Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain enough? And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance. Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, Mar. (To break the heart of generosity, And make bold power look pale) they threw their caps Men. What is granted them? Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms; Sicinius Velutus, and I know not - 'Sdeath! Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes Men. This is strange. Mar. Go; get you home, you fragments! Enter a Messenger. Here. Mess. Where 's Caius Marcius? Mag. What's the matter? Mess. The news is, Sir, the Volsces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on 't: then, we shall have means to vent Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS. 1 Sen. Marcius, 't is true, that you have lately told us; The Volsces are in arms. They have a leader, Mar. And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he. Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Then, worthy Marcius, Sir, it is; Com. It is your former promise. And I am constant. - Titus Lartius, thou Tit. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, Men. O, true bred! 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. Lead you on: Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Com. Noble Marcius! [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow. 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes! be gone. Mar. The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. [Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and MEnen. Citizens steal away. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, - Sic. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Sic. Tickled with good success, Such a nature, disdains the shadow His insolence can brook to be commanded Bru. Fame, at the which he aims, In whom already he is well grac'd, cannot Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults In aught he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, More than his singularity, he goes Upon his present action. Bru. Let's along. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate-House. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and Senators. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels, And know how we proceed. Auf. Is it not yours? What ever have been thought on in this state, Whither 't is bent: most likely, 't is for you. 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 2 Sen. [Reads. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you Let us alone to guard Corioli: to your bands. If they set down before 's, for the remove Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find Auf. 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. 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 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 seck 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 manchild, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. |