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

SCENE IV.

Rome.

Enter Menenius and Sicinius.

[Exeunt.

Men. See you yond' coin o' th' Capitol, yond' corner ftone? Sic. Why, what of that?

Men. If it be poffible for you to difplace it with your little finger, there is fome hope the ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But I fay there is no hope in't, our throats are fentenc'd, and stay upon execution. Sic. Is't poffible that fo fhort a time can alter the condition of a man?

Men. There is difference between a grub and a butterfly, 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 corflet with his eye: talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He fits in his ftate 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 fhall bring from him; there is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tyger; that shall our pbor city find; and all this is long of you.

us.

Sic. The Gods be good unto us!

Men. No, in fuch a cafe the Gods will not be good unto When we banish'd him, we refpected not them: and he returning to break our necks, they refpect not us. Enter a Mejenger.

Mef Sir, if you'd fave your life, fly to your house;
The Plebeians have got your fellow-tribune,

And hale him up and down, all fwearing, if
The Roman ladies bring not comfort home,

2

They'll

They'll give him death by inches.

Enter another Meffenger.

Sic. What's the news?

Mef. Good news, good news, the ladies have prevail'd,
The Volfcians are diflodg'd, and Martius gone t
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not th' Expulfion of the Tarquins.
Sie. Friend,

Art certain this is true? is it most certain ?
Mef. As certain as I know the fun 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 fhouting Romans
Make the fun dance. Hark you.

Men. This is good news:

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia
Is worth of Confuls, Senators, Patricians,
A city full of Tribunes, fuch as you,

[A fhout within.

A fea 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 fhouts. Sic. First, the Gods blefs 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?

Mef. Almoft at point to enter.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.

[Exeunt,

Enter two Senators with the Ladies paffing over the frage, with other Lords.

Sen. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome :
Call all your tribes together, praise the Gods,
And make triumphant fires: ftrew flowers before them :
Unfhout the noise that banish'd Martius;

Repeal him with the welcome of his mother:
Cry, Welcome, Ladies, welcome!

All

All. Welcome, Ladies, welcome!

[Exeum.

[A flourish with drums and trumpets.

SCENE 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
To purge himself with words. Dispatch.

Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius's faction.
Most welcome!

I Con. How is it with our General ?
Auf. Even fo,

As with a man by his own alms impoyfon'd,
And with his charity flain.

If

2 Con. Moft noble Sir,

you

do hold the fame intent, wherein You wish'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 furvivor heir of all.

Auf. I know it;

And my pretext to ftrike at him admits

A good conftruction. I rais'd him, and pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth; who being fo heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing fo my friends; and to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unfwayable, and fierce.
3 Con. His ftoutnefs, Sir,

When he did ftand for Conful, which he lost
By lack of stooping-

Auf. That I would have spoke of:

Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth,

Prefented

Prefented to my knife his throat; I took him,
Made him joint fervant with me; gave him way
In all his own defires; nay, let him chufe
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and fresheft men; ferv'd his defignments
In mine own perfon; holp to reap the fame
Which he did make all his; and took fome pride
To do my felf this wrong; 'till at the laft,
I feem'd his follower, not partner; and
He wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

1 Con. So he did, my Lord:

The army marvell'd at it, and at laft

When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd
For no lefs fpoil, than glory.

Auf. There was it :

For which my finews fhall be ftretch'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 fhall he die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But hark.

[Drums and trumpets found, with great shouts of the people. I Con. Your native town you enter'd like a poft, And had no welcomes home, but he returns

Splitting the air with noife.

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whofe children he hath flain, their base throats tear
Giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore at your vantage,

Ere he exprefs himself, or move the people

With what he would fay, let him feel your fword,
Which we will fecond. When he lyes along,
After your way his tale pronounc'd fhall bury
His reafons with his body.

Auf. Say no more,

Here come the Lords.

Enter the Lords of the City.

All Lords. You are most welcome home.

Auf. I have not deserv'd it.

But, worthy Lords, have you with heed perus'd

What

What I have written ?

All. We have.

I Lord. And grieve to hear it.

What faults he made before the laft, I think
Might have found eafie fines: but there to end
Where he was to begin, and give away
The benefit of our levies, anfwering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding, admits no excuse.
Auf. He approaches, you fhall hear him.

SCENE VI.

Enter Coriolanus marching with drums and colours, the
Commons being with him.

Cor. Hail, Lords; I am return'd, your foldier
i
No more infected with my country's love,
Than when I parted hence, but ftill fubfifting
Under your great command. You are to know,
That profperoufly I have attempted, and
With bloody paffage led your wars, even to
The gates of Rome: our fpoils we have brought home
Do more than counterpoife a full third part
The charges of the action. We've made peace
With no lefs honour to the Antiates

Than fhame to th' Romans: and we here deliver,
Subfcribed by the Confuls and Patricians,
Together with the feal o'th' Senate, what
We have compounded on.

Auf. Read it not, noble Lords:

But 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 ftol'n name
Coriolanus, in Corioli?

You Lords and head o' th' ftate, perfidiously
He has betray'd your business, and given up,
For certain drops of falt, your city Rome,
I fay your city, to his wife and mother

Breaking