5 [Exeunt.

Cor. This last old man,

Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,
Lov'd me above the measure of a father;

Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge
Was to send him: for whose old love, I have
(Though I shew'd sourly to him) once more offer'd
The first conditions, which they did refuse,
And cannot now accept, to grace him only,
That thought he could do more; a very little
I have yielded too: Fresh embassies, and suits,
Nor from the state, nor private friends, hereafter
Will I lend ear to.-Ha! What shout is this?
[Shout within.

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow
In the same time 'tis made? I will not.-

--

10

Even to a full disgrace.-Best of my flesh,
Forgive my tyranny; but do not say,
For that, Forgive our Romans.-O, a kiss
Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!
Now by the jealous queen of heaven, that!
I carried from thee, dear; and by my true
Hath virgin'd it e'er since.-You gods! I pr
And the most noble mother of the world
Leave unsaluted: Sink, my knee, i' the ear
[Kn

Of the deep duty more impression shew
Than that of common sons.

Vol. O, stand up blest!

Whilst, with no softer cushion than the flint, 15I kneel before thee; and unproperly

Shew duty, as mistaken all the while [Kn
Between the child and parent.

Enter Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, young Mar-
cius, with Attendants, all in mourning.
My wife comes foremost; then the honour'd mold
Wherein this trunk was fram'd, and in her hand
The grandchild to her blood. But, out, affection!
Ali bond and privilege of nature, break!
Let it be virtuous, to be obstinate.-
What is that curt'sy worth? or those dove's eyes,
Which can make gods forsworn?-I melt, and 45

am not

Of stronger earth than others.-My mother bows;
As if Olympus to a mole-hill should
In supplication nod: and my young boy
Hath an aspect of intercession, which
Great Nature cries, Deny not.-Let the Volces
Plough Rome, and harrow Italy; I'll never
Be such a gosling to obey instinct; but stand,
As if a man were author of himself,
And knew no other kin.

Virg. My lord and husband!

Cor. These eyes are not the samelwore in Rome. Virg. The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang'd, Makes you think so.

Cor. Like a dull actor now,

I have forgot my part, and I am out,

Cor. The god of soldiers,

With the consent of supreme Jove, inform
Thy thoughts with nobleness: that thou ma

prove

40 To shame invulnerable, and stick i' the wars
Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw3,
And saving those that eye thee!
Vol. Your knee, sirrah.

Cor. That's my brave boy.

Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady, and
self,
Are suitors to you.

Cor. I beseech you, peace:
Or, if you'd ask, remember this before;
50 The things, I have forsworn to grant, may no
Be held by you denials. Do not bid me
Dismiss my soldiers, or capitulate
Again with Rome's mechanics:-Tell me no
Wherein I seem unnatural: Desire not
55 To allay my rages and revenges, with
Your colder reasons.

Vol. Oh, no more, no more!

You have said, you will not grant us any th
For we have nothing else to ask, but that
60 Which you deny already: Yet, we will ask
That, if we fail in our request, the blame

3:

35

That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name 4 I am hush'd until our city be afir Living to time.

And then I'll speak a little.
Cor. Mother, mother!-

[Holds her by th
What have you done? Behold, the l
45 The gods look down, and this un
They laugh at. O my mother, n
You have won a happy victory to
But, for your son,—believe it, 0,
Most dangerously you have with
If not most mortal to him. But, le
Aufidius, though I cannot make tr
I'll frame convenient peace. Now,
Were you in my stead, say, would y
A mother less? or granted less, A
Auf. I was mov'd withal.

If it were so, that our request did tend
To save the Romans, thereby to destroy
The Volces whom you serve, you might condemn 50
As poisonous of your honour: No; our suit
Is, that you reconcile them: while the Volces
May say,
"This mercy we have shew'd;" the
Romans,

"This we receiv'd;" and each in either side
Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, "Be blest
"For making up this peace!" Thou know'st,great

55

Cor. I dare be sworn, you were: And, sir, it is no little thing, to ma Mine eyes to sweat compassion. What peace you'll make, advise me [60]I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you:

1 That is, constrains the eye to weep, and the heart to shake.

i. e. keeps me in a state of ignoininy, talking t

Stand to me in this cause.-O mother! wife!
Auf. I am glad, thou hast set thy mercy and thy

honour

At difference in thee: out of that I'll work
Myself a former fortune1.

Aside. 5
[The Ladies make signs to Coriolanus.
Cor. Ay, by-and-by;
But we will drink together; and you shall bear
[To Volumnia, Virgilia, &c.
A better witness back than words, which we,
On like conditions, will have counter-seal'd.
Come, enter with us. Ladies, you deserve
To have a temple built you: all the swords
In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this

peace.

SCENE IV.

The Forum in Rome.

Enter Menenius and Sicinius.

10

[Exeunt. 13

Enter another Messenger.

Sic. What's the news?
Mes. Good news, good news;—The ladies
prevail'd,

The Volces are dislodg'd, and Marcius gon
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

Sic. Friend,

Art thou certain, this is true; is it most certai
Mes. As certain, as I know the sun is fire:
Where haveyou lurk'd, that you make doubt
Ne'er through an arch so hurry'd the blown ti
As the recomforted through the gates. W
hark you;

[Trumpets, hautboys, drums beat, all toget
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,
Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Rom.
Make the sun dance. Hark you! [A shout wit.
Men. This is good news:

Men. See you yon coign o' the Capitol; yon 20 will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia

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. 25 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 30 a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing.

Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly.

Men. Sadid he me: and he no more remembers 35 his mother now, than an eight-year old horse'. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corslet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his 40 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 tiger; and 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 us. When we banish'd him, we respected not them: aud, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a Messenger.
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'll give him death by inches.

I will take advantage of this cons

145

50

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-da
I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they jo
This morning, for ten thousand of your throats
[Sound still, with the show
Sic. First, the gods bless you for your tiding
Accept my thankfulness.
[nez
Mes. Sir, we have all great cause to give gre
thanks.

Sic. They are near the city?
Mes. Almost at point to enter.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.[Exeur Enter two Senators, with the Ladies passing or the stage, &c. &c.

Sen. 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:
Cry,-Welcome, ladies, welcome!-
All. Welcome, ladies, welcome!

[A Flourish with drums and trumpets

SCENE V.

A public Place in Antium.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.
Auf. Go tell the lords of 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. He I accuse,
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
55 Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: Dispatch.-Most
welcome!

Enterthreeor four Conspirators of Aufidius' faction.
1 Con. How is it with our general ?

60 Auf. Even so,

As with a man by his own alms impoison'd,

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, 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 rais'd him, and I pawn'd
Minehonour forhis truth: Whobeing 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.
3 Con. Sir, his stoutness,

When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping

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 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
Hewag'd' me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

1 Con. So he did, iny lord;

The marvell'd at it. And, in the last,
army
When he had carried Rome; and that we look'd
For no less spoil, than glory,-

Auf. There was it ;

1 Lord. And grieve to hear it. 10 What faults he made before the Might have found easy fines: b Where he was to begin; and giv The benefit of our levies, answe With our own charge3; making a 15 There was a yielding; This adn Auf. He approaches, you sha Enter Coriolanus, with drums

Commons being with

Cor. Hail, lords! I am retur 20 No more infected with my cour Than when I parted hence; but Under your great command. Y That prosperously I have attem With bloody passage led your w 25 The gates of Rome. Our spoil, home,

Doth more than counterpoise, a The charges of the action. We With no less honour to the Anti 30 Than shame to the Romans: And Subscribed by the consuls and Together with the seal o'the se We have compounded on.

Auf. Read it not, noble lords 35 But tell the traitor, in the highes He hath abus'd your powers.

Forwhich my sinews shail be stretch'd upon him 2.40
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 45
of the people.

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

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whose childrenhehath slain, theirbase throats tear,|
With giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage,
Ere he express himself, or move the people

Cor. Traitor'-How now?
Auf. Ay, traitor, Marcius.
Cor. Marcius!

Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Mar
I'll grace thee with that robbery
Coriolanus, in Corioli?-

You lords and heads of the state He has betray'd your business, a For certain drops of salt, your c (I say, your city) to his wife and Breaking his oath and resolution A twist of rotten silk; never adı Counsel o' the war; but at his n 50 He whin'd and roar'd away you That pages blush'd at him, and Look'd wondering each at other Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars?Auf Name not the god, thou Cor. Ha!

With what he would say, let him feel your sword, 55
Which we will second." When he lies along,
After your way, his tale pronounc'd shall bury
His reasons with his body.

The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is, He prescribed to me with an air of aut me his countenance for my wages; thought me sufficiently rewarded with good looks. point on which I will attack him with my utmost abilities. That is, rewarding

expences.

All Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [Aufidius and the Conspirators draw, and kill[35]

i, e. his fame overspreads the world.