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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-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. 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. 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.
Please, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable way: if my son were my husband, I would be happier about his absence, where he earned honor, than in the embraces of his bed, where he would show the most love. When he was still young and the only son of my womb, when youth and beauty drew everyone’s attention to him, when for a day of kings’ requests a mother should not allow him to be away for even an hour, I, considering how honor would suit such a person, thought it was nothing more than a picture hanging on a wall, if fame didn’t make it move, and I was happy to let him seek danger where he was likely to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from which he returned, his brow crowned with oak. I tell you, daughter, I felt no more joy when I first heard he was a boy than I do now, seeing that he has proved himself a man.
But had he died in the business, madam; how then?
But if he had died in the battle, madam; what then?
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.
Then his good reputation would have been my son; I would have found fulfillment in that. Hear me speak honestly: if I had a dozen sons, each equally dear to me as you are to me, and my good Marcius, I would rather have had eleven die nobly for their country than one live in luxury and excess, away from action.
Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
Madam, Lady Valeria has come to visit you.
Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Please, let me go and be alone for a while.
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-man that’s task’d to mow Or all or lose his hire.
No, you won’t. I think I hear your husband’s drum coming this way, I see him dragging Aufidius by the hair, Like children pulling a bear, the Volscians running from him: I imagine I see him stamp his foot and shout like this: ’Come on, you cowards! You were born in fear, Even if you were born in Rome:’ wiping his bloody brow With his armored hand, off he goes, Like a farmer who has to mow the fields, Or lose his pay.
His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!
His bloody brow! Oh Jupiter, no blood!
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 sword, contemning. Tell Valeria, We are fit to bid her welcome.
Stop, you silly woman! It looks more fitting on a man Than on a gold-plated trophy: Hecuba’s breasts, When she nursed Hector, didn’t look any better Than Hector’s forehead when it was bleeding As he faced the Greek sword, not caring. Tell Valeria, We are ready to welcome her.
Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
May the heavens protect my husband from terrible Aufidius!
He’ll beat Aufidius ’head below his knee And tread upon his neck.
He’ll crush Aufidius’ head below his knee And stomp on his neck.
My ladies both, good day to you.
Good day to you both, my ladies.
Sweet madam.
How sweet, madam.
I am glad to see your ladyship.
I’m so happy to see you, your ladyship.
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?
How are you both? You’re clearly good housewives. What are you sewing here? Such a lovely spot, really. How’s your little boy?
I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.
Thank you for asking, your ladyship; he’s well, thank you.
He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master.
He’d rather watch the swords and hear a drum than look at his schoolmaster.
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: 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 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!
Oh, I swear, the father’s son: I’ll swear, he’s a really cute boy. Oh, honestly, I looked at him for half an hour on Wednesday: he has such a serious face. I saw him chase after a shiny butterfly: and when he caught it, he let it go again; and chased it again; and over and over he came back, and again; caught it again; or whether falling made him angry, or whatever it was, he gritted his teeth and tore it up; oh, I bet you, how he shredded it!
One on ’s father’s moods.
Just like his father’s moods.
Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.
Indeed, truly, he’s a noble child.
A crack, madam.
A crack, madam.
Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle husewife with me this afternoon.
Come, put away your sewing; I need you to play the idle housewife with me this afternoon.
No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
No, good madam; I won’t go outside.
Not out of doors!
Not outside!
She shall, she shall.
She will, she will.
Indeed, no, by your patience; I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.
Really, no, with all due respect; I won’t step outside until my husband returns from the wars.
Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
Nonsense, you’re being unreasonable: come, you must go visit the kind lady who’s in bed.
I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.
I’ll wish her quick recovery, and pray for her; but I can’t go there.
Why, I pray you?
Why, if I may ask?
’Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.
It’s not to avoid work, nor because I lack love.
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 finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.
You’d be like another Penelope: but they say, all the thread she spun while Ulysses was gone just filled Ithaca with moths. Come on; I wish your fine fabric were as soft as your finger, so you could stop poking it for no reason. Come, you’ll come with us.
No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.
No, good madam, forgive me; truly, I will not go out.
In truth, la, go with me; and I’ll tell you excellent news of your husband.
Honestly, please, come with me; and I’ll bring you great news about your husband.
O, good madam, there can be none yet.
Oh, good madam, there isn’t any news yet.
Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.
Honestly, I’m not joking with you; I heard news from him last night.
Indeed, madam?
Really, madam?
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 Lartius 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.
Yes, truly; I heard a senator mention it. Here’s what happened: the Volsces have an army out; against them, Cominius, the general, has gone, taking part of our Roman forces: your husband and Titus Lartius are camped outside their city, Corioli; they have no doubt they’ll win, and to make it short, wars are coming. This is true, on my honor; and so, I ask, come with us.
Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every thing hereafter.
Please excuse me, good madam; I will do as you say from now on.
Let her alone, lady: as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.
Leave her be, lady: she’ll only spoil our better cheer.
In troth, I think she would. Fare you well, then. Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o’ door. and go along with us.
Truly, I think she would. Goodbye then. Come, sweet lady. Please, Virgilia, stop being so serious and come along with us.
No, at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth.
No, really, madam; I must not. I wish you much happiness.
Well, then, farewell.
Well then, goodbye.