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a male tiger； that shall our poor city find。 And all this is 'long of you。
SICINIUS。 The gods be good unto us！ MENENIUS。 No； in such a case the
gods will not be good unto us。 When we banish'd him we respected not
them； and； he returning to break our necks； they respect not us。
Enter a MESSENGER
MESSENGER。 Sir； if you'd save your life； fly to your house。 The
plebeians have got your fellow tribune And hale him up and down； all
swearing if The Roman ladies bring not comfort home They'll give him
death by inches。
Enter another MESSENGER
SICINIUS。 What's the news？ SECOND MESSENGER。 Good news；
good news！ The ladies have prevail'd； The Volscians are dislodg'd； and
Marcius gone。 A merrier day did never yet greet Rome； No； not th'
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expulsion of the Tarquins。 SICINIUS。 Friend； Art thou certain this is true？
Is't most certain？ SECOND MESSENGER。 As certain as I know the sun is
fire。 Where have you lurk'd； that you make doubt of it？ Ne'er through an
arch so hurried the blown tide As the recomforted through th' gates。 Why；
hark you！ ＇Trumpets； hautboys； drums beat； all together＇ The trumpets；
sackbuts； psalteries； and fifes； Tabors and cymbals； and the shouting
Romans； Make the sun dance。 Hark you！ ＇A shout within＇ MENENIUS。
This is good news。 I will go meet the ladies。 This Volumnia Is worth of
consuls； senators； patricians； A city full； of tribunes such as you； A sea and
land full。 You have pray'd well to…day： This morning for ten thousand of
your throats I'd not have given a doit。 Hark； how they joy！ ＇Sound still
with the shouts＇ SICINIUS。 First； the gods bless you for your tidings； next；
Accept my thankfulness。 SECOND MESSENGER。 Sir； we have all Great
cause to give great thanks。 SICINIUS。 They are near the city？
MESSENGER。 Almost at point to enter。 SICINIUS。 We'll meet them； And
help the joy。 Exeunt
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SCENE V。 Rome。 A street near the gate
Enter two SENATORS With VOLUMNIA； VIRGILIA； VALERIA；
passing over the stage； 'With other LORDS
FIRST SENATOR。 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； ALL。 Welcome； ladies； welcome！ ＇A
flourish with drums and trumpets。 Exeunt＇
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SCENE VI。 Corioli。 A public place
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with attendents
AUFIDIUS。 Go tell the lords o' th' city I am here； Deliver them this
paper； having read it； Bid them repair to th' 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 t' appear before the people；
hoping To purge himself 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 rais'd him； and I pawn'd Mine honour
for his truth； who being so heighten'd； He watered 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 spoken
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。
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
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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
pronounc'd shall bury His reasons with his body。 AUFIDIUS。 Say no more：
Here come the lords。 Enter the LORDS of the city
LORDS。 You are most welcome home。 AUFIDIUS。 I have not
deserv'd 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； the
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 Doth 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 th' Romans； and
we here deliver； Subscrib'd by th' consuls and patricians； Together with the
seal o' th' Senate； what We have compounded on。 AUFIDIUS。 Read it not；
noble lords； But tell the traitor in the highest degree He hath abus'd 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
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Coriolanus； in Corioli？ You lords and heads o' th' 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' th' war；
but at his nurse's tears He whin'd and roar'd away your victory； That pages
blush'd at him； and men of heart Look'd wond'ring each at others。
CORIOLANUS。 He