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 seems appear'd to Rome. By the discovery
We fhall be fhortened 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 speak from very certainties. Nay more,
Some parcels of their power are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your Honours.
If we and Caius Martius chance to meet,
'Tis fworn between us we shall 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.

VI.

SCENE

Caius Martius's House in Rome.

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

Vol.

I

Pray you, daughter, fing, or express your felf in a more comfortable fort: if my fon were my husband, I would freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed,

where

8 from certainties.

where he would fhew most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comelinefs 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 manchild, 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 fhould have been my fon; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profess fincerely had I a dozen fons each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Martius, I had rather eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuoufly 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'children a bear, the Volfci fhunning him:
Methinks I fee him ftamp thus and call thus-
Come on, ye cowards, ye 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! oh Jupiter, no blood.
Vol. Away, you fool; it more becomes a man

9 children from a

Than

Than gilt his trophy. The breaft of Hecuba,
When fhe 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 blefs 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 Ladyfship

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 schoolmafter.

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 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, and caught it again; and whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did fo fet his teeth and did tear it, oh, I warrant how he mammackt it!

1

Vol. One o's father's moods.

Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, Madam.

Val. Come, lay afide 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, fhe fhall.

Vir. Indeed no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars.

Val.

Val. Fie, you confine your felf unreasonably: Come, you must go vifit the good Lady that lyes in.

Vir. I will with her speedy 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 fenator 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 folemnnefs out o' door, and go along with us.

Vir. No: at a word, Madam; indeed I muft not. I wish you much mirth.

Val. Well, then farewel

[Exeunt.

SCENE

Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger.

Mar. Yonder comes news: a wager they have met.

Lar. My horfe to yours, no.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lar. Agreed.

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

Mar. I'll buy him of

you.

Lar. No, I'll not fell, nor give him: lend him you I will, for half an hundred years or fo:`

Summon the town.

2

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 the blast.
They found a parley. Enter two Senators with others
on the walls.

Tullus Aufidius is he within your wall?

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 fhall pound us up; our gates, Which yet feem fhut, we have but pinn'd with rushes, They'll open of themfelves. Hark you, far off

[Alarum far off.

There