Caius Marcius

Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.

Lartius

My horse to yours, no.

Caius Marcius

'Tis done.

Lartius

Agreed.

Caius Marcius

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.

Caius Marcius

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.

Caius Marcius

How far off lie these armies?

Messenger

Within this mile and half.

Caius Marcius

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.

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

First Senators

No, nor a man that fears you less than he,

That's lesser than a little. Drums afar off.

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. Alarum afar off.

Hark you, far off!

There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes

Amongst your cloven army.

Caius Marcius

O, they are at it!

Lartius

Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho! Enter the army of the Volsces.

Caius Marcius

They fear us not, but issue forth their city.

Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight

With hearts more proof 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 MARCIUS, cursing.

Caius Marcius

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

Further 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 fright 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's. Another alarum. The Volsces fly, 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. Enters the gates.

First Soldier

Foolhardiness; not I.

Second Soldier

Nor I. Marcius is shut in.

First Soldier

See, they have shut him in.

All

To the pot, I warrant him. Alarum continues.Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS.

Lartius

What is become of Marcius?

All

Slain, sir, doubtless.

First 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, stand'st up. Thou art left, Marcius:

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 madest thine enemies shake, as if the world

Were feverous and did tremble. Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.

First Soldier

Look, sir.

Lartius

O, 'tis Marcius!

Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike. They fight, and all enter the city.