Coriolanus: Act 5, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 6 of Coriolanus from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants. AUFIDIUS Go tell the lords o’ th’ city I am here. Deliver them this paper. (He gives them a paper.) Having read it, Bid them repair to th’ marketplace, where I, Even in theirs and in the commons’ ears, 5 Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse The city ports by this hath entered and Intends t’ appear before the people, hoping To purge himself with words. Dispatch. The Attendants exit. Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius’s faction. Most welcome! 10 FIRST CONSPIRATOR How is it with our general? AUFIDIUS Even so As with a man by his own alms empoisoned And with his charity slain. SECOND CONSPIRATOR Most noble sir, 15 If you do hold the same intent wherein You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you Of your great danger. AUFIDIUS Sir, I cannot tell. We must proceed as we do find the people. 20 THIRD CONSPIRATOR The people will remain uncertain whilst ’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all. AUFIDIUS I know it, And my pretext to strike at him admits 25 A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned Mine honor for his truth, who, being so heightened, He watered his new plants with dews of flattery, Seducing so my friends; and to this end, He bowed his nature, never known before 30 But to be rough, unswayable, and free. THIRD CONSPIRATOR Sir, his stoutness When he did stand for consul, which he lost By lack of stooping— AUFIDIUS That I would have spoke of. 35 Being banished for ’t, he came unto my hearth, Presented to my knife his throat. I took him, Made him joint servant with me, gave him way In all his own desires; nay, let him choose Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, 40 My best and freshest men; served his designments In mine own person; holp to reap the fame Which he did end all his; and took some pride To do myself this wrong; till at the last I seemed his follower, not partner; and 45 He waged me with his countenance as if I had been mercenary. FIRST CONSPIRATOR So he did, my lord. The army marvelled at it, and, in the last, When he had carried Rome and that we looked 50 For no less spoil than glory— AUFIDIUS There was it For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him. At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labor 55 Of our great action. Therefore shall he die, And I’ll renew me in his fall. But hark! Drums and trumpets sounds, with great shouts of the people. FIRST CONSPIRATOR Your native town you entered like a post And had no welcomes home, but he returns Splitting the air with noise. 60 SECOND CONSPIRATOR And patient fools, Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear With giving him glory. THIRD CONSPIRATOR Therefore at your vantage, Ere he express himself or move the people 65 With what he would say, let him feel your sword, Which we will second. When he lies along, After your way his tale pronounced shall bury His reasons with his body. AUFIDIUS Say no more. 70	Meanwhile in Corioles...Tullus Aufidius and a bunch of his Conspirator pals have shown up in Corioles, where people have gathered to welcome Coriolanus as their newest war hero. We guess they forgot that this is the same guy who stomped all over them back in Act 1, scenes 4-5, which earned him the nickname name, "Coriolanus." Aufidius and the Conspirators aren't there to celebrate. They've come to rat out Coriolanus to the Volscian senators for signing a peace treaty with Rome. (FYI--Shakespeare calls the Volscian senators "Lords," so we will too.) We find out that Coriolanus is on his way to the city's marketplace, where he'll have to explain why he showed mercy to the Romans instead of stomping on their necks. Aufidius and the Conspirators chat about their game plan. Since there's no way to know for certain how the Volscian people will react to Coriolanus, they'll just have to play it by ear.
Enter the Lords of the city. Here come the lords. ALL LORDS You are most welcome home. AUFIDIUS I have not deserved it. But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused What I have written to you? 75 ALL LORDS We have. FIRST LORD And grieve to hear ’t. What faults he made before the last, I think Might have found easy fines, but there to end Where he was to begin and give away 80 The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge, making a treaty where There was a yielding—this admits no excuse.	The Volscian Lords arrive and they're not happy with Coriolanus. Still, they think he's a hero and are willing to hear him out.
AUFIDIUS He approaches. You shall hear him. CORIOLANUS Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, 85 No more infected with my country’s love Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting Under your great command. You are to know That prosperously I have attempted, and With bloody passage led your wars even to 90 The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought home Doth more than counterpoise a full third part The charges of the action. We have made peace With no less honor to the Antiates 95 Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver, Subscribed by’ th’ Consuls and patricians, Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what We have compounded on. He offers the lords a paper.	Now Coriolanus parades in like he's just won the Super Bowl. He's surrounded by cheering crowds who can't get enough of him.
AUFIDIUS Read it not, noble lords, 100 But tell the traitor in the highest degree He hath abused your powers. CORIOLANUS “Traitor”? How now? AUFIDIUS Ay, traitor, Martius. CORIOLANUS Martius? 105 AUFIDIUS Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name Coriolanus, in Corioles? You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously He has betrayed your business and given up 110 For certain drops of salt your city Rome— I say your city—to his wife and mother, Breaking his oath and resolution like A twist of rotten silk, never admitting Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears 115 He whined and roared away your victory, That pages blushed at him and men of heart Looked wond’ring each at other. CORIOLANUS Hear’st thou, Mars? AUFIDIUS Name not the god, thou boy of tears. 120 CORIOLANUS Ha? AUFIDIUS No more. CORIOLANUS Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!— Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever 125 I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave lords, Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion— Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join 130 To thrust the lie unto him.	Aufidius wastes no time going on the attack. He accuses Coriolanus of being a "traitor" and a sissy, which sends the big war hero into ... you guessed it ... a rage.
FIRST LORD Peace, both, and hear me speak. CORIOLANUS Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads, Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound! If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there 135 That like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles, Alone I did it. “Boy”!	Coriolanus dares the Volscians to hack him up with their swords. (Hmm. probably not a good idea.)
AUFIDIUS Why, noble lords, Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, 140 Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, ’Fore your own eyes and ears?	Aufidius takes the opportunity to remind everyone that Coriolanus is the guy who killed a bunch of their relatives when he made war on their city.
ALL CONSPIRATORS Let him die for ’t. ALL PEOPLE Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin 145 Marcus! He killed my father! SECOND LORD Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace! The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offenses to us Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, 150 And trouble not the peace.	Now the common people are all worked up and start yelling about what they want to do to poor ol' C. Meanwhile, the Lords try to make peace.
CORIOLANUS, drawing his sword O, that I had him, With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword. AUFIDIUS Insolent villain! 155 ALL CONSPIRATORS Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him! Draw the Conspirators, and kills Martius, who falls. Aufidius stands on him.	The Conspirators know they've now got the common people on their side. They rush forward and stab Coriolanus—over and over—until he keels over, a la Julius Caesar. Then Aufidius stands on top of the dead body and gloats like a mountain climber who's just summited K-2.
LORDS Hold, hold, hold, hold! AUFIDIUS My noble masters, hear me speak. FIRST LORD O Tullus! SECOND LORD Thou hast done a deed whereat valor will weep. 160 THIRD LORD Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.— Put up your swords. AUFIDIUS My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage, Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice 165 That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honors To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver Myself your loyal servant or endure Your heaviest censure. FIRST LORD Bear from hence his body, 170 And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded As the most noble corse that ever herald Did follow to his urn. SECOND LORD His own impatience Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. 175 Let’s make the best of it.	The Lords think this is a major bummer, but they're not about to punish anybody for what's just happened. What's the point, right? People gonna riot. Instead, they decide to honor the fallen hero and order everyone to do the same.
AUFIDIUS My rage is gone, And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up. Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.— Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.— 180 Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury, Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist. 185 They exit bearing the body of Martius. A dead march sounded.	Now Aufidius starts to feel kind of bad about everything and offers to help carry Coriolanus' body to its burial site. Generous! With Coriolanus dead, Aufidius decides that the guy probably deserves a "noble memory," even if he was the man responsible for killing so many Volscian soldiers.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.

AUFIDIUS
Go tell the lords o’ th’ city I am here.
Deliver them this paper. (He gives them a paper.)
Having read it,
Bid them repair to th’ marketplace, where I,
Even in theirs and in the commons’ ears, 5
Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse
The city ports by this hath entered and
Intends t’ appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words. Dispatch.

The Attendants exit.

Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius’s faction.

Most welcome! 10

FIRST CONSPIRATOR
How is it with our general?

AUFIDIUS Even so
As with a man by his own alms empoisoned
And with his charity slain.

SECOND CONSPIRATOR Most noble sir, 15
If you do hold the same intent wherein
You wished us parties, we’ll deliver you
Of your great danger.

AUFIDIUS Sir, I cannot tell.
We must proceed as we do find the people. 20

THIRD CONSPIRATOR
The people will remain uncertain whilst
’Twixt you there’s difference, but the fall of either
Makes the survivor heir of all.

AUFIDIUS I know it,
And my pretext to strike at him admits 25
A good construction. I raised him, and I pawned
Mine honor for his truth, who, being so heightened,
He watered his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing so my friends; and to this end,
He bowed his nature, never known before 30
But to be rough, unswayable, and free.

THIRD CONSPIRATOR Sir, his stoutness
When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping—

AUFIDIUS That I would have spoke of. 35
Being banished for ’t, he came unto my hearth,
Presented to my knife his throat. I took him,
Made him joint servant with me, gave him way
In all his own desires; nay, let him choose
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish, 40
My best and freshest men; served his designments
In mine own person; holp to reap the fame
Which he did end all his; and took some pride
To do myself this wrong; till at the last
I seemed his follower, not partner; and 45
He waged me with his countenance as if
I had been mercenary.

FIRST CONSPIRATOR So he did, my lord.
The army marvelled at it, and, in the last,
When he had carried Rome and that we looked 50
For no less spoil than glory—

AUFIDIUS There was it
For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him.
At a few drops of women’s rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labor 55
Of our great action. Therefore shall he die,
And I’ll renew me in his fall. But hark!

Drums and trumpets sounds, with great shouts
of the people.

FIRST CONSPIRATOR
Your native town you entered like a post
And had no welcomes home, but he returns
Splitting the air with noise. 60

SECOND CONSPIRATOR And patient fools,
Whose children he hath slain, their base throats tear
With giving him glory.

THIRD CONSPIRATOR Therefore at your vantage,
Ere he express himself or move the people 65
With what he would say, let him feel your sword,
Which we will second. When he lies along,
After your way his tale pronounced shall bury
His reasons with his body.

AUFIDIUS Say no more. 70

Meanwhile in Corioles...Tullus Aufidius and a bunch of his Conspirator pals have shown up in Corioles, where people have gathered to welcome Coriolanus as their newest war hero.

We guess they forgot that this is the same guy who stomped all over them back in Act 1, scenes 4-5, which earned him the nickname name, "Coriolanus."

Aufidius and the Conspirators aren't there to celebrate. They've come to rat out Coriolanus to the Volscian senators for signing a peace treaty with Rome. (FYI--Shakespeare calls the Volscian senators "Lords," so we will too.)

We find out that Coriolanus is on his way to the city's marketplace, where he'll have to explain why he showed mercy to the Romans instead of stomping on their necks.

Aufidius and the Conspirators chat about their game plan. Since there's no way to know for certain how the Volscian people will react to Coriolanus, they'll just have to play it by ear.

Enter the Lords of the city.

Here come the lords.

ALL LORDS
You are most welcome home.

AUFIDIUS I have not deserved it.
But, worthy lords, have you with heed perused
What I have written to you? 75

ALL LORDS We have.

FIRST LORD And grieve to hear ’t.
What faults he made before the last, I think
Might have found easy fines, but there to end
Where he was to begin and give away 80
The benefit of our levies, answering us
With our own charge, making a treaty where
There was a yielding—this admits no excuse.

The Volscian Lords arrive and they're not happy with Coriolanus. Still, they think he's a hero and are willing to hear him out.

AUFIDIUS He approaches. You shall hear him.

CORIOLANUS
Hail, lords! I am returned your soldier, 85
No more infected with my country’s love
Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting
Under your great command. You are to know
That prosperously I have attempted, and
With bloody passage led your wars even to 90
The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought
home
Doth more than counterpoise a full third part
The charges of the action. We have made peace
With no less honor to the Antiates 95
Than shame to th’ Romans, and we here deliver,
Subscribed by’ th’ Consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal o’ th’ Senate, what
We have compounded on.

He offers the lords a paper.

Now Coriolanus parades in like he's just won the Super Bowl. He's surrounded by cheering crowds who can't get enough of him.

AUFIDIUS Read it not, noble lords, 100
But tell the traitor in the highest degree
He hath abused your powers.

CORIOLANUS “Traitor”? How now?

AUFIDIUS Ay, traitor, Martius.

CORIOLANUS Martius? 105

AUFIDIUS
Ay, Martius, Caius Martius. Dost thou think
I’ll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol’n name
Coriolanus, in Corioles?
You lords and heads o’ th’ state, perfidiously
He has betrayed your business and given up 110
For certain drops of salt your city Rome—
I say your city—to his wife and mother,
Breaking his oath and resolution like
A twist of rotten silk, never admitting
Counsel o’ th’ war, but at his nurse’s tears 115
He whined and roared away your victory,
That pages blushed at him and men of heart
Looked wond’ring each at other.

CORIOLANUS Hear’st thou, Mars?

AUFIDIUS Name not the god, thou boy of tears. 120

CORIOLANUS Ha?

AUFIDIUS No more.

CORIOLANUS
Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart
Too great for what contains it. “Boy”? O slave!—
Pardon me, lords, ’tis the first time that ever 125
I was forced to scold. Your judgments, my grave
lords,
Must give this cur the lie; and his own notion—
Who wears my stripes impressed upon him, that
Must bear my beating to his grave—shall join 130
To thrust the lie unto him.

Aufidius wastes no time going on the attack. He accuses Coriolanus of being a "traitor" and a sissy, which sends the big war hero into ... you guessed it ... a rage.

FIRST LORD Peace, both, and hear me speak.

CORIOLANUS
Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me. “Boy”? False hound!
If you have writ your annals true, ’tis there 135
That like an eagle in a dovecote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles,
Alone I did it. “Boy”!

Coriolanus dares the Volscians to hack him up with their swords. (Hmm. probably not a good idea.)

AUFIDIUS Why, noble lords,
Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune, 140
Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,
’Fore your own eyes and ears?

Aufidius takes the opportunity to remind everyone that Coriolanus is the guy who killed a bunch of their relatives when he made war on their city.

ALL CONSPIRATORS Let him die for ’t.

ALL PEOPLE Tear him to pieces! Do it presently! He
killed my son! My daughter! He killed my cousin 145
Marcus! He killed my father!

SECOND LORD Peace, ho! No outrage! Peace!
The man is noble, and his fame folds in
This orb o’ th’ Earth. His last offenses to us
Shall have judicious hearing. Stand, Aufidius, 150
And trouble not the peace.

Now the common people are all worked up and start yelling about what they want to do to poor ol' C.

Meanwhile, the Lords try to make peace.

CORIOLANUS, drawing his sword O, that I had him,
With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,
To use my lawful sword.

AUFIDIUS Insolent villain! 155

ALL CONSPIRATORS Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!

Draw the Conspirators, and kills Martius, who falls.
Aufidius stands on him.

The Conspirators know they've now got the common people on their side. They rush forward and stab Coriolanus—over and over—until he keels over, a la Julius Caesar.

Then Aufidius stands on top of the dead body and gloats like a mountain climber who's just summited K-2.

LORDS Hold, hold, hold, hold!

AUFIDIUS
My noble masters, hear me speak.

FIRST LORD O Tullus!

SECOND LORD
Thou hast done a deed whereat valor will weep. 160

THIRD LORD
Tread not upon him.—Masters, all be quiet.—
Put up your swords.

AUFIDIUS
My lords, when you shall know—as in this rage,
Provoked by him, you cannot—the great danger
Which this man’s life did owe you, you’ll rejoice 165
That he is thus cut off. Please it your Honors
To call me to your senate, I’ll deliver
Myself your loyal servant or endure
Your heaviest censure.

FIRST LORD Bear from hence his body, 170
And mourn you for him. Let him be regarded
As the most noble corse that ever herald
Did follow to his urn.

SECOND LORD His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame. 175
Let’s make the best of it.

The Lords think this is a major bummer, but they're not about to punish anybody for what's just happened. What's the point, right? People gonna riot.

Instead, they decide to honor the fallen hero and order everyone to do the same.

AUFIDIUS My rage is gone,
And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up.
Help, three o’ th’ chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.—
Beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully.— 180
Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory.
Assist. 185

They exit bearing the body of Martius.
A dead march sounded.

Now Aufidius starts to feel kind of bad about everything and offers to help carry Coriolanus' body to its burial site. Generous!

With Coriolanus dead, Aufidius decides that the guy probably deserves a "noble memory," even if he was the man responsible for killing so many Volscian soldiers.

Coriolanus: Act 5, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 6 of Coriolanus from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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