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.

      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.

      The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor

      More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue

      From every meaner man.

      Come I too late?

      Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,

      But mantled in your own.

      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.

      Flower of warriors,

      How is't with Titus Lartius?

      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.

      Where is that slave

      Which told me they had beat you to your trenches?

      Where's he? call him hither.

      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.

      But how prevail'd you?

      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?

      Marcius,

      We have at disadvantage fought, and did

      Retire, to win our purpose.

      How lies their battle? know you on which side

      They have placed their men of trust?

      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.

      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.

      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.

      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.

      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.

      March on, my fellows;

      Make good this ostentation, and you shall

      Divide in all with us.

      So, let the ports be guarded: keep your duties

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

      Those centuries to our aid; the rest will serve

      For a short holding: if we lose the field

      We cannot keep the town.

      Fear not our care, sir.

      Hence, and shut your gates upon's. —

      Our guider, come; to the Roman camp conduct us.

      I'll fight with none but