-

(Like one that means his proper harm,) in manacles,
Then reason safely with you. Therefore, be it known,
As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this time,
For what he did before Corioli, call him,

With all the applause and clamour of the host,
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. -

Bear the addition nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums.

All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus !

Cor. I will go wash.

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive
Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you :----
I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,
To undercrest your good addition,

To the fairness of my power.

9

So, to our tent:

Com.
Where, ere we do repose us, we will write
To Rome of our success. You, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome

The best1, with whom we may articulate, 2

For their own good, and ours.

Lart.

I shall, my lord.

I that now
Cor. The gods begin to mock me.
Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg
Of my lord general.

Com.

Take it: 'tis yours. What is't?

9 To undercrest your good addition,

To the fairness of my power.] I understand the meaning to be, to illustrate this honourable distinction you have conferred on me by fresh deservings to the extent of my power. To undercrest, I should guess, signifies properly, to wear beneath the crest as a part of a coat of arms. The name or title now given seems to be considered as the crest; the promised future achievements as the future additions to that coat. HEATH.

'The best,] The chief men of Corioli.

with whom we may articulate,] i. e. enter into articles.

Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli,

At a poor man's house; he us'd me kindly :
He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;
But then Aufidius was within my view,

And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you
To give my poor host freedom.

Com.
O, well begg'd!
Were he the butcher of my son, he should
Be free, as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.
Lart. Marcius, his name?

Cor.

By Jupiter, forgot:

I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.
Have we no wine here?

Com.

Go we to our tent:

[Exeunt.

The blood upon your visage dries: 'tis time
It should be look'd to: come.

SCENE X.

The Camp of the Volces.

A Flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, bloody, with Two or Three Soldiers.

Auf. The town is ta'en!

1 Sol. 'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition. Auf. Condition?

I would, I were a Roman; for I cannot,

Being a Volce, be that I am. - Condition!

What good condition can a treaty find

I'the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius,
I have fought with thee; so often hast thou beat me;
And would'st do so, I think, should we encounter
As often as we eat. By the elements,

If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,

He is mine, or I am his; Mine emulation
Hath not that honour in't, it had: for where

I thought to crush him in an equal force,

(True sword to sword,) I'll potch at him some way; Or wrath, or craft, may get him.

1 Sol.

He's the devil.

3

Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My valour's poison'd,

With only suffering stain by him; for him
Shall fly out of itself; nor sleep, nor sanctuary,
Being naked, sick: nor fane, nor Capitol,
The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice,
Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up
Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst
My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it
At home, upon my brother's guard, even there
Against the hospitable canon, would I

Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the city;
Learn, how 'tis held; and what they are, that must
Be hostages for Rome.

I

1 Sol.

Will not you go?

Auf. I am attended' at the cypress grove:

pray you,

('Tis south the city mills,) bring me word thither

3

I'll potch at him some way;] Mr. Heath reads-poach ; but potch, to which the objection is made as no English word, is used in the midland counties for a rough, violent push.

4

for him

Shall fly out of itself:] To mischief him, my valour should deviate from its own native generosity. JOHNSON.

5

nor sleep, nor sanctuary, &c.

Embarquements all of fury, &c.] The word, in the old copy, is spelt embarquements, and, as Cotgrave says, meant not only an embarkation, but an embargoing. The rotten privilege and custom that follow, seem to favour this explanation, and therefore the old reading may well enough stand, as an embargo is undoubtedly an impediment. STEEVENS.

6 At home, upon my brother's guard,] In my own house, with my brother posted to protect bim.

7 attended—] i. e. waited for.

8 ('Tis south the city mills,)] Mr. Tyrwhitt would read for mills, a mile, but Mr. Steevens observes that Shakspeare is seldom careful about such little improprieties.

How the world goes; that to the pace of it

Enter MENENIUS, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS.

Men. The augurer tells me, we shall have news tonight.

Bru. Good, or bad?

Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius.

Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.
Men. Pray you, who does the wolf love?

Sic. The lamb.

Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius.

Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear.

Men. He's a bear, indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men ; tell me one thing that I shall ask

you.

Both Trib. Well, sir.

Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor †, that you two have not in abundance?

Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all.
Sic. Especially, in pride.

Bru. And topping all others in boasting.

Coriolanus speaks of our divines, and Menenius of graves in the holy churchyard. It is said afterwards, that Coriolanus talks like a knell; and drums, and Hob, and Dick, are with as little attention to time or place, introduced in this tragedy.

+ "poor in," - MALONE.

Men. This is strange now: Do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o'the right hand file? Do you?

Both Trib. Why, how are we censured?

Men. Because you talk of pride now, Will you not be angry?

Both Trib. Well, well, sir, well.

Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your disposition the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud?

Bru. We do it not alone, sir.

Men. I know you can do very little alone; for your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: O, that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks,9 and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O, that you could!

Bru. What then, sir?

Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, (alias fools,) as any in Rome.

Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too.

Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tyber in't; said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint: hasty, and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion: one that converses more with the buttock of the night', than with the forehead of the morning. What I think, I utter; and spend my ma

9 towards the napes of your necks,] With allusion to the fable, which says, that every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind him, in which he stows his own. JOHNSON.

J —one that converses more, &c.] Rather a late lier down than an early riser. JOHNSON.