Vir. My lord and husband! Cor. These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome. Makes So. think you 9 Like a dull actor now, I have forgot my part, and I am out, Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i' the earth; [Kneels. Of thy deep duty more impression show Than that of common sons. Vol. O, stand up bless'd! Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, I kneel before thee; and unproperly Show duty, as mistaken all the while Cor. [Kneels. What is this? Your knees to me? to your corrected son? What cannot be, slight work. 9 The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so.] Virgilia makes a voluntary misinterpretation of her husband's words. He says, These eyes are not the same, meaning that he saw things with other eyes, or other dispositions. She lays hold on the word eyes, to turn his attention on their present appearance. JOHNSON. Now by the jealous queen of heaven,] that is, by Juno. 2 on the hungry beach-] The hungry beach is the sterile unprolifick beach. Vol. Thou art my warrior; I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady? Cor. The god of soldiers, With the consent of supreme Jove, inform Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou may'st prove To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw, 3 And saving those that eye thee! Vol. Cor. That's my brave boy. Your knee, sirrah. Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself, Are suitors to you. Cor. I beseech you, peace: Or, if you'd ask, remember this before; The things, I have forsworn to grant, may never Again with Rome's mechanicks: - Tell me not To allay my rages and revenges, with Your colder reasons. Vol. O, no more, no more! You have said, you will not grant us any thing; 3 Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,] That is, every gust, every storm. + That, if you fail in our request,] that is, if you fail to grant us our request; if you are found failing or deficient in love to your - Cor. Aufidius, and you Volces, mark; for we'll Hear nought from Rome in private. Your request? Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment, And state of bodies would bewray what life We have led since thy exíle. Think with thyself, How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with com forts, Constrains them weep, and shake with fear and sorrow ; Our wish, which side should win: for either thou With manacles thorough our streets, or else These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee country, and affection to your friends, when our request shall have been made to you, the blame, &c. These wars determine:] i. e. conclude, end. (Trust to't, thou shalt not,) on thy mother's womb, That brought thee to this world. Vir. Ay, and on mine, That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name Living to time. Boy. He shall not tread on me; I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Cor. Not of a woman's tenderness to be, Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. I have sat too long. Vol. Nay, go not from us thus. If it were so, that our request did tend To save the Romans, thereby to destroy [Rising. The Volces whom you serve, you might condemn us, Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volces Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, Be bless'd The man was noble, But with his last attempt he wip'd it out; Destroy'd his country; and his name remains 6 To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o'the air, That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak? 6 the fine strains —] The niceties, the refinements. 7 And yet to charge thy sulphur -] The meaning of the passage is, To threaten much, and yet be merciful. Still to remember wrongs?— Daughter, speak you : Than can our reasons. — There is no man in the world When she, (poor hen !) fond of no second brood, Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee, Nay, behold us : His wife is in Corioli, and his child Like him by chance: Yet give us our despatch: And then I'll speak a little. Cor. O mother, mother! [Holding VOLUMNIA by the Hands, silent. What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope, The gods look down, and this unnatural scene They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O! Like one i'the stocks.] Keeps me in a state of ignominy talking to no purpose. 9 Does reason our petition-] Does argue for us and our petition. |