William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Coriolanus

ACT IV. 6. SCENE VI. Rome. A public place. (continued)

MESSENGER.
The nobles in great earnestness are going
All to the senate-house: some news is come
That turns their countenances.

SICINIUS.
'Tis this slave,--
Go whip him fore the people's eyes:--his raising;
Nothing but his report.

MESSENGER.
Yes, worthy sir,
The slave's report is seconded, and more,
More fearful, is deliver'd.

SICINIUS.
What more fearful?

MESSENGER.
It is spoke freely out of many mouths,--
How probable I do not know,--that Marcius,
Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,
And vows revenge as spacious as between
The young'st and oldest thing.

SICINIUS.
This is most likely!

BRUTUS.
Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish
Good Marcius home again.

SICINIUS.
The very trick on 't.

MENENIUS.
This is unlikely:
He and Aufidius can no more atone
Than violentest contrariety.

[Enter a second MESSENGER.]

SECOND MESSENGER.
You are sent for to the senate:
A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius
Associated with Aufidius, rages
Upon our territories; and have already
O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire and took
What lay before them.

[Enter COMINIUS.]

COMINIUS.
O, you have made good work!

MENENIUS.
What news? what news?

COMINIUS.
You have holp to ravish your own daughters, and
To melt the city leads upon your pates;
To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses,--

MENENIUS.
What's the news? what's the news?

COMINIUS.
Your temples burned in their cement; and
Your franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd
Into an auger's bore.