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here； yes； here it is： ＇Reads＇ 'They have press'd a power； but it is not
known Whether for east or west。 The dearth is great； 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 Whither 'tis bent。 Most likely 'tis for you；
Consider of it。' FIRST SENATOR。 Our army's in the field； We never yet
made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us。 AUFIDIUS。 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 short'ned in our aim； which was To take in many
towns ere almost Rome Should know we were afoot。 SECOND
SENATOR。 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 Th' have not prepar'd for us。
AUFIDIUS。 O； doubt not that！ 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。 ALL。 The gods assist you！
AUFIDIUS。 And keep your honours safe！ FIRST SENATOR。 Farewell。
SECOND SENATOR。 Farewell。 ALL。 Farewell。 Exeunt
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SCENE III。 Rome。 MARCIUS' house
Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA； mother and wife to MARCIUS；
they set them down on two low stools and sew
VOLUMNIA。 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
pluck'd 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 honour
would become such a person… that it was no better than picture…like to
hang by th' wall； if renown made it not stir… was pleas'd to let him seek
danger where he was to find fame。 To a cruel war I sent him； from whence
he return'd 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。 VIRGILIA。 But had he died in the business；
madam； how then？ VOLUMNIA。 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。
Enter a GENTLEWOMAN
GENTLEWOMAN。 Madam； the Lady Valeria is come to visit you。
VIRGILIA。 Beseech you give me leave to retire myself。 VOLUMNIA。
Indeed you shall not。 Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum； See him
pluck Aufidius down by th' 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。 VIRGILIA。 His
bloody brow？ O Jupiter； no blood！ VOLUMNIA。 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
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blood At Grecian sword； contemning。 Tell Valeria We are fit to bid her
welcome。 Exit GENTLEWOMAN VIRGILIA。 Heavens bless my lord
from fell Aufidius！ VOLUMNIA。 He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee
And tread upon his neck。
Re…enter GENTLEWOMAN； With VALERIA and an usher
VALERIA。 My ladies both； good day to you。 VOLUMNIA。 Sweet
madam！ VIRGILIA。 I am glad to see your ladyship。 VALERIA。 How do
you both？ You are manifest housekeepers。 What are you sewing here？ A
fine spot； in good faith。 How does your little son？ VIRGILIA。 I thank your
ladyship； well； good madam。 VOLUMNIA。 He had rather see the swords
and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster。 VALERIA。 O' my word；
the father's son！ I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy。 O' my troth； I look'd upon
him a Wednesday half an hour together； has such a confirm'd 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；
catch'd it again； or whether his fall enrag'd him； or how 'twas； he did so set
his teeth and tear it。 O； I warrant； how he mammock'd it！ VOLUMNIA。
One on's father's moods。 VALERIA。 Indeed； la； 'tis a noble child。
VIRGILIA。 A crack； madam。 VALERIA。 Come； lay aside your stitchery； I
must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon。 VIRGILIA。
No； good madam； I will not out of doors。 VALERIA。 Not out of doors！
VOLUMNIA。 She shall； she shall。 VIRGILIA。 Indeed； no； by your
patience； I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars。
VALERIA。 Fie； you confine yourself most unreasonably； come； you
must go visit the good lady that lies in。 VIRGILIA。 I will wish her
speedy strength； and visit her with my prayers； but I cannot go thither。
VOLUMNIA。 Why； I pray you？ VIRGILIA。 'Tis not to save labour； nor
that I want love。 VALERIA。 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。 VIRGILIA。 No；
good madam； pardon me； indeed I will not forth。 VALERIA。 In truth； la；
go with me； and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband。 VIRGILIA。
O； good madam； there can be none yet。 VALERIA。 Verily； I do not jest
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with you； there came news from him last night。 VIRGILIA。 Indeed；
madam？ VALERIA。 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 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。
VIRGILIA。 Give me excuse； good madam； I will obey you in everything
hereafter。 VOLUMNIA。 Let her alone； lady； as she is now； she will but
disease our better mirth。 VALERIA。 In troth； I think she would。 Fare you
well； then。 Come； good sweet lady。 Prithee； Virgilia； turn thy solemness
out o' door and go along with us。 VIRGILIA。 No； at a word； madam；
indeed I must not。 I wish you much mirth。 VALERIA。 Well then； farewell。
Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 Before Corioli
Enter MARCIUS； TITUS LARTIUS； with drum and colours； with
CAPTAINS and soldiers。 To them a MESSENGER
MARCIUS。 Yonder comes news； a wager… they have met。 LARTIUS。
My horse to yours… no。 MARCIUS。 'Tis done。 LARTIUS。 Agreed。
MARCIUS。 Say； has our general met the enemy？ MESSENGER。 They lie
in view； but have not spoke as yet。 LARTIUS。 So； the good horse is mine。
MARCIUS。 I'll buy him of you。 LARTIUS。 No； I'll nor sell nor give him；
lend you him I will For half a hundred years。 Summon the town。
MARCIUS。 How far off lie these armies？ MESSENGER。 Within this mile
and half。 MARCIUS。 Then shall we hear their 'larum； and they ours。 Now；
Mars； I prithee； make us quick in work； That we with smok