forehead when it spit forth bloodAt Grecian swords contending.—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 her 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 looked upon him o’ Wednesday, half an hour together: has such a confirmed 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; catched it again; or whether his fall enraged him, or how ‘twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked 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 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.—Pr’ythee, 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.]
SCENE IV. Before Corioli.
[Enter, with drum and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Officers, and soldiers.]
MARCIUS.
Yonder comes news:—a wager they have met.
LARTIUS.
My horse to yours, no.
MARCIUS.
‘Tis done.
LARTIUS.
Agreed.
[Enter a Messenger.]
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 pr’ythee, make us quick in work,
