The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

First 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,[2574]
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:
[Reads] 'They have press'd a power, but it is not known [2575]
Whether for east or west: the dearth is great;[2576] 10
The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd,
Cominius, Marcius 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:[2577]
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 [2578] 20
They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,
It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery [2579]
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, 25
Take your commission; hie you to your bands:
Let us alone to guard Corioli:[2580][2581]
If they set down before 's, for the remove[2581][2582]
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They've not prepared for us.[2583]

Auf. O, doubt not that; 30
I speak from certainties. Nay, more,[2584]
Some parcels of their power are forth already,[2585]
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall ever strike [2586] 35
Till one can do no more.

All. The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honours safe!

First Sen. Farewell.

Sec. Sen. Farewell.

All. Farewell. [Exeunt.[2587]

Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a
more comfortable sort: if my son were my husband, I should [2589]
freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than [2590]
in the embracements of his bed where he would show most [2591]
love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son 5
of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze
his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother [2592]
should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I, considering [2593]
how honour would become such a person; that it
was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown 10
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,
daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was [2594]
a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself 15
a man.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam: 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 20
dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had [2595]
eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously
surfeit out of action.

Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.

Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. 25

Vol. Indeed, you shall not.[2596]
Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum;[2597]
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;[2598]
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:[2599]
Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:[2600] 30
'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear,[2601]
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 [2602]
Or all, or lose his hire.[2603] 35

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,[2604]
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood 40
At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria [2605]
We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent.[2606]

Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!

Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,[2607]
And tread upon his neck. 45

Val. My ladies both, good day to you.[2609]

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 fine spot, in good faith.[2610] 50
How does your little son?

Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

Vol. He had rather see the swords and hear a drum [2611]
than look upon his schoolmaster.

Val. O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis a very [2612] 55
pretty boy. O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday[2612][2613]
half an hour together: has such a confirmed countenance.[2614]
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 [2615] 60
fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and
tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked it!

Vol. One on 's father's moods.[2616]

Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.

Vir. A crack, madam. 65

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.[2617]

Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She shall, she shall. 70

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:[2618]
come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with 75
my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

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 [2619] 80
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. 85

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. 90

Vir. Indeed, madam?[2620]

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 95
their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to [2621]
make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so,[2622]
I pray, go with us.

Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you
in every thing hereafter. 100

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but [2623][2624]
disease our better mirth.[2623]

Val. In troth, I think she would. Fare you well,[2623]
then. Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy[2623]
solemness out o' door, and go along with us.[2623][2625] 105

Vir. No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I[2623]
wish you much mirth.[2623]

Val. Well then, farewell. [Exeunt.[2626]

Mar. Yonder comes news: a wager they have met.[2628]

Lart. My horse to yours, no.[2629]

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart. 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. 5

Lart. No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will [2630][2631]
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.[2631]

Mar. How far off lie these armies?

Mess. Within this mile and half.[2632]

Mar. 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.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?[2634][2635]

First Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,[2636]
That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums [2637] 15

Are bringing forth our youth! we'll break our walls,
Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates,[2638]
Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes;
They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes[2634] 20
Amongst your cloven army.

Mar. O, they are at it!

Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.[2640]
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus:[2641] 25
They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,
Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows:[2642]
He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce,[2643]
And he shall feel mine edge.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you,[2645] 30
You shames of Rome! you herd of—Boils and plagues [2646]
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 35
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; 40
If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,[2647]
As they us to our trenches followed.[2647][2648]

So, now the gates are ope: now prove good seconds:
'Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. 45

First Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I.

Sec. Sol. Nor I. [Marcius is shut in.[2651]

First Sol. See, they have shut him in.

All. To the pot, I warrant him.

Lart. What is become of Marcius?

All. Slain, sir, doubtless.

First Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, 50
With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,
Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone,[2653]
To answer all the city.

Lart. O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,[2654]
And, when it bows, stands up! Thou art left, Marcius:[2655] 55
A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier [2656]
Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible [2657]
Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,[2658] 60
Thou madest thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.

First Sol. Look, sir.

Lart. O, 'tis Marcius!
Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.

First Rom. This will I carry to Rome.

Sec. Rom. And I this.

Third Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver.

Mar. See here these movers that do prize their hours [2662]
At a crack'd drachma! Cushions, leaden spoons,[2663] 5
Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would
Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,
Ere yet the fight be done, pack up: down with them!
And hark, what noise the general makes! To him![2664]
There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius, 10
Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city;
Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste [2665]
To help Cominius.

Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st;
Thy exercise hath been too violent [2666] 15
For a second course of fight.[2666]

Mar. Sir, praise me not;
My work hath yet not warm'd me: fare you well:
The blood I drop is rather physical
Than dangerous to me: to Aufidius thus [2667][2668]
I will appear, and fight.[2667]

Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, 20
Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms
Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman,[2669]
Prosperity be thy page!

Mar. Thy friend no less
Than those she placeth highest! So farewell.[2670]

Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius! [Exit Marcius.[2671] 25
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;[2672]
Call thither all the officers o' the town,[2673]
Where they shall know our mind. Away! [Exeunt.

Com. Breathe you, my friends: well fought; we 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,[2675]
By interims and conveying gusts we have heard 5
The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods,[2676]
Lead their successes as we wish our own,
That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering,
May give you thankful sacrifice!

Thy news?

Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued, 10
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
I saw our party to their trenches driven,[2678]
And then I came away.

Com. Though thou speak'st truth,[2679]
Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is't since?

Mess. Above an hour, my lord. 15

Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:[2680]
How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,
And bring thy news so late?[2681]

Mess. Spies of the Volsces
Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel
Three or four miles about; else had I, sir, 20
Half an hour since brought my report.

Scene III. Rome. A room in Marcius' house.

Scene IV. Before Corioli.

Scene V. Within Corioli. A street.[2660]

Scene VI. Near the camp of Cominius.[2674]