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MENENIUS: What is granted them? |
MARCIUS: Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not--'Sdeath! |
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time Win upon power and throw forth greater themes For insurrection's arguing. |
MENENIUS: This is strange. |
MARCIUS: Go, get you home, you fragments! |
Messenger: Where's Caius Marcius? |
MARCIUS: Here: what's the matter? |
Messenger: The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. |
MARCIUS: I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' means to vent Our musty superfluity. |
See, our best elders. |
First Senator: Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us; The Volsces are in arms. |
MARCIUS: They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't. |
I sin in envying his nobility, And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he. |
COMINIUS: You have fought together. |
MARCIUS: Were half to half the world by the ears and he. |
Upon my party, I'ld revolt to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt. |
First Senator: Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. |
COMINIUS: It is your former promise. |
MARCIUS: 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? |
TITUS: No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, Ere stay behind this business. |
MENENIUS: O, true-bred! |
First Senator: Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us. |
TITUS: COMINIUS: Noble Marcius! |
First Senator: MARCIUS: Nay, let them follow: The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither To gnaw their garners. |
Worshipful mutiners, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. |
SICINIUS: Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? |
BRUTUS: He has no equal. |
SICINIUS: When we were chosen tribunes for the people,-- BRUTUS: Mark'd you his lip and eyes? |
SICINIUS: Nay. |
but his taunts. |
BRUTUS: Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. |
SICINIUS: Be-mock the modest moon. |
BRUTUS: The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant. |
SICINIUS: Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius. |
BRUTUS: Fame, at the which he aims, In whom already he's well graced, can not Better be held nor more attain'd 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 Had borne the business!' |
SICINIUS: Besides, if things go well, Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall Of his demerits rob Cominius. |
BRUTUS: Come: 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. |
SICINIUS: Let's hence, and hear How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion, More than his singularity, he goes Upon this present action. |
BRUTUS: Lets along. |
First Senator: So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are entered in our counsels And know how we proceed. |
AUFIDIUS: Is it not yours? |
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. |
'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 shorten'd 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 your army; but, I think, you'll find They've not prepared 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. |
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 plucked 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 the wall, if renown 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 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. |
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 the 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 blood At Grecian sword, contemning. |
Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome. |
VIRGILIA: Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! |
VOLUMNIA: He'll beat Aufidius 'head below his knee And tread upon his neck. |
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 house-keepers. |
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 school-master. |
VALERIA: 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: 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 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 it, how he mammocked 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 husewife with me this afternoon. |
VIRGILIA: No, good madam; I will not out of doors. |
Subsets and Splits