Citizens fteal away. Manent SICINIUS, and BRUTUS.

Sic. Was ever man fo proud as is this Marcius?
Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen 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.(7) Sic. Be-mock the modeft moon.

Bru. The prefent wars devour him ! he is grown Too proud to be fo valiant..

Sic. Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon: But I do wonder,
His infolence 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 firft; for what mifcarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy cenfure
Will then cry out on Marcius; O, if he
Had borne the business!

Sic. Befides, if things go well,

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.(8)

Bru. Come :.

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults To Marcius fhall be honours, though, indeed,

In aught he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the dispatch is made; and. in what fashion,
More than his fingularity,(9) he goes,

Upon this present action.

Bru. Let's along.

[Exeunt.

(7) To gird-to fneer, to gibe. So Falstaff ufes the noun, when he says, "every man has a gird at me."

JOHNS.

(8) 'Merits' and 'demerits' had anciently the fame meaning. STEEV.. (9) We will learn what he is to do, befides going himself; what are his powers, and what is his appointment.

JOHNS.

SCENE II.

The Senate-Houfe in Corioli. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Senators.

I Sen. So your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are enter'd in our counfels,
And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not your's?

What ever hath been thought on in this ftate,
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 prefs'd a power, but it is not known [Reading
Whether for east, or aveft. The dearth is great :
The people mutinous and it is rumor'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy

(Who is of Rome worfe hated than of you),
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
Thofe three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent; most likely 'tis for you
Confider of it.

I 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 muft fhew themselves; which in the hatching,
It feem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,
To take in many towns, ere, almoft, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your commiffion; hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they fet 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;

I fpeak 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,
'Tis fworn between us, we fhall ever strike

Till one can do no more.

All. The Gods affift!

Auf. And keep your honours fafe!

I Sen.

Farewel.

2 Sen.

Farewel.

All Farewel.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt

CAIUS MARCIUS's Houfe in Rome. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They fit down on two low Stools, and ferv.

Vol. I pray you, daughter, fing; or exprefs yourself in a more comfortable fort. If my fon were my huf band, I would freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhew moft love. When yet he was but tenderbody'd, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comelinefs plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's entreaties, a mother fhould not fell him an hour from her beholding; I---confidering how honour would become fuch a perfon; that it was no better thair picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not ftir---was pleas'd to let him feek danger, where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I fent him; from whence he return'd, his brows bound with oak (1) I tell thee, daughter---I fprang not more in joy at firft hearing he was a man-child, than now in firft 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 fon ; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profels Tincerely-Had I a dozen fons, each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Marcius—I haď rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuoufly furfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to vifit you..
Vir. 'Befeech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not.

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum ;
See him pluck down Aufidius by the hair;

(1) The crown given by the Romans to him that faved the life of a citi zen, which was accounted more honourable than any other. JOHNS

As children from a bear, the Volfci fhunning him;
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus, and call thus-
Come on, you cowards; you were got in fear,
Though ye were born in Rome: His bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes;
Like to a harveft man, that's talk'd to mow
O'er 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.(2) The breaft of Hecuba,
When the did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it fpit forth blood.
At Grecian fwords 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.

Enter VALERIA, with an Uber, and a Gentlewoman. Val. My ladies both, good day to you.

Vol. Sweet madam,

Vir. I am glad to fee your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifeft houfe-keepWhat are you fewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.-How does your little fon?

ers.

Vir. I thank your ladyfhip; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a drum, Than look upon his fchoolmaster.

Val. O'my word, the father's fon. I'll fwear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O'my troth, I look'd on him o' Wednesday half an hour together :-He has fuch a confirm'd countenance. I faw 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; and caught it again : or whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he did fo fet his teeth, and did tear it: O, I warrant, how he mammock'd it !(3)

Val. Come, lay afide your ftitchery; I must have you play the idle hufwife with me this afternoon.

(2) Gilt-means a difplay of gold, a word now obsolete.
(3) To mammock-is to pull in pieces, to tear.
(4) A crack-a free, careless, capricious perion.

STEEV.

ib.

ib.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She fhall, she shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I'll not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars.

Val. Fie, you confine yourself moft unreasonably : Come, you must go vifit the good lady that lies in.

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

Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir.

'Tis not to fave labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope : yet, they say, all the yarn fhe fpun in Ulyffes' abfence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would, your cambric were fenfible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you fhall 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 jeft 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 Volfcians have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are fet down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on my honour; and fo, I pray you, go with us.

Vir. Give me excufe, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady: As fhe is now, fhe will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think fhe would :-Fare you well then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy folemness 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 farewel.

[Exeunt.