Stockdale's edition of Shakespeare, with explanatory notes

Which we difdain should tetter us, yet fought
The very way to catch them.

Bru. You fpeak o' the people,

A, if you were a god to punifh, not

A man of their infirmity.

Sic. 'Twere well,

We let the people know 't.

Men. What, what his choler?

Gr. Choler!

Were I as patient as the midnight fleep,

By Jove, twould be my mind.

Sic. It is a mind

That fhall remain a poifon where it is,

Not poifon any further.

Cor. Shall remain !-

They would not thread the gates 4: this kind of
fervice

Did not deferve corn gratis: Being i' the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they fhew'
Moft valour, spoke not for them: The accufation
Which they have often made against the fenate,
All caufe unborn, could never be the native S
Of our fo frank donation. Well, what then?
How fhall this bofom multiplied digeft
The fenate's courtesy? Let deeds expres
What's like to be their words: We did re-
quest it ;-

"We are the greater poll, and in true fear
"They gave us our demands :"-Thus we dehafe
The nature of our feats, and make the rabble

Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope
His abfolute fall?

Com. 'Twas from the canon.
Cor. Shall!

The locks o' the fenate, and bring in the crows
To peck the eagles-

Men. Come, enough.

Bru. Enough, with over-measure.

Cor. No, take, more :

What may be fworn by, both divine and humor, [rit Seat what I end withal!-This double worship,ipi-Where one part does difdain with caufe, the other Infuit without all reafon; where gentry, title,

O gods-But most unwife patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless fenators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choofe an officer,
That with his peremptory sball, being but
The horn and noise o' the monsters, wants not
To fay, he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be fenators: and they are no lefs,
When, both your voices blended, the greatest taste
Moft palates theirs 3. They choofe their magiftrate;
And fuch a one as he, who puts his ball,
His popular ball, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece! By Jove himself,
It makes the confuls bafe: and my foul akes,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither fupreme, how foon confufion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take
The one by the other.

Com. Well, on to the market-place.

wisdom

[fer

You that will be lefs fearful than difcreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,
More than ou doubt the change of't; that pre-
A noble life before a long, and with

To jump a body 7 with a dangerous phyfic,
That's fure of death without it,-at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The fweet which is their poifon: Your difhonour
Mangles true judgement, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which fhould become it;

Cor. Whoever gave that counfel, to give forthNot having power to do the good it would,
The corn o' the ftore-houfe gratis, as 'twas us'd

Sometime in Greece,-

Men. Well, well, no more of that.

For the ill which doth controul it.
Bu. He has faid enough.

[fwer

Sic. He has poken like a traitor, and fhall an

Cor. (Though there the people had more abfo-As traitors do.

2 Alluding to his

1 A minnow is one of the fmalleft river fish, called in fome counties a pink. having called him Triton before. 3 Meaning, that fenators and plebeians are equal, when the higheit tafte is best pleased with that which pleases the loweft. That is, pafs them. 5. Or, nitura parent. 6 i. e. fear. 7 To jump anciently fignified to jult, to give a rude concuffion to any thing. To jump a body may therefore mean, to put it into a violent agitation or commotion. grity is in this place foundnefs, uniformity, confiftency.

Sic. Go, call the people: [Exit Brutus.] in whofe name, myself

Attach thee, as a traiterous innovator,

A foe to the publick weal: Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine anfwer.

Cor. Hence, old goat!

All. We'll furety him.

Com. Aged fir, hands off.

[bones

Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I fhall shake thy Out of thy garments.

Sic. Help me, citizens.

Bru. diles, feize him.
All. Yield, Marcius, yield.
Men, Hear me one word.

Befeech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.
Adiles. Peace, peace.

[friend, Men. Be that you feem, truly your country's And temperately proceed to what you would Thus violently redress.

Bru. Sir, thofe cold ways,

That feem like prudent helps, are very poisonous
Where the difeafe is violent :-Lay hands upon him,

Re-enter Brutus, with a rabble of Citizens, with And bear him to the rock.

the Ediles.

Men. Fie, fie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

1 Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat. Sic. What is the city, but the people?

All. True,

The people are the city.

[Coriolanus draws his fword.

Cor. No; I'll die here.
There's fome among you have beheld me fighting;
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.
Men. Down with that fword;-Tribunes, with-
Bru. Lay hands upon him. [draw a while.
Men. Help, Marcius! help,
You that be noble; help him, young and old !
All. Down with him, down with him! [Exeunt.
[In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles, and
the People are beat in.

Men. Go, get you to your houfe; be gone, away,
All will be naught elfe.

2 Sen. Get you gone.

Cor. Stand fast;

We have as many friends as enemies.

Men. Shall it be put to that?

I Sen. The gods forbid !

I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy houfe;
Leave us to cure this cause.

Men. For 'tis a fore upon us,

You cannot tent yourfelf: Be gone, 'befeech you.
Com. Come, fir, along with us.

are not,

Cor. 1 would they were barbarians, (as they are, Though in Rome litter'd ;) not Romans, (as they [gone. Though calv'd i' the porch o'the Capitol.)-Be Men. Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;

Bra. By the confent of all, we were establish'd One time will owe I another.

The people's magistrates.

All. You fo remain.

Men. And fo are like to do.

Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation;
And bury all, which yet diftinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruin.

Sic. This deserves death.

Bru. Or let us ftand to our authority,
Or let us lofe it :-' We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o' the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of prefent death.

Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction caft him.

Cor. On fair ground,

I could beat forty of them.

Men. I could myself

[tribunes.

Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two

Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetick;
And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands
Against a falling fabrick.-Will you hence,
Before the tag 2 return? whofe rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear
What they are us'd to bear.

Men. Pray you, be gone:

I'll try whether my old wit be in request

With thofe that have but little; this must be patch'd
With cloth of any colour.

Com. Nay, come away.

[Exeunt Coriolanus and Cominius.

1 Dr. Johnson, on this paffage, remarks, that he knows not whether to owe in this place means to poffefs by right, or to be indebted. Either fenfe may be admitted. One time, in which the people are feditious, will give us power in fome other time: or, this time of the people's predominance will run them in debt; that is, will lay them open to the law, and expofe them hereafter to more fervile fubjectione 2 The lowest of the populace are ftill denominated by thofe a little above them, Tag, rag, and bobtail.

I Sen. This man has marr'd his fortune.
Men. His nature is too noble for the world:
He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,
Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's
his mouth :

What his breaft forges, that his tongue must vent ;
And, being angry, doth forget that ever
He heard the name of death.
Here's goodly work!

A noife within.

2 Sen. would they were a-bed! [vengeance, Men. I would they were in Tiber!—What, the Could he net fpeak 'em fair?

Enter Brutas, and Sicinius, with the rabble again. Sic. Where is this viper, That will depopulate the city, and Be every man himself?

Men. You worthy tribunes,

Sic. He fhall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands; he hath refifted law, And therefore law fhall fcorn him further trial Than the feverity of publick power, Which he fo fets at nought.

1 Cit. He fhall well know,

The noble tribunes are the people's mouths,
And we their hands.

All. He fhall fure out.
Men. Sir, fir,——————

Men. Do not cry, havock, where you thould With modeft warrant.

Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you Have holp to make this refcue?

Men. Hear me speak :

As I do know the conful's worthinefs,
So can I name his faults :-

Sic. Conful!--what conful?
Men. The conful Coriolanus.
Bru. He conful!

All. No, no, no, no, no.

[people,

Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two ; The which fhall turn you to no further harm,

Than fo much lofs of time.

Sic. Speak briefly then;

For we are peremptory, to dispatch

This viperous traitor: to eject him hence,

Were but one danger; and, to keep him here,
Our certain death; therefore, it is decreed,
He dies to-night.

Men. Now the good gods forbid,
That our renowned Rome, whofe gratitude
Towards her deferved children is enroll'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!

Sic. He's a difeafe that must be cut away.
Men. O, he's a limb, that has but a difeafe;
Mortel, to cut it off; to cure it, eafy.
What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death
Killing our enemies? The blood he hath loft,
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath,

By many an ounce) he dropp'd it for his country: And, what is left, to lofe it by his country,

Were to us all, that do't, and futfer it,

A brand to the end o' the world.

Sie. This is clean kam 2.

Bru. Meerly awry: When he did love his country, It honour'd him.

Men. The fervice of the foot
Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was ?

Bru. We'll hear no more :

Purfue him to his houfe, and pluck him thence; Left his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further.

Men. One word more, one word. This tyger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unfcann'd fwiftaefs, will, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by process ; Left parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And fack great Rome with Romans.

Bru. If it were fo

Sic. What do ye talk?

Have we not had a taite of his obedience?
Our ædiles fmote? ourselves refifted -Come-
Men. Confider this ;-He hath been bred i' the

wars

Since he could draw a fword, and is ill fchool'd
In boulted language; meal and bran together
He throws without diftinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him
Where he shall anfwer, by a lawful form,
(In peace) to his utmost peril.

1 Sen. Noble tribunes,

It is the humane way: the other course Will prove too bloody; and the end of it Unknown to the beginning.

Sic. Noble Menenius,

Be you then as the people's officer:
Matters, lay down your weapons.

Bru. Go not home.

[you there :

1 i. e. Do not give the fignal for unlimited laughter, &c. To cry havock, was, I believe, orig nally a fporting phrafe, from hafac, which in Saxon fignitjes a hawk. It was afterwards used in war, and feems to have been the fignal for general flaughter. 2 i. c. Awry. Hence a kambrel for a crooked flick, or the bend in a horse's hinder leg The Welch word for crooked is kam.

Car. I mufe, my mother Does not approve mie further, who was wont To call them woollen vaffals, things created To buy or fell with groats; to fhew bare heads In congregations, to yawn, be ftill, and wonder, When one but of my ordinance 2 stood up To speak of peace, or war. [To Vol.] I talk of you; Why did you with me milder? Would you have Falfe to my nature? Rather fay, I play [me The man I am.

Cor. Let them hang.

Vol. Ay, and burn too.

Enter Menenius, with the Senators.

Cor. Why force 4 you this?

Vol. Becaufe,

That now it lies you on to speak to the people: Not by your own inftruction, nor by the matter Which your heart promps you to; but with fuch words

That are but roated in your tongue, but baftards, and fyllables

Of no allowance 5, to your bofom's truth.
Now, this no more difhonours you at all,
Than to take in a town with gentle words,
Which elfe would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.—————

I would diffemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at ftake, required,
I fhould do fo in honour: I am in this,
Your wife, your fon, these fenators, the nobles;
And you will rather fhew our general lowts 6
How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em,
For the inheritance of their loves, and fafeguard
Of what that want 7 might ruin.

Men. Noble lady!

Come, go with us; fpeak fair: you may falve fo,

Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, Not what is dangerous prefent, but the lofs

fomething too rough;

You must return and mend it.

Sen. There's no remedy;

Unless, by not fo doing, our good city
Cleave in the midft, and perifh.

Vol. Pray, be counfel'd:

I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger,
To better vantage.

Men. Well faid, noble woman :
Before he should thus ftoop to the herd 3, but that
The violent fit o' the time craves it as phyfick
For the whole ftate, I would put mine armour on,
Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do?

Men. Return to the tribunes.

Cor. Well, what then? what then?
Men. Repent what you have fpoke.

Cor. For them ?-I cannot do it to the gods; Muft I then do't to them?

Vol. You are too abfolute; Though therein you can never be too noble. But when extremities fpeak, I have heard you fay, Honour and policy, like unfever'd friends,

I' the war do grow together: Grant that, and

tell me,

In peace, what each of them by the other lofe, That they combine not there?

Cor. Tufh, tuh!

Men. A good demand.

Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to feem

The fame you are not, (which, for your best ends,
You adopt your policy) how is it lefs, or worfe,
That it fhall hold companionship in peace
With honour, as in war; fince that to both
It ftands in like request ?

Of what is paft.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, my fon,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;
And thus far having ftretch'd it, (here be with
them)

Thy knee bulling the ftones, (for in fuch business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears) waving thy head,
With often, thus, correcting thy ftout heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry,
That will not hold the handling: Or, fay to them,
Thou art their foldier, and being bred in broils,
Haft not the foft way, which, thou doft confefs,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In alking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyfelf, forfooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou haft power and perfon.

I wonder. 3 i. c. the people. eftablished rank, or, fettled authority. 6 i. e. our common clowns. In this place not feems to fignify not only.

Cer. Must I go fhew them my unbarb'd 1 sconce?)
Muft I,

With my base tongue, give to my noble heart
A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this fingle plot to lofe,
This mould of Marcius, they to duft should grind it,
And throw it again the wind.-To the market-
place :-

You have put me now to fuch a part, which never
I thall discharge to the life.

Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, fweet fon; as thou haft faid,

My praises made thee firft a foldier, fo,
To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou haft not done before.

Cor. Well, I must do't :

Away, my difpofition, and poffefs me

Some harlot's fpirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired 3 with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls afleep! The fmiles of knaves
Tent 4 in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up
The glaffes of my fight! A beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd
knees,

Who bow'd but in my stirrop, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms !-I will not do't;
Left I furceafe to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A moft inherent baseness.

Vol. At thy choice then :

To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous ftoutnefs: for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou lift.

Ed. He's coming.

Bru. How accompanied ?

Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators That always favour'd him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by the poll?

Ed. I have; 'tis ready.

Sic. Have you collected them by tribes ?
Ad. I have.

Sic. Affemble presently the people hither:
And when they hear me fay, I fall be fo,

I' the right and frength of the commons, be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I fay, fine, cry fine; if death, cry death ;
Infifting on the old prerogative
And power i' the truth o' the cause.

Ed. I fhall inform them.

[to cry,

Bru. And when fuch time they have begun Let them not ceafe, but with a din confus'd

Thy valiantnefs was mine, thou fuck'dft it from me; Inforce the prefent execution

But own thy pride thyself.

Cor. Pray, be content;

Mother, I am going to the market-place;

Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,

Of what we chance to fentence.

Ed. Very well.

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,

Cog their hearts from them, and come home be-When we fhall hap to give't them.

lov'd

Bru. Go about it.--

[Exit Edile. Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd Ever to conquer, and to have his worth 5 Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks With us to break his neck.

Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Gominius, with others.

Sic. Well, here he comes.

1 Mr. Hawkins explains unbarbed by bare, uncover'd; and adds, that in the times of chivalry, when horfe was fully armed and accoutered for the encounter, he was faid to be berbed ; probably from the old word barbe, which Chaucer ufes for a veil or covering. Mr. Steevens, however, fays, unbarbed fcence is untrimm'd or unfheven head. To barb a man was to fhave him. 2 i. e. piece, portion; applied to a piece of earth, and here elegantly transferred to the body, carcafe. 3. e. which played in concert with drum. my 4 To tent is to take up refidence. 5 i. e. according to Mr. Malone-He has been used to his worth, or (as we fhould now fay) his pennyworth of contradiction; kis full quota or proportion. 6 To look is to wait or expect. The fenfe I believe is, What he has in his heart is waiting there to help us to break his neck.

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