The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 477
for Cominius’ success.
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
BRUTUS.
Yeah,
Come:
Marcius gets credit for half the great stuff that Cominius has done,
Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius,
though Marcius didn’t earn it, and everything Cominius does wrong
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
will make Marcius look good, even though
To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed,
he doesn’t really deserve it.
In aught he merit not.
SICINIUS.
Let’s go find out
Let's hence and hear
how this war is going to be fought, and in what way,
How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion,
other than his usual bizarre methods, Marcius is going to
More than in singularity, he goes
plan this military action.
Upon this present action.
BRUTUS.
Let’s go.
Let's along.
[Exeunt.]
[Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain Vulscian SENATORS.]
FIRST SENATOR.
So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
that the Romans are aware of what we’ve been discussing
That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels
and know our plans.
And know how we proceed.
AUFIDIUS.
Isn’t that your opinion, too?
Is it not yours?
When have we ever talked about attacking Rome in this country
What ever have been thought on in this state,
and managed to pull it off before Rome
That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome
found out about it and foiled us? Just four days ago
Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone
I heard from a spy in Rome, and I quote:
Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think
(If I can find the letter—yes, here it is:)
I have the letter here; yes, here it is:
[Reads from the letter]
[Reads.]
“The Romans have massed an army, but I don’t know
'They have pressed a power, but it is not known
whether they intend to march east or west. The famine is bad,
Whether for east or west: the dearth is great;
the people are getting ready to revolt, and the rumor is
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
and then he caught it again, and I don’t know if he was angry about falling, or what,
it again; or whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did
but he sunk his teeth into that butterfly and tore it to pieces.
so set his teeth and tear it; O, I warrant, how he mammocked it!
VOLUMNIA.
Sounds like one of his father’s moods.
One on's father's moods.
VALERIA.
Yes, he is a noble child.
Indeed, la, 'tis a noble child.
VIRGILIA.
He’s a little devil, ma’am.
A crack, madam.
VALERIA.
Come on, put down your sewing, I want you to play the idle
Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle
housewife with me this afternoon.
housewife with me this afternoon.
VIRGILIA.
No, sorry ma’am, I won’t go out of doors.
No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
VALERIA.
Not out of doors!
Not out of doors!
VOLUMNIA.
She’ll go, she’ll go.
She shall, she shall.
VIRGILIA.
No, please, I won’t leave the house until my
Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold till my
husband returns from the war.
lord return from the wars.
VALERIA.
Shame, you lock yourself up too much. C’mon, you’ve got to go
Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably; come, you must go
visit the nice lady who’s stuck in bed.
visit the good lady that lies in.
VIRGILIA.
I hope she’ll get well soon, and I’ll pray for her,
I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers;
but I can’t go there.
but I cannot go thither.
VOLUMNIA.
Why, if I may ask?
Why, I pray you?
VIRGILIA.
It’s not because I’m lazy, or unloving.
'Tis not to save labour, nor that I w
ant love.
VALERIA.
You want to be like Penelope [wife of the mythical hero Ulysses], but they say
You would be another Penelope; yet they say all the yarn she spun
the yarn she spun while Ulysses was away just attracted moths. Come, I
in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I
wish the fabric was as sensitive as your finger, so you would stop poking it with your
would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might
sewing needle because you’d feel bad for it. Come on, you’re going with me.
leave pricking it for pity.--Come, you shall go with us.
VIRGILIA.
No ma’am, pardon me, I will not go out.
No, good madam, pardon me; indeed I will not forth.
VALERIA.
No, really, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent news
In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news
about your husband.
of your husband.
VIRGILIA.
Oh, ma’am, there can’t be any news yet.
O, good madam, there can be none yet.
VALERIA.
Really, I’m not kidding, some news about him arrived last
Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last
night.
night.
VIRGILIA.
Really, ma’am?
Indeed, madam?
VALERIA.
Seriously, it’s true, I heard a senator say it. That’s how it
In earnest, it's true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it
is: the Volscians have an army in the field, against whom Cominius the
is:--the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the
general is on the way to fight with part of the Roman forces. Your husband and
general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord and
Titus Lartius are hunkered down in front of the city of Corioles, where they
Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they
will no doubt win, and make the war end quickly. This is