Men. This is ftrange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mef. Where's Caius Martius? Mar. Here -what is the matter? Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volfcians are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't, then we fhall have means to vent Our mufty superfluity. See! our beft elders SCENE IV. Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators. I Sen. Martius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us, The Volfcians are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. And were I any thing but what I am, I'd with me only him. Com. You have fought together? Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him. He is a lion That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Martius, And I am conftant: Titus Lartius, thou What, art thou ftiff? ftand'ft out? Lar. No, Caius Martius ; I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, Men. O true bred! 1 Sen. Your company to th' Capitol; where I know Our greatest friends attend us. Lar. Lead you on; Follow, Cominius! we must follow you, Right worthy your priority. Com, Noble Lartius ! * Sen. 1 Sen. Hence to your homes be gone. [To the Citizens. Mar. Nay, let them follow; The Volfcians have much corn: take these rats thither Your valour puts well forth; I pray you follow. [Exeunt. Sic. Was ever man fo proud as is this Martius? Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chofen tribunes for the people - Sic. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not fpare to gird the GodsSic. Be-mock the modeft moon. Bru. The prefent wars devour him! he is grown Too proud of being fo valiant. Sic. Such a nature, Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the shadow Bru. Fame, at which he aims, In which already he is well grac'd, cannot Sic. And if things go well, Opinion, that fo fticks on Martius, fhall Bru. Come; Half all Cominius' honours are to Martius, Though Martius earn them not; and all his faults In ought he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the difpatch is made; and in what fashion, Upon Upon this prefent action. Bru. Let's along. SCENE V. Corioli. [Exeunt. Enter Tullus Aufidius with Senators of Corioli. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are entred in our counfels, Auf. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on in this State, Whither 'tis bent- -moft likely, 'tis for you: 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready 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 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commiffion, hie you to your bande, If they fet down before's, for the remove Auf. O doubt not that, I fpeak from very certainties. Nay more, Some Some parcels of their power are forth already, All. The Gods affift you! Auf. And keep your Honours fafe! 1 Sen. Farewel. 2 Sen. Farewel. All. Farewel. SCENE VI. [Exeunt Caius Martius's House in Rome. Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on two low ftools, and for. Vol. I pray you, daughter, fing, or exprefs your self in a more comfortable fort: if my fon were my husband, I would freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhew moft love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when for a day of Kings 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 than picture-like to hang by th' 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. I tell thee, daughter, I fprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in firft seeing he had proved himself a man. Vir. But had he died in the bufinefs, Madam, how then? Vol. Then his good report fhould have been my fon; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profefs fincerely: had I a dozen fons each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Martius, I had rather eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to vifit you. Vol. Indeed thou shalt not: Methinks I hither hear your husband's drum: Though you were born in Rome; his bloody brow Vir. His bloody brow! oh Jupiter, no blood. [Exit Gent. Vir. Heav'ns blefs my Lord from fell Aufidius! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. Enter Valeria with an Ufher, 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-keepers. What are you fowing here? a fine fpot, in good faith. How does your little fon? Vir, I thank your Ladyship: well, good Madam. Vol. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmafter. 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 -h'as 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; and whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did fo fet his teeth and did tear it, oh, I warrant how he mam~ mockt it! Vol. One o's father's moods. |