• The camp of the Volsces.
    A flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, bloody, with two or three Soldiers

    AUFIDIUS

    The town is ta’en!

    FIRST SOLDIER

    ’Twill be deliver’d back on good condition.

    AUFIDIUS

    Condition!
    I would I were a Roman; for I cannot,
    5Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition!
    What good condition can a treaty find
    I’ the part that is at mercy? Five times, Martius,
    I have fought with thee: so often hast thou beat me,
    And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter
    10As often as we eat. By the elements,
    If e’er again I meet him beard to beard,
    He’s mine, or I am his: mine emulation
    Hath not that honour in’t it had; for where
    I thought to crush him in an equal force,
    15True sword to sword, I’ll potch at him some way
    Or wrath or craft may get him.

    FIRST SOLDIER

    He’s the devil.

    AUFIDIUS

    Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour’s poison’d
    With only suffering stain by him; for him
    20Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary,
    Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol,
    The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice,
    Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up
    Their rotten privilege and custom ’gainst
    25My hate to Martius: where I find him, were it
    At home, upon my brother’s guard, even there,
    Against the hospitable canon, would I
    Wash my fierce hand in’s heart. Go you to the city;
    Learn how ’tis held; and what they are that must
    30Be hostages for Rome.
  • The Volscian camp.
    Trumpets sound. TULLUS AUFIDIUS enters, bloody, with two or three Volscian Soldiers.

    AUFIDIUS

    The town is taken!

    FIRST SOLDIER

    It’ll be given back with fair conditions.

    AUFIDIUS

    Conditions! I wish I were a Roman, but I can’t be other than what I am: a Volsce. Conditions! Under what conditions can a treaty be fair to the side that has lost? I’ve fought Martius five times, and every time he has beaten me. And I think he would beat me again in the future if we met in battle as often as we eat. By the elements, if I ever see him face to face again, I’ll kill him or he’ll kill me. My desire to beat him isn’t as honorable as it once was, for while I once wanted to crush him with our forces being equal, fighting fairly sword to sword, but now I’ll stab him however I can and let either my anger or my trickery bring him down.

    FIRST SOLDIER

    He’s the devil.

    AUFIDIUS

    Bolder, but not as subtle. He’s the only one who has compromised my honor, and for that I will seek vengeance. Neither sleep nor sanctuary, nor being unarmed, nor sick, nor the constraints of the temple or the capitol, the prayers of priests or times of sacrifice, none of these obstacles to my fury will stop me from hating Martius. Wherever I find him, even at home in my brother’s protection, despite the law of hospitality, I’ll wash my fierce hand in his heart. Go to Corioles, find out how it’s being occupied and who’s been taken hostage by the Romans.