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 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?
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 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
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?
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
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!
All Conspirators Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
The Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS: AUFIDIUS stands on his body
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,
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
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.
Second Lord His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let’s make the best of it.
AUFIDIUS My rage is gone;
And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up.
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,
Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist.
Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS. A dead march sounded