Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/115

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, IV. v

Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee,

We have a power on foot; and I had purpose

Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,

Or lose mine arm for 't. Thou hast beat me out

Twelve several times, and I have nightly since

Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;

We have been down together in my sleep,

Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat,

And wak'd half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,

Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that

Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all

From twelve to seventy, and, pouring war

Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,

Like a bold flood o'er-bear. O! come; go in,

And take our friendly senators by the hands,

Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,

Who am prepar'd against your territories,

Though not for Rome itself.

Cor. You bless me, gods!

Auf. Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have

The leading of thine own revenges, take

Th' one half of my commission, and set down,

As best thou art experienc'd, since thou know'st

Thy country's strength and weakness, thine own ways;

Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,

Or rudely visit them in parts remote,

To fright them, ere destroy. But come in:

Let me commend thee first to those that shall

Say yea to thy desires, A thousand welcomes!

And more a friend than e'er an enemy;

 126 brawn: brawny arm

127 out: outright

132 wak'd: I have awaked 

137 o'er-bear: bear all before us; cf. n.

142 absolute: perfect

144 set down: determine

