Act I, Scene 6

Near the camp of Cominius.

[Enter COMINIUS, as it were in retire,] [p]with soldiers]

• Cominius. Breathe you, my friends: well fought;
  we are come off 610
  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! 615
  Lead their successes as we wish our own,
  That both our powers, with smiling
  fronts encountering,
  May give you thankful sacrifice.
  [Enter a Messenger] 620
  Thy news?

• Messenger. The citizens of Corioli have issued,
  And given to TITUS and to CORIOLANUS battle:
  I saw our party to their trenches driven,
  And then I came away. 625

• 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: 630
  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, 635
  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 CORIOLANUS; and I have
  Before-time seen him thus. 640

• Coriolanus. [Within] Come I too late?

• Cominius. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabour
  More than I know the sound of CORIOLANUS' tongue
  From every meaner man.

[Enter CORIOLANUS]

• Coriolanus. Come I too late?

• Cominius. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
  But mantled in your own.

• Coriolanus. O, let me clip ye
  In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart 650
  As merry as when our nuptial day was done,
  And tapers burn'd to bedward!

• Cominius. Flower of warriors,
  How is it with Titus TITUS?

• Coriolanus. As with a man busied about decrees: 655
  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. 660

• Cominius. Where is that slave
  Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?
  Where is he? call him hither.

• Coriolanus. Let him alone;
  He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen, 665
  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?

• Coriolanus. Will the time serve to tell? I do not think. 670
  Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?
  If not, why cease you till you are so?

• Cominius. CORIOLANUS,
  We have at disadvantage fought and did
  Retire to win our purpose. 675

• Coriolanus. How lies their battle? know you on which side
  They have placed their men of trust?

• Cominius. As I guess, CORIOLANUS,
  Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,
  Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius, 680
  Their very heart of hope.

• Coriolanus. 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 685
  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 690
  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.

• Coriolanus. Those are they 695
  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 700
  And that his country's dearer than himself;
  Let him alone, or so many so minded,
  Wave thus, to express his disposition,
  And follow CORIOLANUS.
  [They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in] 705
  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 710
  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; 715
  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. 720

[Exeunt]