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CORIOLANUS
SCENE VI。 Corioli。 A public place
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with attendents
AUFIDIUS。 Go tell the lords o' th' city I am here； Deliver them this
paper； having read it； Bid them repair to th' 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 t' appear before the people；
hoping To purge himself with words。 Dispatch。 Exeunt attendants
Enter three or four CONSPIRATORS of AUFIDIUS' faction
Most welcome！ FIRST CONSPIRATOR。 How is it with our general？
AUFIDIUS。 Even so As with a man by his own alms empoison'd； 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。 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。 AUFIDIUS。 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 watered 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。
THIRD CONSPIRATOR。 Sir； his stoutness When he did stand for consul；
which he lost By lack of stooping… AUFIDIUS。 That I would have spoken
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 He wag'd me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary。
FIRST CONSPIRATOR。 So he did； my lord。 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… AUFIDIUS。 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
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CORIOLANUS
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＇ 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；
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； Which we will second。 When he lies along； After your way his tale
pronounc'd shall bury His reasons with his body。 AUFIDIUS。 Say no more：
Here come the lords。 Enter the LORDS of the city
LORDS。 You are most welcome home。 AUFIDIUS。 I have not
deserv'd it。 But； worthy lords； have you with heed perused What I have
written to you？ 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 The benefit of our
levies； answering us With our own charge； making a treaty where There
was a yielding… this admits no excuse。 AUFIDIUS。 He approaches； you
shall hear him。
Enter CORIOLANUS； marching with drum and colours； the
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 That prosperously
I have attempted； and With bloody passage led your wars even to The
gates of Rome。 Our spoils we have brought home Doth 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 th' Romans； and
we here deliver； Subscrib'd by th' consuls and patricians； Together with the
seal o' th' 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
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CORIOLANUS
Coriolanus； in Corioli？ You lords and heads o' th' 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' th' 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 wond'ring 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 dove…cote；
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。 ALL THE PEOPLE。 Tear him to
pieces。 Do it presently。 He kill'd my son。 My daughter。 He kill'd my cousin
Marcus。 He kill'd my father。 SECOND LORD。 Peace； ho！ No outrage…
peace！ The man is noble； and his fame folds in This orb o' th' 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！ ＇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