You lords and heads of the ftate, perfidiously
He has betray'd your bufinefs, and given up,
For certain drops of falt, your city Rome
(I fay, your city) to his wife and mother:
Breaking his oath and refolution, like
A twist of rotten filk; never admitting
Counsel o' the war; but at his nurse's tears
He whin'd and roar'd away your victory;
That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart
Look'd wondering each at other.

Cor. Hear'ft thou, Mars?

Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears,-
Cor. Ha!

Auf. No more7.

Cor. Measureless liar, thou haft made my heart
Too great for what contains it. Boy! Oflave!-
Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

I was forc'd to fcold. Your judgments, my grave lords,
Muft give this cur the lie: and his own notion
(Who wears my stripes imprefs'd upon him; that
Muft bear my beating to his grave ;) shall join
To thrust the lie unto him.

1. Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak.
Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces, men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me.-Boy! False hound!
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,
That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
Flutter'd your Volcians in Corioli:
Alone I did it.-Boy!

Auf. Why, noble lords,

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your fhame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears?

Con. Let him die for't. [feveral Speaking at once. Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces,

do

For certain drops of falt-] For certain tears. So, in K. Lear: "Why this would make a man, a man of falt." MALONE. 7 Auf. No more.] This fhould rather be given to the first lord. It was not the business of Aufidius to put a stop to the altercation. TYRWHITT.

it prefently. He kill'd my fon ;-my daughter;-He kill'd my coufin Marcus ;-He kill'd my father.

2. Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage ;-peace. The man is noble, and his fame folds in

This orb o' the earth.

His laft offences to us

Shall have judicious hearing.-Stand, Aufidius,

And trouble not the peace.

Cor. O, that I had him,

With fix Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,

To ufe my lawful fword!

Auf. Infolent villain!

Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him.

[AUFIDIUS and the Confpirators draw, and kill CoRIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFIDIUS stands on

him.

Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold.

Auf. My noble mafters, hear me speak.

1. Lord. O Tullus,

2. Lord. Thou haft done a deed, whereat

Valour will weep.

3. Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters all, be quiet; up your fwords.

Put

honours

Auf. My lords, when you fhall know (as in this rage,
Provok'd by him, you cannot,) the great danger
Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice
That he is thus cut off. Please it your
To call me to your fenate, I'll deliver
Myfelf your loyal fervant, or endure
Your heaviest cenfure.

1. Lord. Bear from hence his body,
And mourn you for him: let him be regarded
As the most noble corfe, that ever herald
Did follow to his urn.

2. Lord. His own impatience

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 forrow.-Take him up :

8

bis fame folds in

This orb o' the earth :] His fame overfpreads the world, JOHNSON,

Help,

Help, three o' the chiefeft foldiers; I'll be one.-
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
Trail your fteel 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 9.—
Affift.

[Exeunt, bearing the body of Coriolanus. A dead
march founded'.

9- a noble memory.] Memory for memorial. STEEVENS. See p. 262, n. 5. MALONE.

The tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amufing of our author's performances. The old man's merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady's dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modesty in Virgilia; the patrician and military haughtinefs in Coriolanus; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian infolence in Brutus and Sicinius, make a very pleafing and interesting variety; and the various revolutions of the hero's fortune fill the mind with anxious curiofity. There is, perhaps, too much buftle in the first act, and too little in the laft. JOHNSON.

JULIUS CESAR

VOL. VII.

X

Perfons Reprefented.

Julius Cæfar.

Octavius Cæfar,

Marcus Antonius,

M. Emil.Lepidus,

Triumvirs, after the Death of Julius
Cæfar.

Cicero, Publius, Popilius Lena, Senators.

Marcus Brutus,

A Soothsayer.

Cinna, a Poet. Another Poet.

Lucilius, Titinius, Meffala, Young Cato, and Volum nius; Friends to Brutus and Caffius.

Varro, Clitus, Claudius, Strato, Lucius, Dardanius; Servanis to Brutus.

Pindarus, Servant to Caffius.

Calphurnia, Wife to Cæfar.

Portia, Wife to Brutus.

Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c.

SCENE, during a great part of the play, at Rome: afterwards at Sardis; and near Philippi.