Prescanned Shakespeare.com
presented by Acoustic Learning
Rome. A room in Martius' house.
[Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA they set them down on two low stools, and sew]
VOLUMNIA
I pray you daughter sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort:
if my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein
he won honor, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most
love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when
youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when for a day of kings'
entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I
considering how honor would become such a person, that it was no better than
picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to
let him seek danger, where he was like to find fame: to a cruel war I sent
him, from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee
daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than
now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.
VIRGILIA
But had he died in the business madam, how then?
VOLUMNIA
Then his good report should have been my son, I therein would have found
issue. Hear me profess sincerely, had I a dozen sons each in my love alike,
and none less dear than thine, and my good Martius, I had rather had eleven
die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.
[Enter a Gentlewoman]
GENTLEWOMAN
Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
VIRGILIA
Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
VOLUMNIA
, ,
Indeed | you shall not: \\
,
, , ,
,
Methinks,| I hear | hither | your hus|band's
drum:
,
, , 2
, ,
See him | pluck Au|fidius | down by | the hair,
, ,
2 , ,
, 2
(As child/ren from a | bear) the | Volces |
shunning him:
, , 2 T
T . T __
Methinks | I see him | stamp thus, and call |
thus, ??
, ,
, ,
,
Come^on | you cow|ards, you | were got | in fear
,
, ,
, ,
Though you | were born | in Rome:| his bloo|dy
brow
,
, , ,
,
With his / mailed hand,| then wip|ing, forth | he
goes
, ,
, , ,
Like to | a harv|est-man,| that's tasked | to mow
, ,
,
Or all,| or lose | his hire. \\
VIRGILIA
, ,
, , ,
His bloo|dy brow?| O Jup|iter,/ no blood.
VOLUMNIA
, ,
, ,
,
Away | you fool;| it more | becomes | a man
,
, , ,
, 2
Than gilt | his troph|y. the | breasts of |
Hecuba*,
, x
, ,
, 2
When she | did suckle | Hector,| looked
not^|lovelier
, , ,
2 T T T
Than Hect|or's fore|head, when it | spit forth
blood
, ,
, ,
, 2 ->
At Gre|cian sword.| Contem|ning, tell |
Valer||ia,
, ,
, ,
o
We | are fit | to bid | her wel|come.
[Exit Gentlewoman]
VIRGILIA
,
, ,
, , 2
Heavens | bless my | lord from | fell Au|fidius.
VOLUMNIA
,
, , ,
,
He'll beat | Aufid|ius' head | below | his knee,
,
, ,
And tread | upon | his neck. \\
[Enter VALERIA, with an Usher and Gentlewoman]
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 house-keepers.
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
On my word, the father's son: I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy. On my
troth, I looked upon him on 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 again; catched it again: or whether his fall enraged him, or how
'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it. Oh, I warrant it how he
mammocked it.
VOLUMNIA
One on his 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 housewife 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 labor, 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
Oh 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 Volces
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 honor, and so I pray go with us.
VIRGILIA
Give me excuse good madam, I will obey you in every thing hereafter.
VOLUMNIA
,
, ,
, ,
Let her | alone | lady,| as she | is now:
,
, ,
, ___
She will | but di|sease our | better | mirth.
VALERIA
,
, ,
In troth | I think | she would: \\
,
, T
T T ,
Fare you | well then*.| Come good sweet | lady.
, 2
, 2 ,
, ,
, ->
Prithee Vir|gilia,| turn thy | solem|ness out ||
of door.
, ,
,
And go | along | with us.
VIRGILIA
__
No
, ,
, ,
,
At a | word mad/am; in|deed I | must not,
,
, T
I wish | you much | mirth.
VALERIA
T
T ,
Well, then | farewell.
[Exeunt]