lanus's character being thus confined to one object, it became Shakspeare's next care, even in this instance, to justify it. In the insurrection of the people on the subject of the usury laws, when they withdrew to Mons-Sacer, and Tribunes were granted to their importunity, Plutarch represents the citizens as in the right: of their subsequent demand for a gratuitous distribution of corn, he does not appear to entertain so favourable an opinion. Shakspeare commences the action of his play by the grant of Tribunes to the people, but he does not ascribe that concession to the insurrection occasioned by the usury laws; and, entirely leaving out the retiring of the plebeians to the holy mount, he makes the dispute respecting the distribution of corn the ground of their sedition, and represents the grant of Tribunes as an extortion, by a seditious mob, from the weakness of the nobi lity. The change is important, because it gives to the insurrection of the people the distinctive character of an insolent and overbearing interference with the privileges of the patricians, and, -consequently, fixes on Coriolanus's hostile resistance of the encroachment the stamp of sound -political wisdom.

Plutarch has assigned to Coriolanus a long argument against the people's claims, which I

shall quote as illustrative of the dexterity with which Shakspeare adapted his materials to his purpose.

"But Martius standing upon his feet, did somewhat sharpely take up those who went about to gratifie the people therein; and called them people pleasers, and traitours to the nobility. Moreover, he said, they nourished against themselves the naughtie seede and cockle of insolencie and sedition, which had bene sowed and scattered abroade amongst the people, which they should have cut off, if they had been wise, in their growth: and not (to their owne destruction) have suffered the people to establish a magistrate for themselves, of so great power and authority, as that man had, to whom they had granted it. Who was also to be feared, because he obtained what he would, and did nothing but what he listed; neither passed for any obedience to the Consuls, but lived in all liberty, acknowledging no superiour to command him, saving the onely heads and authours of their faction, whom he called his magistrats. Therefore, said he, they that gave counsell, and perswaded that the corne should be given out to the common people gratis, as they used to do in the cities of Grece, where the people had more absolute

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power, did but only nourish their disobedience, which would breake out in the end, to the utter ruine and overthrow of the whole state. they will not thinke it is done in recompence of their service past, sithence they know well enough they have so oft refused to go to the warres, when they were commanded: neither for their mutinies when they went with us, whereby they have rebelled and forsaken their country: neither for their accusations which their flatterers have preferred unto them, and they have received, and made good against the senate: but they will rather judge, we give and grant them this, as abasing ourselves, and standing in feare of them, and glad to flatter them every way. By this means, their disobedience will still grow worse and worse: and they will never leave to practise new sedition and uprores. Therefore it were a great folly for us, me thinks, to do it: yea, shall I say more? we should if we were wise, take from them their Tribuneship, which most manifestly is the embasing of the Consulship, and the cause of the division of their city. The state whereof, as it standeth, is not now as it was wont to be, but becometh dismembered in two factions, which maintaines alwaies civil dissention and discord

between us, and will never suffer us againe to be united into one body.' ""*

Discarding the formality of an oration, Shakspeare has split this speech into dialogue, making Coriolanus deliver almost every sentiment of the original as the expression of impassioned feeling. t

Whilst Shakspeare was solicitous to make his hero right in the principle on which he acts, he has been equally careful, by exaggerating the intemperance of his conduct, to place him decidedly wrong in its application. Instead of soliciting the suffrages of the people as a favour; of submitting an humble statement of his services, and exhibiting the wounds which he had received in defence of his country, as Plutarch informed the poet (though incorrectly) was the custom with suitors, the dramatic Coriolanus insolently demands the consulship as a right, and proudly refuses to gratify the citizens by a display of those scars which bore testimony to his valour and his services. Plutarch says, that Coriolanus "shewed many wounds and cuts upon

* Life of Coriolanus, p. 228.

+"It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot," &c. with the subsequent passages through a great part of the scene." Act III. sc. 1.

his body which he had received in seventeen years' service at the wars." *

Though Shakspeare has not hesitated to deviate, in this instance, entirely from his authority, he has been extremely minute in the preservation of minor traits of character related by Plutarch of the subject of his page. Marcius looked upon pecuniary rewards with contempt, rejecting the gift of a tenth part of the spoil that he had won at Corioli, as "rather a mercenarie reward, than a honourable recompence; he would have none of it, but was contented to have his equal part with the other souldiers." +

The poet has given the passage a most elegant turn of expression:

"I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing." +

But whilst Coriolanus rejects princely gifts with indifference, he disdains not solicitation in the cause of mercy: "Onely, this grace (said he) I crave and beseech you to grant me: Among the Volces there is an old friend and hoast of mine, an honest wealthy man, and now a pri

* Life of Coriolanus, p. 228. † Ibid. p. 225. Act I. sc. 9.