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 firft; for what miscarries
Shall be the General's fault, tho' he perform
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 fo fticks on Marcius, Ihall
Of his demcrits 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 ought 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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to Corioli.
Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli.
i Sen.
1 Sen.

O, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are entred in our Coun-

sels,
And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours? What ever 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,

think;

I have the letter here; yes — here it is ;
“ They have preft a Power, but it is not known

[Reading. 66 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) 66 And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, " These three lead on this preparation " Whither 'tis bent — most likely, 'tis for you: C6 Consider of it.

i 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 muft shew themselves; which in the hatch-

ing,
It seem'd, appear’d to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shortned in our aim, which was
To take in many Towns, ere (almoft) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,
Take your Commission, bie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli ;
If they set down before's, for the Remove
Bring up your Army: but, I think, you'll find,
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, doubt not That,
I speak 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 sworn between us, we shall ever strike
'Till one can do no more,

All. The Gods assist you !
Auf. And keep your Honours fafe!
I Sen. Farewel.
2 Sen. Farewel.
All. Farewel.

[Exeunt.
SCENE

SCENE changes to Caius Marcius's House

in Rome.

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on two low

ftoolsand fow. Vol.

I Pray you, Daughter, fing, or express your self my Husband, I would freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would shew most love. When yec 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 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 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 lent 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 profefs 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 voluptuoully surfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire my

self. Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not: Methinks, I bither hear your Husband's Drum : I see him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair: (As children from a bear) the Volsci shunning him:

Methinks,

Methinks, I see him stamp thus and call thus -
Come on, ye cowards, ye 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! oh, Jupiter, no blood!

Vol. Away, you fool; it more becomes a man,
Than Gilt his trophy. The breast of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hektor, look'd not lovelier
Than Heftor's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords contending ; tell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome.

[Exit Gent. Vir. Heav'ns bless my Lord from fell Aufidius!

Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knce,
And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Usher, and a Gentlewoman.
Dal. 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 sowing here? a finc 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 schoolmaster.

Val. O'my word, the Father's Son: I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty Boy. O’my troth, I look'd on him o' Wednesday half an hour together has such a confirm'd 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; and caught it again; or whether his Fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and did tear it, oh, I warrant, how he mammockt it!

Vol. One of's Father's moods.
Val. Indeed, la, 'cis a noble Child.
Vir. A crack, Madam.

IN

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'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars.

Val. Fie, you confine your self most unreasonably: Come, you must go visit the good Lady that lyes 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 Ulyles's absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambrick 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. Oh, good Madam, there can be none yét.

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 Volscians 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 my honour ; and so, I pray, go with

Vir. Give me excuse, good Madam, I will obey you in every ching hereafter.

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

Val. In troth, I think, fhe would : fare you well, then. Come, good sweet Lady

Lady: Pr’ythee, Virgilia, Vol. VI.

us.

furn