SCENE VII. The Gates of Corioli. TITUS LARTIUS, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with a drum and trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Marcius, enters with a lieutenant, a party of soldiers, and a scout. Lart. So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch We cannot keep the town. Lieu. Fear not our care, sir. Lart. Hence, and shut your gates upon us.Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. A field of battle between the Roman and the Volcian Camps. Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker. Auf. We hate alike; Not Africk owns a serpent, I abhor More than thy fame and envy: Fix thy foot. 6 Gates. 7 Companies of a hundred men. 8 Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave, And the gods doom him after! Auf. If I fly, Marcius, Within these three hours, Tullus, Halloo me like a hare. Mar. Alone I fought in your Corioli 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 the highest. Auf. Wert thou the Hector, That was the whip' of your bragg'd progeny, Thou should'st not scape me here. [They fight, and certain Volces come to the aid of Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me [Exeunt fighting, driven in by Marcius. SCENE IX. The Roman Camp. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, COMINIUS, and Romans; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans. Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it, Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug, I' the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted, * Stirrer. 9 Boast, crack. ■ In sending such help. And, gladly quak'd, hear more; where the dull Tribunes, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power,3 from the Lart. pursuit. O general, Pray now, no more: my mother, Here is the steed, we the caparison: Hadst thou beheld Mar. Who has a charter 4 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 have been; that's for my country: you 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 smart you, 2 Thrown into grateful trepidation. 3 Forces. + Privilege. To hear themselves remember'd. Com. Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, Your only choice. Mar. I thank you, general; But cannot make my heart consent to take [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Marcius! cast up their caps and lances: COMINIUS and LARTIUS stand bare. Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall As if I loved my little should be dieted In praises sauc'd with lies. Com. Too modest are you; 5 Weak, feeble. More cruel to your good report, than grateful With all the applause and clamour of the host, Bear the addition nobly ever! [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and Drums. All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus! Cor. I will go wash ; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent: Where, ere we do repose us, we will write To Rome of our success.- The best, with whom we may articulate," Lurt. I shall, my lord. 1 Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I that now Own. 7 Add more by doing his best. $ Chief men. |