At Grecian sword, contemning.

(To the Gentlewoman) 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.

Enter Valeria, with an usher and the Gentlewoman

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 looked upon him o’ Wednesday half an hour together. He’s 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 up 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, 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 housewife 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 Corioles. 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 (to Valeria) Let her alone, lady. As she is now she will but disease our better mirth.

VALERIA In truth, 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 ⌈Valeri, Volumnia, and usher at one door, Virgilia and Gentlewoman at another door⌉

1.4 Enter Martius, Lartius with a drummer, ⌈a trumpeter,⌉ and colours, with captains and Soldiers ⌈carrying scaling ladders⌉, as before the city Corioles; to them a Messenger

MARTIUS

Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.

LARTIUS

My horse to yours, no.

MARTIUS ’Tis done.

LARTIUS Agreed.

MARTIUS (to the Messenger)

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.

MARTIUS 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.

(To the trumpeter) Summon the town.

MARTIUS (to the Messenger)

How far off lie these armies?

MESSENGER Within this mile and half.

MARTIUS

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.

(To the trumpeter) Come, blow thy blast.

They sound a parley. Enter two Senators, with others, on the walls of Corioles

(To the Senators) 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

⌈To the Volscians⌉ 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 pinned with rushes.

They’ll open of themselves.

Alarum far off

(To the Romans) Hark you, far off

There is Aufidius. List what work he makes

Amongst your cloven army.

⌈Exeunt Volscians from the walls⌉

MARTIUS O, they are at it!

LARTIUS

Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

⌈They prepare to assault the walls.⌉

Enter the army of the Volsces from the gates

MARTIUS

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 ⌈and exeunt⌉ to their trenches, ⌈the Volsces following⌉

1.5 Enter ⌈Roman Soldiers, in retreat, followed by⌉ Martius, cursing

MARTIUS

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 abhorred

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