Vol. On's brows: Menenius, he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.

Men. Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?

Vol. Titus Lartius writes, they fought together, 140 but Aufidius got off.

Men. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that an he had stayed by him, I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the senate pos

sessed of this?

Vol. Good ladies, let's go. Yes, yes, yes; the senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly.

Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.

Men. Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.

Vir. The gods grant them true!

Vol. True! pow, wow.

150

Men. True! I'll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded? [To the Tribunes] God save your good worships! Marcius is coming 160 home: he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded?

Vol. I' the shoulder and i' the left arm: there will be large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall stand for his place. He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i' the body.

Men. One i' the neck, and two i' the thigh, -there's nine that I know.

Vol. He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

Men. Now it's twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave. [A shout and flourish.]

Hark! the trumpets.

170

Vol. These are the ushers of Marcius: before him he carries noise, and behind him he leaves

tears:

Death, that dark spirit, in 's nervy arm doth lie; Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die.

A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS

the general, and TITUS LARTIUS; between them, CORIOLANUS, crowned with an oaken garland; with Captains and Soldiers, and a Herald.

Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did
fight

Within Corioli gates: where he hath won,
With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these
In honour follows Coriolanus.

Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

[Flourish. All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus ! Cor. No more of this; it does offend my heart: Pray now, no more.

Com.

Look, sir, your mother!

Cor.

O,

You have, I know, petition'd all the gods

For my prosperity!

[Kneels.

Nay, my good soldier, up;

Vol.

My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and

By deed-achieving honour newly named,-
What is it?-Coriolanus must I call thee?—
But, O, thy wife!

Cor.

My gracious silence, hail! Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd

home,

That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,

VOL. X

177. nervy, sinewy.

49

E

180

190

Such eyes
And mothers that lack sons.

the widows in Corioli wear,

Men.

Now, the gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet? [To Valeria] O my sweet lady, pardon.

Vol. I know not where to turn: O, welcome
home:

And welcome, general: and ye're welcome all.
Men. A hundred thousand welcomes.

weep

I could

And I could laugh, I am light and heavy. Welcome.
A curse begin at very root on 's heart,

That is not glad to see thee! You are three
That Rome should dote on:

men,

yet, by the faith of

We have some old crab-trees here at home that

will not

Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: We call a nettle but a nettle and

The faults of fools but folly.

Com.

Cor. Menenius ever, ever.

Ever right.

Herald. Give way there, and go on!

Cor. [To Volumnia and Virgilia] Your hand,

and yours:

Ere in our own house I do shade my head,

The good patricians must be visited;

From whom I have received not only greetings,
But with them change of honours.

Vol.

To see inherited my very wishes

And the buildings of my fancy: only

I have lived

There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but Our Rome will cast upon thee.

Cor.

Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way

200

210

Than sway with them in theirs.

Com.

[Flourish. Cornets.

On, to the Capitol ! 220

Exeunt in state, as

before. Brutus and Sicinius come forward.

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

Are spectacled to see him: your prattling nurse
Into a rapture lets her baby cry

While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins
Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck,

Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks,
windows,

Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges horsed
With variable complexions, all agreeing
In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens
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
Of Phoebus' 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.

230

Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours 240 From where he should begin and end, but will

Lose those he hath won.

223. rapture, fit.

224. malkin, wench.

225. lockram, coarse linen. ib. reechy, grimy.

229. seld-shown flamens; the

flamens were priests dedicated to the service of a particular deity, and seen only on rare ceremonial occasions.

233. nicely-gawded, daintily arrayed.

Bru. Sic.

In that there's comfort.

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 will give them make I as little question

As he is proud to do 't.

I heard him swear,

Bru.
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 of the gentry to him
And the desire of the nobles.

Sic.
I wish no better
Than have him hold that purpose and to put it
In execution.

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,

We must suggest the people in what hatred

He still hath held them; that to's power he would
Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders

and

Dispropertied their freedoms, holding them,

In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul nor fitness for the world

250

260

tarch, for suitors to wear a single garment only. Cf. note, ii. 2. 140. 250. napless, threadbare.