The Tragedy of Coriolanus - William Shakespeare (best books to read in life .txt) 📗

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 perus'd 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, with drum and colours; a crowd of Citizens 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 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, Subscribed by the consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o' the 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 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 whin'd and roar'd away your victory; That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart Look'd wondering 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.

CITIZENS. Tear him to pieces, do it presently: - he killed 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!

CONSPIRATORS. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

[AUFIDIUS and 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 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, Provok'd 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 um.

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.

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

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Publication Date: 05-22-2008

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