absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhew most love. When yet he was but tender-body'd, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comelinefs pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's 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 the wall, if renown made it not ftir-was pleas'd to let him feek danger where he was like to find fame. Tộ a cruel war I fent him; from whence he return'd, his brows bound with oak; I tell thee, daughter —I fprång 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 had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuoufly furfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

>

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to vifit you.
Vir. 'Beleech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Vol. Indeed, you thall not.

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum;
See him pluck down Aufidius by the hair;
As children from a bear, the Volfces fhunning him:
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus, and call thus-

Come

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 tafk'd to mow
O'er all, or lofe his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood!
Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man,
Than gilt his trophy: The breast of Hecuba,
When the did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's fore head, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian fwords' contending.-Tell Valeria,
We are 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.

Enter VALERIA, with an Ufher, 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 fewing here? A fine fpot, in good faith.-How does your little fon?

Vir. I thank your ladyfhip; well, good madam. l'ol. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a Than look upon his fchool-master. [drum,

Val. O' my word, the father's fon: I'll fwear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I look'd upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has 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; catch'd it again; or whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he

did fo fet his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how

he mammock'd it!

Vol. One of his father's moods.

Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, madam.

Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; 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 shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, 'till my lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: Come, you mult 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' 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. O, 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 earneft, it's true; I heard a fenator fpeak it. Thus it is:--The Volfces have an army forth;

againit

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 mine 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 the is now, she will but difeafe 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 I wish you much mirth.

not.

Val. Well, then farewell.

SCENE IV. Before Corioli.

[Exeunt.

Enter MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with Drum and Colours, Captains, and Soldiers. To them a Meffenger.

Mar. Yonder comes news:--A wager, they have Lart. My horfe to yours, no.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart. Agreed.

[met.

Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy? Mef. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet. Lart. So, the good horfe is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

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

him, I will,

For half a hundred years.-Summon the town.

Mar.

Mar. How far of lie these armies?
Mef. Within this mile and a half.

Mar. Then thall we hear their 'larum, and they

ours.

Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work; That we with fmoking fwords may march from hence To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy blaft. They found a Parley. Enter Senators, with others, ca the Walls.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less 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 thall pound us up: our gates, Which yet feem fhut, we have but pinn'd with rufhes: They'll cpen of themfelves. Hark you, far off [Alarum afar off: There is Aufidius: lift, what work he makes Amongst your cloven army. Mar. O they are at it!

Lart. Their noife be our inftruction.-Ladders, ho! Enter the Volfces.

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 fweat with wrath.-Come on, my He that retires, I'll take him for a Volfce, [fellow; And he fhall feel mine edge.

[Alarum; the Romans beat back to their Trenches.

Re-enter