How is't with Titus Lartius ? Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, Com. Where is that slave, Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? Mar. Let him alone; He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think- Com. Marcius, we have at disadvantage fought, And did retire, to win our purpose. Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on which side They have plac'd their mec of trust? Com. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands i'the vaward are the Antiates, Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius, Their very heart of hope. Mar. I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, By the blood we have shed together, by the vows We have made to endure friends, that you directly Set me against Aufidius, and his Antiates : And that you not delay the present; but, Filling the air with swords advanc'd,' and darts, Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, And balms applied to you, yet dare I never Mar. Those are they That most are willing :-If any such be here [3] That is, remitting his ransom. JOHNSON. [5] That is, swords lifted high. JOHN. Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, Wave thus, [Waving his hand] to express his disposition, [They all shout, and wave their swords; take him up O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? but is Able to bear against the great Aufidius A shield as hard as his. A certain number, Com. March on, my fellows : Make good this ostentation, and you shall Divide in all with us. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. The Gates of Corioli. TITUS LARTIUS, having set a Guard upon Corioli, going with a Drum and Trumpet toward COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a Lieutenant, a party of Soldiers, and a Scout. Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: Keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch Those centuries to our aid ;7 the rest will serve For a short holding: If we lose the field, We cannot keep the town. Lieut. Fear not our care, sir. Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us. [6] Perhaps we may read: Please you to march; And fear shall quickly draw out my command, [Exeunt. Let us march, and that fear which incites desertion will free my army from cowards. JOHNSON. That is, companies consisting each of a hundred men. Our author sometimes uses this word to express simply----a hundred. STEEVENS. SCENE VIII. A Field of Battle between the Roman and the Volcian Camps. Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker. Auf. We hate alike; Not Africk owns a serpent, I abhor More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot. Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave, And the gods doom him after ! Auf. If I fly, Marcius, Halloo me like a hare. Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my blood, Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, Thou should'st not 'scape me here. [They fight, and certain Volces come Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me [Exeunt, driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX. The Roman Camp. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. And, gladly quak'd,' hear more; where the dull tribunes, Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, [8] An anonymous correspondent justly observes, that these words mean, "the whip that your bragg'd progeny was possess'd of." MALONE. [9] For condemned, we may read contemned. You have, to my shame sent me help that I despise. JOHNSON. [1] That is, thrown into a grateful trepidation. VOL. V. 3 STEEVENS. Having fully din'd before. Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his Power, from the pursuit. Lart. O general, Here is the steed, we the caparison :* Had'st thou beheld Mar. Pray now, no more. My mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood," When she does praise me, grieves me. I have done as you have done; that's what I can : Com. You shall not be The grave of your deserving; Rome must know What you have done,) before our army hear me. Com. Should they not,* Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,) of all We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth, Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take [A long flourish. They all cry, MARCIUS! MARCIUS! cast up their caps and lances: stand bare.] COMINIUS and LARTIUS Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall [2] This is an odd encomium. The meaning is, This man performed the action, and we only filled up the show. JOHNSON. A privilege to praise her own son. JOHNSON. grows I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be As if I loved, my little should be dieted Com. Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report, than grateful To us that give you truly by your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you With all the applause and clamour 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 To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent: Where, ere we do repose us, we will write Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome For their own good, and ours. [5] It should be remembered, that the personal him, is not unfrequently used by our author, and other writers of his age, instead of it, the neuter; and that overture, in its musical sense, is not so ancient as the age of Shakespeare. STEEVENS. When steel grows soft as silk, let silk be suddenly converted to the use of war. Over ture, was used by the writers of Shakespeare's time in the sense of prelude or preparation. MALONE. [6] A phrase from heraldry, signifying, that he would endeavour to support his good opinion of him.Fairness for utmost. WARBURTON. [7] The chief men of Corioli. JOHNSON. 18] That is, enter into articles. STEEVENS. |