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Coriolanus: Act I, Scene 4

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Coriolanus
Act I, Scene 4

Before Corioli.

John Philip Kemble as Caius Martius Coriolanus

John Philip Kemble as Caius Martius Coriolanus

Robert Cruikshank, printmaker; W. West; 1824

  1. Enter Martius, Titus Lartius, with Drum and Colors, with
  2. Captains and Roman Soldiers, as before the city Corioli; to
  3. them a Messenger.

Caius Martius

1
  1. Yonder comes news: a wager they have met.

Lartius

2
  1. My horse to yours, no.

Caius Martius

3
  1.                        ’Tis done.

Lartius

4
  1.            Agreed.

Caius Martius

5
  1. Say, has our general met the enemy?

Second Messenger

6
  1. They lie in view, but have not spoke as yet.

Lartius

7
  1. So, the good horse is mine.

Caius Martius

8
  1.                             I’ll buy him of you.

Lartius

9 - 10
  1. No, I’ll nor sell nor give him; lend you him I will
  2. For half a hundred years. Summon the town.

Caius Martius

11
  1. How far off lie these armies?

Second Messenger

12
  1.                               Within this mile and half.

Caius Martius

13 - 17
  1. Then shall we hear their ’larum, and they ours.
  2. Now, Mars, I prithee make us quick in work,
  3. That we with smoking swords may march from hence
  4. To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.
  5. They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the
  6. walls of Corioli.
  7. Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

First Volscian Senator

18 - 27
  1. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
  2. That’s lesser than a little.
  3. Drum afar off.
  4.                              Hark, our drums
  5. Are bringing forth our youth. We’ll break our walls
  6. Rather than they shall pound us up; our gates,
  7. Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn’d with rushes,
  8. They’ll open of themselves.
  9. Alarum far off.
  10.                             Hark you, far off!
  11. There is Aufidius. List what work he makes
  12. Amongst your cloven army.

Caius Martius

28
  1.                           O, they are at it!

Lartius

29
  1. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders ho!
  1. Enter the Army of the Volsces.

Caius Martius

30 - 36
  1. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.
  2. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight
  3. With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus!
  4. They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts,
  5. Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows!
  6. He that retires, I’ll take him for a Volsce,
  7. And he shall feel mine edge.
  1. Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches.
  1. Enter Martius cursing.

Caius Martius

37 - 52
  1. All the contagion of the south light on you,
  2. You shames of Rome! You herd of—Biles and plagues
  3. Plaster you o’er, that you may be abhorr’d
  4. Farther than seen, and one infect another
  5. Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,
  6. That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
  7. From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell!
  8. All hurt behind! Backs red, and faces pale
  9. With flight and agued fear! Mend and charge home,
  10. Or, by the fires of heaven, I’ll leave the foe
  11. And make my wars on you. Look to’t; come on!
  12. If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives,
  13. As they us to our trenches. Follow ’s.
  14. Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and Martius follows them to
  15. the gates.
  16. So, now the gates are ope; now prove good seconds:
  17. ’Tis for the followers fortune widens them,
  18. Not for the fliers. Mark me, and do the like.
  1. Enter the gates.

First Roman Soldier

53
  1. Foolhardiness, not I.

Second Roman Soldier

54
  1.                       Nor I.
  1. Martius is shut in.

First Roman Soldier

55
  1. See, they have shut him in.
  1. Alarum continues.

Roman Soldiers

56
  1.                             To th’ pot, I warrant him.
  1. Enter Titus Lartius.

Lartius

57
  1. What is become of Martius?

Roman Soldiers

58
  1.                            Slain, sir, doubtless.

First Roman Soldier

59 - 62
  1. Following the fliers at the very heels,
  2. With them he enters; who upon the sudden
  3. Clapp’d to their gates. He is himself alone,
  4. To answer all the city.

Lartius

63 - 72
  1.                         O noble fellow!
  2. Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
  3. And when it bows, stand’st up. Thou art left, Martius—
  4. A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
  5. Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
  6. Even to Cato’s wish, not fierce and terrible
  7. Only in strokes, but, with thy grim looks and
  8. The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,
  9. Thou mad’st thine enemies shake, as if the world
  10. Were feverous and did tremble.
  1. Enter Martius bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.

First Roman Soldier

73
  1.                                Look, sir.

Lartius

74 - 75
  1.            O, ’tis Martius!
  2. Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
  1. They fight, and all enter the city.
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