Whate'er her blots, whate'er her giddy factions,
There is more virtue in one single year

Of Roman story, than your Volscian annals

Can boast through all your creeping dark duration !
Tul. I thank thy rage: this full displays the traitor.
Cor. Ha! traitor?

Tul.

First to thy own country traitor!

And traitor now to mine!

Cor.

Ye heavenly Powers!

I shall break loose: my rage-But let us part,
Lest my rash hand should do a hasty deed
My cooler thought forbids.

Tul.

Begone! Return,
To head the Roman troops! I grant thee quittance
Full and complete of all those obligations,
Thou hast so oft insultingly complain'd,

Fetter'd thy hands. They now are free. I court
The worst thy sword can do; whilst thou from me
Hast nothing to expect but sure destruction.
Quit, then, this hostile camp. Once more I tell thee,
Thou art not here one single hour in safety.

Cor. Think'st thou to fright me hence?
Thou wilt not, then,
Tul.
Thou wilt not take the safety which I offer?

Cor. Till I have clear'd my honour in your council,
And proved before them all, to thy confusion,
The falsehood of thy charge; as soon in battle
I would before thee fly, and howl for mercy,
As quit the station they have here assign'd me.
Tul. Volusius! Hoa!

SCENE III.

CORIOLANUS, TULLUS; to them VOLUSIUs and Conspirators, with their swords drawn.

Volus.

Seize and secure the traitor! upon his sword.) Who dares

Die thou.

(As Coriolanus draws his sword, Volusius and the conspirators rush upon and stab him; Tullus standing by without having drawn his sword.)

Hear all you injured Powers

viach am the ground

Bec & ir gane ris, I swear,

26 rai ir tvar eternal laws, 28 JOK Ang in the Vascan honour, Stad mu in me à mourous svenger!

De sare arn, millised by their crime. Vile de via these anpenish'd ruffians! P. This leed is mine I claim it all! These men, These vacant men, were bas my instruments, punish him who w our ice betray'd us We shall not fear to answer to the Volsci, In a full council of the states at Antium, The glorious charge of having stabb'd their traitor! Gal. Tirus, ui then secure them.

(Trilus aut consperators are led off; Galesus, standing over the body of Coriolanus, after a short pause proceeds)

Volscian fathers,

And ye, brave soldiers, see an awful scene,
Demanding serious, solemn meditation !
This man was once the glory of his age,
Disinterested, just, with every virtue
Of elvi! !! adorn'd, in arms unequall'd.

y blot was this,-that, much provoked, ed his vengeful arm against his Country.

! the righteous Gods have now chastised him, - the hands of those for whom he fought.

atever private views and passions plead, use can justify so black a deed.

when the angry tempest clouds the soul, arken Reason, and her course control; hen the prospect clears, her startled eye rom the treacherous gulf with horror fly, ose wild wave, by stormy passions toss'd, y hapless wretches have been lost.

e this truth the star by which we steer.OURSELVES OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE DEAR.

ALFRED:

A MASQUE.

REPRESENTED BEFORE THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES, AT CLIFFDEN, ON THE FIRST OF AUGUST, 1740.

BY MR. THOMSON AND MR. MALLET.

Si velimus cum priorum temporum necessitate certare, vincemur. Ingeniosior est enim ad excogitandum simulatio veritate, servitus libertate, metus amore.-PLINII Panegyricus ad Trajanum.

THE ARGUMENT.

AFTER the Danes had made themselves masters of Chippenham, the strongest city in the kingdom of Wessex, Alfred was at once abandoned by all his subjects. In this universal defection, that monarch found himself obliged to retire into the little Isle of Athelney in Somersetshire; a place then rough with woods, and of difficult access. There, in the habit of a peasant, he lived unknown for some time in a shepherd's cottage. He is supposed to be found in this retreat by the earl of Devon; whose castle, upon the river Tau, was then besieged by the Danes.