Act V, Scene 6

Antium. A public place.

[Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants]

• Tullus Aufidius. 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, 3820
  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 herself with words: dispatch.
  [Exeunt Attendants] 3825
  [Enter three or four Conspirators of AUFIDIUS' faction]
  Most welcome!

• First Conspirator. How is it with our general?

• Tullus Aufidius. Even so
  As with a man by his own alms empoison'd, 3830
  And with his charity slain.

• Second Conspirator. Most noble sir,
  If you do hold the same intent wherein
  You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
  Of your great danger. 3835

• Tullus Aufidius. Sir, I cannot tell:
  We must proceed as we do find the people.

• Third Conspirator. The people will remain uncertain whilst
  'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either
  Makes the survivor heir of all. 3840

• Tullus Aufidius. I know it;
  And my pretext to strike at him admits
  A good construction. I raised 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, 3845
  Seducing so my friends; and, to this end,
  He bow'd his nature, never known before
  But to be rough, unswayable and free.

• Third Conspirator. Sir, his stoutness
  When he did stand for consul, which he lost 3850
  By lack of stooping,—

• Tullus Aufidius. 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 3855
  In all his own desires; nay, let him choose
  Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
  My best and freshest men; served his designments
  In mine own person; holp to reap the fame
  Which he did end all his; and took some pride 3860
  To do myself this wrong: till, at the last,
  I seem'd his follower, not partner, and
  He waged me with his countenance, as if
  I had been mercenary.

• First Conspirator. So he did, my lord: 3865
  The army marvell'd at it, and, in the last,
  When he had carried Rome and that we look'd
  For no less spoil than glory,—

• Tullus Aufidius. There was it:
  For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him. 3870
  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] 3875
  the People]

• First Conspirator. Your native town you enter'd like a post,
  And had no welcomes home: but he returns,
  Splitting the air with noise.

• Second Conspirator. And patient fools, 3880
  Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
  With giving him glory.

• Third Conspirator. Therefore, at your vantage,
  Ere he express himself, or move the people
  With what he would say, let him feel your sword, 3885
  Which we will second. When he lies along,
  After your way his tale pronounced shall bury
  His reasons with his body.

• Tullus Aufidius. Say no more:
  Here come the lords. 3890

[Enter the Lords of the city]

• All Lords. You are most welcome home.

• Tullus Aufidius. I have not deserved it.
  But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
  What I have written to you? 3895

• All Lords. We have.

• First Lord. And grieve to hear't.
  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 3900
  The benefit of our levies, answering us
  With our own charge, making a treaty where
  There was a yielding,—this admits no excuse.

• Tullus Aufidius. He approaches: you shall hear him.
  [Enter CORIOLANUS, marching with drum and] 3905
  colours; commoners being with him]

• Coriolanus. 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 3910
  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 3915
  With no less honour to the Antiates
  Than shame to the Romans: and we here deliver,
  Subscribed by the consuls and patricians,
  Together with the seal o' the senate, what
  We have compounded on. 3920

• Tullus Aufidius. Read it not, noble lords;
  But tell the traitor, in the high'st degree
  He hath abused your powers.

• Coriolanus. Traitor! how now!

• Tullus Aufidius. Ay, traitor, CORIOLANUS! 3925

• Coriolanus. CORIOLANUS!

• Tullus Aufidius. Ay, CORIOLANUS, Caius CORIOLANUS: 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 3930
  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 3935
  Counsel o' the war, but at his nurse's tears
  He whined and roar'd away your victory,
  That pages blush'd at him and men of heart
  Look'd wondering each at other.

• Coriolanus. Hear'st thou, Mars? 3940

• Tullus Aufidius. Name not the god, thou boy of tears!

• Coriolanus. Ha!

• Tullus Aufidius. No more.

• Coriolanus. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart
  Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave! 3945
  Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever
  I was forced 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 3950
  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, 3955
  That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
  Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli:
  Alone I did it. Boy!

• Tullus Aufidius. Why, noble lords,
  Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, 3960
  Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,
  'Fore your own eyes and ears?

• All Conspirators. Let him die for't.

• All The People. 'Tear him to pieces.' 'Do it presently.' 'He kill'd
  my son.' 'My daughter.' 'He killed my cousin 3965
  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, 3970
  And trouble not the peace.

• Coriolanus. O that I had him,
  With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
  To use my lawful sword!

• Tullus Aufidius. Insolent villain! 3975

• All Conspirators. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
  [The Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS:]
  AUFIDIUS stands on his body]

• All Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold!

• Tullus Aufidius. My noble masters, hear me speak. 3980

• 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.

• Tullus Aufidius. My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, 3985
  Provoked 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 3990
  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 urn. 3995

• Second Lord. His own impatience
  Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
  Let's make the best of it.

• Tullus Aufidius. My rage is gone;
  And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up. 4000
  Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.
  Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
  Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
  Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
  Which to this hour bewail the injury, 4005
  Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist.

[Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS. A dead march sounded]