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Coriolanus: Act I, Scene 6

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Coriolanus
Act I, Scene 6

Near Cominius’ camp.

  1. Enter Cominius, as it were in retire, with Roman Soldiers.

Cominius

1 - 10
  1. Breathe you, my friends. Well fought; we are come off
  2. Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands
  3. Nor cowardly in retire. Believe me, sirs,
  4. We shall be charg’d again. Whiles we have struck,
  5. By interims and conveying gusts we have heard
  6. The charges of our friends. The Roman gods,
  7. Lead their successes as we wish our own,
  8. That both our powers, with smiling fronts encount’ring,
  9. May give you thankful sacrifice.
  10. Enter Second Messenger.
  11.                                  Thy news?

Second Messenger

11 - 14
  1. The citizens of Corioles have issued,
  2. And given to Lartius and to Martius battle.
  3. I saw our party to their trenches driven,
  4. And then I came away.

Cominius

15 - 16
  1.                       Though thou speakest truth,
  2. Methinks thou speak’st not well. How long is’t since?

Second Messenger

17
  1. Above an hour, my lord.

Cominius

18 - 20
  1. ’Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums.
  2. How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,
  3. And bring thy news so late?

Second Messenger

21 - 24
  1.                             Spies of the Volsces
  2. Held me in chase, that I was forc’d to wheel
  3. Three or four miles about, else had I, sir,
  4. Half an hour since brought my report.
  1. Enter Martius.

Cominius

25 - 28
  1.                                       Who’s yonder,
  2. That does appear as he were flea’d? O gods,
  3. He has the stamp of Martius, and I have
  4. Before-time seen him thus.

Caius Martius

29
  1.                            Come I too late?

Cominius

30 - 32
  1. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor
  2. More than I know the sound of Martius’ tongue
  3. From every meaner man.

Caius Martius

33
  1.                        Come I too late?

Cominius

34 - 35
  1. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
  2. But mantled in your own.

Caius Martius

36 - 39
  1.                          O! Let me clip ye
  2. In arms as sound as when I woo’d, in heart
  3. As merry as when our nuptial day was done
  4. And tapers burnt to bedward!

Cominius

40 - 41
  1.                              Flower of warriors,
  2. How is’t with Titus Lartius?

Caius Martius

42 - 47
  1. As with a man busied about decrees:
  2. Condemning some to death, and some to exile;
  3. Ransoming him, or pitying, threat’ning th’ other;
  4. Holding Corioles in the name of Rome,
  5. Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
  6. To let him slip at will.

Cominius

48 - 50
  1.                          Where is that slave
  2. Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?
  3. Where is he? Call him hither.

Caius Martius

51 - 55
  1.                               Let him alone,
  2. He did inform the truth. But for our gentlemen,
  3. The common file (a plague—tribunes for them!),
  4. The mouse ne’er shunn’d the cat as they did budge
  5. From rascals worse than they.

Cominius

56
  1.                               But how prevail’d you?

Caius Martius

57 - 59
  1. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.
  2. Where is the enemy? Are you lords a’ th’ field?
  3. If not, why cease you till you are so?

Cominius

60 - 62
  1.                                        Martius,
  2. We have at disadvantage fought, and did
  3. Retire to win our purpose.

Caius Martius

63 - 64
  1. How lies their battle? Know you on which side
  2. They have plac’d their men of trust?

Cominius

65 - 68
  1.                                      As I guess, Martius,
  2. Their bands i’ th’ vaward are the Antiates,
  3. Of their best trust; o’er them Aufidius,
  4. Their very heart of hope.

Caius Martius

69 - 76
  1.                           I do beseech you,
  2. By all the battles wherein we have fought,
  3. By th’ blood we have shed together, by th’ vows
  4. We have made to endure friends, that you directly
  5. Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates,
  6. And that you not delay the present, but,
  7. Filling the air with swords advanc’d and darts,
  8. We prove this very hour.

Cominius

77 - 81
  1.                          Though I could wish
  2. You were conducted to a gentle bath
  3. And balms applied to you, yet dare I never
  4. Deny your asking. Take your choice of those
  5. That best can aid your action.

Caius Martius

82 - 101
  1.                                Those are they
  2. That most are willing. If any such be here
  3. (As it were sin to doubt) that love this painting
  4. Wherein you see me smear’d; if any fear
  5. Lesser his person than an ill report;
  6. If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
  7. And that his country’s dearer than himself;
  8. Let him alone, or so many so minded,
  9. Wave thus to express his disposition,
  10. And follow Martius.
  11. They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in their
  12. arms, and cast up their caps.
  13. O, me alone! Make you a sword of me?
  14. If these shows be not outward, which of you
  15. But is four Volsces? None of you but is
  16. Able to bear against the great Aufidius
  17. A shield as hard as his. A certain number
  18. (Though thanks to all) must I select from all; the rest
  19. Shall bear the business in some other fight
  20. (As cause will be obey’d). Please you to march,
  21. And four shall quickly draw out my command,
  22. Which men are best inclin’d.

Cominius

102 - 104
  1.                              March on, my fellows!
  2. Make good this ostentation, and you shall
  3. Divide in all with us.
  1. Exeunt.
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