Will then cry out of Marcius; oh, if he Sic. Befides, if things go well, Opinion, that fo fticks on Marcius, fhall Bru. Come, Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the dispatch is made; and in what fafhion, Upon this prefent action. Bru. Let's along. SCENE changes to Corioli. [Exeunt. Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli. Sen. That they of Rome are entred in our counfels, And know how we proceed. Auf. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on in this ftate, 64 They have preft a power, but it is not known [Reading. "Whether for Eaft or Weft; the dearth is great, "The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd, "Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, "(Who is of Rome worfe hated than of you) 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: you; We never yet made doubt, but Rome was ready Το To answer us. Auf. Nor did you think it folly To keep your great pretences veil'd, 'till when 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 certainties. Nay more, Al. 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 two lov ftools, and for. Vol. I Pray you, daughter, fing, or exprefs yourself in a more comfortable fort: if my fon were my 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 womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; my when when for a day of King's intreaties, 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 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. Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum : Vir. His bloody brow! oh, Jupiter, no blood! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. Enter Valeria with an Ufher, and a Gentle-woman. Val. My Ladies both, good day to you. Vol. Sweet Madam Vir. I am glad to fee your Lady fhip Val. How do you both? you are manifeft houfekeepers. 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 schoolmaster. and 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 but terfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again; 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, she sḥall. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine yourfelf most unreasonably: 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, the fpun in Ulyffes's abfence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. 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 husband. Vir. Oh, good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jeft with you; there came news from him last night. 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. This is true, on my honour; and fo, I pray, go with us. Vir. Give me excufe, good madam, I will obey you in every thing hereafter. Vol. Let her alone, Lady; as fhe is now, 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 folemnefs 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 Coriali. Enter Marcius, Titus Lartius, with Captains and Mar. Onder comes news: a wager they have met. Mar. 'Tis done. Lart. Agreed. Mar. Say, has our General met the enemy ? R Lart. |