With cautelous baits and practice. Vol. My first son, (167) Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee awhile: determine on some course, More than a wild exposure (168) to each chance That starts i' the way before thee. Cor. O the gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth Cor. Men. That's worthily As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.- From these old arms. and legs, by the good gods, Cor. Come. Give me thy hand : [Exeunt. (167) My first son,] Is explained by Warburton "My noblest son."Heath proposes (most vilely)" My fierce son."-Hanmer printed "First, my son.' (168) exposure] The folio has "exposture;" which Walker (Crit. Exam, &c., vol. iii. p. 211) is "inclined to read." But I believe, with Steevens, that it "is no more than a typographical error." SCENE II. The same. A street near the gate. Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an Ædile. Sic. Bid them all home; (169) he's gone, and we'll no further. The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided Bru. They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way. Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS. Vol. O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague (170) o' the gods Requite your love! Men. Peace, peace; be not so loud. Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,Nay, and you shall hear some.-[To Brutus] Will you be gone? (169) Bid them all home, &c.] "Something seems to have dropt out of this speech. Qy. 'Bid them all home, and give 'em thanks; he's gone, And we'll no further.-The nobility Are vexed, whom we see have vainly sided In his behalf.' In the third line the sense as well as the metre demands some such word as 'vainly,' for the nobility were not vexed because they had sided with Coriolanus, but because they had done so to no purpose." W. N. LETTSOM. (170) plague] Mr. W. N. Lettsom would read "plagues." Vir. [to Sicinius] You shall stay too: I would I had the power To say so to my husband. Sic. Are you mankind? Vol. Ay, fool; is that a shame ?-Note but this fool.Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome Than thou hast spoken words?— Sic. O blessed heavens ! Vol. More noble blows than ever thou wise (171) words; And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what;-yet go:Nay, but thou shalt stay too:-I would my son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. Sic. Vir. What then? What then! He'd make an end of thy posterity (172) Vol. Bastards and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! Men. Come, come, peace. Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country As he began, and not unknit himself The noble knot he made. Vol. "I would he had"! "Twas you incens'd the rabble;Cats, (175) that can judge as fitly of his worth As I can of those mysteries which heaven Bru. Pray, let us go. Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone : (171) wise] Mr. W. N. Lettsom would substitute "vile." ("At any rate," he observes, "wise' is proposterous.") (172) What then! He'd make an end of thy posterity.] Given to Volumnia by Hanmer; and rightly perhaps. (173) Cats,] Mr. Collier's Ms. Corrector alters "Cats" to "Curs,""consistently," says Mr. Collier, "with the term Coriolanus had previously applied to the rabble." But it is quite evident that here Volumnia is speaking, not of the rabble, but of the two tribunes.—Mr. Staunton suggests "Bats." You've done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this :- I would the gods had nothing else to do Of what lies heavy to't. Men. You've told them home; And, by my troth, you've cause. You'll sup with me? And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go : Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come. Men. Fie, fie, fie (174) [Exeunt. SCENE III. A highway between Rome and Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volsce, meeting. Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian. Vols. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em know you me yet? Vols. Nicanor? no. Rom. The same, sir. Vols. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well approved by your tongue.(175) What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian state, to find you out there: you have well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrections; the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Vols. Hath been! is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division. Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus, that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Vols. Coriolanus banished! Rom. Banished, sir. Vols. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country. Vols. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. Rom. I shall, between this and supper, tell you most strange things from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you an army ready, say you? Vols. A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour's warning. Rom. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well met, and most glad of your company. (175) well approved by your tongue.] So Steevens; and so Mr. Collier's Ms. Corrector. The folio has "well appear'd by your Tongue." |