To help our fielded friends!-Come, blow thy

blast.

A parley sounded. Enter, on the walls, some
Senators and others.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1 Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,

That's lesser than a little. [Drums afar of.] Hark, our drums

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 pinned with

rushes ;

They'll open of themselves. [Alarum afar off] Hark you, 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!

The Volsces enter and pass over.

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 Volsce,
And he shall feel mine edge.

Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volsces, fighting. The Romans are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS.

Mar. All the contagion of the south light on

you,

You shames of Rome! you herd of-Boils and

plagues

Plaster you o'er, that you may be abhorred
Further 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;

you

If 'll stand fast, we 'll beat them to their wives, As they us to our trenches. Follow me.

Another alarum. The Volsces and Romans reenter, and the fight is renewed. The Volsces retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates.

So, now the gates are ope-now prove good

seconds;

'T is for the followers fortune widens them,

Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.

[He enters the gates, and is shut in.

1 Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I.

2 Sol.

3 Sol. See, they have shut him in.

All.

Nor I.

[Alarum continues.

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,

Lart.

O noble fellow !

Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,

And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art lost, Marcius:

A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,

Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
Even to 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

1 Sol.

Lart.

enemy.

Look, sir!

O, 't is Marcius !

Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.

[They fight, and all enter the city.

SCENE V.-Within Corioli. A Street.
Enter certain Romans, with spoils.

1 Rom. This will I carry to Rome.

2 Rom. And I this.

3 Rom. A murrain on 't! I took this for silver.

[Alarum continues still afar off.

Enter MARCIUS and TITUS LARTIUS, with a

trumpet.

Mar. See here these movers that do prize their hours

At a cracked drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons,
Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would
Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves,
Ere yet the fight be done, pack up-down with

them!

And hark, what noise the general makes !-To him!

There is the man of my soul's hate, Aufidius,
Piercing our Romans: then, valiant Titus, take
Convenient numbers to make good the city,

Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will

haste

To help Cominius.

Lart.

Worthy sir, thou bleed'st;

Thy exercise hath been too violent

For a second course of fight.

Mar.

Sir, praise me not;

Fare you

My work hath yet not warmed me.

well.

The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me. To Aufidius thus