The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (817 page)

CORIOLANUS.

Ha!

Ha!

AUFIDIUS.

That’s enough.

No more.

CORIOLANUS.

You big liar, you have made my heart sound like

Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart

it were bigger than my chest. Cry-baby? Oh, you slave!

Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!—

I’m sorry, my lords, this is the first time I ever

Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

had to use violent language to rebuke someone in public. You, my lords,

I was forc'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords,  

must accuse this dog to his face of lying. Aufidius’ understanding

Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion,--

(who carries the mark of my beating on his body, and must carry

Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him; that must bear

that beating to the grave) will take part in proving

My beating to his grave,--shall join to thrust

himself a liar.

The lie unto him.

FIRST LORD.

Quiet, both of you, and listen to me.

Peace, both, and hear me speak.

CORIOLANUS.

But me to pieces, Volscians. Men and boys,

Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads,

cut me with your swords. Cry-baby? You lying dog!

Stain all your edges on me.--Boy! False hound!

If I remember correctly,

If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,

I beat you Volscians in Corioles

That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I

like a fox in a hen house.

Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli:

And I did it alone. Some cry-baby!

Alone I did it.--Boy!

AUFIDIUS.

Why

Why, noble lords,

does this braggart remind you of that piece of pure luck,

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,

which was your shame,

Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,

right in front of your faces?

'Fore your own eyes and ears?

CONSPIRATORS.

Kill him for it.

Let him die for't.

CITIZENS.

Tear him pieces, do it now! He killed my son; my daughter;

Tear him to pieces, do it presently:--he killed my son; my

he killed my cousin Marcus; he killed my father…

daughter; he killed my cousin Marcus; he killed my father,--

SECOND LORD.

Quiet!

Peace, ho!--no outrage;--peace!  

This man is from a good family, and he is

The man is noble, and his fame folds in

famous all over the world. For this last offense against us

This orb o' the earth. His last offences to us

he will be given a fair trial. Aufidius, stop talking

Shall have judicious hearing.--Stand, Aufidius,

and don’t disturb the peace.

And trouble not the peace.

CORIOLANUS.

Oh, I wish I could kill him,

O that I had him,

with six more Aufidiuses, or even better, his while family,

With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,

in the heat of a legal battle.

To use my lawful sword!

AUFIDIUS.

Rude bastard!

Insolent villain!

CONSPIRATORS.

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

[AUFIDIUS and the CONSPIRATORS draw, and kill CORIOLANUS,who

falls. AUFIDIUS stands on him.]

LORDS.

Stop, stop, stop, stop!

Hold, hold, hold, hold!

AUFIDIUS.

My lords, listen to me.

My noble masters, hear me speak.

FIRST LORD.

Oh, Tullus—

O Tullus,--

SECOND LORD.

You have done a terrible thing that would make courage weep.

Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep.

THIRD LORD.

Don’t step on Coriolanus’ corpse. Everyone, be quiet.

Tread not upon him.--Masters all, be quiet;

Put away your weapons.

Put up your swords.

AUFIDIUS.

My lords, when you learn (and you can’t tell from this fit of rage,

My lords, when you shall know,--as in this rage,

which he provoked), the great danger

Provok'd by him, you cannot,--the great danger

you were in when Coriolanus was alive, you’ll celebrate

Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice  

is he is dead. If you’d like to

That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours

put me on trial before the senate, I’ll present

To call me to your senate, I'll deliver

myself willingly, and take

Myself your loyal servant, or endure

whatever punishment you give me.

Your heaviest censure.

FIRST LORD.

Take his body away,

Bear from hence his body,

and mourn for him. Let him be thought of

And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded

as the most noble corpse that was

As the most noble corse that ever herald

ever buried.

Did follow to his um.

SECOND LORD.

Coriolanus’ irascibility

His own impatience

takes away most of the blame from Aufidius.

Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.

Let’s make the best of it.

Let's make the best of it.

AUFIDIUS.

My rage is gone,

My rage is gone;

and now I am sad. Pick him up.

And I am struck with sorrow.--Take him up:--

Help, three of the biggest soldiers, and I’ll be the fourth to carry him.

Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.--

Beat the drums, so it sounds sad,

Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully;

and drag your spears on the ground as sign of grief. Though in this city he

Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he

has killed many of our husbands and sons,

Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,

which we’re still upset about,

Which to this hour bewail the injury,

he will be remembered well anyway.

Yet he shall have a noble memory.--

Help us.

Assist.  

[Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS. A dead march sounded.]

CYMBELINE, King of Britain

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, a gentleman, husband to Imogen

BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan

GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of POLYDORE and CADWAL, supposed sons to Belarius

PHILARIO, Italian, friend to Posthumus

IACHIMO, Italian, friend to Philario

A FRENCH GENTLEMAN, friend to Philario

CAIUS LUCIUS, General of the Roman Forces

A ROMAN CAPTAIN

TWO BRITISH CAPTAINS

PISANIO, servant to Posthumus

CORNELIUS, a physician

TWO LORDS of Cymbeline's court

TWO GENTLEMEN of the same

TWO GAOLERS

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen

HELEN, a lady attending on Imogen

APPARITIONS

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a

Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers,

Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants

SCENE: Britain; Italy

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

You do not meet a man but frowns; our bloods