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MARCIUS. 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. |
Ciitzens steal away. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS |
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 mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. |
SICINIUS. Bemock 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 is well grac'd- cannot |
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 th' 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 earn'd 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. Let's along. Exeunt |
SCENE II. |
Corioli. The Senate House. |
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with SENATORS of Corioli |
FIRST SENATOR. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, |
That they of Rome are ent'red 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: |
[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 |
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 |
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