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inferior mind , whose possessor is rich in artificial power and means . * Worthy Marcius ,
Had we no quarrel else to Rome , but that Thou art thence banished , we would muster all From twelve to seventy ; and , pouring war Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome , Like a bold flood o ' er beat . '
It is not that he likes or loves Coriolanus , but that he is dazzled , absolutely thunderstruck , and he would as soon have thought of denying the gods their will as of omitting aught that could show his reverence for his guest , or rather his unqualified submission to him . The revenge of the banished Roman is now about to be gratified , and he exclaims ,
• You bless me , gods !' But he did not understand himself ; he thought that he could exult in crushing Rome , but his heart would never have suffered him to do it . It was his wounded pride which was suffering , and though he sought the power of crushing Rome , in order to heal his pride , he never could have resolved to put that power in practice .
Another scene occurs , wherein the tribunes are congratulating themselves on their success , but news arrives that the Volscians are a gain in arms , led by Coriolanus . By way of proving the news untrue they resort to the admirable expedient of whipping
the messenger , just as a child treats the piece of furniture he knocks his head against , or the ground when he falls on it . But the expedient is unavailing , and the Roman craftsmen begin to distrust the tribunes in whom they erst confided . ' Great toe , ' the fuller , expresses well the circumstance-ridden judgment which
ignorance ever pronounces : — - ' When I said , banish him , I said t ' was pity . Come , masters , let ' s home . I ever said , we were i' the wrong , when we banished him / * So did we all , * exclaims one of his companions . Had they talked but a"L ? ff ^ wh ile lon ge r t hey would fairly have persuaded themselves that Coriolanus had not been hooted out of the city , had not been banished at all .
The last introduces the tribunes meanly suing to the patricians to go forth and procure pardon from Coriolanus , and our conte mpt for them can go no further . Had there been aught to respect in them they would at least have stirred the citizens up to
the defence of their walls , and have died bravely in the ditch or on the ramparts . But they were as cowardly as they were oppressive , as irresolute as they were unjust . Menenius undertakes the embassy , but it is fruitless ; the burning heart of Coriolanus
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Coriolanus no Aristocrat . 297
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No . 88 . Y
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1834, page 297, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2632/page/69/
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