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 shortened in our aim, which was
To take in many towns, ere (almost) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

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

If they fet down before's, for the remove
Bring up your army: but, I think, you'll find,
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, doubt not that,

I speak 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 shall ever ftrike
"Till one can do no more.

All. The gods affift you!"

Auf. And keep your honours fafe!

1 Sen. Farewel.

2 Sen. Farewel.

All. Farewel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to Caius Marcius's House

in Rome.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on tavo low ftools, and fow.

Vol. Pray you, daughter, fing, or exprefs yourfelf

hufband, 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 comelinefs plucked all gaze his way;

when,

when, for a day of King's intreaties, a mother should 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 feck 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 first feeing 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 Marcius, 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.
Vir. Befeech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not:

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum:
I fee him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair:
(As children from a bear) the Volfci fhunning him:
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus-and call thus
Come on, ye cowards, ye 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 harvest-man, that's talk'd to mow
Or all, or lofe his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! oh, Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool; it more becomes a man,
Than gilt his trophy. The breaft of Hecuba,
When the did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian fwords contending; tell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome.

[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 Usher, and a Gentlewoman.
Val. My Ladies both, good day to you.

Vol. Sweet Madam

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyfhip

Val. How do you both? you are manifeft housekeepers. What are you fowing here? a fine fpot, in good faith. How does your little fon?

Vir. I thank your Ladyfhip: 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; or whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he did fo fet his teeth, and did tear it, oh, I warrant, how he mammockt it!

Vol. One of's father's moods.

Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, madam.

Val. Come, lay afide your ftitchery; I must have you play the idle hufwife with me this afternoon. Vir. No, good madam, I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She fhall, fhe fhall.

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 unreafonably; Come, you must go vifit the good Lady that lies in. Vir. I will with her fpeedy ftrength, and vifit 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 fay, all the yarn, fhe fpun in Ulyffes's abfence, did but fill

Ithaca full of mcths. Come, I would your cambrick 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 hufband.

Vir. Oh, good madam, there can be none yet.

Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, madam

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a Senator fpeak 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. true, on my honour; and fo, I pray, go with us.

This is

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

Vol. Let her alone, Lady; as he is new, fhe will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think, fhe would: fare you well, then. Come, good fweet Lady. Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy folemnnefs 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.

SCENE changes to the Walls of Corioli.

Enter Marcius, Titus Lartius, with Captains and Soldiers: To them a Messenger.

Mar.ne.

Yonde

Onder comes news: a wager they have met.
Lart. My horfe to yours, no.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our General met the enemy?
Mef. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.

VOL. VI.

Lart. So, the good horfe is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

Lart. No, I'll not fell, nor give him: lend him you,
I will,

For half an hundred years: Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie these armies ?
Mef. Within a mile and half.

Mar. Then fhall we hear their larum, and they ours.
Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work;
That we with finoaking fwords may march from hence,
To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.
They found a Parley. Enter two Senators with others
on the Walls.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you lefs than he, That's leffer than a little: hark, our drums

[Drum afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: we'll break our walls, Rather than they all pound us up; our gates, Which yet feem fhut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themfelves. Hark you, far off.

[Alarum far off. There is Aufidius. Lift, what work he makes Amongst your cloven army.

Mar. Oh, they are at it!

Lart. Their noise be our inftruction. Ladders, ho!

Enter the Volfcians.

Mar. They fear us not, but iffue forth their city. Now put your fhields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than fhields. Advance, brave Titus They do difdain us much beyond our thoughts; Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows; He that retires, I'll take him for a Volfcian,

And he fhall feel mine edge.

[Alarum; the Romans beat back to their Trenches

2

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