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 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 Martius.

 

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 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,

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 VII]

Titus Lartius, having set a guard upon Corioles, going with Drum and Trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Martius, 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 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 's.

Our guider, come, to th' Roman camp conduct us.

 

Exeunt.

 

 

[Scene VIII]

Alarum as in battle. Enter Martius and Aufidius at several doors.

 

MAR.

I'll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee

Worse than a promise-breaker.

AUF.

We hate alike:

Not Afric 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.

If I fly, Martius,

Hollow me like a hare.

MAR.

Within these three hours, Tullus,

Alone I fought in your Corioles 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.

Wert thou the Hector

That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny

Thou shouldst not scape me here.

 

Here they fight, and certain Volsces come in the aid of Aufidius. Martius fights till they be driven in breathless.

 

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

In your condemned seconds.

 

[Exeunt.]

 

 

[Scene IX]

Flourish. Alarum. A retreat is sounded. Enter, at one door, Cominius, with the Romans; at another door, Martius with his arm in a scarf.

 

COM.

If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work,

Thou't not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it

Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles;

Where great patricians shall attend and shrug,

I' th' end admire; where ladies shall be frighted,

And gladly quak'd, hear more; where the dull tribunes,

That with the fusty plebeians hate thine honors,

Shall say against their hearts, »We thank the gods

Our Rome hath such a soldier.«

Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast,

Having fully din'd before.

 

Enter Titus [Lartius] with his power, from the pursuit.

 

LART.

O general!

Here is the steed, we the caparison.

Hadst thou beheld –

MAR.

Pray now, no more. My mother,

Who has a charter to extol her blood,

When she does praise me grieves me. I have done

As you have done – that's what I can; induc'd

As you have been – that's for my country:

He that has but effected his good will

Hath overta'en mine act.

COM.

You shall not be

The grave of your deserving; Rome must know

The value of her own. 'Twere a concealment

Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,

To hide your doings, and to silence that

Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd,

Would seem but modest; therefore I beseech you,

In sign of what you are, not to reward

What you have done, before our army hear me.

MAR.

I have some wounds upon me, and they smart

To hear themselves rememb'red.

COM.

Should they not,

Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,

And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses –

Whereof we have ta'en good and good store – of all

The treasure in this field achiev'd and city,

We render you the tenth, to be ta'en forth,

Before the common distribution, at

Your only choice.

MAR.

I thank you, general;

But cannot make my heart consent to take

A bribe to pay my sword. I do refuse it,

And stand upon my common part with those

That have beheld the doing.

 

A long flourish. They all cry, »Martius! Martius!«, cast up their caps and lances.