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MENENIUS: What is granted them?
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MARCIUS: Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not--'Sdeath!
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The rabble should have first unroof'd the city, Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time Win upon power and throw forth greater themes For insurrection's arguing.
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MENENIUS: This is strange.
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MARCIUS: Go, get you home, you fragments!
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Messenger: Where's Caius Marcius?
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MARCIUS: Here: what's the matter?
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Messenger: The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
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MARCIUS: I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' means to vent Our musty superfluity.
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See, our best elders.
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First Senator: Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us; The Volsces are in arms.
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MARCIUS: They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.
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I sin in envying his nobility, And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he.
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COMINIUS: You have fought together.
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MARCIUS: Were half to half the world by the ears and he.
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Upon my party, I'ld revolt to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt.
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First Senator: Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
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COMINIUS: It is your former promise.
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MARCIUS: Sir, it is; And I am constant.
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Titus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.
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What, art thou stiff?
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stand'st out?
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TITUS: No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other, Ere stay behind this business.
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MENENIUS: O, true-bred!
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First Senator: Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us.
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TITUS: COMINIUS: Noble Marcius!
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First Senator: MARCIUS: Nay, let them follow: The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither To gnaw their garners.
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Worshipful mutiners, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.
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SICINIUS: Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?
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BRUTUS: He has no equal.
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SICINIUS: When we were chosen tribunes for the people,-- BRUTUS: Mark'd you his lip and eyes?
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SICINIUS: Nay.
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but his taunts.
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BRUTUS: Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.
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SICINIUS: Be-mock the modest moon.
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BRUTUS: The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.
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SICINIUS: Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius.
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BRUTUS: Fame, at the which he aims, In whom already he's well graced, can not Better be held nor more attain'd than by A place below the first: for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man, and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius 'O if he Had borne the business!'
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SICINIUS: Besides, if things go well, Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall Of his demerits rob Cominius.
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BRUTUS: Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius.
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Though Marcius earned them not, and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed In aught he merit not.
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SICINIUS: Let's hence, and hear How the dispatch is made, and in what fashion, More than his singularity, he goes Upon this present action.
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BRUTUS: Lets along.
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First Senator: So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are entered in our counsels And know how we proceed.
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AUFIDIUS: Is it not yours?
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What ever have been thought on in this state, That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome Had circumvention?
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'Tis not four days gone Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think I have the letter here; yes, here it is.
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'They have press'd a power, but it is not known Whether for east or west: the dearth is great; The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd, Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, These three lead on this preparation Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you: Consider of it.'
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First Senator: Our army's in the field We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us.
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AUFIDIUS: Nor did you think it folly To keep your great pretences veil'd till when They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome.
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By the discovery.
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We shall be shorten'd in our aim, which was To take in many towns ere almost Rome Should know we were afoot.
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Second Senator: Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: Let us alone to guard Corioli: If they set down before 's, for the remove Bring your army; but, I think, you'll find They've not prepared for us.
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AUFIDIUS: O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties.
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Nay, more, Some parcels of their power are forth already, And only hitherward.
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I leave your honours.
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If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more.
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All: The gods assist you!
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AUFIDIUS: And keep your honours safe!
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First Senator: Farewell.
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Second Senator: Farewell.
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All: Farewell.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak.
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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.
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VIRGILIA: But had he died in the business, madam; how then?
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VOLUMNIA: Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue.
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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.
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Gentlewoman: Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
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VIRGILIA: Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
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VOLUMNIA: Indeed, you shall not.
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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!
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you were got in fear, Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes, Like to a harvest-man that's task'd to mow Or all or lose his hire.
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VIRGILIA: His bloody brow!
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O Jupiter, no blood!
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VOLUMNIA: Away, you fool!
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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.
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Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome.
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VIRGILIA: Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
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VOLUMNIA: He'll beat Aufidius 'head below his knee And tread upon his neck.
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VALERIA: My ladies both, good day to you.
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VOLUMNIA: Sweet madam.
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VIRGILIA: I am glad to see your ladyship.
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VALERIA: How do you both?
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you are manifest house-keepers.
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What are you sewing here?
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A fine spot, in good faith.
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How does your little son?
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VIRGILIA: I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.
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VOLUMNIA: He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master.
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VALERIA: O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear,'tis a very pretty boy.
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O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together: has such a confirmed countenance.
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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!
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VOLUMNIA: One on 's father's moods.
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VALERIA: Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
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VIRGILIA: A crack, madam.
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VALERIA: Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle husewife with me this afternoon.
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VIRGILIA: No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
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