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tyger; that fhall our poor city find; and all this is long of you.

Sic. The gods be good unto us!

Men. No, in fuch a cafe the gods will not be good unto us. When we banifhed him, we refpected not them: and he returning to break our necks, they respect not us..

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. Sir, if you'd fave your life, fly to your house; The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, And hale him up and down; all fwearing, if The Roman ladies bring not comfort home, They'll give him death by inches.

Enter another Meffenger..

Sic. What's the news?

[vailed

Mef. Good news, good news, the ladies have pre--The Volfcians are diflodged, and Marcius gone: A merrier day did never yet greet Rome, No, not the expulfion of the Tarquins.

Sic. Friend,

Art certain this is true? is it most certain?
Mef. As certain as I know the fun is fire:

Where have you furked, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch fo hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through th' gates. Why, hark
you;.

[Trumpets, Hauthoys, Drums beat all together The trumpets, fackbuts, pfalteries and fifes, Tabors and cymbals, and the fhouting, Romans Make the fun dance. Hark you! [A fhout within. Men. This is good news:

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia

Is. worth of confuls, fenators, patricians, .
A city full of tribunes, fuch as you,

A fea and land full. You've pray'd well to-day: This morning, for ten thoufand of your throats I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy! [Sound fill with the fhouts. Sic. First, the gods blefs you for your tidings: Accept my thankfulnefs.

[next, Mef Sir, we have all great caufe to give great Sic. They're near the city?

Mef. Almoft at point to enter.

[thanks.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy. [Exeunt. Enter two Senators, with Ladies, paffing over the Stage; with other Lords.

Sen. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome: Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, And make triumphant fires: ftrew flowers before Unfhout the noife that banifhed Marcius; [them: Repeal him with the welcome of his mother: Cry,Welcome, Ladies, welcome!

All. Welcome, Ladies, welcome !

[Exeunt.

[A flourish with Drums and Trumpets.

SCENE changes to a public Place in Antium.
Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants.
Auf. 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. He, I accufe,
The city ports by this hath entered; and
Intends t'appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words. Difpatch.---Moft
welcome !

Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius's

Faction.

1 Con. How is it with our General?

Auf. Even fo

As with a man by his own alms impoisoned,
And with his charity flain.

If

2 Con. Most noble Sir,

you do hold the fame intent wherein You wifhed us parties, we'll deliver you. Of your great danger.

Auf. Sir, I cannot tell;

We must proceed as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain whil *Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the furvivor heir of all.

Auf. I know it;

And my pretext to strike at him admits.

A good conftruction. I raised him, and pawned
Mine honour for his truth; who being fo heightened,
He watered his new plants with dews of Aattery,
Seducing fo my friends; and to this end,
He bowed his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unfwayable, and free.
3. Con. Sir, his foutuefs.

When he did ftand for conful, which he lost
By lack of ftooping

Auf. That I would have spoke of:
Being banifhed for't, he came unto my hearth,
Prefented to my knife his throat; I took him,
IMade him joint fervant with me; gave
him way
n all his own defires; nay, let him chufe
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and freshest men; served his defignments
In mine own person; holpe to reap the fame,
Which he did make all his; and took fome pride
To do myself this wrong; 'till, at the last,
I feemed his follower, not partner; and
He waged me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

Con. So he did, my Lord:

The army marvelled at it; and, at last,

When he had carried Rome, and that we looked For no less spoil than glory

Auf. There was it;

For which my finews fhall be stretched upon him;
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he fold the blood and labour
Of our great action; therefore he fhall die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

[Drums and Trumpets found, with great
fhouts of the people.

1 Con. Your native town you entered like a poft, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noife.

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whofe children he hath flain, their bafe throats tear, Giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore at your vantage,

Ere he exprefs himself, or move the people

With what he would fay, let him feel your fword,

Which we will fecond.

When he lyes along,

After your way his tale pronounced thall búry

His reafons with his body.

Auf. Say no more,

Here come the Lords.

Enter the Lords of the City.

All Lords. You're most welcome home.

Auf. I have not deserved it.

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

All. We have.

1 Lord. And grieve to hear it.

What faults he made before the laft, I think,
Might have found easy fines: but there to end,

Σ

Where he was to begin, and give away
The benefit of our levies, anfwering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding, this admits no excufe.
Auf. He approaches, you fhall hear him.
Enter CORIOLANUS, marching with drums and co-
lours ; the Commons being with him.

Cor. Hail, Lords; I am returned, your foldier;
No more infected with my country's love,
Than when I parted hence, but ftill fubfifting
Under your great command. You are to know,
That profperoufly I have attempted, and
With bloody paffage led your wars, even to
The gates of Rome. Our fpoils, we have brought
Do more than counterpoife, a full third part, [home,
The charges of the action. We've made peace
With no lefs honour to the Antiates,

Than fhame to th' Romans: and we here deliver,
Subfcribed by the confuls and patricians,
Together with the feal o' th' 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. Ay, traitor, Marcius.

Cor. Marcius!

Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius; doft thou

think

I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stolen name
Coriolanus, in Corioli?

You Lords and heads o' th' ftate, perfidiously
He has betrayed your business, and given up,
For certain drops of falt, your city Rome;
I fay, your city, to his wife and mother;