The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare (book suggestions TXT) 📖

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 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 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 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

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 smoking swords may march from hence To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.

 

They sound a parley. Enter two SENATORS with others, on the walls of Corioli Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

FIRST SENATOR. No, nor a man that fears you less than he: That’s lesser than a little. [Drum afar off] Hark, our drums Are bringing forth our youth. We’ll break our walls Rather than they shall pound us up; our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn’d with rushes; They’ll open of themselves. [Alarum far off] Hark you far off!

There is Aufidius. List what work he makes Amongst your cloven army.

MARCIUS. O, they are at it!

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

 

Enter the army of the Volsces MARCIUS. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.

Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus.

They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows.

He that retires, I’ll take him for a Volsce, And he shall feel mine edge.

 

Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches.

Re-enter MARCIUS, cursing MARCIUS. All the contagion of the south light on you, You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and plagues 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 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; If you’ll stand fast we’ll beat them to their wives, As they us to our trenches. Follow me.

 

Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates 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.

 

[MARCIUS enters the gates]

 

FIRST SOLDIER. Foolhardiness; not I.

SECOND SOLDIER. Not I. [MARCIUS is shut in]

FIRST SOLDIER. See, they have shut him in.

ALL. To th’ pot, I warrant him. [Alarum continues]

 

Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS

 

LARTIUS. What is become of Marcius?

ALL.