Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/160

148 turn' should also be assigned to him and Volumnia's speech begin 'O! welcome home,' which commences a new line in the Folio.

A curse begin at very root on 's heart. May a curse strike home at once to the most vital part! The common emendation, 'begnaw' for 'begin,' is unnecessary.

Enter Brutus and Sicinius. That is, they now come forward.

He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin and end. He cannot, as a self-restrained man could, derive honor from both the beginning and the completion of his performances. He cannot go an equable pace and conclude with the same honors with which he begins.

This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence Shall teach the people. If we time our incitement to some occasion when his insolence shall confirm it in the people's mind. Instead of 'teach' Hanmer suggested 'touch' and Theobald 'reach.' The former is a very plausible correction, but not inevitable.

he fought Beyond the mark of others. In fighting he surpassed all that others could do. Compare note on II. i. 168.

He lurch'd all swords of the garland. Evidence for the date of Coriolanus has been found in the fact that Ben Jonson appears to have imitated this passage in the last speech of his Silent Woman (1609 or 1610), where Truewit says: 'Well, Dauphine, you have lurch'd your friends of the better half of the garland.'

Enter two of the Citizens. The Folio indicates the number as 'three' and assigns the speeches at lines 68, 73, 76, and 87 to '''3. Cit.';'' but Coriolanus alludes to them as 'a brace' (l. 66) and 'two worthy voices' (l. 85).