MAR.

'Tis done.

LART.

Agreed.

MAR.

Say, has our general met the enemy?

MESS.

They lie in view, but have not spoke as yet.

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 prithee 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 two Senators with others on the walls of Corioles.

 

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1. SEN.

No, nor a man that fears you less than he,

That's lesser than a little.

 

(Drum 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 far off.)

 

Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius. List what work he makes

Amongst your cloven army.

MAR.

O, they are at it!

LART.

Their noise be our instruction. Ladders ho!

 

Enter the Army of the Volsces.

 

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. The Romans are beat back to their trenches.

 

Enter Martius cursing.

 

MAR.

All the contagion of the south light on you,

You shames of Rome! you herd of – Biles and plagues

Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd

Farther 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. Follow 's.

 

Another alarum. [The Volsces fly,] and Martius 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.

 

Enter the gates.

 

1. SOLD.

Foolhardiness, not I.

2. SOLD.

Nor I.

 

[Martius] is shut in.

 

1. SOLD.

See, they have shut him in.

Alarum continues.

 

ALL.

To th' pot, I warrant him.

 

Enter Titus Lartius.

 

LART.

What is become of Martius?

ALL.

Slain, sir, doubtless.

1. SOLD.

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 sensibly outdares his senseless sword,

And when it bows, stand'st up. Thou art left, Martius –

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.

 

Enter Martius bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.

 

1.