But, as I say, such as become a soldier Rather than envy you. Com. Well, well, no more. Cor. What is the matter Sic. That being pass'd for consul with full voice, You take it off again? Answer to us. Cor. Say, then: 'tis true, I ought so. 60 Sic. We charge you, that you have contrived to take From Rome all season'd office, and to wind For which you are a traitor to the people. Men. Nay, temperately; your promise. Cor. The fires i' the lowest hell fold-in the people! Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in 71 Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say "Thou liest' unto thee with a voice as free Sic. As I do pray the gods. Mark you this, people? Citizens. To the rock, to the rock with him! Sic. Peace! We need not put new matter to his charge: What you have seen him do and heard him speak, Beating your officers, cursing yourselves, Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying Those whose great power must try him; even this, So criminal and in such capital kind, Deserves the extremest death. 80 But since he hath What do you prate of service? Bru. I talk of that, that know it. Cor. You? Men. Is this the promise that you made your mother? Com. Know, I pray you, Cor. Sic. 90 I'll know no further: ence 100 Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers From off the rock Tarpeian, never more To enter our Rome gates: i' the people's name, I say it shall be so. Citizens. It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away: He's banish'd, and it shall be so. Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends, Sic. He's sentenced; no more hearing. Com. Sic. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show for Rome 110 We know your drift:-speak what? Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd, As enemy to the people and his country: It shall be so. Citizens. It shall be so, it shall be so. Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize 120 That do corrupt my air, I banish you; 127-133. "Have the power blows"; Coriolanus imprecates upon the base plebeians that they may still retain the power of banishing their defenders, till their undiscerning folly, which can foresee no consequences, leave none in the city but themselves; so that for want of those capable of conducting their defense, they may fall To banish your defenders; till at length That won you without blows! Despising, 130 [Exeunt Coriolanus Cominius, Menenius, Senators and Patricians. 'Ed. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Citizens. Our enemy is banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! [They all shout, and throw up their caps. Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite; Give him deserved vexation. Let a guard 140 Attend us through the city. Citizens. Come, come, let's see him out at gates; come. The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come. [Exeunt. an easy prey to some nation who may conquer them without a struggle.-H. N. H. 130. “noť”; Capell's correction of Ff., “but.”—I. G. 133–135. “Despising,” etc.; “It is remarkable that, among the political maxims of the speculative Harrington, there is one that he might have borrowed from this speech:-'The people cannot see, but they can feel.' It is not much to the honor of the people, that they have the same character of stupidity from their enemy and their friend. Such was the power of our author's mind, that he looked through life in all its relations private and civil" (Johnson).— H. N. H. ACT FOURTH SCENE I Rome. Before a gate of the city. Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, with the young Nobility of Rome. Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell: the beast With many heads butts me Where is your ancient courage? you were used craves A noble cunning: you were used to load me With precepts that would make invincible 10 The heart that conn'd them. Vir. O heavens! O heavens! Cor. Nay, I prithee, woman, 7-9. "fortune's blows, When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves A noble cunning”; i. e. “When Fortune's blows are most struck home, to be gentle, although wounded, demands a noble philosophy" (Clarke). Pope, “gently warded"; Hanmer, “greatly warded"; Collier MS., "gentle-minded.”—I. G. |