Coriolanus Translation

Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Act 1, Scene 1

Welcome to the streets of Rome, where a mob of starving plebeians (a.k.a. lower class folks or "Citizens") are in full-on riot mode.

Act 1, Scene 2

Now we head over to a Volscian city called Corioles. (Why yes, Corioles does sound a whole lot like the title of this play. Head to "What's Up With the Title" for the lowdown. Or, you can just wai...

Act 1, Scene 3

Back in Rome, we get to meet Caius Martius' dysfunctional family.His mom (Volumnia) and his wife (Virgilia) are chillaxing with their sewing needles and thread, trying to pass the time while their...

Act 1, Scene 4

Cut to the city of Corioles, where Caius Martius and Titus Lartius take a little break from battering the city.

Act 1, Scene 5

When the scene opens, the Roman soldiers led by Caius Martius have ravaged Corioles and are running around with their loot.

Act 1, Scene 6

Cut to Cominius and his troops in the battlefield.

Act 1, Scene 7

Outside the gates of Corioles, Titus Lartius and a bunch of Roman soldiers have stayed behind to guard the city they've just sacked.

Act 1, Scene 8

Back on the battlefields, Caius Martius meets up with his mortal enemy, Tullus Aufidius. (Cue dramatic music.)

Act 1, Scene 9

As the scene opens, the Romans are celebrating their victory with flying chest bumps and stuff.Caius Martius is super embarrassed by all the attention and refuses to take his share (one tenth) of t...

Act 1, Scene 10

Meanwhile, over at the defeated Volscian camp, Tullus Aufidius is super bummed about losing to his arch enemy.

Act 2, Scene 1

Back in Rome, Menenius chats up our two scheming tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus, while waiting for news from the battlefield.

Act 2, Scene 2

At the Capitol, a couple of Officers prepare for the senate and talk about Coriolanus' chances of getting elected. On the one hand, he's a "brave" war hero. On the other hand, he's way too proud...

Act 2, Scene 3

At the Forum (a.k.a. the marketplace) in Rome, a bunch of plebeians have gathered to hear Coriolanus speak.Some of them feel like they're being put in a tough spot. They don't really like Coriolanu...

Act 3, Scene 1

On a street in Rome, Coriolanus, Cominius, and Titus Lartius have a little chit-chat about Tullus Aufidius.Apparently, Aufidius has slapped together a new Volscian army that is ready to rumble with...

Act 3, Scene 2

At Coriolanus' house, our hero is all worked up because the pesky mob of plebeians just tried to kill him. He says he'd rather be tortured and killed than apologize to them.

Act 3, Scene 3

Coriolanus shows up at the marketplace ready to deliver the big apology. The plebeians, along with Sicinius and Brutus, are waiting for him.

Act 4, Scene 1

Before leaving the city, Coriolanus says a quick goodbye to his wife and mom at Rome's gates.

Act 4, Scene 2

Back at the marketplace, Sicinius and Brutus tell the plebeians that the show's over and that they should all stop rioting and go on home now.

Act 4, Scene 3

On a highway between Rome and Antium, a Roman who has been spying for the Volscians has a secret meeting with a Volscian guy named Adrian.

Act 4, Scene 4

Meanwhile, Coriolanus shows up in Antium. He's looking for Tullus Aufidius so they can get together and destroy Rome.

Act 4, Scene 5

Coriolanus shows up at Aufidius' house, where a big, swanky party is in full swing, except this is ancient Rome so we have to call the party a "feast."

Act 4, Scene 6

Back in Rome, Sicinius and Brutus give each other high fives for getting Coriolanus thrown out of the city. They talk about how peaceful and "safe" it is in Rome with Coriolanus out of the pic...

Act 4, Scene 7

Now we head over to the Volscian camp just outside of Rome.Led by Coriolanus, the army has been razing everything in its path as it makes its way to the city.Aufidius confesses that he's totally je...

Act 5, Scene 1

Back in Rome, Sicinius and Brutus beg Menenius to talk with Coriolanus and convince him not to demolish Rome. He reflects on his relationship with Coriolanus, who was like a son to him and tre...

Act 5, Scene 2

At the Volscian army's camp just outside of Rome, Coriolanus prepares for battle. Menenius shows up to do some good old-fashioned begging but first he has to get past a bunch of Watchmen.

Act 5, Scene 3

Coriolanus and Aufidius head over to Coriolanus' private tent for a little chat.

Act 5, Scene 4

Back in Rome, poor old Menenius arrives with news that Coriolanus refuses to show mercy to his native city. He doesn't think Coriolanus' mom will have any luck changing his mind either.

Act 5, Scene 5

Before we know it, Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria are parading through the streets like rock stars for saving Rome from big, bad, Coriolanus. Crowds of Romans gather to cheer them on for savi...

Act 5, Scene 6

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...