Com.
This Honour Ladies, might make Juno proud, To Vol. & Virg.
To think whilst you receive th' Applause of Rome,
Your Martius triumphs at Corioles:
Corioles, that once has had the Honour
To make Rome tremble. Enter Valeria.

Val.

Servant Ladies, your Servant; your Ladiships are most happily return'd: What misfortune had I to be indispos'd at such a season: 'Twas the most uncivil Sickness! I swear I had rather ha' Dy'd at another time! O the Arguments that I cou'd have us'd upon this occasion with my Lord Coriolanus! I cou'd have urg'd the most invincible Arguments: I wou'd have talk't Greek to him rather than fail; nay, I wou'd have taxt his Breeding in the business; flatly telling him, he was an uncivil Person to refuse me; and had never seen Athens.

Vol.

Indeed our Conquest was most difficult.

Val.

Why Madam, don't I know him? He's the dearest obstinate Man! which I confess in a Vulgar Person, were most inordinately, unsufferable; but in him it looks so Grand, Heroick, and August, that no Æra, Catalogue, Chronicle, Register, or Annals of Time can ever— Save me Juno; What, my little Souldier here too!

Vol.

He was a silent Pleader in our Cause.

Val.

I warrant, he loves a Drum better than his Lesson; his Father's own Son: I swear Madam, I lookt on him on Wednesday last—right, 'twas Wednesday precisely, (the same time that Madam

Pontia told the most egregious Story of a certain Senators Daughter, which we all swore Secresy to: pray Madam put me in mind to tell it presently) I say, I lookt at him a whole Hour together; he has such a fixt, confirm'd, severe, austere, Countenance, I warrant—I saw him run after a gilded Butterfly; and when he had catch't it, he let it go agen; then after it agen, and over and over he comes; and whether his Fall enrang'd him or no, or how 'twas, he did so set his Teeth, and tear it! O Jupiter, How he Mammockt it!

Virg.

One of his Father's Moods.

Val.

And I swear Madam, 'tis the greatest Comfort in nature to have 'em take after their Ancestors; for when they degenerate, they do as it were recede, decline, imminnish; which your Ladiship knows in effect amounts to a—My Lord Cominius! Your Lordships most humble Servant, I beg your Lordships Pardon most inordinately.

Com.

Madam your Ladiship makes—

Val.

I grant you my Lord, your Friendship with him went far in the Business; pretty Madam Flavia and I, were both of that Opinion.

Com.

Your Ladiship too highly—

Val.

I hold with you there too my Lord, she's the wittiest Creature when she's dispos'd to Talk; but she has too much of my Failing, always silent in Company, which gives occasion, most inordinately, to the censorious World; insomuch, that a modest Person must incontinently, and to the outmost—though your forward Ladies by reason of a particular —Oh Jupiter! What was I saying my Lord?

Com.

Ev'n what—

Val.

Your Lordship's right again; want of exercising my Tongue, oft-times confounds my Notion—

Page.

Your rival Servants Madam, Flavius and Proculus, wait for your Ladyships return.

Val.

Soft—six Senators, sayst thou, staying for me at my House! Some urgent Affair; better I swear be Ignorant of State-matters than suffer this eternal Trouble: This 'tis to Learn'd and Travell'd! I say 'tis the most insipid Thing not to be Learn'd and Travell'd! I wou'd not for the World but be disturb'd at all Hours upon Affairs: My Chair there; O Jupiter, no Attendance in this World—your Lordship will excuse me on consideration—and your Ladyships: Your Lordships most humble Servant; your Servant Ladies; your most humble Servant.

Verg.
O my boding fear! [Shewing the Letter.

Amidst this general Joy begins our Sorrow;
This Mourning we put on for Rome, must now
Become the Dress of our own private sorrow.

Com.
What mean those doleful Accents?

Virg.
False Nigridius,
(Disbanded for his Villany by Martius)
Is busy for Revenge; and hourly plots
Against his precious Life: The industry
Of good Menenius sends this information;
Whilst Martius, confident in Innocence,
Is obstinately blind to all his dangers;
Though in the Walls of an offended Citty,
Whose Streets yet mourn the Slaughter he has made.

Vol.
The Gods provide us then more noble Work,
To give our Virtues, yet a brighter Ray:
Come my Virgilia; with our ablest speed,
We will betake us to Corioles.

Com.
Consider Madam, what th'event may be;
Your Aid uncertain, but your Danger sure.

Virg.
Needful Suspition, necessary Caution,
He reckons only better terms for fear;
His Life is therefore any Villains Prize:
And he that dares not face a waking Env'nuch,
May kill a sleeping Gyant.

Boy.

Shall not I go too? My Father promis'd to teach me to Fight: I wou'd fain learn; and if any body hurts him, I'll kill their Boys now; and them, when I am bigger.

Vol.
Hear'st thou Virgilia? All thy Martius Fire
Lies shrouded in this little Frame, and shall
With Time, break forth into as full a Blaze:
O we delay our Enterprize too long,
And seem ingrateful to the indulgent Pow'rs,
That have decreed our Names, the immortal Glory,
To Save Rome first, and then Coriolanus.

Com.
The Gods, whose Temples you preserv'd, protect you. Exeunt. Enter Aufidius, and Nigridius.

Nigr.
Compose this Fury, and recall your Reason.

Auf.
Preach Patience to the Winds, bid Tempests Sleep.
The golden Opportunity is lost,

And I cou'd curse my self as heartily
As ever I did Martius: O Nigridius,
I am a lazy Trifler, and unworthy
To be possest o'th' Beauty that I Love,
Or be reveng'd upon the Man I hate:
Why forc't I not my passage to his Heart?
Then pamper'd in the Banquet of his Blood,
Flown hot, as flame born Pluto, to the Rape;
And quench't the Fevour in Virgilia's Arms.

Nigr.
Give o're this Frenzy.

Auf.
Now each Minute wrecks me,
With the Remembrance of my former Pangs,
Which War had almost hush't, and Blood wash't out
Her Dove-like Sorrow, when she begg'd for Rome,
(With Eyes Tear charg'd, yet sparkling through the Dew,
Whilst charming Pitty dimpled each soft Cheek)
Call'd back the Scene of my expecting Youth
When with vain promises of Joys to come,
I wak'd the Night, and watch't the Stars away;
So was I wrapt anew i'th dazling Dream;
Believ'd her yet unwed; believ'd my self
The happy Youth design'd to Reap her Sweets;
To Lock the tender Beauty in my Arms;
Blushing, yet Granting; Trembling, and yet Embracing.
I shall go Mad with the Imagination.

Nigr.
Wake, wake my Lord from this fantastick Maze,
Return her Scorn upon your Rival's head,
And make at least a Mistress of Revenge:
Ev'n now he makes his Entrance at our Gates;
Presuming with a smooth and specious Tale,
To Acquit himself before the credulous People. Enter an Officer of Aufidious Party.

Off.
Our Lords o'th' Citty, Noble Tullus,
Are met in Councel at your Pallace, where
They crave your Presence, having Summon'd thither:
Your Partner Caius Martius, to give in
Th' Account of his Proceedings in this War;
And t'Answer at his Peril all Miscarriage.

Auf.
Go, tell 'em I'll attend 'em instantly;
Deliver 'em this Paper, the Contents

Of what I have to Charge on Martius,
And shall make good to his Face. [Ex. Officer.

Nigr.
Now Sir, How fares it with you?

Auf.
As with a Man by his own Alms empoyson'd.

Nigr.
You hold your last Resolve.

Auf.
I cannot tell;
We must proceed in't, as we find the People.

Nigr.
The People will remain uncertain, whilst
You stand Competitors; but eithers fall,
Leaves th' other Heir to All.

Auf.
I rais'd him, pawn'd my Honour for his Truth,
Whilst the sly Flatterer seduc'd my Friends,
Softning his Nature, never known before:
So base a Grain of Cynick obstinacy:
Banish't from Rome, I furnish't him with Pow'r;
Made him joynt Partner with me, gave him way
In all his own desires; nay, took some Pride
To do my self this wrong, till at the last,
I seem'd his Follower, not his Patron.

Nigr.
True,
Our Army wonder'd at it, and at last,
When he had carry'd Rome, and that we look't
For no less Spoil, than Glory—

Auf.
O there's it!
For which my Sinews shall be stretch't upon him.

Nigr.
Your Native-Town you enter'd like a Pilgrim,
And had no welcome Home; whilst he return'd,
Tortring the Air with Noise; and patient Fools,
Whose Children he had Slaughter'd; tore their Throats,
With shouting his Applause.

Auf.
Wreck me no more,
His Tryumphs sleep this Day; then shalt thou see,
Thy Tullus Glories bloom a second Spring:
I shall be yet the Wonder of the Crowd,
When this Controller of my Fate is gone:
'Tis Odds our Senate doom him; but if not,
I'll have my Party planted near—thy News. Enter the Officer.

Off.
My Lord, the Councel have perus'd your Paper,
And summon your Appearance instantly.
What will surprize you more: I met ev'n now

Volumnia with Virgilia, and young Martius,
Just enter'd our Corioles,
And hastily enquiring for your Palace;
Menenius at that instant passing by.

Auf.
Thou tell'st me Wonders, but I know thy Truth.
Nigridius, help me now to play this Game,
And draw at once our Net o're the whole Covey:
They have not yet seen Martius.

Off.
No,—Menenius off'ring to Conduct 'em to him,
They grew divided in their Resolutions;
Virgilia held it best to seek out you,
Presuming on her former Pow'r with you;
But what they did determine on—

Auf.
No more.
Nigridius, take our Guard along with you,
Whilst I attend the Councel; Seize 'em All,
Before they can attain to speak with Martius;
Dispose 'em privately within our Palace;
Virgilia by her self; you know my drift:
For soon as I've secur'd my Rivals Life,
All stain'd i'th' Husbands Blood, I'll Force the Wife. [Exeunt.

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