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<tr><td class="play" align="center">The Tragedy of Coriolanus
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    | Act 1, Scene 6
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<H3>SCENE VI. Near the camp of Cominius.</h3>

<p><blockquote>
<i>Enter COMINIUS, as it were in retire, with soldiers</i>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech1><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=1>Breathe you, my friends: well fought;</A><br>
<A NAME=2>we are come off</A><br>
<A NAME=3>Like Romans, neither foolish in our stands,</A><br>
<A NAME=4>Nor cowardly in retire: believe me, sirs,</A><br>
<A NAME=5>We shall be charged again. Whiles we have struck,</A><br>
<A NAME=6>By interims and conveying gusts we have heard</A><br>
<A NAME=7>The charges of our friends. Ye Roman gods!</A><br>
<A NAME=8>Lead their successes as we wish our own,</A><br>
<A NAME=9>That both our powers, with smiling</A><br>
<A NAME=10>fronts encountering,</A><br>
<A NAME=11>May give you thankful sacrifice.</A><br>
<p><i>Enter a Messenger</i></p>
<A NAME=12>Thy news?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech2><b>Messenger</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=13>The citizens of Corioli have issued,</A><br>
<A NAME=14>And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle:</A><br>
<A NAME=15>I saw our party to their trenches driven,</A><br>
<A NAME=16>And then I came away.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech3><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=17>Though thou speak'st truth,</A><br>
<A NAME=18>Methinks thou speak'st not well.</A><br>
<A NAME=19>How long is't since?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech4><b>Messenger</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=20>Above an hour, my lord.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech5><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=21>'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:</A><br>
<A NAME=22>How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,</A><br>
<A NAME=23>And bring thy news so late?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech6><b>Messenger</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=24>Spies of the Volsces</A><br>
<A NAME=25>Held me in chase, that I was forced to wheel</A><br>
<A NAME=26>Three or four miles about, else had I, sir,</A><br>
<A NAME=27>Half an hour since brought my report.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech7><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=28>Who's yonder,</A><br>
<A NAME=29>That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods</A><br>
<A NAME=30>He has the stamp of Marcius; and I have</A><br>
<A NAME=31>Before-time seen him thus.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech8><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=32>[Within]                 Come I too late?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech9><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=33>The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabour</A><br>
<A NAME=34>More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue</A><br>
<A NAME=35>From every meaner man.</A><br>
<p><i>Enter MARCIUS</i></p>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech10><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=36>Come I too late?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech11><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=37>Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,</A><br>
<A NAME=38>But mantled in your own.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech12><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=39>O, let me clip ye</A><br>
<A NAME=40>In arms as sound as when I woo'd, in heart</A><br>
<A NAME=41>As merry as when our nuptial day was done,</A><br>
<A NAME=42>And tapers burn'd to bedward!</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech13><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=43>Flower of warriors,</A><br>
<A NAME=44>How is it with Titus Lartius?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech14><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=45>As with a man busied about decrees:</A><br>
<A NAME=46>Condemning some to death, and some to exile;</A><br>
<A NAME=47>Ransoming him, or pitying, threatening the other;</A><br>
<A NAME=48>Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,</A><br>
<A NAME=49>Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,</A><br>
<A NAME=50>To let him slip at will.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech15><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=51>Where is that slave</A><br>
<A NAME=52>Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?</A><br>
<A NAME=53>Where is he? call him hither.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech16><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=54>Let him alone;</A><br>
<A NAME=55>He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,</A><br>
<A NAME=56>The common file--a plague! tribunes for them!--</A><br>
<A NAME=57>The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge</A><br>
<A NAME=58>From rascals worse than they.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech17><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=59>But how prevail'd you?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech18><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=60>Will the time serve to tell? I do not think.</A><br>
<A NAME=61>Where is the enemy? are you lords o' the field?</A><br>
<A NAME=62>If not, why cease you till you are so?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech19><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=63>Marcius,</A><br>
<A NAME=64>We have at disadvantage fought and did</A><br>
<A NAME=65>Retire to win our purpose.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech20><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=66>How lies their battle? know you on which side</A><br>
<A NAME=67>They have placed their men of trust?</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech21><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=68>As I guess, Marcius,</A><br>
<A NAME=69>Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates,</A><br>
<A NAME=70>Of their best trust; o'er them Aufidius,</A><br>
<A NAME=71>Their very heart of hope.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech22><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=72>I do beseech you,</A><br>
<A NAME=73>By all the battles wherein we have fought,</A><br>
<A NAME=74>By the blood we have shed together, by the vows</A><br>
<A NAME=75>We have made to endure friends, that you directly</A><br>
<A NAME=76>Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates;</A><br>
<A NAME=77>And that you not delay the present, but,</A><br>
<A NAME=78>Filling the air with swords advanced and darts,</A><br>
<A NAME=79>We prove this very hour.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech23><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=80>Though I could wish</A><br>
<A NAME=81>You were conducted to a gentle bath</A><br>
<A NAME=82>And balms applied to, you, yet dare I never</A><br>
<A NAME=83>Deny your asking: take your choice of those</A><br>
<A NAME=84>That best can aid your action.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech24><b>MARCIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=85>Those are they</A><br>
<A NAME=86>That most are willing. If any such be here--</A><br>
<A NAME=87>As it were sin to doubt--that love this painting</A><br>
<A NAME=88>Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear</A><br>
<A NAME=89>Lesser his person than an ill report;</A><br>
<A NAME=90>If any think brave death outweighs bad life</A><br>
<A NAME=91>And that his country's dearer than himself;</A><br>
<A NAME=92>Let him alone, or so many so minded,</A><br>
<A NAME=93>Wave thus, to express his disposition,</A><br>
<A NAME=94>And follow Marcius.</A><br>
<p><i>They all shout and wave their swords, take him up in their arms, and cast up their caps</i></p>
<A NAME=95>O, me alone! make you a sword of me?</A><br>
<A NAME=96>If these shows be not outward, which of you</A><br>
<A NAME=97>But is four Volsces? none of you but is</A><br>
<A NAME=98>Able to bear against the great Aufidius</A><br>
<A NAME=99>A shield as hard as his. A certain number,</A><br>
<A NAME=100>Though thanks to all, must I select</A><br>
<A NAME=101>from all: the rest</A><br>
<A NAME=102>Shall bear the business in some other fight,</A><br>
<A NAME=103>As cause will be obey'd. Please you to march;</A><br>
<A NAME=104>And four shall quickly draw out my command,</A><br>
<A NAME=105>Which men are best inclined.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech25><b>COMINIUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=106>March on, my fellows:</A><br>
<A NAME=107>Make good this ostentation, and you shall</A><br>
<A NAME=108>Divide in all with us.</A><br>
<p><i>Exeunt</i></p>
</blockquote>
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