Will then cry out of Marcius; oh, if he
Had borne the business-

Sic. Befides, if things go well,

Opinion, that fo fticks on Marcius, fhall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru. Come,

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius fhall be honours, though, indeed,
In ought he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the dispatch is made; and in what fafhion,
More than his fingularity, he goes

Upon this prefent action.

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE changes to Corioli.

[Exeunt.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli.
O, your opinion is, Aufidius,

Sen.

That they of Rome are entred in our counfels, And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this ftate,
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
Had circumvention ? 'tis not four days gone,
Since I heard thence-these are the words-I think,
I have the letter here; yes-here it is ;

64

They have preft a power, but it is not known

[Reading. "Whether for Eaft or Weft; the dearth is great, "The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd, "Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

"(Who is of Rome worfe hated than of you)
"And Titus Lartius, a moft valiant Roman,
"These three lead on this preparation
"Whither 'tis bent-moft likely, 'tis for
"Confider of it,

1 Sen. Our army's in the field:

you;

We never yet made doubt, but Rome was ready

Το

To answer us.

Auf. Nor did you think it folly

To keep your great pretences veil'd, 'till when
They needs muft fhew themfelves; which in the hatching,
It feem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We fhall be hortened in our aim, which was
To take in many towns, ere (almost) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your commiffion, hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they fet down before's, for the remove
Bring up your army: but, I think, you'll find,
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, doubt not that,

I fpeak from certainties. Nay more,
Some parcels of their power are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis fworn between us, we fhall ever ftrike
Till one can do no more.

Al. The gods affift you!

Auf. And keep your honours fafe!

1 Sen. Farewel,

2 Sen. Farewel.

All. Farewel.

[Exeunt

SCENE, changes to Caius Marcius's House in Rome.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on two lov ftools, and for.

Vol. I

Pray you, daughter, fing, or exprefs yourself in a more comfortable fort: if my fon were my hufband, I would freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhew moft love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only fon of womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way;

my

when

when for a day of King's intreaties, a mother fhould not fell him an hour from her beholding; I, confidering how honour would become fuch a perfon, that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall, if renown made it not ftir, was pleas'd to let him feek danger where he was like to find fame: to a cruel war I fent him, from whence he return'd, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I fprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first feeing he had proved himself a man.

Vir. But had he died in the bufinefs, Madam; how then ?

Vol. Then his good report fhould have been my fon; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profefs fincerely; had I a dozen fons each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously furfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to vifit you.
Vir. Befeech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not:

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum :
I fee him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair:
(As children from a bear) the Volfci fhunning him:
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus-and call thus-
Come on, ye cowards, ye were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome; his bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes
Like to a harveft man, that's task'd to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! oh, Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool; it more becomes a man,
Than gilt his trophy. The breaft of Hecuba,
When the did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian fwords contending; tell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome.
[Exit Gent.
Vir. Heav'ns blefs my Lord from fell Aufidius!

Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Ufher, and a Gentle-woman. Val. My Ladies both, good day to you.

Vol. Sweet Madam

Vir. I am glad to fee your Lady fhip

Val. How do you both? you are manifeft houfekeepers. What are you fowing here? a fine fpot, in good faith. How does your little fon?

Vir. I thank your Ladyfhip: well, good madam. Vol. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster.

and

Val. O' my word, the father's fon: I'll fwear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I look'd on him o' Wednesday half an hour together-h'as fuch a confirm'd countenance. I faw him run after a gilded but terfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again; after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; and caught it again; or whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he did fo fet his teeth, and did tear it, oh, I warrant, how he mammockt it!

Vol. One of's father's moods.

Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, madam.

Val. Come, lay afide your ftitchery; I must have you play the idle hufwife with me this afternoon. Vir. No, good madam, I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She fhall, she sḥall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars.

Val. Fie, you confine yourfelf most unreasonably: Come, you must go vifit the good Lady that lies in. Vir. I will with her fpeedy ftrength, and vifit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to fave labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope; yet they fay, all the yarn, the fpun in Ulyffes's abfence, did but fill

Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambrick were fenfible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you fhall 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.

Vir. Oh, good madam, there can be none yet.

Val. Verily, I do not jeft with you; there came news from him last night.

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a Senator fpeak it. Thus it is the Volfcians have an army forth, against whom Cominius the General is gone, with one part of our Roman power. Your Lord and Titus Lartius are fet down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on my honour; and fo, I pray, go with us.

Vir. Give me excufe, good madam, I will obey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, Lady; as fhe is now, fhe will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think, fhe would: fare you well, then. Come, good fweet Lady. Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy folemnefs out o' door, and go along with us. Vir. No: at a word, madam; indeed, I must not.

I wish you much mirth.

Val. Well, then farewel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Walls of Coriali.

Enter Marcius, Titus Lartius, with Captains and
Soldiers: To them a Messenger.

Mar.

Onder comes news: a wager they have met.
Lart. My horfe to yours, no.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our General met the enemy ?
Mef. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
VOL. VI.

R

Lart.