Vir. No at a word, madam; indeed, I must not. : I wish you much mirth. Val. Well, then farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Before Corioli. Enter, with Drums and Colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Officers and Soldiers. To them a Messenger. Mar. Yonder comes news:-A wager they have met. Lart. My horse to yours, no. Mar. Lart. 'Tis done. Agreed. Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy? 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 half. 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, To help our fielded friends'!-Come, blow thy blast. They sound a Parley. Enter, on the Walls, some Senators, and Others. Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls? 5 1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, battle. fielded friends!] i. c. our friends who are in the field of 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 us up: our gates, Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off; [Other Alarums. O, they are at it! There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes Mar. Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders, ho! The Volces enter and pass over the Stage. Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields.-Advance, brave Titus: They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath.-Come on, my fellows; He that retires, I'll take him for a Volce, And he shall feel mine edge. Re-enter Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, fighting. The All the contagion of the south light on you, You shames of Rome!-you herd of-Boils and plagues Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, And make my wars on you: look to't: Come on; Another Alarum. The Volces and Romans re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The Volces 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. [He enters the Gates, and is shut in. 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, 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 6 Who, sensible,] Sensible is here, having sensation. 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. Lart. Look, sir. 'Tis Marcius +: Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the City. SCENE V. Within the Town. 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 942 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, And hark, what noise the general makes!-To him:- "O, 'tis Marcius: "-MALONE. 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. Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms Mar. 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 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, Enter a Messenger. May give you thankful sacrifice!—Thy news? |