Printable version of this page

The Tragedy of Coriolanus: Act 1 Scene 6

Scene 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 off

Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,

Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs,

We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,

By interims and conveying gusts we have heard

The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods!

Lead their successes as we wish our own,

That both our powers, with smiling

fronts encountering,

May give you thankful sacrifice.

[Enter a Messenger]

Thy news?

MESSENGER

The citizens of Corioli have issued,

And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:

I saw our party to their trenches driven,

And then I came away.

COMINIUS

Though thou speak'st 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 hour,

And bring thy news so late?

MESSENGER

Spies of the Volsces

Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel

Three or four miles about, else had I, sir,

Half an hour since brought my report.

COMINIUS

Who's yonder,

That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods

He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have

Before-time seen him thus.

MARCIUS

[Within] Come I too late?

COMINIUS

The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabour

More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue

From every meaner man.

[Enter MARCIUS]

MARCIUS

Come I too late?

COMINIUS

Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,

But mantled in your own.

MARCIUS

O, let me clip ye

In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart

As merry as when our nuptial day was done,

And tapers burn'd to bedward!

COMINIUS

Flower of warriors,

How is it with Titus Lartius?

MARCIUS

As with a man busied about decrees:

Condemning some to death, and some to exile;

Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other;

Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,

Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,

To let him slip at will.

COMINIUS

Where is that slave

Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?

Where is he? call him hither.

MARCIUS

Let him alone;

He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,

The common file--a plague! tribunes for them!--

The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge

From rascals worse than they.

COMINIUS

But how prevail'd you?

MARCIUS

Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.

Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?

If not, why cease you till you are so?

COMINIUS

Marcius,

We have at disadvantage fought and did

Retire to win our purpose.

MARCIUS

How lies their battle? know you on which side

They have placed their men of trust?

COMINIUS

As I guess, Marcius,

Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,

Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius,

Their very heart of hope.

MARCIUS

I do beseech you,

By all the battles wherein we have fought,

By the blood we have shed together, by the vows

We have made to endure friends, that you directly

Set me against 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 wish

You were conducted to a gentle bath

And balms applied to, you, yet dare I never

Deny your asking: take your choice of those

That best can aid your action.

MARCIUS

Those are they

That most are willing. If any such be here--

As it were sin to doubt--that love this painting

Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear

Lesser 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 disposition,

And follow Marcius.

[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 you

But is four Volsces? none of you but is

Able to bear against the great Aufidius

A 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 obey'd. Please you to march;

And four shall quickly draw out my command,

Which men are best inclined.

COMINIUS

March on, my fellows:

Make good this ostentation, and you shall

Divide in all with us.

[Exeunt]