TPTT The Tragedy of Coriolanus: ACT I
Introduction
ACT I
SCENE I. Rome. A street.
SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate-house.
SCENE III. Rome. A room in Marcius' house.
SCENE IV. Before Corioli.
SCENE V. Corioli. A street.
SCENE VI. Near the camp of Cominius.
SCENE VII. The gates of Corioli.
SCENE VIII. A field of battle.
SCENE IX. The Roman camp.
SCENE X. The camp of the Volsces.
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE VI. Near the camp of Cominius.
Enter COMINIUS, as it were in retire, with soldiers
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,
5     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!
      Lead their successes as we wish our own,
      That both our powers, with smiling
10    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:
15    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
20    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
25    Held me in chase, that I was forced 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
30    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 tabour
      More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue
35    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
40    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 it with Titus Lartius?
MARCIUS
45    As with a man busied about decrees:
      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,
50    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;
55    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
60    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
65    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 i' the vaward are the Antiates,
70    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
75    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 advanced and darts,
      We prove this very hour.
COMINIUS
80    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
85    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;
90    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

95    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,
100   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,
105   Which men are best inclined.
COMINIUS
      March on, my fellows:
      Make good this ostentation, and you shall
      Divide in all with us.
Exeunt
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