Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, What you have done,) before our army hear me. Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remembered. Com. Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, Your only choice. Mar. [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! grows May these same instruments, which you profane, 1 When steel grows Soft as silk, let him be made Mr. Tyrwhitt thinks that we should read a coverture. The personal pronoun him is not unfrequently used by old writers instead of it, the neuter. The sense of the passage will then be complete and apt:"When steel grows soft as silk, let armor be made of silk instead of steel." Here's many else have done,―you shout me forth As if I loved my little should be dieted In praises sauced with lies. Com. Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report, than grateful With all the applause and clamor of the host, 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 the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent; Where, ere we do repose us, we will write Lart. I shall, my lord. Cor. The gods begin to mock me. Of my lord general. 1 This appears to mean, "he will endeavor to support the honorable distinction conferred upon him to the fair extent of his power." 2 i. e. the chief men of Corioli, with whom we may enter into articles. Bullokar has the word "articulate, to set down articles, or conditions of agreement." Com. Take it; 'tis yours.-What is't? Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli, At a poor man's house; he used me kindly: And wrath o'erwhelmed my pity. I request you Com. O, well begged! Were he the butcher of my son, he should Cor. By Jupiter, forgot. I am weary; yea, my memory is tired.- Com. Go we to our tent; The blood upon your visage dries: 'tis time [Exeunt. 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 delivered back on good condition. Auf. Condition ?— I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, Being a Volce,1 be that I am.-Condition! What good condition can a treaty find I'the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, 2 1 The Volsci are called Volsces throughout the old translation of Plutarch, which Shakspeare followed. 2 Where for whereas. 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. Auf. Bolder, though not so poisoned,2 He's the devil. With only suffering stain by him; for him 4 Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the city; 1 Sol. 5 Will not you go? Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove. I pray you, ('Tis south the city mills,) bring me word thither How the world goes; that to the pace of it I may spur on my journey. 1 Sol. I shall, sir. [Exeunt. 1 To potch is to thrust at with a sharp-pointed instrument. 2 Mr. Tyrwhitt proposed to read :— "My valor poisoned," &c. And the context seems to require this emendation. my valor should deviate from its native generosity." "To mischief him, 3 Embarquements meant not only an embarkation, but an embargoing. 4 i. e. in my own house, with my brother posted to protect him. 5 Attended is waited for. ACT II. SCENE I. Rome. A public Place. Enter MENENIUS, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS. Men. The augurer tells me, we shall have news to-night. 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. Sic. The lamb. Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius. Bru. He's a lamb indeed, that baas 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 in,' 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. 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 be angry? Both Trib. Well, well, sir, well. you not 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 1 Pleonasms of this kind were by no means unfrequent. |