Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/117

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, IV. v 

3. Serv. O slaves! I can tell you news; news,

you rascals.

Both. What, what, what? let's partake.

3. Serv. I would not be a Roman, of all nations;

I had as lief be a condemned man.

Both. Wherefore? wherefore?

3. Serv. Why, here's he that was wont to

thwack our general, Caius Martius.

1. Serv. Why do you say 'thwack our

general?'

3. Serv. I do not say, 'thwack our general';

but he was always good enough for him.

2. Serv. Come, we are fellows and friends: he

was ever too hard for him; I have heard him say

so himself.

1. Serv. He was too hard for him,—directly

to say the truth on 't: before Corioli he scotched

him and notched him like a carbonado.

2. Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he

might have boiled and eaten him too.

1. Serv. But, more of thy news.

3. Serv. Why, he is so made on here

within, as if he were son and heir to Mars; set

at upper end o' the table; no question asked

him by any of the senators, but they stand bald

before him. Our general himself makes a mistress

of him; sanctifies himself with 's hand, and turns

up the white o' th' eye to his discourse. But the

 184 let's partake: let us share it

189 thwack: beat

197 directly: candidly

198 scotched: slashed

199 notched: cut

carbonado: steak prepared for broiling

201 boiled; cf. n.

203 made on: made much of, pampered

208 sanctifies hand: fondles his hand as if it were a saint's relic

208, 209 turns eye: gazes upward in reverence

