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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
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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
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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
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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