Mar. Come I too late? Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor, More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue From every meaner man's. Mar. Come I too late? Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, But mantled in your own. Mar. O! let me clip you In arms as sound, as when I woo'd; in heart Com. How is't with Titus Lartius? Flower of warriors, Mar. As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome, Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, Where is that slave, Com. Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? Where is he? Call him hither. Let him alone, Mar. He did inform the truth: But for our gentlemen, The common file, (A plague!-Tribunes for them!) The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat, as they did budge From rascals worse than they. Com. But how prevail'd you? Mar. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think Where is the enemy? Are you lords o' the field? . If not, why cease you till you are so? Com. Marcius, We have at disadvantage fought, and did Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on which side They have plac'd their men of trust? Com. As I guess, Marcius, Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates, Mar. I do beseech you, By all the battles wherein we have fought, By the blood we have shed together, by the vows We have made to endure friends, that you directly Set me against Aufidius, and his Antiates: And that you not delay the present; but, Filling the air with swords advanc'd, and darts, We prove this very hour. Com. Though I could wish You were conducted to a gentle bath, And balms applied to you, yet dare I never Deny your asking; take your choice of those That best can aid your action. Mar. Those are they That most are willing:-If any such be here, (As it were sin to doubt,) that love this painting Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear Lesser his person than an ill report; If any think, brave death outweighs bad life, Wave thus, [waving his hand.] to express his dis position, And follow Marcius. [They all shout, and wave their swords; take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps. you O me, alone! Make you a sword of me? Com. March on, my fellows: Make good this ostentation, and you shall [Exeunt. SCENE VII. THE GATES OF CORIOLI. Titus Lartius, having set a guard upon Cerioli, going with a drum and trumpet towards Cominius and Caius Marcius, enters with a lieutenant, a party of soldiers, and a scout. Tit. So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties, As I have set them down. If I do send, despatch Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve For a short holding: If we lose the field, We cannot keep the town. Lieu. Fear not our care, sir. Tit. 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 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. Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave, And the gods doom him after! Auf. Halloo me like a hare. Mar. If I fly, Marcius, Within these three hours, Tullus, 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. Wert thou the Hector, Auf. Thou should'st not scape me here.— [They fight, and certain Volces come to the aid of Aufidius. Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me your condemned seconds. In [Exeunt fighting, driven in by Marcius. SCENE IX. THE ROMAN CAMP. Alarum. A Retreat is sounded. Flourish. 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: hut I'll report it, Tribunes, That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, |