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,
	We shall be charged 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 encount'ring,
	May give you thankful sacrifice.

                            Enter a MESSENGER.

										Thy news?

Messenger	The citizens of Corioles have issued,
	And given to Lartius and to Martius 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 forced to wheel
	Three or four miles about; else had I, sir,
	Half an hour since brought my report.

                              Enter MARTIUS.

Cominius										Who's yonder,
	That does appear as he were flayed? O gods,
	He has the stamp of Martius, and I have
	Before-time seen him thus.

Martius									Come I too late?

Cominius	The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor
	More than I know the sound of Martius' tongue
	From every meaner man.

Martius							Come I too late?

Cominius	Ay, if you come not in the blood of others,
	But mantled in your own.

Martius							O, let me clip ye
	In arms as sound as when I wooed; in heart
	As merry as when our nuptial day was done,
	And tapers burned to bedward.

Cominius									Flower of warriors,
	How is't with Titus Lartius?

Martius	As with a man busied about decrees,
	Condemning some to death, and some to exile,
	Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning th' other;
	Holding Corioles 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.

Martius									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 prevailed you?

Martius	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	Martius, we have at disadvantage fought,
	And did retire to win our purpose.

Martius	How lies their battle? Know you on which side
	They have placed their men of trust?

Cominius										As I guess, Martius,
	Their bands i'th' vaward are the Antiates
	Of their best trust: o'er them Aufidius,
	Their very heart of hope.

Martius								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 advanced 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.

Martius										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 smeared; 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 Martius.
					[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 obeyed. Please you to march;
	And I shall quickly draw out my command,
	Which men are best inclined.

Cominius									March on, my fellows.
	Make good this ostentation, and you shall
	Divide in all with us.
												[Exeunt.
