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 school-master.

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: 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 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammock

eds it!

Vol. One of his father's moods.

Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack,9 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. Fye,you confine yourselfmost 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. 'Tis not to save labor, 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 honor: and so, I pray, go

with us.

Now, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work; That we with smoking swords inay march from hence,

To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy blast. They sound a Parley. Enter, on the Walls, sʊme 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.

Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting.
The Romans are beaten back to their Trenches.
Re-enter MARCIUS.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and

plagues

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:-Fare you well, then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, and go along

with us.

seconds:

'Tis 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 1. 2 Sol. 3 Sol.

Have shut him in.

All.

Nor I.

See, they [Alarum contine es.

To the pot, I warrant him.

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible
Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks, and
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,
Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.

Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the Enemy. 1 Sol. Look, sir. Lart. 'Tis Marcius! Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the City.

SCENE V.-Within the Town. A Street.
Enter certain Romans, with Spoils.

1 Rom. This will I carry to Rome.
2 Rom. And I this.

3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off.

Enter MARCIUS, and TITUS LARTIUS, with a

There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,
Piercing our Romans: Then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city;
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste
To help Cominius.
Lart.

Worthy sir, thou bleed'st;

Thy exercise hath been too violent for

A second course of fight.

Mar. Sir, praise me not;

Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, To let him slip at will.

Mar.

Com. Where is that slave, Where is he? Call him hither. Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? Let him alone, He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, The common file, (A plague!-Tribunes for them!)

The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did budge From rascals worse than they.

Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not thinkWhere is the enemy? Are you lords o' the field? If not, why cease you till you are so? Com.

Marcius,

The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus
I will appear, and fight.
Lart.

Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, Prosperity be thy page!

Mar.
Thy friend no less
Than those she placeth highest! So, farewell.
Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius !-

[Exit MARCIUS. Go, sound thy trumpet in the market place; Call thither all the officers of the town,

Where they shall know our mind: Away. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.-Near the Camp of Cominius.
Enter COMINIUS and Forces retreating.

Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on which side

They have placed their men of trust?
Com.
As I guess, Marcius,
Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates,
Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.

Mar.
I do beseech you,
By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
We have made to endure friends, that you directly
Set me against Aufidius, and his Antiates:
And that you not delay the present; but,
Filling the air with swords advanced, and darts,
We prove this very hour.

Com.

are come off

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,
Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs,

We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,
By interims, and conveying gusts, we have heard
The charges of our friends:-The Roman gods,
Lead their successes as we wish our own;
That both our powers, with smiling fronts encoun-
tering,

Enter a Messenger.

May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news?
Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued,
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
I saw our party to their trenches driven,
And then I came away.

1 Having sensation, feeling.

The best can aid your action.
Mar.
Those are they
That most are willing:-If any such be here,
(As it were sin to doubt,) that love this painting
Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;

If any think, brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him, alone, or so many, so minded,
Wave thus, Waving his hand,] to express his
disposition,

And follow Marcius.

[They all shout, and wave their Swords; take him up in their Arms, and cast up their Caps.

• Expend.

2 A Roman coin.

• Soldiers of Antium.

• Front. Present time.

O me, alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volces? None of you but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
Though thanks to all, must I select: the rest,
Shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;-
And four shall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are best inclin'd.
Com.
March on, my fellows:
Make good this ostentation, and you shall
Divide in all with us.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.-The Gates of Corioli. TITUS LARTIUS, having set a Guard upon Corioli, going with a Drum and Trumpet towards COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a Lieutenant, a party of Soldiers, and a Scout. Lart. So, let the ports? be guarded; keep your duties,

As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch
Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve
For a short holding: if we lose the field,
We cannot keep the town.
Lieu.
Fear not our care, sir.
Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.-
Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII-A Field of Battle between the
Roman and the Volscian Camps.
Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS.
Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate

thee

Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor
More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot.
Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave,
And the gods doom him after !
Auf.

Halloo me like a hare.

Mar.

If I fly, Marcius, Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd; 'Tis not my blood Wherein thou seest me mask'd: for thy revenge, Wrench up thy power to the highest. Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, Thou shouldst not scape me here.

[They fight, and certain Volces come to the aid of AUFIDIUS.

Officious and not valiant,-you have sham'd me In your condemned seconds.9

[Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS.

SCENE IX.-The Roman Camp. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter, at one side, COMINIUS and Romans; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his Arm in a Scarf, and

other Romans.

Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug, I' the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted, And, gladly quak'd,' hear more; where the duli tribunes,

That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honors,
Shall say against their hearts-We thank the gods,
Our Rome hath such a soldier!—

Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast,
Having fully dined before.

Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his Power, from the
Pursuit.

Lart.
O general,
Here is the steed, we the caparison:
Hadst thou beheld-

Mar.
Pray now, no more: my mother,
Who has a charter to extol her blood,
When she does praise me, grieves me. I have done
As you have done; that's what I can; induced
As you have been; that's for my country:

▾ Gates.

• Companies of a hundred men. 9 In affording such ill-timed help. Thrown into grateful trepidation.

The grave of your deserving; Rome must know
The value of her own: 'twere a concealment
Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,
To hide your doings; and to silence that,
Which to the spire and top of praises vouch'd,
Would seem but modest. Therefore, I beseech you,
(In sign of what you are, not to reward
What you have done,) before our army hear me.
Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they

smart
To hear themselves remember'd.
Com.

Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, (Whereof we have ta en good, and good store,)of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, Before the common distribution, at We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth, Your only choice. Mar.

I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

[A long Flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Mar-
cius! cast up their Caps and Lances: COMI-
NIUS and LARTIUS stand bare.

Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane,

Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall
I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be
Made all of false-faced soothing: When steel grows
Soft as the parasite's silk, let him be made
An overture for the wars! No more, I say;
For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled,
Or foil'd some debile' wretch,-which, without note,
Here's many else have done,-you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;

As if I loved my little should be dieted
In praises sauced with lies.
Com.
Too modest are you;
More cruel to your good report than grateful
To us that give you truly: by your patience,
If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you
(Like one that means his proper3 harm) in manacles,
Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it

known,

As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this time,
For what he did before Corioli, call him,
With all the applause and clamor of the host,
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS.-
Bear the addition nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus! Cor. I will go wash;

Whether I blush, or no : Howbeit, I thank you :-
And when my face is fair, you shall perceive
I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,
To undercrest your good addition,
To the fairness of my power.
Com.
So to our tent:
Where, ere we do repose us, we will write
To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome
The best,5 with whom we may articulate,6
For their own good, and ours.
Lart.
I shall, my lord.
Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now
Refus'd more princely gifts, am bound to beg
Of my lord general.
Com.
Take it: 'tis yours.-What is't!
Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli,
At a poor man's house: he used me kindly:
He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;
But then Aufidius was within my view,
And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you
To give my poor host freedom.

Com.

O, well begg'd! Were he the butcher of my son, he should Be free, as the wind. Deliver him, Titus. Lart. Marcius, his name?