Mar.
Yonder comes news: a wager they have met ^note.

Lart.
My horse to yours, no ^note.

Mar.
'Tis done.

Lart.
Agreed.

Mar.
Say, has our general met the enemy?

Mess.
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 nor sell nor ^note give him: lend you him ^note I will
For half a hundred years ^note. Summon the town.

Mar.
How far off lie these armies?

Mess.
Within this mile ^note and half ^note.

Mar.
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 ^note blast. They sound a parley. Enter two ^note Senators with others, on the walls. ^note
Tullus Aufidius ^note, is he within your walls ^note?

First Sen.
No, nor ^note a man that fears you less ^note than he,
That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums ^note [Drum afar off.
Are bringing forth our youth! we'll break our walls,
Rather than they shall pound us up: our ^note 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 ^note; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.

Mar.
O, they are at it!

Lart.
Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

Enter ^note the army of the Volsces.

Mar.
They fear us not, but issue forth ^note their city.
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus ^note:
They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,
Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows ^note:
He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce ^note,
And he shall feel mine edge. Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter ^note Marcius, cursing. ^{note note}

Mar.
All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of—Boils ^note 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 ^note us to our trenches followed. ^note

Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and Marcius follows them to the gates. ^note
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. [Enters ^note the gates.

First Sol.
Fool-hardiness; not I.

Sec. Sol.
Nor I. [Marcius is shut in. ^note

First Sol.
See, they have shut him in.

All.
To the pot ^note, I warrant him. [Alarum continues. Re-enter ^note Titus Lartius.

Lart.
What is become of Marcius?

All.
Slain, sir, doubtless.

First Sol.
Following the fliers at the very heels,
With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,
Clapp'd ^note to their gates: he is himself alone,
To answer all the city.

Lart.
O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares ^note his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands ^note up! Thou art left, ^note Marcius:
A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were ^note not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to Cato's ^note wish, not fierce and terrible

Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and
The thunder-like percussion ^note of thy ^note sounds,
Thou madest thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble. Re-enter ^note Marcius, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.

First Sol.
Look, sir.

Lart.
O, 'tis Marcius!
Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the city. ^note

Previous section

Next section