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 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
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 whin’d and roar’d away your victory;
That pages blush’d at him, and men of heart
Look’d wondering each at others.
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 forc’d 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 dovecote, 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?
CONSPIRATORS.
Let him die for’t.
CITIZENS. Tear him to pieces, do it presently:—he killed 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!
CONSPIRATORS.
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
[AUFIDIUS and the CONSPIRATORS draw, and kill CORIOLANUS,who falls. AUFIDIUS stands on him.]
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,
Provok’d 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 um.
SECOND LORD.
His own impatience
