I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
[Sound Aill, with the fhouts.
Sic. First, the Gods blefs you for your tidings: next,
Accept my thankfulness.

Mef. Sir, we have all great cause to give great
thanks.

Sic. They're near the City ?

Mef. Almoft at point to enter.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.

[Exeunt.

Enter two Senators, with ladies, passing over the ftage; with other Lords.

Sen. Behold our Patronefs, the Life of Rome: Call all your Tribes together, praise the Gods, And make triumphant fires: ftrew flowers before them: Unfhout the noise, that banish'd Marcius; Repeal him with the welcome of his mother: Cry, welcome, Ladies, welcome!

All. Welcome, Ladies, welcome !

[Exeunt,

A flourish with drums and trumpets.

SCENE changes to a publick Place in
Antium.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.

Auf Deliver them this paper: "having read it,

O tell the Lords o'th' City, I am here:

Bid them repair to th' market-place, where I,
Even in theirs and in the Commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. He, I accufe,
The city-ports by this hath enter'd; and
Intends t'appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words. Difpatch.
welcome!

Moft

Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius's faction.

1 Con. How is it with our General ?
Auf. Even fo,

As with a man by his own alms impoison'd,
And with his charity flain.

2 Con. Moft noble Sir,

If you do hold the fame intent, wherein
You wifh'd us parties; we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

Auf Sir, I cannot tell;

We muft proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilft 'Twixt you there's difference; but the Fall of either Makes the Survivor heir of all.

Auf. I know it;

And my pretext to ftrike at him admits

A good construction. I raised him, and pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth; who being fo heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing fo my friends; and to this end,

He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unfwayable, and free.
3 Con. Sir, his ftoutness

When he did ftand for Conful, which he loft
By lack of ftooping

Auf. That I would have spoke of:

Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth,
Prefented to my knife his throat; I took him,
Made him joint fervant with me; gave him way
In all his own defires; nay, let him chuse
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and fresheft men; ferv'd his defignments
In mine own perfon; holpe to reape the Fame,
Which he did make all his; and took fome pride
To do felf this wrong; 'till, at the laft,

my

I feem'd

I feem'd his follower, not partner; and
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

I Con. So he did, my lord:

The army marvell'd at it, and, at last,

When he had carried Rome, and that we looked
For no less Spoil, than Glory

Auf. There was it;

(For which my finews shall be stretch'd upon him ;)
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he fold the Blood and Labour
Of our great Action; therefore fhall he die,
And I'll renew me in his Fall. But, hark!

[Drums and trumpets found, with great shouts
of the people.

I Con. Your native Town you enter'd like a Poft, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the Air with noise.

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whose children he hath flain, their bafe throats tear, Giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage,

Ere he express himself, or move the people

With what he would fay, let him feel your fword,
Which we will fecond. When he lies along,

After your way his Tale pronounc'd shall bury
His reasons with his body.

Auf. Say no more,

Here come the lords.

Enter the Lords of the City.

All Lords. You're most welcome home.

Auf. I have not deferv'd it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd

What I have written to you?

All. We have.

1 Lord. And grieve to hear it.

U 3

What

What faults he made before the laft, I think,
Might have found eafie fines: but there to end,
Where he was to begin, and give away
The benefit of our Levies, anfwering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding, This admits no excufe.
Auf. He approaches, you fhall hear him.

Enter Coriolanus, marching with drums and colours; the Commons being with him.

Cor. Hail, lords; I am return'd, your foldier; No more infected with my Country's love, Than when I parted hence, but ftill fubfifting Under your great Command. You are to know, That profperoufly I have attempted, and With bloody paffage led your wars, even to The gates of Rome : Our fpoils, we have brought

home,

Do more than counterpoife, a full third part,

The charges of the action.

We've made peace

With no lefs honour to the Antiates,

Than fhame to th' Romans: and we here deliver,
Subfcribed by the Confuls and Patricians,

Together with the feal o'th' Senate, what

We have compounded on.

Auf. Read it not, noble lords,

But tell the traitor, in the highest degree

He hath abus'd your powers.

Cor. Traitor!

how now!

Auf. Ay, traitor, Marcius.

Cor. Marcius!

Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius; doft thou think, I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy ftol'n name Coriolanus in Corioli?

You Lords and Heads o'th' State, perfidiously
He has betray'd your bufinefs, and given up,
For certain drops of falt, your city Rame;

I fay, your city, to his wife and mother;
Breaking his oath and refolution, like
A twist of rotten filk, never admitting
Counsel o'th' war; but at his nurfe's tears
He whin'd and roar'd away your victory,
That Pages blush'd at him; and men of heart
Look'd wondring each at other.

Cor. Hear'ft thou, Mars!

Auf. Name not the God! thou boy of tears!
Cor. Ha!

Auf. No more.

Cor. Measureless liar, thou haft made my heart
Too great for what contains it. Boy? O flave!
Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever
I'm forc'd to fcold. Your judgments, my grave lords,
Muft give this Cur the Lie; and his own Notion,
(Who wears my ftripes impreft upon him; that
Muft bear my beating to his Grave;) fhall join
To thruft the lie unto him.

i Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak.
Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volfcians, men and lads,
Stain all your edges in me. Boy! false hound!
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,
That, like an eagle in a dove-coat, I
Flutter'd your Volfcians in Corioli.
Alone I did it. Boy!

Auf. Why, noble lords,

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, Which was your fhame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears ?

All Con. Let him die for't.

All People. Tear him to pieces, do it presently:

fon,

He kill'd my
coufin,
He kill'd my father.

2 Lord. Peace,

my daughter,

kill'd my

[The Croud speak promiscuously. no outrage peace

The man is noble, and his Fame folds in