ACT V
SCENE VI Antium. A public place.


 [Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants]

AUFIDIUS Go tell the lords o' 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
 The city ports by this hath enter'd and
 Intends to appear before the people, hoping
 To purge herself with words: dispatch.

 [Exeunt Attendants]

 [Enter three or four Conspirators of AUFIDIUS' faction]

 Most welcome!

First Conspirator How is it with our general?

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

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

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

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

AUFIDIUS I know it;
 And my pretext to strike at him admits
 A good construction. I raised 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.

Third Conspirator Sir, his stoutness
 When he did stand for consul, which he lost
 By lack of stooping,--

AUFIDIUS 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; served 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 waged me with his countenance, as if
 I had been mercenary.

First Conspirator 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,--

AUFIDIUS 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!

 [Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts of
 the People]

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

Second Conspirator And patient fools,
 Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
 With giving him glory.

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

AUFIDIUS Say no more:
 Here come the lords.

 [Enter the Lords of the city]

All The Lords You are most welcome home.

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

Lords We have.

First Lord And grieve to hear't.
 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.

AUFIDIUS He approaches: you shall hear him.

 [Enter CORIOLANUS, marching with drum and
 colours; commoners being with him]

CORIOLANUS 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. Our spoils we have brought home
 Do more than counterpoise a full third part
 The charges of the action. We have made peace
 With no less honour to the Antiates
 Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver,
 Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,
 Together with the seal o' the senate, what
 We have compounded on.

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

CORIOLANUS Traitor! how now!

AUFIDIUS                   Ay, traitor, Marcius!

CORIOLANUS Marcius!

AUFIDIUS 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 o' 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' 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.

CORIOLANUS Hear'st thou, Mars?

AUFIDIUS Name not the god, thou boy of tears!

CORIOLANUS Ha!

AUFIDIUS No more.

CORIOLANUS 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 forced to scold. Your judgments, 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.

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

AUFIDIUS 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 Conspirators Let him die for't.

All The People 'Tear him to pieces.' 'Do it presently.' 'He kill'd
 my son.' 'My daughter.' 'He killed my cousin
 Marcus.' 'He killed my father.'

Second Lord Peace, ho! 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.

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

AUFIDIUS Insolent villain!

All Conspirators Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

 [The Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS:
 AUFIDIUS stands on his body]

Lords Hold, hold, hold, hold!

AUFIDIUS My noble masters, hear me speak.

First Lord O Tullus,--

Second Lord Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.

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

AUFIDIUS My lords, when you shall know--as in this rage,
 Provoked by him, you 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.

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

AUFIDIUS My rage is gone;
 And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up.
 Help, three o' 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.

 [Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS. A dead
 march sounded]