you should not pafs here: no, though it were as virtuous to lie, as to live chaftly. Therefore, go

back.

Men. Pr'ythee, fellow, remember, my name is Menenius; always factionary of the Party of your General.

2 Watch. Howfoever you have been his liar (as you fay, you have ;) I am one that, telling true under him, muft fay, you cannot pafs. Therefore, go back.

Men. Has he din'd, can't thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner.

I Watch. You are a Roman, are you?

Men. I am as thy General is.

Can you,

I Watch. Then you should hate Rome, as he does. when you have pufh'd out of your gates the very Defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your fhield, think to front his revenges with the eafy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palfied interceffion of fuch a decay'd Dotard as you feem to be? can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with fuch weak breath as this? no, you are deceiv'd, therefore back to Rome, and prepare for your execution; you are condemn'd, our General has fworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Men. Sirrah, if thy Captain knew I were here, he would use me with eftimation.

1 Watch. Come, my Captain knows you not.
Men. I mean, thy General.

1 Watch. My general cares not for you. Back, I fay, go; left I let forth your half pint of Blood. Back, that's the utmost of your Having, back.

Men. Nay, but fellow, fellow,

Enter Coriolanus, with Aufidius.

Cor. What's the matter?

Men,

Men. Now, you companion, I'll fay an errand for you; you fhall know now, that I am in estimation; you fhall perceive, that a Jack-gardant cannot office me from my fon Coriolanus; guefs but my entertainment with him; if thou stand'st not i'th' ftate of hanging, or of fome death more long in fpectatorship, and crueller in fuffering, behold now prefently, and fwoon for what's to come upon thee. The glorious Gods fit in hourly fynod about thy particular profperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! Oh my fon, my fon! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's water to quench it. I was hardly mov'd to come to thee, but being affured, none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of our gates with fighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary Countrymen. The good Gods affwage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here; this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee

Cor. Away!

Men. How, away?

Cor. Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are fervanted to others: though I owe

My revenge properly, remiffion lyes

In Volfcian breafts. That we have been familiar, (26)

(26)

That we have been familiar,

Ingrate Forgetfulness fhall poyson, rather
Than pity: Note how much.

-]

Ingrate

We cannot defire a more fignal Inftance of the indolent Stupidity of our Editors. Forgetfulness might poyfon, in not remembring a Conversation of Friendship, but how could it, in fuch an Action, be faid to pity too? The pointing is abfurd; and the Sentiment confequently funk into Nonsense. As I have regulated the Stops, both Dr. Thirlby and Mr. Warburton faw with me, they ought to be regulated. I have ftill ventur'd beyond my ingenious Friends, in changing Poyfon into Prifon which adds an Antithefis, by which the Senfe feems clearer and more natural: viz. That Forgetfulness shall rather

:

keep

Ingrate Forgetfulness shall prifon, rather

Than Pity note how much. -Therefore, be gone;
Mine ears against your fuits are stronger than

Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy fake,

And would have fent it.

[Gives him a letter.

Another word, Menenius,

I will not hear thee fpeak.. This man, Aufidius,
Was my belov'd in Rome; yet thou behold'st-
Auf. You keep a conftant temper.

Manent the Guard, and Menenius.

[Exeunt.

1 Watch. Now, Sir, is your name Menenius ? 2 Watch. "Tis a Spell, you fee, of much power: you know the way home again.

1 Watch. Do you hear, how we are fhent for keeping your Greatnefs back?

2 Watch. What caufe do you think, I have to fwoon? Men. I neither care for the world, nor your General: for fuch things as you, I can fcarce think there's any, y'are fo flight. He, that hath a will to die by himself, fears it not from another: let your General do his worft. For you, be what you are, long; and your mifery encrease with your age! I fay to you, as I was faid to, Away

[Exit.

He's

1 Watch. A noble fellow, I warrant him. 2 Watch. The worthy fellow is our General. the rock, the oak not to be wind fhaken. [Ex. Watch.

Re-enter Coriolanus and Aufidius.

Cor. We will before the Walls of Rome to morrow Set down our Hoft. My Partner in this action, You must report to th' Volfcian lords, how plainly I've borne this bufinefs.

keep it a fecret, that we have been familiar; than Pity shall difclofe how much we have been fo.

Auf.

Auf. Only their Ends you have respected; ftopt
Your ears against the general fuit of Rome :
Never admitted private whisper, no,

Not with fuch friends that thought them sure of you.
Cor. This laft old man,

;

Whom with a crack'd heart I have fent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to fend him; for whofe old love, I have
(Tho' I fhew'd fow'rly to him) once more offer'd
The firft conditions; (which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept,) to grace him only,
That thought he could do more: a very little
I've yielded to. Fresh embaffie, and fuits,
Nor from the State, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.- -Ha! what fhout is this?

[Shout within. Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow, In the fame time 'tis made? I will not

Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Marcius, with
Attendants all in Mourning.

My wife comes foremost, then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grand-child to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of Nature break!

Let it be virtuous, to be obftinate.

What is that curt'fie worth? or those dove's eyes,

Which can make Gods forfworn? I melt, and am not Of stronger earth than others: my mother bows,

As if Olympus to a mole-hill should

In fupplication nod; and my young boy

Hath an aspect of interceffion, which
Great Nature cries,

Volfcians

"Deny not. Let the

Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never
Be fuch a gofling to obey inftinct; but ftand
As if a man were author of himself,

And

And knew no other kin.

Virg. My lord and husband!

Cor. Thefe eyes are not the fame I wore in Rome. Virg. The forrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think fo.

Cor. Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my Part, and I am out,

Even to a full difgrace. Beft of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,

For That,

forgive our Romans.

O, a kifs

Long as my exile, fweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous Queen of heav'n, that kiss
I carried from thee, Dear; and my true lip

Hath virgin'd it e'er fince.-You Gods! I prate; (27)
And the most noble mother of the world

Leave unfaluted: fink, my knee, i'th' earth; [kneels.
Of thy deep duty more impreffion fhew
Than that of common fons.

Vol. O ftand up bleft!

Whilft with no fofter cushion than the flint

I kneel before thee, and unproperly
Shew duty as mistaken all the while,
Between the child and parent.

And the most noble Mother of the World
Leave unfaluted:]

[kneels.

An old Corruption must have poffefs'd this Paffage, for two Reafons. In the first Place, whoever confults this Speech, will find, that He is talking fondly to his Wife, and not praying to the Gods at all. Secondly, if He were employ'd in his Devotions, no Apology would be wanting for leaving his Mother unfaluted. The Poet's Intention was certainly This. Coriolanus, having been lavish in his Tenderneffes and Raptures to his Wife, bethinks himself on the fudden, that his Fondnefs to her had made him guilty of ill Manners in the Neglect of his Mother; and, therefore correcting himself upon Reflexion, cries;

You Gods! I prate;

i. e. talk fondly, and without due Bounds,

Cor.