In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this peace.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV. Rome,

Enter Menenius and Sicinius. Men. See you yond'coin o'th' Capitol, yond' corner stone? Sic. Why, what of that?

Men. If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hope in't, our throats are sentenc'd, and stay upon execution.

Sic. Is't possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man?

Men. There is difference between a grub and a but. terfly, yet your butterfly was a grub; this Martius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings, he's more than a creeping thing.

Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly.

Men. So did he me ; and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight years old horse. The tartness of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground fhrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corset with his eye : talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. 'He' sits in his state as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a God, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in.

Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

Men. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him; there is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tyger ; that shall our poor city find; and all this is long of you.

Sic. The Gods be good unto us!
Men. No, in such a case the Gods will not be good unto

When we banih'd him, we respected not them: and he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a Mefinger.
Mes. 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'11

us.

2

They'll give him death by inches..

Enter another Messenger. Sic. What's the news ?

Mes. Good news, good news, the ladies have prevailid,
The Volscians are disodg’d, and Martius gone :
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not th' Expulsion of the Tarquins.

Sic. Friend,
Art certain this is true? is it most certain ?

Mes. 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, fackbuts, pfalteries and fifes, Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans Make the fun dance. Hark you.

[A fout wiibin, Men. 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've 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 fill with the fouts. Sic. Firft, the Gods bless you for your tidings! next; Accept my thankfulness.

Mef. Sir, we have all great cause to give great thanks. Sic. They're near the city ? Mes. Almost at point to enter. Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy. [Exeunt. Enter two Senators zvirb the Ladies palling over the fage,

with other Lords. Sen. Behold our patroness, the life of Rome : Call all your tribes together, praise the Gods, And make triumphant fires : Etrew flowers before them : Unfhout the noise that banishid Martius; Repeal him with the welcome of his mother : Cry, Welcome, Ladies, welcome !

All. Welcome, Ladies, welcome!

[Exeunt. (A flourish with drums and trumpets. SCEN E V. Antium.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.
Auf. 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. He I accuse
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends t'appear before the people, hoping
Το purge himself with words. Dispatch.

Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius's faction,
Most welcome!

I Con. How is it with our General ?

Auf. Even so,
As with a man by his own alms impoyson’d,
And with his charity Nain.

2 Con. Most noble Sir, If y

you do hold the same intent, wherein You wilh'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, whilft 'Twixt you there's difference ; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all,

Auf. I know it ;
And my pretext to ftrike at him admits
A good construction. I rais'd him, and pawn'd
Mine bonour for his truth ; who being so heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of Aattery,
Seducing so my friends; and to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unswayable, and fierce.

3 Con. His stoutness, Sir,
When he did stand for Consul, which he loft
By lack of stooping

Auf. That I would have spoke of:
Being banish'd for’t, he came unto my hearth,

Presented

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 chuse
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and freshest men ; serv'd his defignments
In mine own person; holp to reap the fame
Which he did make all his ; and took some pride
To do my self this wrong; 'till at the latt,
I seem'd his follower, not partner ; and
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

i Con. So he did, my Lord :
The army marvellid at it, and at last
When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd,
For no less spoil, than glory

Auf. There was it :
For which my finews shall be stretch'd upon

him :
At a few drops of womens rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he fold the blood and labour
Of our great action; therefore shall he die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But hark.

[Drums and trumpers found, with great shouts of the people.

i con. Your native town you enter'd like a port, And had no welcomes home, but he returns Splitting the air with noise.

2 Con. And patient fools,
Whose children he hath Nain, their base throats tear
Giving him glory.

3 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 second. When he lyes along,
After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury
His reasons with his body.

Auf. Say no more,
Here come the Lords.

Enter the Lords of the Ciry.
All Lords. You are most welcome home.

Auf. I have not deserv’d it.
But, worthy Lords, have you with heçd perus'd

What

What I have written ?

All. We have.

i Lord. And grieve to hear it.
What faults he made before the last, I think
Might have found easie 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, admits no excuse.
Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him.

SCENE VI.
Enter Coriolanus marching 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 sublifting
Under your great command. You are to know,
That prosperously I have attempted, and
With bloody paffage 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've made peace
With no less honour to the Antiates
Than shame to th' Romans : and we here deliver,
Subscribed by the Consuls and Patricians,
Together with the seal o'th' Senate, what

! We have compounded on.

Auf. Read it not, noble Lords :
Buc tell the traitor in the highest degree
He hath abus'd your powers.

Cor. Traitor! - how now!
Auf. Ay, traitor, Martius.
Cor. Martius !
Auf. Ay, Martius, Caius Martius ; doft thou think
I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'o name
Coriolanus, in Corioli ?
You Lords and head 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

3

Breaking