Whether for east, or west: 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 '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
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,
To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome
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
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 honours.
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 honours safe!

1 Sen.

2 Sen.

All. Farewell.

Farewell. Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE III-Rome. An apartment in Marcius' house. Enter Volumnia, and Virgilia: They

sit down on two low stools, and sew.

Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire
myself.

Vol. Indeed, you shall not.
Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum;
See him pluck Aufidius down 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.

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.-1'ell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent.
Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.

Re-enter Gentlewoman, with Valeria and her
Usher.

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 housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot,4 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.

'tis

Val. O'my word, the father's son: I'll swear, a very pretty boy. O'my troth, I look'd upon him o'Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a

Vol. One of his father's moods.
Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack,6 madam.

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 Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express your-whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did self in a more comfortable sort: If my son were so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that ab-mammocked it! sence 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 2 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

Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
Val. Not out of doors?
Vol. She shall, she shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars. Val. 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 fill 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 Volces 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 solemness out o'door, and go along

with us.

Vir. No: at a word, madam; indeed, 1 must not. I wish you much mirth.

Val. Well, then farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Before Corioli. Enter, with drum and colours, Marcius, Titus Lartius, Officers and Soldiers. To them a Messenger.

Mar. Yonder comes news:-A wager, they have

Agreed.

Lart.
Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy?
Mess. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
Lart. So, the good horse is mine.
Mar.
I'll buy him of you.
Lart. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you
him, I will,

For half a hundred years.-Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie the armies?

Mess.
Within this mile and half.
Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they

ours.

Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work;
That we with smoking swords may march from
hence,

To help our fielded2 friends!--Come, blow thy blast.
They sound a parley. Enter, on the walls, some
Senators, and others.

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
[Alarums afar off
Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our
walls,

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

rushes;

They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off;
[Other alarums.
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.

Mar.
O, they are at it!
Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders,
ho!

The Volces enter, and pass over the stage.
Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance,
brave Titus :

(1) Short. (2) In the field of battle. (3) Having sensation, feeling.

They do disdain us 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, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting.
The Romans are beaten back to their trenches.
Re-enter Marcius.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and
plagues
Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd
Further 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 flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge
home,

Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe,
And make 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. The Volces and Romans re-
enter, and the fight is renewed. The Volces re-
tire into Corioli, and Marcius follows them to
the gates.

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

'Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.
[He enters the gates, and is shut in.
1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I.
2 Sol.
3 Sol.

Have shut him in.

All.

Nor I.

See, they [Alarum continues.

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,
Clapp'd to their gates; he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.
Lart.
O noble fellow!
Who, sensible,3 outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows,4 stands up! Thou art left,
Marcius:

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible
Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks, and
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,
Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world

Were feverous and did tremble.
Re-enter Marcius bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.
1 Sol.
Look, sir.
Lart.

'Tis Marcius:
Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
[They fight, and all enter the city.
SCENE V-Within the town. A street. En-
ter certain Romans, with spoils.

1 Rom. This I will carry to Rome.

2 Rom. And I this.

3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver.
[Alarum continues still afar off.

(4) When it is bent.

He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen,
The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did budge
The common file, (A plague!-Tribunes for them!)
From rascals worse than they.

Com.
But how prevail'd you?
Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not
think-
Where is the enemy? Are you lords of the field?
If not, why cease you till you are so?
Com.

Marcius,
En-We have at disadvantage fought, and did
Retire, to win our purpose.

Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
Though thanks to all, must I select: the rest
Shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;
And four shall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are best inclin'd.

Com.
March on, my fellows;
Make good this ostentation, and shall
you
Divide in all with us.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VII.-The gates of Corioli. Titus Lar-
tius, having set a guard upon Corioli, going
with a drum and trumpet toward Cominius and
Caius Marcius, enters with a Lieutenant, a party
of Soldiers, and a Scout.

Lart. So, let the ports! be guarded: keep your
duties,

As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch
Those centuries2 to our aid; the rest will serve
For a short holding: If we lose the field,
We cannot keep the town.
Lieu.
Fear not our care, sir.
Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.-
Our guider, come; to the Roman
conduct us.
camp
[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII-A field of battle between the
Roman and the Volscian camps. Alarum. En-Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,
And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses,
(Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,)

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums. Be hostages for Rome. All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus!

Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove : pray you

:-('Tis south the city mills,) bring me word thither How the world goes; that to the pace of it