prticulation was perfection itself; not a syllable nor a sounu were lost; his whisper was more distinctly heard from the remotest parts of the theatre, than the loudest roar of some 66 most sweet voices" of the present day! Instead of the dull, unvaried monotony of some tragedians, and the violent and` unnatural transitions from high to low in others, his voice was capable of the finest intonations; occasionally weak, after strong exertion, from organic defect; but managed with that exquisite art which rendered it available to every passion. Those who remember his last scene with Tullus Aufidius (and who that has beheld it, can ever forget it?) fully confirms all that we have said upon the subject. His exclama. tion of "boy!" in compass alone, o'ertopped every other actor. It is, therefore, no surprise to us that he should have selected this illustrious Roman for his parting effort, when his powers were in their full meridian. If his genius rose with prophetic brightness in the philosophic Hamlet, it set with a splendour not surpassed in any time, and unequalled in his own, in the lofty Coriolanus. The revival of the Roman tragedy under the auspices of Mr. Kemble presented a picture of classic magnificence unknown at any former period of the drama. Anxious to make his theatre the palace of Shakspeare, he spared neither cost nor research in rendering the scene worthy of the poet; and so strong became the illusion, from the combined efforts of art, that the glories of ancient Rome-her heroes and her patriots, the Forum and the Capitol, were invested with a reality that carried us back to the heroic ages, "Ere Roman virtue dwindled to a name !" When, therefore, to the most exact minutiae of costume and scenic effect were added histrionic powers of the very highest cast, we shall not be surprised to learn, that the stage became a school of eloquence. That to the scholar it was associated with the choicest recollections of antiquity-that to the bar and the senate it proved a model of commanding elocution and classic grace that to the painter and the sculptor it presented objects of matchless dignity and expression-that to those who desired to be instructed it offered the noblest lessons for intellectual improvement-and those whose only ambition was to be amused, had their desire gratified, without any sacrifice either of sense or of virtue. D-G. CAIUS MARCIUS.-First dress.-Scarlet robe, white tunic, flesh legs, black sandals.-Second dress.-Rich embroidered cuirass and lambrakins, scarlet mantle, red sandals, Roman sword and shield.--Third dress. -A white robe.-Fourth dress.-The Toga.- Fifth dress.-A dark purple mantle, with the cuirass and lam'brakins. MENENIUS.-Roman cuirass and lambrakins, red sandals and helmet. SICINIUS.-Roman cuirass and lambrakins. AUFIDIUS.-Roman cuirass and lambrakins, richly embroidered, scarlet mantle, red sandals, and helmet. VOLUSIUS.-Roman cuirass and lambrakins, hel met. VOLUMNIA.-A drab coloured cloth dress, to come up to the throat, with train and long sleeves, trimmed with plain gold lace, a long veil, and gold band. VIRGILIA.-White, ibid. VALERIA.-Violet-coloured, ibid. and white veil. Cast of the Characters at the Theatre-Royal, Creats- Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Mr. Macready. Cominius 1 Huddad- Volumnia Phillips Virgilia Valeria ........ Mr. Pope. CORIOLANUS. AC I. SCENE I.-A Street in Rome. A tumultuous noise without.—Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with Clubs, Staves, &c. R. 1st Cit. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. All. Speak, speak. 1st Cit. You are all resolved rather to die, than to famish! All. Resolv'd, resolv'd. 1st Cit. First, you know, Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. All. We know't, we know't. 1st Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict? All. Let it be done;-away, away! 2d Cit. One word, good citizens. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? 1st Cit. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2d Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country? 1st Cit. Very well;-and we could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud. 2d Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1st Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2d Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you must in no way say, he is covetous. 1st Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tie in repe tition. (Shouts without, L.) What shouts are these? the other side o'the city is risen! Why stay we prating here? To the Capitol! All. Come, come. [Citizens retire back.—Shouts, L. Enter CAIUS MARCIUS L. and MENENIUS, k. Mar. (L. c.) What is the matter, you dissentious rogues? 1st Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to you, will flat ter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, That like not peace, nor war? The one affrights you, The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese. Hang ye!-trust ye! With every minute do you change a mind, And call him noble, that was now your hate, Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter, That in these several places of the city You cry against the noble senate, who, Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another?-What's their seeking? [To MENENIUS. Men. (R. c.) For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stor❜d. Mar. Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i'the Capitol; Making parties strong, And feebling such as stand not in their liking, Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain enough! Would the nobility lay aside their ruth, And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance. [Citizens retire further, R. Men. But I beseech you, what says the other troop? Mar. They are dissolved: They said, they were an-hungry; sighed forth proverbs; That, "Hunger broke stone walls "-that, "Dogs must eat," That, "Meat was made for mouths,"-that, "The gods sent not Corn for the rich men only."-With these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answered, And a petition granted them, a strange one,- And make bold power look pale,-they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon, Men. What is granted them? Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not -'Sdeath! The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes Men. This is strange. Enter FULVIUS, R. Ful. (R.) Where's Caius Marcius? [Crosses to FULVIUS. Ful. The news is, sir, the Volscians are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't,-then we shall have means to vent Our musty superfluity. Enter COMINIUS, Lictors, SICINIUS and BRUTUS, R. [FULVIUS passes behind to L.-Lictors cross, and range behind FULVIUS.-SICINIUS and BRUTUS go to the Citizens.] Com. (c.) Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us, The Volscians are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. I sin in envying his nobility: And, were I any thing but what I am, I'd wish me only he. Com. You have fought together? Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make |