ACT I
SCENE VIII A field of battle.


 [Alarum as in battle. Enter, from opposite sides,
 MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS]

MARCIUS I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee
 Worse than a promise-breaker.

AUFIDIUS We hate alike:
 Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor
 More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot.

MARCIUS Let the first budger die the other's slave,
 And the gods doom him after!

AUFIDIUS If I fly, Marcius,
 Holloa me like a hare.

MARCIUS Within these three hours, Tullus,
 Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,
 And made what work I pleased: 'tis not my blood
 Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge
 Wrench up thy power to the highest.

AUFIDIUS Wert thou the Hector
 That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny,
 Thou shouldst not scape me here.

 [They fight, and certain Volsces come to the aid of
 AUFIDIUS. MARCIUS fights till they be driven in
 breathless]

 Officious, and not valiant, you have shamed me
 In your condemned seconds.

 [Exeunt]




 CORIOLANUS


ACT I