Convenient numbers to make good the city;

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

To help Cominius.

Lart.

Thy exercise hath been too violent for

Worthy sir, thou bleed'st;

Sir, praise me not:

A second course of fight.

Mar.

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! Bold gentlemen, Prosperity be thy page!

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, By interims, and conveying gusts, we have heard The charges of our friends: The 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?

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 could'st thou in a mile confound' an hour,
And bring thy news so late?

Mess.
Spies of the Volces
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.

Com.

Enter MARCIUS.

Who's yonder,

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.

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.

Mar.

Come I too late?

Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, But mantled in your own.

O! let me clip you

Mar.
In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart

As merry, as on our nuptial day.

Com.

How is't with Titus Lartius?

Flower of warriors,

Mar. As with a man busied about decrees:

2

Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,

Confound, occupy, expend. • Or remitting his ransom.

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 is 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 thinkWhere is the enemy? Are you lords o' th' 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 They have plac'd their men of trust?

Com.

[side

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:

1

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
than an
person
ill report;

1

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 dispoAnd follow Marcius.

[sition, [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 Volces? 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: 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 a drum and trumpet towards COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a Lieutenant, a party of Soldiers, and a Scout.

Lart. So, let the ports3 be guarded: keep your duties,

As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch

2

Fear personal danger less than an ill report.
Command, company, party.

3 The gates.

Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve
For a short holding: If we lose the field,
We cannot keep the town.

Lieu.

Fear not our care, sir.

Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.Our guider, come; to th' Roman camp conduct us.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.-A field of battle between the Roman and the Volcian camps.

Alarum.

Enter MARCIUS and AUFIdius.

Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate Worse than a promise-breaker.

Auf.

[thee

We hate alike;

Not Africk owns a serpent, I abhor

More than thy fame and envy; Fix thy foot.
Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave,
And the gods doom him after!

Auf.

Halloo me like a hare.

Mar.

If I fly, Marcius,

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 th' highest.

Auf.
That was the whip' of your bragg'd progeny,
Thou should'st not scape me here.-

Wert thou the Hector,

[They fight, and certain Volces come to the aid of AUFIDIUS.

Officious, and not valiant—you have sham'd3 me your condemned seconds.

In

[Exeunt fighting, driven in by Marcius.

2 Whip-a term used to denote a clever hand. Aufidius means that HECTOR was the glory of his race.

to say,

3 I am shamed by these succours.