Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA, &c. How now, my as fair as noble ladies (and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler), whither do you follow your eyes so fast? Vol. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let's go. Men. Ha! Marcius coming home? Vol. Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous approbation. Men. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee 13: -Hoo! Marcius coming home? Two Ladies. Nay, 'tis true. Vol. Look, here's a letter from him; the state hath another, his wife another: and, I think, there's one at home for you. Men. I will make my very house reel to-night: -A letter for me? Vir. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; saw it. I Men. A letter for me? It gives me an estate of seven years' health; in which time I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign prescription in Galen 14 is but empiricutick, and, to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded. Vir. O, no, no, no. Vol. O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for't. 13 Shakspeare so often mentions throwing up caps in this play, that Menenius may well enough be supposed to throw up his cap in thanks to Jupiter.'--Johnson. 14 In this mention of Galen there is an anachronism of near 650 years. Menenius flourished about 492 years before the birth of our Lord, Galen about 160 years after it. The word empiricutick (empirickqutique in the old copy) is evidently formed by the poet from empirick, a quack. Men. So do I too, if it be not too much :-Brings 'a victory in his pocket?-The wounds become him. Vol. On's brows, Menenius: he comes the third time home with the oaken garland 15. Men. Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly? Vol. Titus Lartius writes,-they fought together, but Aufidius got off. Men. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that: an he had staid by him, I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the senate possessed 16 of this? Vol. Good ladies, let's go :-Yes, yes, yes: the senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly. Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him. Men. Wondrous? ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing. Vir. The gods grant them true! Men. True? I'll be sworn they are true :-Where is he wounded? God save your good worships! [To the Tribunes, who come forward.] Marcius is coming home: he has more cause to be proud.-Where is he wounded? 15 Volumnia answers Menenius without taking notice of his last words-The wounds become him.' Menenius had asked, Brings 'a victory in his pocket?' He brings it, says Volumnia, on his brows; for he comes the third time home brow-bound with the oaken garland, the emblem of victory. So afterwards :He prov'd best man o' the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak.' 16 Possessed is fully informed. 'I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose.' Merchant of Venice. Vol. I' the shoulder, and i' the left arm: There will be large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall stand for his place. He received in the repulse of Tarquin, seven hurts i' the body. Men. One in the neck, and two in the thigh,there's nine that I know 17. Vol. He had, before this last expedition, twentyfive 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 18. 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, 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. Look, sir, your mother, 17 The old man is minutely particular: Seven wounds? let me see; one in the neck, two in the thigh-Nay, I am sure there are nine that I know of.' 18 Volumnia, in her boasting strain, says, that her son, to kill his enemy, has nothing to do but to lift his hand and let it fall. VOL. VIII. Q Cor. O! [Kneels. Nay, my good soldier, up; You have, I know, petition'd all the gods My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd, Cor. My gracious silence 19, hail! Would'st thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home, That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear, Such the widows in Corioli wear, eyes And mothers that lack sons. Men. Now the gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet?-O my sweet lady, [TO VALERIA. Vol. I know not where to turn:-0 welcome pardon. 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: Wel come: 19 By gracious silence' it is probable the poet meant, thou whose silent tears are more eloquent and grateful to me than the clamorous applause of the rest.' Thus in Love's Cure, or The Martial Maid, by Beaumont and Fletcher :- A lady's tears are silent orators, Or should be so at least, to move beyond Again in Daniel's Complaint of Rosamond: : Ah, beauty, siren, fair enchanting good! Sweet silent rhetoric of persuading eyes! Dumb eloquence, whose pow'r doth move the blood And in Every Man Out of his Humour:- You shall see sweet silent rhetoric and dumb eloquence speaking in her eye.' Gracious is frequently used by Shakspeare for grateful, acceptable, in the sense of the Italian gratiato. A curse begin at very root of his heart, That is not glad to see thee!-You are three, Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: The faults of fools, but folly. Com. Cor. Menenius, ever, ever20. Ever right. Her. Give way there, and go on. Cor. Your hand, and yours: [To his Wife and Mother. 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 21. Vol. To see inherited my very wishes, I have lived And the buildings of my fancy: only there Cor. I had rather be their servant in my way, Than sway with them in theirs. Com. Know, good mother, 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 20 By these words it should seem that Coriolanus means to say, 'Menenius is still the same affectionate friend as formerly.' So in Julius Cæsar:-' For always I am Cæsar.' 21 Change of honours' is variety of honours, as change of raiment is variety of raiment. Theobald would read charge. |