• Rome. A street.
    Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, all the Gentry, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators

    CORIOLANUS

    Tullus Aufidius then had made new head?

    LARTIUS

    He had, my lord; and that it was which caused
    Our swifter composition.

    CORIOLANUS

    So then the Volsces stand but as at first,
    5Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road.
    Upon’s again.

    COMINIUS

    They are worn, lord consul, so,
    That we shall hardly in our ages see
    Their banners wave again.

    CORIOLANUS

    10Saw you Aufidius?

    LARTIUS

    On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse
    Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely
    Yielded the town: he is retired to Antium.

    CORIOLANUS

    Spoke he of me?

    LARTIUS

    15He did, my lord.

    CORIOLANUS

    How? what?

    LARTIUS

    How often he had met you, sword to sword;
    That of all things upon the earth he hated
    Your person most, that he would pawn his fortunes
    20To hopeless restitution, so he might
    Be call’d your vanquisher.
  • A street in Rome.
    Trumpets sound. CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, all the noblemen, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators enter.

    CORIOLANUS

    Tullus Aufidius had assembled a new army?

    LARTIUS

    He had, my lord, and that was why we needed to reach an agreement sooner than expected.

    CORIOLANUS

    So then, the Volsces will be able to attack us again when the time is right.

    COMINIUS

    They’re worn out, lord consul, so we won’t likely see their banners wave again in our lifetime.

    CORIOLANUS

    Did you see Aufidius?

    LARTIUS

    He came to me, under high security, and cursed the Volsces because they had failed so miserably by letting the town be captured. He has retreated to Antium.

    CORIOLANUS

    Did he talk about me?

    LARTIUS

    He did, my lord.

    CORIOLANUS

    What did he say?

    LARTIUS

    He spoke of how often you and he had met in battle. He said that of all things on earth, he hated you the most and that he would pawn his fortunes until he was hopelessly broke in order to defeat you.