Men. One in the neck, and two in the thigh,—there's nine that I know.

Vol. He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

Men. Now it's twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave: [A Shout and Flourish.] Hark! the trumpets.

Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him He carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears; Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie; Which being advanc'd, declines; and then men die.

A Sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS and TITUS
LARTIUS; between them, CORIOLANUS, crowned with
an oaken Garland; with Captains, Soldiers, and a
Herald.

Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight
Within Corioli' gates: where he hath won,

With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these
In honour follows, Coriolanus :-

Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

[Flourish.

All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus! Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart; Pray now, no more.

Com.

Cor.

Look, sir, your mother,

You have, I know, petition'd all the gods

For my prosperity.

Vol.

0!

[Kneels.

My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and

By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd, which

What is it? Coriolanus, must I call thee?
But O, thy wife-

6 Which being advanc'd, declines;] Volumnia, in her boasting strain, says, that her son to kill his enemy, has nothing to do but to lift his hand up and let it fall. JOHNSON.

Cor.

My gracious silence, hail!

Would'st thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home,
That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,
And mothers that lack sons.

Men.

Now the gods crown thee!

Cor. And live you yet?-O my sweet lady, pardon. [TO VALERIA.

Vol. I know not where to turn :-O welcome home; And welcome, general;-And you are welcome all.

Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep, And I could laugh; I am light, and heavy: Welcome: A curse begin at very root of his heart,

That is not glad to see thee!-You are three

That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men,
We have some old crab-trees here at home, that will not
Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors:
We call a nettle, but a nettle; and

The faults of fools, but folly.

Ere in our own house I do shade my head,

The good patricians must be visited;

From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings,

But with them change of honours.

Vol.

To see inherited my very wishes,

I have lived

And the buildings of my fancy: only there
Is one thing wanting, which I doubt not, but
Our Rome will cast upon thee.

7 My gracious silence, hail!] i. e. “My beauteous silence," or my "silent grace." Gracious seems to have had the same meaning formerly that graceful has at this day.

Cor.

Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway with them in theirs.

Com.

On, to the Capitol.

[Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before. The Tribunes remain.

Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights Are spectacled to see him; Your prattling nurse

8

Into a rapture lets her baby cry,

While she chats him; the kitchen malkin' pins
Her richest lockram' 'bout her reechy neck',
Clambering the walls to eye him: Stalls, bulks, windows,
Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
With variable complexions; all agreeing

In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens 3
Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station: our veil'd dames
Commit the war of white and damask, in
Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to the wanton spoil
Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god, who leads him,
Were slily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful posture.

8 Into a rapture-] Rapture, a common term at that time used for a fit, simply. So, to be rap'd, signified, to be in a fit.

9

the kitchen malkin -] Malkin is properly the diminutive of Mal (Mary); as Wilkin, Tomkin, &c. In Scotland, pronounced Maukin; it signifies a hare. Grey Malkin (corruptly grimalkin) is a cat. The kitchen malkin is just the same as the kitchen Madge or Bess: the scullion. RITSON.

1 Her richest lockram, &c.] Lockram, was some kind of cheap linen.

2

her reechy neck,] Recchy is greasy, sweaty.

3 seld-shown flamens —] i. e. priests who seldom exhibit themselves to publick view. Seld is often used by ancient writers for seldom.

4

a vulgar station :] i. e. a common standing-place, such as is distinguished by no particular convenience.

Sic.

On the sudden,

I warrant him consul.

Bru.

Then our office may,

During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Lose those that he hath won.

Bru.

In that there's comfort.

Sic. Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we stand, But they, upon their ancient malice, will

Forget, with the least cause, these his new honours ;
Which that he'll give them, make I as little question
As he is proud to do't.

Bru
I heard him swear,
Were he to stand for consul, never would he
Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put
The napless vesture' of humility;
Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds.
To the people, beg their stinking breaths.
Sic.

"Tis right.

Bru. It was his word: 0, he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to him, And the desire of the nobles.

I wish no better,

Sic.
Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it
In execution.

5 From where he should begin, and end;] Our author means, though he has expressed himself most licentiously, he cannot carry his honours temperately from where he should begin to where he should end. The word transport includes the ending as well as the beginning. He cannot begin to carry his honours, and conclude his journey, from the spot where he should begin, and to the spot where he should end.

6 As he is proud to do't.] Proud to do, is the same as, proud of doing. As means here, as that.

7 The napless vesture-] By napless, Shakspeare means threadbare.

Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills'; will A sure destruction.

Bru.

So it must fall out

To him, or our authorities. For an end,

We must suggest the people, in what hatred

He still hath held them; that, to his power', he would
Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders, and
Dispropertied their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world,

Than camels in their war; who have their provandord
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

For sinking under them.

Sic.

This, as you say, suggested

At some time when his soaring insolence

Shall teach the people, (which time shall not want,
If he be put upon't; and that's as easy,

As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire

To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze
Shall darken him for ever.

Bru.

Enter a Messenger.

What's the matter?

Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought,
That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen

The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind
To hear him speak: The matrons flung their gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,

3

3 It shall be to him then, as our good wills;] The word-wills is here a verb; and as our "good wills" means, as our advantage" requires.

9

1

of it.

2

suggest the people,] i. e. prompt them.

to his power,] i. e. as far as his power goes, to the utmost

their provand -] So the old copy, and rightly, though

all the modern editors read provender.

3

matrons flung their gloves,

Ladies-their scarfs —] Here our author has attributed some of the customs of his own age to a people who were wholly unac

VOL. VI.

M m