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Re-enter MARCIUS bleeding, assaulted by the Enemy.

1 Sol. Look, sir.

Lart. O, 'tis Marcius:

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

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[They fight, and all enter the City.

SCENE V.

Within the Town. 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 crack'd 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,

Cij

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Piercing

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:

My work hath yet not warm'd me: Fare you well.

The blood I drop is rather physical

Than dangerous to me: To Aufidius thus

I will appear, and fight.

Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune,

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Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, Prosperity be thy page 1

Mar. Thy friend no less

Than those she places highest! So, farewel.
Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius!-

Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place;
Call thither all the officers of the town,

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Where they shall know our mind: Away. [Exeunt,

SCENE VI.

The Roman Camp. Enter COMINIUS retreating, with

Soldiers.

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 charg'd again.

Whiles we have struck, By interims, and conveying gusts, we have heard The charges of our friends:-Ye Roman gods! Lead their successes as we wish our own;

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That both our powers, with smiling fronts encount

ring,

Enter a Messenger.

May give you thankful sacrifice!-Thy news?
Mes. The citizens of Corioli have issued,
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
I saw our party to the trenches driven,

And then I came away.

Com. Though thou speak'st truth,

Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't

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How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour,

And bring thy news so late?

Mes. Spies of the Volsces

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

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Enter MARCIUS.

Com. Who's yonder,

That does appear as he were flead? O gods!
He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have
Before-time seen him thus.

Mar. Come I too late?

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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

As merry, as when our nuptial day was done, 610 And tapers burnt to bedward.

Com. Flower of warriors,

How is't with Titus Lartius?

Mar, As with a man busied about decrees: Condemning some to death, and some to exile; Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,

Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,

To let him slip at will.

Com. Where is that slave,

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Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?

Where is he? Call him hither.

Mar.

Mar. Let him alone,

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 retire, to win our purpose.

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Mar. How lies their battle? Know you on what side

They have plac'd their men of trust?

Com. As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,

Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,

Their very heart of hope.

Mar. I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought,

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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

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Deny

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