Imatges de pàgina
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(26) Before he fhould thus ftoop to th' Herd, but that
The violent fit o'th times craves it as phyfick
For the whole State, I'd put mine armour on,
Which I can scarcely bear vmw
Cor. What must I do?nsit verte
Men. Return to th' Tribunes.co
Cor. Well, what then? what then Prov
Men. Repent what you have fpoke.

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Cor. For them? I cannot do it for the Gods, Muft I then do't to them Pods o

Vol. You are too abfolute, iem

Tho' therein you can never be too noble,

But when Extremities fpeak! Bve heard you say,
Honour and policy, like unfever'd Friends,
I'th' war do grow together: grant That, and tell me
In peace, what each of them by th' other lofes,
That they combine not there ed an ov
Cor. Tufh, tuh di gey
Men. A good demand. o sin sel
Vol. If it be honour in your wars, to feem
The fame you are not, which for your best ends
You call your policy: how is't lefs, or worse,
That it fhall hold companionship in peace
With Honour, as in War; fince that to both
It ftand in like request?

Cor. Why force you

this?

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Vol. Because it lies on you to fpeak to th' People: Not by your own inftruction, nor by th

th' matter Which your heart prompts you to, but with fuch words But roated in your tongue, baftards, and fyllables Of no allowance, to your bofom's truth. Now, this no more difhonours you at all,

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(26) Before he thus fhould floop to'th Heart,] But how did Coriolanus ftoop to his Heart? he rather, as we vulgarly exprefs it, made his proud Heart ftoop to the Neceffity of the Times. I am perfuaded, my Emendation gives the true Reading. So, before, in this Play;

Are thefe your Herd?

So, in Julius Cæfar;

&c.

When he perceiv'd, the common Herd was glad he refas'd the Grown,

And in many other Paffages.

Than

Than to take in a Town with gentle words,
Which elfe would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.

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I would diffemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends at ftake, requir'd
I fhould do fo in honour. (27) I'm in this
Your Wife, your Son, these Senators, the Nobles.
And you will rather fhew our general lowts
How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em,
For the inheritance of their loves, and fafeguard
Of what that Want might ruin!

Men. Noble Lady!

Come, go with us, fpeak fair: you may falve fo
Not what is dangerous prefent, but the lofs
Of what is past.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, my Son,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand,
And thus far having stretch'd it (here be with them)
Thy knee buffing the ftones; (for in fuch bufinefs
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant
More learned than the ears;) (28) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy ftout heart,

(27)

I'm in this

Your Wife, your Son: the Senators the Nobles,

And You &c.] The Pointing of the printed Copies makes ftark Nonsense of this Paffage. Volumnia is perfuading Coriolanus that he ought to flatter the People, as the general Fortune was at Stake; and fays, that, in this Advice, She speaks as his Wife, as his Son as the Senate, and Body of the Patricians; who were in fome Measure link'd to his Condu&t. Mr. Warburton.

(28) waving thy Head,

Which often, thus, correcting thy flout Heart] But do any of the Ancient, or Modern Mafters of Elocution prefcribe the waving the Head, when they treat of Action? Or how does the waving the Head correct the Stoutnefs of the Heart, or evidence Humility? Or taily, where is the Senfe or Grammar of thefe Words, Which often thus &c. These Questions are fufficient to shew the abfurd Corruption of thefe Lines. I would read therefore has

waving thy Hand,

Which foften thus, correcting thy flout Heart 3 This is a very proper Precept of Action fuiting the Occafion; Wave thy Hand, fays She, and foften the Action of it thus,

then trike upon

thy Breaft, and by that Action fhew the People thou hall corrected thy fout Heart. All here is fine and proper.

F 4

Mr. Warburton.

Moft

Now humble as the ripest Mulberry,

That will not hold the handling: or fay to them,
Thou art their Soldier, and, being bred in broils,
Haft not the foft way, which thou doft confess
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thy felf (forfooth) hereafter theirs fo far,
As thou haft power and perfon.

Men. This but done,

Ev'n as the speaks, why, all their hearts were yours; For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free,

As words to little purpose.

Vol. Pr'ythee now,

Go and be rul'd: altho', I know, thou'dft rather
Follow thine enemy in à fiery Gulf

Than flatter him in a bower,

Here is Cominius.

Enter Cominius,

Com. I've been i'th' Market-place, and, Sir, 'tis fit You have ftrong Party, or defend your felf By calmness, or by abfence: all's in anger. Men. Only, fair speech. y 21

Com. I think, 'twill ferve, if he Can thereto frame his fpirit.

Vol. He muft and will:

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Pr'ythee now, fay you will, and go about it. Cor. Muft I go fhew them my unbarbed sconce? Must my bafe tongue give to my noble heart A lie, that it muft bear? well,will dots (29) Yet were there but this fingle Plot go dofe, This mould of Marcius, they to duft should grind it, And throw't against the windedTooth Market place! smo♬ ni 29b6TI 913 s to

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(29) Yet were there but this fingle Plat, ko lafe This Mould of Marcius, The Pointing of all the Impreffions fhews, the Editors did not understand this Pallage. What Plot is this, they are dreaming of, to lofe the Mould of Marcius? But Plot and Mould are but one and the fame Thing; and mean no more than the Flesh and Subftance of Marcius's Body Were there no other Confequences annex d, fays He, than the Deftruction of my Body, they sunnere of hould grind to Powder &

66.

You've put me now to fuchfa Part, which never
I fhall difcharge to th' life.rand

Com. Comes come, we'll prompt you.

Vol. Ay, pr'ytheemow, fweet Son; as thou haft faid, My praises made thee first a Soldier, fo,

To have my praise for this, perform a Párt
Thou haft not done before.

Cor. Well, I must do't::

Away, my Difpofition, and poffefs me

Some Harlot's fpirit! my throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an Eunuch, or the Virgin voice
That Babies lulls afleep!, the fmiles of Knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and fchool-boys tears take up
The glaffes of my fight! a Beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips, and my arm'd knees,
Which bow'd but in my flirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms! I will not do't,
Left I furcease to honour mine own truth,"
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A moft inherent baseness.

Vol. At thy choice then annetta

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To beg of thee, it is my more difhonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin, det
Thy Mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous ftoutnefs: for I mock at Breath
With as big heart as thou. Do, as thou lift:
Thy valiantnefs was mine, thou fuck'dftlic from me:
But own thy pride thy felf. enig opgral Dist.
Cor. Pray, be content law Scan from it n 1
Mother, I'm going to the Marketplace:
Chide meno more. I'll mountebank their loves;
Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'di
Of all the Trades in Rome. Look, I am going
Commend me to my Wife. I'll return Consul,
Or never truft to what my tongue can do
I'th' way of flattery further.

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Vol. Do your will. - T [Exit Volumnia. Com, Away, the Tribunes do attend you: arm Your felf to anfwer mildly; for they're prepar'd

With accufations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet.

Cor. The word is, mildly.-Pray you, let us go."

Let them accufe me by invention; I

Will answer in mine honour.

Men. Ay, but mildly.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then, mildly.

SCENE changes to the Forum.

Enter Sicinius and Brutus.

[Exeunt.

Bru. N this point charge him home, that he affects
Tyrannic Power: if he evade us there,

Inforce him with his envy to the People,
And that the Spoil, got on the Antiates,
Was ne'er diftributed. What, will he come?

Enter an Edile.

Ed. He's coming.

Bru. How accompanied?

Æd. With old Menenius, and those Senators That always favour'd him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

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Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by th' poll?

Ed. I have; 'tis ready, here.

Sic. Have you collected them by Tribes?
Ed. I have.

Sic. Affemble prefently the People hither,

And, when they hear me fay, It shall be fo,

I'th' right and itrength o'th' Commons; (be it either
For Death, for Fine, or Banifhment,) then let them,
If I fay Fine, cry Fine; if Death, cry Death;
Infifting on the old Prerogative and que
And Power i'th truth o'th Caufe.

Ed. I will inform them.l ? ༼1992 14 o
Bru. And when fuch time they have begun to cry,
Let them not ceafe, but with a Din confus all v

Inforce

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