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Original Text |
Modern Text |
Before Corioli.
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Before Corioli.
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Enter, with drum and colours, MARTIUS , TITUS LARTIUS , Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger
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Enter, with drum and colours, MARTIUS , TITUS LARTIUS , Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger
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MARTIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
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MARTIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
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LARTIUS My horse to yours, no.
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LARTIUS My horse to yours, no.
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MARTIUS ’Tis done.
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MARTIUS ’Tis done.
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LARTIUS Agreed.
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LARTIUS Agreed.
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MARTIUS 5 Say, has our general met the enemy?
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MARTIUS Say, has our general met the enemy?
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MESSENGER They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
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MESSENGER They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
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LARTIUS So, the good horse is mine.
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LARTIUS So, the good horse is mine.
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MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you.
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MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you.
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LARTIUS No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
10 For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
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LARTIUS No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
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MARTIUS How far off lie these armies?
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MARTIUS How far off lie these armies?
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MESSENGER Within this mile and half.
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MESSENGER Within this mile and half.
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MARTIUS Then shall we hear their ’larum, and they ours.
Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work,
15 That we with smoking swords may march from hence,
To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.
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MARTIUS 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.
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They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls
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They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls
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(to the Senators) Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
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(to the Senators) Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
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FIRST SENATOR No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That’s lesser than a little.
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FIRST SENATOR No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That’s lesser than a little.
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Drums afar off
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Drums afar off
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20 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.
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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.
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Alarum afar off
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Alarum afar off
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25 Hark you, far off!
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.
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Hark you, far off!
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.
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MARTIUS O, they are at it!
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MARTIUS O, they are at it!
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LARTIUS Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
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LARTIUS Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
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Enter the army of the Volsces
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Enter the army of the Volsces
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MARTIUS 30 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,
35 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.
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MARTIUS 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.
|
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARTIUS cursing
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Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARTIUS cursing
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MARTIUS All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of—Boils and plagues
40 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!
45 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;
If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives,
50 As they us to our trenches followed.
|
MARTIUS 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: look to’t: come on;
If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.
|
Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARTIUS follows them to the gates
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Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARTIUS follows them to the gates
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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.
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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.
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Enters the gates
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Enters the gates
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FIRST SOLDIER Fool-hardiness; not I.
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FIRST SOLDIER Fool-hardiness; not I.
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SECOND SOLDIER 55 Nor I.
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SECOND SOLDIER Nor I.
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MARTIUS is shut in
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MARTIUS is shut in
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FIRST SOLDIER See, they have shut him in.
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FIRST SOLDIER See, they have shut him in.
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ALL To the pot, I warrant him.
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ALL To the pot, I warrant him.
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Alarum continues
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Alarum continues
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Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS
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Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS
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LARTIUS What is become of Martius?
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LARTIUS What is become of Martius?
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ALL Slain, sir, doubtless.
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ALL Slain, sir, doubtless.
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FIRST SOLDIER 60 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.
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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.
|
LARTIUS O noble fellow!
65 Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Martius:
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
70 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 O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Martius:
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.
|
Re-enter MARTIUS , bleeding, assaulted by the enemy
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Re-enter MARTIUS , bleeding, assaulted by the enemy
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FIRST SOLDIER Look, sir.
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FIRST SOLDIER Look, sir.
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LARTIUS 75 O,’tis Martius!
Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
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LARTIUS O,’tis Martius!
Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
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They fight, and all enter the city
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They fight, and all enter the city
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Before Corioli.
|
Before Corioli.
|
Enter, with drum and colours, MARTIUS , TITUS LARTIUS , Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger
|
Enter, with drum and colours, MARTIUS , TITUS LARTIUS , Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger
|
MARTIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
|
MARTIUS Yonder comes news. A wager they have met.
|
LARTIUS My horse to yours, no.
|
LARTIUS My horse to yours, no.
|
MARTIUS ’Tis done.
|
MARTIUS ’Tis done.
|
LARTIUS Agreed.
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LARTIUS Agreed.
|
MARTIUS 5 Say, has our general met the enemy?
|
MARTIUS Say, has our general met the enemy?
|
MESSENGER They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
|
MESSENGER They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet.
|
LARTIUS So, the good horse is mine.
|
LARTIUS So, the good horse is mine.
|
MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you.
|
MARTIUS I’ll buy him of you.
|
LARTIUS No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
10 For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
|
LARTIUS No, I’ll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will
For half a hundred years. Summon the town.
|
MARTIUS How far off lie these armies?
|
MARTIUS How far off lie these armies?
|
MESSENGER Within this mile and half.
|
MESSENGER Within this mile and half.
|
MARTIUS Then shall we hear their ’larum, and they ours.
Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work,
15 That we with smoking swords may march from hence,
To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.
|
MARTIUS 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.
|
They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls
|
They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others on the walls
|
(to the Senators) Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
|
(to the Senators) Tutus Aufidius, is he within your walls?
|
FIRST SENATOR No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That’s lesser than a little.
|
FIRST SENATOR No, nor a man that fears you less than he,
That’s lesser than a little.
|
Drums afar off
|
Drums afar off
|
20 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.
|
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 afar off
|
Alarum afar off
|
25 Hark you, far off!
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.
|
Hark you, far off!
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes
Amongst your cloven army.
|
MARTIUS O, they are at it!
|
MARTIUS O, they are at it!
|
LARTIUS Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
|
LARTIUS Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
|
Enter the army of the Volsces
|
Enter the army of the Volsces
|
MARTIUS 30 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,
35 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.
|
MARTIUS 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.
|
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARTIUS cursing
|
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter MARTIUS cursing
|
MARTIUS All the contagion of the south light on you,
You shames of Rome! you herd of—Boils and plagues
40 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!
45 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;
If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives,
50 As they us to our trenches followed.
|
MARTIUS 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: look to’t: come on;
If you’ll stand fast, we’ll beat them to their wives,
As they us to our trenches followed.
|
Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARTIUS follows them to the gates
|
Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and MARTIUS follows them to the gates
|
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.
|
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.
|
Enters the gates
|
Enters the gates
|
FIRST SOLDIER Fool-hardiness; not I.
|
FIRST SOLDIER Fool-hardiness; not I.
|
SECOND SOLDIER 55 Nor I.
|
SECOND SOLDIER Nor I.
|
MARTIUS is shut in
|
MARTIUS is shut in
|
FIRST SOLDIER See, they have shut him in.
|
FIRST SOLDIER See, they have shut him in.
|
ALL To the pot, I warrant him.
|
ALL To the pot, I warrant him.
|
Alarum continues
|
Alarum continues
|
Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS
|
Re-enter TITUS LARTIUS
|
LARTIUS What is become of Martius?
|
LARTIUS What is become of Martius?
|
ALL Slain, sir, doubtless.
|
ALL Slain, sir, doubtless.
|
FIRST SOLDIER 60 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 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.
|
LARTIUS O noble fellow!
65 Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Martius:
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
70 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 O noble fellow!
Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,
And, when it bows, stands up. Thou art left, Martius:
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.
|
Re-enter MARTIUS , bleeding, assaulted by the enemy
|
Re-enter MARTIUS , bleeding, assaulted by the enemy
|
FIRST SOLDIER Look, sir.
|
FIRST SOLDIER Look, sir.
|
LARTIUS 75 O,’tis Martius!
Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
|
LARTIUS O,’tis Martius!
Let’s fetch him off, or make remain alike.
|
They fight, and all enter the city
|
They fight, and all enter the city
|

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