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Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit

you.

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.-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.

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, 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 't is

a very pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: he 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 't was, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked it!

Vol. One of his father's moods.

Val. Indeed, la, 't is a noble child.

Vir. A crack, madam.

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. "T is 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 everything 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.-Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemnness out o' door, and go along with us.

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

Val. Well, then farewell.

SCENE IV.-Before Corioli.

[Exeunt.

Enter, with drums and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Officers, and Soldiers.

senger.

To them a Mes

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

met.

Lart. My horse to yours, no.

Mar.

Lart.

"T is done.

Agreed.

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 these armies ?

Mess.

Within this mile and half.

Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work; That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded 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, afar 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:

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.

Alarums, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting. The Romans are beaten back to their trenches. Reenter 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 retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates.

So, now the gates are ope:-Now prove good seconds: T is 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. Nor 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?

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 sensibly outdares his senseless sword,

And when it bows stands up! Thou art left, Marcius: A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,

Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier

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