_Enter, with drum and colours_, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Captains
_and_ Soldiers. _To them a_ Messenger.[2627]
_Mar._ Yonder comes news: a wager they have met.[2628]
_Lart._ My horse to yours, no.[2629]
_Mar._ 'Tis done.
_Lart._ Agreed.
_Mar._ Say, has our general met the enemy?
_Mess._ They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
_Lart._ So, the good horse is mine.
_Mar._ I'll buy him of you. 5
_Lart._ No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will[2630][2631]
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.[2631]
_Mar._ How far off lie these armies?
_Mess._ Within this mile and half.[2632]
_Mar._ Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.
Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, 10
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_.[2633]
Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?[2634][2635]
_First Sen._ No, nor a man that fears you less than he,[2636]
That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums[2637] 15
[_Drum afar off._
Are bringing forth our youth! we'll break our walls,
Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates,[2638]
Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes;
They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off!
[_Alarum far off._
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes[2634] 20
Amongst your cloven army.
_Mar._ O, they are at it!
_Lart._ Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
_Enter the army of the_ Volsces.[2639]
_Mar._ They fear us not, but issue forth their city.[2640]
Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus:[2641] 25
They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,
Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows:[2642]
He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce,[2643]
And he shall feel mine edge.
_Alarum._ _The_ Romans _are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter_
MARCIUS, _cursing_.[2644]
_Mar._ All the contagion of the south light on you,[2645] 30
You shames of Rome! you herd of--Boils and plagues[2646]
Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd
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 35
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; 40
If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,[2647]
As they us to our trenches followed.[2647][2648]
_Another alarum. The_ Volsces _fly, and_ MARCIUS _follows them to
the gates_.[2649]
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. 45
[_Enters the gates._[2650]
_First Sol._ Fool-hardiness; not I.
_Sec. Sol._ Nor I. [_Marcius is shut in._[2651]
_First Sol._ See, they have shut him in.
_All._ To the pot, I warrant him.
[_Alarum continues._
_Re-enter_ TITUS LARTIUS.[2652]
_Lart._ What is become of Marcius?
_All._ Slain, sir, doubtless.
_First Sol._ Following the fliers at the very heels, 50
With them he enters; who, upon the sudden,
Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone,[2653]
To answer all the city.
_Lart._ O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,[2654]
And, when it bows, stands up! Thou art left, Marcius:[2655] 55
A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier[2656]
Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible[2657]
Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and
The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,[2658] 60
Thou madest thine enemies shake, as if the world
Were feverous and did tremble.
_Re-enter_ MARCIUS, _bleeding, assaulted by the enemy_.[2659]
_First Sol._ Look, sir.
_Lart._ O, 'tis Marcius!
Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
[_They fight, and all enter the city._