SCENE V.-Antium. A publick Place. Auf. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here: Enter Three or Four Conspirators of Aufidius' faction. Most welcome! 1 Con. How is it with our general? Auf Even so, Most noble sir, As with a man by his own arms empoison'd, And with his charity slain. 2 Con. If you do hold the same intent wherein 3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst "Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. Auf. 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 water'd 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. 3 Con. Sir, his stoutness, When he did stand for consul, which he lost Auf lord: 1 Con. So he did, my 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. [Drums and trumpets sound, with great 1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise. 2 Con. And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear With giving him glory. SHAKS. NOS. 83 & 84. 1 Lord. And grieve to hear it. 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, with drums and colours; a crowd of Citizens with him. Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier; Do more than counterpoise, a full third part, Than shame to the Romans; and we here deliver, Auf. Read it not, noble lords; Cor. Traitor!-How now ?- 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 of the state, perfidiously Cor. Hear'st thou, Mars? Auf Name not the god, thou boy of tears, Сот. Auf. No more. Ha! Cor. 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 gravə lords, Must give this cur the lie and his own notion (Who wears my stripes impress'd on him; that must bear 3 T My beating to his grave;) shall join to thrust 1 Lord. Auf. 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? Con. Let him die for't. [Several speak at once. Cit. Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces, do it presently. He killed my son ;-my daughter; -He killed my cousin Marcus;-He killed my father. 2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage;-peace. The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o' the earth. His last offence to us Cor. Insolent villain ! Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him. [AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw, and kill CORIOLANUS, who falls, and AUFIDIUS stands on him. Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold. Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak. 1 Lord. O Tullus,2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep. [quiet; 3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters all, be Put up your swords. rage, Auf My lords, when you shall know (as in this 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. 1 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. 2 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. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a rabble o Citizens. Flav. Hence; home, you idle creatures, get you home; Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me di 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobler, art thou? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Cæsar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd; You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, And drive away the vulgar from the streets: So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing, Will make him fly an ordinary pitch ; Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt. Casca. Bid every noise be still :-Peace yet again. [Musick ceases. Cas. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? Cas. Set him before me; let me see his face. [again. Speak once Cas. What say'st thou to me now? Cas. I pray you do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late. Cassius, Bru. Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours. [sion; Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your pas- And it is very much lamented, Brutus, Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear. And, smice you know you cannot see yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. [Flourish, and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, Bru. Auother general shout! [Shout. I do believe, that these applauses are Like a Colossus; and we petty men Men at some time are masters of their fates: O! you and I have heard our fathers say, Bru. That you do love me I am nothing jealous; I would not, so with love I might entreat you, I will with patience hear: and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I'm glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR and his Train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Bru. I will do so :-But, look you, Cassius, Ant. Cæsar? Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat; Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous; Cas. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid Flourish. So soon as that spare Cassius, He reads much; He is a great observer, and he looks For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world, Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, As thou dost, Antony; he hears no musick: | Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a scrt, Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; Would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad? Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him: and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca Why, for that too. [for? Cas. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown;-yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets;-and, as I told you, he put it by once, but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choaked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell down at it: And for mino own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. [swoon? Cas. But, soft, I pray you; What? Did Caesar Casca. He fell down in the market-place and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Casar hath it not; but you and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and displeased them, as they used to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his dublet, and offered | them his throat to cut.-An I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues—and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done, or said, any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, Alas, good soul!-and foreve him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Casca. Ay. Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again: But those that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads: but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. [Exit CASCA. Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, |