[herrington] a plea FOR CORIOLANUS 99 



Is it any wonder then that he flew into a towering rage when, a 

 few minutes later, he ran into this mob demanding that the senate 

 give to them at their own rate the corn that had been providently- 

 stored up to meet the demands of a possible famine ? It is here that 

 the reader is likely to fall into his first error and contrast the coolness 

 of Menenius with the uncontrollable heat of Coriolanus, much to 

 the prejudice of the latter. 



We have had many opportunities during the past few years of 

 witnessing the attitude of the soldier towards his fellow citizen, who 

 had not shewn the same eagerness to get into uniform as he had. 

 We can picture what might occur, if a veteran of our war came in 

 contact with a crowd of such unpatriotic citizens, who with threats 

 of violence were demanding from one of our governing bodies that 

 they be accorded more power and that the government stores be 

 thrown open to them. It would not surprise us to learn that "dis- 

 sentient rogues," "curs," and "fragments" would be considered mild 

 epithets, when compared with what we might expect to hear upon our 

 own streets under such circumstances. 



It was under just such but more aggravating circumstances that 

 Coriolanus found himself when confronted with this unruly mob in 

 the streets of Rome. He felt that they were not entitled to any 

 consideration as they had proven themselves unworthy of it. 

 ' 'They know the corn 

 "Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd 

 "They ne'er did service for't. Being pressed to the war, 

 "Even when the navel of the state was touch 'd, 

 "They would not thread the gates." 



When we, therefore, are disposed to severely criticise the 

 impatience and impetuosity of Coriolanus, let us bear in mind that 

 our own Canadian boys, during the past few months, have many 

 times displayed the same outburst of passion and used language 

 just as intemperate and we have generously overlooked their offences. 

 There is no reason why we should not accord to Coriolanus the same 

 fair treatment, for in his case the provocation was just as great. 



If he had displayed a little more tact and prudence when soliciting 

 the votes of the people in the market place, he might have escaped all 

 the unpleasantness that followed. The people were not difficult to 

 deal with and he might easily have overcome the evil influence of 

 the tribunes, if he had been more upon his guard and not left himself 

 open to charges they brought against him. It is very easy to sit down 

 in an armchair and point out the mistakes made by some one else 

 under circumstances that precluded the possibility of the exercise 

 either of his free will or cool deliberation. 



