[Act 1, Scene 3]
Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to
Martius:
They set them downe on two lowe stooles and sowe.
Volum.
I pray you daughter sing, or expresse your selfe
in a more comfortable sort:
If my Sonne were my Hus
[350]
band, I should freelier reioyce in that absence
wherein
he wonne Honor, then in the embracements of his Bed,
where he
would shew most loue. When yet hee was but
tender‑bodied, and the onely
Sonne of my womb; when
youth with comelinesse pluck'd all gaze his way; when
[355]
for a day of Kings entreaties, a Mother should not sel him
an houre from
her beholding; I considering how Honour
would become such a person, that it was
no better then
Picture‑like to hang by th' wall, if renowne made it not
stirre, was pleas'd to let him seeke danger, where he was
[360]
like to finde
fame: To a cruell Warre I sent him, from
whence he return'd, his browes bound
with Oake. I tell
thee Daughter, I sprang not more in ioy at first hearing
he was a Man‑child, then now in first seeing he had pro
ued
himselfe a man.
Virg.
[365]
But had he died in the Businesse Madame, how
then?
Volum.
Then his good report should haue beene my
Sonne, I therein would haue found
issue. Heare me pro
fesse sincerely, had I a dozen sons each in my loue
alike,
[370]
and none lesse deere then thine, and my good
Martius, I
had rather had eleuen dye Nobly for their Countrey, then
one voluptuously surfet out of Action.
Enter a Gentlewoman.Gent.
Madam, the lady
Valeria is come to visit you.
Virg.
Beseech you giue me leaue to retire my selfe.
Volum.
[375]
Indeed you shall not:Me thinkes, I heare hither your Husbands Drumme:See him plucke Auffidius downe by th'haire:(As children from a Beare) the
Volces shunning him:
Me thinkes I see him stampe thus, and call thus,
[380]
Come on you Cowards, you were got in feareThough you were borne in Rome; his bloody browWith his mail'd hand, then wiping, forth he goesLike to a Haruest man, that task'd to moweOr all, or loose his hyre.Virg.
[385]
His bloody Brow? Oh Iupiter, no blood.
Volum.Away you Foole; it more becomes a manThen gilt his Trophe. The brests of
HecubaWhen she did suckle
Hector, look'd not louelier
Then
Hectors forhead, when it spit forth blood
[390]
At Grecian sword.
Contenning, tell
ValeriaWe are fit to bid her welcome.Exit Gent.Vir.
Heauens blesse my Lord from fell
Auffidius
Vol.Hee'l beat
Auffidius head below his knee,
And treade vpon his necke.Enter Valeria with an Vsher, and a
Gentlewoman.
Val.
[395]
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 house‑kee
pers. What are you
sowing heere? A fine spotte in good
[400]
faith. How does your little Sonne?
Vir.
I thanke your Lady‑ship: Well good Madam.
Vol.
He had rather see the swords, and heare a Drum,
then looke vpon his
Schoolmaster.
Val.
A my word the Fathers Sonne: Ile sweare 'tis a
[405]
very pretty boy. A my troth, I
look'd vpon him a Wens
day halfe an houre together: ha's such a
confirm'd coun
tenance. I saw him run after a gilded
Butterfly, & when
he caught it, he let it go againe, and after it againe,
and o
uer and ouer he comes, and vp againe: catcht it again: or
[410]
whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, hee did so set
his teeth, and
teare it. Oh, I warrant how he mammockt
it.
Vol.
One on's Fathers moods.
Val.
Indeed la, tis a Noble childe.
Virg.
[415]
A Cracke Madam.
Val.
Come, lay aside your stitchery, I must haue you
play the idle Huswife with me
this afternoone.
Virg.
No (good Madam)
I will not out of doores.
Val.
[420]
Not out of doores?
Volum.
She shall, she shall.
Virg.
Indeed no, by your patience; Ile not ouer the
threshold, till my Lord returne
from the Warres.
Val.
Fye, you confine your selfe most vnreasonably:
[425]
Come, you must go visit the
good Lady that lies in.
Virg.
I will wish her speedy strength, and visite her
with my prayers: but I cannot
go thither.
Volum.
Why I pray you.
Vlug.
'Tis not to saue labour, nor that I want loue.
Val.
[430]
You would be another
Penelope: yet they say, all
the
yearne she spun in
Vlisses absence, did but fill
Athica
full of Mothes. Come, I would your Cambrick were sen
sible as your
finger, that you might leaue pricking it for
pitie. Come you shall go with
vs.
Vir.
[435]
No good Madam, pardon me, indeed I will not
foorth.
Val.
In truth la go with me, and Ile tell you excellent
newes of your Husband.
Virg.
Oh good Madam, there can be none yet.
Val.
[440]
Verily I do not iest with you: there came newes
from him last night.
Vir.
Indeed Madam.
Val.
In earnest it's true; I heard a Senatour speake it.
Thus it is: the Volcies
haue an Army forth, against
whō
whom
[445]
Cominius the Generall is gone, with one part of our
Ro
mane power. Your Lord, and
Titus Lartius, are
set down
before their Citie
Carioles, they nothing doubt
preuai
ling, and to make it breefe Warres. This is true on mine
Honor, and so I pray go with vs.
Virg.
[450]
Giue me excuse good Madame, I will obey you
in euery thing heereafter.
Vol.Let her alone Ladie, as she is now:She will but disease our better mirth.Valeria.In troth I thinke she would:
[455]
Fare you well then. Come good sweet Ladie.Prythee
Virgilia turne thy solemnesse out a doore,
And go along with vs.Virgil.NoAt a word Madam; Indeed I must not,
[460]
I wish you much mirth.Val.
Well, then farewell.
Exeunt. Ladies.
[Act 1, Scene 4]
Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Drumme
and Co
lours, with Captaines and Souldiers, as
before the City
Corialus: to them
a Messenger.
Martius.Yonder comes Newes:A Wager they haue met.Lar.
[Act 1, Scene 4]
Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Drumme
and Co
lours, with Captaines and Souldiers, as
before the City
Corialus: to them
a Messenger.
Martius.Yonder comes Newes:A Wager they haue met.Lar.
My horse to yours, no.
Mar.
[465]
Tis done.
Lart.
Agreed.
Mar.
Say, ha's our Generall met the Enemy?
Mess.
They lye in view, but haue not spoke as yet.
Lart.
So, the good Horse is mine.
Mart.
[470]
Ile buy him of you.
Lart.No, Ile nor sel, nor giue him: Lend you him I willFor halfe a hundred yeares: Summon the Towne.Mar.
How farre off lie these Armies?
Mess.
Within this mile and halfe.
Mar.
[475]
Then shall we heare their Larum, & they Ours.Now Mars, I prythee make vs quicke in worke,That we with smoaking swords may march from henceTo helpe our fielded Friends. Come, blow thy blast.They Sound a Parley: Enter two Senators with
others on
the Walles of Corialus.
Tullus Auffidious, is he within your Walles?
1. Senat.
[480]
No, nor a man that feares you lesse then he,That's lesser then a little:Drum a farre off.Hearke, our DrummesAre bringing forth our youth: Wee'l breake our WallesRather then they shall pound vs vp our Gates,
[485]
Which yet seeme shut, we haue but pin'd with Rushes,They'le open of themselues. Harke you, farre offAlarum farre off.There is
Auffidious. List what worke he makes
Among'st your clouen Army.Mart.
Oh they are at it.
Lart.
[490]
Their noise be our instruction. Ladders hoa.Enter the Army of the Volces.Mar.They feare vs not, but issue forth their Citie.Now put your Shields before your hearts, and fightWith hearts more proofe then Shields.Aduance braue
Titus,
[495]
They do disdaine vs much beyond our Thoughts,which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on my fellowsHe that retires, Ile take him for a
Volce,
And he shall feele mine edge.Alarum, the Romans are beat back to their
Trenches
Enter Martius Cursing.Mar.All the contagion of the South, light on you,
[500]
You Shames of Rome: you Heard of Byles and PlaguesPlaister you o're, that you may be abhorr'dFarther then seene, and one infect anotherAgainst the Winde a mile: you soules of Geese,That beare the shapes of men, how haue you run
[505]
From Slaues, that Apes would beate;
Pluto and Hell,
All hurt behinde, backes red, and faces paleWith flight and agued feare, mend and charge home,Or by the fires of heauen, Ile leaue the Foe,And make my Warres on you: Looke too't: Come on,
[510]
If you'l stand fast, wee'l beate them to their Wiues,As they vs to our Trenches followes.Another Alarum, and Martius followes them
to
gates, and is shut in.
So, now the gates are ope: now proue good Seconds,'Tis for the followers Fortune, widens them,Not for the flyers: Marke me, and do the like.Enter the Gati.1. Sol.
[515]
Foole‑hardinesse, not I.
2. Sol.
Nor I
1. Sol.
See they haue shut him in.
Alarum continuesAll.
To th'pot I warrant him.
Enter Titus LartiusTit.
What is become of
Martius?
All.
[520]
Slaine (Sir) doubtlesse.
1. Sol.Following the Flyers at the very heeles,With them he enters: who vpon the sodaineClapt to their Gates, he is himselfe alone,To answer all the City.Lar.
[525]
Oh Noble Fellow!Who sensibly out‑dares his sencelesse Sword,And when it bowes, stand'st vp: Thou art left
Martius,
A Carbuncle intire: as big as thou artWeare not so rich a Iewell. Thou was't a Souldier
[530]
Euen to
Calues wish, not fierce and terrible
Onely in strokes, but with thy grim lookes, andThe Thunder‑like percussion of thy soundsThou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the WorldWere Feauorous, and did tremble.Enter Martius bleeding, assaulted by the
Enemy.
1. Sol.
[535]
Looke Sir.
Lar.O 'tis Martius.Let's fetch him off, or make remaine alike.They fight, and all enter the
City.
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<div type="scene" n="4" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 4]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Drumme and Co
<lb/>lours, with Captaines and Souldiers, as
<lb/>before the City Corialus: to them
<lb/>a Messenger.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Martius.</speaker>
<l n="462">Yonder comes Newes:</l>
<l n="463">A Wager they haue met.</l>
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<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lar.</speaker>
<p n="464">My horse to yours, no.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<p n="465">Tis done.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lart.</speaker>
<p n="466">Agreed.</p>
</sp>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0623-0.jpg" n="5"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<p n="467">Say, ha's our Generall met the Enemy?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mess.</speaker>
<p n="468">They lye in view, but haue not spoke as yet.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lart.</speaker>
<p n="469">So, the good Horse is mine.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mart.</speaker>
<p n="470">Ile buy him of you.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lart.</speaker>
<l n="471">No, Ile nor sel, nor giue him: Lend you him I will</l>
<l n="472">For halfe a hundred yeares: Summon the Towne.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<p n="473">How farre off lie these Armies?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mess.</speaker>
<p n="474">Within this mile and halfe.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<l n="475">Then shall we heare their Larum, & they Ours.</l>
<l n="476">Now Mars, I prythee make vs quicke in worke,</l>
<l n="477">That we with smoaking swords may march from hence</l>
<l n="478">To helpe our fielded Friends. Come, blow thy blast.</l>
<stage rend="italic center" type="mixed">They Sound a Parley: Enter two Senators with others on
<lb/>the Walles of Corialus.</stage>
<l n="479">
<hi rend="italic">Tullus Auffidious</hi>, is he within your Walles?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-sen.1">
<speaker rend="italic">1. Senat.</speaker>
<l n="480">No, nor a man that feares you lesse then he,</l>
<l n="481">That's lesser then a little:</l>
<stage rend="italic inline" type="business">Drum a farre off.</stage>
<l n="482">Hearke, our Drummes</l>
<l n="483">Are bringing forth our youth: Wee'l breake our Walles</l>
<l n="484">Rather then they shall pound vs vp our Gates,</l>
<l n="485">Which yet seeme shut, we haue but pin'd with Rushes,</l>
<l n="486">They'le open of themselues. Harke you, farre off</l>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="business">Alarum farre off.</stage>
<l n="487">There is<hi rend="italic">Auffidious</hi>. List what worke he makes</l>
<l n="488">Among'st your clouen Army.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mart.</speaker>
<p n="489">Oh they are at it.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lart.</speaker>
<l n="490">Their noise be our instruction. Ladders hoa.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter the Army of the Volces.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<l n="491">They feare vs not, but issue forth their Citie.</l>
<l n="492">Now put your Shields before your hearts, and fight</l>
<l n="493">With hearts more proofe then Shields.</l>
<l n="494">Aduance braue<hi rend="italic">Titus</hi>,</l>
<l n="495">They do disdaine vs much beyond our Thoughts,</l>
<l n="496">which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on my fellows</l>
<l n="497">He that retires, Ile take him for a<hi rend="italic">Volce</hi>,</l>
<l n="498">And he shall feele mine edge.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="business">Alarum, the Romans are beat back to their Trenches</stage>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Martius Cursing.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
<l n="499">All the contagion of the South, light on you,</l>
<l n="500">You Shames of Rome: you Heard of Byles and Plagues</l>
<l n="501">Plaister you o're, that you may be abhorr'd</l>
<l n="502">Farther then seene, and one infect another</l>
<l n="503">Against the Winde a mile: you soules of Geese,</l>
<l n="504">That beare the shapes of men, how haue you run</l>
<l n="505">From Slaues, that Apes would beate;<hi rend="italic">Pluto</hi>and Hell,</l>
<l n="506">All hurt behinde, backes red, and faces pale</l>
<l n="507">With flight and agued feare, mend and charge home,</l>
<l n="508">Or by the fires of heauen, Ile leaue the Foe,</l>
<l n="509">And make my Warres on you: Looke too't: Come on,</l>
<l n="510">If you'l stand fast, wee'l beate them to their Wiues,</l>
<l n="511">As they vs to our Trenches followes.</l>
<stage rend="italic center" type="business">Another Alarum, and Martius followes them to
<lb/>gates, and is shut in.</stage>
<l n="512">So, now the gates are ope: now proue good Seconds,</l>
<l n="513">'Tis for the followers Fortune, widens them,</l>
<l n="514">Not for the flyers: Marke me, and do the like.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter the Gati.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-sol.1">
<speaker rend="italic">1. Sol.</speaker>
<p n="515">Foole‑hardinesse, not I.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-sol.2">
<speaker rend="italic">2. Sol.</speaker>
<p n="516">Nor I</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-sol.1">
<speaker rend="italic">1. Sol.</speaker>
<p n="517">See they haue shut him in.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic inline" type="business">Alarum continues</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-all">
<speaker rend="italic">All.</speaker>
<p n="518">To th'pot I warrant him.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic inline" type="entrance">Enter Titus Lartius</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Tit.</speaker>
<p n="519">What is become of<hi rend="italic">Martius</hi>?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-all">
<speaker rend="italic">All.</speaker>
<p n="520">Slaine (Sir) doubtlesse.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-sol.1">
<speaker rend="italic">1. Sol.</speaker>
<l n="521">Following the Flyers at the very heeles,</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="522">With them he enters: who vpon the sodaine</l>
<l n="523">Clapt to their Gates, he is himselfe alone,</l>
<l n="524">To answer all the City.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lar.</speaker>
<l n="525">Oh Noble Fellow!</l>
<l n="526">Who sensibly out‑dares his sencelesse Sword,</l>
<l n="527">And when it bowes, stand'st vp: Thou art left<hi rend="italic">Martius</hi>,</l>
<l n="528">A Carbuncle intire: as big as thou art</l>
<l n="529">Weare not so rich a Iewell. Thou was't a Souldier</l>
<l n="530">Euen to<hi rend="italic">Calues</hi>wish, not fierce and terrible</l>
<l n="531">Onely in strokes, but with thy grim lookes, and</l>
<l n="532">The Thunder‑like percussion of thy sounds</l>
<l n="533">Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the World</l>
<l n="534">Were Feauorous, and did tremble.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Martius bleeding, assaulted by the Enemy.</stage>
<sp who="#F-cor-sol.1">
<speaker rend="italic">1. Sol.</speaker>
<p n="535">Looke Sir.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-cor-lar">
<speaker rend="italic">Lar.</speaker>
<l n="536">O 'tis Martius.</l>
<l n="537">Let's fetch him off, or make remaine alike.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="business">They fight, and all enter the City.</stage>
</div>
