New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-24
DIR. EDWIN FORREST AS CoR1oLANUs.

DIX, EDWIN FOhRESI 10 COhfOLANCS.
The story of the COnqueror OF Corioli 10 which the
Roman woman is pictured in attitude ofsuch heroic
tpendor has naturally fixed the gaze Of the hstori
and the poet The Cberonean sage was attracted by
its SPELL and so aluriDg was the theme to the genius
of Frsnce, that Coriolanuses succeeded each othsr
like the celebrated fruits in the magic garden,
Scarce one is gathered
Ere another grows"
Hardy, Chapoton, the Able Abelle, aud La
Bsrpe, sent each his Corolsnus to fit its litde hour
upon the stage and Voltae was eagerly oesOughi to
weave around it the entertainments OF bis fancy. But
the witty philosopher throwing in front, as his
won't the light hussar of sparkling mot, to cover
retreat, answered with prudent gaiety Ca ne ram
gutre la pane. II N y a qu'une scene. The
one scene was Of course Vounnias glorious bust
into ,he camp of the volscisns. The real truth,
however, was that Voltaire had a salutsry dead OF
yenturiDg into those fields which Shaksoeres
step had trod. The CLASSY ape" committed even
the fantastic trick Of absolutely writing TO the aca
DENY a letter denounciDg Shakspere, and when he
translated his Julius Casar. he mutilated win q
degrading literary meanness both thought aud text
to rescue his own production on the sane tbe ne
from the gnomiDy TO which contrast with TIE gsou-
inc creation would have doomed it. The torn Of
Imperial Rome with the arch of Severus Constln-
tine, the Coliseum and pillars of Trajan standing
around her. she sat robed in the gorgeous drapery
of the Caesars, invested with far less difficulty
10 the drsmatis than the citizen piainueas of ia
early republican state. This era, so barren OF orna-
mept, required in fact, the rich and al-comprehen.
sive genius of Shakspere to mantle its massive ma
kedness and furnish 10 the world true idea OF the
rude city of the rude age of Coriolanus. To him
wac it given to blend with singular beauty the sim
pier story of Livy, with the more colorei page of
Putarch, and he has presented the events 10 a
panorama of such harmony snd unity that al
initiative efforts must fail beside the vigorous
relief and inimtable grace of his picture.
SO concentrated was Shaksperes genius in bringing
out the strong coarse features of the Roman mob
that he assigns far less weak and tender spot to
son love for mother, and mparts to that mothers
inspiring motive far more of sedshness and ambition
and lees of patriotism and maternal softness than his
tory allows. But our poet as usual, had his own lit
tie quiet reason for throwing in these shades. No
doubt after having cartooned on glorious canvass,
the history and character and nature of his gn time
and men, he must have felt peculiar charm in pierre
ing with bold glance the mist of time, and leevng to
the world equally living delineation of Rome aud
Romans in the early centuries of her republic. Yet,
however be might have desired to retain in
its execution fidelity to truth, he could
not resist tho temptation Of pandering to
the favor of the Court and Aristocrscy, in making
the political features stand out in such bold and high
S-colored prominence as 10 uDjustly snbdue some of
,"O more soft and tender touches. Had the sons
-. ,"~ mother too much protruded, the fierce
- s -, reople might have been somewhat
,,,s,,oh;0'. ,havs ss unity of character OF the
uhhihchns' unoehoing arlstocrss bean broko, TIL,
tad NJ
already arifuly thrown into the shat 49,
prominent causes OF discontent of the peon,.
but he went still further, lad gave laughter stern.
mt TO the character Of the a;s,ocrat The riot wss
really political riot, princpal7 originating in tae
oppressive laws ss to 0ebt and TN grindio- monopo.
lies of the money .ecracy Of the day. A, the tine
The NAV was written 10 Fever, great t.con,en. nre
vailed in Englsud AT the desness Of bred which &C.
casicn,lly swelled iato serious tusulr d.,p,hinv
with lie tu,bulep, breath the refined .reniv Of the
aristocrscy and Court. In Germany the riots take
II cir sprirc 10 the soul when conviction ,v.ded in
France in the brsin, when the msg stion 's,a,med
In England always in the stomach, whom is nitude
is RELAXED. II was in this feeling that ShaksPers with
such fascinating satire, introduces Menenus asEiss
celebrate fable Of the belly and its members WI,
# an English mob sas as intellectual as the komAl
mob in Shsksperes picture, might be repeater win
far greater effect than the Riot Act.
To suit the fashion OF the hour, shaSsPeH de-
privei the riot of all political bearing and c'nvrted
it Into pure bread.,unut, sketching the oocest
and tIuest picture of an electioneerns mob witch
has ever dwelt on poetic canvas, and figuring, iiau
Its rude proportion, the recklessness with whic it
hesyes, with giant sway, from one extreme TO Ne
other, as the tempest bids. Masses of men e
much more preyed on by big or little villsnies th,
individual men. They hang upon the look az
word of one who speaks and II be but catches n