Citizens fteal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. Was ever man fo proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen tribunes for the peopleBru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes?

Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not fpare to gird the gods. Sic. Be-mock the modeft moon.

Bru. The prefent wars devour him! he is grown

d

Too proud to be fo valiant.

Sic. Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon: But I do wonder,
His infolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims

e

In which already he is well grac'd-cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A place below the firft: for what mifcarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy cenfure
cry out on Marcius, O, if be

Will then

Had borne the business!

Sic. Befides, if things go well,

Opinion, that fo fticks on Marcius, fhall

Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru. Come:

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults

C

' gird]—to fneer, fcoff at. HENRY IV. Part II. A. I. S. 2. Fal. to be fo valiant.]-of his valour.

demerits-formerly the fame as merits.

e which]-whom.

Το

To Marcius fhall be honours, though, indeed,

In aught he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

• How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, More than his fingularity, he goes

Upon this prefent action.

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE II.

The Senate-House in Corioli.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators.

1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are enter'd in our counfels, And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this state,

[Exeunt.

That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone,
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think
I have the letter here; yes, here it is:

They have prefs'd a power, but it is not known
Whether for east, or weft: The dearth is great;
The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd,
old enemy

Cominius, Marcius your

(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you),
And Titus Lartiùs, a most valiant Roman,
Thefe three lead on this preparation
Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you:
Confider of it.

[Reading.

How the dispatch is made; &c.]-How the expedition is arranged, and befides his thus going, in his own perfon, fecond in command, what forces are affigned him.

Had circumvention ?]-Was previously apprised of it.

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 must shew 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 many towns, ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your commiffion; hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

k

If they fet down before us, for the remove
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They have not prepar'd 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 fworn between us, we fhall ever ftrike
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.

To take in]-To fubdue, feize on.

[Exeunt.

* for the remove-in order to remove them, to raise the fiege.

SCENE

Caius Marcius' Houfe in Rome.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia: They fit down on two low ftools, and few.

Vol. I pray you, daughter, fing; or exprefs yourself in a more comfortable fort: If my fon were my hufband, I should freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhew moft love. When yet he was but tenderbodied, and the only fon of my womb; when youth with comeliness 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 person; that it was no better than picturelike to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir-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 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 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 Marcius-I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously furfeit out of action.

1 brows bound with oak:]-the most honourable crown, worn only by fuch Romans as had faved the life of a citizen.

Enter

Enter a Gentlewoman.

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

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum;
See him pluck down Aufidius by the hair;

As children from a bear, the Volces fhunning him;
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus, and call thus-
Come on you cowards; you were got in fear,

you.

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

m

Or all, or lofe his hire.

D

Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man, Than gilt his trophy: The breafts of Hecuba, When she did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it fpit forth blood At Grecian fwords' contending.-Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome.

[Exit Gent.

Vir. Heavens 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 ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifeft houfekeepers. What, are you fewing here? A fine fpot, in good faith.-How does your little fon?

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

» mail'd hand]—hand clad in armour.

VOL. V.

C

gil-gilding. Vol.