SOLD.

Look, sir.

LART.

O, 'tis Martius!

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

 

They fight, and all enter the city.

 

 

[Scene V]

Enter certain Romans with spoils.

 

1. ROM.

This will I carry to Rome.d

2. ROM.

And I this.

3. ROM.

A murrain on't! I took this for silver.

 

Exeunt. Alarum continues still afar off.

 

Enter Martius and Titus [Lartius] with a Trumpet.

 

MAR.

See here these movers that do prize their hours

At a crack'd drachme! 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! Bold gentleman!

Prosperity be thy page.

MAR.

Thy friend no less

Than those she placeth highest! So farewell.

LART.

Thou worthiest Martius!

 

[Exit Martius.]

 

Go sound thy trumpet in the market-place;

Call thither all the officers a' th' town,

Where they shall know our mind. Away!

 

Exeunt.

 

 

[Scene VI]

Enter Cominius, as it were in retire, with Soldiers.

 

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 strook,

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 encount'ring,

May give you thankful sacrifice.

 

Enter a Messenger.

 

Thy news?

MESS.

The citizens of Corioles have issued,

And given to Lartius and to Martius battle.

I saw our party to their trenches driven,

And then I came away.

COM.

Though thou speakest 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.

 

Enter Martius.

 

COM.

Who's yonder,

That does appear as he were flea'd? O gods,

He has the stamp of Martius, 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 Martius' tongue

From every meaner man.

MAR.

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 burnt to bedward!

COM.

Flower of warriors,

How is't with Titus Lartius?

MAR.

As with a man busied about decrees:

Condemning some to death, and some to exile;

Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning th' other;

Holding Corioles 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 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 think.

Where is the enemy? Are you lords a' th' field?

If not, why cease you till you are so?

COM.

Martius,

We have at disadvantage fought, and did

Retire to win our purpose.

MAR.

How lies their battle? Know you on which side

They have plac'd their men of trust?

COM.

As I guess, Martius,

Their bands i' th' 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 th' blood we have shed together, by th' vows

We have made to endure friends, that you directly

Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates,

And that you not delay the present, but,

Filling the air with swords advanc'd and darts,

We prove this very hour.