SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate-House.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain Senators.

I Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are enter'd in 1 our counsels,
And know how we proceed.

Auf.

Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this State,
That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention ?2 'Tis not four days gone

Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think

I have the letter here; yes, here it is:

[Reads.] They've press'd3 a power, but it is not known
Whether for east or west: the dearth is great;
The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,-
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent; most likely 'tis for you:
Consider of it.

1 In for into; the two being often used indiscriminately.

2 That is, underhand intelligence, or knowledge got by circumvention.

8 The use of press'd in this place is well explained by a passage in North's Plutarch: "The common people, being set on a broile and bravery with these words, would not appeare when the Consuls called their names by a bill, to presse them for the warres. Martius then, who was now growne to great credit, and a stout man besides, rose up and openly spake against these flattering Tribunes: but to the warres the people by no means would be brought or constrained."

To keep your great pretences 4 veil'd till when

They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery

We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,

To take-in 5 many towns, ere, almost, Rome

Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen.

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands
Let us alone to guard Corioli.

If they set down before's, for their remove
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They've not prepared 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 sworn between us, we shall ever strike
Till one can do no more.7

All.

The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your Honours safe!

I Sen.

2 Sen.

All. Farewell.

Farewell.

Farewell. [Exeunt.

A Pretences is intentions or purposes. See vol. xvii. page 53, note 51.

6 To take-in was used for to subdue, to conquer. See page 99, note 16, 6" If the Romans besiege us, bring up your army to remove them." 7 Keep on striking till one hath struck his last.

SCENE III.- Rome. A Room in MARCIUS'S House.

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA; they sit down on two low stools, and sew.

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 tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck'd 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 than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown 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 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 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 have 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 2 myself.

1 Comfortable for comforting, that is, cheerful; the passive form with the

active sense. Repeatedly so. See vol. xv. page 43, note 35.

2 Retire in the sense of withdraw; a frequent usage.

Vol. Indeed, you shall not.

Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum;
I see him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair;
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:
Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus,
Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome: his bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes,
Like to a harvest-man, that's task'd to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man
Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords, contemning.1 — Tell Valeria
We're fit to bid her welcome.

[Exit Gent.

Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius ! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck.

Re-enter Gentlewoman with VALERIA and her Usher.

Val. My ladies both, good day to you.

Vol. Sweet madam.

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you're manifest house-keepers.5 What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.

How does your little son?

Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

3 Gilt was used for gold or gilding. So in King Henry V., iv. 3: "Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd."

4 Contemning for contemptuously or in contempt.

House-keepers for home-keepers or stayers-at-home.

• A handsome spot of embroidery. We often hear of spotted muslin.

Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster.

Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I look'd upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: 'has such a confirm'd 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; catch'd it again: and, whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammock'd' it!

Vol. One on's father's moods.

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

Vir. A crack,8 madam.

Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

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'll not 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.

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.

Val. You would be another Penelope : yet, they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but !! Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric were sensible as

7 To mammock is to tear or cut in pieces.

8 A crack is a sprightly forward boy. So in Shallow's account of the boy Jack Falstaff, 2 Henry IV., iii. 2: "I saw him break Skogan's head at the court gate, when he was a crack, not thus high."

* Sensible for sensitive, or susceptible of pain. See vol. vii, page 46, note 26.