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Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissen-
tious rogues,

That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs ?

1 Cit. We have ever your good word,

Mar. He that will give good words to thee,
will flatter

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you
curs,
[you,
That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights
The other makes you proud. He that trusts you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese: You are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,

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.

Men. This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!
Enter a MESSENGER.

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?
Mar. Here: What's the matter?

Mes. The news, is, Sir, the Volsces are in arms.
Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have
means to vent

Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders.
Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other
SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS
VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately
told us :

The Volsces are in arms.

Mar. They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.

I sin in envying his nobility:

To make him worthy whose offence subdues him, Ard were I any thing but what I am,
And curse that justice did it.

greatness,

Who deserves

Deserves your hate: and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye!

Trust ye?

With every minute you do change a mind ;
And call him noble, that was now your hate,
Him vile, that was your garland. What's the

matter,

That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,
Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another?-What's their
seeking?

Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof,
they say,

The city is well stor'd.

Mar. Hang 'em! They say १

They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know
What's done i'the Capitol who's like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines: side factions,

and give out

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's
grain enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,+
And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry +
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per-
suaded :

For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech
[you,
What says the other troop?

Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em!
They said they were an hungry sigh'd forth
proverbs
[eat;
That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must
That meat was made for mouths; that the gods
sent not

Corn for the rich men only :-With these shreds
They vented their complainings; which, being

answer'd,

And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generosity,

And make bold power look pale) they threw their

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I would wish me only he.

Com. You have fought together.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears,
and he

Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make
Only my wars with him: he is a lion

That I am proud to hunt.

1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Com. It is your former promise.
Mar. Sir, it is;

And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius;

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[other,

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the
Ere stay behind this business.

Men. Oh! true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where I know,

Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit. Lead you on:

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Com. Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone.
[To the CITIZENS.
Mar. Nay, let then follow:
The Volsces have much corn; take these rats
thither,

To guaw their garners: Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts + well forth: pray follow.

[Exeunt SENATORS, COM. MAR. TIT. and
MENEN. CITIZENS steal away.
Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Mar-
cius?

Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the
people,-

Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes ?
Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird ‡ ·

the gods.

Sic. Be-mock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him: he is [grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic. 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.

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,-
In whom already he is well grac'd-cannot
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

For insurgents to debate upon. t Shows itself

* Gibe.

Will then cry out of Marcius, Oh! if he Had borne the business!

Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru. Come:

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults

To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,
In aught he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

bodied, and the only son of my womb: when youth with comeliness pluck'd 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; 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. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak.t I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than

How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion, now in first seeing he had proved himself a
More than in singularity,+ he goes
Upon his present action.

Bru. Let's along.

man.

Vir. But had he died in the business, madam,

[Exeunt. how then?

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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.

1 Sen. Our army's in the field:

We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us.

Auf. Nor did you think it folly,

To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when They needs must shew themselves; which in the hatching,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, We shall be shorten'd in our aim, which was, To take in many towns, ere, almost, Rome Should know we were afoot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your commission; hie you to your bands:
Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If they set down before us, for the remove
Bring up your army; but, I think, you'll find
They have not prepar'd for us.

Auf. Oh! doubt not that:

I speak from certainties. Nay, more-
Some parcels of their powers are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your honours.
If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall never strike
Till one can do no more.

All. The gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your honours safe!

1 Sen. Farewell.

2 Sen. Farewell. All. Farewell.

Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Rome.-An Apartment in MARCIUS' House

Vol. 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.

Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you.

Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.

Vol. 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,
Like to a harvest-inan, that's task'd to mow
Or all, or lose his hire.

Vir. His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood! Vol. 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 swords' contending.-Tell Valeria We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit GENT.

Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius ! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck.

Re-enter GENTLEWOMAN, with VALERIA and her USHER.

Val. My ladies both, good day to you.
Vol. Sweet madam,-

Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. 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 ?

Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master. Val. 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 : he 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 up again; catched it again or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did so set his teeth, and tear it: Oh! I warrant how he mammocked

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: They sit it!
down on two low stools, and sew.
Vol. 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-

Demerits and merits had anciently the same mean-
ing.
Let us also learn what are his powers, &c.
1 fuformation of it. To subdue,

Vol. One of his father's moods.
Val. Indeed la, 'tis a noble child.
Vir. A crack, madam.

Val. Come, lay aside your stichery; I must have you play the idle buswife with me this afternoon.

Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. • Attracted universal attention. The most hon ourable crown of all-given to him who saved the life of a citizen. 1 Tore it. Boy.

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wars.

Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you?

Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.

Val. 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 tinger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.

Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband.

Vir. O good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.

Vir. Indeed, madam ?

Val. 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 Lartins, 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.

Vir. Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth, I think she would:-Fare you well then.--Come, good sweet lady.-Pi'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o'door, and go along with us.

Vir. No, at a word, madam: indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth. Val. Well, then, farewell.

SCENE IV.-Before Corioli.

[Exeunt.

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as yet.

Lart. So, the good horse is mine.

Mar. I'll buy him of you.

Lart. No, I'll nor sell, nor give him: lend you him, I will,

For half a hundred years.-Summon the town.
Mar. How far off lie these armies ?
Mess. within this mile and balf.

Mar. Then shall we hear their larum, and they ours.

Now, Mars, I pr'ythee make us quick in work: That we, with smoking swords, may march from hence, [blast To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy They sound a parley.-Enter on the walls, some SENATORS, and others.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums [Alarums afar off. Are bringing forth our youth: We'll break our walls,

Rather than they shall pound ng up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with

rushes;

They'll open of themselves.

There is Aufidius; list, what Amongst your cloven army, Mar. Oh! they are at it!

Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums. work he makes

Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders ho!

The VOLSCES enter and pass over the Stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.

[light Now put your shields before your hearts, and With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus :

They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.--Come ou, my fellows;

He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce.
And he shall feel miue edge.

Alarum, and exeunt ROMANS and VOLSCES, fighting. The ROMANS are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS.

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Lart. O noble fellow !

Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows," stands up! Thou art left,
Marcius:

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible
Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks, and
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,
Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.

Re-enter MARCIUS bleeding, assaulted by 1 Sol. Look, Sir.

the enemy.

Lart. 'Tis Marcius:

Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the city,

When it is bent.

6

CORIOLANUS.

SCENE V-Within the town.-A Street.

Enter certain ROMANS, with spoils.

1 Rom. This I will carry to Rome. 2 Rom. And I this.

3 Rom. A murrain on't! I took this for silver. [Alarum continues still afar off. Enter MARCIUS, and TITUS LARTIUS, with a trumpet.

Mar. See here these movers, that do prize
their hours

At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons,
Irons of doit, doublets that hangmen would
Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,
Ere yet the fight be done, pack up :-Down with
them.

And bark, what noise the general makes! To
him:-

There is the inan of my soul's hate, Aufidius,
Piercing our Romans: Then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city;
Whilst 1, with those that have the spirit, will
To help Cominius.

Lart. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st;

Thy exercise hath been too violent for

A second course of fight.

Mar. Sir, praise me not:

[haste

[well.

My work hath yet not warn'd me: Fare you
The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus

I will appear, and fight.

Lurt. Now the fair goddess, Fortune,

Fail deep in lo e with thee: and her great
charms

Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman,
Prosperity be thy page!

Mur. Thy friend no less

Than those she placeth highest! So farewell.
Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius !-

[Exit MARCIUS.
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers of the town,
Where they shall know our mind. Away.

[Exeunt. SCENE VI.--Near the Camp of COMINIUS. Enter COMINIUS and forces, retreating. Com. Breathe you, my friends; well fought, we are come off

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,
Nor cowardly in retire; believe me, Sirs,
We shall be charg'd again. Whiles we have
[heard
struck,
By interims, and conveying gusts, we have
The charges of our friends :-The Roman gods
Lead their successes as we wish our own;
That both our powers, with smiling fronts en-
countering.

Enter a MESSENGER.

May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news?
Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued,
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
saw our party to their trenches driven,
And then I came away.

Com. Though thou speak'st truth,

Act 1.

He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have
Beforetime seen him thus.

Mar. Come I too late?

Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from
a tabor,

More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue
From every meaner man's.

Mar. Come I too late?

Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of [others, But mantled in your own.

Mar. Oh! let me clip you

In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart
As merry as when our nuptial day was done,
And tapers burn'd to bedward.

Com. Flower of warriors,
How is't with Titus Lartius?

Mar. As with a man busied about decrees:
Condemning some to death, and some to exile;
Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other;
Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,
Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
To let him slip at will.

Com. Where is that slave,
Which told me they had beat you to your trenches!
Where is he? Call him hither.
Mar. Let him alone,

He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen,
The common file, (a plague !--tribunes for them!)
The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did

budge

From rascals worse than they.

Com. But how prevail'd you?

Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not

think

Where is the enemy? Are you lords o'the field
If not, why cease you till you are so ?
Com. Marcius,

We have at disadvantage fought, and did
Retire, to win our purpose.

Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on
which side

They have plac'd their men of trust?

Com. As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates,t
Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.

Mar. I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
We have made to endure friends, that you di

rectly

Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates:
And that you not delay the present; but,
Filling the air with swords advanc'd, and darts,
We prove this very hour.

Com. Though I could wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath,
And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
Deny your asking: take your choice of those
That best can aid your action.

Mar. Those are they

That most are willing :-If any such be here,
(As it were sin to doubt,) that love this painting
Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;

If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him, alone, or so many, so minded,

Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't Wave thus [waving his hand] to express his

since?

Mess. Above an hour, my lord.

Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their

drums:

How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour,
And bring thy news so late?

Mess. Spies of the Volsces

Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel
Three or four miles about; else had I, Sir,
Half an hour since brought my report.

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disposition,

And follow Marcius,

[They all shout and wave their swords; take
him up in their arms, and cast up their
caps.

O me, alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volsces? None of you but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
Though thanks to all, must I select the rest
Shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march,
• Front. + Soldiers of Antium.

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Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: keep your
duties,

As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch
Those centuries to our aid: the rest will serve
For a short holding: If we lose the field,
We cannot keep the town.

Lieu. Fear not our care, Sir.

us.

When she does praise me, grieves me.

done,

I have

As you have done, that's what I can; induc'd
As you have been, that's for my country;
He, that has but effected his good will,
Hath overta'en mine act.

Com. You shall not be

The grave of your deserving: Rome must know
The value of her own: 'twere a concealment
Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,
To hide your doings; and to silence that,
Which to the spire and top of praises vouch'd
Would seem but modest: Therefore, I beseech
(In sign of what you are, not to reward
What you have done) before our army hear me.
Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they

smart

To hear themselves remember'd.

Com. Should they not,

Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,

horses,

[you

Of all the

Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us. And tent theniselves with death.
Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct
[Exeunt.
SCENE VIII-A field of battle between the
Roman and the Volscian Camps.

(Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,)

Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS.
Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for 1 do
hate thee

Worse than a promise-breaker
Auf. We hate alike:

Not Afric owns a serpent, I abhor

More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot.
Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave,
And the gods doom him after !

Auf. If I fly, Marcius,

Halloo me like a hare.

Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,

And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my
blood,

Wherein thou seest me mask'd for thy revenge,
Wrench up thy power to the highest.

Auf. Wert thou the Hector,

That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny, $
Thou should'st not 'scape me here.-

[They fight and certain Volsces come to
the aid of AUFIDIUS.
Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me
In your condemned seconds. ||

[Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS.

SCENE IX.-The Roman Camp. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Flourish.

Enter at one side, COMINIUS and Romans ; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans.

Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's
work,

Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it,
Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles;
Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug,
l'the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted,
And gladly quak'd, ¶ hear more; where the dull
Tribunes,

nours,

That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine ho-
[gods,
Shall say, against their hearts-We thank the
Our Rome hath such a soldier!-

Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast,

Having fully dined before.

of all

The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city,
We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,
Before the common distribution, at
Your only choice.

Mar. I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing.

[A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius Į
Marcius! cast up their caps and lances:
COMINIUS and LARTIUS stand bare.
Mar. May these same instruments, which you
profane,
[shall
Never sound more! When drums and trumpets
I'the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities
be
[grows

Made all of false-fac'd soothing: When steel
Soft as the parasite's silk, let him be made
Au overture for the wars! No more, I say;
For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled,
Or foil'd some debile wretch, (which, without
note,

Here's many else have done,) you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;

As if I loved my little should be dieted
In praises sauc'd with lies.

Com. Too modest are you;

More cruel to your good report, than grateful
To us that give you truly: by your patience,
If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you
(Like one that means his proper + harm,) in
manacles,
[known,
Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it
As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this
time,

For what he did before Corioli, call him,
With all the applause and clamour of the host,
CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS.-
Bear the addition nobly ever!

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums.
All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus!
Cor. I will go wash;

And when my face is fair, you shall perceive Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, thank you :

I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,

Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power,** from To undercrest your good addition,

the pursuit.

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To the fairness of my power.

Com. So, to our tent;

Where, ere we do repose us, we will write
To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome
The best, with whom we may articulate,
For their own good, and ours.

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