Coriolanus - Act 1 Scene 8

Coriolanus

A Field of Battle between the Roman and the Volscian Camps.

A Field of Battle between the Roman and the Volscian Camps.

Alarum. Enter from opposite sides MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS.

Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee

Worse than a promise-breaker.

Auf. We hate alike:

Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor

More than thy fame and envy. Fix thy foot.

Mar. Let the first budger die the other's slave,

And the gods doom him after!

Auf. If I fly, Marcius,

Halloo me like a hare.

Mar. Within these three hours, Tullus,

Alone I fought in your Corioli walls,

And made what work I pleas'd; 'tis not my blood

Wherein thou seest me mask'd; for thy revenge

Wrench up thy power to the highest.

Auf. 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.

Officious, and not valiant, you have sham'd me

In your condemned seconds. [Exeunt fighting, all driven in by MARCIUS.