Men. For that, being one o' the lowest, basest,
poorest,
Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'st first to win some vantage.
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs :
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

The one side must have bale. Hail, noble
Marcius!

Mar. Thanks. What's the matter, you dis-
sentious rogues,
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 170
Make yourselves scabs?

First Cit.

We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,

That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you,

The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,

:

Where he should find you lions, finds you hares ;
Where foxes, geese you are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is

To make him worthy whose offence subdues

him,

And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness

180

Deserves your hate; and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye!
Trust ye?

That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another? What's their

seeking?

Men. For corn at their own rates: whereof, they say,

The city is well stor❜d.

They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs:

210

That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must eat;
That meat was made for mouths; that the gods

Mar.
Hang 'em! They say!
They 'll sit by the fire, and presume to know
What's done i' the Capitol; who's like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines; side factions,
and give out
Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's
grain enough!

201

sent not

Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer'd,

With every minute you do change a mind,
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile that was your garland. What's the
matter,

Mar.

190

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 he.

Com.
You have fought together.
Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears,
and he

Mess. Where's Caius Marcius?
Mar.
Here what is the matter?
Mess. The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
Mar. I am glad on 't; then we shall ha' means

to vent

Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.
Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other

Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS
VELUTUS.

First Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us;

The Volsces are in arms.

Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make
Only my wars with him: he is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.
First 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?

21

270

Com.

Noble Marcius! These three lead on this preparation
Pirst Sen. To the Citizens. Hence! To your Whither 'tis bent : most likely 'tis for you :
homes! be gone.

Consider of it.
Mar.
Nay, let them follow :

First Sen. Our army's in the field · The Volsces have much corn; take these rats We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready thither

To answer us. To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners,

Auf. Nor did you think it folly Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow. Exeunt Senators, COMINIUS, MARCIUS, Tirus, They needs must show themselves; which in

To keep your great pretences veil'd till when and MENENIUS. Citizens steal away. the hatching, Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius ? It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery Bru. He has no equal.

We shall be shorten'd in our aim, which was, Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the To take in many towns ere almost Rome people,

Should know we were afoot. Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes ?

Second Sen.

Noble Aufidius, Sic.

Nay, but his taunts. 260 Take your commission ; hie you to your bands ; Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird Let us alone to guard Corioli: the gods.

If they set down before's, for the remove Sic. Bemock the modest moon.

Bring up your army; but I think you 'll find Bru. The present wars devour him; he is They've not prepar’ú for us. grown

Auf

0! doubt not that ; 39 Too proud to be so valiant.

I speak from certainties. Nay, more ; Sic.

Such a nature, Some parcels of their power are forth already, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow And only hitherward." I leave your honours. Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder

If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, His insolence can brook to be commanded

'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Under Cominius.

Till one can do no more.
Bru.
Fame, at the which he aims,

All.

The gods assist you ! In whom already he's well grac'd, can not

Auf. And keep your honours safe! Better be held por more attain'd than by

Pirst Sen.

Farewell. A place below the first; for what miscarries

Second Sen.

Farewell. Shall be the general's fault, though he perform All. Farewell.

Ereunt. To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, 'O! if he

SCENE III.-Rome. A Room in MARCIUS'S Had borne the business.'

House. Sic.

Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA. They set them of his demerits rob Cominius.

down on tuo low stools and sew. Bru.

Come :

Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his

were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in faults

that absence wherein he won honour than in the To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed 280 embracements of his bed where he would show In aught he merit not.

most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied Sic. Let's hence and hear

and the only son of my womb, when youth with How the dispatch is made ; and in what fashion, comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for More than his singularity, he goes

a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not Upon his present action.

sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considerBru. Let 's along. Exeunt. ing how honour would become such a person,

that it was no better than picture-like to hang SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate-house. by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was

pleased to let him seek danger where he was Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and Senators. like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him ;

from whence he returned, his brows bound with First Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels,

in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than And know how we proceed. Auf.

Is it not yours?

now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam; Wbat ever have been thought on in this state,

how then ? That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome Had circumvention ? 'Tis not four days gone

Vol. Then his good report should have been Since I heard thence; these are the words : 1 my son ; I therein would have found issue. Hear

me profess sincerely : had I a dozen sons, each think

in my love alike, and none less dear than thine I have the letter here; yes, here it is.

and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven
They have press'd a power, but it is not known die nobly for their country than one volup-
Whether for east or wcst: the dearth is great ; 10 tuously surfeit out of action.
The people mutinous ; and it is rumour'd,

Enter a Gentlewoman.
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,
Who is of Rome uorse hated than of you,

Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,

21

visit you.

Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, | A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with
rushes;

They'll open of themselves.

Alarum afar off. Hark you, far off! work he makes 20

There is Aufidius: list, what
Amongst your cloven army.
Mar.

O! they are at it.

Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.

ho!

Look! sir.

First Sol.
Lart.
Ol 'tis Marcius:
Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
They fight, and all enter the city.

62

The Volsces enter and pass over the stage.

Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put yourshields 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 Volsce,
And he shall feel mine edge.

Alarum. The Romans are beaten back to their
trenches.

Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible
Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,
Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.

Thy exercise hath been too violent
For a second course of fight.
Mar.

Com.

As I guess, Marcius, Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates, Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius, Their very heart of hope. I do beseech you,

Mar.

By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
We have made to endure friends, that you

directly

Com.
Though I could wish
You were conducted to a gentle bath,
And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
Deny your asking: take your choice of those
That best can aid your action.

Mar.