. |