Enter the Volfcies.

Mar. They fear us not, but iffue forth their City. Now put your Shields before your Hearts, and fight With Hearts more proof than Shields.

Advance, brave Titus,

They do difdain us much beyond our Thoughts,
Which makes me fweat with Wrath. Come on, my Fellows;
He that retires, I'll take him for a Volfcie,

And he fhall feel mine Edge.

Alarum; the Romans are beat back to their Trenches.
Enter Martius.

Mar. All the contagion of the South, light on you,
You shames of Rome; you Herd of Biles and Plagues,
Plaister you o'er, that you may be abhorr'd
Farther than feen, and one infect another

Against the Wind a Mile: You Souls of Geefe,
That bear the fhapes 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 ftand faft, we'll beat them to their Wives,
As they us to our Trenches followed.

Another Alarum, and Martius follows them to
the Gates, and is shut in.

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.

1 Sol. Fool-hardinefs, not I.

2 Sol. Nor I.

1 Sol. See, they have shut him in.
All. To th' pot, I warrant him.

Enter Titus Lartius.

Lart. What is become of Martins?

All. Slain, Sir, doubtless.

[He Enters the Gates:

[Alarum continues:

1 Sol. Following the fliers at the very Heels,
With them he enters; who upon the fudden
Clapt to their Gates: He is himself alone,
To answer all the City.

Lart.

Lart. Oh noble Fellow !

Who fenfibly out dares his fenfelefs Sword,

And when it bows, ftands up: Thou art left, Martius.
A Carbuncle intire, as big as thou art,

Were not fo rich a Jewel. Thou waft a Soldier
Even to Calvns with, not fierce and terrible
Only in ftroaks, but with thy grim looks, and
The Thunder-like percuffion of the Sounds,
Thou mad'ft thine Enemies fhake, as if the World
Were feverous, and did tremble.

Enter Martius bleeding, affaulted by the Enemy.

I Sol. Look, Sir.

Lart. O, 'tis Martius.

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

[They fight, and all enter the City.

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. [Exeunt.

[Alarum continues ftill afar off. Enter Martius and Titus Lartius, with a Trumpet. Mar. See here thefe 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, E'er yet the Fight be done,pack up; down with them. And hark, what noife the General makes! To him, There is the Man of my Soul's hate, Aufidius, Piercing our Romans: Then Valiant Titus take Convenient Numbers to make good the City, Whilft I, with thofe that have the Spirit, will hafte To help Cominius.

Lart. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'st;

Thy Exercise hath been too violent,

For a fecond 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 Phyfical

Than dangerous to me. To Aufidius, thus I will appear

Lart. Now the fair Goddess Fortune,

Fall deep in Love with thee,and her great Charms

(and fight.

VOL. IV.

Cc

Mif

Misguide thy Oppofers Swords: bold Gentleman!
Profperity be thy Page.

Mar. Thy Friend no lefs,

Than those the placeth highest: So farewel.
Lart. Thou worthieft Martius,

Go found thy Trumpet in the Market-place,
Call thither all the Officers o'th' Town,
Where they shall know our Mind. Away.

[Exeunt.

Enter Cominius Retreating, with Soldiers.
Com. Breath you, my Friends, well fought, we are come
Like Romans, neither foolish in our Stands

Nor cowardly in Retire: Believe me, Sirs,

We fhall be charg'd again. Whiles we have ftruck,
By interims and conveying gufts, we have heard
The Charges of our Friends. The Roman Gods
Lead their Succeffes, as we wish our own,

That both our Powers, with fmiling Fronts encountring,
May give you thankful Sacrifice. Thy News?

Enter a Messenger.

Mef. The Citizens of Coriolus have iffued,

And given to Lartius and to Martius Battel.

I faw our Party to their Trenches driven,
And then I came away.

Com. Tho' thou fpeakest Truth,

Methinks thou fpeak'it not well. How long is't fince?
Mef. 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 the News fo late?

Mef. Spies of the Volfcies

Held me in chafe, that I was forc'd to wheel
Three or four Miles about, elfe had I, Sir,

Half an Hour fince brought my Report.
Enter Martius.

Com. Who's yonder,

That does appear as he were Flea'd? O Gods,

He has the ftamp of Martius, and I have

Before time feen him thus.

Mar. Come I too late?

(off

Com. The Shepherd knows not Thunder from a Taber, More than I know the Sound of Martins's Tongue

From

From every meaner Man.

Mar. Come I too late?

Com. Ay, if you come not in the Blood of others, But inantled in your own.

Mar. Oh! let me clip ye

In Arms as found, as when I woo'd in Heart;
As merry, as when our Nuptial Day was done,

And Tapers burnt to Bedward.

Com. Flower of Warriors, how is't with Titus Lartins?
Mar. As with a Man bufied about Decrees;
Condemning fome to Death, and fome to Exile,
Ranfoming him, or pitying, threatning th' other;
Holding Coriolus in the name of Rome,

Even like a fawning Grey-hound in the Least,
To let him flip at will.

Com. Where is that Slave

Which told me they had beat you to your Trenches?
Where is he? Call him hither.

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 fhunn'd the Cat, as they did budge
From Rafcals worse than they.

Com. But how prevail'd you?

Mar. Will the time ferve to tell? I do not think Where is the Enemy? Are you Lords o'th' Field? If not, why ceafe you till you are fo?

Com. Martius, we have at difadvantage fought, And did retire to win our purpose.

Mar. How lies their Battel? Know you on what fide they have plac'd their Men of truft.

Com. As I guess, Martins,

Their Bands i'th' Vaward are the Ancients

Of their best trust: O'er them Aufidius,

Their very heart of Hope.

Mar. I do befeech you,

By all the Battels wherein we have fought,

By th' Blood we have fhed together,

By th' Vows we have made

To endure Friends, that you directly fet me
Against Aufidius, and his Antiats;

And that you not delay the prefent, but

Ct 2

Filling

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
Deny your asking; take your choice of those
That beft can aid your A&ion.
Mar. Thofe are they

That moft are willing; if any fuch be here,
(As it were fin to doubt) that love this Painting
Wherein you see me fmear'd; if any fear
Lefs for his Perfon, than an ill Report:
If any think, brave Death out-weighs bad Life,
And that his Country's dearer than himself,
Let him alone, (or, fo many fo minded)
Wave thus to exprefs his difpofition,

And follow Martius.

They all Shout and wave their Swords, take him up in their
Arms, and caft up their Caps.

Oh! me alone, make you a Sword of me :
If these fhews be not outward, which of you
But is four Volfcies? None of you, but is
Able to bear against the great Aufidius,
A Shield as hard as his. A certain number,
Tho' thanks to all) muft I felect from all:
The reft fhall bear the bufinefs in fome other Fight
As caufe will be obey'd: Please you to March,
And four fhall quickly draw out my Command,
Which Men are beft inclin'd.

Com. March on my Fellows :
Make good this oftentation, and
Divide in all, with us.

you fhall

[Exeunt. Titus Lartius having fet a Guard upon Coriolus, going with Drum and Trumpet toward Cominius, and Čaius Martius, Enters with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers, and a Scout.

Lart. So, let the Ports be guarded; keep your Duties As I have fet them down. IfI do fend, difpatch

Those Centuries to our aid, the reft will ferve
For a fhort holding; if we lofe the Field,

We cannot keep the Towr.