Mr. William Shakespeare-Tragedy-Coriolanus

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE V. The same. A hall in Aufidius's house.[/h]

Music within. Enter a Servingman​

First Servingman

Wine, wine, wine! What service
is here! I think our fellows are asleep.
Exit
Enter a second Servingman
​

Second Servingman

Where's Cotus? my master calls
for him. Cotus!
Exit
Enter CORIOLANUS
​

CORIOLANUS

A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I
Appear not like a guest.
Re-enter the first Servingman
​

First Servingman

What would you have, friend? whence are you?
Here's no place for you: pray, go to the door.
Exit
​

CORIOLANUS

I have deserved no better entertainment,
In being Coriolanus.
Re-enter second Servingman
​

Second Servingman

Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his
head; that he gives entrance to such companions?
Pray, get you out.
​

CORIOLANUS

Away!
​

Second Servingman

Away! get you away.
​

CORIOLANUS

Now thou'rt troublesome.
​

Second Servingman

Are you so brave? I'll have you talked with anon.
Enter a third Servingman. The first meets him
​

Third Servingman

What fellow's this?
​

First Servingman

A strange one as ever I looked on: I cannot get him
out of the house: prithee, call my master to him.
Retires
​

Third Servingman

What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid
the house.
​

CORIOLANUS

Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth.
​

Third Servingman

What are you?
​

CORIOLANUS

A gentleman.
​

Third Servingman

A marvellous poor one.
​

CORIOLANUS

True, so I am.
​

Third Servingman

Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other
station; here's no place for you; pray you, avoid: come.
​

CORIOLANUS

Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits.
Pushes him away
​

Third Servingman

What, you will not? Prithee, tell my master what a
strange guest he has here.
​

Second Servingman

And I shall.
Exit
​

Third Servingman

Where dwellest thou?
​

CORIOLANUS

Under the canopy.
​

Third Servingman

Under the canopy!
​

CORIOLANUS

Ay.
​

Third Servingman

Where's that?
​

CORIOLANUS

I' the city of kites and crows.
​

Third Servingman

I' the city of kites and crows! What an ass it is!
Then thou dwellest with daws too?
​

CORIOLANUS

No, I serve not thy master.
​

Third Servingman

How, sir! do you meddle with my master?
​

CORIOLANUS

Ay; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy
mistress. Thou pratest, and pratest; serve with thy
trencher, hence!
Beats him away. Exit third Servingman
Enter AUFIDIUS with the second Servingman
​

AUFIDIUS

Where is this fellow?
​

Second Servingman

Here, sir: I'ld have beaten him like a dog, but for
disturbing the lords within.
Retires
​

AUFIDIUS

Whence comest thou? what wouldst thou? thy name?
Why speak'st not? speak, man: what's thy name?
​

CORIOLANUS

If, Tullus,
Unmuffling
Not yet thou knowest me, and, seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.
​

AUFIDIUS

What is thy name?
​

CORIOLANUS

A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears,
And harsh in sound to thine.
​

AUFIDIUS

Say, what's thy name?
Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in't; though thy tackle's torn.
Thou show'st a noble vessel: what's thy name?
​

CORIOLANUS

Prepare thy brow to frown: know'st
thou me yet?
​

AUFIDIUS

I know thee not: thy name?
​

CORIOLANUS

My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done
To thee particularly and to all the Volsces
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname, Coriolanus: the painful service,
The extreme dangers and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country are requited
But with that surname; a good memory,
And witness of the malice and displeasure
Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains;
The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest;
And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be
Whoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth; not out of hope--
Mistake me not--to save my life, for if
I had fear'd death, of all the men i' the world
I would have 'voided thee, but in mere spite,
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge
Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims
Of shame seen through thy country, speed
thee straight,
And make my misery serve thy turn: so use it
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits to thee, for I will fight
Against my canker'd country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But if so be
Thou darest not this and that to prove more fortunes
Thou'rt tired, then, in a word, I also am
Longer to live most weary, and present
My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice;
Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,
Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast,
And cannot live but to thy shame, unless
It be to do thee service.
​

AUFIDIUS

O Marcius, Marcius!
Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart
A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Should from yond cloud speak divine things,
And say 'Tis true,' I'ld not believe them more
Than thee, all noble Marcius. Let me twine
Mine arms about that body, where against
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke
And scarr'd the moon with splinters: here I clip
The anvil of my sword, and do contest
As hotly and as nobly with thy love
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I loved the maid I married; never man
Sigh'd truer breath; but that I see thee here,
Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee,
We have a power on foot; and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,
Or lose mine arm fort: thou hast beat me out
Twelve several times, and I have nightly since
Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me;
We have been down together in my sleep,
Unbuckling helms, fisting each other's throat,
And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Marcius,
Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that
Thou art thence banish'd, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy, and pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,
Like a bold flood o'er-bear. O, come, go in,
And take our friendly senators by the hands;
Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,
Who am prepared against your territories,
Though not for Rome itself.
​

CORIOLANUS

You bless me, gods!
​

AUFIDIUS

Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have
The leading of thine own revenges, take
The one half of my commission; and set down--
As best thou art experienced, since thou know'st
Thy country's strength and weakness,--thine own ways;
Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,
Or rudely visit them in parts remote,
To fright them, ere destroy. But come in:
Let me commend thee first to those that shall
Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!
And more a friend than e'er an enemy;
Yet, Marcius, that was much. Your hand: most welcome!
Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS. The two Servingmen come forward
​

First Servingman

Here's a strange alteration!
​

Second Servingman

By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with
a cudgel; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a
false report of him.
​

First Servingman

What an arm he has! he turned me about with his
finger and his thumb, as one would set up a top.
​

Second Servingman

Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in
him: he had, sir, a kind of face, methought,--I
cannot tell how to term it.
​

First Servingman

He had so; looking as it were--would I were hanged,
but I thought there was more in him than I could think.
​

Second Servingman

So did I, I'll be sworn: he is simply the rarest
man i' the world.
​

First Servingman

I think he is: but a greater soldier than he you wot on.
​

Second Servingman

Who, my master?
​

First Servingman

Nay, it's no matter for that.
​

Second Servingman

Worth six on him.
​

First Servingman

Nay, not so neither: but I take him to be the
greater soldier.
​

Second Servingman

Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that:
for the defence of a town, our general is excellent.
​

First Servingman

Ay, and for an assault too.
Re-enter third Servingman
​

Third Servingman

O slaves, I can tell you news,-- news, you rascals!
​

First Servingman Second Servingman

What, what, what? let's partake.
​

Third Servingman

I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as
lieve be a condemned man.
​

First Servingman Second Servingman

Wherefore? wherefore?
​

Third Servingman

Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general,
Caius Marcius.
​

First Servingman

Why do you say 'thwack our general '?
​

Third Servingman

I do not say 'thwack our general;' but he was always
good enough for him.
​

Second Servingman

Come, we are fellows and friends: he was ever too
hard for him; I have heard him say so himself.
​

First Servingman

He was too hard for him directly, to say the troth
on't: before Corioli he scotched him and notched
him like a carbon ado.
​

Second Servingman

An he had been cannibally given, he might have
broiled and eaten him too.
​

First Servingman

But, more of thy news?
​

Third Servingman

Why, he is so made on here within, as if he were son
and heir to Mars; set at upper end o' the table; no
question asked him by any of the senators, but they
stand bald before him: our general himself makes a
mistress of him: sanctifies himself with's hand and
turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But
the bottom of the news is that our general is cut i'
the middle and but one half of what he was
yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty
and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says,
and sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears: he
will mow all down before him, and leave his passage polled.
​

Second Servingman

And he's as like to do't as any man I can imagine.
​

Third Servingman

Do't! he will do't; for, look you, sir, he has as
many friends as enemies; which friends, sir, as it
were, durst not, look you, sir, show themselves, as
we term it, his friends whilst he's in directitude.
​

First Servingman

Directitude! what's that?
​

Third Servingman

But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again,
and the man in blood, they will out of their
burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with
him.
​

First Servingman

But when goes this forward?
​

Third Servingman

To-morrow; to-day; presently; you shall have the
drum struck up this afternoon: 'tis, as it were, a
parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they
wipe their lips.
​

Second Servingman

Why, then we shall have a stirring world again.
This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase
tailors, and breed ballad-makers.
​

First Servingman

Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace as far as
day does night; it's spritely, waking, audible, and
full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy;
mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more
bastard children than war's a destroyer of men.
​

Second Servingman

'Tis so: and as war, in some sort, may be said to
be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a
great maker of cuckolds.
​

First Servingman

Ay, and it makes men hate one another.
​

Third Servingman

Reason; because they then less need one another.
The wars for my money. I hope to see Romans as cheap
as Volscians. They are rising, they are rising.
​

All

In, in, in, in!
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE VI. Rome. A public place.[/h]

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS​

SICINIUS

We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;
His remedies are tame i' the present peace
And quietness of the people, which before
Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends
Blush that the world goes well, who rather had,
Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see
Our tradesmen with in their shops and going
About their functions friendly.
​

BRUTUS

We stood to't in good time.
Enter MENENIUS
Is this Menenius?
​

SICINIUS

'Tis he,'tis he: O, he is grown most kind of late.
​

Both Tribunes

Hail sir!
​

MENENIUS

Hail to you both!
​

SICINIUS

Your Coriolanus
Is not much miss'd, but with his friends:
The commonwealth doth stand, and so would do,
Were he more angry at it.
​

MENENIUS

All's well; and might have been much better, if
He could have temporized.
​

SICINIUS

Where is he, hear you?
​

MENENIUS

Nay, I hear nothing: his mother and his wife
Hear nothing from him.
Enter three or four Citizens
​

Citizens

The gods preserve you both!
​

SICINIUS

God-den, our neighbours.
​

BRUTUS

God-den to you all, god-den to you all.
​

First Citizen

Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees,
Are bound to pray for you both.
​

SICINIUS

Live, and thrive!
​

BRUTUS

Farewell, kind neighbours: we wish'd Coriolanus
Had loved you as we did.
​

Citizens

Now the gods keep you!
​

Both Tribunes

Farewell, farewell.
Exeunt Citizens
​

SICINIUS

This is a happier and more comely time
Than when these fellows ran about the streets,
Crying confusion.
​

BRUTUS

Caius Marcius was
A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent,
O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking,
Self-loving,--
​

SICINIUS

And affecting one sole throne,
Without assistance.
​

MENENIUS

I think not so.
​

SICINIUS

We should by this, to all our lamentation,
If he had gone forth consul, found it so.
​

BRUTUS

The gods have well prevented it, and Rome
Sits safe and still without him.
Enter an AEdile
​

AEdile

Worthy tribunes,
There is a slave, whom we have put in prison,
Reports, the Volsces with two several powers
Are enter'd in the Roman territories,
And with the deepest malice of the war
Destroy what lies before 'em.
​

MENENIUS

'Tis Aufidius,
Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment,
Thrusts forth his horns again into the world;
Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome,
And durst not once peep out.
​

SICINIUS

Come, what talk you
Of Marcius?
​

BRUTUS

Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be
The Volsces dare break with us.
​

MENENIUS

Cannot be!
We have record that very well it can,
And three examples of the like have been
Within my age. But reason with the fellow,
Before you punish him, where he heard this,
Lest you shall chance to whip your information
And beat the messenger who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.
​

SICINIUS

Tell not me:
I know this cannot be.
​

BRUTUS

Not possible.
Enter a Messenger
​

Messenger

The nobles in great earnestness are going
All to the senate-house: some news is come
That turns their countenances.
​

SICINIUS

'Tis this slave;--
Go whip him, 'fore the people's eyes:--his raising;
Nothing but his report.
​

Messenger

Yes, worthy sir,
The slave's report is seconded; and more,
More fearful, is deliver'd.
​

SICINIUS

What more fearful?
​

Messenger

It is spoke freely out of many mouths--
How probable I do not know--that Marcius,
Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,
And vows revenge as spacious as between
The young'st and oldest thing.
​

SICINIUS

This is most likely!
​

BRUTUS

Raised only, that the weaker sort may wish
Good Marcius home again.
​

SICINIUS

The very trick on't.
​

MENENIUS

This is unlikely:
He and Aufidius can no more atone
Than violentest contrariety.
Enter a second Messenger
​

Second Messenger

You are sent for to the senate:
A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius
Associated with Aufidius, rages
Upon our territories; and have already
O'erborne their way, consumed with fire, and took
What lay before them.
Enter COMINIUS
​

COMINIUS

O, you have made good work!
​

MENENIUS

What news? what news?
​

COMINIUS

You have holp to ravish your own daughters and
To melt the city leads upon your pates,
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses,--
​

MENENIUS

What's the news? what's the news?
​

COMINIUS

Your temples burned in their cement, and
Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined
Into an auger's bore.
​

MENENIUS

Pray now, your news?
You have made fair work, I fear me.--Pray, your news?--
If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians,--
​

COMINIUS

If!
He is their god: he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than nature,
That shapes man better; and they follow him,
Against us brats, with no less confidence
Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.
​

MENENIUS

You have made good work,
You and your apron-men; you that stood so up much
on the voice of occupation and
The breath of garlic-eaters!
​

COMINIUS

He will shake
Your Rome about your ears.
​

MENENIUS

As Hercules
Did shake down mellow fruit.
You have made fair work!
​

BRUTUS

But is this true, sir?
​

COMINIUS

Ay; and you'll look pale
Before you find it other. All the regions
Do smilingly revolt; and who resist
Are mock'd for valiant ignorance,
And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him?
Your enemies and his find something in him.
​

MENENIUS

We are all undone, unless
The noble man have mercy.
​

COMINIUS

Who shall ask it?
The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people
Deserve such pity of him as the wolf
Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they
Should say 'Be good to Rome,' they charged him even
As those should do that had deserved his hate,
And therein show'd like enemies.
​

MENENIUS

'Tis true:
If he were putting to my house the brand
That should consume it, I have not the face
To say 'Beseech you, cease.' You have made fair hands,
You and your crafts! you have crafted fair!
​

COMINIUS

You have brought
A trembling upon Rome, such as was never
So incapable of help.
​

Both Tribunes

Say not we brought it.
​

MENENIUS

How! Was it we? we loved him but, like beasts
And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,
Who did hoot him out o' the city.
​

COMINIUS

But I fear
They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,
The second name of men, obeys his points
As if he were his officer: desperation
Is all the policy, strength and defence,
That Rome can make against them.
Enter a troop of Citizens
​

MENENIUS

Here come the clusters.
And is Aufidius with him? You are they
That made the air unwholesome, when you cast
Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at
Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;
And not a hair upon a soldier's head
Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs
As you threw caps up will he tumble down,
And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter;
if he could burn us all into one coal,
We have deserved it.
​

Citizens

Faith, we hear fearful news.
​

First Citizen

For mine own part,
When I said, banish him, I said 'twas pity.
​

Second Citizen

And so did I.
​

Third Citizen

And so did I; and, to say the truth, so did very
many of us: that we did, we did for the best; and
though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet
it was against our will.
​

COMINIUS

Ye re goodly things, you voices!
​

MENENIUS

You have made
Good work, you and your cry! Shall's to the Capitol?
​

COMINIUS

O, ay, what else?
Exeunt COMINIUS and MENENIUS
​

SICINIUS

Go, masters, get you home; be not dismay'd:
These are a side that would be glad to have
This true which they so seem to fear. Go home,
And show no sign of fear.
​

First Citizen

The gods be good to us! Come, masters, let's home.
I ever said we were i' the wrong when we banished
him.
​

Second Citizen

So did we all. But, come, let's home.
Exeunt Citizens
​

BRUTUS

I do not like this news.
​

SICINIUS

Nor I.
​

BRUTUS

Let's to the Capitol. Would half my wealth
Would buy this for a lie!
​

SICINIUS

Pray, let us go.
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE VII. A camp, at a small distance from Rome.[/h]

Enter AUFIDIUS and his Lieutenant​

AUFIDIUS

Do they still fly to the Roman?
​

Lieutenant

I do not know what witchcraft's in him, but
Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat,
Their talk at table, and their thanks at end;
And you are darken'd in this action, sir,
Even by your own.
​

AUFIDIUS

I cannot help it now,
Unless, by using means, I lame the foot
Of our design. He bears himself more proudlier,
Even to my person, than I thought he would
When first I did embrace him: yet his nature
In that's no changeling; and I must excuse
What cannot be amended.
​

Lieutenant

Yet I wish, sir,--
I mean for your particular,--you had not
Join'd in commission with him; but either
Had borne the action of yourself, or else
To him had left it solely.
​

AUFIDIUS

I understand thee well; and be thou sure,
when he shall come to his account, he knows not
What I can urge against him. Although it seems,
And so he thinks, and is no less apparent
To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly.
And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state,
Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon
As draw his sword; yet he hath left undone
That which shall break his neck or hazard mine,
Whene'er we come to our account.
​

Lieutenant

Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome?
​

AUFIDIUS

All places yield to him ere he sits down;
And the nobility of Rome are his:
The senators and patricians love him too:
The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people
Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty
To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature. First he was
A noble servant to them; but he could not
Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,
Which out of daily fortune ever taints
The happy man; whether defect of judgment,
To fail in the disposing of those chances
Which he was lord of; or whether nature,
Not to be other than one thing, not moving
From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace
Even with the same austerity and garb
As he controll'd the war; but one of these--
As he hath spices of them all, not all,
For I dare so far free him--made him fear'd,
So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit,
To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues
Lie in the interpretation of the time:
And power, unto itself most commendable,
Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair
To extol what it hath done.
One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;
Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.
Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,
Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE I. Rome. A public place.[/h]

Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and others​

MENENIUS

No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath said
Which was sometime his general; who loved him
In a most dear particular. He call'd me father:
But what o' that? Go, you that banish'd him;
A mile before his tent fall down, and knee
The way into his mercy: nay, if he coy'd
To hear Cominius speak, I'll keep at home.
​

COMINIUS

He would not seem to know me.
​

MENENIUS

Do you hear?
​

COMINIUS

Yet one time he did call me by my name:
I urged our old acquaintance, and the drops
That we have bled together. Coriolanus
He would not answer to: forbad all names;
He was a kind of nothing, titleless,
Till he had forged himself a name o' the fire
Of burning Rome.
​

MENENIUS

Why, so: you have made good work!
A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome,
To make coals cheap,--a noble memory!
​

COMINIUS

I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon
When it was less expected: he replied,
It was a bare petition of a state
To one whom they had punish'd.
​

MENENIUS

Very well:
Could he say less?
​

COMINIUS

I offer'd to awaken his regard
For's private friends: his answer to me was,
He could not stay to pick them in a pile
Of noisome musty chaff: he said 'twas folly,
For one poor grain or two, to leave unburnt,
And still to nose the offence.
​

MENENIUS

For one poor grain or two!
I am one of those; his mother, wife, his child,
And this brave fellow too, we are the grains:
You are the musty chaff; and you are smelt
Above the moon: we must be burnt for you.
​

SICINIUS

Nay, pray, be patient: if you refuse your aid
In this so never-needed help, yet do not
Upbraid's with our distress. But, sure, if you
Would be your country's pleader, your good tongue,
More than the instant army we can make,
Might stop our countryman.
​

MENENIUS

No, I'll not meddle.
​

SICINIUS

Pray you, go to him.
​

MENENIUS

What should I do?
​

BRUTUS

Only make trial what your love can do
For Rome, towards Marcius.
​

MENENIUS

Well, and say that Marcius
Return me, as Cominius is return'd,
Unheard; what then?
But as a discontented friend, grief-shot
With his unkindness? say't be so?
​

SICINIUS

Yet your good will
must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure
As you intended well.
​

MENENIUS

I'll undertake 't:
I think he'll hear me. Yet, to bite his lip
And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.
He was not taken well; he had not dined:
The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then
We pout upon the morning, are unapt
To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd
These and these conveyances of our blood
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him
Till he be dieted to my request,
And then I'll set upon him.
​

BRUTUS

You know the very road into his kindness,
And cannot lose your way.
​

MENENIUS

Good faith, I'll prove him,
Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge
Of my success.
Exit
​

COMINIUS

He'll never hear him.
​

SICINIUS

Not?
​

COMINIUS

I tell you, he does sit in gold, his eye
Red as 'twould burn Rome; and his injury
The gaoler to his pity. I kneel'd before him;
'Twas very faintly he said 'Rise;' dismiss'd me
Thus, with his speechless hand: what he would do,
He sent in writing after me; what he would not,
Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions:
So that all hope is vain.
Unless his noble mother, and his wife;
Who, as I hear, mean to solicit him
For mercy to his country. Therefore, let's hence,
And with our fair entreaties haste them on.
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE II. Entrance of the Volscian camp before Rome.[/h]

Two Sentinels on guard.
Enter to them, MENENIUS
​

First Senator

Stay: whence are you?
​

Second Senator

Stand, and go back.
​

MENENIUS

You guard like men; 'tis well: but, by your leave,
I am an officer of state, and come
To speak with Coriolanus.
​

First Senator

From whence?
​

MENENIUS

From Rome.
​

First Senator

You may not pass, you must return: our general
Will no more hear from thence.
​

Second Senator

You'll see your Rome embraced with fire before
You'll speak with Coriolanus.
​

MENENIUS

Good my friends,
If you have heard your general talk of Rome,
And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks,
My name hath touch'd your ears it is Menenius.
​

First Senator

Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name
Is not here passable.
​

MENENIUS

I tell thee, fellow,
The general is my lover: I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His name unparallel'd, haply amplified;
For I have ever verified my friends,
Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground,
I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise
Have almost stamp'd the leasing: therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.
​

First Senator

Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his
behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you
should not pass here; no, though it were as virtuous
to lie as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.
​

MENENIUS

Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius,
always factionary on the party of your general.
​

Second Senator

Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say you
have, I am one that, telling true under him, must
say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.
​

MENENIUS

Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I would not
speak with him till after dinner.
​

First Senator

You are a Roman, are you?
​

MENENIUS

I am, as thy general is.
​

First Senator

Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you,
when you have pushed out your gates the very
defender of them, and, in a violent popular
ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to
front his revenges with the easy groans of old
women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with
the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as
you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the
intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with
such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived;
therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your
execution: you are condemned, our general has sworn
you out of reprieve and pardon.
​

MENENIUS

Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would
use me with estimation.
​

Second Senator

Come, my captain knows you not.
​

MENENIUS

I mean, thy general.
​

First Senator

My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go; lest
I let forth your half-pint of blood; back,--that's
the utmost of your having: back.
​

MENENIUS

Nay, but, fellow, fellow,--
Enter CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS
​

CORIOLANUS

What's the matter?
​

MENENIUS

Now, you companion, I'll say an errand for you:
You shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall
perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from
my son Coriolanus: guess, but by my entertainment
with him, if thou standest not i' the state of
hanging, or of some death more long in
spectatorship, and crueller in suffering; behold now
presently, and swoon for what's to come upon thee.
To CORIOLANUS
The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy
particular prosperity, and love thee no worse than
thy old father Menenius does! O my son, my son!
thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here's
water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to
thee; but being assured none but myself could move
thee, I have been blown out of your gates with
sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy
petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy
wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet
here,--this, who, like a block, hath denied my
access to thee.
​

CORIOLANUS

Away!
​

MENENIUS

How! away!
​

CORIOLANUS

Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs
Are servanted to others: though I owe
My revenge properly, my remission lies
In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,
Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather
Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone.
Mine ears against your suits are stronger than
Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,
Take this along; I writ it for thy sake
Gives a letter
And would have rent it. Another word, Menenius,
I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius,
Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st!
​

AUFIDIUS

You keep a constant temper.
Exeunt CORIOLANUS and AUFIDIUS
​

First Senator

Now, sir, is your name Menenius?
​

Second Senator

'Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the
way home again.
​

First Senator

Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your
greatness back?
​

Second Senator

What cause, do you think, I have to swoon?
​

MENENIUS

I neither care for the world nor your general: for
such things as you, I can scarce think there's any,
ye're so slight. He that hath a will to die by
himself fears it not from another: let your general
do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and
your misery increase with your age! I say to you,
as I was said to, Away!
Exit
​

First Senator

A noble fellow, I warrant him.
​

Second Senator

The worthy fellow is our general: he's the rock, the
oak not to be wind-shaken.
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE III. The tent of Coriolanus.[/h]

Enter CORIOLANUS, AUFIDIUS, and others​

CORIOLANUS

We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow
Set down our host. My partner in this action,
You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly
I have borne this business.
​

AUFIDIUS

Only their ends
You have respected; stopp'd your ears against
The general suit of Rome; never admitted
A private whisper, no, not with such friends
That thought them sure of you.
​

CORIOLANUS

This last old man,
Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,
Loved me above the measure of a father;
Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to send him; for whose old love I have,
Though I show'd sourly to him, once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse
And cannot now accept; to grace him only
That thought he could do more, a very little
I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits,
Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to. Ha! what shout is this?
Shout within
Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.
Enter in mourning habits, VIRGILIA, VOLUMNIA, leading young MARCIUS, VALERIA, and Attendants
My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mould
Wherein this trunk was framed, and in her hand
The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection!
All bond and privilege of nature, break!
Let it be virtuous to be obstinate.
What is that curt'sy worth? or those doves' eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn? I melt, and am not
Of stronger earth than others. My mother bows;
As if Olympus to a molehill should
In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great nature cries 'Deny not.' let the Volsces
Plough Rome and harrow Italy: I'll never
Be such a gosling to obey instinct, but stand,
As if a man were author of himself
And knew no other kin.
​

VIRGILIA

My lord and husband!
​

CORIOLANUS

These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome.
​

VIRGILIA

The sorrow that delivers us thus changed
Makes you think so.
​

CORIOLANUS

Like a dull actor now,
I have forgot my part, and I am out,
Even to a full disgrace. Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say
For that 'Forgive our Romans.' O, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now, by the jealous queen of heaven, that kiss
I carried from thee, dear; and my true lip
Hath virgin'd it e'er since. You gods! I prate,
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: sink, my knee, i' the earth;
Kneels
Of thy deep duty more impression show
Than that of common sons.
​

VOLUMNIA

O, stand up blest!
Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint,
I kneel before thee; and unproperly
Show duty, as mistaken all this while
Between the child and parent.
Kneels
​

CORIOLANUS

What is this?
Your knees to me? to your corrected son?
Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach
Fillip the stars; then let the mutinous winds
Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun;
Murdering impossibility, to make
What cannot be, slight work.
​

VOLUMNIA

Thou art my warrior;
I holp to frame thee. Do you know this lady?
​

CORIOLANUS

The noble sister of Publicola,
The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle
That's curdied by the frost from purest snow
And hangs on Dian's temple: dear Valeria!
​

VOLUMNIA

This is a poor epitome of yours,
Which by the interpretation of full time
May show like all yourself.
​

CORIOLANUS

The god of soldiers,
With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness; that thou mayst prove
To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw,
And saving those that eye thee!
​

VOLUMNIA

Your knee, sirrah.
​

CORIOLANUS

That's my brave boy!
​

VOLUMNIA

Even he, your wife, this lady, and myself,
Are suitors to you.
​

CORIOLANUS

I beseech you, peace:
Or, if you'ld ask, remember this before:
The thing I have forsworn to grant may never
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate
Again with Rome's mechanics: tell me not
Wherein I seem unnatural: desire not
To ally my rages and revenges with
Your colder reasons.
​

VOLUMNIA

O, no more, no more!
You have said you will not grant us any thing;
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
Which you deny already: yet we will ask;
That, if you fail in our request, the blame
May hang upon your hardness: therefore hear us.
​

CORIOLANUS

Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we'll
Hear nought from Rome in private. Your request?
​

VOLUMNIA

Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment
And state of bodies would bewray what life
We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself
How more unfortunate than all living women
Are we come hither: since that thy sight,
which should
Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance
with comforts,
Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow;
Making the mother, wife and child to see
The son, the husband and the father tearing
His country's bowels out. And to poor we
Thine enmity's most capital: thou barr'st us
Our prayers to the gods, which is a comfort
That all but we enjoy; for how can we,
Alas, how can we for our country pray.
Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory,
Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must lose
The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person,
Our comfort in the country. We must find
An evident calamity, though we had
Our wish, which side should win: for either thou
Must, as a foreign recreant, be led
With manacles thorough our streets, or else
triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin,
And bear the palm for having bravely shed
Thy wife and children's blood. For myself, son,
I purpose not to wait on fortune till
These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee
Rather to show a noble grace to both parts
Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner
March to assault thy country than to tread--
Trust to't, thou shalt not--on thy mother's womb,
That brought thee to this world.
​

VIRGILIA

Ay, and mine,
That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name
Living to time.
​

Young MARCIUS

A' shall not tread on me;
I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight.
​

CORIOLANUS

Not of a woman's tenderness to be,
Requires nor child nor woman's face to see.
I have sat too long.
Rising
​

VOLUMNIA

Nay, go not from us thus.
If it were so that our request did tend
To save the Romans, thereby to destroy
The Volsces whom you serve, you might condemn us,
As poisonous of your honour: no; our suit
Is that you reconcile them: while the Volsces
May say 'This mercy we have show'd;' the Romans,
'This we received;' and each in either side
Give the all-hail to thee and cry 'Be blest
For making up this peace!' Thou know'st, great son,
The end of war's uncertain, but this certain,
That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit
Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name,
Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses;
Whose chronicle thus writ: 'The man was noble,
But with his last attempt he wiped it out;
Destroy'd his country, and his name remains
To the ensuing age abhorr'd.' Speak to me, son:
Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour,
To imitate the graces of the gods;
To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air,
And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt
That should but rive an oak. Why dost not speak?
Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man
Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you:
He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou, boy:
Perhaps thy childishness will move him more
Than can our reasons. There's no man in the world
More bound to 's mother; yet here he lets me prate
Like one i' the stocks. Thou hast never in thy life
Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy,
When she, poor hen, fond of no second brood,
Has cluck'd thee to the wars and safely home,
Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust,
And spurn me back: but if it be not so,
Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee,
That thou restrain'st from me the duty which
To a mother's part belongs. He turns away:
Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.
To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride
Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;
This is the last: so we will home to Rome,
And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold 's:
This boy, that cannot tell what he would have
But kneels and holds up bands for fellowship,
Does reason our petition with more strength
Than thou hast to deny 't. Come, let us go:
This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;
His wife is in Corioli and his child
Like him by chance. Yet give us our dispatch:
I am hush'd until our city be a-fire,
And then I'll speak a little.
He holds her by the hand, silent
​

CORIOLANUS

O mother, mother!
What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,
The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O!
You have won a happy victory to Rome;
But, for your son,--believe it, O, believe it,
Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,
If not most mortal to him. But, let it come.
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,
Were you in my stead, would you have heard
A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?
​

AUFIDIUS

I was moved withal.
​

CORIOLANUS

I dare be sworn you were:
And, sir, it is no little thing to make
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,
What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you,
Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife!
​

AUFIDIUS

[Aside] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and
thy honour
At difference in thee: out of that I'll work
Myself a former fortune.
The Ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS
​

CORIOLANUS

Ay, by and by;
To VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, & c
But we will drink together; and you shall bear
A better witness back than words, which we,
On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd.
Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve
To have a temple built you: all the swords
In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this peace.
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE IV. Rome. A public place.[/h]

Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS​

MENENIUS

See you yond coign o' the Capitol, yond
corner-stone?
​

SICINIUS

Why, what of that?
​

MENENIUS

If it be possible for you to displace it with your
little finger, there is some hope the ladies of
Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him.
But I say there is no hope in't: our throats are
sentenced 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 loved 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 sours ripe grapes: when he walks, he
moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before
his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with
his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a
battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for
Alexander. What he bids be done is finished 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 his
mother shall bring from him: there is no more mercy
in him than there is milk in a male tiger; that
shall our poor city find: and all this 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 banished him, we respected not them;
and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.
Enter a Messenger
​

Messenger

Sir, if you'ld 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 a second Messenger
​

SICINIUS

What's the news?
​

Second Messenger

Good news, good news; the ladies have prevail'd,
The Volscians are dislodged, and Marcius gone:
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.
​

SICINIUS

Friend,
Art thou certain this is true? is it 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 the gates. Why, hark you!
Trumpets; hautboys; drums beat; all together
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
Tabours 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!
Music still, with 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?
​

Second Messenger

Almost at point to enter.
​

SICINIUS

We will meet them,
And help the joy.
Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE V. The same. A street near the gate.[/h]

Enter two Senators with VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, VALERIA, & c. passing over the stage, followed by Patricians and others​

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;
Cry 'Welcome, ladies, welcome!'
​

All

Welcome, ladies, Welcome!
A flourish with drums and trumpets. Exeunt
​

 

[*JujU*]

[h=3]SCENE VI. Antium. A public place.[/h]

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants​

AUFIDIUS

Go tell the lords o' the city I am here:
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to the 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 to appear before the people, hoping
To purge herself 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 raised him, and I pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
He water'd 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 spoke 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; served 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 waged 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 pronounced shall bury
His reasons with his body.
​

AUFIDIUS

Say no more:
Here come the lords.
Enter the Lords of the city
​

All The Lords

You are most welcome home.
​

AUFIDIUS

I have not deserved 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; 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
Do 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 the Romans: and we here deliver,
Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal o' the senate, what
We have compounded on.
​

AUFIDIUS

Read it not, noble lords;
But tell the traitor, in the high'st degree
He hath abused 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' the 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' the war, but at his nurse's tears
He whined and roar'd away your victory,
That pages blush'd at him and men of heart
Look'd wondering each at other.
​

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 forced 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?
​

All Conspirators

Let him die for't.
​

All The People

'Tear him to pieces.' 'Do it presently.' 'He kill'd
my son.' 'My daughter.' 'He killed my cousin
Marcus.' 'He killed my father.'
​

Second Lord

Peace, ho! no outrage: peace!
The man is noble and his fame folds-in
This orb o' the 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!
​

All Conspirators

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
The Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS: AUFIDIUS stands on his body
​

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,
Provoked 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 urn.
​

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' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
Hath widow'd 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
​