Go found thy trumpet in the market-place,
Call thither all the officers o' th' town,

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

SCENE changes to the Roman Camp.

Enter COMINIUs retreating with Soldiers. Com, Breathe you, my friends; well fought; we are come off

Like Ronans, neither foolish in our stands,
Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, Sirs,
We fhall be charged again. Whiles we have truck,
By interims and conveying gufts, we have heard
The charges of our friends. The Roman gods
Lead their fucceffes, as we wish our own; tering,
That both our powers, with fimiling fronts encoun-
May give you thankful facrifice! Thy news?

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. The citizens of Corioli have issued, And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle. I faw our party to their trenches driven, And then I came away.

Com. Though thou fpeakeft truth,

[fince?

Methinks thou fpeakcft not well. How long is't Meff. Above an hour, my Lord.

Com. 'Tis not a mile: briefly we heard their drums. How couldeft thou in a mile confound an hour, And bring the news fo late?

Mell. Spies of the Volfcians.

Held me in chafe, that I was forced to wheel
Three or four miles about; elfe had I, Sir,

Half an hour fince brought my report.

That doth appear as he were flea'd? O Gods! He has the stamp of Marcius, and I have

Before time feen him thus.

Mar. Come I too late?

[tabor, (8)

Com. The fhepherd knows not thunder from a More than I know the found 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 ye (9)

In arms as found as when I wooed; 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 Lartius?

Mar. As with a man bufied about decrees; Condemning fome to death, and fome to exile, Ranfoming him, or pitying, threatning th' other; Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,

(8) The Shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor, More than I know the found of Marcius' tongue From every meaner man.].

This has the air of an imitation, whether Shakespeare really borrowed it or no from the original: I mean. what Ulyffes fays in the Greek Poct of being able to distinguish Minerva's voice, though he did not fee her.

Ως ευμαθές Σον, κἂν ἀποπλος ἧς, ὅμως
Φώνημ' ἀκέω, και ξυναρπάζω φρενί
Χαλκοςόμυ κώδωνος· ὡς Τυρσηνικῆς.

(9) Oh! let me clip ye

Sophoc. in Ajace.

In arms as found as when I wooed in heart ;] Dr Thirlby advised the different regulation in the pointing of this paffage; which I have embraced, as I think it much improves the fenfe and spirit, and conveys too the Poet's thought, that Marcius was as found in limb as when he went a-wooing, and as merry in heart as when going to bed to his bride.

Even like a fawning grey-hound in the leash,

To let him flip at will.

Com. Where is that flave,

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 prevailed you?

Mar. Will the time ferve to tell? I do not thinkWhere is the enemy? are you Lords o' th' field? If not, why ceafe you till you are so?

Com. Marcius, we have at difadvantage fought,

And did retire to win our purpose.

Mar. How lyes their battle? know you on what

They have placed their men of trust?

Com. As I guefs, Marcius,

Their bands i th' vaward are the Antiates

Of their best truft: o'er them Aufidius,

Their very heart of hope.

Mar. I do befeech you,

[fide

By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By th' blood we've thed together, by the vows
We'ave made to endure friends, that you directly
Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates;
And that you not delay the prefent, but
Filling the air with fwords advanced, and darts,
We prove this very hour.-

Com. Though I could with

You were conducted to a gentle bath,

And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
Deny your alking; take your choice of those
That best can aid your action.

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 fee me fmeared; if any fear
Lefs for his perfon than an ill report :
If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country's dearer than himself,
Let him, alone, (or many, if fo minded)
Wave thus, t'exprefs his difpofition,
And follow Marcius.

[They all fhout, and wave their fwords, take him up in their arms, and caft up their caps. Oh! me alone, make you a fword of me: If thefe fhews be not outward, which of you But is four Volfcians? none of you, but is Able to bear against the great Aufidius

A thield as hard as his. A certain number,
(Tho' thanks to all) must I fele&t from all:
The reft thall bear the bufinefs in fome other fight,
As caufe will be obeyed. Pleafe you to march,

And four fhall quickly draw out my command,
Which men are beft inclined.

Com. March on, my fellows:

Make good this oftentation, and you shall

Di:ide in all with us.

SCENE changes to Corioli.

[Exeunt.

TITUS LARTIUS having fet a guard upon Corioli, going with drum and trumpet toward Cominius and Caius Marcius; Enter with a Lieutenant, other Soldiers and a fcout.

Lart. So let the ports be guarded; keep your duties,

As I have fet them down: If I do fend, difpatch
Those centries to our aid; the reit will ferve
For a fhort holding; if we lofe the field,
We cannot keep the town,

Lieu. Fear not our care, Sir.

Lart. Hence, and shut your gites upon's:

Our guider, come! to the Roman camp conduct us.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Roman Camp.

Alarum, as in battle. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS, at feveral doors.

Mar. I'll fight with none but thee, for I do hate Worfe than a promife-breaker.

Buf. We hate alike :

Not Africk owns a ferpent I abhor

More than thy fame, and envy; fix thy foot.

[thee

Mar. Let the firft budger die the other's flave, And the gods doom him after !

duf. If I fly, Marcius,

Hollow me like a hare.

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 fee'ft me mafked; for thy revenge, Wrench up thy power to the highest.

Auf. Wert thou the Hector,

That was the whip of your bragged progeny,
Thou shouldest not escape me here.

[Here they fight, and certain Volfcians come to the

aid of Aufidius.

MARCIUS fights, 'till they be

driven in breathless.

Officious, and not valiant !---you have fhamed me

In your condemned feconds.

Flourish. Alarum A Retreat is founded.

Enter

at one door, cOMINIUS with the Romans; at another door, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf.

Com. If I fhould tell thee o'er this thy day's work,