Men. For that, being one o' the lowest, basest, Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs: The one side must have bale. Hail, noble Mar. Thanks. What's the matter, you dis- That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 170 First Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, 201 Would the nobility lay aside their ruth, Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per- For though abundantly they lack discretion, you, What says the other troop? Mar. Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders. First Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have The Volsces are in arms. Mar. And were I any thing but what I am, Com. and he And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou Men. Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. They are dissolved: hang 'em! | Right worthy you priority. First Sen. To the Citizens. Hence! To your homes! be gone. Mar. Nay, let them follow: The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners, Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes? Nay, but his taunts. 260 Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. Sic. Bemock the modest moon. It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery Second Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands; Let us alone to guard Corioli: If they set down before 's, for the remove Bring up your army; but I think you'll find Bru. The present wars devour him; he is They've not prepar'd for us. grown Too proud to be so valiant. Sic. Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Bru. Auf. Auf. And keep your honours safe! Fame, at the which he aims, Sic. Besides, if things go well, The gods assist you! Farewell. Farewell. Exeunt. SCENE III.-Rome. A Room in MARCIUS'S House. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA. They set them down on two low stools and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed 280 embracements of his bed where he would show In aught he merit not. most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for More than his singularity, he goes Upon his present action. Bru. a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considerLet's along. Exeunt. ing how honour would become such a person, SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate-house. I have the letter here; yes, here it is. They have press'd a power, but it is not known 10 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. Vir. But had he died in the business, madam; how then? 21 Vol. Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire did but fill Ithaca full of moths. myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not. 30 Vir. His bloody brow! O Jupiter! no blood. Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood At Grecian swords, contemning. Tell Valeria We are fit to bid her welcome. Exit Gentlewoman. Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. Re-enter Gentlewoman, with VALERIA and an Val. My ladies both, good day to you. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. 50 Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster. 60 Val. O' my word, the father's son; I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it; O! I warrant, how he mammocked it. Vol. One on's father's moods. Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child. Vir. A crack, madam. 71 Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors! Vol. She shall, she shall. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the Come; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed I will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. 100 Vir. O good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night. Vir. Indeed, madam? Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. 112 Lart. For half a hundred years. Summon the town. Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, 10 That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast. A parley sounded. Enter, on the walls, two Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? That's lesser than a little. Drums afar off Hark! our drums Are bringing forth our youth: we'll break our walls, Rather than they shall pound us up our gates, | A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, There is Aufidius: list, what Alarum afar off. Hark you, far off! work he makes 20 O they are at it. Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy. ho! First Sol. Look! sir. SCENE V.-Corioli. A Street. Enter certain Romans, with spoils. First Rom. This will I carry to Rome. 62 Third Rom. A murrain on 't! I took this for silver. Alarum continues still afar off. Enter MARCIUS and TITUS LARTIUS, with a trumpet. Mar. See here these movers that do prize At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, Andhark, what noise the general makes! To him! haste By interims and conveying gusts we have heard May give you thankful sacrifice. Enter a Messenger. Thy news? 10 Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued, And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle: I saw our party to their trenches driven, And then I came away. Com. Though thou speak'st truth, Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is 't since? Mess. Above an hour, my lord. Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour, Enter MARCIUS. 20 Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates; Com. Though I could wish If any think brave death outweighs bad life, 70 Flower of warriors, Divide in all with us. How is 't with Titus Lartius? Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, To let him slip at will. Where is that slave Com. Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? 40 Where is he? Call him hither. Com. Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field? Com. Marcius, we have at disadvantage fought, And did retire to win our purpose. 50 Mar. How lies their battle? know you on which side They have plac'd their men of trust? Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The Gates of Corioli. TITUS LARTIUS, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with drum and trumpet toward COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a Lieutenant, a party of Soldiers, and a Scout. Lart. So; let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch Lieu. |