"The People mutinous; and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

" (Who is of Rome worfe hated than of you)
"And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
"These three lead on this preparation
"Whither 'tis bent
"Confider of it.

moft likely, 'tis for you:

1 Sen. Our Army's in the Field:

We never yet made doubt, but Rome was ready
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 shortned 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 Commiffion, 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 fpeak 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 fhall ever strike
"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

SCENE changes to Caius Marcius's House in

ROME.

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

Vol. Pray you, Daughter, fing, or express your felf in a more comfortable fort: if my Son were my Husband, I would freelier rejoice in that absence 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 Son 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 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 Son; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profefs fincerely had I a dozen Sons 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 visit

you.

Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire my felf.
Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not:

Methinks, I hither hear your Husband's Drum :
I fee him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair :

(As

(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, 6i 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! oh, Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool; it more becomes a man,
Than Gilt his trophy. The breaft of Hecuba,
When she 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 bless 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 fee 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 Son?

Vir. I thank your Ladyfhip: well, good Madam. Vol. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster.

Val. O' my word, the Father's Son: 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.

VOL. VI.

e

Val.

Val. Come, lay afide your Stitchery; I muft 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 shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars. felf most unreasonably : Val. Fie, you confine your Come, you must go vifit the good Lady that lyes in. Kir. 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 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.

Vir. Indeed, Madam

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a Senator speak 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 she is now,

but disease our better mirth.

fhe will

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

tura

turn thy Solemnnefs 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.art. My horfe to yours, no.

Onder comes news: a wager, they have met.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our General met the enemy?
Mef. They lye in view; but have not spoke as yet.
Lart. So, the good horse 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 lye 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 fmoaking 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 shall pound us up our Gates, Which yet feem fhut, we have but pinn'd with rufhes; They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off

[Alarum, far off.

There is Aufidius. Lift, what work he makes
Among your cloven army.

Mar.