Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,-
In whom already he is well graced, cannoi
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
3 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 his present action.、

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE II-Corioli. The Senate-House.

[Exeunt.

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:

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

[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.

*Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning.
† Pre-occupation.
To subdue.

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 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 honours.
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 honours safe!

1 Sen. Farewell.

2 Sen. Farewell.

All. 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 pluck'd 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,-

Attracted all attention to him.

Withdraw.

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.

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 house-keepers. 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 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 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked† it!

Vol. One of his father's moods.

Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, Madam.

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.

Val. 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 * Piece (of work).

+ Tore.

Lively boy.

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.

Vir. Indeed, Madam?

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power; your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief* wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. Vir. Give me excuse, good Madam; I will obey you in everything hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth I think, she would:-Fare you well then.— Come, good sweet lady,-Pr'ythee Virgilia, turn thy solemnness out o'door, and go along with us.

Vir. No: at a word, Madam; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.

Val. Well, then farewell.

SCENE IV-Before Corioli.

[Exeunt.

Enter, with drums and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS,
Officers and Soldiers. To them a MESSENGER.

Mar. Yonder comes news:-A wager, they have met.
Lart. My horse to yours, no.

Mar. "Tis done.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy ?

Mess. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.

Lart. So, the good horse is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

Lart. No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him, I will,

For half a hundred years.-Summon the town.

Mar. How far off lie the armies ?

Mess. Within this mile and half.

Mar. Then shall we hear their larum, and they ours.

Now, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work:

That we with smoking swords may march from hence,

To help our fielded + friends!-Come, blow thy blast.

They sound a parley.-Enter, on the walls, some SENATORS, and others.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,

That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums [Alarums afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls,

Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates,

* Short.

+ In the field of battle.

Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes;

They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums.
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes

Amongst your cloven army.

Mar. O, they are at it!

Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders, ho!

The VOLCES enter and pass over the stage.

Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus:
They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,

Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, my fellows;
He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce,

And he shall feel mine edge.

Alarum, and exeunt ROMANS and VOLCES, fighting. The ROMANS
are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS.
Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you.

You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and plagues
Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd
Further than seen, and one infect another

Against the wind a mile! you souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and hell!
All hurt behind; backs red and faces pale

With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home,
Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe,
And make my wars on you: look to 't: Come on;
If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,

As they us to our trenches followed.

Another alarum. The VOLCES and ROMANS re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The VOLCES retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates.

So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good seconds:

"Tis for the followers fortune widens them,

Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.

1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I.

2 Sol. Nor I.

3 Sol. See, they

Have shut him in.

[He enters the gates, and is shut in.

[Alarum continues.

Enter TITUS LARTIUS.

All. To the pot, I warrant him.

Lart. What is become of Marcius?

All. Slain, Sir, doubtless.

1 Sol. Following the flyers at the very heels,
With them he enters: who, upon the sudden,
Clapp'd-to their gates; he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.

Lart. O noble fellow !