You shames of Rome!-you herd of-Boils and plagues
Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd
Further than seen, and one infect another

Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run

From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!
All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale

With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home,
Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe

And make my wars on you: look to't: come on;
If you'll stand fast we'll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.

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?
All.

1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,
Clapp'd-to their gates: he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.
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 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!—
And hark, what noise the general makes!-To him!—
There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,

Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city;

Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste
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;

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.
Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms
Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman,
Prosperity be thy page!

Mar.
Than those she placeth highest !—So, farewell.

Thy friend no less

[Exit MARCIUS.

[Exeunt.

Lar. Thou worthiest Marcius!-
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers o' the town,
Where they shall know our mind: away!

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,
By interims and conveying gusts we have heard

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?
Mess. Above an hour, my lord.

Com. "Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:
How couldst 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.

Who's yonder,

Com.
That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods!
He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have
Before-time seen him thus.

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,
And tapers burn'd to bedward!

Com.

How is't with Titus Lartius?

Flower of warriors,

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's 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 placed their men of trust?

Com.

As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates,
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 directly
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,

Wave thus [waving his hand], to express his 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 from all: the rest
Shall bear the business in some other fight,

As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;
And four shall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are best inclin'd.

Com.

March on, my fellows:
Make good this ostentation, and you shall
Divide in all with us.

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.