In honor follows, Coriolanus. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus! [Flourish. Com. Cor. Look, sir, your mother, You have, I know, petitioned all the gods For my prosperity. Vol. O! [Kneels. Nay, my good soldier, up; My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and By deed-achieving honor newly named, What is it? Coriolanus, must I call thee? But O, thy wife, Cor. My gracious silence,' hail! Wouldst thou have laughed, had I come coffined home, That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear, Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear, And mothers that lack sons. Men. Now the gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet?-O my sweet lady, pardon. [TO VALERIA. Vol. I know not where to turn.-O, welcome 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; welcome. A curse begin at very root of his heart, That is not glad to see thee!-You are three, That Rome should dote on; yet, by the faith of men, We have some old crab-trees here at home, that will not Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: The faults of fools, but folly. Com. Cor. Menenius, ever, ever.9 Ever right. 1 It is probable the Poet meant, "Thou, whose silent tears are more eloquent and grateful to me than the clamorous applause of the rest." 2" Menenius is still the same affectionate friend as formerly." 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, From whom I have received not only greetings, Vol. To see inherited my very wishes, I have lived And the buildings of my fancy; only there Cor. Know, good mother, I had rather be their servant in my way, Than sway with them in theirs. Com. 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 Into a rapture lets her baby cry, While she chats him; the kitchen malkin3 pins Clambering the walls to eye him; stalls, bulks, windows, In earnestness to see him; seld5 shown flamens 1 "Change of honors" is variety of honors. Theobald would read charge. 2 A rapture anciently was synonymous with a fit or trance. 3 A malkin or maulkin was a kind of mop made of rags, used for sweeping ovens, &c.; a figure made of clouts to scare birds was also so called; hence it came to signify a dirty wench. Lockram was a kind of coarse linen. 4 Reechy is fumant with sweat or grease. "The silent war of lilies and of roses, Which Tarquin viewed in her fair face's field." Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to the wanton spoil Sic. I warrant him consul. Bru. On the sudden, Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honors From where he should begin, and end; but will Lose those that he hath won. Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we stand, But they, upon their ancient malice, will Forget, with the least cause, these his new honors; Which that he'll give them, make as little question As he is proud to do't. Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds Sic. 'Tis right. Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the suit o' the gentry to him, And the desire of the nobles. Sic. I wish no better Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it In execution. Sic. It shall be to him, then, as our good wills;1 A sure destruction. Bru. So it must fall out To him, or our authorities. For an end, 1 That is, as if that god who leads him, whatsoever god he be. 2 The meaning, though obscurely expressed, is, "He cannot carry his honors temperately from where he should begin, to where he should end," 3 i. e. threadbare. 4 i. e. " as our advantage requires." We must suggest' the people, in what hatred He still hath held them; that, to his power, he would2 Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world, For sinking under them. Sic. 3 This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence Shall teach the people,' (which time shall not want, As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze Bru. Enter a Messenger. What's the matter? Mess. You are sent for to the capitol. 'Tis thought That Marcius shall be consul. I have seen The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind Bru. Let's to the Capitol ; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, But hearts for the event.6 Sic. 1 i. e. prompt. Have with you. [Exeunt. 2 "That to the utmost of his power he would," &c. 3 We should probably read "the war." Provand is provender. 4 Theobald reads, "Shall reach the people," &c. Teach the people, may however mean, "instruct the people in favor of our purposes." 5 Shakspeare here attributes some of the customs of his own times to a people who were wholly unacquainted with them. 6 That is, "Let us observe what passes, but keep our hearts fixed on our design of crushing Coriolanus." SCENE II. The same. The Capitol. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here. How many stand for consulships? 2 Off. Three, they say; but 'tis thought of one, Coriolanus will carry it. every 1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people. 2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the people, who ne'er loved them, and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't. 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he waved indifferently' 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love. seem to 2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country; and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to have them at all into their estimation and report; but he hath so planted his honors in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury. 1 i. e. “he would have waved indifferently," &c. 2 Their adversary or opponent. 3 Bonnetted is here a verb, as bonnetter (Fr.), to pull off the cap. |