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- CORIOLANUS
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- Act 1 Scene 5
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- Enter [Roman Soldiers, in retreat, followed by] Martius, cursing
- l1l Martius All the contagion of the south light on you,
- l2l You shames of Rome! You herd ofùboils and plagues
- l3l Plaster you oÆer, that you may be abhorred
- l4l Farther than seen, and one infect another
- l5l Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese
- l6l That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
- l7l From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell:
- l8l All hurt behind! Backs red, and faces pale
- l9l With flight and agued fear! Mend and charge home,
- l10l Or by the fires of heaven IÆll leave the foe
- l11l And make my wars on you. Look to Æt. Come on.
- l12l If youÆll stand fast, weÆll beat them to their wives,
- l13l As they us to our trenches. Follow.
- (The Romans come forward towards the walls. Another
- alarum, and enter the army of the Volsces. Martius beats
- them back through the gates)
- l14l So, now the gates are ope. Now prove good seconds.
- l15l ÆTis for the followers fortune widens them,
- l16l Not for the fliers. Mark me, and do the like.
- (He enters the gates)
- l17l First Soldier Foolhardiness! Not I.
- Second Soldier Nor I.
- (Alarum continues. The gates close, and Martius is shut
- in)
- l18l First Soldier See, they have shut him in.
- [Third Soldier] To thÆ pot, I warrant him.
- (Enter Lartius)
- l19l Lartius What is become of Martius?
- [Fourth Soldier] Slain, sir, doubtless.
- l20l First Soldier Following the fliers at the very heels,
- l21l With them he enters, who upon the sudden
- l22l Clapped-to their gates. He is himself alone
- l23l To answer all the city.
- Lartius O noble fellow,
- l24l Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword
- l25l And, when it bows, standÆst up! Thou art lost, Martius.
- l26l A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art,
- l27l Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier
- l28l Even to CatoÆs wish, not fierce and terrible
- l29l Only in strokes, but with thy grim looks and
- l30l The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds
- l31l Thou madÆst thine enemies shake as if the world
- l32l Were feverous and did tremble.
- (Enter Martius, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy)
- First Soldier Look, sir.
- Lartius O, Ætis Martius!
- l33l LetÆs fetch him off, or make remain alike.
- (They fight, and all exeunt into the city)
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