Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedy of Coriolanus/Act 1 Scene 3
Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius:
They set them downe on two lowe stooles and sowe.
They set them downe on two lowe stooles and sowe.
Volum.
I pray you daughter sing, or expresse your selfe
in a more comfortable sort: If my Sonne were my Husband,
I should freelier reioyce in that absence wherein
he wonne Honor, then in the embracements of his Bed,
where he would shew most loue. When yet hee was but
tender-bodied, and the onely Sonne of my womb; when
youth with comelinesse pluck'd all gaze his way; when
for a day of Kings entreaties, a Mother should not sel him
an houre from her beholding; I considering how Honour
would become such a person, that it was no better then
Picture-like to hang by th' wall, if renowne made it not
stirre, was pleas'd to let him seeke danger, where he was
like to finde fame: To a cruell Warre I sent him, from
whence he return'd, his browes bound with Oake. I tell
thee Daughter, I sprang not more in ioy at first hearing
he was a Man-child, then now in first seeing he had
proued himselfe a man.
I pray you daughter sing, or expresse your selfe
in a more comfortable sort: If my Sonne were my Husband,
I should freelier reioyce in that absence wherein
he wonne Honor, then in the embracements of his Bed,
where he would shew most loue. When yet hee was but
tender-bodied, and the onely Sonne of my womb; when
youth with comelinesse pluck'd all gaze his way; when
for a day of Kings entreaties, a Mother should not sel him
an houre from her beholding; I considering how Honour
would become such a person, that it was no better then
Picture-like to hang by th' wall, if renowne made it not
stirre, was pleas'd to let him seeke danger, where he was
like to finde fame: To a cruell Warre I sent him, from
whence he return'd, his browes bound with Oake. I tell
thee Daughter, I sprang not more in ioy at first hearing
he was a Man-child, then now in first seeing he had
proued himselfe a man.
Virg.
But had he died in the Businesse Madame, how then?
But had he died in the Businesse Madame, how then?
Volum.
Then his good report should haue beene my
Sonne, I therein would haue found issue. Heare me professe
sincerely, had I a dozen sons each in my loue alike,
and none lesse deere then thine, and my good Martius, I
had rather had eleuen dye Nobly for their Countrey, then
one voluptuously surfet out of Action.
Then his good report should haue beene my
Sonne, I therein would haue found issue. Heare me professe
sincerely, had I a dozen sons each in my loue alike,
and none lesse deere then thine, and my good Martius, I
had rather had eleuen dye Nobly for their Countrey, then
one voluptuously surfet out of Action.
Enter a Gentlewoman.
Gent.
Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you.
Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you.
Virg.
Beseech you giue me leaue to retire my selfe.
Beseech you giue me leaue to retire my selfe.
Volum.
Indeed you shall not:
Me thinkes, I heare hither your Husbands Drumme:
See him plucke Auffidius downe by th'haire:
(As children from a Beare) the Volces shunning him:
Me thinkes I see him stampe thus, and call thus,
Come on you Cowards, you were got in feare
Though you were borne in Rome; his bloody brow
With his mail'd hand, then wiping, forth he goes
Like to a Haruest man, that task'd to mowe
Or all, or loose his hyre.
Indeed you shall not:
Me thinkes, I heare hither your Husbands Drumme:
See him plucke Auffidius downe by th'haire:
(As children from a Beare) the Volces shunning him:
Me thinkes I see him stampe thus, and call thus,
Come on you Cowards, you were got in feare
Though you were borne in Rome; his bloody brow
With his mail'd hand, then wiping, forth he goes
Like to a Haruest man, that task'd to mowe
Or all, or loose his hyre.
Virg.
His bloody Brow? Oh Iupiter, no blood.
His bloody Brow? Oh Iupiter, no blood.
Volum.
Away you Foole; it more becomes a man
Then gilt his Trophe. The brests of Hecuba
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not louelier
Then Hectors forhead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian sword. Contenning, tell Valeria
Exit Gent.We are fit to bid her welcome.
Away you Foole; it more becomes a man
Then gilt his Trophe. The brests of Hecuba
When she did suckle Hector, look'd not louelier
Then Hectors forhead, when it spit forth blood
At Grecian sword. Contenning, tell Valeria
Exit Gent.We are fit to bid her welcome.
Vir.
Heauens blesse my Lord from fell Auffidius.
Heauens blesse my Lord from fell Auffidius.
Vol.
Hee'l beat Auffidius head below his knee,
And treade vpon his necke.
Hee'l beat Auffidius head below his knee,
And treade vpon his necke.
Enter Valeria with an Vsher, and a Gentlewoman.
Val.
My Ladies both good day to you.
My Ladies both good day to you.
Vol.
Sweet Madam.
Sweet Madam.
Vir.
I am glad to see your Ladyship.
I am glad to see your Ladyship.
Val.
How do you both? You are manifest house-keepers.
What are you sowing heere? A fine spotte in good
faith. How does your little Sonne?
How do you both? You are manifest house-keepers.
What are you sowing heere? A fine spotte in good
faith. How does your little Sonne?
Vir.
I thanke your Lady-ship: Well good Madam.
I thanke your Lady-ship: Well good Madam.
Vol.
He had rather see the swords, and heare a Drum,
then looke vpon his Schoolmaster.
He had rather see the swords, and heare a Drum,
then looke vpon his Schoolmaster.
Val.
A my word the Fathers Sonne: Ile sweare 'tis a
very pretty boy. A my troth, I look'd vpon him a Wensday
halfe an houre together: ha's such a confirm'd countenance.
I saw him run after a gilded Butterfly, & when
he caught it, he let it go againe, and after it againe, and
ouer and ouer he comes, and vp againe: catcht it again: or
whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, hee did so set
his teeth, and teare it. Oh, I warrant how he mammockt it.
A my word the Fathers Sonne: Ile sweare 'tis a
very pretty boy. A my troth, I look'd vpon him a Wensday
halfe an houre together: ha's such a confirm'd countenance.
I saw him run after a gilded Butterfly, & when
he caught it, he let it go againe, and after it againe, and
ouer and ouer he comes, and vp againe: catcht it again: or
whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, hee did so set
his teeth, and teare it. Oh, I warrant how he mammockt it.
Vol.
One on's Fathers moods.
One on's Fathers moods.
Val.
Indeed la, tis a Noble childe.
Indeed la, tis a Noble childe.
Virg
A Cracke Madam.
A Cracke Madam.
Val.
Come, lay aside your stitchery, I must haue you
play the idle Huswife with me this afternoone.
Come, lay aside your stitchery, I must haue you
play the idle Huswife with me this afternoone.
Virg.
No (good Madam)
I will not out of doores.
No (good Madam)
I will not out of doores.
Val.
Not out of doores?
Not out of doores?
Volum.
She shall, she shall.
She shall, she shall.
Virg.
Indeed no, by your patience; Ile not ouer the
threshold, till my Lord returne from the Warres.
Indeed no, by your patience; Ile not ouer the
threshold, till my Lord returne from the Warres.
Val.
Fye, you confine your selfe most vnreasonably:
Come, you must go visit the good Lady that lies in.
Fye, you confine your selfe most vnreasonably:
Come, you must go visit the good Lady that lies in.
Virg.
I will wish her speedy strength, and visite her
with my prayers: but I cannot go thither.
I will wish her speedy strength, and visite her
with my prayers: but I cannot go thither.
Volum.
Why I pray you.
Why I pray you.
Vlug.
'Tis not to saue labour, nor that I want loue.
'Tis not to saue labour, nor that I want loue.
Val.
You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all
the yearne she spun in Vlisses absence, did but fill Athica
full of Mothes. Come, I would your Cambrick were sen
sible as your finger, that you might leaue pricking it for
pitie. Come you shall go with vs.
You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all
the yearne she spun in Vlisses absence, did but fill Athica
full of Mothes. Come, I would your Cambrick were sen
sible as your finger, that you might leaue pricking it for
pitie. Come you shall go with vs.
Vir.
No good Madam, pardon me, indeed I will not foorth.
No good Madam, pardon me, indeed I will not foorth.
Val.
In truth la go with me, and Ile tell you excellent
newes of your Husband.
In truth la go with me, and Ile tell you excellent
newes of your Husband.
Virg.
Oh good Madam, there can be none yet.
Oh good Madam, there can be none yet.
Val.
Verily I do not iest with you: there came newes
from him last night.
Verily I do not iest with you: there came newes
from him last night.
Vir.
Indeed Madam.
Indeed Madam.
Val.
In earnest it's true; I heard a Senatour speake it.
Thus it is: the Volcies haue an Army forth, against who
Cominius the Generall is gone, with one part of our
Romane power. Your Lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down
before their Citie Carioles, they nothing doubt preuailing,
and to make it breefe Warres. This is true on mine
Honor, and so I pray go with vs.
In earnest it's true; I heard a Senatour speake it.
Thus it is: the Volcies haue an Army forth, against who
Cominius the Generall is gone, with one part of our
Romane power. Your Lord, and Titus Lartius, are set down
before their Citie Carioles, they nothing doubt preuailing,
and to make it breefe Warres. This is true on mine
Honor, and so I pray go with vs.
Virg.
Giue me excuse good Madame, I will obey you
in euery thing heereafter.
Giue me excuse good Madame, I will obey you
in euery thing heereafter.
Vol.
Let her alone Ladie, as she is now:
She will but disease our better mirth.
Let her alone Ladie, as she is now:
She will but disease our better mirth.
Valeria.
In troth I thinke she would:
Fare you well then. Come good sweet Ladie.
Prythee Virgilia turne thy solemnesse out a doore,
And go along with vs.
In troth I thinke she would:
Fare you well then. Come good sweet Ladie.
Prythee Virgilia turne thy solemnesse out a doore,
And go along with vs.
Virgil
No
At a word Madam; Indeed I must not,
I wish you much mirth.
No
At a word Madam; Indeed I must not,
I wish you much mirth.
Val.
Exeunt Ladies.Well, then farewell.
Exeunt Ladies.Well, then farewell.