William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Coriolanus

ACT V. 6. SCENE VI. Antium. A public place. (continued)

FIRST CONSPIRATOR.
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,--

AUFIDIUS.
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 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.]