told us; Enter a Messenger. SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate House. Mess. Where's Caius Marcius ? Enter TuLLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators. Mar. Here: what's the matter? Mess. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, Mar. I am glad on't, then we shall have means That they of Rome are enter'd in our councils, And know how we proceed. to vent Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders. Auf Is it not yours? What ever nath been thought on in this state, Ent. COMINIUS, Titus LARTIUS, and other Senators; That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS. Had circumvention ? 'Tis not four days gone, : Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately Since I heard thence; these are the words : I think I have the letter here; yes, here it is: [Reads. The Volces are in arms. They have press'd a power, but it is not known Mar. They have a leader, Whether for east, or west : The dearth is great ; Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. The people mutinous : and it is rumor'd, I sin in envying his nobility: Cominius, Marcius, your old enemy, And were l'any thing but what I am, (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,) I would wish ine only he. And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, Com. You have fought together. These three lead on this preparation Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you : and he Consider of it. Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make 1 Sen. Our army's in the field : Only my wars with him: he is a lion We never yet made doubt that Rome was ready That I am proud to hunt. To answer us. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Auf: Nor did you think it folly, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when Com. It is your former promise. They needs must show themselves; which in the Mar. Sir, it is; hatching, And I am constant.-- Titus Lartius, thou It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face: We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was, What, art thou stiff? stand'st out? To take ing many towns, ere, almost, Rome Tit. No, Caius Marcius; Should know we were afoot. I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Ere stay behind this business! Take your commission; hie you to your bands: Men. 0, true bred! Let us alone to guard Corioli: 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I If they set down before us, for the remove know, Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find They have not prepar'd for us. 0, doubt not that; Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; I speak from certainties. Nay, more. Right worthy your priority. Some parcels of their powers are forth already, Com. Noble Lartius! And only hitherward. I leave your honors. 1 Sen. Hence! to your homes, be gone. If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, [ To the Citizens. 'Tis sworn between us we shall never strike Mar. Nay, let them follow: / Till one can do no more. TheVolces have much corn; take these rats thither, All. The gods assist you! To gnaw their garners:3-Worshipful mutineers, Auf. And keep your honors sate ! Your valor puts well forth: pray, follow. 1 Sen. Farewell. [Exeunt Senators, Com., MAR., Tit., and 2 Sen. Farewell. [Ereunt. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal. SCENE III.-Rome. An Apartment in MarSic. When we were chosen tribunes for the cius' House. people, Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes? Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit down Sic. Nay, but his taunts. on two low stools, and sew. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird' the Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourgods. self in a more comfortable sort. If my son were Sic. Bemock the modest moon. my husband, I should freelier rejoice in thatabsence Bru. The present wars devour him : he is grown wherein he won honor, than in the embracements Too proud to be so valiant. of his bed, where he would show most love.Sic. Such a nature, When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow son of my womb; when youth with comeliness Which he treads on at noon : But I do wonder, plucked all gaze his way; when for a day of kings' His insolence can brook to be commanded entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour Under Cominius. from her beholding; 1,-considering how honor Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- | would become such a person; that it was no better In whom already he is well graced,-cannot than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by made it not stir,--was pleased to let him seek danA place below the first: for what miscarries ger where he was like to find tame. To a cruel war Shall be the general's fault, though he perform I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter,--I sprang Will then cry out of Marcius, 0, if he not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well, man. than now, in first seeing he had proved himself a Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Vir. But had he died in the business, madam, of his demerits' rob Cominius. how then ? Bru. Come : Vol. Then his good report should have been my Half all Cominius' honors are to Marcius, son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me Though Marcius earn'd them not: and all his profess sincerely: Had I a dozen sons,-each in faults my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my To Marcius shall be honors, though, indeed, good Marcius,-I had rather had eleven die nobly In aught he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear for their country, than one voluptuously surteit out of action. How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. 3 Granaries. • Sneer. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. · Dumerits and merits had anciently the same meaning. . To subdue. yet. ours. Vol. Indeed you shall not. Vir. No: at a word, madam ; indeed, I must Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; not. I wish you much mirth. See him pluck Autidius down by the hair; Val. Well, then, farewell. [Exeunt. As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him: Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus, SCENE IV.-Before Corioli. Come on, you cowards, you were got in fear, Enter, with Drum and Colors, MARCIUS, TITUS Though you were born in Rome : His bloody brow LARTIUS, Officers, and Soldiers. To them a With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes Messenger. Like to a harvest-man, that's task'd to mow Mar. Yonder comes news:-A wager, they have Or all, or lose his hire. met. Vir. His bloody brow! 0, Jupiter, no blood ! Lart. My horse to yours, no. Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man, Mar. 'Tis done. Than gilt7 his trophy: The breasts of Hecuba, Lart. Agreed. When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy? Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood Mess. They lie in view; but have not spoke as At Grecian swords' contending.-Tell Valeria, We are tit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent. Lart. So the good horse is mine. Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Autidius ! Mar. I'll buy him of you. Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, Lart. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you And tread upon his neck. him, I will, For half a hundred years.—Summon the town. Mar. How far otr lie these armies? Mess. Within this mile and a half. Val. My ladies both, good day to you. Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they Vol. Sweet madam,Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Now, Mars, I pr’ythee make us quick in work; Val. How do you both ? you are manifest house- That we with smoking swords may march from keepers. What are you sewing here A fine spot, to help our fielded friends!—Come, blow thy blast. in good faith.—How does your little son ? Vir. I thank your ladyship: well, good madam. They sound a Parley. Enter, on the Walls, some Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a Senators, and others. drum, than look upon his school-master. a very pretty boy. 'o'my troth, I looked upon him That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums Val. O'my word, the father's son : l'il swear, 'tis Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls ? 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has such [Alarums afar off. a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our gilded buttertly; and when he caught it, he let it go walls, again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again : or whether Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his rushes; teeth, and tear it; 0, I warrant, how he mammock. They'll open of themselves. Hark you, afar off; ed it! Other Alarums. Vol. One of his father's moods. There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child. Amongst your cloven army. Vir. A crack, madam. Mar. 0, they are at it! Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders, you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. ho! Vir. No, good madam: I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors! The Volces enter, and pass over the Stage. Vol. She shall, she shall. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars. With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, Val. Fye,you confine yourselfmost unreasonably; brave Titus: Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit | Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. my fellows; Vol. Why, I pray you? He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce, Vir. 'Tis not to save labor, nor that I want love. And he shall feel mine edge. Val. You would be another Penelope: yet, they | Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would, your The Romans are beaten back to their Trenches. cambric were sensible as your finger, that you Re-enter MARCIUS. might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you, go with us. You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I plagues will not forth. Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you Further than seen, and one iniect another excellent news of your husband. Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet. That bear the shapes of men, how have you run Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and hell! news from him last night. All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale Vir. Indeed, madam? Withilight and agu'd fear! Mend, and charge home, Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak Or, by the tires of heaven, l'll leave the foe, it. Thus it is :-The Volces have an army forth; And inake my wars on you: look to't: Come on, against whom Cominius the general is gone, with If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives, one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus As they us to our trenches followed. Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they | Another Alarum. The Volces and Romans re-enter, nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. and the Fight is renewed. The Volces retire into This is true, on mine honor: and so, I pray, go with us. Corioli, and MARCICS follows them to the Gates. Vir. Give me excuse, good madam ; I will obey So, now the gates are ope :-Now prove good seconds: you in every thing hereafter. Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will 'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, but disease our better mirth. Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. Val. In troth, I think, she would :-Fare you (He enters the Gates and is shut in. well, then.-Come, good sweet lady.- Pr’ythee, 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I. Virgilia, turn thy solemness outo'door, and go along 2 Sol. Nor I. with us. 3 Sol. See, they Have shut him in. [Alarum continues. * Gilding. & Tore. All To the pot, I warrant him. • Boy. |