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Sic. First, the gods bless you for your tidings:

next,

Accept my thankfulness.

491

Mes. Sir, we have all great cause to give great

thanks.

Sic. They are near the city ?

Mes. Almost at point to enter.

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

Enter two Senators, with the Ladies, passing over the Stage, &c. &c.

Sen. 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 l

All. Welcome, ladies, welcome!

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[A Flourish with Drums and Trumpets. Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A publick Place in Antium. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants.

Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here: Deliver them this paper: having read it,

Bid them repair to the market-place; where I,

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Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. He I accuse,
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: Dispatch.

welcome !

Most

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Enter three or four Conspirators of AUFIDIUS' Faction.

1 Con. How is it with our general?

Auf. Even so,

As with a man by his own alms impoison'd,

And with his charity slain.

2 Con. Most noble sir,

If you do hold the same intent wherein

You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

Auf. Sir, I cannot tell;

We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst

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'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all.

Auf. 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 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.
3 Con. Sir, his stoutness,

N

530

When

When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping-

Auf. 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; 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.

1 Con. 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-

Auf. 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!

540

551

[Drums and Trumpets sound, with great Shouts of the People.

1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise.

2

560

2 Con

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear, With giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage,

Ere he express himself, or move the people

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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.

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

What I have written to you ?

Lords. We have.

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1 Lord. And grieve to hear it.

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.
Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him.

Nij

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Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colours; the
Commons being with him.

Cor. 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.

home,

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Our spoil, we have brought

Doth more than counterpoise, a full third part,

The charges of the action.

With no less honour to the

We have made peace,
Antiates,

Than shame to the Romans: And we here deliver,
Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians,

Together with the seal o' the 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!

600

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Auf. 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 of 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 :

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