(Unless we sweepthem fromthedoor with cannons) Port. You did nothing, sir. to endure. I have some of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadles, that is to come. Enter the Lord Chamberlain. Cham. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here! They grow still too; from all parts theyare coming, As if we kept a fair! Where are these porters, These lazy knaves ?-Ye have made a fine hand, [10] fellows. Man. I am not Sampson, nor Sir Guy, nor Colbrand, to mow 'em down before me: but, if 1} spar'd any, that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again; and that I would 15 not for a cow, God save her. Within. Do you hear, master Porter? Port. I shall be with you presently, good master puppy-Keep the door close, sirrah. Man. What would you have me do? There's a trim rabble let in: Are all these [have Port. Please your honour, We are but men; and what so many may do, Cham. As I live, 20 If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all Port. What should you do, but knock 'em down by the dozens? Is this Morefields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a cry of fornication is at door! 25 O' my christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand: here will be father, godfather, and all together. 3 Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be 30 a brasier by his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nose; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: that fire-drake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose 35 discharg'd against me; he stands there like a mortar-piece, to blow us up. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that rail'd upon me] 'till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I miss'd 40 the meteor' once, and hit that woman, who cry'd out, clubs! when I might see from far some forty trunchioneers draw to her succour, which were the hope of the strand, where she was quarter'd. They fell on; I made good my place; at length 45 they came to the broomstaff with me, I defy'd'em still; when suddenly a file of boys behind'em,loose shot, deliver'd such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let 'em win the work: the devil was amongst 'em, I think,|50| surely.. Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll make your head ake. Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll peck you o'er the pales else. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Palace. EnterTrumpets,sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk with his Marshal's staff, Duke of Suffolk, two Noblemen bearing two great standing bowls for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canop, under which the Dutchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, c. Train borne by a Lady: then follow the Marchioness of Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Gurter speaks. Gar. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth! Flourish. Enter King, and Train. Cran. [Kneeling]. And to your royal grace, and the good queen, 2 Port.These are the youths thatthunder at a playhouse, and fight for bitten apples"; that no audi- My noble partners, and myself, thus pray;ence, but the tribulation of Tower-hill', or the All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady, limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able|55|Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy, It was anciently the custom for all ranks of people to go out a-maying on the first of May. Of Guy of Warwick every one has heard.-Colbrand was the Danish giant, whom Guy subdued at Win chester. A brusier signifies a man that manufactures brass, and a reservoir for charcoal occasionally heated to convey warmth, Both these senses are here understood, 4 A fire-drake is both a serpent, an ciently called a brenning-drake, or dipsas, and a name formerly given to a Willo' th' Wisp, or ignis fatuus. A fire-drake was likewise an artificial firework. 'i.e. the brasier. "The prices of seats for the vulgar in our ancient theatres were so very low (viz. a penny, two-pence, and six-pence, each, for the ground, gallery, and rooms:-the boxes were somewhat higher, being a shilling and half-a-crown), that we cannot wonder if they were filled with the tumultuous company described by Shakspeare in this scene; especially when it is added, that tobacco was smoaked, and ale drunk in them. Dr. Johnson suspects the Tribulation to have been a puritanical meeting-house. A public whipping. To bait bumbards is to tipple, to lie at the spigot. Bumbards were large vessels in which the beer was carried to soldiers upon duty: they reseinbled black jacks of leather. 8 May Cran. Let me speak, sir, (When heaven shall call her fr darkness) 5 Who, from the sacred ashes of Shall star-like rise, as great in fa And so standfix'd: Peace,plenty, That were the servants to this ch Shall then be his, and like a vin 10 Wherever the bright sun of hea His honour, and the greatness o Shall be, and make new nations : And, like a mountain cedar, reach To all the plains about him :-Oi 15 Shall see this, and bless heaven. King. Thou speakest wonder Cran. She shall be, to the happi An aged princess2; many days And yet no day without a deed 20 Would I had known no more! b She must, the saints must have h A most unspotted lily shall she p To the ground, and all the world's For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter with her: King. O lord archbishop, 25 Thou hast made me now a man; In her days, every man shall eat in safety, [40] lords;- EPILOGU E.3 TIS ten to one this play can never please All that are here: Some come to take their ease, For this play at this time, is only in The merciful construction of good For such a one we shew'd'em*: If 50 And say, 'twill do, I know, within All the best men are ours; for 'tis il If they hold, when their ladies bid'e These lines, to the interruption by the king, seem to have been inserted at some play, after the accession of king James. 2 Theobald remarks, that the transition h complimentary address to king James the first is so abrupt, that it seems to him, that con inserted after the accession of that prince. If this play was written, as in his opinion it was of queen Elizabeth, we may easily determine where Cranmer's eulogium of that princes He makes no question but the poet rested here: And claim by those their greatness, not by blood. All that the bishop says after this, was an occasional homage paid to her successor, and serted after her demise. 3 Dr. Johnson is of opinion, with other Critics, that both t and Epilogue to Henry VIII. were written by Ben Jonson. In the character of Kath 'COR PERSONS REPRESENTED. CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS, a noble Roman. MENENIUS AGRIPPA, friend to Coriolanus. JUNIUS BRUTUS, TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volscians. Young MARCIUS, Son to Coriolanus. Roman and Volscian Senators, Ediles, Lict The SCENE1 is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volscians and Antiates. 5 we become rakes': for the gods know, I sp this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for reveng 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially aga Caius Marcius? All. Against him first: he's a very dog to commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider you what services he has d for his country? 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to g 10 him good report for 't, but that he pays hin with being proud. 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at 15 our own price. Is 't a verdict? All. No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good citizens. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the pa-20 tricians, good; What authority surfeits on, would relieve us: If they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely: but they think, we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the 25 object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere All. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done mously, he did it to that end: though soft-c scienc'd men can be content to say, it was for country, he did it to please his mother, and to partly proud; which he is even to the altitude his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, account a vice in him: You must in no way s he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of cusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are the The other side o' the city is risen: Why stay prating here? to the Capitol All. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here? The whole history is exactly followed, and many of the principal speeches exactly copied from Life of Coriolanus in Plutarch. 2 Good is here used in the mercantile sense. 3 Alluding to the p verb, as lean as a rake; which perhaps owes its origin to the thin taper form of the instrument ma pray you. Which ne'er came from the lu That envy'd his receipt; eve 2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the se-10To the discontented members nate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll shew 'em in deeds. They say,poor suitors have strong breaths; they hall know, we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine 15 honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 20 25 2 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. 2 Cit. Your belly's answerThe kingly-crowned head, the The counsellor heart", the ar Our steed the leg, the tongue With other muniments and pe In this our fabrick, if that they Men. What then? Fore me, this fellow speaks!then? 2 Cit.Should bythecormorant Who is the sink o' the body,— Men. Well, what then? 2 Cit. The former agents, if th What could the belly answer? Men. I will tell you; If you'll bestow a small (of wha Patience, a while, you'll hear th 2 Cit. You are long about it. Men. Note me this, good frie Your most grave belly was deli Not rash like his accusers, and t 2 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They Confess yourselves wond'rous malicious, 2 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. True is it, my incorporate frie That I receive the general fo "Which you do live upon; and "Because I am the store-house, "Of the whole body: But, if you 40" I send it through the rivers of "Even to the court, the heart, to brain; "And, through the cranks and o "The strongest nerves, and smal 45" From me receive that natural "Whereby they live: And though "You,my good friends," (this says 2 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. Men. There was a time, when all the body's 50" Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it ;— I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive, struments Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 55 Men, "Though all at once can See what I do deliver out to ea "Yet I can make my audit up, th "From me do back receive the f "And leave me but the bran." Wh 2 Cit. It was an answer: How a Men. The senators of Rome are t And you the mutinous members: Their counsels, and their cares; rightly, 2 To scale is to disperse. The word is still used in the North. The meaning is, Thoug have heard the story, I will spread it yet wider, and diffuse it among the rest. Disg ships, injuries. Where for whereas. *i.e. with a smile not indicating pleasure, i.e. exactly. • The heart was anciently esteemed the seat of prudence. Seat 1 Touching the weal o' the common; you shall No public benefit, which you receive, [find, But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, And noway from yourselves:--What do you think? You, the great toe of this assembly ?——— 2 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? Men. For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest, Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Enter Caius Marcius. Mar. Thanks.--What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 5 | Men. Nay, theseare almost thoroughlypersuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech What says the other troop? [you, Mar. They are dissolv'd: Hang'em! [verbs; They said, they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proThat, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs inust eat;[sent not That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods 10 Corn for the rich men only:-With these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generosity, [caps 15 And make bold power look pale) they threw their As they would hang them on the horns o' the Shouting their emulation. [moon, [doms, Men. What is granted them? 20 Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus, 130 2 Cut. We have ever your good word. [flatter Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will Beneath abhorring.-What would have, you curs, That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you, 25 The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese: You are no surer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice, Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is, To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him, And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatDeserves your hate: and your affections are [ness, A sick man's appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends 35 Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead, [ye? And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust With every minute you do change a mind; And call him noble, that was now your hate, Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter, 40 That in these several places of the city You cry against the noble senate, who, Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another?-What's their seek Mar. Hang 'em! They say? Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mes. Where's Caius Marcius? Mar. Here: What's the matter? Mes. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent Our musty superfluity:-See, our best elders. Enter Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators; Junius Brutus, and Sicinius Velutus. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately The Volces are in arms. [told us; Mar. They have a leader, I sin in envying his nobility: And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he. 145 Com. You have fought together. [and he [they say, Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him: He is a lion 50 They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Com. It is your former promise. Mar. Sir, it is; And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Tit. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the cther, Ere stay behind this business. The meaning is, Thou art a hound, or running dog of the lowest breed, lead'st the pack, when any thing is to be gotten. 2 Bale is an old Saxon word for misery or calamity. 3 i. e. their pity, compassion. 4 The old copy reads-picke my lance; and so the word is still pronounced in Staf fordshire, where they say-picke me such a thing, that is, throw any thing that the demander wants, Meaning, To give the final blow to the nobles. Generosity is high birth. viz. that the Folces are in arms. Z z Men. |