The Portland daily press., 1891-11-30
CORIOLAkuS.
lessons for the Present In Shakes
peare's Great Play.

In his Saturday afternoon lecture, Rev.
DIR. Dalton said, in brief:
Shakespeare wrote in the times of the
great Elizabeth, which corresponded to the
period of this play, the Romans having
entered on their career of conquest. sThe
chief parties represented In the play are
Caius Marcus, who became Coriolanus
after the capture of Corioli, Cominus. the
consul, Menerieus, a asenator, Titus I.artius.
a general, Fullus Aufdlus, general Of the
Volclans, Volumnia, the mother, and Vlr-
gilia, the wife of Coriolanus.-
The attack on Corioli is repulsed, but
Coriolanus rallies the retreating column,
very much as Sheridan did ours near Win
chester. The city surrenders and the
brave Roman is hailed as Coriolanus. Re-
turning to Rome the victors are received
with acclamations, aud Coriolanus Is elect
ed to the consulship.
The election is. however, soon annulled
by the insidious influence of two tribunes
OF the people, Siclnius and Brutus. This
enrages Coriolanus. who heaps abusive
epithets on the populace, by whom In re-
turn he Is sent into exile. Repairing to
Auhdius, his rival In arms. they together
plan an attack on Rome. Senators and
other high officials are sent out to appease
and avert the wrath Of Coriolanus, but In
vain. Then his aged mother and devoted
wife appear before him as suppliants and
are successful. Coriolanus consents to
withdraw his forces and returns to the
Volcian camp where he Is assassinated,
but the city is saved and the two women
recognized and rewarded as its saviors.
Surveying the scene we are impressed
by the many object lessons offered TO our
attention.
~ The lesson Of patriotism, which
should be burnt into every heart, so that
no one would ever consent to serve against
his country. whatever the provocation. In
the Greeks, and by 1t they were saved
from dissensions which destroyed the fair
est prospects Of Athens and her rivals. To
serve his country first and foremost, and
IL necessary die 70 save Ii, Is the duty CT
every citizen and should be instilled into
the heart Of every child; Only so have
nations become great and glorious.
(2l The influence OF women in Rome,
specially over sons and husbands. The
virtues OF the early Romans were implant-
ed by their mothers, and consequently
these mothers were universally revered by
their sons when grown TO manhood and be-
come famous.
(3) The strife between the patricians
aud plebeians, the classes and the masses.
Corresponding causes are active in foment-
Ing similar strifes today, not only In the
old world, but In the new, with one differ.
ence favorable to a peaceful solution here,
our respect for labor. Manual labor was
despised In Rome and the contempt felt for
the laborer Is graphically painted In this
play. The same prejudice has prevailed In
Europe, even in England, until recent
times. But in New England it is the idler
who 1 . regarded as having no proper place
among US. What Is called militarism Is the
root OF the difficulty. 1t has fourished In
modern Europe down to our day. Old
England now repudiates II, and New Eng
land must not adopt or encourage 1t.
The opposite principle OF industrialism
Is the true one for US, our only security.
Add to this real education and a sound
morality and our people will gradually re-
store the comparative equality Of former
years.