The Tragedy Of Coriolanus

1 Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with Soldiers.
2 COMINIUS.
3 Breathe you, my friends. Well fought! We are come off
4 Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands
5 Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs,
6 We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,
7 By interims and conveying gusts we have heard
8 The charges of our friends. The Roman gods
9 Lead their successes as we wish our own,
10 That both our powers, with smiling fronts encount’ring,
11 May give you thankful sacrifice!
12 Enter a Messenger.
13 Thy news?
14 MESSENGER.
15 The citizens of Corioles have issued,
16 And given to Lartius and to Martius battle.
17 I saw our party to their trenches driven,
18 And then I came away.
19 COMINIUS.
20 Though thou speakest truth,
21 Methinks thou speak’st not well. How long is’t since?
22 MESSENGER.
23 Above an hour, my lord.
24 COMINIUS.
25 ’Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums.
26 How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour
27 And bring thy news so late?
28 MESSENGER.
29 Spies of the Volsces
30 Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel
31 Three or four miles about; else had I, sir,
32 Half an hour since brought my report.
33 [_Exit Messenger._]
34 Enter Martius, bloody.
35 COMINIUS.
36 Who’s yonder,
37 That does appear as he were flayed? O gods,
38 He has the stamp of Martius, and I have
39 Before-time seen him thus.
40 MARTIUS.
41 Come I too late?
42 COMINIUS.
43 The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor
44 More than I know the sound of Martius’ tongue
45 From every meaner man.
46 MARTIUS.
47 Come I too late?
48 COMINIUS.
49 Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
50 But mantled in your own.
51 MARTIUS.
52 O, let me clip you
53 In arms as sound as when I wooed, in heart
54 As merry as when our nuptial day was done
55 And tapers burned to bedward!
56 COMINIUS.
57 Flower of warriors, how is’t with Titus Lartius?
58 MARTIUS.
59 As with a man busied about decrees,
60 Condemning some to death and some to exile;
61 Ransoming him or pitying, threat’ning the other;
62 Holding Corioles in the name of Rome
63 Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
64 To let him slip at will.
65 COMINIUS.
66 Where is that slave
67 Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?
68 Where’s he? Call him hither.
69 MARTIUS.
70 Let him alone.
71 He did inform the truth. But for our gentlemen,
72 The common file—a plague! Tribunes for them!—
73 The mouse ne’er shunned the cat as they did budge
74 From rascals worse than they.
75 COMINIUS.
76 But how prevailed you?
77 MARTIUS.
78 Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.
79 Where is the enemy? Are you lords o’ th’ field?
80 If not, why cease you till you are so?
81 COMINIUS.
82 Martius, we have at disadvantage fought,
83 And did retire to win our purpose.
84 MARTIUS.
85 How lies their battle? Know you on which side
86 They have placed their men of trust?
87 COMINIUS.
88 As I guess, Martius,
89 Their bands i’ th’ vaward are the Antiates,
90 Of their best trust; o’er them Aufidius,
91 Their very heart of hope.
92 MARTIUS.
93 I do beseech you,
94 By all the battles wherein we have fought,
95 By th’ blood we have shed together, by th’ vows we have made
96 To endure friends, that you directly set me
97 Against Aufidius and his Antiates,
98 And that you not delay the present, but,
99 Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,
100 We prove this very hour.
101 COMINIUS.
102 Though I could wish
103 You were conducted to a gentle bath
104 And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
105 Deny your asking. Take your choice of those
106 That best can aid your action.
107 MARTIUS.
108 Those are they
109 That most are willing. If any such be here—
110 As it were sin to doubt—that love this painting
111 Wherein you see me smeared; if any fear
112 Lesser his person than an ill report;
113 If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
114 And that his country’s dearer than himself;
115 Let him alone, or so many so minded,
116 Wave thus to express his disposition
117 And follow Martius.
118 [_He waves his sword._]
119 [_They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in their arms, and
120 cast up their caps._]
121 O, me alone! Make you a sword of me?
122 If these shows be not outward, which of you
123 But is four Volsces? None of you but is
124 Able to bear against the great Aufidius
125 A shield as hard as his. A certain number,
126 Though thanks to all, must I select from all.
127 The rest shall bear the business in some other fight,
128 As cause will be obeyed. Please you to march,
129 And I shall quickly draw out my command,
130 Which men are best inclined.
131 COMINIUS.
132 March on, my fellows.
133 Make good this ostentation, and you shall
134 Divide in all with us.
135 [_Exeunt._]