Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what | Enter Three or Four CONSPIRATORS of Auml mercy his mother shall bring from him : There

DIUS's Faction.
is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a Most welcome!
male tiger ; that shall our poor city find ; and all I Con. How is it with our general ?
that is 'long of you.

Auf. Even so,
Sic. The gods de good unto us!

As with a man by his own alms empoison's, Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be And with his charity slain. good unto us. When we banished him, we res- 2 Con. Most noble Sir, pected not them : and, he returning to break our If you do hold the same intent wherein necks, they respect not us.

You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
Enter a MESSENGER.

of your great dauger.

Auf. Sir, I cannot tell : Mess. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your We must proceed, as we do find the people. house :

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, 'Twixt you there's difference ; but the fall of either And hale him up and down; all swearing, if Makes the survivor heir of all. The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,

Auf. I know it;
They'll give him death by inches.

And my pretext to strike at him admits
Enter another MESSENGER.

A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd

Mine honour for his truth : Who being so heighNic. What's the news?

ten's,
Mess. Good news, good news : -The ladies have He water'd his new plants with dews of Battery,
prevail'd,

Seducing so my friends ; and, to this end,
The Volsces are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone : He bow'd his nature, never known before
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, But to be rough, unswayable, and free,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

3 Con. Sir, his stoutness,
Sic. Friend,

When he did stand for consul, which he lost Art thou certain this is true ? is it most certain ? By lack of stooping, Mess. As certain as I know the sun is fire :

Auf. That I would have spoke of : Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it! Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth; Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide, Presented to my knife his throat ; I took him ; As the recoinforted through the gates. Why hark Made him joint-servant with me; gave bim way you ;

In all his own desires ; nay, let him choose (Trumpets and Hautboys sounded, and Drums Out of my files, his project to accomplish,

beaten, all together. Shouting also within. My best and freshest men ; serv'd his design men's The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, In mine own person ; holp to reap the fame, Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Romans, which he did end all his; and took soine pride Make the sun dance. Hark you !

To do myself this wrong ; till, at the last,

[Shouting again. I seem'd his follower, not partner ; and Men. This is good news :

He wag'd me with bis countenance, t as if
I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia I had been mercenary.
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,

1 Con. So he did, my lord : A city full : of tribunes such as you,

The arıny marvell’d at it. And, in the last, A sea and land full : You have pray'd well to-day; When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd This morning, for ten thousand of your throats For no less spoil than glory, I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy ! Auf. There was it ;-

[Shouting and Music. For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. Sic. First, the gods bless you for their tidings : At a few drops of women's rheum, which are Accept my thankfulness.

(next, As cheap as lies, be sold the blood and labour Vess. Sir, we have all

of our great action : Therefore shall he die Great cause to give great thanks,

And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark ! Sic. They are near the city ?

[Drums and Trumpets sound, with great Mess. Almost at point to enter.

shouts of the People. Sic. We will meet them,

1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, Aud help the joy.

(Going. And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Enter the Ladies, accompanied by SENATORS,

Splitting the air with noise. PATRICIANS, and People. They pass over whose children he bath slain, their base throats

2 Con. And patient fools, the Stage.

tear, 1 Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome : With giving him glory. Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, 3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage, And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before Ere he express himself, or move the people them :

With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Uushout the noise that banish'd Marcins, Which we will second. When he lies along, Repeal* him with the welcome of his mother;

After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury Cry,-Welcome, ladies, Welcome !

His reasons with his body. All. Welcome, ladies!

Auf. Say no more : Welcome!

Here come the lords. (4 flourish with Drums and Trumpets.

(Exeunt.

Enter the LORDS of the City.

Lords. You are most welcome home.
SCENE V.-Antium.-A Public Place. Auf. I have not deserv'd it:
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus d

What I have written to you?
Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here : Lords. We bave.
Deliver them this paper : having read it,

1 Lord. And grieve to bear it.
Bid them repair to the marketplace ; where I, What faults be made before the last, I think,
Even in theirs and in the coinmons' ears, Might have found easy fines : but there to end,
Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse, Where he was to begin, and give away
The city ports + by this hath enter'd, and The benefit of our levies, answering us
Intends to appear before the people, boping With our own charge ; î making a treaty, where
To purge himself with words : Despatch. There was a yielding; This admits no excuse,

[Exeunt Attendants.

• Helped Thought me rewarded with good look
• Recall.
+ Gates.

# Tears.

Rewarding us with our own expenses.

Aaj. He approaches, you shall bear him. That like an eagle in a dove-cote, I

Flutter'd your voices in Corioli : Enter CORIOLANUS, rith Drums and Colours ; Alone I did it.-Boy!

a Crowd of CITIZENS with him. Auf, why, noble lords, Cor. Hail, lords ! I am returned your soldier ; Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, No more infected with my country's love,

Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting

'Fore your own eyes and ears? Under your great cominand. You are to know,

Con. Let him die for't. Several speak at once. That prosperously I bave attempted, and,

Cit. (Speaking promiscuously.) Tear him to With bloody passage led your wars, even to

pieces, do it presently. He killed my son :-my The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought daughter ;--He killed my cousiu Marcius ;-He bome,

killed my father.Do more than counterpoise, a full third part,

2 Lord. Peace, ho ;--no ontrage ;-peace. Tbe charges of the action. We have made peace,

The man is noble, and his fame folds in With no less honour to the Antiates,

This orb o'the earth. His last offence to us Than sbame to the Romans; and we here deliver, Shall have judicious + hearing.--Stand, Autidius, Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians,

And trouble not the peace. Together with the seal o'the senate, what

Cor. Oh ! that I had him, We bave compounded on.

With six Antidiuses, or more, his tribe, Auf. Read it not, noble lords ;

To use my lawful sword ! But tell the traitor in the highest degree

Auf. Insolent villain! He hath abus'd your powers.

Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him! Cor. Traitor !--How now?

(AUFidius and the CONSPIRATORS drar, and Auf. Ay, traitor, Marcius.

kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and Aufidir's Cor. Marcius !

stands on him.
Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius : Dost thou Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold !
think

Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak.
I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stoln name i Lord. o Tullus !--
Coriolanus in Corioli ?--

2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour
You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously
He has betray'd your business, and given up 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters, all, be
For certain drops of salto your city Rome Put up your swords.

(quiet: (I say, your city) to his wife and mother : Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in Breaking bis oath and resolution, like A twist of rotten silk : never admitting

Provok'd by birn, you cannot,) the great danger Counsel o’the war ; but at his nurse's tears Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice He whin'd and roar'd away your victory; That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart To call me to your senate, l'll deliver Look'd wondering each at other.

Myself your loyal servant, or endure
Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars?

Your heaviest censure.
Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears,- | Lord. Bear from hence his body,
C'er. Ha !

And mourn you for bim: let him be regarded Auf. No more. +

As the most noble corse that ever herald
Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Did follow to his urn.
Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave 1- 2 Lord. His own impatience
Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
I was forc'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave Let's make the best of it.
lords,

Auf. My rage is gone, Mast give this cur the lie : and his own notion And I ain struck with sorrow.-Take him up : (Who wears my stripes impress’d on him that Help, three o'the chiefest soldiers ; l'll be one.-must bear

Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully : My beating to his grave,) shall join to thrust Trail your steel pikes.-Though in this city be The lie unto him.

Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one, 1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. Which to this hour bewail the injury,

Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volsces : men and lads, Yet he shall have a noble memory. Stain all your edges on me.-Boy! False hound í Assist. [Exeunt, bearing the body of CoriolaIf you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,

NUS.

A doud March sounded. • Drops of tears. No inore than a boy of tears. • His fame overspreads the world. Judicial.

will weep.

this rage,

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. ABOUT the middle of February, A.U.C. 709, a riotous festival sacred to Pan, and called Lupercalia, was hel! ia

honour of Cesar, when the regal crown was offered him by Antony. In the middle of the following March he was assassinated. November 27, 710, the Triumvirs, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius, met at a small island tormed by the river Rhenus, near Bovonia, and there agreed upon the cruel proscription introduced in Act IV..--Iu 711, Brutus and Cassius were totally defeated at Philippi..--Shakspeare appears to have produced this play about the year 1807 : one, upon the same subject, had been written by a young Scotch Nobleman, the Earl of Sterline; and in many passages of each, a strong similarity may be traced :---this was probably occasioned by both authors drawing their materials from the same source. A Latin play on this subject, by Dr. Eedes, of Oxford, who is enumerated amongst the best tragic authors of that æra, was published in 1582.---Dr. Johuson says of this tragedy :..."Many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and reconcilement of Brutus and Cassius are universally celebrated, but I have never been strongly agitated in perusing it, aud think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Sbakspeare's plays : bis adherence to tae real story, and to Ruman manners, seems to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius."

}

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
JULIUS CESAR.

ARTEMI DORUS, a Sophist of Cnidos.
OCTAVIUS CESAR, Triumvirs after the A SOOTHSAYER.
MARCUS ANTONIUS, Death of Julius CINNA, a Poet,- Another Poet.
M. ÆMI.. LEPIDUS,

Cesar.

LUCILIUS, TUTINIUS, MESSALA, Young CATO, CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA, Senators. and VOLUMNIUS, Friends to Brutus and MARCUS BRUTUS,

Cassius. CASSIUS,

VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, Lucius, CASCA,

DARDANIUS, Servants to Brutus. TREBONIUS,

Conspirators against PINDARUS, Servant to Cassius. LIGARIUS,

Julius Cesar. Decius BRUTUS,

CALPHURNIA, Wise to Cesar.
METELLUS CIMBER,

Portia, Wije to Brutus.
CINNA,
Flavius and MARULLUS, Tribunes.

Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, 4c. SCENE: the first three acts at Rome : afterwards at an Island near Mutina, at Sardis; and near

Philippi.

I all,

ACT I.

2 Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with

the awl : I meddle with no tradesinan's matters, SCENE 1.-Rome.- A Street.

nor woman's matters, but with awl. Enter FlaviuS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of are in great danger, I recover them.

indeed, Sir, a surgeon to old sboes ; when they

As proper CITIZENS.

men as ever trod upon neats-leather, bave gone Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get upon my handy-work. you home;

Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Is this a holiday? What! know you not,

Why dost thou lead these men about the streets ? Being mechanical, you ought not walk

2 Cit. Truly, Sir, to wear out their shoes, to Upon a labouring day, without the sign

get myself into more work. But, indeed, sh, of your profession ?--Speak, what trade art thou ? we make holiday to see Cesar, and to rejoice in i Cit. Why, Sir, a carpenter.

his triumph. Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule ? Mar. Wherefore rejoice ? What conquest brings What dost thou with thy best apparel on ?

he home? You, Sir; what trade are you?

What tributaries follow him to Rome, 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, in respect of a fine workman To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels ? I am but, as you would say, a cobler.

You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer noe

things ? directly.

O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, 2 Cit. A trade, Sir, that I hope I may use with knew you not Pompey? Mauy a time and oft a safe conscience; which is, indeed, Sir, a mender Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, of bad soals.

To towers and windows, yea, to chimney.tops, Mar. Wbat trade, thou knave! thou naughty Your infants in your arnis, and there have sat knave, wbat trade ?

The live-long day, with patient expectation, 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, Sir, be not out with To see great Poinpey pass the streets of Rome : me : yet, if you be oni, Sir, I can mend you. And wben you saw his cbariot but appear,

Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, Have you not made an universal shout, Thou saucy fellow ?

Tbat Tyber trembled underneatb her banks 2 Cit. Why, Sir, cobble you.

To hear the replication of your souuds, Flav. Thou art a cubler, art thou ?

Made iu ber concave shores?