SCENE changes to Caius Marcius's House in Rome.

IS

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia; they fit down on two low stools, and sow.

Vol. Pray you, Daughter, fing,

or express your self

in a more comfortable fort: if my Son were my Husband, I would freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would shew 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 fell him an hour from her beholding; I, confidering 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 like 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.

Vir. But had he died in the business, Madam; how then?

Vol. Then his good Report should have been my Son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profefs fincerely: had I a dozen Sons each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather eleven die nobly for their Country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
Vir. Beseech you, give me leave to retire my self.
Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not:

Methinks, I hither hear your Husband's Drum :
I see him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair:
(As children from a bear) the Volfci shunning him :

Methinks,

Methinks, I see him stamp thus - and call thus
Come on, ye cowards, ye 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.

Vir. His bloody brow! oh, Jupiter, no blood! -
Vol. Away, you fool; it more becomes a man,

Than Gilt his trophy. The breast of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian swords contending; tell Valeria,
We are fit to bid her welcome.

[Exit Gent.

Vir. Heav'ns bless my Lord from fell Aufidius!
Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,
And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Usher, and a Gentlewoman.
Val. My Ladies Both, good day to you.
Vol. Sweet Madam -

Vir. I am glad to see your Ladyship

Val. How do you Both? you are manifest housekeepers. What are you fowing here? a fine spot, in good faith. How does your little Son?

Vir. I thank your Ladyship: well, good Madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his schoolmaster.

Val. O' my word, the Father's Son : I'll swear, 'tis a very pretty Boy. O' my troth, I look'd on him o' Wednesday half an hour together -- h'as 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; and caught it again; or whether his Fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and did tear it, oh, I warrant, how he mammockt it! Vol. One of's Father's moods.

Val. Indeed, la, 'tis a noble Child.
Vir. A crack, Madam.

Val. Come, lay aside your Stitchery, I must have

you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. Vir.. No, good Madam, I will not out of doors. Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She shall, she shall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine your self most unreasonably: Come, you must go visit the good Lady that lyes in. Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope; yet they say, all the yarn, she spun in Ulyffes's absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambrick were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

Vir. No, good Madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

Val. In truth, la, go with me, and I'll tell you excellent news of your Husband.

Vir. Oh, good Madam, there can be none yet.

Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, Madam

Val. In earnest, it's true; I heard a Senator speak it. Thus it is the Volscians 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 my honour; and so, I pray, go with

us.

Vir. Give me excuse, good Madam, I will obey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, Lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think, she would: fare you well, then. Come, good sweet Lady. Pr'ythee, Virgilia,

VOL. VI.

C

turn thy Solemnness out o' door, and go along with us. Vir. No: at a word, Madam; indeed, I must not.

I wish you much mirth.

Val. Well, then farewel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Walls of Corioli.

Enter Marcius, Titus Lartius, with Captains and Sol

Mar.

diers: To them a Messenger.

Yonder

Onder comes news:

a

wager, they have met.

Lart. My horse to yours, no.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our General met the enemy?

Mes. They lye in view; but have not spoke as yet.

Lart. So, the good horse is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

Lart. No, I'll not sell, nor give him : lend him

you, I will,

For half an hundred years: Summon the Town..
Mar. How far off lye these armies?

Mes. Within a mile and half.

Mar. Then shall we hear their larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work; That we with smoaking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded Friends! Come, blow thy blaft.

They found a Parley. Enter two Senators with others on the Walls.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your Walls?

I Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little: hark, our Drums

[Drum afar off. 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. Hark you, far off

[Alarum far off.

There

There is Aufidius. List, what work he makes

Amongst your cloven army.

Mar. Oh, they are at it!

Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

Enter the Volscians.

Mar. They fear is not, but ifssue forth their City. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than thields. Advance, brave

Titus,

They do difdain us much beyond our thoughts; Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my

fellows;

He that retires, I'll take him for a Volscian,
And he shall feel mine edge.

[Alarum; the Romans beat back to their Trenches.

Re-enter Marcius.

Mar. (5) All the Contagion of the South light on

you,

You shames of Rome, you! - herds of boils and plagues
Plaister you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd
Farther than feen, and one infect another
Against the wind a mile! - you fouls 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,

And make my wars on you: look to't, come on;

(5) All the Contagion of the South light on You,

You Shames of Rome; you Herds; of Boils and Plagues Plaifter you d'er, &c.] Thus miferably did the old Editors give us this Passage mangled, by bad Pointing; and Mr. Pope would not indulge bis private Sense, by any Alteration to make it intelligible. The meanest Judges of English must be aware, that no Member of any Sentence can begin with a Genitive Cafe, and a preceding Nominative be wanting to govern That and the Verb. Where, therefore, is the Nominative to,

of Boils and Plagues plaifter you d'er? Or what Sense or Syntax is there in the Passage, as it here stands? I reform'd the Pointing in the Appendix to my SHAKESPEARE Restor'd, and Mr. Pope has vouchsafed to embrace my Correction in his last Edition,