Cor. What, what, what I

20

I shall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,
Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat. Cominius,
Droop not; -adieu :-Farewel, my wife ! my mother!
I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes. -My sometime general,
I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld

Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women,

'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at them. - My mother, you wot well, My hazards still have been your solace: and

30

Believ't not lightly (though I go alone,

Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen) your

son

Will, or exceed the common, or be caught

With cautelous baits and practice.

Vol. My first son,

Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius
With thee a while: Determine on some course,
More than a wild exposture to each chance
That starts i' the way before thee.

Cor. O the gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee

40

Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us, And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth,

:

A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send
O'er the vast world, to seek a single man;
And lose advantage, which doth ever cool

In the absence of the needer.

Cor. Fare ye well :

Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full 50
Of the war's surfeits, to go rove with one

That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.-
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch: when I am forth,
Bid me farewel, and smile. I pray you, come.
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me aught

But what is like me formerly.

Men. That's worthily

As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.-
If I could shake off but one seven years

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods,
I'd with thee every foot.

Cor. Give me thy hand:---Come.

60

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Street. Enter SICINIUS, and BRUTUs, with an

ÆDILE.

Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no

further.

The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided

In his behalf.

Bru. Now we have shewn our porver, Let us seem humbler after it is done, Than when it was a-doing.

Sic. Bid them home :

Say, their great enemy is gone, and they

Stand in their ancient strength.

Bru. Dismiss them home.

70

[Exit ÆDILE.

Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS.

Here comes his mother.

Sic. Let's not meet her.

Bru. Why?

Sic. They say, she's mad.

Bru. They have ta'en note of us :

Keep on your way.

80

Val. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague

o' the gods

Requite your love!

Men. Peace, peace! be not so loud.

Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should

hear;

Nay, and you shall hear some. - Will you be gone?

[To BRUTUS.

Vir. [To SICIN.] You shall stay too: I would, I

had the power

To say so to my husband.

Sic. Are you mankind?

i

Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a shame-Note but this

fool.

Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome,
Than thou hast spoken words?

90

Sic. O blessed heavens I

Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good. I'll tell thee what;-Yet

go ;

Nay, but thou shalt stay too :-I would my son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,

His good sword in his hand.

Sic. What then?

Vir. What then?

He'd make an end of thy posterity.

Vol. Bastards, and all.

100

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

Men. Come, come, peace.

Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country,

As he began; and not unknit himself

The noble knot he made.

Bru. I would he had.

Vol. I would he had? 'Twas you incens'd the

rabble:

Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth,
As I can of those mysteries which heaven

Will not have earth to know.

Bru. Pray, let us go.

Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone:

110

You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this :

3

Iiij

As

As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son
(This lady's husband here, this, do you see),
Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Bru. Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sic. Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits ?
Vol. Take my prayers with you.-
I would the gods had nothing else to do,

120

[Exeunt Tribunes.

But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.

Men. You have told them home,

And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup

with me?

130

Vol. Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go : Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do,

In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Men. Fie, fie, fie!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Between Rome and Antium. Enter a Roman, and a Volsce.

Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me:

your name, I think, is Adrian.