And the buildings of my fancy: only there
Is one thing wanting, which I doubt not, but
Our Rome will cast upon thee.

Know, good mother,

Cor.
I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway with them in theirs.

Com.

On, to the Capitol. [Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before.

The Tribunes remain.

Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared
sights

Are spectacled to see him: Your pratling nurse
Into a rapture lets her baby cry,

While she chats him: the kitchen malkin' pins
Her richest lockram' 'bout her reechy neck,2
Clambering the walls to eye him: Stalls, bulks,
windows,

Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
With variable complexions; all agreeing
In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens3
Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station:* our veil'd dames
Commit the war of white and damask, in
Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to the wanton spoil

* Into a rapture-] Rapture, a common term at that time used for a fit, simply. So, to be rap'd, signified, to be in a fit.

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the kitchen malkin- Malkin is properly the diminutive of Mal (Mary); as Wilkin, Tomkin, &c. In Scotland, pronounced Maukin, it signifies a hure. Grey malkin (corruptly grimalkin) is a cat. The kitchen malkin is just the same as the kitchen Madge or Bess: the scullion. RITSON.

1 Her richest lockram, &c.] Lockram was some kind of cheap linen.

2

her reechy neck,] Reechy is greasy, sweaty.

seld-shown flamens-] i. e. priests who seldom exhibit themselves to publick view. Seld is often used by ancient writers for seldom.

4

-a vulgar station:] i. e. a common standing-place, sucly as is distinguished by no particular convenience.

Of Phœbus' burning kisses: such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god, who leads him,
Were slily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful posture.

Sic.

I warrant him consul.

Bru.

On the sudden,

Then our office may,

During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Lose those that he hath won.

Bru.

In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we

stand,

But they, upon their ancient malice, will

Forget, with the least cause, these his new honours; Which that he'll give them, make as little question As he is proud to do't.

Bru.

I heard him swear,

Were he to stand for consul, never would he
Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put
The napless vesture of humility;

Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds.
To the people, beg their stinking breaths.

Sic.

'Tis right.

Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to him,

From where he should begin, and end;] Our author means, though he has expressed himself most licentiously, he cannot carry his honours temperately from where he should begin to where he should end. The word transport includes the ending as well as the beginning. He cannot begin to carry his honours, and conclude his journey, from the spot where he should begin, and to the spot where he should end.

• As he is proud to do't.] Proud to do, is the same as, proud of doing. As means here, as that.

7 The napless vesture-] By napless Shakspeare means threadbare.

And the desire of the nobles.

Sic.

I wish no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it

In execution.

Bru:

'Tis most like, he will..

Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills; A sure destruction.

Bru.

So it must fall out

To him, or our authorities. For an end,

8

We must suggest the people," in what hatred
He still hath held them; that, to his power, he
would ob

Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders, and
Dispropertied their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world,

Than camels in their war; who have their provand2 Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

For sinking under them.

Sic.

This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence

Shall teach the people, (which time shall not want, If he be put upon't; and that's as easy,

As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire

To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze.
Shall darken him for ever.

1

Bru..

Enter a Messenger.

What's the matter?

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It shall be to him then, as our good wills;] The word-wills is here a verb; and as our good wills" means, requires.

9

1

of it.

2

suggest the people,] i. e. prompt them.

as our advantage"

to his power,] i. e. as far as his power goes, to the utmost

their provand] So the old copy, and rightly, though all the modern editors read provender.

Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thought,

That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen

The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind
To hear him speak: The matrons flung their gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended,

As to Jove's statue; and the commons made
A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts
I never saw the like.

Bru.

Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, But hearts for the event.

Sic.

Have with you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same. The Capitol.

Enter Two Officers, to lay Cushions.

1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here: How many stand for consulships?

2 Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus will carry it.

1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people.

2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the people, who ne'er loved

3 Matrons flung gloves

Ladies their scarfs-] Here our author has attributed some of the customs of his own age to a people who were wholly unacquainted with them. Few men of fashion in his, time appeared at a tournament without a lady's favour upon his arm: and sometimes when a nobleman had tilted with uncommon grace and agility, some of the fair spectators used to fling a scarf or glove upon him as he pass'd,"

66

them; and there be many that, they have loved they know not wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, let's them plainly see't.

1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

1 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those," who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted,' without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

1 Off. No more of him; he is a worthy man: Make way, they are coming,

he waved-] That is, he would have waved indifferently. their opposite.] That is, their adversary.

6

as those,] That is, as the ascent of those.

7

supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, &c.] BonRetter, Fr. is to pull off one's cap. So, in the academick style, to cap a fellow, is to take off the cap to him.

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