Coriolanus

SCENE IV. Rome. A public place

Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS

  MENENIUS. See you yond coign o' th' Capitol, yond cornerstone?  SICINIUS. Why, what of that?  MENENIUS. If it be possible for you to displace it with yourlittle    finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his    mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hopein't;    our throats are sentenc'd, and stay upon execution.  SICINIUS. Is't possible that so short a time can alter the    condition of a man?  MENENIUS. There is differency between a grub and a butterfly;yet    your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to    dragon; he has wings, he's more than a creeping thing.  SICINIUS. He lov'd his mother dearly.  MENENIUS. So did he me; and he no more remembers his mother now    than an eight-year-old horse. The tartness of his face soursripe    grapes; when he walks, he moves like an engine and the ground    shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corsletwith    his eye, talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. Hesits in    his state as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be doneis    finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but    eternity, and a heaven to throne in.  SICINIUS. Yes- mercy, if you report him truly.  MENENIUS. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy hismother    shall bring from him. There is no more mercy in him thanthere is    milk in a male tiger; that shall our poor city find. And allthis    is 'long of you.  SICINIUS. The gods be good unto us!  MENENIUS. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us.    When we banish'd him we respected not them; and, he returningto    break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a MESSENGER

  MESSENGER. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house.    The plebeians have got your fellow tribune    And hale him up and down; all swearing if    The Roman ladies bring not comfort home    They'll give him death by inches.

Enter another MESSENGER

  SICINIUS. What's the news?  SECOND MESSENGER. Good news, good news! The ladies haveprevail'd,    The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone.    A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,    No, not th' expulsion of the Tarquins.  SICINIUS. Friend,    Art thou certain this is true? Is't most certain?  SECOND MESSENGER. As certain as I know the sun is fire.    Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?    Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide    As the recomforted through th' gates. Why, hark you!                  [Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all together]    The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,    Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,    Make the sun dance. Hark you! [A shout within]  MENENIUS. This is good news.    I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia    Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,    A city full; of tribunes such as you,    A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:    This morning for ten thousand of your throats    I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!                                   [Sound still with the shouts]  SICINIUS. First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,    Accept my thankfulness.  SECOND MESSENGER. Sir, we have all    Great cause to give great thanks.  SICINIUS. They are near the city?  MESSENGER. Almost at point to enter.  SICINIUS. We'll meet them,    And help the joy. Exeunt

SCENE V. Rome. A street near the gate

Enter two SENATORS With VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, VALERIA, passing over the stage, 'With other LORDS

  FIRST SENATOR. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome!    Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,    And make triumphant fires; strew flowers before them.    Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius,    Repeal him with the welcome of his mother;  ALL. Welcome, ladies, welcome!                    [A flourish with drums and trumpets. Exeunt]

SCENE VI. Corioli. A public place

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with attendents

  AUFIDIUS. Go tell the lords o' th' city I am here;    Deliver them this paper; having read it,    Bid them repair to th' market-place, where I,    Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,    Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse    The city ports by this hath enter'd and    Intends t' appear before the people, hoping    To purge himself with words. Dispatch.                                               Exeunt attendants

Enter three or four CONSPIRATORS of AUFIDIUS' faction

    Most welcome!  FIRST CONSPIRATOR. How is it with our general?  AUFIDIUS. Even so    As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,    And with his charity slain.  SECOND CONSPIRATOR. Most noble sir,    If you do hold the same intent wherein    You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you    Of your great danger.  AUFIDIUS. Sir, I cannot tell;    We must proceed as we do find the people.  THIRD CONSPIRATOR. The people will remain uncertain whilst    'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either    Makes the survivor heir of all.  AUFIDIUS. I know it;    And my pretext to strike at him admits    A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd    Mine honour for his truth; who being so heighten'd,    He watered his new plants with dews of flattery,    Seducing so my friends; and to this end    He bow'd his nature, never known before    But to be rough, unswayable, and free.  THIRD CONSPIRATOR. Sir, his stoutness    When he did stand for consul, which he lost    By lack of stooping-  AUFIDIUS. That I would have spoken of.    Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth,    Presented to my knife his throat. I took him;    Made him joint-servant with me; gave him way    In all his own desires; nay, let him choose    Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,    My best and freshest men; serv'd his designments    In mine own person; holp to reap the fame    Which he did end all his, and took some pride    To do myself this wrong. Till, at the last,    I seem'd his follower, not partner; and    He wag'd me with his countenance as if    I had been mercenary.  FIRST CONSPIRATOR. So he did, my lord.    The army marvell'd at it; and, in the last,    When he had carried Rome and that we look'd    For no less spoil than glory-  AUFIDIUS. There was it;    For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.    At a few drops of women's rheum, which are    As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour    Of our great action; therefore shall he die,    And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!                                                      [Drums and                trumpets sound, with great shouts of the people]  FIRST CONSPIRATOR. Your native town you enter'd like a post,    And had no welcomes home; but he returns    Splitting the air with noise.  SECOND CONSPIRATOR. And patient fools,    Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear    With giving him glory.  THIRD CONSPIRATOR. Therefore, at your vantage,    Ere he express himself or move the people    With what he would say, let him feel your sword,    Which we will second. When he lies along,    After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury    His reasons with his body.  AUFIDIUS. Say no more:    Here come the lords.

Enter the LORDS of the city

  LORDS. You are most welcome home.  AUFIDIUS. I have not deserv'd it.    But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused    What I have written to you?  LORDS. We have.  FIRST LORD. And grieve to hear't.    What faults he made before the last, I think    Might have found easy fines; but there to end    Where he was to begin, and give away    The benefit of our levies, answering us    With our own charge, making a treaty where    There was a yielding- this admits no excuse.  AUFIDIUS. He approaches; you shall hear him.Enter CORIOLANUS, marching with drum and colours; the commoners being with him  CORIOLANUS. Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier;    No more infected with my country's love    Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting    Under your great command. You are to know    That prosperously I have attempted, and    With bloody passage led your wars even to    The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home    Doth more than counterpoise a full third part    The charges of the action. We have made peace    With no less honour to the Antiates    Than shame to th' Romans; and we here deliver,    Subscrib'd by th' consuls and patricians,    Together with the seal o' th' Senate, what    We have compounded on.  AUFIDIUS. Read it not, noble lords;    But tell the traitor in the highest degree    He hath abus'd your powers.  CORIOLANUS. Traitor! How now?  AUFIDIUS. Ay, traitor, Marcius.  CORIOLANUS. Marcius!  AUFIDIUS. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius! Dost thou think    I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name    Coriolanus, in Corioli?    You lords and heads o' th' state, perfidiously    He has betray'd your business and given up,    For certain drops of salt, your city Rome-    I say your city- to his wife and mother;    Breaking his oath and resolution like    A twist of rotten silk; never admitting    Counsel o' th' war; but at his nurse's tears    He whin'd and roar'd away your victory,    That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart    Look'd wond'ring each at others.  CORIOLANUS. Hear'st thou, Mars?  AUFIDIUS. Name not the god, thou boy of tears-  CORIOLANUS. Ha!  AUFIDIUS. – no more.  CORIOLANUS. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart    Too great for what contains it. 'Boy'! O slave!    Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever    I was forc'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords,    Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion-    Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him, that    Must bear my beating to his grave- shall join    To thrust the lie unto him.  FIRST LORD. Peace, both, and hear me speak.  CORIOLANUS. Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,    Stain all your edges on me. 'Boy'! False hound!    If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there    That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I    Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli.    Alone I did it. 'Boy'!  AUFIDIUS. Why, noble lords,    Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,    Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,    Fore your own eyes and ears?  CONSPIRATORS. Let him die for't.  ALL THE PEOPLE. Tear him to pieces. Do it presently. He kill'dmy    son. My daughter. He kill'd my cousin Marcus. He kill'd my    father.  SECOND LORD. Peace, ho! No outrage- peace!    The man is noble, and his fame folds in    This orb o' th' earth. His last offences to us    Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius,    And trouble not the peace.  CORIOLANUS. O that I had him,    With six Aufidiuses, or more- his tribe,    To use my lawful sword!  AUFIDIUS. Insolent villain!  CONSPIRATORS. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!           [The CONSPIRATORS draw and kill CORIOLANUS,who falls.                                         AUFIDIUS stands on him]  LORDS. Hold, hold, hold, hold!  AUFIDIUS. My noble masters, hear me speak.  FIRST LORD. O Tullus!  SECOND LORD. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.  THIRD LORD. Tread not upon him. Masters all, be quiet;    Put up your swords.  AUFIDIUS. My lords, when you shall know- as in this rage,    Provok'd by him, you cannot- the great danger    Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice    That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours    To call me to your Senate, I'll deliver    Myself your loyal servant, or endure    Your heaviest censure.  FIRST LORD. Bear from hence his body,    And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded    As the most noble corse that ever herald    Did follow to his um.  SECOND LORD. His own impatience    Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.    Let's make the best of it.  AUFIDIUS. My rage is gone,    And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up.    Help, three o' th' chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.    Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully;    Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he    Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,    Which to this hour bewail the injury,    Yet he shall have a noble memory.    Assist. Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS

[A dead march sounded]

THE END