Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

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, to express his disposition,
And follow Marcius.

[ocr errors]

660

[Waving his Hand.

[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 shews 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; 670
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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

The Gates of Corioli.

SCENE VII.

TITUS LARTIUS, having set a a Guard upon Corioli, going with a Drum and Trumpet toward COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers, and a Scout.

Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: Keep your duties,

As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch Those sentries 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.

680

Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. [Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.

The Field of Battle. Alarum. Enter MARCIUS, and AUFIDIUS.

Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate

thee

Worse than a promise-breaker.

Auf. We hate alike;

Not Africk owns a serpent, I abhor"

More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot.

Mar.

690

Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave, And the gods doom him after !

Auf. If I fly, Marcius,

Halloo me like a hare.

Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus,

Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,

And made what work I pleas'd: 'Tis not my blood, Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge, Wrench up thy power to the highest.

Auf. Wert thou the Hector,

That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny,

Thou should'st not scape me here.

700

[Here they fight, and certain Volsces come to the Aid of AUFIDIUS. MARCIUS fights till they be driven in breathless.

Officious, and not valiant!-you have sham'd me

In

your condemned seconds.

[Exeunt fighting.

SCENE IX.

The Roman Camp. Flourish. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Enter at one Door, COMINIUS, with the Romans; at another Door, MARCIUS, with his Arm in a Scarf, &c.

Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug,

COMINI

P.

« ZurückWeiter »