Auf. No more.1

Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!— Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion (Who wears my stripes impressed on him; that must bear

My beating to his grave) shall join to thrust

The lie unto him.

1 Lord.

Peace, both, and hear me speak. Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces; men and lads, Stain all your edges on me.-Boy! False hound! If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, That, like an eagle in a dovecote, I

Fluttered your Volces in Corioli:

Alone I did it.-Boy!

Auf.

Why, noble lords,

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears?

Con. Let him die for't.

[Several speak at once. Cit. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces; do it presently. He killed my son ;-my daughter;He killed my cousin Marcus;-He killed my father!2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage;―peace. The man is noble, and his fame folds in

This orb o'the earth. His last offence to us
Shall have judicious 3 hearing.-Stand, Aufidius,
And trouble not the peace.

Cor.
With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
To use my lawful sword!

Auf.

O that I had him,

Insolent villain !

1 This must be considered as continuing the former speech of Aufidius; he means to tell Coriolanus that he was "no more than a boy of tears." 2 "His fame overspreads the world."

3 "Judicious, in the present instance, means judicial; it appears from Bullokar's Expositor that the words were convertible."

Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him.

[AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw and kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFIDIUS stands

Lords.

on him.

Hold, hold, hold, hold.

Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak. 1 Lord.

O Tullus !

2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valor will

weep.

3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters all, be quiet; Put up your swords.

Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this
Provoked by him, you cannot) the great danger
Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice
That he is thus cut off. Please it your honors
To call me to your senate, I'll deliver
Myself your loyal servant, or endure

Your heaviest censure.

1 Lord.

rage,

Bear from hence his body,

And mourn you for him; let him be regarded
As the most noble corse that ever herald

Did follow to his urn.1

2 Lord.

His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.

Auf.
My rage
is gone,
And I am struck with sorrow.-Take him up:
Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.-
Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully;
Trail your steel pikes.-Though in this city he
Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory.2-

Assist. [Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS.

A dead march sounded.

1 This allusion is to a custom which was observed in the public funerals of English princes, at the conclusion of which a herald proclaims the style of the deceased.

2 Memorial. See Act iv. Sc. 5.

THE tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amusing of our author's performances. The old man's merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady's dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modesty in Virgilia; the patrician and military haughtiness in Coriolanus; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian insolence in Brutus and Sicinius,-make a very pleasing and interesting variety; and the various revolutions of the hero's fortune fill the mind with anxious curiosity. There is, perhaps, too much bustle in the first act, and too little in the last. JOHNSON.

END OF VOL. V.