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?

First Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he, That's lesser than a little. [Drums afar off] Hark, our

drums

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. [Alarum afar off.] Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes.

Amongst your cloven army.

Mar.

O, they're at it!

Lart. Their noise be our instruction.-Ladders, ho!

The Volsces enter and pass over.

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 Volsce,

And he shall feel mine edge.

Alarum; and exeunt Romans and Volsces, fighting. The Romans are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and plagues
Plaster you o'er ;(34) 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 agu'd 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.

Follow me.(35)

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.

First 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.

Who, sensible, outdares his senseless sword,

And, when it bows, stands up!(37) Thou art lost, (38) Marcius:
A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,

Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's wish, (39) 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.
Look, sir.

First Sol.
Lart.

O, 'tis Marcius!

[They fight, and all enter the city.

Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.

SCENE V. Within Corioli. A street.

Enter certain Romans, with spoils.

First Rom. This will I carry to Rome.

Sec. Rom. And I this.

Third 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 (40) 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.

Lart.

Now the fair goddess, Fortune,

Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms
Misguide thy opposers' swords!(41) Bold gentleman,
Prosperity be thy page!

Than those she placeth highest! So, farewell.
Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius !—
Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers o' the town,
Where(42) they shall know our mind: away!

[Exit Marcius.

[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,
By interims and conveying gusts we've heard

The charges of our friends.-Ye(43) 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 issu❜d, 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?

Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor,

More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue

From every meaner man's.(44)

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 ye

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, threatening th' 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
Where is he? call him hither.

you to your trenches?

Let him alone;

Mar.
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. (45) 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've plac'd their men of trust?

Com.

As I guess, Marcius, Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates, (46) 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,