Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissen- That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 1 Cit. We have ever your good word, Mar. He that will give good words to thee, Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is, The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mes. Where's Caius Marcius? Mes. The news, is, Sir, the Volsces are in arms. Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately The Volsces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. I sin in envying his nobility: To make him worthy whose offence subdues him, Ard were I any thing but what I am, greatness, Who deserves Deserves your hate: and your affections are Trust ye? With every minute you do change a mind ; matter, That in these several places of the city Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, The city is well stor'd. Mar. Hang 'em! They say १ They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know and give out Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,+ Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per- For though abundantly they lack discretion, Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! Corn for the rich men only :-With these shreds answer'd, And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generosity, And make bold power look pale) they threw their I would wish me only he. Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Tit. No, Caius Marcius; [other, I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the Men. Oh! 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; Com. Noble Lartius! 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. To guaw their garners: Worshipful mutineers, [Exeunt SENATORS, COM. MAR. TIT. and Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes ? 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 Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- For insurgents to debate upon. t Shows itself * Gibe. Will then cry out of Marcius, Oh! 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, Sic. Let's hence, and hear 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.t I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, now in first seeing he had proved himself a Bru. Let's along. man. Vir. But had he died in the business, madam, [Exeunt. how then? Whether for east or west: The dearth is great; 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 shew 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: If they set down before us, for the remove Auf. Oh! doubt not that: I speak from certainties. Nay, 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 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, 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 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. 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: Oh! I warrant how he mammocked Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit it! Demerits and merits had anciently the same mean- Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stichery; I must have you play the idle buswife with me this afternoon. Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. • Attracted universal attention. The most hon ourable crown of all-given to him who saved the life of a citizen. 1 Tore it. Boy. 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 tinger, 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 Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartins, 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 every thing 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.-Pi'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness 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. 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. 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, [blast To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy 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 ng up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves. There is Aufidius; list, what Amongst your cloven army, Mar. Oh! they are at it! Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums. work he makes Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders ho! The VOLSCES enter and pass over the Stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. [light Now put your shields before your hearts, and With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus : They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.--Come ou, my fellows; He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce. Alarum, and exeunt ROMANS and VOLSCES, fighting. The ROMANS are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS. Lart. O noble fellow ! Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword, A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, Re-enter MARCIUS bleeding, assaulted by 1 Sol. Look, Sir. the enemy. Lart. 'Tis Marcius: Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the city, When it is bent. 6 CORIOLANUS. SCENE V-Within the town.-A Street. Enter certain ROMANS, with spoils. 1 Rom. This I will carry to Rome. 2 Rom. And I this. 3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off. Enter MARCIUS, and TITUS LARTIUS, with a trumpet. Mar. See here these movers, that do prize At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, And bark, what noise the general makes! To There is the inan of my soul's hate, Aufidius, Lart. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight. Mar. Sir, praise me not: [haste [well. My work hath yet not warn'd me: Fare you Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus I will appear, and fight. Lurt. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fail deep in lo e with thee: and her great Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, Mur. Thy friend no less Than those she placeth highest! So farewell. [Exit MARCIUS. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.--Near the Camp of COMINIUS. Enter COMINIUS and forces, retreating. Com. Breathe you, my friends; well fought, we are come off Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Enter a MESSENGER. May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news? Com. Though thou speak'st truth, Act 1. He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have Mar. Come I too late? Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue Mar. Come I too late? Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of [others, But mantled in your own. Mar. Oh! let me clip you In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart Com. Flower of warriors, Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Com. Where is that slave, He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, budge From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think Where is the enemy? Are you lords o'the field We have at disadvantage fought, and did Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on They have plac'd their men of trust? Com. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates,t Mar. I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, rectly Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates: Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, Mar. Those are they That most are willing :-If any such be here, If any think brave death outweighs bad life, Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't Wave thus [waving his hand] to express his since? Mess. Above an hour, my lord. Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour, Mess. Spies of the Volsces Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel disposition, And follow Marcius, [They all shout and wave their swords; take O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: keep your As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch Lieu. Fear not our care, Sir. us. When she does praise me, grieves me. done, I have As you have done, that's what I can; induc'd Com. You shall not be The grave of your deserving: Rome must know smart To hear themselves remember'd. Com. Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, horses, [you Of all the Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us. And tent theniselves with death. (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,) Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Worse than a promise-breaker Not Afric owns a serpent, I abhor More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot. Auf. If I fly, Marcius, Halloo me like a hare. Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my Wherein thou seest me mask'd for thy revenge, Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, $ [They fight and certain Volsces come to [Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX.-The Roman Camp. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, COMINIUS and Romans ; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans. Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, nours, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine ho- Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Having fully dined before. of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius Į Made all of false-fac'd soothing: When steel Here's many else have done,) you shout me forth As if I loved my little should be dieted Com. Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report, than grateful For what he did before Corioli, call him, [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, thank you : I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times, Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power,** from To undercrest your good addition, the pursuit. To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent; Where, ere we do repose us, we will write |