The Tragedy Of Coriolanus

1 Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius. They set them
2 down on two low stools and sew.
3 VOLUMNIA.
4 I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable
5 sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that
6 absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where
7 he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only
8 son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way,
9 when for a day of kings’ entreaties a mother should not sell him an
10 hour from her beholding, I, considering how honour would become such a
11 person—that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th’ wall, if
12 renown made it not stir—was pleased to let him seek danger where he was
13 like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whence he returned,
14 his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in
15 joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had
16 proved himself a man.
17 VIRGILIA.
18 But had he died in the business, madam, how then?
19 VOLUMNIA.
20 Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have
21 found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my
22 love alike and none less dear than thine and my good Martius, I had
23 rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously
24 surfeit out of action.
25 Enter a Gentlewoman.
26 GENTLEWOMAN.
27 Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
28 VIRGILIA.
29 Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
30 VOLUMNIA.
31 Indeed you shall not.
32 Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum,
33 See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair;
34 As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him.
35 Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus:
36 “Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear,
37 Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow
38 With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes
39 Like to a harvestman that’s tasked to mow
40 Or all or lose his hire.
41 VIRGILIA.
42 His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood!
43 VOLUMNIA.
44 Away, you fool! It more becomes a man
45 Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba,
46 When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier
47 Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood
48 At Grecian sword, contemning.—Tell Valeria
49 We are fit to bid her welcome.
50 [_Exit Gentlewoman._]
51 VIRGILIA.
52 Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
53 VOLUMNIA.
54 He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee
55 And tread upon his neck.
56 Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman.
57 VALERIA.
58 My ladies both, good day to you.
59 VOLUMNIA.
60 Sweet madam.
61 VIRGILIA.
62 I am glad to see your Ladyship.
63 VALERIA.
64 How do you both? You are manifest housekeepers. What are you sewing
65 here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son?
66 VIRGILIA.
67 I thank your Ladyship; well, good madam.
68 VOLUMNIA.
69 He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his
70 schoolmaster.
71 VALERIA.
72 O’ my word, the father’s son! I’ll swear ’tis a very pretty boy. O’ my
73 troth, I looked upon him o’ Wednesday half an hour together. H’as such
74 a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly, and
75 when he caught it, he let it go again, and after it again, and over and
76 over he comes, and up again, catched it again. Or whether his fall
77 enraged him or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it. O, I
78 warrant how he mammocked it!
79 VOLUMNIA.
80 One on’s father’s moods.
81 VALERIA.
82 Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.
83 VIRGILIA.
84 A crack, madam.
85 VALERIA.
86 Come, lay aside your stitchery. I must have you play the idle huswife
87 with me this afternoon.
88 VIRGILIA.
89 No, good madam, I will not out of doors.
90 VALERIA.
91 Not out of doors?
92 VOLUMNIA.
93 She shall, she shall.
94 VIRGILIA.
95 Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the threshold till my lord
96 return from the wars.
97 VALERIA.
98 Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come, you must go visit
99 the good lady that lies in.
100 VIRGILIA.
101 I will wish her speedy strength and visit her with my prayers, but I
102 cannot go thither.
103 VOLUMNIA.
104 Why, I pray you?
105 VIRGILIA.
106 ’Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.
107 VALERIA.
108 You would be another Penelope. Yet they say all the yarn she spun in
109 Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your
110 cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it
111 for pity. Come, you shall go with us.
112 VIRGILIA.
113 No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.
114 VALERIA.
115 In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent news of your
116 husband.
117 VIRGILIA.
118 O, good madam, there can be none yet.
119 VALERIA.
120 Verily, I do not jest with you. There came news from him last night.
121 VIRGILIA.
122 Indeed, madam!
123 VALERIA.
124 In earnest, it’s true. I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the
125 Volsces have an army forth, against whom Cominius the General is gone
126 with one part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius are set
127 down before their city Corioles. They nothing doubt prevailing, and to
128 make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour, and so, I pray, go
129 with us.
130 VIRGILIA.
131 Give me excuse, good madam. I will obey you in everything hereafter.
132 VOLUMNIA.
133 Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will but disease our better
134 mirth.
135 VALERIA.
136 In troth, I think she would.—Fare you well, then.—Come, good sweet
137 lady.—Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o’ door, and go along
138 with us.
139 VIRGILIA.
140 No, at a word, madam. Indeed I must not. I wish you much mirth.
141 VALERIA.
142 Well then, farewell.
143 [_Exeunt._]