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[Kneels.

Of thy deep duty more impression show

Than that of common sons. Vol.

request?

Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment

And state of bodies would bewray what life O! stand up bless'd; 52 We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself How more unfortunate than all living women Give the all-hail to thee, and cry, 'Be bless'd Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should

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For making up this peace!' Thou know'st,
great son,
The end of war's uncertain; but this certain,
That, if thou conquer Rome, the benefit
Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name
Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses; 144
Whose chronicle thus writ: 'The man was

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Whereto we are bound? Alack! or we must

lose

The country, our dear nurse, or else thy person,
Our comfort in the country. We must find
An evident calamity, though we had

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Our wish, which side should win; for either thou

Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man Still to remember wrongs? Daughter, speak you:

He cares not for your weeping. Speak thou,

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Rather to show a noble grace to both parts Than seek the end of one, thou shalt no sooner March to assault thy country than to treadTrust to't, thou shalt not-on thy mother's womb, 124

That brought thee to this world.
Vir.

Ay, and mine, That brought you forth this boy, to keep your

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Has cluck'd thee to the wars, and safely home, Loaden with honour. Say my request's unjust,

165

And spurn me back; but if it be not so,
Thou art not honest, and the gods will plague
thee,

That thou restrain'st from me the duty which
To a mother's part belongs. He turns away:
Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.
To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride
Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;
This is the last: so we will home to Rome, 172
And die among our neighbours. Nay, behold us.
This boy, that cannot tell what he would
have,

But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship,
Does reason our petition with more strength 176
Than thou hast to deny 't. Come, let us go:
This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;
His wife is in Corioli, and his child
Like him by chance. Yet give us our dispatch:
I am hush'd until our city be a-fire,
And then I'll speak a little.

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If not most mortal to him. But let it come.
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufi-
dius,

Were you in my stead, would you have heard
A mother less, or granted less, Aufidius?

Auf. I was mov'd withal.
Cor.

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I dare be sworn you were: And, sir, it is no little thing to make Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir, What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part, 197

I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you,

Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife! Auf. [Aside.] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour

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

200

[The ladies make signs to CORIOLANUS. Ay, by and by;

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Sic. He loved his mother dearly. Men. So did he me; and he no more remembers 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 hum is a battery. He sits in his state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done is finished 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. 28 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; that shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you.

Sic. The gods be good unto us!

33

Men. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banished him, we respected not them; and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house:

The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, 40 And hale him up and down; all swearing, if The Roman ladies bring not comfort home, They'll give him death by inches.

Cor.

But we will drink together; and you shall bear
A better witness back than words, which we, 204
On like conditions, would 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,

Sic.

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Could not have made this peace.

[Exeunt.

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Enter a second Messenger.

What's the news? Sec. Mess. Good news, good news! the ladies have prevail'd,

44

The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone.
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 certain? 48

Sec. 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!

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SCENE V.- Corioli. A Public Place.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants.
Auf. Go tell the lords o' 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. Him I accuse
The city ports by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: dispatch.

4

8

[Exeunt Attendants.

Enter three or four Conspirators of AUFIDIUS'

Most welcome!

faction.

First 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.

Sec. 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.
Auj.

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Auf.

There was it; 44

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, 48
And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

[Drums and trumpets sound, with
great shouts of the People.

First Con. Your native town you enter'd
like a post,

And had no welcomes home; but he returns,
Splitting the air with noise.
Sec. Con.

And patient fools, 52 Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear

12 With giving him glory.

Third Con. Therefore, at your vantage, Ere he express himself, or move the pecple With what he would say, let him feel your sword,

Sir, I cannot tell:

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And grieve to hear 't. What faults he made before the last, I think 64 Might have found easy fines; but there to end Where he was to begin, and give away

The benefit of our levies, answering us

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With our own charge, making a treaty where 68 To thrust the lie unto him.

There was a yielding, this admits no excuse.

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Must bear my beating to his grave-shall join

First Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak. Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,

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Enter CORIOLANUS, with drums and colours; a crowd of Citizens with him.

Stain all your edges on me. Boy! False

hound!

Auf. He approaches: you shall hear him.

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Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd 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 76
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

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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.

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All the People. Tear him to pieces. - Do it presently. - He killed my son.-My daughter. -He killed my cousin Marcus. - He killed my father.

Sec. Lord. Peace, ho! no outrage: peace! The man is noble and his fame folds in

Read it not, noble lords; 84 This orb o' the earth. His last offences to us

But tell the traitor in the highest degree
He hath abus'd your powers.

Cor. Traitor! How now?

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Insolent villain!

Auf.
Conspirators. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
[AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw,
and kill CORIOLANUS, who jalls: AU-
FIDIUS stands on his body.

Lords.

Hold, hold, hold, hold! 132
Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak.
First Lord.
O Tullus!
Sec. Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat
valour will weep.

Third Lord. Tread not upon him. Masters
all, be quiet.

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