Honour would become fuch a perfon, that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall, if Renown made it not ftir, was pleas'd to let him feek danger where he was like to find fame: to a cruel war I fent him, from whence he return'd, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I fprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first feeing 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 fon; I therein would have found iffue. Hear me profess fincerely had I a dozen fons each in my love alike, and none lefs dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather eleven de nobly for their country, than one voluptuously furfeit, out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to vifit you.
Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Vol. Indeed, thou shalt not:

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum:
I fee him pluck Aufidius down by th' hair:
(As children from a bear) the Volfci fhunning him:.
Methinks, I fee him ftamp thus-and call thus-
"Come on, ye cowards, ye were got in fear,

66

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 tafk'd to mow Or all, or lofe his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! oh, Jupiter, no blood! Vol Away, you fool; it more becomes a man, Than gilt his trophy. The breaft of Hecuba, When he did fuckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it fpit forth blood At Grecian fwords contending; tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gent. Vir, Heav'ns blefs my Lord from fell Aufidius !

Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Uber, and a Gentlewoman.

Val. My Ladies both, good-day to you.

Vol. Sweet Madam

Vir. I am glad to fee your Lady fhip

Val. How do you both? you are manifeft housekeepers. What are you fowing here? a fine fpot, in good faith. How does your little fon?

Vir. I thank your Ladyfhip: well, good Madam. Vol. He had rather fee the fwords, and hear a drum, than look upon his fchoolmafter.

Val. O' my word, the father's fon: I'll fwear, 'tis a very pretty boy. O my troth, I look'd on him o' Wednesday half an hour together -h'as fuch a con

firm'd countenance. I faw 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 fo fet 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 afide your ftitchery; I must have you. play the idle hufwife with me this afternoon.

Vir. No, good Madam, I will not out of doors.
Val. Not out of doors!

Vol. She fhall, fhe fhall.

Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold, 'till my Lord return from the wars.

Val. Fy, you confine yourself moft unreasonably: Come, you must go vifit the good Lady that lies in. Vir. I will with her fpeedy ftrength, and vifit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

Vd. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not. to fave labour, nor that I want love.

Val. You would be another Penelope; yet they fay, all the yarn fhe fpun in Ulyffes's abfence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would, your cambrick were fenfible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you fhall 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 kent news of your husband.

you excelVir. Oh, good Madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jeft with you; there came news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, Madam

Val. In earneft, it's true; I heard a Senator fpeak it. Thus it is- -The Volfcians have an army forth, against whom Cominius the General is gone with one part of our Roman power. Your Lord and Titus Lartius are fet down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on my honour; and fo, I pray, go with us.

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

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

the will,

Val. In troth, I think, fhe would: fare you well then. Come, good fweet Lady. Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy folemnefs out o' door, and go along with us. Vir. No: at a word, Madam; indeed, I muft 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 Soldiers: To them a Messenger.

Mar.

Onder comes news: a wager, they have met.
Lart. My horfe to yours, no.

Mar. 'Tis done.

Lart.

Lart. Agreed.

Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy?

Mef. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet. Lart. So, the good horfe is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

Lart. No, I'll not fell, nor give him: lend him you,
I will,

For half an hundred years: Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie thefe armies ?

Mef. Within a mile and half.

Mar. Then fhall we hear their larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work; That we with fmoaking fwords 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 lefs than he, 'That's leffer than a little hark, our drums

[Drum afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: we'll break our walls, Rather than they fhall pound us up: our gates, Which yet feem fhut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off, [Alarm, afar off. There, is Aufidius. Lift, what work he makes

Among your cloven army.

Mar. Oh, they are at it!.

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

Enter the Volfcians.

Mar. They fear us not, but iffue forth their city. Now put your fhields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than fhields. Advance, braveTitus, They do difdain us much beyond our thoughts; Which makes me fweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows;

He

He that retires, I'll take him for a Volfcian,

And he shall feel mine cdge.

[Alarm; the Romans beat back to their Trenches.

Re-enter Marcius.

Mar. (4) All the contagion of the fouth light on you, You shames of Rome, you!-herds of boils and plagues Plaifter 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 fhapes of men, how have you run
From flaves, 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;
If you'll ftand faft, we'll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.

Another alarm, and Marcius follows them to the gates. So, now the gates are ope: now prove good feconds; 'Tis for the followers, fortune widens them;

Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.

[He enters the gates, and is shut in. 1 Sol. Fool-hardinefs, not I.

2 Sol. Nor I.

1 Sol. See, they have shut him in: [Alarm continues. All. To th' pot, I warrant him.

(4) All the Contagion of the South light on you,*

You Shames of Rome; you Herds; of Boils and Plagues

Plaifter you o'er, &c.] Thus miferably did the old Editors give us this Paffage mangled by bad Pointing; and Mr. Pope would not indulge bis private Senfe, 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 Nemimative be wanting to govern That and the Verb. Where, therefore, is the Nominative to,- of Boils and Plagues plaifter you o'er? Or what Senfe or Syntax is there in the Paffage as it here ftands ?*

Enter