Act IScene VI
Near the camp of Cominius
Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with Soldiers.
Cominius
Breathe you, my friends. Well fought! We are come offLike Romans, neither foolish in our standsNor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs,We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,By interims and conveying gusts we have heardThe charges of our friends. The Roman godsLead their successes as we wish our own,That both our powers, with smiling fronts encount’ring,May give you thankful sacrifice!
Enter a Messenger.
Thy news?
Messenger
The citizens of Corioles have issued,And given to Lartius and to Martius battle.I saw our party to their trenches driven,And then I came away.
Cominius
Though thou speakest truth,Methinks thou speak’st not well. How long is’t since?
Messenger
Above an hour, my lord.
Cominius
’Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums.How couldst thou in a mile confound an hourAnd bring thy news so late?
Messenger
Spies of the VolscesHeld me in chase, that I was forced to wheelThree or four miles about; else had I, sir,Half an hour since brought my report.
Exit Messenger.
Enter Martius, bloody.
Cominius
Who’s yonder,That does appear as he were flayed? O gods,He has the stamp of Martius, and I haveBefore-time seen him thus.
Martius
Come I too late?
Cominius
The shepherd knows not thunder from a taborMore than I know the sound of Martius’ tongueFrom every meaner man.
Martius
Come I too late?
Cominius
Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,But mantled in your own.
Martius
O, let me clip youIn arms as sound as when I wooed, in heartAs merry as when our nuptial day was doneAnd tapers burned to bedward!
Cominius
Flower of warriors, how is’t with Titus Lartius?
Martius
As with a man busied about decrees,Condemning some to death and some to exile;Ransoming him or pitying, threat’ning the other;Holding Corioles in the name of RomeEven like a fawning greyhound in the leash,To let him slip at will.
Cominius
Where is that slaveWhich told me they had beat you to your trenches?Where’s he? Call him hither.
Martius
Let him alone.He did inform the truth. But for our gentlemen,The common file—a plague! Tribunes for them!—The mouse ne’er shunned the cat as they did budgeFrom rascals worse than they.
Cominius
But how prevailed you?
Martius
Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.Where is the enemy? Are you lords o’ th’ field?If not, why cease you till you are so?
Cominius
Martius, we have at disadvantage fought,And did retire to win our purpose.
Martius
How lies their battle? Know you on which sideThey have placed their men of trust?
Cominius
As I guess, Martius,Their bands i’ th’ vaward are the Antiates,Of their best trust; o’er them Aufidius,Their very heart of hope.
Martius
I do beseech you,By all the battles wherein we have fought,By th’ blood we have shed together, by th’ vows we have madeTo endure friends, that you directly set meAgainst Aufidius and his Antiates,And that you not delay the present, but,Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,We prove this very hour.
Cominius
Though I could wishYou were conducted to a gentle bathAnd balms applied to you, yet dare I neverDeny your asking. Take your choice of thoseThat best can aid your action.
Martius
Those are theyThat most are willing. If any such be here—As it were sin to doubt—that love this paintingWherein you see me smeared; if any fearLesser his person than an ill report;If any think brave death outweighs bad life,And that his country’s dearer than himself;Let him alone, or so many so minded,Wave thus to express his dispositionAnd follow Martius.
He waves his sword.
They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps.
O, me alone! Make you a sword of me?If these shows be not outward, which of youBut is four Volsces? None of you but isAble to bear against the great AufidiusA shield as hard as his. A certain number,Though thanks to all, must I select from all.The rest shall bear the business in some other fight,As cause will be obeyed. Please you to march,And I shall quickly draw out my command,Which men are best inclined.
Cominius
March on, my fellows.Make good this ostentation, and you shallDivide in all with us.
Exeunt.