Before Corioles.
 Enter MARTIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with DRUM and COLOURS,
 with CAPTAINS and SOLDIERS, as before the city Corioles.
 To them a MESSENGER.

Martius	Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.

Lartius	My horse to yours, no.

Martius							'Tis done.

Lartius										Agreed.

Martius	Say, has our general met the enemy?

Messenger	They lie in view, but have not spoke as yet.

Lartius	So, the good horse is mine.

Martius								I'll buy him of you.

Lartius	No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
	For half a hundred years. Summon the town.

Martius	How far off lie these armies?

Messenger									Within this mile and half.

Martius	Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.
	Now Mars, I prithee make us quick in work,
	That we with smoking swords may march from hence
	To help our fielded friends. Come, blow thy blast.
												[They sound a parley.

         Enter two SENATORS with OTHERS on the walls of Corioles.

	Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

1st Senator	No, nor a man that fears you less than he;
	That's lesser than a little.
												[Drum afar off.
				[To VOLSCIANS.] Hark, our drums
	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.
												[Alarum far off.
	There is Aufidius. List what work he makes
	Amongst your cloven army.

Martius								O, they are at it!

Lartius	Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!

                      Enter the ARMY of the Volsces.

Martius	They fear us not, but issue forth their city.
	Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
	With hearts more pro of than shields. Advance, brave Titus.
	They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,
	Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows:
	He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce,
	And he shall feel mine edge.

           Alarum. The ROMANS are beat back to their trenches.

                        Re-enter MARTIUS cursing.

Martius	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
	Farther 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. Follow.

                             Another alarum.
  The VOLSCES fly into Corioles, and MARTIUS 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.
1st Soldier	Foolhardiness! Not I.

2nd Soldier								Nor I.

1st Soldier	See, they have shut him in.
												[Alarum continues.

All									To th' pot, I warrant him.

                         Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS.

Lartius	What is become of Martius?

All								Slain, sir, doubtless.

1st Soldier	Following the fliers at the very heels,
	With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,
	Clapped-to their gates; he is himself alone,
	To answer all the city.

Lartius								O noble fellow!
	Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
	And when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Martius:
	A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
	Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
	Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible
	Only in strokes; but with thy grim looks and
	The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds
	Thou mad'st thine enemies shake, as if the world
	Were feverous and did tremble.

            Re-enter MARTIUS bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.

1st Soldier							Look, sir!

Lartius										O, 'tis Martius.
	Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
								[They fight, and all enter the city.
