Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/35

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, I. vi 

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,

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,

May give you thankful sacrifice.

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,

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.

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,

 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

