Rome. A room in
Marcius’ 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 honour 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 honour would become such a person.
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
Marcius, 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 husband’s drum,
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair,
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:
Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:
‘Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome:’ his bloody brow
With his mail’d hand then wiping, forth he goes,
VIRGILIA His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!
VOLUMNIA Away, you fool! it more becomes a man
Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, look’d not lovelier
Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood
At Grecian sword, contemning. 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.
[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 school-master.
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 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 it,
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 husewife 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 every thing hereafter.
VOLUMNIA Let her alone, lady: as she is now,
she will but disease our better mirth.
VALERIA In troth, I think she would.
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