SICINIUS

When we were chosen tribunes for the people—

BRUTUS

Marked you his lip and eyes?

SICINIUS

Nay, but his taunts.

BRUTUS

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

SICINIUS Bemock the modest moon.

BRUTES

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—cannot

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 th’ utmost of a man, and giddy censure

Will then cry out of Martius ‘O, if he

Had borne the business!’

SICINIUS

Besides, if things go well,

Opinion, that so sticks on Martius, shall

Of his demerits rob Cominius.

BRUTUS

Come,

Half all Cominius’ honours are to Martius,

Though Martius earned them not; and all his faults

To Martius 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

1.2 Enter Aufidius, with Senators of Corioles

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.

⌈He reads the letter⌉

‘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

Cominius, Martius 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 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 SENATOR

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission, hie you to your bands.

Let us alone to guard Corioles.

If they set down before’s, for the remove

Bring up 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 Martius chance to meet,

’Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike

Till one can do no more.

ALL THE SENATORS

The gods assist you!

AUFIDIUS

And keep your honours safe.

FIRST SENATOR Farewell.

SECOND SENATOR Farewell.

ALL Farewell.

Exeunt, ⌈Aufidius at one door,

Senators at another door⌉

1.3 Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius. 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 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 th’ 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 Martius’, 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 (to Volumnia) 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 mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes,

Like to a harvest-man that’s tasked 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 looked not lovelier

Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood