All caufe unborn, 'could never be the native
Of our fo frank donation. Well, what then?
How fhall this Bofom-multiplied digeft
The Senate's courtefie? let deeds exprefs,
What's like to be their words-We did request it-
We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands-Thus we debafe
The nature of our Seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears; which will in time break
The locks o'th' Senate, and bring in the crows
To peck the eagles.-

Men. Come, enough.

Bru. Enough, with over measure.

2

Cor. No, take more;

What may be fworn by.

ope

Both Divine and Human

Seal what I end withal!-This double worship,

Where one part does difdain with caufe, the other
Infult without all reafon; where gentry, title, wisdom,
Cannot conclude but by the yea and no

Of gen❜ral ignorance, it muft omit
Real neceffities, and give way the while
T'unftable flightnefs; purpose fo barr'd, it follows,

1 could never be the native]. Native, for natural birth.

WARBURTON. Native is here not natural birth, but natural parent, or cause of birth. But I would read motive, which, without any dif tortion of its meaning, fuits the fpeaker's purpose.

No, take more.
What may be worn by, both

divine and human

Seal what I end withal!-] The falfe pointing hath made this unintelligible. It should be. read and pointed thus,

No, take more;
What may be worn by. Both
faworn

Divine and Human

Seal what I end withal!-] i. e. No, I will ftill proceed, and the truth of what I shall fay may be fworn to. And may both Divine and Human powers [i. e. the Gods of Rome and Senate] confirm and fupport my conclufion. WARBURTON. 3-purpose fo barr'd, it fol lows.

Nothing is done to purpose,] This is fo like Polonius's eloquence, and fo much unlike the reft of Coriolanus's language, that I am apt to think it fpariWARBURTON.

ous,

No

Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore beseech you,
You that will be leis fearful than discreet,
That love the fundamental part of State
More than you doubt the change of't; that prefer
A noble life before a long, and with

To vamp a body with a dangerous phyfick,
That's fure of death without; at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poifon. Your dishonour
• Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the State
Of that integrity which should become it;
Not having power to do the good it would,
For th' ill which doth controul it.

Bru. H'as faid enough.

Sic. H'as fpoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do.

Cor. Thou wretch! Defpight o'erwhelm thee !What fhould the people do with these bald Tribunes? On whom depending, their obedience fails To th' greater bench. In a Rebellion,

4 That love the fundamental
part of State
More than you doubt the change

of't- i. e. Who are fo wedded to accuftomed forms in the adminiftration, that in your care for the prefervation of thofe, you overlook the danger the conftitution incurs by ftrictly adher ing to them. This the fpeaker, in vindication of his conduct, artfully reprefents to be his cafe; yet this pertinentobfervation the Oxford Editor, with one happy dafh of his pen, in amending doubt to do, entirely abolishes. WARBURTON.

To doubt is to fear. The meaning is, You whofe zeal predominates over your terrours; you who do not fo much fear the

When what's not meet, but what muft be, was law,
Then were they chofen; in a better hour,

Let what is meet, be faid, it must be meet,
And throw their Power i'th' duft.

Bru. Manifeft treason

Sic. This a Conful? no.

Bru. The Ædiles, ho! Let him be apprehended.

[Ediles enter, Sic. Go, call the people, in whose name myself Attach thee as a traiterous innovator, A foe to th' publick weal. Obey, I charge thee, And follow to thine answer.

Cor. Hence, old goat!

All. We'll furety him.

Com. Ag'd Sir, hands off.

[Laying hold on Coriolanus.

Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I fhall shake thy bones

Out of thy garments.

Sic. Help me, citizens.

S CEN E II.

Enter a Rabble of Plebeians, with the Ediles,

Men. On both fides, more respect.

Sic. Here's he, that would

Take from you all your power.

Bru. Seize him, Ediles.

All. Down with him, down with him!

2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons!

[They all buffle about Coriolanus. -what ho!

Tribunes, Patricians, Citizens

Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens !
All. Peace, peace, peace.

Stay, hold, peace!

7-it must be meet,] Han- And Dr. Warburton follows him

mer reads,

-it must be law.

furely without neceffity.

Men.

Men. What is about to be ?—I am out of breath; Confufion's near, I cannot speak.You Tribunes, Coriolanus, patience; fpeak, Sicinius.

Sic. Hear me, people-Peace,

All. Let's hear our Tribune. Peace, Speak, speak, speak.

Sic. You are at point to lofe your liberties; Marcius would have all from you, Marcius, Whom late you nam'd for Conful.

Men. Fie, fie, fie.

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.
Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat,
Sic. What is the city, but the people?
All. True, the people are the city.

Bru. By the confent of all, we were establish'd
The people's magiftrates.

All. You fo remain.

Men. And fo are like to do.

Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation,
And bury all, which yet diftinctly ranges,.
In heaps and piles of ruin.

Sic. This deferves death.

Bru. Or let us ftand to our Authority,
Or let us lofe it. We do here pronounce,

Upon the part o'th' people, in whofe power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of prefent death.

Sic. Therefore lay hold on him;

Bear him to th' rock Tarpeian, and from thence

Into destruction caft him.

Bru. Ediles, feize him.

All. Ple. Yield, Marcius, yield.

Men. Hear me one word.

Befeech you, Tribunes, hear me but a word

Ediles. Peace, peace.

Men. Be that you feem, truly your Country's friends,

And

And temp❜rately proceed to what

Thus violently redress.
Bru. Sir, thofe cold ways,

you would

That feem like prudent helps, are very poisonous, Where the disease is violent Lay hands on him, And bear him to the rock. [Coriolanus draws his fword, Cor. No; I'll dye here.

There's fome among you have beheld me fighting, Come, try upon yourfelves, what you have feen me. Men. Down with that fword. Tribunes, withdraw a while.

Bru. Lay hands upon him.

Men. Help Marcius; help you that be noble, help him young and old.

All. Down with him, down with him.

[Exeunt. [In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ædiles, and the people are beat in.

Men. Go, get you to your house. Be gone, away, All will be naught elfe,

2 Sen. Get you gone.

Cor. Stand fast, we have as many friends as enemies. Men. Shall it be put to that?

Sen. The Gods forbid!

I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy houfe,
Leave us to cure this caufe.

Men. For 'tis à fore,

You cannot tent yourself. Begone, 'befeech you.
Com. Come, Sir, along with us.

Men. I would, they were Barbarians, as they are, Though in Rome litter'd; not Romans, as they are not,

-very poisonous,] I read, are very poifons.

8 Com. Stand faft, &c.] This fpeech certainly should be given to Coriolanus; for all his friends.

perfuade him to retire. So Co minius prefently after;

Come, Sir, along with us.

WARBURTON,

Though