_Enter_ COMINIUS, _as it were in retire, with_ Soldiers.
_Com._ 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,[2675]
By interims and conveying gusts we have heard 5
The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods,[2676]
Lead their successes as we wish our own,
That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering,
May give you thankful sacrifice!
_Enter a_ Messenger.[2677]
Thy news?
_Mess._ The citizens of Corioli have issued, 10
And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:
I saw our party to their trenches driven,[2678]
And then I came away.
_Com._ Though thou speak'st truth,[2679]
Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is't since?
_Mess._ Above an hour, my lord. 15
_Com._ 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:[2680]
How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,
And bring thy news so late?[2681]
_Mess._ Spies of the Volsces
Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel
Three or four miles about; else had I, sir, 20
Half an hour since brought my report.
_Enter_ MARCIUS.[2682]
_Com._ 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.
_Mar._ Come I too late?[2683]
_Com._ The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor 25
More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue[2684]
From every meaner man.[2685]
_Mar._ Come I too late?
_Com._ Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
But mantled in your own.
_Mar._ O, let me clip ye[2686]
In arms as sound as when I woo'd; in heart[2687][2688] 30
As merry as when our nuptial day was done,[2688]
And tapers burn'd to bedward!
_Com._ Flower of warriors,[2689]
How is't with Titus Lartius?[2689][2690]
_Mar._ As with a man busied about decrees:
Condemning some to death, and some to exile; 35
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.[2691]
_Com._ Where is that slave
Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? 40
Where is he? call him hither.
_Mar._ Let him alone;
He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,[2692]
The common file--a plague! tribunes for them!--[2693]
The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge
From rascals worse than they.
_Com._ But how prevail'd you? 45
_Mar._ Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.[2694]
Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?[2695]
If not, why cease you till you are so?
_Com._ Marcius,[2696]
We have at disadvantage fought and did[2696]
Retire to win our purpose.[2696][2697] 50
_Mar._ How lies their battle? know you on which side[2698][2699]
They have placed their men of trust?[2698]
_Com._ As I guess, Marcius,
Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,[2700]
Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius,
Their very heart of hope.
_Mar._ I do beseech you, 55
By all the battles wherein we have fought,
By the blood we have shed together, by the vows[2701][2702]
We have made to endure friends, that you directly[2701][2702]
Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates;[2701]
And that you not delay the present, but, 60
Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,
We prove this very hour.[2703]
_Com._ 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 65
That best can aid your action.
_Mar._ Those are they
That most are willing. If any such be here--[2704]
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;[2705] 70
If any think brave death outweighs bad life,
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him alone, or so many so minded,[2706]
Wave thus, to express his disposition,
And follow Marcius. 75
[_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?[2707]
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,[2708] 80
Though thanks to all, must I select from all: the rest[2709]
Shall bear the business in some other fight,
As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;[2710]
And four shall quickly draw out my command,[2710][2711][2712]
Which men are best inclined.[2712]
_Com._ March on, my fellows: 85
Make good this ostentation, and you shall
Divide in all with us. [_Exeunt._