In aught he merit not.
SICINIUS Let’s hence, and hear
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How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than his singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.
BRUTUS Let’s along. Exeunt.
1.2 Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with Senators of Corioles.
1 SENATOR So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are enter’d in our counsels,
And know how we proceed.
AUFIDIUS Is it not yours?
What ever have been thought on in this state
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
5
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 press’d a power, but it is not known
Whether for east or west. The dearth is great,
10
The people mutinous; and it is rumour’d,
Cominius, Martius 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
15
Whither ’tis bent: most likely ’tis for you.
Consider of it.’
1 SENATOR Our army’s in the field.
We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.
AUFIDIUS Nor did you think it folly
To keep your great pretences veil’d, till when
20
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 SENATOR Noble Aufidius,
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Take your commission, hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioles.
If they set down before’s, for the remove
Bring up your army; but I think you’ll find
Th’have not prepar’d for us.
AUFIDIUS Oh, doubt not that,
30
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 Martius chance to meet,
’Tis sworn between us, we shall ever strike
35
Till one can do no more.
ALL The gods assist you!
AUFIDIUS And keep your honours safe!
1 SENATOR Farewell.
SECOND SENATOR Farewell.
ALL Farewell. Exeunt.
1.3 Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA, mother and wife to MARTIUS. They set them down on two low stools and sew.
VOLUMNIA I pray you, daughter, sing, or express
yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my
husband I should freelier rejoice in that absence
wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of
his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he
5
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
10
person – that it was no better than picture-like to hang
by th’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,
15
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.
VIRGILIA But had he died in the business, madam, how
then?
20
VOLUMNIA 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
Martius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their
25
country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.
Enter a Gentlewoman.
GENTLEWOMAN
Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
VIRGILIA Beseech you give me leave to retire myself.
VOLUMNIA Indeed you shall not.
Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum;
30
See him pluck Aufidius down by th’hair,
As children from a bear, the Volsces 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
35
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.
VIRGILIA His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood!
VOLUMNIA Away you fool! it more becomes a man
40
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 sword contemning. Tell Valeria
We are fit to bid her welcome. Exit Gentlewoman.
45
VIRGILIA Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
VOLUMNIA He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.
Enter VALERIA with an usher, and a gentlewoman.
VALERIA My ladies both, good day to you.
VOLUMNIA Sweet madam.
50
VIRGILIA I am glad to see your ladyship.
VALERIA How do you both? You are manifest
housekeepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot,
in good faith. How does your little son?
VIRGILIA I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.
55
VOLUMNIA He had rather see the swords and hear a
drum, than look upon his schoolmaster.
VALERIA O’my word, the father’s son! I’ll swear ’tis a
very pretty boy. O’my troth, I looked upon him o’
Wednesday half an hour together: ’has such a
60
confirmed 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, catched it again; or whether his fall enraged
him, or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it.
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Oh, I warrant how he mammocked it!
VOLUMNIA One on’s father’s moods.
VALERIA Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.
VIRGILIA A crack, madam.
VALERIA Come, lay aside your stitchery, I must have you
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play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.
VIRGILIA No, good madam, I will not out of doors.
VALERIA Not out of doors?
VOLUMNIA She shall, she shall.
VIRGILIA Indeed no, by your patience; I’ll not over the
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threshold till my lord return from the wars.
VALERIA Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably.
Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
VIRGILIA I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her
with my prayers; but I ca
nnot go thither.
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VOLUMNIA Why, I pray you?
VIRGILIA ’Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.
VALERIA 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
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were sensible as your finger, that you might leave
pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.
VIRGILIA No, good madam, pardon me; indeed I will
not forth.
VALERIA In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you
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excellent news of your husband.
VIRGILIA Oh, good madam, there can be none yet.
VALERIA Verily I do not jest with you. There came news
from him last night.
VIRGILIA Indeed, madam?
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VALERIA In earnest, it’s true; I heard a senator speak it.
Thus it is: the Volsces 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 Corioles; they nothing
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doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is
true on mine honour, and so, I pray, go with us.
VIRGILIA Give me excuse, good madam, I will obey you
in everything hereafter.
VOLUMNIA Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will
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but disease our better mirth.
VALERIA In troth, I think she would. Fare you well then.
Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy
solemness out o’door, and go along with us.
VIRGILIA No, at a word, madam; indeed I must not. I
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wish you much mirth.
VALERIA Well then, farewell. Exeunt.
1.4 Enter MARTIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with drum and colours, with captains and soldiers, as before the city Corioles. To them a Messenger.
MARTIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
LARTIUS My horse to yours, no.
MARTIUS ’Tis done.
LARTIUS Agreed.
MARTIUS Say, has our general met the enemy?
MESSENGER
They lie in view, but have not spoke as yet.
LARTIUS So, the good horse is mine.
MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you.
5
LARTIUS
No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
MARTIUS How far off lie these armies?
MESSENGER Within this mile and half.
MARTIUS
Then shall we hear their ’larum, and they ours.
Now Mars, I prithee make us quick in work,
10
That we with smoking swords may march from
hence
To help our fielded friends. Come, blow thy blast.
They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others, on the walls of Corioles.
Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
1 SENATOR
No, nor a man that fears you less than he;
That’s lesser than a little. [Drum afar off.]
Hark, our drums
15
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!
[Alarum far off.]
There is Aufidius. List what work he makes
20
Amongst your cloven army.
MARTIUS Oh, they are at it!
LARTIUS Their noise be our instruction. Ladders ho!
Enter the army of the Volsces.
MARTIUS 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.
25
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 Volsce,
And he shall feel mine edge.
[Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches.]
Enter MARTIUS, cursing.
MARTIUS All the contagion of the south light on you,
30
You shames of Rome! You herd 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
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