And make bold power look pale,) they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon, Shouting their emulation.

Men.

What is granted them?

Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'s death!
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,
Ere fo prevail'd with me: it will in time

Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For infurrection's arguing.

Men.

This is ftrange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Meffenger.

Me. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Here: What's the matter?

Mef. the news is, fir, the Volces are in arms.

Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent Our musty fuperfluity :-See our best elders.

Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us ; The Volces are in arms.

Mar.

They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.

I fin in envying his nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,

I would with me only he.

Com.

You have fought together.

Mar.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the 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.

And I am conftant.-Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt fee me once more strike at Tullus' face:
What, art thou ftiff? ftand'st out?

Tit.
No, Caius Marcius;
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other,
Ere ftay behind this business.

Men.

O, true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit.

Lead you on :—

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Com.

Noble Lartius!

Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone.

Mar.

[To the Citizens.

Nay, let them follow:

The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,
Το gnaw their garners :-Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, COM. MAR. TIT. and MENEN.
Citizens fteal away.

Sic. Was ever man fo proud as is this Marcius?
Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen tribunes for the people,-
Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes?

Sic.

Nay, but his taunts.

Bru

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods. Sic. Be-mock the modeft moon.

Bru. The prefent wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic.

Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon: But I do wonder,
His infolence can brook to be commanded

Under Cominius.

Bru.

Fame, at 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 firft: for what miscarries
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he

Had borne the business!

Sic.

Befides, if things go well,

Opinion, that fo fticks on Marcius, fhall

Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,

Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults

To Marcius fhall be honours, though, indeed,

In aught he merit not.

Sic.

Let's hence, and hear

How the despatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than his fingularity, he goes

Upon this prefent action.

Bru.

Let's along.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE II.

Corioli. The Senate-Houfe.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators.

1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

That they of Rome are enter'd in our counfels,
And know how we proceed.

Is it not yours?

Auf.
What ever hath 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:

They have prefs'd a power, but it is not known
Whether for eaft, or weft: 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:
Confider of it.

1 Sen.

Our army is in the field:

We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready
To answer us.

Auf.

Nor did you think it folly,

To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when

[reads.

They needs muft fhow themselves; which in the hatch

ing,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,

ΤΟ

To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome
Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen.

Noble Aufidius,

Take your commiffion; hie you

Let us alone to guard Corioli:

to your bands;

If they fet down before us, for the remove
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They have not prepar'd for us.

Auf.

O, doubt not that;
I speak from certainties. Nay, more,
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis fworn between us, we shall ever ftrike
Till one can do no more.

Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA: They fit down on two low flools, and few.

Vol. I pray you, daughter, fing; or express yourself in a more comfortable fort: If my son were my husband, I fhould freelier rejoice in that abfence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would fhow most love. When yet he was but tenderbody'd,

3