The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (805 page)

ROMAN.

I know you well, and you know me. Your name, I think,

I know you well, sir, and you know me; your name, I think,

is Adrian.

is Adrian.

VOLSCE.

It is, but I don’t remember you.

It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.

ROMAN.

I am a Roman, but, like you, I’m working against Rome. Do you know

I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em: know

me yet?

you me yet?

VOLSCE.

Nicanor, right?

Nicanor? no!

ROMAN.

That’s me.

The same, sir.

VOLSCE.

Your beard was long the last time I saw you but I recognize you

You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is

from your words. What’s going on in Rome? I had

well approved by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a

orders from the Volscian government to find you in Rome. You

note from the Volscian state, to find you out there; you have

saved me a day’s journey by meeting me here.

well saved me a day's journey.

ROMAN.

There have been rebellions in Rome: the people

There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the people

rose up against the senators, aristocrats and noblemen.

against the senators, patricians, and nobles.

VOLSCE.

Have been, in the past tense? Is it over then? The Volscians don’t think so.

Hath been! is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so;

They are getting ready to go to war, and hope to attack the Romans when

they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon

they are most divided against themselves.

them in the heat of their division.

ROMAN.

The worst of the rioting is over, but any little thing could make it

The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it

start again. The upper classes were so upset by the banishment

flame again; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment

of Coriolanus that they are ready to take away

of that worthy Coriolanus that they are in a ripe aptness to take

all power from the people, and to get rid of the tribunes

all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes

forever. The conflict is simmering, I can tell you, and is almost ready

for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature

to break out in violence again.

for the violent breaking out.

VOLSCE.

Coriolanus was banished?

Coriolanus banished!

ROMAN.

Banished.

Banished, sir.

VOLSCE.

That is very good news, Nicanor.

You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

ROMAN.

It’s a good day for the Volscians. They say the

The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said the

best time to seduce a man’s wife is when she’s fighting

fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fallen out

with her husband. Your leader Tullus Aufidius will do well in

with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in

this upcoming war, now that his biggest enemy, Coriolanus, is no longer

these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no

wanted by his country.

request of his country.

VOLSCE.

He can’t do otherwise. It’s very lucky that I ran into you.

He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to

You have brought this spying mission to an end, and now I will happily

encounter you; you have ended my business, and I will merrily

accompany you home.

accompany you home.

ROMAN.

Between now and dinnertime I will tell you all the strange news

I shall between this and supper tell you most strange things

from Rome, all of which is good news for its enemies. You have

from Rome; all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you

an army ready, you say?

an army ready, say you?

VOLSCE.

A big one: the officers and their men, enrolled

A most royal one; the centurions and their charges, distinctly

separately, are already being paid, and can be ready to march with an

billeted, already in the entertainment, and to be on foot at an

hour’s notice.

hour's warning.

ROMAN.

I’m glad to hear that they are ready, and I am the man, I think,

I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I think,

who will give them the word to march. So, it was very nice to

that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily well

see you, and I’m glad of your company.

met, and most glad of your company.

VOLSCE.

You take the words out my mouth. I have more cause to be

You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be

glad to have met you.

glad of yours.

ROMAN.

Well, let us go together.

Well, let us go together.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean apparel, disguised and muffled.]

CORIOLANUS.

Antium is a good city. Anitum,

A goodly city is this Antium. City,

it was I that killed your men. I’ve seen many

'Tis I that made thy widows: many an heir

of the men of this town die

Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars

when I attacked them. So don’t recognize me,

Have I heard groan and drop: then know me not.

in case the woman and children of the town kill me

Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones,

with kitchen implements and stones.

In puny battle slay me.

[Enter a CITIZEN.]

God bless you, sir.

Save you, sir.

CITIZEN.

Likewise.

And you.

CORIOLANUS.

Can you tell me, please,

Direct me, if it be your will,

where I can find Aufidius? Is he in Antium?

Where great Aufidius lies; is he in Antium?

CITIZEN.

He is, and he’s having a dinner party for some senators

He is, and feasts the nobles of the state

at his house tonight.

At his house this night.

CORIOLANUS.

Where is his house?

Which is his house, beseech you?

CITIZEN.

This one here, in front of you.

This, here, before you.  

CORIOLANUS.

Thank you, sir. Good bye.

Thank you, sir; farewell.

[Exit CITIZEN.]

Oh world, you’re full of fickle changes. Good friends,

O world, thy slippery turns! Friends now fast sworn,

who seem to share a single heart,

Whose double bosoms seems to wear one heart,

whose prayer-time, bed-time, meal-time and exercise times

Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal and exercise

are together, whose love makes them

Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love

inseparable, will now,

Unseparable, shall within this hour,

because of a fight over a mere penny, become

On a dissension of a doit, break out

bitterest enemies. Likewise, worst enemies,

To bitterest enmity; so fellest foes,

who have lost sleep scheming

Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep

against each other, will, for some reason,

To take the one the other, by some chance,

some trick not worth an egg, become dear friends

Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow dear friends

and arrange for their children to marry each other. So jon me:

And interjoin their issues. So with me:--

I hate my hometown, and I love

My birthplace hate I, and my love's upon

my enemies. I’ll enter, and if he kills me,

This enemy town.--I'll enter; if he slay me,

that would be fair. If he allows me liberty of action,

He does fair justice; if he give me way,

I’ll serve his country well.

I'll do his country service.

[Music  within. Enter A SERVANT.]

FIRST SERVANT.

Wine, wine, wine! Where are the other servants?

Wine, wine, wine! What service is here!

I think they’re asleep.

I think our fellows are asleep.  

[Exit.]

[Enter a second SERVANT.]

SECOND SERVANT.

Where’s Cotus? The master wants him. Cotus!

Where's Cotus? my master calls for him.--Cotus!

[Exit.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS.]

CORIOLANUS.

This a good house. The dinner smells good. But I

A goodly house: the feast smells well; but I

don’t look like a guest.

Appear not like a guest.

[Re-enter the first SERVANT.]

FIRST SERVANT.

What would you like, friend. Where are you from? This is no place for

What would you have, friend? whence are you? Here's no place for