Previous
Act 1, Scene 3
Coriolanus Translation Act 1, Scene 4
Enter, with drum and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger
MARCIUS
Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
MARCIUS
Here comes some news. I bet our other force has begun to fight the Volsces.
LARTIUS
My horse to yours, no.
LARTIUS
I bet my horse against yours they haven't.
MARCIUS
'Tis done.
MARCIUS
Done.
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Get instant explanations to your questions about anything we cover.
Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
Learn More
Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Learn More
LARTIUS
Agreed.
LARTIUS
Agreed.
MARCIUS
Say, has our general met the enemy?
MARCIUS
[To the MESSENGER] Hey, has our general started fighting?
MESSENGER
They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
MESSENGER
The two forces have seen each other, but haven't begun fighting yet.
LARTIUS
So, the good horse is mine.
LARTIUS
So, the good horse is mine.
MARCIUS
I'll buy him of you.
MARCIUS
I'll just buy him back.
LARTIUS
No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I willFor half a hundred years. Summon the town.
LARTIUS
No, I won't sell him or give him to you; I'll lend him to you for fifty years, though.
MARCIUS
How far off lie these armies?
MARCIUS
How far away are their armies?
MESSENGER
Within this mile and half.
MESSENGER
No more than a mile and a half.
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.
MARCIUS
Then we'll hear their trumpets, and they'll hear ours. To the god of war, I pray: make our work quick, so that with we may march to help our friends in the field before our swords have even cooled from our own battle! Go ahead, blow the trumpet.
They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls
MARCIUS
Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
MARCIUS
Is Tullus Aufidius in the city?
FIRST SENATOR
No, nor a man that fears you less than he,That's lesser than a little.
FIRST SENATOR
No, nor anyone less afraid of you than he is, which is very little.
Drums afar off
FIRST SENATOR
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 pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves.
FIRST SENATOR
Listen! Our drums are calling for our strong young men. We'll break our own walls rather than be locked in by you. The gates of the city, which might seem shut in fear, we've only barricaded with grass; they'll open easily to fight you.
Alarum afar off
FIRST SENATOR
Hark you. far off!There is Aufidius; list, what work he makesAmongst your cloven army.
FIRST SENATOR
Listen! Hear that? That's Aufidius; listen—he's killing everyone in your divided army.
MARCIUS
O, they are at it!
MARCIUS
Oh, they are fighting!
LARTIUS
Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
LARTIUS
Their trumpets might as well be ours, too! Put ladders to the wall!
Enter the army of the Volsces
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.
MARCIUS
They aren't afraid of us; instead, they're attacking. Put your shields in front of your hearts, and fight with hearts stronger than those shields. Forward, brave Titus! Their boldness is disdainful, which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my soldiers; I'll treat anyone who takes a backward step like the enemy and promptly kill them.
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARCIUS cursing
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 abhorr'd 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 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: l ook to't: come on; If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives, As they us to our trenches followed.
MARCIUS
May all the diseases of the south wind poison you, you shames of Rome! you herd of—sores and plagues cover your whole body, that you'll be hated from even further than you can be seen, and so that you infect each other against the wind even a mile away! You cowards, more likely to fly than fight, you have run from wretches who even apes could defeat! The devil curse you! You've all been injured as you ran away—your backs are red with blood, and your faces white with cowardice and sickly fear! Pull yourselves together and charge back to the fight, or by the fires of heaven, I will stop fighting the Volsces and will turn to fight you! Don't think I'm joking; come on! If you can stand your ground, we'll beat them home to their wives, as they beat us to our trenches.
Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARCIUS follows them to the gates
MARCIUS
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.
MARCIUS
So, now the gates are open; this looks like a good opportunity. Luck has opened them so that we can follow the Volsces into the city, not so that they can flee. Come with me!
Enters the gates
FIRST SOLDIER
Fool-hardiness; not I.
FIRST SOLDIER
That's foolish; I'm not going in.
SECOND SOLDIER
Nor I.
SECOND SOLDIER
Me neither.
MARCIUS is shut in
FIRST SOLDIER
See, they have shut him in.
FIRST SOLDIER
See, they have trapped him inside.
ALL
To the pot, I warrant him.
ALL
He's doomed, I'm sure.
Alarum continues
Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS
LARTIUS
What is become of Marcius?
LARTIUS
What's happened to Marcius?
ALL
Slain, sir, doubtless.
ALL
He's been killed sir, surely.
FIRST SOLDIER
Following the fliers at the very heels, With them he enters; who, upon the sudden, Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone, To answer all the city.
FIRST SOLDIER
He followed the Volsces right into the city as they retreated, and they suddenly slammed the gates shut behind him. He's alone in Corioli against the entire city.
LARTIUS
O noble fellow! Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword, And, when it bows, stands 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 madst thine enemies shake, as if the world Were feverous and did tremble.
LARTIUS
Oh, that brave man! Who knowingly dares more than even his sword would, and when it fails, he continues by force of will. You've left us, Marcius. A ruby as big as a man is not worth as much as you. You were a soldier to make our ancestors jealous—not just fierce and powerful in battle, but with your fearsome looks and the thunder-like sounds of your movements, you made your enemies shake in terror, as if the whole world had a fever, and trembled.
Re-enter MARCIUS, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy
FIRST SOLDIER
Look, sir.
FIRST SOLDIER
Look, sir.
LARTIUS
O,'tis Marcius!Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
LARTIUS
Oh my god, it's Marcius! Lets rescue him, or we'll find ourselves bleeding like he is.
They fight, and all enter the city
