Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you:

Consider of it.'

First 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.

Sec. Sen.

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie 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 prepared for us.

Auf.

20

O, 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 Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more.

SCENE III. Rome.

A room in Marcius' house.

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: they set them
down on two low stools, and sew.

Vol. 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 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 10 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. 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 man.

To

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam: 20 how then?

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

8. plucked, attracted.

16. his brows bound with oak.

A crown of oak-leaves was the reward for saving the life of a fellow-citizen in battle.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit

you.

Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. 3•
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 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
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 sword contemning. Tell 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.

Enter VALERIA, with an Usher and a Gentle

woman.

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

48. bless, protect.

54. manifest house-keepers, notorious stayers-at-home.

40

50

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 60 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 looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together; has such a 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; O, I 70 warrant, how he mammocked it!

Vol. One on's father's moods.

Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack, madam.

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

noon.

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 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.

80

74. crack, a disparaging term applied to a boy.

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.

90

Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell 100 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 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 110 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. well, then. Come, good sweet lady.

Fare you

Prithee,

Virgilia, turn thy solemnness out o' door, and go 120 along with us.

94. moths.
The word was
pronounced 'motts.' There is
thence, apparently, a play upon
the cant meaning lovers,' a

sense still current in Ireland. The Slang Dict. gives 'mot,' a girl of indifferent character. L. 95. sensible, sensitive.