We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready Auf. Nor did you think it folly, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2 Sen. If they set down before us, for the remove Auf. O, doubt not that; 1 Sen. 2 Sen. All. Farewell. SCENE III-Rome. An apartment in Marcius' house. Enter Volumnia, and Virgilia: They sit down on two low stools, and sew. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! [Exit Gent. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot,4 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. Vol. One of his father's moods. Farewell. Val. O'my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis Farewell. a very pretty boy. O'my troth, I look'd upon him [Exeunt. 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, be let it go again; and after it again; and over and over. he comes, and up again; catched it again: or Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express your-whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did self in a more comfortable sort: If my son were so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that ab-mammocked it! sence 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 plucked all gaze his way;2 when, for a day of king's 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 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 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. 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 unreasona bly; 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 fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would, your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall 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 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, but disease our better mirth. she will Val. In troth, I think, she would:-Fare you well then.--Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness 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 farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE IV-Before Corioli. Enter, with drum and colours, Marcius, Titus Lartius, Officers and Soldiers. To them a Messenger. Mar. Yonder comes news:-A wager, they have met. 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, fighting. The Romans are beaten back to their trenches. You shames of Rome! you herd of--Boils and Another alarum. The Volces and Romans reenter, 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 in. 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I. 2 Sol. 3 Sol. Nor I. See, they [Alarum continues. Have shut him in. All. Within this mile and half. To the pot, I warrant him. Enter Titus Lartius. Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work; That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded friends!--Come, blow thy blast. They sound a parley. Enter, on the walls, some Senators, and others. Tullus Aufidius, 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, 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. Hark you, far off; A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, [Other alarums. Re-enter Marcius bleeding, assaulted by the enemy. There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes The Volces enter, and pass over the stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight| With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus: (1) Short. (2) In the field of battle. (3) Having sensation, feeling. 1 Sol. Lart. Look, sir. 'Tis Marcius: 1 Rom. This I will carry to Rome. 3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. (4) When it is bent. Enter Marcius, and Titus Lartius, with a trumpet.| At a crack'd drachm!! Cushions, leaden spoons, And hark, what noise the general makes-To There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for Mar. Sir, praise me not: My work hath yet not warm'd me: Fare you well. Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Mar. En Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Enter a Messenger. May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news? Though thou speak'st truth,|| How is't with Titus Lartins? Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, Com Mar. Let him alone, Com. Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on which They have plac'd their men of trust? Though I could wish Mess. Above an hour, my lord Those are they Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their That most are willing:-If any such be here drums: (As it were sin to doubt,) that love this painting Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear Lesser his person than an ill report; How could'st thou in a mile confound? an hour, And bring thy news so late? Mess. Three or four miles about; else had I, sir, Half an hour since brought my report. If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, And follow Marcius. [They all shout, and wave their swords; take O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? (5) Present time. Able to bear against the great Aufidius Com. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The gates of Corioli. Titus Lartius, having 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 Lieu. Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Having fully dined before. Enter Titus Lartius, with his power, from the pursuit. Lart. O general, Here is the steed, we the caparison: Hadst thou beheld Mar. Pray now, no more: my mother, Who has a charters to extol her blood, When she does praise me, grieves me. I have done, As you have done; that's what I can; induc'd As you have been; that's for my country: He, that has but effected his good will, Hath overta'en mine act. Com. You shall not be The grave of your deserving; Rome must know The value of her own: 'Twere a concealment Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement, To hide your doings; and to silence that, Which to the spire and top of praises vouch'd, Would seem but modest: Therefore, I beseech you, (In sign of what you are, not to reward What you have done,) before our army hear me. Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remember'd. Com. Should they not, SCENE VIII-A field of battle between the ter Marcius and Aufidius. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate Mar. If I fly, Marcius, Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd; 'Tis not my blood, Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge, Wrench 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 aid of Aufidius. Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me In your condemned seconds.5 [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,| And, gladly quak'd, hear more; where the dull tribunes, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, Shall say, against their hearts-We thank the gods, Our Rome hath such a soldier! of all profane, Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall As if I lov'd my little should be dieted Com. : Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report, than grateful To us that give you truly by your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you (Like one that means his proper harm,) in manacles, Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it known, As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius (6) Thrown into grateful trepidation. (9) Weak, feeble. With all the applause and clamour of the host, Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Bear the addition nobly ever! Wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go you to the city; Learn, how 'tis held; and what they are, that must [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums. Be hostages for Rome. All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus! Cor. I will go wash; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush, or no : Howbeit, I thank you I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times, To undercrest your good addition, To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent: Where, ere we do repose us, we will write To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius, Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome The best,2 with whom we may articulate,3 For their own good, and ours. Lart. 1 Sol. Will not you go? Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove : :-(Tis south the city mills,) bring me word thither I shall, my lord. Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg Of my lord general. Com. Take it: 'tis yours.-What is't? And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you O, well begg'd! د By Jupiter, forgot :I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.Have we no wine here? I shall, sir. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I-Rome. A public place. Enter Menenius, Sicinius, and Brutus. Men. The augurer tells me, we shall have news to-night. Bru. Good, or bad? Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius. Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. Men. Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius. Bru. He's a lamb, indeed, that baes like a bear. Men. He's a bear, indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you. Both Trib. Well, sir. Men. In what enormity is Marcius poor, that you two have not in abundance? Bru. He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all. Sic. Especially, in pride. Bru. And topping all others in boasting. Men. This is strange now: Do you two know SCENE X-The camp of the Volces. A flour-how you are censured here in the city, I mean of ish. Cornets. Enter Tullus Aufidius, bloody, with two or three Soldiers. Auf. The town is ta'en! 1 Sol. "Twill be delivered back on good condition. I would, I were a Roman; for I cannot, With only suffering stain by him; for him us o'the right hand file? Do you? Both Trib. Why, how are we censured? Men. Because you talk of pride now,-Will you not be angry? Both Trib. Well, well, sir, well. Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your disposition the reins, and be angry at your pleasure; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you, in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud? Bru. We do it not alone, sir. Men. I know, you can do very little alone; for your helps are many; or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: O, that you could turn your eyes towards the nanes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O that you could! Bru. What then, sir? Men. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates (alias, fools,) as any in Rome. Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough too. Men. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tyber in't; said to be something imperfect, in favouring the first complaint: hasty, and tinder-like, upon too trivial motion; one that converses more with the buttock of the night, than (6) My brother posted to protect him. |