To gnaw their garners.

Your valour 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. 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. Bemock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown

Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic.

Tickled with good success,
Which he treads on at noon.

Such a nature, disdains the shadow 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, "0,
Had borne the business!"

Sic.

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius,

if he

Besides, if things go well,

shall

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 his singularity, he goes

Upon his present action.

Bru.

Let's along.

[Exeunt,

SCENE II.

Corioli. The Senate-House.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and 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?

What ever 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:
"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

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.

[Reads.

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
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf.

O! doubt not that;
I speak 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,
"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!

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 king's 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 manchild, 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 Volsces 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,
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian sword's contending.

We are fit to bid her welcome.

Tell Valeria,

Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,

And tread upon his neck.

[Exit. Gent.

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, 't is 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 't was, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O! I warrant, how he mammocked it!

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 will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars.

Vol. Fie! you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come; you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.

Val. You would be another Penelope; yet, they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. 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.

Vir. O! good Madam, there can be none yet.

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