Half an hour since brought my report.
Com. Who's yonder,
That does appear as he were flay'd? O gods!
He has the stamp of Martius; and I have
Before-time seen him thus.
Mar. Come I too late? 24
Com. The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor,
More than I know the sound of Martius' tongue
From every meaner man.
Mar. Come I too late?
Com. Ay, if you come not in the blood of others, 28
But mantled in your own.
Mar. 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 burnt to bedward.
Com. Flower of warriors. 32
How is 't with Titus Lartius?
Mar. As with a man busied about decrees:
Condemning some to death, and some to exile;
Ransoming him, or pitying, threat'ning th' other; 36
Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,
Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
To let him slip at will.
Com. Where is that slave
Which told me they had beat you to your trenches? 40
Where is he? Call him hither.
Mar. Let him alone;
He did inform the truth: but for our gentlemen,
The common file—a plague! tribunes for them!—
22 as: as if
25 tabor: small drum
27 From: from that of
29 clip: embrace
36 pitying: exempting from ransom
