1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. Cor.

How! no more?

As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay, against those meazels',
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought

The very way to catch them.

Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,

By Jove, 'twould be my mind.

Sic.

It is a mind,

That shall remain a poison where it is,

Not poison any further.

Cor.

Shall remain !

Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you
His absolute shall?

Com.

Cor.

'Twas from the canon".

O good, but most unwise patricians, why,

You grave, but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,

That with his peremptory shall, being but

Shall !

The horn and noise o'the monsters, wants not spirit
To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,

3

a leper.

4

meazels,] Mesell is used in Pierce Plowman's Vision, for

minnows?] A minnow is one of the smallest river fish, called in some counties a pink.

5 'Twas from the canon.] Was contrary to the established rule; it was a form of speech to which he has no right; but Mr. Mason thinks these words imply the very reverse.

And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,

Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,

When, both your voices blended, the greatest taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece! By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul akes,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion

May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take
The one by the other.

Com.

Well-on to the market-place.

Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece,

Men.

Well, well, no more of that.

Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute

power,)

I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed

The ruin of the state.

Bru.

Why, shall the people give

One, that speaks thus, their voice?

Cor. I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know, the corn

6 Then vail your ignorance:] If this man has power, let the ignorance that gave it him vail or bow down before him.

If they be senators: and they are no less,

When, both your voices blended, the greatest taste

Most palates theirs.] Perhaps the meaning is, the plebeians are no less than senators, when, the voices of the senate and the people being blended together, the predominant state of the compound smacks more of the populace than the senate.

Was not our recompense; resting well assur'd

They ne'er did service for't: Being press'd to the war,
Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,

They would not thread the gates: this kind of service
Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native'
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied1 digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words :-We did request it;
We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands:-Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope
The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows

To peck the eagles.—

Men.

Come, enough.

No, take more:

Bru. Enough, with over-measure. Cor. What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal!-This double worship,Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no

Of general ignorance,-it must omit

Real necessities, and give way the while

To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech you,—

8 They would not thread the gates:] That is, pass them. We yet say, to thread an alley.

9

could never be the native-] Native is here not natural birth, but natural parent, or cause of birth. JOHNSON.

1

this bosom multiplied-] This multitudinous bosom; the bosom of that great monster, the people.

You that will be less fearful than discreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,

More than you doubt the change of't'; that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish

To jump a body' with a dangerous physick
That's sure of death without it,-at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour
Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become it;
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth control it.

Bru.

He has said enough.

Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do.

Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee!— What should the people do with these bold tribunes? On whom depending, their obedience fails

To the greater bench; In a rebellion,

When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,

Then were they chosen; in a better hour,

Let what is meet, be said, it must be meet,

And throw their power i'the dust.

Bru. Manifest treason.

Sic.

This a consul? no.

Bru. The Ediles, ho!-Let him be apprehended. Sic. Go, call the people; [exit BRUTUS.] in whose name, myself

Attach thee, as a traitorous innovator,

2 More than you doubt the change of't;] To doubt is to fear. The meaning is, You whose zeal predominates over your terrors; you who do not so much fear the danger of violent measures, as wish the good to which they are necessary, the preservation of the original constitution of our government.

3 To jump a body -] Thus the old copy. To jump anciently signified to jolt, to give a rude concussion to any thing. To jump a body may therefore mean, to put it into a violent agitation or

commotion.

A foe to the publick weal: Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer.

Cor.

Hence, old goat!

Aged sir, hands off.

Sen. & Pat. We'll surety him.

Com.

Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments.

Sic.

Help, ye citizens.

Re-enter BRUTUS, with the Ediles, and a rabble of

Cit. Down with him, down with him! [Several speak.

2 Sen.

Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about CORIOLANUS.

Tribunes, patricians, citizens !-what ho!

Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

h;

Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace!
Men. What is about to be?—I am out of breath
Confusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, tribunes
To the people,-Coriolanus, patience:-

Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.

Hear me, people ;-Peace.

Cit. Let's hear our tribune:-Peace. Speak, speak,

speak.

Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties: Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,

Whom late you have nam'd for consul.

Fye, fye, fye!

Men.
This is the way to kindle, not to quench.
1 Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.
Sic. What is the city, but the people?