Scene Six
[Near the Camp of Cominius]
Enter Cominius as it were in retire, with soldiers.
Com. 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, 4
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, 8
May give you thankful sacrifice.
Enter a Messenger.
Thy news?
Mess. The citizens of Corioli have issu'd,
And given to Lartius and to Martius battle:
I saw our party to their trenches driven, 12
And then I came away.
Com. Though thou speak'st truth,
Methinks thou speak'st not well. How long is 't since?
Mess. Above an hour, my lord. 15
Com. 'Tis not a mile; briefly we heard their drums:
How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour,
And bring thy news so late?
Mess. Spies of the Volsces
Held me in chase, that I was forc'd to wheel
Three or four miles about; else had I, sir, 20
5 By . . . gusts: from time to time, as winds conveyed the sound
6 The Roman gods; cf. n.
16 briefly: a short time ago
17 confound: use up
19 that: so that
