Act IScene IV
Before Corioles
Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with drum and colours, with Captains and Soldiers, as before the city of Corioles. To them a Messenger.
Martius
Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
Lartius
My horse to yours, no.
Martius
’Tis done.
Lartius
Agreed.
Martius
To Messenger.
Say, has our general met the enemy?
Messenger
They lie in view but have not spoke as yet.
Lartius
So the good horse is mine.
Martius
I’ll buy him of you.
Lartius
No, I’ll nor sell nor give him. Lend you him I willFor half a hundred years.—Summon the town.
Martius
How far off lie these armies?
Messenger
Within this mile and half.
Martius
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 henceTo 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?
First Senator
No, nor a man that fears you less than he:That’s lesser than a little.
Drum afar off.
Hark, our drumsAre bringing forth our youth. We’ll break our wallsRather than they shall pound us up. Our gates,Which yet seem shut, we have but pinned with rushes.They’ll open of themselves.
Alarum far off.
Hark you, far off!There is Aufidius. List what work he makesAmongst your cloven army.
Martius
O, they are at it!
Lartius
Their noise be our instruction.—Ladders, ho!
Enter the Army of the Volsces as through the city gates.
Martius
They fear us not but issue forth their city.—Now put your shields before your hearts, and fightWith 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.
Alarums. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. They exit, with the Volsces following.
Enter Martius cursing, with Roman soldiers.
Martius
All the contagion of the south light on you,You shames of Rome! You herd of—Boils and plaguesPlaster you o’er, that you may be abhorredFarther than seen, and one infect anotherAgainst the wind a mile! You souls of geese,That bear the shapes of men, how have you runFrom slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!All hurt behind. Backs red, and faces paleWith flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home,Or, by the fires of heaven, I’ll leave the foeAnd 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 re-enter and are driven back to the gates of Corioles, which open to admit them.
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.
Martius follows the fleeing Volsces through the gates, and is shut in.
First Soldier
Foolhardiness, not I.
Second Soldier
Nor I.
First Soldier
See, they have shut him in.
Alarum continues.
All
To th’ pot, I warrant him.
Enter Titus Lartius.
Lartius
What is become of Martius?
All
Slain, sir, doubtless.
First Soldier
Following the fliers at the very heels,With them he enters, who upon the suddenClapped 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, stand’st up! Thou art left, Martius.A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldierEven to Cato’s wish, not fierce and terribleOnly in strokes, but with thy grim looks andThe thunderlike percussion of thy soundsThou mad’st thine enemies shake, as if the worldWere feverous and did tremble.
Enter Martius, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.
First Soldier
Look, sir.
Lartius
O, ’tis Martius!Let’s fetch him off or make remain alike.
They fight, and all enter the city.