Chapter XVI: Act V: SCENE I. Rome. A public place

_Enter_ MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS _and_ BRUTUS, _the two_
Tribunes, _and others_.[3679]

_Men._ No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath said
Which was sometime his general, who loved him[3680]
In a most dear particular. He call'd me father:
But what o' that? Go, you that banish'd him;[3681]
A mile before his tent fall down, and knee[3681][3682] 5
The way into his mercy: nay, if he coy'd
To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.

_Com._ He would not seem to know me.

_Men._ Do you hear?

_Com._ Yet one time he did call me by my name:
I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops 10
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to: forbad all names;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forged himself a name o' the fire[3683]
Of burning Rome.

_Men._ Why, so: you have made good work![3684] 15
A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome,[3685]
To make coals cheap: a noble memory![3686]

_Com._ I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon
When it was less expected: he replied,[3687]
It was a bare petition of a state[3688] 20
To one whom they had punish'd.

_Men._ Very well:[3689]
Could he say less?[3689]

_Com._ I offer'd to awaken his regard
For 's private friends: his answer to me was,[3690]
He could not stay to pick them in a pile 25
Of noisome musty chaff, he said 'twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt,
And still to nose the offence.

_Men._ For one poor grain or two!
I am one of those; his mother, wife, his child,[3691]
And this brave fellow too, we are the grains:[3692] 30
You are the musty chaff, and you are smelt
Above the moon: we must be burnt for you.

_Sic._ Nay, pray, be patient: if you refuse your aid
In this so never-needed help, yet do not[3693]
Upbraid's with our distress. But, sure, if you[3694] 35
Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,
More than the instant army we can make,
Might stop our countryman.

_Men._ No, I'll not meddle.

_Sic._ Pray you, go to him.

_Men._ What should I do?[3695]

_Bru._ Only make trial what your love can do 40
For Rome, towards Marcius.

_Men._ Well, and say that Marcius[3696]
Return me, as Cominius is return'd,[3697][3696]
Unheard; what then?[3696][3698][3699]
But as a discontented friend, grief-shot[3699][3700]
With his unkindness? say 't be so?[3701]

_Sic._ Yet your good will 45
Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure[3702]
As you intended well.

_Men._ I'll undertake 't:[3703]
I think he'll hear me. Yet, to bite his lip
And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.
He was not taken well; he had not dined: 50
The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd[3704]
These pipes and these conveyances of our blood[3705]
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls 55
Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him
Till he be dieted to my request,
And then I'll set upon him.

_Bru._ You know the very road into his kindness,
And cannot lose your way.

_Men._ Good faith, I'll prove him,[3706] 60
Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge[3706]
Of my success. [_Exit._

_Com._ He'll never hear him.

_Sec._ Not?[3707]

_Com._ I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye[3708]
Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury
The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him; 65
'Twas very faintly he said 'Rise;' dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand: what he would do,
He sent in writing after me; what he would not,[3709][3710]
Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions:[3710][3711][3712]
So that all hope is vain,[3710][3711][3713] 70
Unless his noble mother, and his wife;[3713][3714]
Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him[3713][3715]
For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence,[3716]
And with our fair entreaties haste them on. [_Exeunt._

SCENE II. _Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome. Two Sentinels on guard._

_Enter to them_, MENENIUS.[3717]

_First Sen._ Stay: whence are you?[3718]

_Sec. Sen._ Stand, and go back.[3719]

_Men._ You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave,
I am an officer of state, and come[3720]
To speak with Coriolanus.[3720]

_First Sen._ From whence?[3721]

_Men._ From Rome.

_First Sen._ You may not pass, you must return: our general[3722] 5
Will no more hear from thence.[3722][3723]

_Sec. Sen._ You'll see your Rome embraced with fire, before
You'll speak with Coriolanus.

_Men._ Good my friends,
If you have heard your general talk of Rome
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks[3724] 10
My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius.

_First Sen._ Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name
Is not here passable.

_Men._ I tell thee, fellow,[3725]
Thy general is my lover: I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read 15
His fame unparallel'd haply amplified;[3726]
For I have ever verified my friends,[3727]
Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity[3728]
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, 20
I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise[3729]
Have almost stamp'd the leasing: therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.

_First Sen._ Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in
his behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you 25
should not pass here; no, though it were as virtuous to lie
as to live chastely. Therefore go back.

_Men._ Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius,
always factionary on the party of your general.[3730]

_Sec. Sen._ Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say 30
you have, I am one that, telling true under him, must say,
you cannot pass. Therefore go back.

_Men._ Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I would not
speak with him till after dinner.

_First Sen._ You are a Roman, are you? 35

_Men._ I am, as thy general is.[3731]

_First Sen._ Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can
you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender[3732]
of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your
enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy[3733] 40
groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters,[3734]
or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as[3735]
you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended
fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as
this? No, you are deceived; therefore, back to Rome, 45
and prepare for your execution: you are condemned; our
general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

_Men._ Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would[3736][3737]
use me with estimation.[3736]

_Sec. Sen._ Come, my captain knows you not.[3738] 50

_Men._ I mean, thy general.

_First Sen._ My general cares not for you. Back, I say,
go; lest I let forth your half-pint of blood;--back,--that's[3739]
the utmost of your having:--back.[3739]

_Men._ Nay, but, fellow, fellow,-- 55

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS _and_ AUFIDIUS.[3740]

_Cor._ What's the matter?

_Men._ Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you:[3741]
you shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall perceive
that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son
Coriolanus: guess, but by my entertainment with him, if[3742] 60
thou standest not i' the state of hanging, or of some death
more long in spectatorship and crueller in suffering; behold
now presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee.[3743]
The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular
prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father 65
Menenius does! O my son, my son! thou art preparing
fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was
hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none
but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of
your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome[3744] 70
and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage
thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here,--this,[3745]
who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee.

_Cor._ Away!

_Men._ How! away! 75

_Cor._ Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs
Are servanted to others: though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lies[3746]
In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison rather[3747] 80
Than pity note how much. Therefore be gone.[3748]
Mine ears against your suits are stronger than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake,
And would have sent it. [_Gives him a letter._] Another
word, Menenius,[3749] 85
I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st.[3750]

_Auf._ You keep a constant temper.

[_Exeunt Coriolanus and Aufidius._[3751]

_First Sen._ Now, sir, is your name Menenius?

_Sec. Sen._ 'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you[3752] 90
know the way home again.[3752]

_First Sen._ Do you hear how we are shent for keeping
your greatness back?

_Sec. Sen._ What cause, do you think, I have to swoon?[3743]

_Men._ I neither care for the world nor your general: for 95
such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, ye're so[3753]
slight. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not
from another: let your general do his worst. For you, be
that you are, long; and your misery increase with your
age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away! [_Exit._ 100

_First Sen._ A noble fellow, I warrant him.

_Sec. Sen._ The worthy fellow is our general: he's the[3754][3755]
rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken. [_Exeunt._[3754][3756]

SCENE III. _The tent of Coriolanus._

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, _and others_.[3757]

_Cor._ We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow
Set down our host. My partner in this action,
You must report to the Volscian lords how plainly
I have borne this business.[3758]

_Auf._ Only their ends[3759][3760]
You have respected; stopp'd your ears against[3759] 5
The general suit of Rome; never admitted[3759]
A private whisper, no, not with such friends[3759][3761]
That thought them sure of you.

_Cor._ This last old man,[3762]
Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,
Loved me above the measure of a father, 10
Nay, godded me indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to send him; for whose old love I have,
Though I show'd sourly to him, once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse[3763]
And cannot now accept; to grace him only[3764] 15
That thought he could do more, a very little[3764]
I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits,[3765]
Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter[3766]
Will I lend ear to. [_Shout within._] Ha! what shout is this?[3767]
Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow 20
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.

_Enter, in mourning habits_, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, _leading young_
MARCIUS, VALERIA, _and_ Attendants.[3768]

My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand
The grandchild to her blood. But out, affection!
All bond and privilege of nature, break![3769] 25
Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.
What is that curtsy worth? or those doves' eyes,[3770]
Which can make gods forsworn? I melt, and am not
Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows;
As if Olympus to a molehill should 30
In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great nature cries 'Deny not.' Let the Volsces
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy: I'll never
Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand, 35
As if a man were author of himself[3771][3772]
And knew no other kin.[3772]

_Vir._ My lord and husband!

_Cor._ These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.

_Vir._ The sorrow that delivers us thus changed
Makes you think so.

_Cor._ Like a dull actor now[3773] 40
I have forgot my part and I am out,[3773]
Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,[3773]
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For that 'Forgive our Romans.' O, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! 45
Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear, and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er since. You gods! I prate,[3774]
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i' the earth; [_Kneels._ 50
Of thy deep duty more impression show[3775]
Than that of common sons.

_Vol._ O, stand up blest!
Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,
I kneel before thee, and unproperly
Show duty, as mistaken all this while[3776] 55
Between the child and parent. [_Kneels._

_Cor._ What is this?[3777][3778]
Your knees to me? to your corrected son?[3778]
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach[3779]
Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds[3780]
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun, 60
Murdering impossibility, to make
What cannot be, slight work.

_Vol._ Thou art my warrior;[3781]
I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?[3781][3782]

_Cor._ The noble sister of Publicola,[3783]
The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle 65
That's curdied by the frost from purest snow[3784]
And hangs on Dian's temple: dear Valeria!

_Vol._ This is a poor epitome of yours,[3785]
Which by the interpretation of full time
May show like all yourself.

_Cor._ The god of soldiers,[3786] 70
With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness, that thou mayst prove
To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars[3787]
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw
And saving those that eye thee!

_Vol._ Your knee, sirrah.[3788] 75

_Cor._ That's my brave boy!

_Vol._ Even he, your wife, this lady and myself
Are suitors to you.

_Cor._ I beseech you, peace:
Or, if you'ld ask, remember this before:
The thing I have forsworn to grant may never[3789] 80
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me[3789]
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate
Again with Rome's mechanics: tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural: desire not[3790]
To allay my rages and revenges with[3790] 85
Your colder reasons.[3790]

_Vol._ O, no more, no more!
You have said you will not grant us any thing;[3791]
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
Which you deny already: yet we will ask;
That, if you fail in our request, the blame[3792] 90
May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.

_Cor._ Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private. Your request?

_Vol._ Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment
And state of bodies would bewray what life 95
We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself[3793]
How more unfortunate than all living women[3794]
Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should[3795]
Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts,[3796]
Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow; 100
Making the mother, wife and child, to see
The son, the husband and the father, tearing
His country's bowels out. And to poor we[3797][3798]
Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us[3798][3799]
Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort 105
That all but we enjoy; for how can we,
Alas, how can we for our country pray,
Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory,[3800]
Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must lose[3800]
The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person, 110
Our comfort in the country. We must find
An evident calamity, though we had[3801]
Our wish, which side should win; for either thou
Must, as a foreign recreant, be led
With manacles thorough our streets, or else[3802] 115
Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin
And bear the palm for having bravely shed
Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,
I purpose not to wait on fortune till
These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee[3803] 120
Rather to show a noble grace to both parts[3804]
Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner[3805]
March to assault thy country than to tread--
Trust to 't, thou shalt not--on thy mother's womb,
That brought thee to this world.

_Vir._ Ay, and mine,[3806][3807] 125
That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name[3806]
Living to time.[3806]

_Boy._ A' shall not tread on me;[3806][3808]
I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight.[3806]

_Cor._ Not of a woman's tenderness to be,
Requires nor child nor woman's face to see.[3809] 130
I have sat too long. [_Rising._[3810]

_Vol._ Nay, go not from us thus.
If it were so that our request did tend
To save the Romans, thereby to destroy[3811]
The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us,
As poisonous of your honour: no; our suit[3812] 135
Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volsces
May say 'This mercy we have show'd,' the Romans,
'This we received;' and each in either side
Give the all-hail to thee and cry 'Be blest
For making up this peace!' Thou know'st, great son, 140
The end of war's uncertain, but this certain,[3813]
That if thou conquer Rome, the benefit
Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name
Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses;
Whose chronicle thus writ: 'The man was noble, 145
But with his last attempt he wiped it out,
Destroy'd his country, and his name remains
To the ensuing age abhorr'd.' Speak to me, son:
Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour,[3814]
To imitate the graces of the gods; 150
To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air,
And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt[3815]
That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?[3816]
Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man[3817]
Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you: 155
He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy:
Perhaps thy childishness will move him more
Than can our reasons. There's no man in the world[3818]
More bound to 's mother, yet here he lets me prate[3819]
Like one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life[3820] 160
Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy;
When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood,
Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home,[3821]
Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust,
And spurn me back: but if it be not so, 165
Thou art not honest, and the gods will plague thee,
That thou restrain'st from me the duty which
To a mother's part belongs. He turns away:
Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.[3822]
To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride[3823] 170
Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;[3824]
This is the last: so we will home to Rome,
And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold's:[3825]
This boy, that cannot tell what he would have,
But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship, 175
Does reason our petition with more strength
Than thou hast to deny 't. Come, let us go:
This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;
His wife is in Corioli, and his child[3826]
Like him by chance. Yet give us our dispatch: 180
I am hush'd until our city be a-fire,[3827][3828]
And then I'll speak a little.[3827]

_Cor._ [_After holding her by the hand, silent_] O Mother, mother![3829]
What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,
The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! 185
You have won a happy victory to Rome;[3791]
But, for your son, believe it, O, believe it,
Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,[3830]
If not most mortal to him. But let it come.[3831]
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars, 190
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,[3832]
Were you in my stead, would you have heard[3833]
A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?[3834]

_Auf._ I was moved withal.[3835]

_Cor._ I dare be sworn you were:
And, sir, it is no little thing to make 195
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,
What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you,
Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife!

_Auf._ [_Aside_] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour[3836] 200
At difference in thee: out of that I'll work
Myself a former fortune. [_The Ladies make signs to Coriolanus._

_Cor._ [_To Volumnia, Virgilia, &c._] Ay, by and by:--[3837][3838]
But we will drink together; and you shall bear[3838][3839]
A better witness back than words, which we
On like conditions will have counter-seal'd. 205
Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve[3840]
To have a temple built you: all the swords[3840]
In Italy, and her confederate arms,[3840]
Could not have made this peace. [_Exeunt._[3840]

SCENE IV. _Rome. A public place._[3841]

_Enter_ MENENIUS _and_ SICINIUS.

_Men._ See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond
cornerstone?

_Sic._ Why, what of that?

_Men._ If it be possible for you to displace it with your
little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially 5
his mother, may prevail with him. But I say there
is no hope in 't: our throats are sentenced, and stay upon
execution.

_Sic._ Is't possible that so short a time can alter the
condition of a man? 10

_Men._ There is differency between a grub and a butterfly;[3842]
yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown
from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a
creeping thing.

_Sic._ He loved his mother dearly. 15

_Men._ So did he me: and he no more remembers his
mother now than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness of[3843]
his face sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he moves like
an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading: he
is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, 20
and his hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing[3844][3845]
made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finished[3845]
with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but eternity
and a heaven to throne in.

_Sic._ Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. 25

_Men._ I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy
his mother shall bring from him: there is no more mercy
in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that shall our
poor city find: and all this is long of you.[3846]

_Sic._ The gods be good unto us! 30

_Men._ No, in such a case the gods will not be good
unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them;
and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ Sir, if you'ld save your life, fly to your house:
The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, 35
And hale him up and down, all swearing, if
The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Sic._ What's the news?

_Sec. Mess._ Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,[3847]
The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone: 40
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

_Sic._ Friend,[3848]
Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain?[3848][3849]

_Sec. Mess._ As certain as I know the sun is fire:[3847]
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it? 45
Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!

[_Trumpets; hautboys; drums beat; all together._[3850]

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
Tabors and cymbals and the shouting Romans,[3851]
Make the sun dance. Hark you! [_A shout within._[3852]

_Men._ This is good news: 50
I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia[3853]
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,
A city full; of tribunes, such as you,
A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:[3854]
This morning for ten thousand of your throats 55
I'ld not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

[_Music still, with shouts._[3855]

_Sic._ First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,[3856]
Accept my thankfulness.[3856]

_Sec. Mess._ Sir, we have all[3857]
Great cause to give great thanks.[3857]

_Sic._ They are near the city?[3857][3858]

_Sec. Mess._ Almost at point to enter.[3857]

_Sic._ We will meet them,[3857][3859][3860] 60
And help the joy. [_Exeunt._[3857][3860][3861]

SCENE V. _The same. A street near the gate._

_Enter two_ Senators _with_ VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, VALERIA, _&c. passing
over the stage, followed by_ Patricians _and others_.[3862]

_First Sen._ Behold our patroness, the life of Rome![3863]
Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,[3864]
And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them:[3865]
Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius,[3866]
Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; 5
Cry 'Welcome, ladies, welcome!'

_All._ Welcome, ladies,[3867]
Welcome! [_A flourish with drums and trumpets. Exeunt._[3867][3868]

SCENE VI. _Antium. A public place._[3869]

_Enter_ TULLUS AUFIDIUS, _with_ Attendants.

_Auf._ Go tell the lords o' the city I am here:[3870]
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to the market-place, where I,
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse[3871] 5
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: dispatch. [_Exeunt Attendants._[3872]

_Enter three or four_ Conspirators _of_ AUFIDIUS' _faction_.

Most welcome!

_First Con._ How is it with our general?

_Auf._ Even so[3873] 10
As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,[3873]
And with his charity slain.[3873]

_Sec. Con._ Most noble sir,[3874]
If you do hold the same intent wherein[3874]
You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you[3874]
Of your great danger.

_Auf._ Sir, I cannot tell: 15
We must proceed as we do find the people.

_Third Con._ The people will remain uncertain whilst
'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either
Makes the survivor heir of all.

_Auf._ I know it,
And my pretext to strike at him admits 20
A good construction. I raised him, and I pawn'd[3875]
Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,[3876]
Seducing so my friends; and, to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before 25
But to be rough, unswayable and free.[3877]

_Third Con._ Sir, his stoutness[3878]
When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping,--[3879]

_Auf._ That I would have spoke of:
Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth; 30
Presented to my knife his throat: I took him,
Made him joint-servant with me, gave him way
In all his own desires, nay, let him choose
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,[3880]
My best and freshest men, served his designments 35
In mine own person, holp to reap the fame[3881][3882]
Which he did end all his; and took some pride[3882][3883]
To do myself this wrong: till at the last
I seem'd his follower, not partner, and
He waged me with his countenance, as if[3884] 40
I had been mercenary.

_First Con._ So he did, my lord:
The army marvell'd at it, and in the last,[3885]
When he had carried Rome and that we look'd
For no less spoil than glory--[3886]

_Auf._ There was it:
For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.[3887] 45
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour
Of our great action: therefore shall he die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But hark!

[_Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of the people._[3888]

_First Con._ Your native town you enter'd like a post, 50
And had no welcomes home; but he returns,
Splitting the air with noise.

_Sec. Con._ And patient fools,
Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
With giving him glory.[3889]

_Third Con._ Therefore, at your vantage,
Ere he express himself, or move the people 55
With what he would say, let him feel your sword,
Which we will second. When he lies along,[3890][3891]
After your way his tale pronounced shall bury[3891]
His reasons with his body.

_Auf._ Say no more:[3892]
Here come the lords.[3892] 60

_Enter the_ Lords _of the city_.

_All the Lords._ You are most welcome home.[3893]

_Auf._ I have not deserved it.
But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
What I have written to you?

_Lords._ We have.

_First Lord._ And grieve to hear 't.[3894]
What faults he made before the last, I think
Might have found easy fines: but there to end 65
Where he was to begin, and give away
The benefit of our levies, answering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding,--this admits no excuse.[3895]

_Auf._ He approaches: you shall hear him. 70

_Enter_ CORIOLANUS, _marching with drum and colours; the commoners
being with him_.

_Cor._ Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier;[3896]
No more infected with my country's love
Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting
Under your great command. You are to know,
That prosperously I have attempted and 75
With bloody passage led your wars even to
The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home[3897]
Do more than counterpoise a full third part[3897]
The charges of the action. We have made peace,[3898]
With no less honour to the Antiates 80
Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver,[3899]
Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,[3900]
Together with the seal o' the senate, what[3901]
We have compounded on.

_Auf._ Read it not, noble lords;
But tell the traitor, in the highest degree 85
He hath abused your powers.

_Cor._ Traitor! how now!

_Auf._ Ay, traitor, Marcius!

_Cor._ Marcius!

_Auf._ Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius: dost thou think
I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name
Coriolanus, in Corioli? 90
You lords and heads o' the state, perfidiously[3901][3902]
He has betray'd your business, and given up,
For certain drops of salt, your city Rome,
I say 'your city,' to his wife and mother;
Breaking his oath and resolution, like 95
A twist of rotten silk; never admitting
Counsel o' the war; but at his nurse's tears[3901]
He whined and roar'd away your victory;
That pages blush'd at him and men of heart
Look'd wondering each at other.[3903]

_Cor._ Hear'st thou, Mars? 100

_Auf._ Name not the god, thou boy of tears!

_Cor._ Ha!

_Auf._ No more.[3904]

_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[3905] 105
I was forced to scold. Your judgements, my grave lords,[3905][3906]
Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion--
Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him; that
Must bear my beating to his grave--shall join
To thrust the lie unto him. 110

_First Lord._ Peace, both, and hear me speak.

_Cor._ Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,[3907]
Stain all your edges on me. 'Boy!' false hound![3908]
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,
That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I 115
Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli;[3909]
Alone I did it. 'Boy!'[3910]

_Auf._ Why, noble lords,
Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,
Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,
'Fore your own eyes and ears?

_All Consp._ Let him die for't. 120

_All the People._ 'Tear him to pieces.' 'Do it presently.'[3911][3912]
'He killed my son.' 'My daughter.' 'He killed my cousin[3912][3913]
Marcus.' 'He killed my father.'[3912][3913]

_Sec. Lord._ Peace, ho! no outrage: peace![3914]
The man is noble, and his fame folds-in 125
This orb o' the earth. His last offences to us
Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius,
And trouble not the peace.

_Cor._ O that I had him,[3915]
With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,[3915]
To use my lawful sword![3915]

_Auf._ Insolent villain! 130

_All Consp._ Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

[_The Conspirators draw, and kill Coriolanus:
Aufidius stands on his body._[3916]

_Lords._ Hold, hold, hold, hold!

_Auf._ My noble masters, hear me speak.

_First Lord._ O Tullus,--[3917]

_Sec. Lord._ Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.[3918]

_Third Lord._ Tread not upon him. Masters all, be quiet;[3919]
Put up your swords. 135

_Auf._ My lords, when you shall know--as in this rage[3920]
Provoked by him, you cannot--the great danger[3921]
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 140
Myself your loyal servant, or endure
Your heaviest censure.

_First Lord._ Bear from hence his body;
And mourn you for him: let him be regarded
As the most noble corse that ever herald
Did follow to his urn.

_Sec. Lord._ His own impatience 145
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.

_Auf._ My rage is gone,
And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up:
Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.[3901]
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully: 150
Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory.[3922]
Assist. [_Exeunt, bearing the body of Coriolanus._[3922][3923] 155
_A dead march sounded._

FOOTNOTES:

[3679] ACT V. SCENE 1.] Rowe. Actus Quintus. Ff.

Rome.] Rowe.

A public place.] Theobald.

Enter ... Sicinius and Brutus....] Enter ... Sicinius, Brutus,.... Ff.

[3680] _Which was_] _To one_ Collier MS.

[3681] _him; A mile ... tent_] _him, A mile ... tent_ Hanmer. _him, A mile ... tent,_ Rowe. _him A mile ... tent,_ Ff.

[3682] _knee_] F₁. _kneele_ F₂. _kneel_ F₃ F₄.

[3683] _o' the_] _o' th_ F₄. _a' th'_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _i' the_ Malone.

[3684] _you have_] _you've_ Pope.

[3685] _rack'd for_] Pope. _wrack'd for_ Ff _sack'd fair_ Hanmer. _reck'd for_ Warburton. _wrack'd poor_ Long MS. _wreck'd for_ Collier. _wreck'd fair_ Williams conj. _work'd for_ Leo conj.

_for Rome,_] _Rome, for_ Badham conj.

[3686] _cheap:_] _cheape:_ Ff. _cheap,_ Collier. _cheap,--_ Dyce. See note (X).

[3687] _it was less_] _it was least_ Pope. _least it was_ Steevens.

[3688] _bare_] Ff. _base_ Blackstone and Mason conj. _rare_ Williams conj.

_bare ... state_] _rebaptizing of estate_ Bullock conj.

[3689] _Very well ... less?_] As in Johnson. One line in Ff.

[3690] _For's_] _For his_ Capell.

[3691] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[3692] _too, we are_] _we're_ Hanmer, ending the previous lines at _grain ... wife_.

[3693] _never-needed_] _never-heeded_ Steevens (1793).

[3694] _Upbraid's_] _Upbraid us_ Rowe.

[3695] _Pray you_] _I pray you_ Capell.

_What_] _Why, what_ Hanmer.

_do?_] _do there?_ Keightley.

[3696] _Well ... what then?_] As in Pope. Two lines, ending _returne me ... then?_, in Ff.

[3697] _is return'd_] _return'd_ F₄.

[3698] _Unheard_] _Unheard, or not unheard_ Badham conj., ending lines 43, 44 _but as ... with his_.

_what then?_] om. Hanmer. _what then? How should I then appear?_ Seymour conj. _what then? how then should I return?_ Keightley.

[3699] _what then? But ... friend_] _what then? not as a joyful herald, But ... friend or what then? As a discountenanc'd friend_ (reading _As ... his_ as one line) Badham conj.

[3700] _But as_] om. Capell, reading _Unheard ... friend,_ as one line.

[3701] _unkindness ... so?_ Sic. _Yet ... will_] _unkindness: and what then?_ Sic. _Say it be so; yet ... will, Menenius_ Hanmer (ending the lines at _friend ... then?... Menenius_). _unkindness? Say't be so?_ Sic. _Say it be so; yet ... will, Menenius_ Capell, following Hanmer's arrangement. _unkindness?_ Sic. _But yet ... will_ Seymour conj.

[3702] _that thanks from_] _the thanks of_ Hanmer.

[3703] _undertake't_] _undertake it_ Rowe.

[3704] _we have_] _we've_ Pope.

[3705] _our_] om. Pope.

[3706] _him, ... will. I_] _him, ... will. You_ Hanmer. _him: ... will, you_ Mason conj. _him, ... will. They_ Becket conj. _him: ... will, I_ Staunton.

[3707] _Not?_] F₃ F₄. _Not._ F₁ F₂. _No?_ Capell.

[3708] _sit_] _set_ Farmer conj. MS.

_in gold_] _engoal'd_ Heath conj. _engall'd_ Blackstone conj.

[3709] _He ... not,_] _What he would not, he sent in writing after me,_ Jervis conj.

_me_] om. Pope.

[3710] _what ... So that all_] _and what not, bound with an oath. To yield to his conditions, All_ Farmer conj. MS.

[3711] _Bound ... So that_] _Except we yield to his conditions, Bound with an oath. So that_ Capell conj.

[3712] _oath to ... conditions:_] Ff. _oath, not yield to new conditions:_ Hanmer. oath to yield no new conditions:_ or oath. To yield to his conditions_ [some words omitted] Johnson conj. _oath, if you yield to his conditions:_ Heath conj. After _oath_ Malone supposes two half lines to have been lost. _oath, to yield in his conditions:_ Mason conj. _oath: so yield to his conditions:_ Jackson conj. _oath, to yield to no conditions:_ Singer conj. _oath to hold to his conditions:_ Solly conj. Keightley (Grant White conj.) marks a line lost after _would not_.

[3713] _So that ... him_] As in Johnson. Two lines in Ff, ending _mother ... him_.

[3714] _his noble ... wife_] _his mother And wife_ Pope, reading _So that ... mother_ as one line. _from's mother And wife_ Hanmer. _in his mother And wife_ Heath conj. _from his noble mother, and his wife_ Capell. _in his noble mother and his wife_ Anon. conj. apud Steevens. _in's noble ... wife_ Grant White.

[3715] _Who, as I hear,_] _Do, as I hear,_ Mitford conj. (_Who, as I hear_) Leo.

[3716] _For_] _Force_ Warburton.

_country_] Keightley (Steevens conj.) marks here an interruption in the sense.

_let's_] om. Pope.

[3717] SCENE II.] Rowe.

Entrance ... Rome.] A camp. Rowe. The Volscian camp. Theobald. An advanced post of the Volscian Camp before Rome. Capell.

Two ... guard.] Certain of the guard on Duty. Capell. om. Ff.

Enter....] Enter Menenius to the Watch or Guard. Ff.

[3718] First Sen.] 1. Wat. Ff.

_you?_] _you? Speak._ Seymour conj.

[3719] Sec. Sen.] 2. Wat. Ff.

_Stand, and go_] _Stand there, or get you_ Seymour conj.

_back_] _back again_ Steevens conj.

[3720] _I ... Coriolanus._] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3721] _From whence?_] _Whence?_ Pope.

[3722] _You ... thence._] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[3723] _Will ... thence_] _Will hear no more from Rome; so get you back_ Seymour conj.

[3724] _lots to blanks_] _blanks to lots_ Seymour conj.

[3725] _thee, fellow_] _the fellow_ F₃.

[3726] _haply_] Hanmer. _happely_ F₁ F₂. _happily_ F₃ F₄.

[3727] _verified_] _magnified_ Hanmer. _narrified_ Warburton. _varnished_ Edwards conj. _rarefied_ Staunton conj. _certified_ Jervis conj. _glorified_ Leo conj. _vivified_ Bullock conj.

[3728] _with_] _to_ Hanmer.

[3729] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[3730] _on_] _of_ Rowe. (ed. 2).

[3731] _am, as_] F₄. _am as_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3732] _out_] _out of_ Rowe.

[3733] _easy_] _queasy_ Collier (Collier MS.) _wheezy_ Staunton conj.

[3734] _palms_] _pasmes_ or _pames_ Warburton conj. _qualms_ Becket conj.

[3735] _dotant_] _dotard_ F₄.

[3736] _Sirrah ... estimation_] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[3737] _thy_] F₁. _the_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_knew_] _knew that_ Keightley, reading as verse.

[3738] Sec. Sen.] 2. Watch. Steevens (1773). 1. Ff.

[3739] _blood;--back, ... back._] _blood, that's ... having; back, back._ Hanmer.

[3740] and] with Ff.

[3741] _companion_] _champion_ Rowe.

_errand_] Pope. _arrant_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _errant_ F₄.

[3742] _Coriolanus: guess, but by my ... him,_] Malone. _Coriolanus, guesse but my ... him:_ Ff. _Coriolanus; guess but my ... him;_ Pope. _Coriolanus; guess by my ... him,_ Hanmer (Thirlby conj.)

[3743] _swoon_] F₄. _swoond_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3744] _your_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _our_ F₄. _their_ Ritson conj. _yond_ Leo conj. _the_ Anon. conj.

[3745] _thee._] _thee--_ Rowe.

[3746] _my remission_] _remission_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3747] _poison_] _prison_ Theobald.

[3748] _pity note how much._] Theobald (Thirlby conj.) _pitty: Note how much,_ Ff.

[3749] [Gives ... letter.] Pope. om. Ff.

[3750] _behold'st._] F₁ F₂. _behold'st--_ F₃ F₄.

[3751] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt. Manent the Guard and Menenius. Ff. (Manet F₁).

[3752] _'Tis ... again._] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[3753] _ye're_] _y'are_ Ff. _you're_ Capell. _you are_ Steevens.

[3754] _The worthy ... wind-shaken._] Prose in F₄. Two lines, the first ending _rock,_ in F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3755] _he's_] _He is_ Capell, ending line 102 at _general_.

[3756] [Exeunt.] Exit Watch. Ff.

[3757] SCENE III.] Pope.

The tent....] Tent of Coriolanus. Capell.

Enter....] Re-enter ... Pope.

Aufidius, and others.] Capell. and Auffidius. Ff (Aufidius. F₄).

[3758] _I have_] _I've_ Pope. _I still have_ Capell.

[3759] _Only ... friends_] As in Capell. Three lines, ending _respected ... Rome: ... friends,_ in Ff. Three ending _stopt ... Rome: ... friends,_ in Rowe.

[3760] _ends_] _end_ Rann.

[3761] _A private_] _private_ Pope, ending lines 5-8 _stopt ... Rome: ... no ... you._

[3762] _last old_] _last, old_ Rowe.

[3763] _refuse_] _refuge_ F₂.

[3764] _accept; ... more,_] Singer (Heath conj.) _accept, ... more,_ Johnson. _accept, ... more:_ Ff.

[3765] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

_to_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _too_ F₁.

_embassies_] F₄. _embasses_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _embassie_ Rowe.

[3766] _from_] _for_ Rowe.

[3767] [Shout within.] Ff. Omitted by Hanmer.

_shout_] _sight_ Hanmer.

[3768] _not._] _not--_ Pope. _not do't._ Anon. conj.

Enter....] Malone. Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Martius, with Attendants. Ff. Enter, in neglected and mourning Habits, Virgilia, Volumnia leading in her hands young Marcius, Valeria, and other Ladies. Capell.

[3769] _nature, break_] Capell. _nature breake_ Ff.

[3770] _doves'_] Steevens (1793). _doves_ Ff. _dove's_ Rowe.

[3771] _As if_] _And if_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3772] _As ... kin_] As in Rowe (ed. 2). Two lines in Ff.

[3773] _Like ... flesh,_] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending _part,_ in Ff.

[3774] _prate_] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). _pray_ Ff.

[3775] _thy_] _the_ Rowe.

[3776] _mistaken_] _mistaking_ Collier MS.

_this_] _the_ Rowe.

[3777] [Kneels.] Rowe. om. Ff.

_What is_] Pope. _What's_ Ff.

[3778] _What ... son?_] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending _me?_ in Ff.

[3779] _hungry_] _angry_ Malone conj. (withdrawn).

[3780] _Fillip_] Steevens (1793). _Fillop_ Ff.

[3781] _Thou ... lady?_] As in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending _thee,_ in Ff.

[3782] _holp_] Pope. _hope_ Ff.

[3783] _Publicola_] _Poplicola_ Rowe.

[3784] _curdied_] _curdled_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3785] Vol.] Volum. Ff. Val. Rann (Steevens conj.)

_yours_] _you_ Johnson conj.

[shewing young Martius. Pope.

[3786] _soldiers,_] _souldiers,_ F₃ F₄. _souldiers:_ F₁ F₂.

[3787] _stick_] _sticke_ F₁. _strike_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3788] See note (XI).

[3789] _thing ... denials_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _thing ... denial_ F₄. _things ... denials_ Capell.

[3790] _desire not ... reasons._] As in Pope. The lines end _t' allay ... reasons_ in Ff.

[3791] _You have_] _You've_ Pope.

[3792] _you_] _we_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3793] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.

[3794] _all_] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3795] _that_] om. Pope.

[3796] _eyes_] _hearts_ Rowe.

[3797] _country's_] Rowe. _countries_ Ff.

[3798] _to poor we Thine enmity's_] _to poor us Thine enmity's_ Hanmer. _so poor we Thine enemies_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[3799] _enmity's_] F₄. _enmities_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3800] _we are_] _we're_ Pope.

[3801] _evident_] _eminent_ Rowe.

[3802] _thorough_] Johnson, _through_ Ff. _along_ Pope.

_streets_] _street_ Warburton.

[3803] _cannot_] _can't_ Pope.

[3804] _both parts_] _both_ Seymour conj.

[3805] _no sooner_] _not sooner_ Hanmer.

[3806] _Ay, ... fight._] Arranged as in Pope, who reads _mine too_. Four lines, ending _boy, ... time ... away ... fight_, in Ff.

[3807] _to_] _into_ Anon. conj.

_mine_] _mine too_ Rowe. _on mine_ Capell.

[3808] _A'_] _A_ Ff. _He_ Pope.

[3809] _nor child_] _no child_ Rowe.

[3810] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[Rising.] Capell. om. Ff.

[3811] _to_] _do_ Pope (ed. 1).

[3812] _poisonous_] _poysoners_ Hanmer.

[3813] _war's_] F₄. _Warr's_ F₃. _Warres_ F₁ F₂.

[3814] _fine_] Johnson. _fiue_ F₁. _five_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _first_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3815] _to charge thy_] Theobald (Warburton). _to change thy_ Ff. _do charge their_ Hanmer.

[3816] _should_] _shall_ Hanmer.

[3817] _noble man_] _Noble man_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _Nobleman_ F₁.

[3818] _There's_] F₁. _There is_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3819] _to 's_] _to his_ Capell.

[3820] _Thou hast_] _Thou'st_ Pope.

[3821] _cluck'd_] _clock'd_ F₁.

[3822] _him with_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _him with him with_ F₁.

[3823] _To his_] _To 's_ Theobald.

_'longs_] F₄. _longs_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3824] _Down: an end;_] _Downe: an end,_ F₁ F₂. _Down: an end,_ F₃. _Down: and end,_ F₄. _Down; down; and end;_ Johnson.

[3825] _behold's_] _behold us_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[3826] _his child_] _this child_ Theobald.

[3827] _I ... little._] Arranged as in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3828] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[3829] Cor. [After ... silent] Holds her by the hand silent. Corio. Ff.

silent] silent, long and self-struggling. Collier MS.

_O_] om. Pope.

[3830] _dangerously_] _dongerously_ F₂.

[3831] _But_] om. Pope.

[3832] _Now_] _Tell me now_ Badham conj., ending the lines 191-193 at _good ... would you ... less_.

[3833] _were you_] _If you were_ Capell. _An were you_ S. Walker conj.

_stead_] F₄. _stead_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

_would_] _say, would_ Pope.

[3834] _Aufidius_] om. Badham conj.

[3835] _I ... withal._] _I too was mov'd._ Pope. _I was mov'd with 't._ Capell.

[3836] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

_I am ... thou hast_] _I'm ... thou'st_ Pope.

[3837] _a former_] _my former_ Hanmer. _a firmer_ Collier MS.

[The Ladies....] Johnson. om. Ff.

[To Volumnia....] Rowe.

[3838] _Ay ... bear_] Arranged as in Hanmer. In Ff the first line ends at _together_.

[3839] _drink_] _think_ Farmer conj. _swink_ Becket conj.

[3840] _Ladies ... peace._] Auf. _Ladies ... peace._ Hanmer.

[3841] SCENE IV.] Pope. SCENE III. Rowe.

Rome. A public place.] Capell. Rome. Pope. The Forum in Rome. Theobald.

[3842] _differency_] F₁. _difference_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3843] _eight-year-old_] _eight yeare old_ F₁ F₂. _eight years old_ F₃ F₄.

[3844] _in his state_] _in state_ Johnson.

[3845] _as a thing made for_] _as a king, great as_ Leo conj.

[3846] _long_] _'long_ Capell.

[3847] Sec. Mess.] Mes. Ff.

[3848] _Friend ... certain?_] Arranged as by Pope, who reads _Art certain._ In Ff the first line ends at _true_?

[3849] _is it ..._] Pope. _Is't ..._ Ff. Sec. Mess. _Ay, sir, ..._ S. Walker conj.

_certain?_] F₃ F₄. _certaine._ F₁ F₂.

[3850] [Trumpets....] Noise within, of Shoutings, and loud Musick. Capell.

all together] Rowe. altogether Ff.

[3851] _cymbals_] F₄. _Symboles_ F₁ F₂. _Cymbole_ F₃.

[3852] _you_] _yon_ F₂.

[A shout within.] Ff. Shout again. Capell.

[3853] _Volumnia_] _Volumna_ F₂.

[3854] _You have_] _You've_ Pope.

[3855] [Music....] Sound still with the Shouts. Ff.

[3856] _First ... thankfulness_] As in Pope. In Ff the first line ends at _tydings_.

[3857] _Sir ... joy_] As in Capell. Prose in Ff.

[3858] _They are_] _They're_ Pope.

_city?_] F₃ F₄. _city._ F₁ F₂.

[3859] _We will_] Capell. _Wee'l_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _We'll_ F₄.

[3860] _We ... joy_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3861] [Exeunt] Ff. Going. Capell.

[3862] SCENE V. The same ... gate.] Dyce. Scene continued in earlier editions.

Enter....] Enter two Senators, with Ladies, passing over the Stage, with other Lords. Ff.

[3863] First Sen.] 1. S. Capell. Sena. Ff.

[3864] _your_] _our_ Warburton.

[3865] _strew_] F₁ F₄. _strow_ F₂ F₃.

[3866] _Unshout_] Rowe. _Unshoot_ Ff.

[3867] _Welcome ... Welcome_] As in Steevens (1793). One line in Ff.

[3868] [A flourish ... trumpets. Exeunt.] Exeunt. A flourish ... trumpets. F₂ F₃ F₄. A flourish ... trumpets. F₁.

[3869] SCENE VI.] Dyce. SCENE IV. Rowe. SCENE V. Pope.

Antium.] Rowe. Corioli. Singer.

A public place.] Theobald.

[3870] _o'_] F₄. _a'_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3871] _Him I accuse_] F₄. _Him I accuse:_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _He I accuse_ Pope. _He, I accuse,_ Theobald.

[3872] [Exeunt Attendants.] Exeunt Att. Malone. Exit Att. Capell. om. Ff.

[3873] _Even so ... slain_] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[3874] _Most ... deliver you_] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending _intent,_ in Ff.

[3875] _and I pawn'd_] _and pawn'd_ Pope. _pawn'd_ Capell.

[3876] _water'd_] Rowe. _watered_ Ff.

[3877] _and free_] om. Capell. _and fierce_ Hanmer. _and free, To an enforc'd observance_ S. Walker conj.

[3878] _Sir, his stoutness_] _His stoutness, sir,_ Hanmer. _Witness, sir, his stoutness_ Staunton conj.

[3879] _stooping,--_] Capell. _stooping,_ F₂. _stooping._ F₁ F₃ F₄. _stooping--_ Rowe.

[3880] _projects to_] F₃ F₄. _projects, to_ F₁ F₂.

[3881] _holp_] _holpe_ F₁. _hope_ F₂ F₃. _hop'd_ F₄.

[3882] _reap ... end_] F₃. _reape ... end_ F₁ F₂. _reap ... make_ F₄. _reap ... ear_ Collier MS. _ear ... reap_ Singer (Lettsom conj.) _reap ... bind_ Staunton conj. _reap ... inn_ Keightley (Collier conj.)

[3883] _did end_] _divined_ Bullock conj.

[3884] _waged_] _wag'd_ F₃ F₄. _wadg'd_ F₁ F₂. _wagg'd_ Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag.)

[3885] _in the last_] _at last_ Pope.

[3886] _glory--_] F₃ F₄. _glory._ F₁ F₂.

[3887] _him._] _him:_ F₄. _him,_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3888] sound,] F₃ F₄. sounds, F₁ F₂.

[3889] _With giving_] _Giving_ Pope.

[3890] _we will_] F₁ F₄. _he will_ F₂ F₃.

[3891] _second. When ... way his_] Theobald. _second, when ... way. His_ Ff. _second, when ... way, his_ Rowe.

[3892] _Say ... lords._] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3893] All the Lords.] All Lords. Ff.

_You are_] _Yon are_ F₂. _You're_ Pope.

[3894] _to you_] om. Hanmer.

_hear't_] Ff. _hear it_ Rowe.

[3895] _this_] om. Pope.

_excuse_] _scuse_ Seymour conj.

[3896] SCENE VI. Pope.

_return'd your_] F₁. _return'd, your_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3897] _spoils ... Do_] Pope. _spoiles ... Doth_ Ff. _spoil ... Doth_ Capell.

[3898] _The_] _Thee_ F₂.

_We have_] _We've_ Pope.

[3899] _here_] F₃ F₄. _heere_ F₁. _heare_ F₂.

[3900] _Subscribed_] Pope. _Subscrib'd_ Ff.

[3901] _o'_] F₄. _a'_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3902] _heads_] F₁ F₂. _head_ F₃ F₄.

[3903] _other_] Rowe. _others_ Ff.

[3904] Auf.] Ff. First Lord. Tyrwhitt conj.

[3905] _that ever I was_] Ff. _that ever I'm_ Pope. _I ever Was_ Hanmer.

[3906] _scold_] Rowe. _scoul'd_ F₁ F₂. _scould_ F₃ F₄.

[3907] _to_] _too_ F₂.

[3908] _on_] _in_ Rowe.

[3909] _Flutter'd_] F₃ F₄. _Flatter'd_ F₁ F₂.

_Volscians_] _Volscies_ Rowe.

[3910] _it._] Rowe. _it,_ Ff.

[3911] All the People.] All People. Ff. The Croud speak promiscuously. Theobald. Cit. [confusedly] Capell.

[3912] _'Tear ... father'_] First as prose by Capell. Three lines, ending _presently ... cosine ... father,_ in Ff. See note (VII).

[3913] _'He ... Marcus'_] _kill'd my cousin_ Pope, reading as verse.

[3914] _ho_] om. Pope.

[3915] _O that ... sword_] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending _more,_ in Ff.

[3916] [The Conspirators....] Draw both the Conspirators, and kils Martius, who falles, Auffidius stands on him. Ff. (and kills.... F₃. and kill ... and Aufidius.... F₄).

[3917] _masters_] _lords_ Rowe.

_Tullus,--_] _Tullus--_ Rowe. _Tullus._ Ff.

[3918] _Thou ... weep_] As in Steevens (1793). Two lines, the first ending _whereat,_ in Ff.

[3919] _him. Masters all,_] _him--Masters all,_ Rowe. _him Masters, all_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _him, Masters, all_ F₄.

[3920] _My ... rage_] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[3921] _you_] _I_ Hanmer.

[3922] _Yet ... Assist_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3923] _Assist_] om. Pope.

[Exeunt ... Coriolanus....] Malone. Exeunt ... Martius.... Ff.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

I. 1. 108-117. In Singer's edition of 1826 these speeches were distributed in the following manner:

'_Men._ The kingly-crowned ...
... if that they--

_1 Cit._ What then?

_Men._ 'Fore me ...
... body,--

_1 Cit._ Well, what then?
The former ...
... answer?

In his edition of 1856 the ordinary arrangement is silently given.

NOTE II.

I. 3. 41. The first Folio reads:

'At Grecian sword. _Contenning_, tell _Valeria_' &c.

as if 'Contenning' were the name of the gentlewoman in attendance.

The second has:

'At Grecian swordes _Contending_: tell _Valeria_' &c.

The third:

'At Grecian swords Contending: tell Valeria' &c.

The fourth:

'At _Grecian_ swords contending: tell _Valeria_' &c.

which is followed substantially by all editors before Capell.

Capell reads:

'At Grecian swords' contending.--Tell _Valeria_' &c.

which is adopted in subsequent editions down to that of Mr Knight, inclusive.

Mr Collier, in his first edition, gave:

'At Grecian sword's contending.--Tell Valeria' &c.

at the same time offering as a conjecture:

'At Grecian swords, contemning.'

This was afterwards found among the MS. corrections of his second Folio and adopted by Mr Singer, as well as by Mr Collier himself in his second edition.

The reading we have given in the text was first adopted by Dr Leo. He, however, puts no comma after 'sword.'

Mr Keightley gives the same reading, marking, however, a break in the sense, thus:

'At Grecian sword, contemning.... Tell Valeria' &c.

Mr Lettsom conjectures:

'As Grecian swords contemning.'

Perhaps we might read:

'At Grecian sword, contemning 't.'

It has also been suggested to us that '_Contenning_' is the remnant of a stage-direction [_containing herself_]. But we know of no similar instance in any old edition.

NOTE III.

I. 4. 31. A copy of the second Folio, which was in the possession of Mr Singer, is said to have 'a Heard,' not 'you Heard.'

Malone, in his Supplement to Steevens's edition of 1778, proposed to read:

'You shames of Rome, you! hoards of boils and plagues
Plaister you o'er.'

NOTE IV.

I. 9. 41-53. Theobald, at Warburton's suggestion, read the whole speech as follows:

'_Mar._ May these same Instruments, which you profane,
Never sound more! when drums and trumpets shall
I' th' field prove flatterers, let camps, as cities,
Be made of false-fac'd soothing! When Steel grows
Soft, as the parasite's silk, let Hymns be made
An overture for th' wars!--No more, I say;
For that I have not wash'd my Nose that bled,
Or foil'd some debile wretch, which, without note
Here's many else have done; you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;
As if I lov'd, my little should be dieted
In praises, sauc'd with lies.'

Subsequent editors partly followed Theobald's arrangement, without adopting his readings.

Mr Knight printed as follows:

'May these same instruments which you profane,
Never sound more, when drums and trumpets shall
I' the field prove flatterers! Let courts and cities be
Made all of false-fac'd soothing, where steel grows soft
As the parasite's silk!
Let them be made an overture for the wars!' &c.

Hudson follows Knight, but reads _where steel ... silk_ as one line. Singer proposed to read and print thus:

'May these same instruments, which you profane,
Never sound more! shall drums and trumpets, when
I' the field, prove flatterers? (Let courts and cities be
Made all of false-faced soothing,
When steel grows soft as the Parasite's silk)--
Let them be made an overture for the wars!--
No more! I say,' &c.

In his _Text of Shakespeare Vindicated_, &c. (1853) he arranged the first four lines as in our text, and in the two following read _silks ... them_.

NOTE V.

II. 3. 236-238. The Folios here read:

'hither,
And Nobly nam'd, so twice being Censor,
Was his great Ancestor.'

Rowe, in his first edition, reads:

'hither,
And, nobly nam'd _Martius_, so, twice being Censor,
Was his great Ancestor.'

In his second edition he reads:

'hither
And nobly nam'd; so, twice being Censor,
Was his great Ancestor.'

Pope reads:

'hither.
†And _Censorinus_, darling of the people
(And nobly nam'd so for twice being censor)
Was his great ancestor.'

In his note on the passage he says, "This verse I have supply'd. A line having been certainly left out in this place, as will appear to any one who consults the beginning of Plutarch's life of Coriolanus, from whence this passage is directly translated."

Notwithstanding that the words 'darling of the people' are not in the passage referred to, the line inserted by Pope was accepted by all subsequent editors down to Singer.

Steevens, in his edition of 1773, omitted 'for' in the second line; and in his edition of 1793, instead of 'twice being censor' read 'being censor twice.'

Singer (ed. 1856) reads:

'hither;
[One of that family nam'd Censorinus]
And nobly nam'd so, twice being chosen Censor,
Was his great ancestor.'

Mr Grant White adopts Pope's insertion, and follows Singer in reading 'chosen' in the next line.

Dr Delius reads:

'hither;
[And Censorinus, that was so surnam'd,]
And nobly named so, twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.'

He remarks that 'darling of the people' does not sound like Shakespeare.

Dr Leo reads:

'hither;
[And Censorinus, nam'd so by the people,]
And nobly named so, twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.'

Mr Keightley reads:

'hither;
_And Censorinus, he that was so nam'd_,
--And nobly nam'd so, twice being Censor--
Was his great ancestor.'

Dr Nicholson conjectures that the line omitted was:

'And he that was surnamed Censorinus.'

The passage from Plutarch, to which Pope refers, stands as follows in North's translation of the Lives, p. 235, (ed. 1595): 'Of the same house were _Publius, & Quintus_, who brought to ROME their best water they had by conduites. _Censorinus_ also came of that familie, that was so surnamed, because the people had chosen him _Censor_ twise.'

The reading we have given in the text was first adopted by us in the Globe Edition. It leaves the words of the Folios still in their order, and introduces what must have been the significant fact that Censorinus was chosen 'by the people.' A stain or rent in the copy might have rendered parts of two lines illegible, the remainder being unskilfully pieced together by transcriber or printer.

NOTE VI.

III. 1. 97-101. Hanmer, followed by Capell, reads:

'If they have power,
Let them have cushions by you: if none, awake
Your dang'rous lenity: if you are learned,
Be not as common fools: if you are not,
Then vail your ignorance.'

In line 98, where Mr Collier, from his MS. corrector, reads 'impotence' for 'ignorance', Warburton interprets 'ignorance' as 'impotence; because it makes impotent.'

NOTE VII.

III. 1. 185-188. All editors follow the Folios in assigning the words 'Weapons, weapons, weapons!' to the second senator, and all, except Capell, continue the words 'Tribunes ... citizens!' to the same speaker. Capell assigned them to the First Senator. But surely the words are intended to express the tumultuous cries of the partisans on both sides, who are bustling about Coriolanus. The following words 'Peace, peace, peace' ... attributed to 'All' in the Folios, are spoken by some of the elder Senators endeavouring to calm the tumult.

Compare also Act V. Sc. 6. 121-123. There is a similar stage direction of the Folio, which was similarly misinterpreted, in _The Tempest_, I. 1. 57-59.

NOTE VIII.

III. 2. 105. Malone (1790) says 'The word _as_ has been substituted for _which_ by the modern editors in the passage before us.' We have been unable to find it in Rowe, Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, Johnson, Capell, or Steevens. It is probably a printer's emendation in some of the numerous reprints of the play.

NOTE IX.

IV. 5. 130. Mr Collier, in a note to this passage, says that the Earl of Ellesmere's copy of the first Folio has 'o'er-beare.' Mr Staunton, to whom the volume has been lent, has kindly consulted it for us, and says that the reading there is 'o're beate' or 'o're beare.' He adds 'It is difficult to say which. There are other cases in the Folio where the _t_ and _r_ so nearly resemble each other that I can hardly decide between them.'

NOTE X.

V. 1. 17. Mr Collier explains his reading by the following note: 'Menenius intends to say that the tribunes have wrecked a noble memory for Rome by occasioning its destruction.'

NOTE XI.

V. 3. 75. Dr Nicholson writes to us: 'The stage action here to which Coriolanus replies is this: the boy refuses to kneel, but interposes between the kneeling ladies and Coriolanus. See his after speech 'A' shall not tread on me,' &c. This, if not introduced as a stage direction, ought to be explained in a note.' To us Coriolanus seems rather to commend the boy for doing as he was bid. To refuse to kneel would suit ill with his 'aspect of intercession' (line 32). Besides, he kneels, without being specially told to do so, afterwards (line 175).

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[H].

SATURNINUS, son to the late Emperor of Rome, afterwards emperor.
BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus.
TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS, tribune of the people, and brother to Titus.
LUCIUS, }
QUINTUS, }
MARTIUS, }
MUTIUS, } sons to Titus Andronicus.
YOUNG LUCIUS, a boy, son to Lucius.
PUBLIUS, son to Marcus Andronicus.
ÆMILIUS, a noble Roman.
ALARBUS, }
DEMETRIUS, } sons to Tamora.
CHIRON, }
AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.
A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans and Goths.

TAMORA, Queen of the Goths.
LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus.
A Nurse, and a black Child.

Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and
Attendants.

SCENE: _Rome, and the country near it._

[H] First given imperfectly by Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

TITUS ANDRONICUS.