William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Coriolanus

ACT I. 4. SCENE IV. Before Corioli.

[Enter, with drum and colours, MARCIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Officers,
and soldiers.]

MARCIUS.
Yonder comes news:--a wager they have met.

LARTIUS.
My horse to yours, no.

MARCIUS.
'Tis done.

LARTIUS.
Agreed.

[Enter a Messenger.]

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.

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.

MARCIUS.
How far off lie these armies?

MESSENGER.
Within this mile and half.

MARCIUS.
Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours.--
Now, Mars, I pr'ythee, 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, on the Walls, some Senators and
others.]

Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?

FIRST SENATOR.
No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That's lesser than a little.
[Drum 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 pinn'd with rushes;
They'll open of themselves.
[Alarum far off.]
Hark you far off!
There is Aufidius; list what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.

MARCIUS.
O, they are at it!

LARTIUS.
Their noise be our instruction.--Ladders, ho!