Com.
If I should tell thee^{6 note} o'er this thy day's work,
Thou'lt not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it,

Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles;
Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug,
I' the end, admire; where ladies shall be frighted,
^{7 note}

Lart.
O general,
^{8 note}Here is the steed, we the caparisons!
Had'st thou beheld—

Mar.
Pray now, no more: my mother,
Who has ^{9 note}a charter to extol her blood,
When she does praise me, grieves me.
I have done as you have done; that's, what I can:
Induc'd, as you have been; that's for my country:
He, that has but effected his good will,
Hath overta'en mine act.

Com.
You shall not be
The grave of your deserving; Rome must know
The value of her own: 'twere a concealment
Worse than a theft, no less than a traducement,
To hide your doings; and to silence that,

Which, to the spire and top of praises vouch'd,
Would seem but modest: Therefore, I beseech you,
(In sign of what you are, not to reward
What you have done) before our army hear me.

Mar.
I have some wounds upon me, and they smart
To hear themselves remember'd.

Com.
^{1 note}Should they not,
Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude,
And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses,
(Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store) of all
The treasure, in the field atchiev'd, and city,
We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth,
Before the common distribution, at
Your only choice.

Mar.
I thank you, general;
But cannot make my heart consent to take
A bribe, to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
And stand upon my common part with those
That have beheld the doing. [A long flourish. They all cry, Marcius! Marcius! cast up their caps and lances: Cominius, and Lartius, stand bare.

Mar.
May these same instruments, which you profane,
Never sound more! ^{2 note}

I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be
Made all of false-fac'd soothing! When steel grows
Soft as the parasite's silk, let him be made
A coverture for the wars!—No more, I say;
For that I have not wash'd my nose that bled,
Or foil'd some debile wretch,—which, without note,
Here's many else have done,—you shout me forth
In acclamations hyperbolical;
As if I lov'd my little should be dieted
In praises sauc'd with lyes.

Com.
Too modest are you;
More cruel to your good report, than grateful
To us that give you truly: by your patience,

If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd, we'll put you
(Like one that means his proper harm) in manacles,
Then reason safely with you.—Therefore, be it known,
As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius
Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,
My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,
With all his trim belonging; and, from this time,
For what he did^{3 note} before Corioli, call him,
With all the applause and clamour of the host,
Caius Marcius Coriolanus^{4 note}.—
Bear the addition nobly ever! [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums.

Omnes.
Caius Marcius Coriolanus!

Car.
I will go wash;
And when my face is fair, you shall perceive
Whether I blush, or no: Howbeit, I thank you:—
I mean to stride your steed; and, at all times,
^{5 note}To undercrest your good addition,
^{6 note}

Com.
So, to our tent:
Where, ere we do repose us, we will write

To Rome of our success.—You, Titus Lartius,
Must to Corioli back: send us to Rome
^{7 note}The best, with whom we may articulate^{8 note}

Lart.
I shall, my lord.

Cor.
The gods begin to mock me. I that now
Refus'd most princely gifts, am bound to beg
Of my lord general.

Com.
Take it: 'tis yours.—What is't?

Cor.
I sometime lay, here in Corioli,
At a poor man's house^{9 note}; he us'd me kindly:
He cry'd to me; I saw him prisoner;
But then Aufidius was within my view,
And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you
To give my poor host freedom.

Com.
O, well begg'd!
Were he the butcher of my son, he should
Be free, as is the wind. Deliver him, Titus.

Lart.
Marcius, his name?

Cor.
By Jupiter, forgot:—
I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.—
Have we no wine here?

Com.
Go we to our tent:

The blood upon your visage dries; 'tis time
It should he look'd to: come. [Exeunt.

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