Who thrives, and who declines; fide factions, and

give out

Conjectural marriages, making parties strong,

And feeble fuch, as ftand not in their Liking, Below their cobled fhoes. They fay, there's Grain enough?

Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth,

And let me use my fword, ' I'd make a quarry
With thousands of thefe quarter'd Slaves, as high
As I could pitch my lance.

Men. Nay, thefe are almoft thoroughly perfuaded;
Fot though abundantly they lack difcretion,
Yet are they paffing cowardly. But, I beseech
What fays the other troop?

Cor. They are diffolv'd. Hang 'em,

you,

They said they were an hungry, figh'd forth Proverbs;
That bunger broke ftone walls-that dogs must eat,!
That meat was made for mouths-that the Gods fend not
Corn for the rich men only-With these shreds.
They vented their complainings, which being answer'd,
And a Petition granted them, a ftrange one,
To break the heart of Generofity,

And make bold Power look pale, they threw their caps
As they would hang them on the horns o' th' Moon,
Shouting their emulation.

Men. What is granted them?

Cor. Five Tribunes to defend their vulgar wifdoms, Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus,

Sicinius Velutus, and I know not

s'death,

The rabble fhould have first unroof'd the City,
Ere fo prevail'd me! it will in time
Win upon Power, and throw forth
For Infurrection's arguing,

3-I'd make a quarry With thousands] Why a quarry? I fuppofe, not because he would pile them fquare, but because he would give them for

greater themes

carrion to the birds of prey.

4the heart of Generofity.] To give the final blow to the nobles, Generofity is high birth.

Men

Men. This is ftrange.

Cor. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volfcians are in arms. Cor. I'm glad on't, then we fhall have means, to

vent

Our mufty fuperfluity. See, our beft Elders

SCENE IV

1..

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately

told us."

The Volfcians are in arms.

Cor. They have a Leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't,
I fin in envying his Nobility,"

And were I any thing but what I am,

I'd with me only he.

Com. You have fought together?

Cor. Were half to half the world by th' ears,'

and he

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, Attend upon Cominius to these wars,

5-'tis true, that you have lately told us.

The Volfcians are in arms.] Co riolanus had been but just told himfelf that the Volfcians were

in arms. The meaning is, be intelligence "which" you“ gave us fome little time ago of the designs of the Volfcians is now verified"; they are in arms.

Com

And I am conftant. Titus Lartius, thou

Shalt fee me once more ftrike at Tullus' face.
What, art thou ftiff? ftand'ft out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius,

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t'other,
Ere stay behind this business.

Men. O true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to th' Capitol; where, I know,

Our greatest Friends attend us.

Tit. Lead you on.

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;

Right worthy you Priority.

Com. Noble Lartius

i Sen. Hence! To your homes. Be gone.

Cor. Nay, let them follow.

[To the Citizens.

The Volfcians have much corn, take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners. Worfhipful Mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow.

[Exeunt. Citizens fteal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. Was ever man fo proud, as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen Tribunes for the People

Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not fpare to* gird the Gods-

Sic. Be-mock the modest Moon,

6 Your valour puts well forth; Thatis, You have in this mutiny thewn fair bloffoms of valour. • to gird~] To juzer; VOL. VI.

to gibe. So Falfaff ufes the noun, when he fays, every man has a gird at me.

Kk

Bry.

Bru. 7 The prefent wars devour him! He is Too proud, to be so valiant.

Sic. Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon; but I do wonder,
His infolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,

grown

In whom already he is well grac'd, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A place below the firft; for what mifcarries -
Shall be the General's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy cenfure
Will then cry out of Marcius: Oh, if he
Had borne the bufinefs-

Sic. Befides, if things go well,

Opinion that fo fticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru. Come.

Half all Cominius' Honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults To Marcius fhall, be honours, though, indeed, 3. L In aught he merit not.

The prefent Wars devour bim;

Be is grown

another rate, and the blunder is his critick's. The prefent wars Too proud, to be fo valiant.] devour him, is an imprecation, Mr. Theobald fays, This is ob- and should be fo pointed. As fcurely expressed, but that the much as to fay, May be fall in Joet's meaning MUST certainly be these wars! The reafon of the this, that Marcius is fo confcicus curfe is fubjoined, for (fays the of, and jo elate upon the notion of fpeaker) having fo much pride kis own valour, that he is eaten with fo much valour, his life, up with PRIDE, &c. Accord with increase of honours, is daning to this critick then, we muft gerous to the Republick. But conclude, that when Shakespear the Oxford Editor alters it to, had a mind to fay, A man was Too proud of being fo valiant. eatch up with pride, he was fo And by that means takes away great a blunderer in expreffion, the reafon the fpeaker gives for WARBURTON. as to fay, He avar eaten up with his curfing But our poet wrote at

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, * More than his fingularity, he goes

Upon this prefent action.

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE V.

Changes to Corioli.

[Exeunt.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli.

I Sen.

O, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are entred in our
Counfels,

And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this State,
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone,
Since I heard thence-Thefe are the words-I think,
I have the letter here. Yes-here it is.
They have preft a Power, but it is not known

[Reading.
Whether for Eaft or Weft. The Dearth is great,
The People mutinous; and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,
Who is of Rome worfe hated than of you,
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
Thefe three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent. Moft likely, 'tis for you.
Confider of it.

1 Sen. Our Army's in the Field.

More than his fingularity, &c.] his powers, and what is his ap We will learn what he is to do, pointment.

befides going himself, what are