Ere so prevail'd with me! it will in time
Win upon Power, and throw forth greater themes

For Infurrection's arguing.

Men. This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Meffenger.

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar. Here what's the matter?

Mes. The news is, Sir, the Volscians are in arms. Mar. I'm glad on't, then we shall have means to vent

Our mufty fuperfluity. See, our best Elders

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

1 Sen. MARCIUS, 'tis true, that you have lately

told us,

The Volfcians are in arms.

Mar. They have a Leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.

I fin in envying his Nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,

I'd wish me only he.

Com. You have fought together?

Mar. Were half to half the world by th' 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 Sat. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Com. It is your former promife.
Mar. Sir, it is;

And I am constant: Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt fee me once more strike at Tullus' face,
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius,

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t'other;
Ere stay behind this business.

Men. O true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to th' Capitol; where, I know,

Our greatest Friends attend us.

Tit. 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 Volfcians have much Corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners. Worshipful Mutineers, Your valour puts well forth; pray follow

[Exeunt.

[Citizens steal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. Was ever man so proud, as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen Tribunes for the

People

Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the Gods

Sic. Be-mock 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 infolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he is well grac'd, 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

To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius: oh, if he
Had borne the business

Sic. Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius: shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru. Come,

Half all Cominius' Honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius shall 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 present action.

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE

Changes to Corioli.

[Exeunt.

V.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli.

1 Sen. SO, your opinion is,

Aufidius,

That theyof Rome are entred in our Counsels,

And know how we proceed.

Auf Is it not yours?

Whatever 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;
They have prest a Power, but it is not known

[Reading.

Whether for East or Weft; the Dearth is great,
The People mutinous; and it is rumour'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

Whither 'tis bent-most likely, 'tis for you:
Confider 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 [ing,
They needs must shew themselves; which in the hatch-
It feem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery
We shall be shortned in our aim, which was
To take in many Towns, ere (almost) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.

Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your Commission, hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli;

If they fet down before's, 'fore they remove
Bring up your Army: but, I think, you'll find,
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, dout not that,

I fpeak 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 shall ever strike
'Till one can do no more.

All. The Gods affist you!

Auf. And keep your Honours safe!

1 Sen. Farewel.

2 Sen. Farewel.

All. Farewel.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

VI.

Changes to Caius Marcius's House in Rome.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on two low

Vil.

Stools, and few.

I Pray you, Daughter, fing,

or express yourself

in a more comfortable fort! if my Son were

my

my Husband, I would freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would shew 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 Kings' entreaties, a Mother should not fell him an hour from her beholding; I, confidering how Honour would become such a perfon, that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall, if Renown made it not stir, was pleas'd to let him seek 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 should have been my Son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess fincerely: had I a dozen Sons each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather eleven die nobly for their Country, than one volumptuously 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 myself. Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not:

Methinks, I hither hear your Husband's Drum:
I see him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair:
(As children from a bear) the Volfci shunning him:
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus-and call thus-
Come on, ye cowards, ye were got in fear,

Though ye were born in Rome; his bloody brow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes Like to a harvest man, that's talk'd to mow

Or all, or lofe his hire.