You shames of Rome!-you herd of-Boils and plagues Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell! With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, And make my wars on you: look to't: come on; Another alarum. The Volsces and Romans re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The Volsces retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates. So, now the gates are ope :-now prove good seconds: "Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. 1 Sol. Fool-hardiness: not I. 2 Sol. [He enters the gates. Nor I. [MARCIUS is shut in. 1 Sol. See, they have shut him in. All. To the pot, I warrant him. [Alarum continues. Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS. Slain, sir, doubtless. Lart. What is become of Marcius? 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, O noble fellow! Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword, And when it bows stands up! Thou art left, Marcius: 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 Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy. 1 Sol. Look, 'sir. Lart. Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. O, 'tis Marcius! [They fight, and all enter the city. SCENE V.-Within CORIOLI. A Street. Enter certain Romans, with spoils. 1 Rom. This will I 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 a 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!— Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent for A second course of fight. Mar. Sir, praise me not; My work hath yet not warm'd me: fare you well: The blood I drop is rather physical Than dangerous to me: to Aufidius thus I will appear, and fight. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Lart. Mar. Thy friend no less [Exit MARCIUS. [Exeunt. Lar. Thou worthiest Marcius!- 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 struck, The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods, Lead their successes as we wish our own, That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering, May give you thankful sacrifice! Enter a Messenger. Thy news Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued, And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle: I saw our party to their trenches driven, And then I came away. Com. Though thou speak'st truth, Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is't since? Com. "Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: And bring thy news so late? Mess. Who's yonder, Com. Mar. [within.] Come I too late? Oom. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue From every meaner man. Mar. Enter MARCIUS. Come I too late? Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, But mantled in your own. Mar. O! let me clip you In arms as sound as when I woo'd; in heart As merry as when our nuptial day was done, Com. How is't with Titus Lartius? Flower of warriors, Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, Com. Where is that slave Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? Mar. 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 Mar. How lies their battle? know you on which side They have placed their men of trust? Com. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates, Mar. I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, By the blood we have shed together, by the vows And that you not delay the present, but, Filling the air with swords advanc'd and darts, Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, And balms applied to you, yet dare I never Mar. Those are they That most are willing.-If any such be here, As it were sin to doubt,--that love this painting If any think brave death outweighs bad life, Wave thus [waving his hand], to express his disposition, [They all shout, and wave their swords; take him up O, me alone! make you a sword of me? A shield as hard as his. A certain number, As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march; Com. March on, my fellows: SCENE VII.-The Gates of Corioli. [Exeunt. TITUS LARTIUS, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with drum and trumpet toward COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a Lieutenant, a party of Soldiers, and a Scout. 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. Lieut. Fear not our care, sir. Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon 's. Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII.-A Field of Battle between the Roman and the Volscian Camps. Alarum Enter, from opposite sides, MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker. |