Imatges de pàgina
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SCENE II.

Corioli. The Senate-Houfe.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators.

1. SEN. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are enter'd 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; these are the words: I think, I have the letter here; yes, here it is: [reads. They have prefs'd a power, but it is not known Whether for eaft, or weft: The dearth is great; The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd, Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

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hath been thought on] Old copy-have. Corrected by the second folio. STEEVENS.

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'Tis not four days gone,] i. e. four days paft.

STEEVENS.

9 They have prefs'd a power,] Thus the modern editors. The old copy reads-They have preft a power; which may fignify have. a power ready; from pret. Fr. So, in The Merchant of Venice:

"And I am preft unto it."

See note on this paffage Act I. fc. i. STEEVENS.

The fpelling of the old copy proves nothing, for participles were generally fo fpelt in Shakspeare's time: fo diftreft, bleft, &c. I believe prefs'd in its ufual fenfe is right. It appears to have been ufed in Shakspeare's time in the fenfe of imprefs'd. So, in Plutarch's life of Coriolanus, tranflated by Sir T. North, 1579: "-the common people-would not appeare when the confuls called their names by a bill, to press them for the warres." Again, in King Henry VI. P. III :

"From London by the king was I press'd forth."

MALONE,

(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,)
And Titus Lartius, a moft valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation

Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you:
Confider of it.

1. SEN.

I.

Our army's in the field:

We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.

AUF.

Nor did you think it folly,

To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when
They needs muft fhow themselves; which in the
hatching,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,
To take in many towns,' ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2. SEN.

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commiffion; hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they fet down before us, for the remove

Bring up your army;

but, I think, you'll find

9 To take in many towns,] To take in is here, as in many other places, to fubdue. So, in The Execration of Vulcan, bv Ben Jonfon: The Globe, the glory of the Bank,

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"I faw with two poor chambers taken in,
"And raz'd." MALONE.

Again, more appo tely, in Antony and Cleopatra:

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cut the Ionian sea,

"And take in Toryne." STEEVENS.

-for the remove

the fenator to Aufidius, Go to your

Bring up your army;] Says

troops, we will garrifor Corioli. If the Romans befiege us, bring
up your army to remove them.
would read:

-for their remove.

If any change thould be made, I

JOHNSON.

The remove and their remove are fo near in found, that the tranfcriber's ear might eafily have deceived him. But it is always dangerous to let conjecture loofe where there is no difficulty.

MALONE.

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They have not prepar'd for us.

AUF.

O, doubt not that;
I fpeak from certainties. Nay, more,'

Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis fworn between us, we shall ever ftrike
Till one can do no more.

ALL.

The gods affift you!

AUF. And keep your honours fafe!

1. SEN.

2. SEN.

ALL. Farewell.

Farewell.

Farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Rome. An Apartment in Marcius' boufe.

Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA: They fit down en two low ftools, and few.

VOL. I pray you, daughter, fing; or express yourfelf in a more comfortable fort: If my fon were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-body'd, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comelinefs pluck'd gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' en

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3 I Speak from certainties. Nay, more,] Sir Thomas Hanmer completes this line by reading-,

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I speak from very certainties. &c. STEEVENS.

when youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way;] i. e. attracted the attention of every one towards him. Douce.

treaties, a mother should not fell him an hour from her beholding; I,-confidering how honour would become fuch a perfon; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not ftir,-was pleafed to let him feek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I fent him; from whence he return'd, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter,—I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first feeing he had proved himself a

man.

VIR. But had he died in the business, madam? how then?

VOL. Then his good report should have been my fon; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profefs fincerely:-Had I a dozen fons,-each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Marcius,-I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously furfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

GENT. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to vifit you.

VIR. 'Befeech you, give me leave to retire myfelf."

VOL. Indeed, you shall not.

Methinks, I hear hither your hufband's drum;
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;

A

brous bound with oak.] The crown given by the Romans to him that faved the life of a citizen, which was accounted more honourable than any other. JOHNSON.

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to retire myfelf.] This verb active (fignifying to withd. a) has already occurred in The Tempest:

As children from a bear, the Volces fhunning him:
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus, and call thus,-
Come on, you cowards; you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome: His bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping," forth he goes;
Like to a harvest-man, that's talk'd to mow
Or all, or lofe his hire.

VIR. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! VOL. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man, Than gilt his trophy: The breasts of Hecuba, When the did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it fpit forth blood At Grecian fwords' contending.-Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent.

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VIR. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius ! VOL. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck.

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"Retire me to my Milan -." Again, in Timon of Athens:

"I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock,-." STEEVENS. See Vol. VIII. p. 250, n. 6. MALONE.

With his mail'd hand then wiping,] i. e. his hand cover'd or arm'd with mail. DOUCE.

7 Than gilt his trophy:] Gilt means a fuperficial difplay of gold, a word now obfolete. So, in King Henry V :

"Our gaynefs and our gilt, are all befmirch'd."

STEEVENS.

8 At Grecian fwords' contending.-Tell Valeria,] The accuracy of the first folio may be afcertained from the manner in which this line is printed:

At Grecian fword. Contenning, tell Valeria. STEEVENS,

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