every solicitation. His generals, whom he had ever been accustomed to revere, went first and were dismissed. Then Menenius whom he loved; and he was somewhat moved at the sight of the venerable friend who had watched him from his infancy, forgetful of his years and silvery beard, bending the knee before him, in humble supplication-but he

turned his head away, and waved him thence The priests of the temples then went; but they were not more successful and now all hope seemed at an end; when the Lady Valeria (sister to the renowned Publicola, whose memory was dear to the Romans for the services he had done the state, and for his bewitching eloquence), with other Roman ladies, made application to Volumnia and Virgilia, proposing to go in solemn procession to the camp of the Volscian3, and implore the mercy of Coriolanus. Volumnia, though scarcely indulging a hope of success, undertook the task; secretly resolving that should he refuse her petition, he should trample over her body in entering the gates of the city. Thus she could die for her country if she had not the power to save, and her eyes should never look upon its ruin and disgrace.

Coriolanus unhappily seemed marked out for envy to vent its spleen upon. Aufidius soon became jealous of his power; and, notwithstanding the important services he had rendered to the Volscian state, lamented the confederacy he had formed, and though the advantage was all his own, he envied him that wonderful success which followed his achievements, and thought the honour attached to the name of this powerful Roman more to be valued than all the possessions extended empires could bestow. Nor were there wanting discontented and malignant spirits, who fed the flame of his resentment, until it mounted into a blaze. He unbosomed himself to one of these base minded slaves, whose only business seems to be, on earth, to mar that happiness in others, which they are incapable of enjoying themselves." "Do my people still fly to the Roman ?" inquired Tullus.

I do not know what witchcraft's in him; but
Your soldiers use him as the grace, 'fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;
And you are darkened in this action, Sir,
Even by your own.***

The cause which had excited enmity against Córiolanus in Rome, did not exist in the present instance it was therefore envy alone. The soldiers looked upon him as a being of superior order, as a thing

Made by some other deity than nature,

That shapes man better.***

At

and Aufidius could not bow to his greatness. first he had been surprised into friendsdip; but the sentiment was transient and he, with his officers, conspired to bring accusations against the exile, which might secure his destruction, as soon as he

had completed the victories he was now engaged in. Coriolanus, little supposing that the same envy, malice, and ingratitude, which had driven him from his native land, were secretly in force against him here, strengthened his own private feelings of resentment, by a high sense of honour towards the Volscians, whose cause he had espoused.

The generals were sitting in council, when a loud shout was heard without; and, clothed in deep mourning, all the loftiest matrons and virgins of Rome advanced towards the throne where Coriolanus was seated. Last came the weeping Virgilia, and Volumnia leading her infant grandson in her hand, who, with his mother and grandmother, bowed his knees in mournful supplication. Coriolanus, whose reverence as a son, and tenderness as a husband and father, were only exceeded by his invincible courage, could not resist this appeal to his heart. He strove against his fealings; but the voice of nature prevailed for a time; and, darting from his seat, he raised his mother from the earth, and bent his knee to her; then raised his wife, and affectionately saluted her.

-Oh, a kiss

Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!

Now by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear, and my true lip

Hath virgined it e'er since.***

He then lifted his young boy in the air, and gazed on him with delighted eagerness, exclaiming

The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform

Thy thoughts with nobleness: that thou mayst prove
To shame invulnerable, and stick i' the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,
And saving those that eye thee.***

These bursts of involuntary tenderness having passed, he resumed his seat, and took upon him

again the terrible front of Mars. He iesisted all their pleading. His bosom heaved, and agitation shook his mighty frame; but he yielded not. VoJumnia begged him to name conditions to the full advantage of the Volscians; to drop the sword of warfare, and secure a lasting peace between their states or, should he refuse their prayers, she vowed to lay herself before the city gates, where he should never enter as a conqueror, but treading over the prostrate bleeding frame of her who gave him life. This threat was seconded by the sorrowing Virgilia, who called the gods to witness, that the moment which brought her husband to her sight, entering the gates of Rome as an enemy-even before his eyes, she would plunge a dagger to her heart, and the gushing tide of life should be his welcome! Coriolanus shuddered; he appealed to Aufidius, who, moved by the affecting scene, looked as if he sanctioned his desire of relenting but in this Aufidius was treacherous, and only wished a pretence to break all terms between them.

Coriolanus yielded to the strong impulses of nature; and, leading his wife and mother forth, sent them back to Rome exulting-promising in a few days to send the proposals of union between the Romans and Volscians.

The two tribunes were exposed to the very utmost rage of the people-when shouts of joy and sounds of triumph put a period to their danger. The procession was returned from the camp-returned with joy! The following day, Coriolanus drew back the Volscians from the camp; when sacrifices were offered in Rome to the gods, and the ladies led through the city in triumph. But these rejoicings were transient; and soon succeeded by an event least of all to have been expected.

At the next general meeting of the Volscian senate, Tullus Aufidius advanced many unjust accu

sations against Coriolanus; and commanded him to resign the authority which had been entrusted to hit. This he refused to do, unless by the desire of the people, at whose request, as well as at the desi e of Tullus, he had undertaken its excrcise. He en addressed the senators and people; and so great was his eloquence, when he chose to exert it, so unjustifiable Auidius's charges against him, and so powerful the general sentiment of esteem and admiration which he had excited, that Aufidius, fearing his rival's triumph would be rendered more complete by the very means he had intended should destroy him, rudely interrupted him in his address, and offered him such unwarrantable insults, that Coriolanus, thrown off his guard by these new instances of ingratitude and baseness, indignantly drew his sword upon Aufidius. The vile conspirators now rushed at once upon him, and he fell, overpowered by innumerable wounds.

The senators were highly enraged, and charged Aufidius with falsehood and ingratitude but he pointed out so effectually the danger which surrounded them while Coriolanus lived, that if they were not convinced, they at least were silent. When Aufidius beheld at his feet the mangled form of him who, while living, "had plucked all gaze his way, his resentment abated, his admiration revived, and he repented of the deed he had committed. He assisted in raising the body; and with three of his soldiers bore him on his shoulders to his tent-giving orders that all honours befitting a warrior should be prepared to grace the hero's funeral.

So fell the invincible Coriolanus, even in his prime of life; leaving behind a memorable lesson that human nature, however exalted our station, cannot stand secure against the darts of malice or of envy, and therefore it were well the mind should early be taught the wisdom of becoming humility. Pride is