Vol. Ay, fool. Is that a fhame? Note but this fool. Was not a Man my Father? Hadit thou foxfhip. To banish him that ftruck more blows for Rome, Than thou haft fpoken words Sic. Oh bleffed heav'ns! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wife words, And for Rome's good-I'll tell thee what-Yet goNay, but thou fhalt stay too I would, my fon Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before himy: His good fword in his hand. Sic. What then 2 Virg. What then? he'd make an end of thy Pofterity. Vol. Baftards, and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome Sic. I would, he had continued to his Country As he began, and not unknit himself The noble knot he made. Bru. I would, he had. Vol. I would, he had!'Twas you incens'd the rabble; Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth, As I can of those myfteries which Heav'n Bru. Pray, let us go. Vol. Now, pray, Sir, get you gone.. 4 Sic. Are you mankind? Vol. Ay, fool. Is that a frame? Note but this fool. Was not a Man my Father?-] The word mankind is ufed mali. ciously by the firft fpeaker, and taken perverfely by the fecond. A mankind woman is a woman with the roughnefs of a man, and, in an aggravated fenfe, a woman ferocious, violent, and eager to fhed blood. In this fenfe Sicinius afks Volumnià, if fhe be mankind. She takes mankind for a human creature, and accordingly cries out, Note but this fool." Was not a Man my Father ? •Hadft thou foxfhip] Hadft thou, fool as thou art, mean cunning enough to banish Coriolanus? You've done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this. : As far as doth the Capitol exceed The meanest houfe in Rome; fo far my Son, Sic. Why ftay you to be baited I wish, the Gods had nothing else to do, [Exeunt Tribunes. But to confirm my curfes! Could I meet 'em But once a day, it would unclog my heart Of what lies heavy to't. Men. You've told them home, And, by my troth, have caufe. You'll fup with me? Men. Fie, fie, fie! ** Rom. I "I L SCENE III. Changes to Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volfcian. Know you well, Sir, and you [Exeunt. know me. Vol. It is fo, Sir.. Truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman, but my fervices are as you are, against 'em. Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor? no. Rom. The fame, Sir. Vol. You had more beard when I laft faw you, but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volfcian State to find you out there. You have well fav'd me a day's journey. Rom. There have been in Rome ftrange infurrections; the People against the Senators, Patricians and Nobles. Vol. Hath been! is it ended then? our State thinks not fo; they are in a moft warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their divifion. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the Nobles receive fo to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptnefs to take all power from the People, and to pluck from them their Tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you; and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Vol. Coriolanus banish'd? Rom. Banish'd, Sir. Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. Rom. The day ferves well for them now. I have heard it faid, the fittest time to corrupt a man's Wife, is when he's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great Oppofer Coriolanus being now in no request of his Country. Vol. He cannot chufe. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you. You have ended my bufinefs, and I will merrily accompany you home. [ Rom. I fhall between this and fupper tell you most ftrange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their Adverfaries. Have you an army ready, fay you? Vel. A moft royal one. The Centurions and their already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning. Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall fet them in present action. So, Sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company. Vol. You take my Part from me, Sir, I have the most cause to be glad of yours. Rom. Well, let us go together. [Exeunt. Enter Coriolanus in mean Apparel, difguis'd and Cor. A goodly City is this Antium.City, Of thefe fair edifices 'fore my wars Have I heard groan, and drop; then know Me not, Enter a Citizen. In puny battle flay me. Save you, Sir. Cit. And you. Cor. Direct me, if it be your will, where great Cit. He is, and feafts the Nobles of the State, At his house this night. Cor. Which is his houfe, I beseech you? Cit. This, here, before you.. Cor. Thank you, Sir. Farewel. already in the entertainment,] That is, though not actually encamped yet already in pay. To [Exit Citizen. entertain an army is to take them into pay. Pp 4 Oh, Oh, world, thy flippery turns! friends now faftfworn, Whofe double bofoms feem to wear one heart, On a diffention of a doit, break out Whofe paffions and whofe plots have broke their fleep Some trick not worth an egg, fhall grow dear friends, Ob, quorld, thy flippery turns! &c.] This fine picture of common friendships, is an artful introduction to the fudden league, which the poet makes him enter into with Aufidius; and no lefs artful an apology for his commencing enemy to Rome. WARBURTON. 7-So, with me;· if he flay me, &c.] He who reads this would think that he was reading the lines of Shakespeare, except that Coriolanus, being already in the town, fays, he will enter it. Yet the old edition exhibits it thus: -So, with me, [Exit. My birth-place have I, and my loves upon This enemie towne ; I'll enter if be flay me, &c, The intermediate line feems to be loft, in which, conformably to his former observation, he fays, that he has lost his birthplace and his loves upon a petty difpute, and is trying his chance in this enemy town; he then cries, turning to the houfe of Aufidius, I'll enter if he flay me. I have preferved the common reading, because it is, though faulty, yet intelligible, and the original paffage, for want of copies, cannot be restored.. SCENE |