Val. In earnest it's true: I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is:-The Volces 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.

Vir. Give me excuse, good madam: I will obey you in everything hereafter.

Vol. Let her alone, lady as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

Val. In troth I think she would.-Fare you well, then.-Come, good sweet lady.-Pr'y thee, Virgilia, turn thy solemnness out o' door, and go along with us.

Vir. No: at a word, madam: indeed I must not. I wish you much mirth. Val. Well then, farewell.

SCENE IV. Before Corioli.

[Exeunt.

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?

1st Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he; That's lesser than a little.-Hark, our drums [Alarums afar off.

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.-Hark you, far off: [Other alarums.

There is Aufidius: list what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.

Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volces, 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:
If you'll stand fast we 'll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.

Another alarum. The Volces and Romans re-enter, and the fight is renewed. The Volces retire into Corioli, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates. So, now the gates are ope. Now prove good seconds:

SCENE VI.-Near the Camp of COMINIUS.
Enter COMINIUs and Forces, retreating.
Com. Breathe you, my friends. Well fought:
we are come off

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,
Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs,
We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,
By interims and conveying gusts we have heard
The charges of our friends :—the Roman gods
Lead their successes as we wish our own;
That both our powers, with smiling fronts en-
countering,

May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news?

How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour, And bring thy news so late?

Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel Three or four miles about: else had I, sir, Half an hour since brought my report.

[They all shout, and wave their swords; take him
up in their arms, and cast up their caps.
O me, alone! Make you a sword of me?
If these shows be not outward, which of you
But is four Volces? None of you but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius
A shield as hard as his. A certain number
(Though thanks to all) must I select from all :
The rest shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obeyed.-Please you to march;
And four shall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are best inclined.

Mar.

Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,

And made what work I pleased. 'Tis not my blood
Wherein thou seest me masked: for thy revenge,
Wrench up thy power to the highest.
Wert thou the Hector

Auf.
That was the whip of your bragged progeny,
Thou shouldst not 'scape me here.—

[They fight, and certain Volces come to the aid of AUFidius. Officious, and not valiant-you have shamed me In your condemnéd seconds.

[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, And, gladly quaked, hear more: where the dull Tribunes,

That, with the fusty plebeians, hate thine honours, Shall say, against their hearts,-"We thank the

But cannot make my heart consent to take A bribe to pay my sword. I do refuse it, And stand upon my common part with those That have beheld the doing.

[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

I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be
Made all of false-faced soothing! When steel grows
Soft as the parasite's silk, let him be made
An overture for the wars!-No more, I say!-
For that I have not washed my nose that bled,
Or foiled some debile wretch (which, without note,
Here's many else have done), you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical:

As if I loved my little should be dieted
In praises sauced with lies.

Com.

Too modest are you; More cruel to your good report than grateful To us that give you truly. By your patience, If 'gainst yourself you be incensed, we'll put you (Like one that means his proper harm) in manacles;

Then reason safely with you.-Therefore, be it known,

As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging: and from this time,
For what he did before Corioli, call him
With all the applause and clamour of the host,
"Caius Marcius Coriolanus!"-

Bear the addition nobly ever.

[Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.

With only suffering stain by him; for him
Shall fly out of itself. Nor sleep nor sanctuary;
Being naked, sick; nor fane, nor Capitol ;
The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice
(Embarquements all of fury), shall lift up
Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst
My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it
At home, upon my brother's guard, even there,
Against the hospitable canon, would I

Wash my fierce hand in 's heart.-Go you to the

("Tis south the city mills), bring me word

thither

How the world goes; that to the pace of it

I may spur on my journey.

1st Sol. I shall, sir.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 1.-Rome. A public Place.

Enter MENENIUS, SICINIUS, and BRutus. Men. The augurer tells me we shall have news to-night.

Bru. Good or bad?

Men. Not according to the prayer of the people; for they love not Marcius.

Sic. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.