Below their cobbled shoes. They say, enough? there's grain Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,7 8 And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance." 7 their ruth,] i. e. their pity, compassion. Fairfax and Spenser often use the word. Hence the adjective-ruthless, which is still current. STEEVENS. 8 I'd make a quarry With thousands] Why a quarry? I suppose, not because he would pile them square, but because he would give them for carrion to the birds of prey. JOHNSON. So, in The Miracles of Moses, by Drayton: "And like a quarry cast them on the land." See Vol. X. p. 248, n. 4. STEEVens. The word quarry occurs in Macbeth, where Ross says to Macduff: 66 -to state the manner, "Were on the quarry of these murder'd deer "To add the death of you." In a note on this last passage, Steevens asserts, that quarry means game pursued or killed, and supports that opinion by a passage in Massinger's Guardian: and from thence I suppose the word was used to express a heap of slaughtered persons. In the concluding scene of Hamlet, where Fortinbras sees so many lying dead, he says: "This quarry cries, on havock!” and in the last scene of A Wife for a Month, Valerio, in describing his own fictitious battle with the Turks, says: "I saw the child of honour, for he was young, Bullokar, in his English Expositor, 8vo. 1616, says that "a quarry among hunters signifieth the reward given to hounds after they have hunted, or the venison which is taken by hunting.' This sufficiently explains the word of Coriolanus. MALONE. pick my lance.] And so the word [pitch] is still pro MEN. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, MAR. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs; That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods sent not Corn for the rich men only:-With these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generosity,' And make bold power look pale,) they threw their caps nounced in Staffordshire, where they say-picke me such a thing, that is, pitch or throw any thing that the demander wants. 66 TOLLET. Thus, in Froissart's Chronicle, cap. C.lxiii. fo. lxxxii. b: and as he stouped downe to take up his swerde, the Frenche squyer dyd pycke his swerde at hym, and by hap strake hym through bothe the thyes." STEEVENS. So, in An Account of auntient Customes and Games, &c. MSS. Harl. 2057, fol. 10, b: "To wrestle, play at strole-ball, [stool-ball] or to runne, "To picke the barre, or to shoot off a gun.' The word is again used in King Henry VIII. with only a slight variation in the spelling: "I'll peck you o'er the pales See Vol. XV. p. 210, n. 5. MALOne. else." 1 the heart of generosity,] To give the final blow to the nobles. Generosity is high birth. JOHNSON. So, in Measure for Measure: "The generous and gravest citizens—.” See Vol. VI. p. 381, n. 2. STEEVENS. As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon,2 Shouting their emulation.3 MEN. What is granted them? MAR. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus, Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes 2 MEN. This is strange. MAR. Go, get you home, you fragments! hang them on the horns o' the moon,] So, in Antony and Cleopatra: 3 "Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon.? وو STEEVENS. • Shouting their emulation.] Each of them striving to shout louder than the rest. MALONE. Emulation, in the present instance, I believe, signifies faction. Shouting their emulation, may mean, expressing the triumph of their faction by shouts. Emulation, in our author, is sometimes used in an unfavourable sense, and not to imply an honest contest for superior excellence. Thus, in King Henry VI. P. I: 66 the trust of England's honour Again, in Troilus and Cressida : "While emulation in the army crept." i. e. faction. STEEVENS. 4 unroof'd the city,] Old copy-unroost. Corrected by MALONE. Mr. Rowe. • For insurrection's arguing.] For insurgents to debate upon. MALONE. Enter a Messenger. MESS. Where's Caius Marcius? MAR. Here: What's the matter? MESS. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. MAR. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent Our musty superfluity:-See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VE LUTUS. 1 SEN. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us; The Volces are in arms." MAR. And were I any thing but what I am, Сом. You have fought together. MAR. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt. 6 'tis true, that you have lately told us ; The Volces are in arms.] Coriolanus had been just told himself that the Volces were in arms. The meaning is, The intelligence which you gave us some little time ago of the designs of the Volces is now verified; they are in arms. JOHNSON. 1 SEN. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. COM. It is your former promise. MAR. Sir, it is; And I am constant."-Titus Lartius, thou TIT. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, Ere stay behind this business. MEN. O, true bred! 1 SEN. Your company to the Capitol; where, I Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Сом. Lead you on: Noble Lartius!" gones 1 SEN. Hence! To your homes, be MAR. [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, garners:-Worshipful mutineers, To gnaw 7 their constant.] i. e. immoveable in my resolution. So, in Julius Cæsar : "But I am constant as the northern star." STEEVENS. Right worthy you priority.] You being right worthy of precedence. MALONE. 8 Mr. M. Mason would read-your priority. STEevens. Noble Lartius!] Old copy-Martius. Corrected by Mr. Theobald. I am not sure that the emendation is necessary. Perhaps Lartius in the latter part of the preceding speech ad dresses Marcius. MALONE. |