.

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 forc'd to wheel

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

          Half an hour since brought my report.

      Enter MARCIUS

        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. Come I too late?

        COMINIUS. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor

          More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue

          From every meaner man.

        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't with Titus Lartius?

        MARCIUS. As with a man busied about decrees:

          Condemning some to death and some to exile;

          Ransoming him or pitying, threat'ning th' 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' th' 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 plac'd their men of trust?

        COMINIUS. As I guess, Marcius,

          Their bands i' th' 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 th' blood we have shed together, by th' 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 advanc'd 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 inclin'd.

        COMINIUS. March on, my fellows;

          Make good this ostentation, and you shall

          Divide in all with us. Exeunt

      SCENE VII. The gates of Corioli

      TITUS LARTIUS, having set a guard upon Corioli, going with drum and trumpet toward COMINIUS and CAIUS MARCIUS, enters with a LIEUTENANT, other soldiers, and a scout

        LARTIUS. So, let the ports be guarded; keep your duties

          As I have set them down. If I do send, dispatch

          Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve

          For a short holding. If we lose the field

          We cannot keep the town.

        LIEUTENANT. Fear not our care, sir.

        LARTIUS. Hence, and shut your gates upon's.

          Our guider, come; to th' Roman camp conduct us. Exeunt

      SCENE VIII. A field of battle between the Roman and the Volscian camps

      Alarum, as in battle. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS at several doors

        MARCIUS.