READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scenes ii-x |
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Act I, Scene vi:
Near the camp of COMINIUS.
Near the camp of COMINIUS.
| [Enter COMINIUS and Foreces, retreating.] |
| COMINIUS: |
| 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 charg'd again. Whiles we have struck, |
| By interims and conveying gusts we have heard |
| The charges of our friends. The Roman gods, |
| Lead their successes as we wish our own, |
| That both our powers, with smiling fronts encountering, |
| May give you thankful sacrifice!— |
| [Enter A MESSENGER.] |
| Thy news? |
| MESSENGER: |
| The citizens of Corioli have issued, |
| And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle: |
| I 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. |
| 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: |
| [Within.] 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. |
| [Enter MARCIUS.] |
| 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 the 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's 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 shunned 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' the 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 placed their men of trust? |
| COMINIUS: |
| As I guess, Marcius, |
| Their bands in the 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 the blood we have shed together, by the 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[waving his hand], to express his disposition, |
| And follow Marcius. |
| [They all shout and wave their swords; take him up in their armsand 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.] |
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