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The Tragedy of Coriolanus: Act 1 Scene 8

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]