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.

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?

Here: What's the matter?

Mar.
Mes. The news is, sir, the Voices 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, '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 be.

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, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Com. It is your former promise. Mar Sir, it is; 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.

Mar.

[To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, Το gnaw their garners:-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, Cominius, Marcius, 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 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 performa
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 his present action.

Bru.

Let's along.

[Exeunt

SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate-house. 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? 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: [Reads. 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 '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 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.

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 think, you'll find
They have not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, doubt not that 5 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, 'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike Till one can do no more.

The gods assist you!

All.

Auf. And keep your honours safe!

1 Sen.

2 Sen.

All. Farewell.

⚫ Farewell.

Farewell. [Exeunt.

SCENE III-Rome. An Apartment in Marcius's 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 hus band, 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,-consid ering 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.

Gen. 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, When 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 Gen.