Auf.
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
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
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 Con.

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-

Auf.

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 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 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,

Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
With giving him glory.

Third Con.

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 pronounced shall bury
His reasons with his body.

Auf.

Here come the lords.

Say no more:

Enter the Lords of the city.

All the Lords. You are most welcome home.

Auf.

I have not deserved it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
What I have written to you?

Lords.
First Lord.

We have.

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.
Auf. He approaches: you shall hear him.

Enter Coriolanus, marching with drum and colours; the
commoners being with him.

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

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.

Auf.

Read it not, noble lords;

But tell the traitor, in the highest degree
He hath abused your powers.

Cor. Traitor ! how now!

Auf.

Cor.

Ay, traitor, Marcius!

Marcius!
Auf. 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.

Cor.

Hear'st thou, Mars?

Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears!
Cor.

Ha!

Auf. No more.

heart

Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my
Too great for what contains it. 'Boy!' O slave!
Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

I was forced to scold. Your judgements, 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.
Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me. 'Boy!' false hound!
you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,
That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli;

If

Alone I did it.

Auf.

Boy!'

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 Consp.

'He

Let him die for 't.

'He killed my cousin

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

Sec. 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.

Cor.

O that I had him,

With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
To use my lawful sword!

Auf.

Insolent villain !

All Consp. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

Lords.

[The Conspirators draw, and kill Coriolanus: Aufidius stands on his body.

Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak.
First Lord.

Sec. Lord. Thou hast done a deed
Third Lord. Tread not upon him.
Put up your swords.

Hold, hold, hold, hold!

O'Tullus,

whereat valour will weep. Masters all, be quiet;

Auf. 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
To call me to your senate, I'll deliver
Myself your loyal servant, or endure
Your heaviest censure.

First Lord.

honours

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.

Sec. Lord.

His own impatience

Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.

Auf.
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

ANDRONICUS

DRAMATIS PERSONE

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of
Rome, afterwards emperor.
BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus.
TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS, tribune of the
people, and brother to Titus.

LUCIUS,

QUINTUS,

sons to Titus Andronicus.

MARTIUS,

MUTIUS,

YOUNG LUCIUS, a boy, son to Lucius.

PUBLIUS, son to Marcus Andronicus.
EMILIUS, a noble Roman.

ALARBUS,

DEMETRIUS,

CHIRON,

sons to Tamora.

AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.

A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and
Clown: Romans and Goths.

TAMORA, Queen of the Goths.

LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus.
A Nurse, and a black Child.

Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendan
SCENE: Rome, and the country near it.

Rome.

ACT I-SCENE I

Before the Capitol. The Tomb of the
Andronici appearing.

Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft. And then enter below, Saturninus and his Followers from one side, and Bassianus and his Followers from the other side, with drum and colours.

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my successive title with your swords:
I am his first-born son, that was the last
That ware the imperial diadem of Rome;
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right,
If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol ;
And suffer not dishonour to approach
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence and nobility:
But let desert in pure election shine;

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Enter Marcus Andronicus, aloft, with the crown.
Marc. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends
Ambitiously for rule and empery,

Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
A special party, have by common voice,

In election for the Roman empery,