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 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 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 28 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 29, he goes

Upon his present action.

Bru.

28 Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning.

Thus in Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 200, ed. 1825:- I have not promoted and preferred you to condign preferments according to your demerits.'

29 Perhaps the word singularity implies a sarcasm on Coriolanus, and the speaker means to say-after what fashion beside that in which his own singularity of disposition invests him, he goes into the field. So in Twelfth Night:

Put thyself into the trick of singularity.'

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 state1,
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 prest2 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,

1 The old copy reads:

'What have been ever thought on in this state."

·

We must either suppose this an ellipsis for What things have,' &c. or read, with Steevens, hath, as in the text. 2 i. e. ready; from the old French prést. chant of Venice, Act i. Sc. 1:

Thus in the Mer

say to me what I should do

That in your knowledge may by me be done,
And I am prest unto it.'

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,
To take in3 many towns, ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen. Take

Noble Aufidius,

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

If they set down before us, for the remove1
Bring up your army; but I think you'll find
They have not prepar'd 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.

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

3 To take in was formerly used as we now use to take for to subdue, to conquer. Thus in Antony and Cleopatra :

cut the Ionian seas,

And take in Toryne.'

4 If the Romans besiege us, bring up your army to remove them.'

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 way1; 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 retire3 myself,

1 Attracted the attention of every one toward him.

2 The crown given by the Romans to him that saved the life of a citizen, which was accounted more honourable than any other.

3 This verb active (signifying to withdraw) occurs in The Tempest:

I will thence

Retire me to my Milan.'

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 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.
Vol. Sweet madam,-

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot3, in good faith.-How does your little son?

Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

4 Gilt means a superficial display of gold. The word is now obsolete.

'Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched.'
King Henry V.

5 i. e. a handsome spot of embroidery. We often hear of spotted muslin.