Like him by chance; yet give us our dispatch:
I'm husht, until our city be afire;
And then I'll speak a little.
Cor. O mother, mother!

[Holds her by the hands, filent.
What have you done? behold, the heav'ns do ope,
The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. Oh, my mother, mother! oh!
You've won a happy victory to Rome:

But for your fon, believe it, oh, believe it,
Moft dang'rously you have with him prevail'd,
If not moft mortal to him. Let it come :-
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace, Now, good Aufidius,
Were you in my ftead, fay, would you have heard
A mother lefs? or granted lefs, Aufidius ?
Auf. I too was mov'd.

Cor. I dare be fworn, you were ;

And, Sir, it is no little thing to make

Mine eyes to sweat compaffion. But, good Sir,
What peace you'll make, advife me: for my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you, and pray you
Stand to me in this caufe. O mother! wife!

Auf. I'm glad, thou'ft fet thy mercy and thy honour
At difference in thee; out of that I'll work
Myself a former fortune.

[Afide. Cor. Ay, by and by; but we will drink together; And you shall bear [To Vol. Virg. &c.

A better witness back than words, which we,
On like conditions, will have counter-feal'd.
Come, enter with us: Ladies, you deferve
To have a temple built you: all the swords
In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this peace.

[Exeunt

SCENE,

Men.

SCENE, the Forum, in Rome.

SE

Enter Menenius and Sicinius.

EE you yond coin o' th' capitol, yond cornerSic. Why, what of that? [ftone ?. Men. If it be poffible for you to difplace it with your little finger, there is fome hope the Ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But, I fay, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution.

Sic. Is't poffible, that fo fhort a time can alter the condition of a man?

Men. There is difference between a grub and a butterfly, yet your butterfly was a grub; this Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing.

Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly.

Men. So did he me; and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight years old horfe. The tartnefs of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground fhrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corflet with his eye: talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He fits in his ftate, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a God, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in.. Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. Men. I paint him in the character. Mark, what mercy his mother fhall bring from him; there is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tyger; that fhall our poor city find; and all this is long of

you.

Sic. The gods be good unto us!

Men. No, in fuch a cafe the gods will not be good. unto us. When we banish'd him, we refpected not them: and he returning to break our necks, they respect

not us.

VOL. VI.

X

Enter

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. Sir, if you'd fave your life, fly to your houfe;
The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune,
And hale him up and down all fwearing, if
The Roman Ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.

:

Enter another Messenger.

Sic. What's the news?

Mef. Good news, good news, the Ladies have prevail❜d, The Volfcians are diflodg'd, and Marcius gone: A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,

No, not the expulfion of the Tarquins.

Sic. Friend,

Art certain, this is true? is it most certain ?
Mef. As certain, as I know the fun is fire:
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch fo hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through th' gates. Why, hark you;
[Trumpets, Hautboys, Drums beat all together.
The trumpets, fackbuts, pfalteries and fifes,
Tabors and cymbals, and the fhouting Romans
Make the fun dance. Hark you!

Men. This is good news:

[Afbout within.

I will go meet the Ladies.. This Volumnia
Is worth of confuls, fenators, patricians,
A city full of tribunes, fuch as you,

A fea and land full. You've pray'd well to-day:
This morning, for ten thoufand of your throats
I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
[Sound fill, with the fhouts.
Sic. First, the gods blefs you for your tidings: next,
Accept my thankfulness.

Mef. Sir, we have all great caufe to give great thanks.
Sic. They're near the city?

Mef. Almoft at point to enter.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.

[Exeunt.

Enter

*

Enter two Senators, with Ladies, passing over the stage3; with other Lords.

Sen. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome:
Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,
And make triumphant fires: ftrew flowers before them ::
Unfhout the noise, that banish'd Marcius;

Repeal him with the welcome of his mother ::
Cry, welcome, Ladies, welcome!

All. Welcome, Ladies, welcome!

[Exeunt.

[A flourish with drums and trumpets.

SCENE changes to a publick Place in Antium.. Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.

Auf. G

O tell the Lords o' th' city, I am here:
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to th' market-place, where I,.
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. He, I accufe,
The city ports by this hath enter'd ; and
Intends t'appear before the people, hoping

To purge himself with words. Difpatch.--Moft welcome !!

Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius's factions.

I Con. How is it with our General ?

Auf. Even fo,

As with a man by his own alms imprison'd,,
And with his charity flain..

If

2 Con. Moft noble Sir,

you do hold the fame intent, wherein

You wish'd us parties; we'll deliver you:

Of your great danger.

Auf. Sir, I cannot tell;

We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilft 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the furvivor heir of all.

Auf. I know it;

And my pretext to ftrike at him admits

X 2.

A

A good conftruction. I rais'd him, and pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth; who being fo heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing fo my friends; and to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unfwayable, and free.
3 Con. Sir, his ftoutnefs

When he did ftand for conful, which he loft
By lack of stooping-

Auf. That I would have spoke of:

Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth,
Prefented to my knife his throat; I took him,
Made him joint fervant with me; gave him way
In all his own defires; nay, let him chuse
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and fresheft men; ferv'd his defignments
In mine own perfon; holpe to reap the fame,
Which he did make all his; and took fome pride
To do myself this wrong; 'till, at the last,
I feem'd his follower, not partner; and
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

1 Con. So he did, my Lord:

The army marvell'd at it, and, at last,

When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd
For no lefs fpoil, than glory-

Auf. There was it ;

(For which my finews fhall be ftretch'd upon him ;)
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he fold the blood and labour
Of our great action; therefore fhall he die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

[Drums and trumpets found, with great shouts of the people.
1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a poft,
And had no welcomes home; but he returns,

Splitting the air with noise.

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whofe children he hath flain, their bafe throats tear,
Giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage,

Ere