upon your favours, swims with fins of lead, And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye? With every minute you do change a mind; That in these several places of the city Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stor❜d. Mar. Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i'the Capitol: who's like to rise, Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and give out Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,* [high Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech What says the other troop? [you, Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs;[eat; That hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must That meat was made for mouths; that, the gods Our musty superfluity:-See, our best elders. The Volces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. I sin in envying his nobility: And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he. Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by the earл, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Tit. No, Caius Marcius; [other, I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the Ere stay behind this business. Men. O, true bred! 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us. Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. [To the CITIZENS. Mar. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, [neers, To gnaw their garners:t-Worshipful mutiYour valour puts well forth: pray, follow. [Exeunt SENATORS, COM. MAR. TIT. and MENEN. CITIZENS steal away. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes? Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. Sic. Be-mock the modest moon. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is Too proud to be so valiant. [grown [dow Sic. Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shaWhich he treads on at noon: But I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,In whom already he is well grac'd.-cannot Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by A place below the first: for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well; Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits|| rob Cominius. Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SE-Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his NATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VE LUTUS. faults Auf. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on in this state, I have the letter here; yes, here it is: [Reads. Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you: 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renow made it not stir,-was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, 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 first seeing 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 son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: Had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius,-I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a GENTLEWOMAN. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire* myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,- We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready Come on, you cowards, you were got in fear, To answer us. Auf. Nor did you think it folly, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: If they set down before us, for the remove Auf. O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties. Nay, more. All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honours safe! 1 Sen. Farewell. 2 Sen. Farewell. All. Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE III--Rome.--An Apartment in Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA: They sit down Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort: If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tenderbodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better + To subduc. * Pre-occupation. Though you were born in Rome: His bloody [goes; Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! At Grecian swords' contending.-Tell Valeria, Re-enter GENTLEWOMAN, with VALERIA and her Val. My ladies both, good day to you. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. What, are you sewing here! A fine spot,t in good faith.-How does your little son? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master. Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'l swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirmed countenance. 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; catched it again: or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked; it! Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this af ternoon. Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors! Vol. She shall, she shall. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will Dot over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably; Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. ther. That we with smoking swords may march from hence, [blast To help our fielded* friends!-Come, blow thy They sound a parley.—Enter, on the walls, some SENATORS, and others. Tullus Autidius, is he within your walls? 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums [Alarums afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls, Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thi-Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves. Vol. Why, I pray you? Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want Jove. Vul. You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would, your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. ome, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. Vir. O, 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 speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us. Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter. Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth. Val. In troth, I think, she would:-Fare you well then.-Come, good sweet lady.—Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, go along with us. and Vir. No: at a word, madam; indeed, I must Rot. I wish you much mirth. Vul. Well, then farewell. [Exeunt. Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums. work he makes There is Aufidius; list, what The VOLCES enter and pass over the Stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. [fight Now put your shields before your hearts, and With hearts more proof than shields.—Advance, brave Titus: They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, my fellows; He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce, Alarum, and exeunt ROMANS and VOLCES, fight. ing. The ROMANS are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS. Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you. [plagues You shames of Rome! you herd of Boils and Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd Further than seen, and one infect another Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, That bear the shapes of men, how have you [hell! From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, run Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, And make my wars on you: look to't: Come [wives, If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their As they us to our trenches followed. on; Another Alarum. The VOLCES and ROMÁNS TEenter, and the fight is renewed. The VOLCES retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates. So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good seconds: 'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. [He enters the gates, and is shut . 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I. 2 Sol. Nor I. 3 Sol. See, they Have shut him in. [Alarum continue. All. To the pot, I warrant him. Enter TITUS LARTIUS. Lart. What is become of Marcius All. Slain, Sir, doubtless. *In the field of battle. 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, With them he enters: who, upon the sudden, lapp'd-to their gates; he is himself alone, To answer all the city. Lart. O noble fellow! Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword, And, when it bows,t stands up! Thou art left, Marcius: A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, My work hath yet not warm'd me: Fare you Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in love with thee; and her great [man, charms Misguide thy opposer's swords! Bold gentleProsperity be thy page! Mar. Thy friend no less Than those she placeth highest! So farewell. Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius! [Exit MARCIUS. Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place; Call thither all the officers of the town, Where they shall know our mind. Away. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Near the Camp of COMINIUS. Enter COMINIUS and forces, retreating. Com. Breathe you, my friends; well fought, we are come off Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, Sirs, We shall be charg'd again. Whiles we have struck, [heard By interims, and conveying gusts, we have The charges of our friends :-The Roman gods, Lead their successes as we wish our own; That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering, Enter a MESSENGER. May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news. Com. Though thou speak'st truth, Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't since? Mess. Above an hour, my lord. Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour And bring thy news so late? Mess. Spies of the Volces Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel Com. Who's yonder, That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods! He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have Beforetime seen him thus. Mar. Come I too late? Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor, [tongue More than I know the sound of Marcius' From every meaner man's. Mar. Come I too late? Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of But mantled in your own. [others, Mar. O! let me clip you In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart As merry, as when our nuptial day was done And tapers burn'd to bedward. Com. Flower of warriors, How is't with Titus Lartius? Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, To let him slip at will. Com. Where is that slave, [trenches? Which told me they had beat you to your Where is he? Call him hither. Mar. Let him alone, [men, He did inform the truth: But for our gentleThe common file, (A plague!-Tribunes for them!) [budge The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think [field? We have at disadvantage fought, and did Mar. How lies their battle? Know vor en which side They have plac'd their Con. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands in the vaward" are the Antiates,+ Mar. I do beseech you, VOWS By all the battles wherein we have fought, Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, Mar. Those are they That most are willing:-If any such be here, (As it were sin to doubt,) that love this painting Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, And follow Marcius. [They all shout, and wave their swords; take Com. March on, my fellows: [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The Gates of Corioli. TITUS LARTIUS, haring set a guard upon Corioli, going with a drum and trumpet toward CoMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a LIEUTENANT, a party of soldiers, and a scout. Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch Sir. Lieu. Fear not our care, Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct [Exeunt. us. Auf. If I fly, Marcius, Halloo me like a hare. Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd; 'Tis not my blood, [venge, Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy reWrench up thy power to the highest. Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip* of your bragg'd progeny, Thou should'st not scape me here. [They fight, and certain Volces come to the uid of AUFIDIUS. Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd In your condemned seconds.t [me [Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS, SCENE IX.-The Roman camp. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, COMINIUS, and Romans; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans. Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug, I'the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted, dull Tribunes, And, gladly quak'd,‡ hear more; where the That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine ho[gods, Shall say, against their hearts-We thank the Our Rome hath such a soldier! nours, me. Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remember'd. Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, . (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,) of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth, + In sending such help. 1 Thrown into grateful trepidation. Forces, Privilege. *Boast, crack. |