The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (790 page)

Titus Lartius writes,--they fought together, but Aufidius

escaped alive.

got off.

MENENIUS.

It was time for him to go, I’ll give him that. If he had

And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that: an he

stayed and fought,  I wouldn’t have traded places with him for all the

had stayed by him, I would not have been so fidiused for all the

treasire in Corioles. Has the Senate been

chests in Corioli and the gold that's in them. Is the Senate

informed about all this?

possessed of this?  

VOLUMNIA.

Let’s go, ladies. Yes, yes, yes: the Senate has letters

Good ladies, let's go.--Yes, yes, yes; the Senate has letters

from the General, in which he gives all the credit for the victory

from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the

to Marcius: he’s outdone himself this time.

war: he hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly.

VALERIA.

Honestly, they’re saying the most wonderful things about him.

In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.

MENENIUS.

Wonderful! Yes, I bet they are, and I’m sure he deserves their praise.

Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.

VIRGILIA.

God made them true!

The gods grant them true!

VOLUMNIA.

True! Yeah, right.

True! pow, wow.

MENENIUS.

True! I swear they’re true. Where is he wounded? [To the

True! I'll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded?--[To the

TRIBUNES, who come forward.] Hello, gentlemen! Marcius

TRIBUNES, who come forward.] God save your good worships! Marcius

is coming home, and he has good reason to be proud.—Where is he

is coming home; he has more cause to be proud.--Where is he

wounded?

wounded?

VOLUMNIA.

In the shoulder and in the left arm. He will have large

I' the shoulder and i' the left arm; there will be large

scars to show people when he is campaigning to be consul [head of the Roman Republic].

cicatrices to show the people when he shall stand for his place.

He received seven wounds in the last war.

He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i' the body.

MENENIUS.

Plus one in the neck, and two in the thigh—there’s nine wounds that I

One i' the neck and two i' the thigh,--there's nine that I

know of.

know.

VOLUMNIA.

Before this last expedition, he had a total of 25 wounds on his body.

He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

MENENIUS.

Now it’s 27. And every wound on him meant the death of an enemy.

Now it's twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy's grave.  

[A shout and the sound of trumpets.]

[A shout and flourish.]

Listen! The trumpets are sounding.

Hark! the trumpets.

VOLUMNIA.

Those mean that Marcius is coming. He makes noise

These are the ushers of Marcius: before him

before he shows up, and leaves a wake of tears behind him.

He carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears;

In his strong arms he carries Death;

Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie;

when he raises and lowers his arms, men die.

Which, being advanc'd, declines, and then men die.

[A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS and TITUS LARTIUS;

between them, CORIOLANUS, crowned with an oaken garland; with

CAPTAINS and Soldiers and a HERALD.]

HERALD.

Know, Romans, that Marcius fought all alone

Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight

behind enemy line, and he won

Within Corioli gates: where he hath won,

a new name to add to Caius Marcius:

With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these

Coriolanus!

In honour follows Coriolanus:--

Welcome to Rome, famous Coriolanus!

Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

[Flourish.]

ALL.

Welcome to Rome, famous Coriolanus!

Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

CORIOLANUS.

Stop that, it offends me to be praised so much.

No more of this, it does offend my heart;

Please, no more.

Pray now, no more.

COMINIUS.

Look, sire, your mother!

Look, sir, your mother!

CORIOLANUS.

Oh,

O,

I know you prayed to all the gods

You have, I know, petition'd all the gods

for me to do well!

For my prosperity!

[Kneels.]

VOLUMNIA.

No, good soldier, stand up.

Nay, my good soldier, up;

My gentle Marcius, good Caius and

My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and

(because of your great achievements) now called—

By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd,--

What is it?—Do I have to call you Coriolanus?

What is it?--Coriolanus must I call thee?

But, look, your wife!

But, O, thy wife!

CORIOLANUS.

Hello my dear silent lady!

My gracious silence, hail!

Would you have laughed if I had come home dead?

Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd home,

Then why do you cry to see me triumphant? Oh, my dear,

That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,

you look as sad as the widows of Corioles,

Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,

and the mothers who’ve lost sons.

And mothers that lack sons.

MENENIUS.

Now you will be made you consul!

Now the gods crown thee!

CORIOLANUS.

You’re still alive? [To VALERIA] Oh, I beg your pardon, my lady.

And live you yet? [To VALERIA]--O my sweet lady, pardon.

VOLUMNIA.

I’m all in a tizzy. Welcome home, Martius; and welcome,

I know not where to turn.--O, welcome home;--and welcome,

General; welcome, everyone.

general;--and you are welcome all.

MENENIUS.

A hundred thousand welcome. I don’t know whether

A hundred thousand welcomes.--I could weep  

to laugh or cry; I am happy and sad at once. Welcome!

And I could laugh; I am light and heavy.--Welcome:

Damn everybody

A curse begin at very root on's heart

who isn’t glad to see you1 You are three of the best

That is not glad to see thee!--You are three

people in Rome, but, I’m afraid to say,

That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men,

we have some people here at home that cannot be

We have some old crab trees here at home that will not

improved. But welcome home anyway, soldiers.

Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors.

Let’s just dismiss those bad people as bad

We call a nettle but a nettle; and

foolish.

The faults of fools but folly.

COMINIUS.

Right, as always, Menenius!

Ever right.

CORIOLANUS.

Menenius is the best.

Menenius ever, ever.

HERALD.

Keep moving people!

Give way there, and go on!

CORIOLANUS.

[To his wife and mother.] Give me your hands and come with me.

[To his wife and mother.] Your hand, and yours:

Before I can rest in our house

Ere in our own house I do shade my head,

I have to visit the Senate,

The good patricians must be visited;

which not only greeted me

From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings,

but gave me all kinds of honors.

But with them change of honours.

VOLUMNIA.

I have lived

I have lived

to see all my dreams come true,

To see inherited my very wishes,

there’s only one thing missing

And the buildings of my fancy; only

[seeing Coriolanus made consul], and I’m sure

There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but  

Rome will give it to you.

Our Rome will cast upon thee.

CORIOLANUS.

But remember, mother,

Know, good mother,

I would rather serve the people as I see fit,

I had rather be their servant in my way

rather than do what the people want.

Than sway with them in theirs.

COMINIUS.

Let’s go to the Capitol.

On, to the Capitol.

[Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before. The tribunes

remain.]

BRUTUS.

Everyone is talking about him, and short-sighted people

All tongues speak of him and the bleared sights

put on their glasses to see him. Nursemaids let the babies

Are spectacled to see him: your prattling nurse

they’re supposed to be watching cry while they

Into a rapture lets her baby cry

chat with him; the kitchen slut wears

While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins

her best rags on her filthy body,

Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck,

and climbs the walls to catch a glimpse of him; all kinds of

Clamb'ring the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks, windows,

shops close up, and people of all types climb  

Are smother'd up, leads fill'd and ridges hors'd

on the rooftops, all trying

With variable complexions; all agreeing

to see him pass. Rarely-seen priests

In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens

come out and mingle with the crowds, and struggle

Do press among the popular throngs, and puff

to gain a place among the people. Fancy ladies

To win a vulgar station: our veil'd dames  

blush pink when they see him,

Commit the war of white and damask, in

in their expensive makeup, which makes them

Their nicely gawded cheeks, to the wanton spoil

look sunburned. They male such a fuss over him,

Of Phoebus' burning kisses; such a pother,

as if God himself

As if that whatsoever god who leads him

had entered his body

Were slily crept into his human powers,

and made him as good-looking as he is.

And gave him graceful posture.

SICINIUS.

I bet he’ll shortly

On the sudden

be made consul.

I warrant him consul.

BRUTUS.

In that case we

Then our office may

will lose all of our power during his time in office.

During his power go sleep.