Men. This is ftrange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Mef. Where's Caius Martius? Mar. Here- - what is the matter? 79 Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volfcians are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't, then we shall have means to vent Our mufty superfluity. See! our best elders SCENE IV. Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators. 1 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, 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, Attend upon Cominius to these wars, And I am conftant: Titus Lartius, thou Shalt fee me once more strike at Tullus' face. What, art thou ftiff? ftand'ft out? Lar. No, Caius Martius; I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, Ere stay behind this business. Men. O true bred! 1 Sen. Your company to th' Capitol; where I know Our greatest friends attend us. Lar. Lead you on; Follow, Ceminius! we muft follow you, Com. Noble Lartius! 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 spare to gird the Gods Sic. 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, shall 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 dispatch is made; and in what fashion, Upon Upon this present action. Bru. Let's along. SCENE V. Corioli. [Exeunt. Enter Tullus Aufidius with Senators of Corioli. That they of Rome are entred in our counsels, 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 bands, 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, 'Tis fworn between us we fhall ever ftrike All. The Gods affift you! Auf. And keep your Honours fafe! 1 Sen. Farewel. 2 Sen. Farewel. I [Exeunt. Caius Martius's House in Rome. Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on two low ftools, and fow. Vol. I pray you, daughter, fing, or express 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 such 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 sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in firft feeing 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 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 furfeit 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: and call thus Come on, ye cowards, ye were got in fear - 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 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 manifest house-keepers. What are you fowing here? a fine fpot, in good faith. How does your little fon? Vir. I thank your Ladyfhip: well, good Madam. Vd. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster. - 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 counte.... nance. 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, 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 mammockt it! Val. One o's father's moods. I Val |