Enter a Messenger hastily.

Mess. Where 's Caius Marcius?

225

Mar.

230

Here: 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.

First Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately

told us ;

The Volsces are in arms.

Mar.

They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.

235 I sin in envying his nobility;

And were I anything but what I am,

I would wish me only he.

Com.

You have fought together.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and

he

240 Upon my party, I 'd revolt, to make

Only my wars with him: he is a lion

That I am proud to hunt.

First Sen.

Then, worthy Marcius,

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Com. It is your former promise.

245

Mar.

Sir, it is;

And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou

Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face:

What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit.

No, Caius Marcius; 250 I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, Ere stay behind this business.

255

260

Men.

O, true bred!

First Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I

know,

Our greatest friends attend us.

Lead you on:

Tit.
Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Com.

First Sen. Hence! To your homes, begone!

Mar.

Noble Marcius!

[To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow:

The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, COMINIUS, MARCIUS, TITUS,
and MENENIUS. Citizens steal away.

Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? 265 Bru. He has no equal.

270

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people –
Bru. Marked you his lip and eyes?

Sic.

Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.

Sic. Be-mock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Such a nature,

Sic. Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow 275 Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder

His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru.
Fame, at the which he aims—-
In whom already he is well graced—cannot
280 Better be held, nor more attained, than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he
285 Had borne the business !

Sic.

Besides, if things go well,

Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall

Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru.

Come:

290 Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earned them not; and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,

In aught he merit not.

Sic.

Let's hence, and hear

295 How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, More than in singularity, he goes

Upon this present action.

Bru.

Let's along. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate-House.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators.

First Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are entered in our counsels,
And know how we proceed.

Auf.

Is it not yours?

5 What ever have been thought on in this state,

That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome 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:10 They have pressed a power, but it is not known Whether for east or west: the dearth is great; The people mutinous: and it is rumoured,

[Reads.

Cominius, Marcus your old enemy

(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you), 15 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 Sen. Our army 's in the field:

20 We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready

25

30

To answer us.

Auf.

Nor did you think it folly

To keep your great pretences veiled till when

They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,

It seemed, appeared to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shortened in our aim: which was,
To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome

Should know we were afoot.

Second Sen.

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands:
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they set down before us, for the remove Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find 35 They 've not prepared for us.

Auf.

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. 40 If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more,

[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. When yet Coriolanus was but tender-bodied, and my only son; when