Stand to me in this caufe.-O mother! wife! honour At difference in thee: out of that I'll work [Afide. Cor. Ay, by and by; [Excunt. Enter another Messenger. Sic. What's the news? Mef. Good news, good news;-The ladies have The Volces are diflodg'd, and Marcius gone Art thou certain, this is true? is it most certain? [Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all together. I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia Men. See you yon coign o'the Capitol; yon Is worth of confuls, fenators, patricians, corner-stone? Sic. Why, what of that? Men. If it be poffible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is fome hope the ladies of Rome, efpecially his mother, may prevail with him. But, I fay, there is no hope in 't; our throats are fentenc'd, and stay upon execution. Sic. Is't poffible, that fo fhort a time can alter the condition of a man? Men. There is difference between a grub, and a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing. Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly. Men. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horse 2. The tartnefs of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground 1hrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corflet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He fits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother fhall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tyger; and that shall our poor city find: and] all this is 'long of you. Sic. The gods be good unto us! Men. No, in fuch a cafe the gods will not be good unto us. When we banish'd him, we refpected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Meffenger. Enter a A city full; of tribunes, fuch as you, thanks. Sic. They are near the city? Mef. Almoft at point to enter. Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy, [Exeunt. Enter two Senators, with the Ladies, passing over the flage, &c. &c. Sen. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome : them : Unfhout the noife that banish'd Marcius, V. A publick Place in Antium. Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants. welcome ! Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius' faction. As with a man by his own alms impoison'd, 1 I will take advantage of this conceffion to reftore myself to my former credit and power. 2 Subintelligitur remembers his dam. 3 B And, And with his charity flain. 2 Con. Moft noble fir, If you do hold the fame intent wherein Af. Sir, I cannot tell; We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilft| 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the furvivor heir of all. Auf. I know it ; And my pretext to strike at him admits A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd 3 Con. Sir, his ftoutness, When he did ftand for conful, which he loft Auf. That I would have spoke of: For which my finews fhall be stretch'd upon him 2. [Drums and trumpets found, with great shouts 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a poft, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noife. 2 Con. And patient fools, Auf. Say no more; Here come the lords. Enter the Lords of the city. Lords. You are most welcome home. But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus d Lords. We have. 1 Lord. And grieve to hear it. What fauits he made before the laft, I think, Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd your foldier; home, Doth more than counterpoife, a full third part, Than fhame to the Romans: And we here deliver, Auf. Read it not, noble lords; But tell the traitor, in the highest degree Cor. Traitor!-How now? Cor. Marcius! Tthink Auf. Ay, Marcius, Calus Marcius; Deft thou I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy ftol'n name Coriolanus in Coriol ? You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously Whofe children he hath flain, their bafe throats tear, That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart 1 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnfen, is, He preferibed to me with an air of authority, and gave me his countenance for my wages; thought me fufficiently rewarded with good looks. 2 Thas is the point on which I will attack him with my utmoft abilities. 3 That is, rewarding us with our own expences. Pardon Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever Muft give this cur the he and his own notion 1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. Auf. Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your fhame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears ? All Con. Let him die for't. All People. Tear him to pieces, do it prefently. [The croud speak promifcunally. He kill'd my fon,-My daughter,-He kill'd my coufin Marcus. He kill'd my father. 2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage ;--peace.The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o' the earth: His laft offences to us Shall have judicious hearing.-Stand, Aufidius, And trouble not the peace. Cor. O, that I had him, With fix Aufidiufes, or more, his tribe, Auf. Infolent villain ! All Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [Aufidius and the Confpirators draw, and kili Ii. c. his fame overfpreads the world. Provok'd by him, you cannot) the great danger I Lord. Bear from hence his body, 2 Lord. His own impatience Auf. My rage is gone, And I am ftruck with forrow.-Take him up: [Exeunt, bearing the body of Marcius. A dead march founded. 2 Memory, as before, for memorial. PERSONS JULIUS CESAR, M. ANTONIUS, M. EMIL. LEPIDUS REPRESENTED. Triumvirs after the Death of Julius Cæfar. CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA, Senators. FLAVIUS, and MARULLUS, Tribunes. CINNA, a Poet: Another Poet. LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, Young CATO, Confpirators against Ju- PINDARUS, Servant to Caffius.] lius Caefar. CALPHURNIA, Wife to Cæfar. PORTIA, Wife to Brutus. CINNA, Plebeians, Senators, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE, for the three first Acts, at Rome: afterwards at an Island near Mutina; at Sardis; and near Philippi. SCENE A Street. ACT I. Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners. ENCE; home, you idle creatures, get you home: Flav. HENC Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? Cob. Truly, fir, in respect of a fine workman, Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me Cob. A trade, fir, that, I hope, I may ufe with a fafe confcience; which is, indeed, fir, a mender of bad foals. Flav. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty Cob. Nay, I befeech you, fir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be out, fir, I can mend you. I. Flay. Thou art a cobler, art thou? Cob. Truly, fir, all that I live by is, with the awl: Imeddle with no trade,-man's matters, nor woman's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, fir, a furgeon to old fhoes; when they are in great danger, recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handywork. Flay. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why doft thou lead these men about the streets? Cob. Truly, fir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, fir, we make holiday, to fee Cæfar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings What tributaries follow him to Rome, O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Mar. What meaneft thou by that Mend me,The live-long day, with patient expectation, thou faucy fellow ? Cob. Why, fir, cobble you. |