The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (783 page)

The people mutinous: and it is rumour'd,

that Cominius, Marcius (your old enemy,

Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,--

who the Romans hate more than you do),

Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,--

and Titus Lartius (a very brave Roman general),

And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,

are all three in charge of organizing this expedition,

These three lead on this preparation

wherever it’s going, though most likely it’s headed your way.

Whither 'tis bent: most likely 'tis for you:

Think about it.”

Consider of it.'

FIRST SENATOR.

Our army’s in the field.

Our army's in the field:

We’ve never been able to prepare an attack before was ready

We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready

to counterattack.

To answer us.

AUFIDIUS.

And you tried

Nor did you think it folly

to keep our grand plans secret until they

To keep your great pretences veil'd till when

had to be revealed, but it seems the Romans found out about them

They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching,

during the early planning stages. Because they found out,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery

we won’t be able to do what we hoped, which was

We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was,

to make a surprise attack and capture

To take in many towns ere, almost, Rome

a lot of small towns under Roman control before Rome knew what was up.

Should know we were afoot.

SECOND SENATOR.

My man Aufidius,

Noble Aufidius,

you’re job is to the lead the army in war with Rome: go to your soldiers.

Take your commission; hie you to your bands;

Leave us here to guard Corioles [a Volscian city].

Let us alone to guard Corioli:

If the Roman come and besiege us,

If they set down before's, for the remove

you can come back and relieve us, but I think you’ll find

Bring up your army; but I think you'll find

that they’re not prepared for the fight we’re going to give them.

They've not prepared for us.

AUFIDIUS.

Oh, I don’t doubt that.

O, doubt not that;

I’m sure of it. No, more than sure.

I speak from certainties. Nay, more,

Some Volscian units have already been deployed, but only

Some parcels of their power are forth already,

to attack us here, not to defend themselves. I’m out of here, gentlemen.

And only hitherward. I leave your honours.

If I happen to run into Caius Marcius,

If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet,

I promise I’ll fight him

'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike

to the death.

Till one can do no more.

ALL.

Good luck!

The gods assist you!

AUFIDIUS.

And y’all be careful now!

And keep your honours safe!

FIRST SENATOR.

Good bye.

Farewell.

SECOND SENATOR.

Good bye.

Farewell.

ALL.

Good bye.

Farewell.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA; they sit down on two low stools and

sew.]

VOLUMNIA.

Daughter-in-law, I’m begging you—try to be more cheerful.

I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more

If I were married to my son, I would be happier

comfortable sort; if my son were my husband, I should freelier

when he was off winning honor than when he was

rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the

at home making love to me. When my son

embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet

was a gorgeous young man,

he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth

when nobody could keep their eyes off of him,  

with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of

when I wouldn’t have let him out of my sight no matter who begged me,

kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her

I considered how winning honor would look so good on such a handsome man,

beholding; I,--considering how honour would become such a person;

who without fame would just be a useless pretty-boy,

that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall if

and I let him go off to war, despite the danger,

renown made it not stir;--was pleased to let him seek danger

so he could get famous. I sent him off to war, and he came back

where he was to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence

with a medal for bravery for saving another soldier’s life. I’m telling you,

he returned his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I

I was just as happy to find out he was a real man

sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than

as I was when I heard that he would be a baby boy.

now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.

VIRGILIA.

But what if he had died in that war? What then?

But had he died in the business, madam? how then?

VOLUMNIA.

Then I would adopt his reputation as my new son,

Then his good report should have been my son; I therein  

and so I would still have a son. Listen to me—if I had a dozen

would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely,--had I a dozen

sons, and I loved them all the same, and none less than our

sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my

dear Marcius, I would rather see eleven of them die bravely for their country

good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country

than see one fail to do his duty.

than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

[Enter a GENTLEWOMAN.]

GENTLEWOMAN.

Ma’am, Lady Valeria is here to see you.

Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.

VIRGILIA.

Please, let me leave and be alone.

Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.

VOLUMNIA.

Oh no you don’t.

Indeed you shall not.

I think I hear your husband’s war drum.

Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum;

He’s going to tear Aufidius a new one,

See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair;

like a bear would savage a child, and the Volscians are going to hate him.

As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:

I can just see him now, stamping his foot, and say:

Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:--

“Come on, you cowards! You were conceived in fear

'Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear

though you were born in Rome.” Then, wiping his bloody face  

Though you were born in Rome:' his bloody brow

with armored hand, he’ll strike out,

With his mail'd hand then wiping, forth he goes,

like a gardener to mow the whole lawn (by chopping off Volscian heads),

Like to a harvest-man that's tasked to mow

or else lose his job.

Or all, or lose his hire.

VIRGILIA.

His bloody face! Oh God, no blood!

His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!  

VOLUMNIA.

Get out of here, you idiot! Blood looks better on a man than

Away, you fool! It more becomes a man

gold looks on statue of him. The breasts of Hecuba [mythical queen of Troy],

Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,

when she suckled Hector [her son], didn’t look any prettier

When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier

than Hector’s forehead when it got split open by the swords of his

Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood

Greek enemies and spurted blood in scorn.

At Grecian swords contemning.--Tell Valeria

[to the lady in waiting] Tell Valeria I’m ready for her now.

We are fit to bid her welcome.

[Exit GENTLEWOMAN.]

VIRGILIA.

God protect my husband from that evil Aufidius!

Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!

VOLUMNIA.

Marcius is going to kick Aufidius’ ass

He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee,

and step on his neck.

And tread upon his neck.

[Re-enter GENTLEWOMAN, with VALERIA and her Usher.]

VALERIA.

Hello ladies.

My ladies both, good-day to you.

VOLUMNIA.

Welcome, lovely lady.

Sweet madam.

VIRGILIA.

Nice to see you.

I am glad to see your ladyship.

VALERIA.

How you doing? You’re clearly not leaving the house. What are

How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What are

you sewing here? That’s some nice embroidery. How is your

you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith.--How does your

little boy?

little son?

VIRGILIA.

He’s well, thank you.

I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

VOLUMNIA.

He would rather play soldier than do his

He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his

school work.

schoolmaster.

VALERIA.

Oh my word, he’s hi father’s so—I swear, he is a very pretty boy.

O' my word, the father's son: I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy.

On my god, on Wednesday I just looked at his face for a straight

O' my troth, I looked upon him o' Wednesday,  half an hour

half hour: he has such a determined expression. I saw him run after a

together: has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a

golden butterfly, and when he caught it he let it go again, and

gilded butterfly; and when he caught it he let it go again; and

then doing it again, over and over, and then he fell over, got back up,

after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched