Sic. They say, she's mad. Bru. They have ta'en note of us : Keep on your way. Vol. O, you're well met. The hoarded plague o'the gods requite your love! Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,- [TO BRUTUS. Vir. You shall stay too: [To SICIN.] I would, I had the power To say so to my husband. Sic. Are you mankind ?® Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame ?-Note but this fool. To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, Sic. O blessed heavens ! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what ;-Yet go :Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would my son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. Sic What then? Vir. What then? He'd make an end of thy posterity. Vol. Bastards, and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! Men. Come, come, peace. Sic. I would he had continu'd 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 mysteries which heaven Bru. Pray, let us go. Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone : [8] The word mankind is used maliciously by the first speaker, and taken perversely by the second. A mankind woman is a woman with the roughness of a man, and, in an aggravated sense, a woman ferocious, violent, and eager to shed blood. In this sense Sicinius asks Volumnia, if she be mankind. She takes mankind for a human creature, and accordingly cries out, ------Note but this fool. Was not a man my father? JOHNSON. [9] Hadst thou, fool as thou art, mean cunning enough to banish Coriolanus? JOHNSON. You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this: The meanest house in Rome; so far my son, Vol. Take my prayers with you. I would the gods had nothing else to do, [Ex. Tribunes. But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them But once a day, it would unclog my heart Of what lies heavy to't. Men. You have told them home, And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me? And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go : In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. SCENE III. A Highway between Rome and Antium. and a Volce, meeting. [Exeunt. Enter a Roman Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian. Vol. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against them: Know you me yet? Vol. Nicanor? No. Rom. The same, sir. Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour is well appeared by your tongue.' What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volcian state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Vol. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. For the nobles receive so [1] I would read,----Your favour is well approved by your tongue. That is, your tongue strengthens the evidence of your face. STEEVENS. to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness, 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 banished? Rom. Banished, sir. Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Ni canor. Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country. Vol. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? Vol. A most royal one: The centurions, and their charges, distinctly billeted, 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 set 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 your's. Rom. Well, let us go together. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Antium. Before AUFIDIUS's House. Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled. Cor. A goodly city is this Antium :-City, 'Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars Have I heard groan, and drop: then know me not; [2] That is, though not actually encamped, yet already in pay. To entertain an army is to take them into pay. JOHNSON. Cor. Direct me, if it be your will, Cor. Which is his house, 'beseech you? Cit. This, here, before you. Cor. Thank you, sir; farewell. [Exit Citizen. O, world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn, Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart, Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, On a dissension of a doit, break out Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends, [Exit. SCENE V.-The same. A Hall in AUFIDIUS's house. Music within. Enter a Servant. 1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep. Enter another Servant. [Exit. 2 Serv. Where's Cotus! my master calls for him. Cotus! Enter CORIOLANUS. [Exit. Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I Appear not like a guest. Re-enter the first Servant. 1 Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here's no place for you. Pray, go to the door. Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, 2 Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such companions? Pray, get you out. [3] This fine picture of common friendship is an artful introduction to the sudden league which the poet made him enter into with Aufidius: and no less artful an apology for his commencing enemy to Rome. WARBURTON. [4] i. e. in having derived that surname from the sack of Corioli. STEEVENS Cor. Away! 2 Serv. Away! Get you away. Cor. Now thou art troublesome. 2 Serv. Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon. Enter a third Servant. The first meets him. 3 Serv. What fellow's this? 1 Serv. A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him out o'the house. Pr'ythee, call my master to him. 3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house. Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. 3 Ser. What are you? Cor. A gentleman. 3 Serv. A marvellous poor one. Cor. True, so I am. 3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid come. Cor. Follow your function, go! And batten on cold bits. [Pushes him away. 3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my master what a strange guest he has here. 2 Serv. And I shall. 3 Serv. Where dwellest thou? Cor. Under the canopy. 3 Serv. Under the canopy? Cor. Ay. 3 Serv. Where's that? Cor. I'the city of kites and crows. [Exit, 3 Serv. I'the city of kites and crows?-What an ass it is! Then thou dwellest with daws too? Cor. No, I serve not thy master. 3 Serv. How, sir! do you meddle with my master? Cor. Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress: Thou prat'st, and prat'st; serve with thy trencher, hence! [Beats him away. Enter AUFIDIUS, and the second Servant. Auf. Where is this fellow? 2 Serv. Here, sir: I'd have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords within. Auf. Whence comest thou? what wouldst thou? Thy name ? Why speak'st not? Speak, man: What's thy name? Cor. If, Tullus, [Unmuffling. |