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,
Sic..

; What's the news? Meșs. Good news, good news; -The ladies have

prevail'd,
The Volces are dislodg’d, and Marcius gone:
A merrier day did naver yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.
Sic.. .

Friend,
Art thou certain this is true? is it most certain
: Mess. 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 the gates. Why, hark

you;. [Trumpets and Hautboys solinded, and Driims

beaten, all together. Shouting also within. The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes, Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Romans, Make the sun dance. Hark you!_[Shouting again. 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 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!

[Shouting and Musick. Sic. First, the gads bless you for their tidings:

next, Accept my thankfulness. Mess.

Sir, we have all Great cause to give great thanks,

1 Sic.

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

... We will meet them, And help the joy. : : .......Going.

Enter the Ladies, accompanied by Senators, Patricians,

and People. They pass over the Stage. 1 Sén. 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. a

Welcome, ladies! Welcome! . . [A Flourish with Drums and Trumpets.

: [Exeunt. :

arvey

SCENE V.
Antium. A publick Place.
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 1,
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. Him l'accusé,
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: Despatch.

(Exeunt Attendants, Auf:

Enter Three or. Four Conspirators of Aufidiuso

. Faction.. Most welcome! .

i Con. How is it with our general ?
Auf.

Even so,
As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,!.
And with his charity slain.
2 Con.

. Most noble sir,
If you do hold the same 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, whilst
'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either
Makes the survivor heir of a'l.
Auf.

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 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, 1. Auf.

That I would have spoke of:
Being banish'd for't, he caine unto my hearth;
Presented to my knife his throat: I took him;
Made liim 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,.....

Forhen he had end at it. he did, mis

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

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 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,

I 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 children he hath slain, their base throats tear, With 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 lies along, After your way his tale pronounc'd shall burn His reasons with his body. Auf.

Say no more; Here come the lords.

Enter the Lords of the City, , ..
Lords. You are most welcome home.

I have not deserv'd it, But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd What I have written to you?

Lords. . . We have.
1 Lord.

And grieve to hear it.
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.

Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him.

Enter CORIOLANUS, with Drums and Colours; a

Croud of Citizens with him. Cor: Hail, lords! I am returned 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, . . Do 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 the Romans: and we here deliver, Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o’the 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?

? answering us

With our own charge;] That is, rewarding us with our own cipences; making the cost of war its recompence.