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Act 1, Scene 6

Near the camp of COMINIUS.

  1. [Enter COMINIUS and Foreces, retreating.]
  2. Cominius
  3. 542 Breathe you, my friends: well fought; we are come off
  4. 543 Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands
  5. 544 Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs,
  6. 545 We shall be charg'd again. Whiles we have struck,
  7. 546 By interims and conveying gusts we have heard
  8. 547 The charges of our friends. The Roman gods,
  9. 548 Lead their successes as we wish our own,
  10. 549 That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering,
  11. 550 May give you thankful sacrifice!—
  12. [Enter A MESSENGER.]
  13. Cominius
  14. 551 Thy news?
  15. Messenger
  16. 552 The citizens of Corioli have issued,
  17. 553 And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
  18. 554 I saw our party to their trenches driven,
  19. 555 And then I came away.
  20. Cominius
  21. 556 Though thou speak'st truth,
  22. 557 Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is't since?
  23. Messenger
  24. 558 Above an hour, my lord.
  25. Cominius
  26. 559 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:
  27. 560 How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,
  28. 561 And bring thy news so late?
  29. Messenger
  30. 562 Spies of the Volsces
  31. 563 Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel
  32. 564 Three or four miles about; else had I, sir,
  33. 565 Half an hour since brought my report.
  34. Cominius
  35. 566 Who's yonder,
  36. 567 That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods!
  37. 568 He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have
  38. 569 Before-time seen him thus.
  39. [Within.]
  40. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  41. 570 Come I too late?
  42. Cominius
  43. 571 The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor
  44. 572 More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue
  45. 573 From every meaner man.
  46. [Enter MARCIUS.]
  47. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  48. 574 Come I too late?
  49. Cominius
  50. 575 Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
  51. 576 But mantled in your own.
  52. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  53. 577 O! let me clip ye
  54. 578 In arms as sound as when I woo'd; in heart
  55. 579 As merry as when our nuptial day was done,
  56. 580 And tapers burn'd to bedward.
  57. Cominius
  58. 581 Flower of warriors,
  59. 582 How is't with Titus Lartius?
  60. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  61. 583 As with a man busied about decrees:
  62. 584 Condemning some to death and some to exile;
  63. 585 Ransoming him or pitying, threat'ning the other;
  64. 586 Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,
  65. 587 Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
  66. 588 To let him slip at will.
  67. Cominius
  68. 589 Where is that slave
  69. 590 Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?
  70. 591 Where's he? call him hither.
  71. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  72. 592 Let him alone;
  73. 593 He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,
  74. 594 The common file,—a plague!—tribunes for them!—
  75. 595 The mouse ne'er shunned the cat as they did budge
  76. 596 From rascals worse than they.
  77. Cominius
  78. 597 But how prevail'd you?
  79. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  80. 598 Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.
  81. 599 Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?
  82. 600 If not, why cease you till you are so?
  83. Cominius
  84. 601 Marcius,
  85. 602 We have at disadvantage fought, and did
  86. 603 Retire, to win our purpose.
  87. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  88. 604 How lies their battle? know you on which side
  89. 605 They have placed their men of trust?
  90. Cominius
  91. 606 As I guess, Marcius,
  92. 607 Their bands in the vaward are the Antiates,
  93. 608 Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius,
  94. 609 Their very heart of hope.
  95. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  96. 610 I do beseech you,
  97. 611 By all the battles wherein we have fought,
  98. 612 By the blood we have shed together, by the vows
  99. 613 We have made to endure friends, that you directly
  100. 614 Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates;
  101. 615 And that you not delay the present, but,
  102. 616 Filling the air with swords advanc'd and darts,
  103. 617 We prove this very hour.
  104. Cominius
  105. 618 Though I could wish
  106. 619 You were conducted to a gentle bath,
  107. 620 And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
  108. 621 Deny your asking: take your choice of those
  109. 622 That best can aid your action.
  110. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  111. 623 Those are they
  112. 624 That most are willing.—If any such be here,—
  113. 625 As it were sin to doubt,—that love this painting
  114. 626 Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear
  115. 627 Lesser his person than an ill report;
  116. 628 If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
  117. 629 And that his country's dearer than himself;
  118. 630 Let him alone, or so many so minded,
  119. 631 Wave thus
  120. [waving his hand]
  121. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  122. 632 , to express his disposition,
  123. 633 And follow Marcius.
  124. [They all shout and wave their swords; take him up in their arms and cast up their caps.]
  125. Caius Marcius Coriolanus
  126. 634 O, me alone! Make you a sword of me?
  127. 635 If these shows be not outward, which of you
  128. 636 But is four Volsces? none of you but is
  129. 637 Able to bear against the great Aufidius
  130. 638 A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
  131. 639 Though thanks to all, must I select from all: the rest
  132. 640 Shall bear the business in some other fight,
  133. 641 As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;
  134. 642 And four shall quickly draw out my command,
  135. 643 Which men are best inclin'd.
  136. Cominius
  137. 644 March on, my fellows;
  138. 645 Make good this ostentation, and you shall
  139. 646 Divide in all with us.
  140. [Exeunt.]