Act 1. Scene III - Page 2

VALERIA
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?

VIRGILIA
I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

VOLUMNIA
He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than
look upon his school-master.

VALERIA
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!

VOLUMNIA
One on 's father's moods.

VALERIA
Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.

VIRGILIA
A crack, madam.

VALERIA
Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play
the idle husewife with me this afternoon.

VIRGILIA
No, good madam; I will not out of doors.

VALERIA
Not out of doors!

VOLUMNIA
She shall, she shall.

VIRGILIA
Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the
threshold till my lord return from the wars.

VALERIA
Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come,
you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

VIRGILIA
I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with
my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

VOLUMNIA
Why, I pray you?

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

VALERIA
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.

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

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

VIRGILIA
O, good madam, there can be none yet.

VALERIA
Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from
him last night.

VIRGILIA
Indeed, madam?

VALERIA
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.

VIRGILIA
Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in every
thing