Although we cannot undertake to notice every siege of the cities of
Italy which assisted the regular but rapid rise of the Roman power,
we shall make it a point not to pass by such as have any interesting
association attached to them; and what English youth, with a
Shakespeare in his father’s library, is not familiar with Coriolanus in
Corioli?
The Volscians tormented the Romans by continual attacks. In order
to punish them, the siege of Corioli was resolved upon. It was one
of their strongest places. In a sortie, the besiegers repulsed the
Romans, and drove them back to their own camp. Furious at such a
defeat, Marcius, a young patrician, with a handful of brave companions,
returned to the charge, made the Volscians give way in their turn,
penetrated with them into the city, and gave it up to pillage. That
was the age when military talents were sure of their reward. After
the taking of the city, the consul Cominius, before the whole army,
ordered Caius Marcius to take a tenth of the booty, before any division
was made of the rest, besides presenting him with a fine horse and
noble trappings as a reward for his valour. The army expressed
their approval of this by their acclamations; but Marcius, stepping
forward, said, “That he accepted of the horse, and was happy in the
consul’s approbation; but as for the rest, he considered it rather as
a pecuniary reward than as a mark of honour, and therefore desired to
be excused receiving it, as he was quite satisfied with his proper
share of the booty. One favour only in particular I desire,” continued
he, “and I beg I may be indulged in it. I have a friend among the
Volscians, bound with me in the sacred rites of hospitality, who is
a man of virtue and honour. He is now among the prisoners, and from
easy and opulent circumstances is reduced to servitude. Of the many
misfortunes under which he labours, I should be glad to rescue him
from one, which is that of being sold for a slave.” His request, of
course, was granted, and his friend was liberated. Here we cannot
refrain from noting an error in one whom it is our pride to think
almost faultless. Whilst giving one of the most faithful delineations
of an historical character in Coriolanus that ever was exhibited on a
stage, Shakespeare makes him say, when asked for the name of the friend
he wished to serve,--
“By Jupiter, forgot.--
I am weary; yea, my memory is tired.--
Have we no wine here?”
Now, this is not Coriolanus, nor consistent with the hero, who did
not forget gratitude in the hour of triumph: he who remembered the
friend would not have forgotten his name so lightly. We have seen John
Kemble, as he pitched his shield to his armourer, produce great effect
by this little speech; but stage effect is a poor compensation for the
violation of truth of character.