Like him by chance; yet give us our dispatch:
I'm husht, until our city be afire ;
And then I'll speak a little.
Cor. O mother, mother!

[Holds her by the hands, filent.
What have you done? behold, the heav'ns do ope,
The god's look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. Oh, my mother, mother! oh!
You've won a happy victory to Rome :
But for your son, believe it, oh, believe it,
Most dang'roully you have with him prevail'd,
If not most mortal to him. Let it come:
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
l'í frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,
Were you in my stead, say, would you have heard
A mother less ? or granted less, Aufidius ?

Auf: I too was mov'd.

Cór. I dare be sworn, you were;
And, Sir, it is no little thing to make
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good Sir,
What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with

you,
and

pray you Srand to me in this cause. O mother! wife!.

Auf. I'm glad, thou'st set thy mercy and thy honour At difference in thee; out of that I'll work Myself a former fortune.

[ Afide. Cor. Ay, by and by; but we will drink together; And you shall bear

[T. Vol. Virg. &c. A beiter witness back than words, which we, On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd. Come, enter with us : Ladies, you deserve To have a temple built you: all the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace.

(Exeunt.

SCENE,

SCE N E, the Forum, in Rome.

Enter Menenius and Sicinius. Men. EE you yond coin o'th' capitol, yond corner. Why, what that

[ltone ? Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the Ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But, I say, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenc'd, and stay upon execution.

Sic. Is’t poffible, that sofort a time can alter the. condition of a man?

Men. There is difference between a grub and a butterfly, yet your butterfly was a grub; this Marcius is grown from man to dragon : he has wings, he's more than a creeping thing.

ic. He lov'd his mother dearly.. Men. So did he me ;. and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight years old horse. The tartness of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before: his treading. He is able to pierce a corflėt with his eye: taiks like a knell, and his hum is a battery.. Hè fits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be. done, is finith'd with his bidding... He wants nothing of a God, but eternity, and a heaver. to throne in.

Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

Men. I paint- him in the character. Mark, what mercy his mother shall bring from him; there is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tyger; that fall our poor city, find; and all this is long of you:

Sic. The gods, be good unto us!

Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good xato us. When we banilh'd liim, we respected not them : and he returning to break our necks, they refpe&t not us VOL. VII

3

Enter a Messenger.

Mef. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house ;
The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune,
And hale him up and down; all swearing, if
The Roman Ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.

Enter another Messenger.
Sic. What's the news?

Mej. Good news, good news, the Ladies have prevail'd,
The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone :
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not th' expulfion of the Tarquins.

Sic. Friend,
Art certain, this is true? is it most certain ?

Mej. As certain, a3 I know the sun is fire:
Where have you lurk’d, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through th' gates. Why, hark you;

[Trumpets, Hautboys, Drums beat, all together,
The trumpets, fackbuts, plalteries and fifes,
Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans
Make the sun dance. Hark you!

14. jhout within.
Men. This is good news :
I will go meet the Ladies. This Volumnia
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,
A city full: of tribunes, such as you,
A sea and land full. You've pray'd well to-day :
This morning, for ten thousand of your throats
I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

[Sound fill, with the shouts.
Si«. First, the gods bless you for your tidings: next,
Accept my thankfulness.
Mel. Sir

, we have all great cause to give great thankia
Sic. They're near the city ?
Mef. Almost at point to enter.
Sis. We'll meet them, and help the joy. [Exeunt.

Auf- Go

Enter two Senators, with Ladies, palling over the stage;

with other Lords.
Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome :
Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,
And make triumphant fires: ftrew flowers before them:
Unfhout the noise, that banih'd Marcius;
Repeal him with the welcome of his mother:
Cry,---welcome, Ladies, welcome!

[Exeunt. All, Welcome, Ladies, welcome !.

(A flourish with drums and trumpets. SCENE changes to a publick Place in Antium

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.
Otell the Lords o'th' city, I am here :

Deliver them this paper : having read it,
Bid them repair to th' market-place, where I,
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. He, I accuse,
The city ports by this hath enter'd; and
Intends é appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words. Dispatch..-Most welcome!

Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius's famion,
i Con. How is it with our General ?

Auf. Even so,
As with a man by his own alms impoison?dy,
And with his charity flain..

2. Con. Most noble Sir,
If you do hold the fame intent, wherein
You wilh'd us parties; we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

Kif. Sir, I cannot tell ;
We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilit Twixt

you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all,

Auf. I know it;
And my pretext to strike at him admits

A good conftru&tion. I rais'd him, and pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth; who being so heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing so my friends; and to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unswayable, and free.

3 Con. Sir, his stoutness
When he did stand for conful, which he loft
By lack of stooping

Auf. That I would have spoke of:
Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth,
Presented to my knife his throat; I took him,.
Made him joint servant with me; gave him way
In all his own desires ; nay, let him chule
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My beit and freshest men ; serv'd his designments.
In mine own perfon; helpe to reap the fame,
Which he did make all his; and took some pride
To do myself this wrong; 'till, at the last,
I feem'd his follower, not partner ; and
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

i Con. So he did, my Lord :
The army marvell?d at it, and, at lait;
When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd
For no less spoil, than glory-

Auf. There was it ; (For whick my firews fhalt be ftretch'd upon him ; At a few drops of women's rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he fold the blood and labour Of our great action; therefore Mall he dic, And I'll renew me in his fah. But; hark ! (Drums and trumpets found, with great shouts of the people.

1. Con. Your native town you enter'd like a poit, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise.

a Con. And patient fools, Whose children.be hath fain, their base throats tear, Giving him glory.. a Coma Therefore at your vantage

Ere