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JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS
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 anything but
what I am； I would wish me only he。 COMINIUS。 You have fought
together？ MARCIUS。 Were half to half the world by th' ears； and he Upon
my party； I'd 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？
LARTIUS。 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 th' Capitol； where； I know； Our greatest
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friends attend us。 LARTIUS。 ＇To COMINIUS＇ Lead you on。 ＇To
MARCIUS＇ Follow Cominius； we must follow you； Right worthy your
priority。 COMINIUS。 Noble Marcius！ FIRST SENATOR。 ＇To the Citizens＇
Hence to your homes； be gone。 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
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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
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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 t