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Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the peo-
Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes?
Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to'
Sic. Be-mock the modest moon.
Bru. The present wars devour him

Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic. Such a nature,

Whither 'tis bent: most likely, 'tis for you: "Consider 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 [gods. 20 They needs must shew themselves; which in the hatching,

gird the
[grown
he is

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 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 the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out on Marcius, O, if he
Had borne the business!

Sic. Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits 3 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 singularity, he goes

Upon this present action.

Bru. Let's along.

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The Senate-House in Corioli. Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators. Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

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
25 Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

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

If they set down before us, for the remove
30 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, 35 And only hitherward. I leave your honours. If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us, we shall ever strike Till one can do no more.

All. The gods assist you!

40 Auf. And keep your honours safe!
1 Sen. Farewell.

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Enter Volumnia, and Virgilia: They sit down on two low stools, and sew.

Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express [Exeunt. 50 yourself in a more comfortable sort: If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that Jabsence wherein he won honour, than in the enbracements of his bed, where he would shew most love. When yet he was but tender-body'd, and 55 the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck'd 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

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

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To sneer, to gibe. The sense is, that the present wars annihilate his gentler qualities.

Me

rits and demerits had anciently the same meaning. 4 i. e. We will learn what he is to do, besides going himself; what are his powers, and what is his appointment. siege us, bring up your army to remove them.

That is, If the Romans be

was

was no better than picture-like to hang by the 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 sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak': I tell thee, 5 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?

let it go again; and after it again; and over and
over he comes, and up again; catch'd it again
or whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he
did so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant
how he mammock'd 3it!

Vol. One of his father's moods.
Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack, madam.

Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I mus 10have you play the idle huswife with me this after

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 15| nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman,

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you.

[self.

Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire my-
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 shunning him:
Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,-
Come on, you cowards; you were got in fear,
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
Or all, or lose his hire.

2

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

Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fel! Aufidius!
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria, with an Usher, and a Gentlewoman.
Val. My ladies both, good day to you.
Vol. Sweet madam,

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship.

Val. How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot, 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.

noon.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out o doors.

Val. Not out of doors!
Vol. She shall, she shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will no over the threshold, 'till my lord return from the

wars.

Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreason 20ably: Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

25

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visi her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I wan love.

Val. You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all the yarn, she spun in Ulysses' ab sence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come 30I would, your cambrick were sensible as you finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity Come, you shall go with us.

1351

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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 cam news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, madam?

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a senato speak it. Thus it is :-The Volces have an arm forth; against whom Cominius the general is gon with one part of our Roman power: your lor 45 and Titus Lartius are set down before their cit Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and t make it brief wars. This is true, on mine ho nour; and so, I pray, go with us.

50

Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 55 'tis a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I look'd upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirm'd countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he

Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I wi obey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, sh will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think, she would:-Fare yo well then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythe Virgilia, turn thy solemnness out o' door, and along with us.

Vir. No: at a word, madam; indeed, I mu not. I wish you much mirth. Val. Well, then farewell.

[Exeun

The crown given by the Romans to him that saved the life of a citizen, and was accounted mo honourable than any other. 2 Gilt is an obsolete word, meaning a superficial display of gol

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With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge
Or,by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, [home,
And inake my wars on you: look to't: Come on;
If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.

[Another alarum, and Marcius follows them to
the gates.

So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good
seconds:

10Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
Not for the fliers: Mark me, and do the like.
[He enters the gates.

[yet.

15

Lart. No, I'll not sell, nor give him: lend you him, I will,

[ours. 20

For half a hundred years.-Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie these armies?
Mes. Within this mile and half.
Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they
Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work;
That we with smoking swords may march from
hence,
[blast.

To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy 25
They sound a parley. Enter Senators, with others,
on the walls.

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 [Drum afar off.

Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls,

30

Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with 35 rushes;

They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off;
[Alarum far off

There is Aufidius: list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.

Mar. O, they are at it!

[ho!

Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders,
Enter the Volces.

40

Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight 45 With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus:

They do disdain as much beyond our thoughts,
Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on,
my fellows;

He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce,
And he shall feel mine edge.

[Alarum; the Romans beat back to their trenches.
Re-enter Marcius.

1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I.
2 Sol. Nor I.

3 Sol. See, they have shut him in.

[Alarum continues.

All. To the pot, I warrant him.

Enter Titus Lartius.

Lart. What is become of Marcius?
All. Slain, sir, doubtless.

1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters: who, upon the sudden,
Clapt-to their gates; he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.

Lart. O noble fellow!

Who, sensible, out-dares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up! Thou art left,

Marcius:

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3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off. 50 Enter Marcius,and Titus Lartius, with a trumpet. Mar. See here these movers, that do prize their hours

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you, 55 You shames of Rome, you! Herds of boils and plagues

Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd
Farther than seen, and one infect another
Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
From slaves that apes would beat? Pluto and hell!
All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale

with them.

At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons,
Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would
Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,
Ere yet the fight be done, pack up:--Down
[him :—
And hark, what noise the general makes!-To
There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,
60 Piercing our Romans: Then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city; [haste
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will
To help Cominius.

! Make remain is an old manner of speaking, which means no more than remain.

Lara

Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight.

Mar. Sir, praise me not:

My work hath yet not warm'd nie: Fare you well. 5

The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus

I will appear, and fight.

Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune,

Mar. O! let me clip you
In arnis as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart
As merry, as when our nuptial day was done,
And tapers burnt to bedward.

Com. Flower of warriors,

How is't with Titus Lartius?

Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other

Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms 10 Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,

Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman,

Prosperity be thy page!

Mar. Thy friend no less

Than those she places highest! So, farewell.
Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius!-

Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers of the town,

Where they shall know our mind: Away.

SCENE VI.

The Roman Camp.

[Exeunt.

Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
To let him slip at will.

Com. Where is that slave,

Which told me they had beat you to your trenches 15 Where is he? Call him hither.

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Com. But how prevail'd you? [thinkMar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not Where is the enemy? Are you lords o' the field not, why cease you 'till you are so?

If

Com. Marcius, we have a disadvantage fought, And did retire, to win our purpose.

[side

Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on what They have plac'd their men of trust?

Com. As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,
Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.

Mar. I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought,
35 By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
We have made to endure friends, that you directly
Set me against Aufidius, and his Antiates:
And that you not delay the present; but,
Filling the air with swords advanc'd, and darts,
We prove this very hour.

40

[since?

Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't
Mes. Above an hour, my lord.

[drums:

Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour, 45 And bring thy news so late?

Mes. Spies of the Volces

Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel
Three or four miles about; else had I, sir,
Half an hour since brought my report.

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Com. Though I could wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath,
And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
Deny your asking; take your choice of those
your action.

That best can aid

Mar. Those are they

That most are willing:-If any such be here,
(As it were sin to doubt) that love this painting
Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear

50 Lesser his person than an ill report;

If any think, brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him, alone, or so many, so minded,
Wave thus, to express his disposition,
55 And follow Marcius.

[Waving his hand
[They all shout, and wave their swords, take hin
up in their arms, and cast up their caps
O me, alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shews be not outward, which of you
60 But is four Volces? None of you, but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number

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[Exeunt. 25

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And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my
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.—

[Here they fight, and certain Volces come to
the aid of Aufidius. Marcius fights till they
be driven in breathless.

Officious, and not valiant!-you have sham'd me
In your condemned seconds. [Exeunt fighting.

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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, 30 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

35 What you have done) before our army hear me.
Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they
To hear themselves remember'd.
[smart

Com. Should they not',

Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,

40 And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store)

of all

The treasure, in the field atchiev'd, and city,
We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,
45 Before the common distribution, at
Your only choice.

50

55

Mar. I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe, to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

[A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius!
Marcius! cast up their caps and lances:
Cominius and Lartius stand bare.

Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane, [shall Never sound more! When drums and trumpets I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be 60Made all of false-fac'd soothing! When steel grows

Coriolanus may mean, that as all the soldiers have offered to attend him on this expedition, and he wants oly a part of them, he will submit the selection to four indifferent persons, that he himself may escape the charge of partiality. j. e. the gates. 1i. e. thrown into grateful trepidation. The meaning is,-This man performed the action, and we only filled up the shew. That is, ot be remembered.

Soft

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