SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate-House. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators. 1. SEN. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are enter'd in our counfels, And know how we proceed. 8 AUF. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on' in this ftate, That could be brought to bodily at ere Rome Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone, Since I heard thence; thefe are the words: I think, I have the letter bere; yes, here it is: [reads: They have prefs'd a power, but it is not known Whether for eaft, or weft: The dearth is great; The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd, Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, 7 -hath been thought on ] Old copy-have. by the fecond folio. STEEVENS. 8 'Tis not four days gone, ] i. e. four days past. Corre&ted STEEVENS. The They have prefs'd a power, ] Thus the modern editors. old copy reads-They have preft a power; which may fignify have a power ready; from pret, Fr. So, in The Merchant of Venice: "And I am preft unto it." See note on this passage, Ad 1. fc i. STREVENS. The fpelling of the old copy proves nothing, for participles were generally fo Spelt in Shakspeare's time: so diftreft, bleft, &c. I believe press'd in its ufual fenfe is right. It appears to have been ufed in Shakspeare's time in the feufe of imprefs'd. So, in Plutarch's life of Coriolanus, tranflated by Sir T. North, 1579:" the common people--would not appeare when the confuls called their names by a bill, to press them for the warres." Again, in King Henry VI. P. III: "From London by the king was I press'd forth." MALONE, (Who is of Rome worfe hated than of you,) 1. SEN. Our army's in the field: AUF. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when It feem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2. SEN. Noble Aufidius, Take your commiffion; hie you to your bands; Let us alone to guard Corioli: If they fet down before us, for the remove 2 Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find To take in mapy towns,] To take in is here as in many other places, to fubdue. So, in The Execration of Vulcan, by Ben Jonson : 66 The Globe, the glory of the Bank, "I faw with two poor chambers taken in, "And raz'd." MALONE. Again, more appofitely, in Antony and Cleopatra: for the remove Bring up your army ;] Says troops, we will garrifon Corioli. up your army to remove them. would read: the fenator to Aufidius, Go to your If the Romans befiege us, bring If any change should be made, I for their remove. JOHNSON. The remove and their remove are so near in found, that the tranfcriber's ear might eafily have deceived him. But it is always dangerous to let conje&ure loofe where there is no difficulty. MALONE. They have not prepar'd for us. AUF. O, doubt not that; 3 I speak from certainties. Nay, more, ALL. The gods affift you! AUF. And keep your honours safe! 1. SEN. 2. SEN. ALL. Farewell. Farewell. Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Rome. An Apartment in Marcius' houfe. Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA: They fit down on two low flools, and few. VOL. I pray you, daughter, fing; or exprefs yourfelf in a more comfortable fort: If my fon were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, then in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhow most love. When yet he was but tender- body'd, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comelinefs pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' en I Speak from certainties. Nay, more, ] Sir Thomas Hanmer completes this line by reading— 4 I Speak from very certainties, &c. STEEVENS. when youth with comelinefs pluck'd all gaze his way; ] i. c. attracted the attention of every one towards him. DOUCA treaties, a mother should not fell him an hour from her beholding; 1,-confidering how honour would become fuch a perfon; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not flir,was pleased to let him feek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I fent him; from whence he return'd, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter,-I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in firft feeing he had proved himself a inan. VIR. But had he died in the business, madam? how then? VOL. Then his good report should have been my fon; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profefs fincerely-Had I a dozen fons,-each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Marcius,-I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously furfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. GENT. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. VIR. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myfelf. 5 VOL. Indeed, you fhall not. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; brows bound with oak. ] The crown given by the Romans to him that faved the life of a citizen, which was accounted more honourable than any other. JOHNSON. 5 to retire myself. ] This verb active (fignifying to withdraw) has already occurred in The Tempeft: As children from a bear, the Volces fhunning him : Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,— Come on, you cowards; you were got in fear, 6 Though you were born in Rome: His bloody brow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes; Like to a harveft-man, that's tafk'd to mow Or all, or lofe his hire. VIR. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! VOL. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man, Than gilt his trophy: The breafts of Hecuba, When fhe did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it fpit forth blood At Grecian fwords' contending.-Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent. VIR. Heavens blefs my lord from fell Aufidius? VOL. He'll beat Anfidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. 8 Retire me to my Milan Again, in Timon of Athens: "I have retir'd me to a wafteful cock,-." STEEVENS. 6 With his mail'd hand then wiping,] i. e. his hand cover'd or arm'd with mail. DOUCE. 7 Than gilt his trophy: ] Gilt means a fuperficial display of gold, a word now obfolete. So, in King Henry V : "Our gayness and our gilt, are all besmirch'd." STEEVENS. accuracy of At Grecian fwords' contending.-Tell Valeria, ] The the first folio may be ascertained from the manner in which this line is printed: At Grecian Sword. Contenning, tell Valeria. STEEVENS. |