1    Go tell the lords o' the city I am here:
2    Deliver them this paper: having read it,
3    Bid them repair to the market place; where I,
4    Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
5    Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse
6    The city ports by this hath enter'd and
7    Intends to appear before the people, hoping
8    To purge herself with words: dispatch.
Exeunt Attendants
Enter three or four Conspirators of AUFIDIUS' faction
9    Most welcome!

10   How is it with our general?

11   Even so
12   As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,
13   And with his charity slain.

14   Most noble sir,
15   If you do hold the same intent wherein
16   You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
17   Of your great danger.

18   Sir, I cannot tell:
19   We must proceed as we do find the people.

20   The people will remain uncertain whilst
21   'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either
22   Makes the survivor heir of all.

23   I know it;
24   And my pretext to strike at him admits
25   A good construction. I raised him, and I pawn'd
26   Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
27   He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
28   Seducing so my friends; and, to this end,
29   He bow'd his nature, never known before
30   But to be rough, unswayable and free.

31   Sir, his stoutness
32   When he did stand for consul, which he lost
33   By lack of stooping,--

34   That I would have spoke of:
35   Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth;
36   Presented to my knife his throat: I took him;
37   Made him joint-servant with me; gave him way
38   In all his own desires; nay, let him choose
39   Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
40   My best and freshest men; served his designments
41   In mine own person; holp to reap the fame
42   Which he did end all his; and took some pride
43   To do myself this wrong: till, at the last,
44   I seem'd his follower, not partner, and
45   He waged me with his countenance, as if
46   I had been mercenary.

47   So he did, my lord:
48   The army marvell'd at it, and, in the last,
49   When he had carried Rome and that we look'd
50   For no less spoil than glory,--

51   There was it:
52   For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.
53   At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
54   As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour
55   Of our great action: therefore shall he die,
56   And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

57   Your native town you enter'd like a post,
58   And had no welcomes home: but he returns,
59   Splitting the air with noise.

60   And patient fools,
61   Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
62   With giving him glory.

63   Therefore, at your vantage,
64   Ere he express himself, or move the people
65   With what he would say, let him feel your sword,
66   Which we will second. When he lies along,
67   After your way his tale pronounced shall bury
68   His reasons with his body.

69   Say no more:
70   Here come the lords.

71   You are most welcome home.

72   I have not deserved it.
73   But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
74   What I have written to you?

75   We have.

76   And grieve to hear't.
77   What faults he made before the last, I think
78   Might have found easy fines: but there to end
79   Where he was to begin and give away
80   The benefit of our levies, answering us
81   With our own charge, making a treaty where
82   There was a yielding,--this admits no excuse.

83   He approaches: you shall hear him.

84   Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier,
85   No more infected with my country's love
86   Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting
87   Under your great command. You are to know
88   That prosperously I have attempted and
89   With bloody passage led your wars even to
90   The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home
91   Do more than counterpoise a full third part
92   The charges of the action. We have made peace
93   With no less honour to the Antiates
94   Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver,
95   Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,
96   Together with the seal o' the senate, what
97   We have compounded on.

98   Read it not, noble lords;
99   But tell the traitor, in the high'st degree
100  He hath abused your powers.

101  Traitor! how now!

102  Ay, traitor, Marcius!

103  Marcius!

104  Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius: dost thou think
105  I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name
106  Coriolanus in Corioli?
107  You lords and heads o' the state, perfidiously
108  He has betray'd your business, and given up,
109  For certain drops of salt, your city Rome,
110  I say 'your city,' to his wife and mother;
111  Breaking his oath and resolution like
112  A twist of rotten silk, never admitting
113  Counsel o' the war, but at his nurse's tears
114  He whined and roar'd away your victory,
115  That pages blush'd at him and men of heart
116  Look'd wondering each at other.

117  Hear'st thou, Mars?

118  Name not the god, thou boy of tears!

119  Ha!

120  No more.

121  Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart
122  Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!
123  Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever
124  I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords,
125  Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion--
126  Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him; that
127  Must bear my beating to his grave--shall join
128  To thrust the lie unto him.

129  Peace, both, and hear me speak.

130  Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,
131  Stain all your edges on me. Boy! false hound!
132  If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,
133  That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
134  Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli:
135  Alone I did it. Boy!

136  Why, noble lords,
137  Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,
138  Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,
139  'Fore your own eyes and ears?

140  Let him die for't.

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

144  Peace, ho! no outrage: peace!
145  The man is noble and his fame folds-in
146  This orb o' the earth. His last offences to us
147  Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius,
148  And trouble not the peace.

149  O that I had him,
150  With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
151  To use my lawful sword!

152  Insolent villain!

153  Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

154  Hold, hold, hold, hold!

155  My noble masters, hear me speak.

156  O Tullus,--

157  Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.

158  Tread not upon him. Masters all, be quiet;
159  Put up your swords.

160  My lords, when you shall know--as in this rage,
161  Provoked by him, you cannot--the great danger
162  Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice
163  That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours
164  To call me to your senate, I'll deliver
165  Myself your loyal servant, or endure
166  Your heaviest censure.

167  Bear from hence his body;
168  And mourn you for him: let him be regarded
169  As the most noble corse that ever herald
170  Did follow to his urn.

171  His own impatience
172  Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
173  Let's make the best of it.

174  My rage is gone;
175  And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up.
176  Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.
177  Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
178  Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
179  Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
180  Which to this hour bewail the injury,
181  Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist.