Auf.
Go tell the lords o' ^note 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 ^note
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: dispatch. [Exeunt Attendants. ^note Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius' faction.
Most welcome!

First Con.
How is it with our general?

Auf.
Even so
As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,
And with his charity slain ^note.

Sec. Con.
Most noble sir,
If you do hold the same intent wherein
You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you ^note
Of your great danger.

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

Third Con.
The people will remain uncertain whilst
'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 raised him, and I pawn'd ^note
Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
He water'd ^note 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 ^note.

Third Con.
Sir, his stoutness ^note
When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping,— ^note

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 ^note accomplish,
My best and freshest men, served his designments
In mine own person, holp ^note to reap the fame
Which he did end ^{note note} 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 ^note me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

First Con.
So he did, my lord:
The army marvell'd at it, and in the last ^note,
When he had carried Rome and that we look'd
For no less spoil than glory— ^note

Auf.
There was it:
For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. ^note
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, ^note with great shouts of the people.

First Con.
Your native town you enter'd like a post,

And had no welcomes home; but he returns,
Splitting the air with noise.

Sec. Con.
And patient fools,
Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
With giving ^note him glory.

Third Con.
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 ^note second. When he lies along,
After your way his ^note tale pronounced shall bury
His reasons with his body.

Auf.
Say no more:
Here come the lords. ^note Enter the Lords of the city.

All the Lords. ^note
You are ^note most welcome home.

Auf.
I have not deserved it.
But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
What I have written to you ^note?

Lords.
We have.

First Lord.
And grieve to hear 't ^note.
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 ^note admits no excuse ^note.

Auf.
He approaches: you shall hear him.

^noteEnter Coriolanus, marching with drum and colours; the commoners being with him.

Cor.
Hail, lords! I am return'd your ^note 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 ^note more than counterpoise a full third part
The ^note charges of the action. We have ^note made peace,
With no less honour to the Antiates
Than shame to the Romans: and we here ^note deliver,
Subscribed ^note by the consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal o' ^note the senate, what
We have compounded on.

Auf.
Read it not, noble lords;
But tell the traitor, in the highest degree
He hath abused your powers.

Cor.
Traitor! how now!

Auf.
Ay, traitor, Marcius!

Cor.
Marcius!

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 ^note o' ^note 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' ^note 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 ^note.

Cor.
Hear'st thou, Mars?

Auf.
Name not the god, thou boy of tears!

Cor.
Ha!

Auf. ^note
No more.

Cor.
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 ^note forced to scold ^note. Your judgements, 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.

Cor.
Cut me to ^note pieces, Volsces; men and lads,
Stain all your edges on ^note me. ‘Boy!’ false hound!
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,
That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
Flutter'd ^note your Volscians ^note in Corioli;
Alone I did it. ^note ‘Boy!’

Auf.
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 Consp.
Let him die for't.

All the People. ^note

‘Tear him to pieces.’ ‘Do it presently.’ ‘He killed my son.’ ‘My daughter.’ ‘He killed my cousin Marcus.’ ^note ‘He killed my father.’ ^note

Sec. Lord.
Peace, ho ^note! 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.

Cor.
O that I had him,
With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
To use my lawful sword ^note!

Auf.
Insolent villain!

All Consp.
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him! [The Conspirators ^note draw, and kill Coriolanus: Aufidius stands on his body.

Lords.
Hold, hold, hold, hold!

Auf.
My noble masters ^note, hear me speak.

First Lord.
O Tullus,— ^note

Sec. Lord.
Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep ^note.

Third Lord.
Tread not upon him. Masters all, ^note be quiet;
Put up your swords.

Auf.
My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage ^note
Provoked by him, you ^note 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.

Sec. Lord.
His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.

Auf.
My rage is gone,
And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up:
Help, three o' ^note 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 ^{note note}. [Exeunt, bearing the body of Coriolanus ^note. A dead march sounded.

NOTES. ^note