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 valour puts well forth: pray, follow. [Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and MENEN. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,- 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. Such a nature, Sic. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall 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, Upon his present action. Bru. Let's along. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Corioli. The senate-house. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators. Is it not yours? Auf. (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,) 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: [Reads. We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: If they set down before us, for the remove Auf. O, doubt not that; Some parcels of their powers are forth already, 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 tenderbodied, 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 picturelike 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, aughter, 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. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; As children from a bear, the Volces shunning him: Though you were born in Rome: His bloody brow Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! [Exit Gent 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 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 school-master. Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very |