I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think To fob off our disgraces with a tale; But, an't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time, when all the body's members I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive, Like labour with the rest; where th' other instruments 2 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? Men. Sir, I shall tell you.-With a kind of smile, Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus, (For, look you, I may make the belly smile, As well as speak) it tauntingly replied T' the discontented members, the mutinous parts They are not such as you. 2 Cit. Men. What then? And leave me but the bran." What say you to't? 2 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs, Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, We have ever your good word. Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him, What! And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness, Deserves your hate; and your affections are 'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what then? 2 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the sink o' the body, Men. Well, what then? 2 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? : Men. I will tell you, If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little) Patience a while, you'll hear the belly's answer. 2 Cit. Y'are long about it. Men. Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd :"True is it, my incorporate friends," quoth he, "That I receive the general food at first, Which you do live upon; and fit it is, Because I am the store-house, and the shop Of the whole body: but if you do remember, I send it through the rivers of your blood, Even to the court, the heart, the senate, brain; And through the ranks and offices of man The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins, From me receive that natural competency Whereby they live. And though that all at once, You, my good friends," this says the belly, mark me,2 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. Men. Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each, Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flour of all, A sick man's appetite, who desires most that 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes! be gone. [To the Citizens. Mar. Nay, let them follow. The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. [Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and MENEN. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. Sic. Bemock the modest moon. SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate-House. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA. They sit down on two low Stools, and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence 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; 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 man. Vir. But had he died in the business, madam? how then? Vol. Then, his good report should have been my son: I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely-had I a dozen sons,-each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum, Vir. His bloody brow? O, Jupiter! no blood. [Exit Gent. Vol. He had rather see swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master. Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him 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, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O! I warrant, how he mammocked it! : Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have Vol. She shall, she shall. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars. Vol. Fie! you confine yourself most unreasonably. 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 till 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 Volsces 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, she will but disease our better mirth. Val. In troth, I think, she would.-Fare you well then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemnness 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. Lart. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you him And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius: For half a hundred years.-Summon the town. 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 [Drums afar off. They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, The Gates open. Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted 1 Sol. O, 'tis Marcius! Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the City." 1 Rom. This will I carry to Rome. 3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, my Convenient numbers to make good the city, fellows: He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce, Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volsces, fighting. The Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you, Another Alarum. The Volsces and Romans re-enter, and So, now the gates are ope:-now prove good seconds. Nor I. 3 Sol. See, they have shut him in. [Alarum continues. To the port I warrant him. Enter TITUS LARTIUS. All. Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Sir, praise me not; Lart. Mar. [He enters the Gates, and is shut in. Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands, Lart. What is become of Marcius? O noble fellow! Lart. Let him alone, Mar. He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen, The common file, (A plague !-Tribunes for them?) The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did budge From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think it. Where is the enemy? Are you lords o' the field? If not, why cease you till you are so? Com. Marcius, we have at disadvantage fought, And did retire to win our purposes. Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on which side They have plac'd their men of trust? Com. As I guess, Marcius, Those bands i' the vayward are the Antiates, Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius, Their very heart of hope. Mar. I do beseech you, Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear [They all shout, and wave their Swords; take him up in their arms, and cast up their Caps. O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? If these shows be not outward, which of you But is four Volsces? None of you, but is Able to bear against the great Aufidius A shield as hard as his. A certain number, Com. [Exeunt. Mar. 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. Were thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, [They fight, and certain Volsces come to the aid of Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me [Exeunt fighting, all driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX. The Roman Camp. Alarum. A Retreat 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, |