SCENE IV.
Before Corioli.
Enter Marcius, Titus Lartius, with Drum and Colours, Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger.
Mar.
Yonder comes news:—A wager, they have met.
Lart.
My horse to yours, no.
Mar.
'Tis done,
Lart.
Agreed.
Mar.
Say, has our general met the enemy?
Mes.
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 not sell, nor give him: lend you him, I will,
For half a hundred years.—Summon the town.
Mar.
How far off lie these armies?
Mes.
Within this mile and half.
Mar.
Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.
Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work;
That we with smoking swords may march from hence,
To help our fielded friends!—Come, blow thy blast.
-- 351 --
They sound a parley. Enter Senators, with others, on the walls.
Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
1 Sen.
No, 7 note
nor a man that fears you less than he,
That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums
[Drum afar off.
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. Hark you, far off;
[Alarum, 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 Volces.
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 Volce,
And he shall feel mine edge.
[Alarum; the Romans beat back to their trenches.
-- 352 --
Re-enter Marcius* note.
Mar.
All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome, you! Herds of boils 9Q0906 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 followed.
Another Alarum, 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.
[He enters the gates.
1 Sol.
Fool hardiness; not I.
2 Sol.
Nor I.
3 Sol.
See, they have shut him in.
[Alarum continues.
All.
To the pot, I warrant him.
Enter Titus Lartius.
Lart.
What is become of Marcius?
All.
Slain, sir, doubtless.
1 Sol.
Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters: who, upon the sudden,
-- 353 --
Clapt to their gates; he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.
Lart.
O noble fellow!
8 note
Who, sensible, out-dares 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 9 note
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.
Re-enter Marcius bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.
1 Sol.
Look, sir.
Lart.
O, 'tis Marcius:
Let's fetch him off, or 1 notemake remain alike.
[They fight, and all enter the city.
-- 354 --
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
