Coriolanus: Act 1, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 3 of Coriolanus from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius. They set them down on two low stools and sew.	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 favorite guy in the world is away.
VOLUMNIA I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honor than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When 5 yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way, when for a day of kings’ entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honor would become 10 such a person—that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th’ wall, if renown made it not stir—was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whence he returned, his brows bound with 15 oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. VIRGILIA But had he died in the business, madam, how then? 20 VOLUMNIA Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike and none less dear than thine and my good Martius, I had rather had eleven die nobly 25 for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. GENTLEWOMAN Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you. VIRGILIA Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. 30 VOLUMNIA Indeed you shall not. Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum, See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair; As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him. Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus: 35 “Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear, Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes Like to a harvestman that’s tasked to mow Or all or lose his hire. 40 VIRGILIA His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood! VOLUMNIA Away, you fool! It more becomes a man Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood 45 At Grecian sword, contemning.—Tell Valeria We are fit to bid her welcome. Gentlewoman exits. VIRGILIA Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! VOLUMNIA He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee And tread upon his neck. 50	Apparently, there's some tension, because the first thing out of Volumnia's mouth is that her daughter-in-law needs to quit boo-hooing about her husband being off at war. Then Volumnia says something icky like "If my son was my husband, I'd be happier when he was out killing enemy soldiers than I'd be if we were having sex." Because that's not creepy at all. See, Volumnia raised her boy to be a killing machine and she wants him to totally crush the Volscians. In fact, she hopes he gets maimed in the process so he can come home and show off his "bloody brow" and some awesome new scars.
Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman. VALERIA My ladies both, good day to you.	Now Virgilia's BFF, Valeria, shows up. (Don't freak if you're confused by all these "V" names because you're not alone. Literary critics often refer to these female characters as the "three V's.")
VOLUMNIA Sweet madam. VIRGILIA I am glad to see your Ladyship. VALERIA How do you both? You are manifest housekeepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in 55 good faith. How does your little son? VIRGILIA I thank your Ladyship; well, good madam. VOLUMNIA He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster. VALERIA O’ my word, the father’s son! I’ll swear ’tis a 60 very pretty boy. O’ my troth, I looked upon him o’ Wednesday half an hour together. H’as such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again, and after it again, and over and over he comes, 65 and up again, catched it again. Or whether his fall enraged him or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it. O, I warrant how he mammocked it! VOLUMNIA One on ’s father’s moods. VALERIA Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child. 70	Valeria makes small talk about Virgilia's adorable little boy. He did the cutest thing the other day—he tortured a butterfly before tearing it apart with his teeth. The women are all "How precious! Like father like son."
VIRGILIA A crack, madam. VALERIA Come, lay aside your stitchery. I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. VIRGILIA No, good madam, I will not out of doors. VALERIA Not out of doors? 75 VOLUMNIA She shall, she shall. VIRGILIA Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.	Valeria invites the ladies out for the ancient Roman equivalent of "lunch with the girls." Virgilia refuses. She can't bear to leave the house when her beloved hubby is risking life and limb. She'll just stay at home and keep sewing.
VALERIA Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. 80 VIRGILIA I will wish her speedy strength and visit her with my prayers, but I cannot go thither. VOLUMNIA Why, I pray you? VIRGILIA ’Tis not to save labor, nor that I want love. VALERIA You would be another Penelope. Yet they say 85 all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.	Valeria is all "Who do you think you are: Penelope? Brain Snack: Penelope is maybe the most famous wife in literary history. In Homer's Odyssey, she stays at home pretend-weaving while her man is out having an epic adventure. Valeria obviously thinks this is ridiculous.
VIRGILIA No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will 90 not forth. VALERIA In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent news of your husband. VIRGILIA O, good madam, there can be none yet. VALERIA Verily, I do not jest with you. There came 95 news from him last night. VIRGILIA Indeed, madam! VALERIA In earnest, it’s true. I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth, against whom Cominius the General is gone with one 100 part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioles. They nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honor, and so, I pray, go with us. 105	Now Valeria reports that she heard some news about the war—apparently, Caius Martius and Titus Lartius are giving the city of Corioles a good old fashioned Roman beating. Meanwhile, on the battlefields between Rome and Corioles, another general (Cominius) is leading some Roman soldiers against the Volscians.
VIRGILIA Give me excuse, good madam. I will obey you in everything hereafter. VOLUMNIA Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will but disease our better mirth. VALERIA In troth, I think she would.—Fare you well, 110 then.—Come, good sweet lady.—Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemness out o’ door, and go along with us. VIRGILIA No, at a word, madam. Indeed, I must not. I wish you much mirth. 115 VALERIA Well, then, farewell. Ladies exit.	Virgilia is happy to hear all this but she won't budge. Finally, her mother-in-law and BFF leave without her.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife
to Martius. They set them down on two low stools
and sew.

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 favorite guy in the world is away.

VOLUMNIA I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself
in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my
husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence
wherein he won honor than in the embracements
of his bed where he would show most love. When 5
yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of
my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked
all gaze his way, when for a day of kings’ entreaties
a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding,
I, considering how honor would become 10
such a person—that it was no better than picture-like
to hang by th’ wall, if renown made it not
stir—was pleased to let him seek danger where he
was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him,
from whence he returned, his brows bound with 15
oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy
at first hearing he was a man-child than now in
first seeing he had proved himself a man.

VIRGILIA But had he died in the business, madam, how
then? 20

VOLUMNIA Then his good report should have been my
son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me
profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my
love alike and none less dear than thine and my
good Martius, I had rather had eleven die nobly 25
for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out
of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

GENTLEWOMAN Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to
visit you.

VIRGILIA
Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. 30

VOLUMNIA Indeed you shall not.
Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum,
See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair;
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him.
Methinks I see him stamp thus and call thus: 35
“Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome.” His bloody brow
With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes
Like to a harvestman that’s tasked to mow
Or all or lose his hire. 40

VIRGILIA
His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood!

VOLUMNIA
Away, you fool! It more becomes a man
Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier
Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood 45
At Grecian sword, contemning.—Tell Valeria
We are fit to bid her welcome. Gentlewoman exits.

VIRGILIA
Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!

VOLUMNIA
He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee
And tread upon his neck. 50

Apparently, there's some tension, because the first thing out of Volumnia's mouth is that her daughter-in-law needs to quit boo-hooing about her husband being off at war.

Then Volumnia says something icky like "If my son was my husband, I'd be happier when he was out killing enemy soldiers than I'd be if we were having sex." Because that's not creepy at all.

See, Volumnia raised her boy to be a killing machine and she wants him to totally crush the Volscians. In fact, she hopes he gets maimed in the process so he can come home and show off his "bloody brow" and some awesome new scars.

Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman.

VALERIA My ladies both, good day to you.

Now Virgilia's BFF, Valeria, shows up. (Don't freak if you're confused by all these "V" names because you're not alone. Literary critics often refer to these female characters as the "three V's.")

VOLUMNIA Sweet madam.

VIRGILIA I am glad to see your Ladyship.

VALERIA How do you both? You are manifest housekeepers.
What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in 55
good faith. How does your little son?

VIRGILIA I thank your Ladyship; well, good madam.

VOLUMNIA He had rather see the swords and hear a
drum than look upon his schoolmaster.

VALERIA O’ my word, the father’s son! I’ll swear ’tis a 60
very pretty boy. O’ my troth, I looked upon him o’
Wednesday half an hour together. H’as such a confirmed
countenance. I saw him run after a gilded
butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again,
and after it again, and over and over he comes, 65
and up again, catched it again. Or whether his fall
enraged him or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth
and tear it. O, I warrant how he mammocked it!

VOLUMNIA One on ’s father’s moods.

VALERIA Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child. 70

Valeria makes small talk about Virgilia's adorable little boy. He did the cutest thing the other day—he tortured a butterfly before tearing it apart with his teeth.

The women are all "How precious! Like father like son."

VIRGILIA A crack, madam.

VALERIA Come, lay aside your stitchery. I must have
you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

VIRGILIA No, good madam, I will not out of doors.

VALERIA Not out of doors? 75

VOLUMNIA She shall, she shall.

VIRGILIA Indeed, no, by your patience. I’ll not over the
threshold till my lord return from the wars.

Valeria invites the ladies out for the ancient Roman equivalent of "lunch with the girls."

Virgilia refuses. She can't bear to leave the house when her beloved hubby is risking life and limb. She'll just stay at home and keep sewing.

VALERIA Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably.
Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. 80

VIRGILIA I will wish her speedy strength and visit her
with my prayers, but I cannot go thither.

VOLUMNIA Why, I pray you?

VIRGILIA ’Tis not to save labor, nor that I want love.

VALERIA You would be another Penelope. Yet they say 85
all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill
Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambric
were sensible as your finger, that you might leave
pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

Valeria is all "Who do you think you are: Penelope?

Brain Snack: Penelope is maybe the most famous wife in literary history. In Homer's Odyssey, she stays at home pretend-weaving while her man is out having an epic adventure. Valeria obviously thinks this is ridiculous.

VIRGILIA No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will 90
not forth.

VALERIA In truth, la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent
news of your husband.

VIRGILIA O, good madam, there can be none yet.

VALERIA Verily, I do not jest with you. There came 95
news from him last night.

VIRGILIA Indeed, madam!

VALERIA In earnest, it’s true. I heard a senator speak it.
Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth, against
whom Cominius the General is gone with one 100
part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius
are set down before their city Corioles. They
nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief
wars. This is true, on mine honor, and so, I pray, go
with us. 105

Now Valeria reports that she heard some news about the war—apparently, Caius Martius and Titus Lartius are giving the city of Corioles a good old fashioned Roman beating. Meanwhile, on the battlefields between Rome and Corioles, another general (Cominius) is leading some Roman soldiers against the Volscians.

VIRGILIA Give me excuse, good madam. I will obey you
in everything hereafter.

VOLUMNIA Let her alone, lady. As she is now, she will
but disease our better mirth.

VALERIA In troth, I think she would.—Fare you well, 110
then.—Come, good sweet lady.—Prithee, Virgilia,
turn thy solemness out o’ door, and go along with
us.

VIRGILIA No, at a word, madam. Indeed, I must not. I
wish you much mirth. 115

VALERIA Well, then, farewell.

Ladies exit.

Virgilia is happy to hear all this but she won't budge. Finally, her mother-in-law and BFF leave without her.

Coriolanus: Act 1, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 3 of Coriolanus from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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