Shakespeare’s acquaintance with these Roman customs we find, where we should expect it to be, in the _Coriolanus_ and in the _Julius Cæsar_. Let us take the instances; first, from the _Coriolanus_, act i. sc. 9, l. 58, vol. vi. p. 304; act i. sc. 3, l. 7, p. 287; act ii. sc. 2, l. 84, p. 323; and act ii. sc. 1, l. 109, p. 312. Cominius thanks the gods that “our Rome hath such a soldier” as Caius Marcius, and declares (act i. sc. 9, l. 58),— “Therefore, be it known, As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius Wears this war’s garland: in token of the which, My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him, With all his trim belonging; and from this time. For what he did before Corioli, call him, With all the applause and clamour of the host, CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS. Bear The addition nobly ever!” With most motherly pride Volumnia rehearses the brave deed to Virgilia, her son’s wife (act i. sc. 3, l. 7),— “When, for a day of kings’ entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I, considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.” And the gaining of that early renown is most graphically drawn by Cominius, the consul (act ii. sc. 2, l. 84),— “At sixteen years, When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator, Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight, When with his Amazonian chin he drove The bristled lips before him: he bestrid An o'er press’d Roman, and i’ the consul’s view Slew three opposers: Tarquin’s self he met, And struck him on his knee: in that day’s feats, When he might act the woman in the scene, He proved best man i’ the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Man-enter’d thus, he waxed like a sea; And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since, He lurch’d all swords of the garland.” The successful general is expected in Rome, and this dialogue is held between Menenius, Virgilia, and Volumnia (act ii. sc. 1, l. 109, p. 312),— “_Men._ Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded. _Vir._ O, no, no, no. _Vol._ O, he is wounded; I thank the gods for’t. _Men._ So do I too, if it be not too much: brings a’ victory in his pocket? The wounds become him. _Vol._ On’s brows: Menenius, he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.”