He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce, And he shall feel mine edge. The Re-enter Alarum, and exeunt Romans and Volsces, fighting. MARCIUS enraged3. 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 abhorr'd geese, Farther than seen, and one infect another With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, 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, and is shut in. Re-enter Marcius enraged.] The stage-direction of the old copy is, "Enter Marcius cursing." As they us to our trenches FOLLOW.] The folio has follows-a mere typographical error. The ordinary reading is in the past tense, followed; but it is evident that it should be in the present. Enter TITUS LARTIUS. Lart. What is become of Marcius? All. Slain, sir, doubtless. 1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, Lart. O noble fellow! Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Marcius 10. A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the Enemy. 1 Sol. Lart. Look, sir! O'tis Marcius! Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. [They fight, and all enter the City. 10 Thou art LEFT, Marcius:] Possibly we ought to read lost for "left,"-a very easy misprint, when in MS. both the s and the ƒ were carried below the line. "Thou art left," however, affords a very clear sense. 1 Even to CATO's wish,] In the old copy it stands, "Even to Calues wish;" but it is clearly a misprint, and Theobald pointed out the passage in North's Plutarch, from which Shakespeare took, not only the thought, but almost the very words of the text. "He was even such another as Cato would have a souldier and a captaine be; not only terrible and fierce to laye about him, but to make the enemie afeard with the sound of his voyce, and grimnes of his countenance." Edit. 1579, p. 240. SCENE V. Within the Town. 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 2 At a crack'd drachm! Cushions, leaden spoons, Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves, them! And hark, what noise the general makes.-To him! Whilst I, with those that have the spirit, will haste Lart. Worthy sir, thou bleed'st; Thy exercise hath been too violent For a second course of fight. Sir, praise me not; Mar. 2 that do prize their hours] So the old copies: Pope changed "hours" to honours; but Steevens showed, by a reference to North's Plutarch, that Coriolanus reproached the Romans with losing their time in collecting spoil:-" He cried out to them that it was no time now to looke after spoyle," &c. Than dangerous to me. I will appear, and fight. To Aufidius thus Lart. Now the fair goddess, Fortune, Fall deep in love with thee; and her great charms Misguide thy opposers' swords! Bold gentleman, Prosperity be thy page! Mar. Thy friend no less Than those she placeth highest! So, farewell. Lart. Thou worthiest Marcius! [Exit MARCIUS. Go, sound thy trumpet in the market-place; Call thither all the officers of the town, Where they shall know our mind. Away! [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Near the Camp of COMINIUS. Enter COMINIUS and Forces, as in retreat. 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, Lead their successes as we wish our own, That both our powers, with smiling fronts encounter ing, May give you thankful sacrifice! Enter a Messenger. Thy news? Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issued, And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle: VOL. VI. M I saw our party to their trenches driven, Com. Though thou speak'st truth, Methinks, thou speak'st not well. How long is't since? Mess. Above an hour, my lord. Com. "Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums: How could'st thou in a mile confound an hour, And bring thy news so late? Spies of the Volsces Mess. Com. Enter MARCIUS. Who's yonder, That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods! Before-time seen him thus. Mar. Come I too late? Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor, More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue From every meaner man. 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 And tapers burn'd to bedward. Com. How is't with Titus Lartius? Flower of warriors, 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, |