1 Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will flatter Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you, The other makes you proud. He that trusts you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese. You are no surer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,

To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness,
Deserves your hate; and your affections are

A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favors, swims with fins of lead,

And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye?
With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble that was now your hate;

Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter,
That in these several places of the city

You cry against the noble senate, who,

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

Would feed on one another?-What's their seeking? Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stored.

Mar.

Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know

What's done i' the capitol; who's like to rise,

Who thrives, and who declines; side factions, and give out Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,

And feebling such as stand not in their liking,

Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain enough?
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,

And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of these quartered slaves, as high

As I could pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion,

Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

Mar.
They are dissolved. Hang 'em!
They said, they were an hungry; sighed forth proverbs;
That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must eat;
That meat was made for mouths; that the gods sent not
Corn for the rich men only.-With these shreds
They vented their complainings; which being answered,

And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generosity,

And make bold power look pale,) they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon, Shouting their emulation.

Men.

What is granted them?

Mar. Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath!
The rabble should have first unroofed the city,
Ere so prevailed with me; it will in time

Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection's arguing.

Men.

This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Here. What's the matter?

Mess. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms.

Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent

Our musty superfluity.-See, our best elders.

Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Martius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us; The Volces are in arms.

Mar. They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.

I sin in envying his nobility;

And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me only he.

Com.

You have fought together.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt to make

Only my wars with him: he is a lion

That I am proud to hunt.

1 Sen.

Then, worthy Marcius,

Sir, it is;

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Com. It is your former promise.

Mar.

And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face:
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit.

No, Caius Marcius;

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other,
Ere stay behind this business.

Men.

O, true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to the capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit.

Lead you on:

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Com.

Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone.

[To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow:

Mar.
The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers,
Your valor puts well forth; pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, Coм., MAR., TIT., and
MENEN. Citizens steal away.

Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,
Bru. Marked you his lip and eyes?

Sic.

Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. Sic. Bemock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him; he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic.

Such a nature,

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder,
His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru.
Fame, at the which he aims,-
In whom already he is well graced, cannot
Better be held, nor more attained, than by
A place below the first; for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he
Had borne the business!

Sic.

Besides, if things go well,

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Half all Cominius' honors are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earned them not; and all his faults

To Marcius shall be honors, though, indeed,
In aught he merit not.

Sic.
Let's hence, and hear
How the despatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than in singularity he goes

Upon his present action.

Bru.

SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House. ·

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain Senators.

1 Sen. So your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome have entered in our counsels, And know how we proceed.

[Reads.

Auf.
Is it not yours?
What ever hath been thought on in this state,
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:
They have prest a power; but it is not known
Whether for east or west. The dearth is great;
The people mutinous: and it is rumored,
Cominius, Marcius, your old enemy,
(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,)
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,-
These three lead on this preparation

Whither 'tis bent. Most likely, 'tis for you;
Consider of it.

1 Sen.

Our army's in the field;
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.

Auf.

Nor did you think it folly,

To keep your great pretences veiled, till when

They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,

It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery,

We shall be shortened in our aim; which was,

To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli.

If they set down before us, for the remove
Bring up your army; but I'll think you'll find
They have not prepared for us.

Auf.

O, doubt not that;

I speak from certainties. Nay, more,
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honors.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike
Till one can do no more.

All. The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honors safe!

1 Sen.

2 Sen.

All. Farewell.

Farewell.

Farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Rome An Apartment in Marcius' House.

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA. They sit 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 honor, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I -considering how honor 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.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam? how then? 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 myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not.