Coriolanus | Page 7

full of moths. Come; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity.--Come, you shall go with us.
VIRGILIA.?No, good madam, pardon me; indeed I will not forth.
VALERIA.?In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news?of your husband.
VIRGILIA.?O, good madam, there can be none yet.
VALERIA.?Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.
VIRGILIA.?Indeed, madam?
VALERIA.?In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it?is:--the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they?nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.
VIRGILIA.?Give me excuse, good madam; I will obey you in everything?hereafter.
VOLUMNIA.?Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.
VALERIA.?In troth, I think she would.--Fare you well, then.--Come,?good sweet lady.--Pr'ythee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o' door and go along with us.
VIRGILIA.?No, at a word, madam; indeed I must not. I wish you much mirth.
VALERIA.?Well then, farewell.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE IV. Before Corioli.
[Enter, with drum and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Officers, and soldiers.]
MARCIUS.?Yonder comes news:--a wager they have met.
LARTIUS.?My horse to yours, no.
MARCIUS.?'Tis done.
LARTIUS.?Agreed.
[Enter a Messenger.]
MARCIUS.?Say, has our general met the enemy?
MESSENGER.?They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
LARTIUS.?So, the good horse is mine.
MARCIUS.?I'll buy him of you.
LARTIUS.?No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will?For half a hundred years.--Summon the town.
MARCIUS.?How far off lie these armies?
MESSENGER.?Within this mile and half.
MARCIUS.?Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.--?Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, make us quick in work,?That we with smoking swords may march from hence?To help our fielded friends!--Come, blow thy blast.
[They sound a parley. Enter, on the Walls, some Senators and others.]
Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
FIRST SENATOR.?No, nor a man that fears you less than he,?That's lesser than a little.?[Drum afar off]?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 pinn'd with rushes;?They'll open of themselves.?[Alarum far off.]?Hark you far off!?There is Aufidius; list what work he makes?Amongst your cloven army.
MARCIUS.?O, they are at it!
LARTIUS.?Their noise be our instruction.--Ladders, ho!
[The Volsces enter and pass over.]
MARCIUS.?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.
[Alarums, and exeunt Romeans and Volsces fighting. Romans are beaten back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS.]
MARCIUS.?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 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 us to our trenches.
[Another alarum. The Volsces and Romans re-enter, 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:?'Tis for the followers fortune widens them,?Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like.
[He enters the gates]
FIRST SOLDIER.?Fool-hardiness: not I.
SECOND SOLDIER.?Nor I.
[MARCIUS is shut in.]
FIRST SOLDIER.?See, they have shut him in.
ALL.?To th' pot, I warrant him.
[Alarum continues]
[Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS.]
LARTIUS.?What is become of Marcius?
ALL.?Slain, sir, doubtless.
FIRST SOLDIER.?Following the fliers at the very heels,?With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,?Clapp'd-to their gates: he is himself alone,?To answer all the city.
LARTIUS.?O noble fellow!?Who sensible, outdares his senseless sword,?And when it bows stands up! Thou art left, 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 enemy.]
FIRST SOLDIER.?Look, sir.
LARTIUS.?O, 'tis 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.]
FIRST ROMAN.?This will I carry to Rome.
SECOND ROMAN.?And I this.
THIRD ROMAN.?A murrain on't! I took this for silver.
[Alarum continues still afar off.]
[Enter MARCIUS and TITUS LARTIUS with a trumpet.]
MARCIUS.?See here these movers that do prize their hours?At a crack'd drachma! Cushions, leaden spoons,?Irons of