Enter MESSENGER.

Mes. Where 's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Here. What's the matter?

Mes. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means

to vent

Our musty superfluity.-See, our best elders.

Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us;

The Volces are in arms.

Mar.

They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.

I sin in envying his nobility;

And were I any thing but what I am,

I would wish me only he.

Com.

You have fought together.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears,

and he

Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make

Only my wars with him: he is a lion

That I am proud to hunt.

1 Sen.

Then, worthy Marcius,

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Com. It is your former promise.

Mar.

Sir, it is;

And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou

Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.

What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Lar. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, Ere stay behind this business.

Men.

O, true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol, where, I

know,

Our greatest friends attend us.

Lar.

Lead you on:

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you:

Right worthy you priority.

Com.

Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone!

[to the Citizens.

Mar.

Nay, let them follow;

The Volces have much corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers, Your valor puts well forth: pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, Com. Mar. Lar. and Men. Citizens steal away.

Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the peo

ple,

Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

Sic.

Nay, but his taunts!

Bru. Being moved, he will not spare to gird1 the

gods.

1 To sneer at.

Sic. Bemock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic.

Such a nature,

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon.

But I do wonder,

His insolence can brook to be commanded

Under Cominius.

Bru.

Fame, at the which he aims,

In whom already he is well graced, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius, ‘O, if he
Had borne the business!'

Sic.

Besides, if things go well,

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits 1 rob Cominius.

Bru.

Come;

Half all Cominius' honors are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his

faults

To Marcius shall be honors, though, indeed,

In aught he merit not.

Sic.

Let's hence, and hear

How the despatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than in singularity, he goes

1 Merits and demerits had formerly the same meaning.

Upon his present action.1

Bru.

Let's along.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Corioli. The senate-house.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain SENATORS. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels,
And know how we proceed.

Is it not yours?

Auf.
What ever hath been thought on in this state,
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 :—

[reads.

'They have press'd a power, but it is not known
Whether for east or west.
The dearth is great;

The people mutinous: and it is rumor'd,
Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,

(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you)
And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
These three lead on this preparation

Whither 'tis bent; most likely, 'tis for you:
Consider of it.'

1 Sen.

Our army's in the field:

1. We will learn what he is to do, besides going himself; what are his powers, and what is his appointment.'-Johnson.

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 show 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,

1

To take in 1 many towns, ere, almost, Rome

Should know we were afoot.

Noble Aufidius,

2 Sen.
Take your commission; hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli.

If they set down before us, for the remove
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They have not prepared for us.

Auf.
O, doubt not that;
I speak from certainties. Nay, more,
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honors.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike
Till one can do no more.

All.

The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honors safe!