1 Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the peo- Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to' 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 Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,-- Sic. Besides, if things go well, Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, Upon this present action. Bru. Let's along. 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, 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands; If they set down before us, for the remove 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! 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, 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 Vol. One of his father's moods. 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- 2 Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fel! Aufidius! Enter Valeria, with an Usher, and a Gentlewoman. 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! 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 40 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 5 With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge [Another alarum, and Marcius follows them to So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good 10Tis for the followers fortune widens them, [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. To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy 25 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; There is Aufidius: list, what work he makes Mar. O, they are at it! [ho! Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders, 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, He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce, [Alarum; the Romans beat back to their trenches. 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not 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? 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, Lart. O noble fellow! Who, sensible, out-dares his senseless sword, Marcius: 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 with them. At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, ! 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 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. Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place; Where they shall know our mind: Away. SCENE VI. The Roman Camp. [Exeunt. Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, Com. Where is that slave, Which told me they had beat you to your trenches 15 Where is he? Call him hither. 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, Mar. I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, 40 [since? Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't [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 3 Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, That best can aid Mar. Those are they That most are willing:-If any such be here, 50 Lesser his person than an ill report; If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, [Waving his hand [Exeunt. 25 And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, [Here they fight, and certain Volces come to Officious, and not valiant!-you have sham'd me I have done as you have done; that's, what I can; 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. 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, 50 55 Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! 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 |