Wherein thou seest me mask'd: for thy revenge, 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 Volsces come to the aid of AUFIDIUS. Officious, and not valiant - you have sham'd me In your condemned seconds. [Exeunt fighting, all driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX. The Roman Camp. Alarum. A Retreat sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, Co- Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, I' the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted, And, gladly quak'd, hear more; where the dull Tribunes, Shall say, against their hearts, "We thank the gods, Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Having fully dined before. Enter TITUS LARTIUS with his Power, from the pursuit. I have done, Who has a charter to extol her blood, The grave of your deserving: Rome must know What you have done, before our army hear me. Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remember'd. Com. Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, At 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, I' the field prove flatterers: let courts and cities be When steel grows soft as the parasite's silk: My nose that bled, or foil'd some debile wretch, In acclamations hyperbolical; As if I loved my little should be dieted Com. Too modest are you: More cruel to your good report, than grateful If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you With all th' 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. You, Titus Lartius, The best, with whom we may articulate, Lart. I shall, my lord. - Cor. The gods begin to mock me. I, that now Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg Of my lord general. Take it: 't is yours. Cor. I sometime lay, here in Corioli, At a poor man's house; he us'd me kindly: He cried to me; I saw him prisoner; But then Aufidius was within my view, And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity. I request you Com. O, well begg'd! Were he the butcher of my son, he should Be free as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus. By Jupiter, forgot: I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd. Com. Go we to our tent. The blood upon your visage dries; 't is time It should be look'd to. Come. SCENE X. [Exeunt. The Camp of the Volsces. A Flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, bloody, with two or three Soldiers. Auf. The town is ta'en! 1 Sol. 'T will be deliver'd back on good condition. I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition! I' the part that is at mercy? - Five times, Marcius, If e'er again I meet him beard to beard, Hath not that honour in 't, it had; for where I thought to crush him in an equal force, True sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way, Or wrath, or craft, may get him. 1 Sol. He's the devil. Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd, With only suffering stain by him; for him Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep, nor sanctuary, Being naked, sick; nor fane, nor Capitol, Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city: 1 Sol. Will not you go? Auf. I am attended at the cypress grove: I pray you, ('T is south the city mills,) bring me word thither How the world goes, that to the pace of it I may spur on my journey. 1 Sol. I shall, Sir. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Rome. A Public Place. Enter MENENIUS, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS. Men. The augurer tells me, we shall have news to-night. Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius. Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. |