Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath!
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,
Ere so prevail'd with me; it will in time

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

ΜΕΝ.

This is strange.

MAR. Go, get you home, you fragments.

Enter a Messenger, hastily.

MESS. Where's Caius Marcius?

Here: What 's the matter?

MAR.

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. Marcius, 't is 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 anything but what I am,

I would wish me only he.

Сом.

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.

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 t' 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.

Lead you on:

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

Сом.

Noble Marcius!

Nay, let them follow:

1 SEN. Hence! To your homes, be gone. [To the Citizens. MAR. The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners:-Worshipful mutineers

Your valour puts well forth: pray follow.

[Exeunt Senators, COM., MAR., TITUS, and MENENIUS. 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. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

SIC.

Nay, but his taunts.

BRU. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods.
SIC. Be-mock 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 grac'd, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, 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.

BRU.

Come:

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius shall be honours, 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 this present action.

BRU.

Let's along.

[Exeunt.

The Senate-House.

SCENE II-Corioli.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators.

1 SEN. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels,
And know how we proceed.

AUF.
Is it not yours?
Whatever have been thought on in this state,
That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention? "T is not four days gone
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think
I have the letter here; yes, here it is:

66

They have press'd a power, but it is not known Whether for east or west: The dearth is great; The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd, 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 't is bent: most likely, 't is 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 veil'd till when

[Reads

They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,

We shall be shorten'd 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, think, you'll find
They 've not prepar'd 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 honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
"T is sworn between us we shall ever strike
Till one can do no more.

ALL.

The gods assist you! AUF. And keep your honours 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 honour, 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 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.

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.

Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum;
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;

As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him:
Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,-
"Come on, you cowards! you 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 harvest-man, that 's task'd to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.

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,
Wher she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords' contending.-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 her Usher.

VAL. My ladies both, good day to you.

VOL. Sweet madam.

VIR. I am glad to see your ladyship.

VAL. How do you both? you are manifest housekeeper What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little son?