SCENE IV
Before Corioli.
[Enter, with drum and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger]
MARCIUS
Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
LARTIUS
My horse to yours, no.
My horse to yours, no.
MARCIUS
’Tis done.
’Tis done.
LARTIUS
Agreed.
Agreed.
MARCIUS
Say, has our general met the enemy?
Say, has our general met the enemy?
Messenger
They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
LARTIUS
So, the good horse is mine.
So, the good horse is mine.
MARCIUS
I’ll buy him of you.
I’ll buy him of you.
LARTIUS
No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
MARCIUS
How far off lie these armies?
How far off lie these armies?
Messenger
Within this mile and half.
Within this mile and half.
MARCIUS
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.
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]
Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
First Senator
No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That’s lesser than a little.
No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That’s lesser than a little.
[Drums afar off]
| Hark! our drums |
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! |
Amongst your cloven army.
MARCIUS
O, they are at it!
O, they are at it!
LARTIUS
Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
[Enter the army of the Volsces]
MARCIUS
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.
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. Re-enter MARCIUS cursing]
MARCIUS
All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of – Boils and plagues
Plaster you o’er, 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 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 followed.
All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of – Boils and plagues
Plaster you o’er, 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 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 followed.
[Another alarum. The Volsces fly, 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.
’Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.
[Enters the gates]
First Soldier
Fool-hardiness; not I.
Fool-hardiness; not I.
Second Soldier
Nor I.
Nor I.
[MARCIUS is shut in]
First Soldier
See, they have shut him in.
See, they have shut him in.
All
To the pot, I warrant him.
To the pot, I warrant him.
[Alarum continues]
[Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS]
LARTIUS
What is become of Marcius?
What is become of Marcius?
All
Slain, sir, doubtless.
Slain, sir, doubtless.
First Soldier
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.
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.
LARTIUS
O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius:
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 madst thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.
O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius:
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 madst thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.
[Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy]
First Soldier
Look, sir.
Look, sir.
LARTIUS
O,’tis Marcius!
Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
O,’tis Marcius!
Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
[They fight, and all enter the city]
