Original
Modern English
Two Sentinels on guard.
Two Sentinels on guard.
Stay: whence are you?
Stop: where are you from?
Stand, and go back.
Halt, and turn around.
You guard like men; ’tis well: but, by your leave, I am an officer of state, and come To speak with Coriolanus.
You guard well, that’s good; but, with all due respect, I’m a government official, and I’ve come To speak with Coriolanus.
From whence?
From where?
From Rome.
From Rome.
You may not pass, you must return: our general Will no more hear from thence.
You can’t go through, you have to go back: our general Will no longer listen to anything from there.
You’ll see your Rome embraced with fire before You’ll speak with Coriolanus.
You’ll see your Rome burning before You’ll be able to talk to Coriolanus.
Good my friends, If you have heard your general talk of Rome, And of his friends there, it is lots to blanks, My name hath touch’d your ears it is Menenius.
Please, my friends, If you’ve heard your general talk about Rome, And about his friends there, it’s like a lottery, My name has reached your ears—it’s Menenius.
Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name Is not here passable.
Fine, go back: the value of your name Doesn’t count for anything here.
I tell thee, fellow, The general is my lover: I have been The book of his good acts, whence men have read His name unparallel’d, haply amplified; For I have ever verified my friends, Of whom he’s chief, with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes, Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, I have tumbled past the throw; and in his praise Have almost stamp’d the leasing: therefore, fellow, I must have leave to pass.
I tell you, man, The general is my dear friend: I’ve been The record of his good deeds, from which people have read His name unmatched, maybe even exaggerated; Because I’ve always spoken the truth about my friends, Of whom he’s the most important, without distortion Or exaggeration: sometimes, Like a ball on a slippery surface, I’ve gone too far in praising him; And in doing so, I’ve almost lied: so, man, I must be allowed to pass.
Faith, sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalf as you have uttered words in your own, you should not pass here; no, though it were as virtuous to lie as to live chastely. Therefore, go back.
Honestly, sir, if you’d told as many lies in his Favor as you’ve spoken words about yourself, you Wouldn’t be allowed through here; no, not even if lying Were as virtuous as living chastely. So, go back.
Prithee, fellow, remember my name is Menenius, always factionary on the party of your general.
Please, man, remember my name is Menenius, Always loyal to your general’s side.
Howsoever you have been his liar, as you say you have, I am one that, telling true under him, must say, you cannot pass. Therefore, go back.
No matter how much you’ve lied for him, as you say you Have, I’m someone who, speaking the truth under him, must Say, you can’t pass. So, go back.
Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I would not speak with him till after dinner.
Has he had lunch, do you know? Because I wouldn’t Want to speak with him until after he eats.
You are a Roman, are you?
Are you a Roman?
I am, as thy general is.
I am, just like your general is.
Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemned, our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.
Then you should hate Rome, just like he does. Can you, After pushing out your own defender, and in a wild public Ignorance, giving your enemy your protection, think you can Face his revenge with the helpless cries of old Women, the innocent hands of your daughters, or with The weak pleading of someone as frail as You seem to be? Do you think you can stop the Fire that’s about to break out in your city with Such a feeble effort? No, you’re wrong; So go back to Rome, and get ready for your Punishment: you’re condemned, our general has sworn To not spare you.
Sirrah, if thy captain knew I were here, he would use me with estimation.
Man, if your captain knew I was here, he would Treat me with respect.
Come, my captain knows you not.
No, my captain doesn’t know you.
I mean, thy general.
I mean, your general.
My general cares not for you. Back, I say, go; lest I let forth your half-pint of blood; back,--that’s the utmost of your having: back.
My general doesn’t care about you. Go back, I say, go; or I’ll let out your little bit of blood; go back,--that’s all you’ve got: go.
Nay, but, fellow, fellow,--
No, but, friend, friend,--
What’s the matter?
What’s going on?
Now, you companion, I’ll say an errand for you: You shall know now that I am in estimation; you shall perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus: guess, but by my entertainment with him, if thou standest not i’ the state of hanging, or of some death more long in spectatorship, and crueller in suffering; behold now presently, and swoon for what’s to come upon thee.
Now, you, companion, I’ll do something for you: You’ll see now that I am respected; you’ll see that a low-ranking guard can’t keep me from my son Coriolanus: just look at how he’s treating me, and you’ll know whether you’re about to be hung, or face some slower, crueler death for the crowd to watch. Just wait, and you’ll faint when you see what’s coming for you.
The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity, and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does! O my son, my son! thou art preparing fire for us; look thee, here’s water to quench it. I was hardly moved to come to thee; but being assured none but myself could move thee, I have been blown out of your gates with sighs; and conjure thee to pardon Rome, and thy petitionary countrymen. The good gods assuage thy wrath, and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here,--this, who, like a block, hath denied my access to thee.
The glorious gods are constantly meeting to discuss your personal success, and they love you as much as your old father Menenius does! Oh, my son, my son! You’re preparing a fire for us; look, here’s water to put it out. I barely managed to come to you; but knowing no one but me could get through to you, I’ve been pushed out of your gates with sighs; and I beg you to forgive Rome, and your pleading countrymen. May the good gods calm your anger, and pour out the last of it on this scoundrel here,--this one, who, like a blockhead, has denied me the chance to speak with you.
Away!
Go away!
How! away!
What! go away!
Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs Are servanted to others: though I owe My revenge properly, my remission lies In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar, Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone. Mine ears against your suits are stronger than Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee, Take this along; I writ it for thy sake
Wife, mother, child, I don’t care. My matters Are controlled by others: though I have a personal debt for revenge, my forgiveness lies with the Volscians. That we’ve been close, The poison of forgetfulness will harm us more Than pity or remorse ever could. So, go away. My ears are harder against your pleas than Your gates are against my power. But, because I loved you, Take this; I wrote it for your sake
And would have rent it. Another word, Menenius, I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius, Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold’st!
And would have torn it up. One more word, Menenius, I won’t listen to you. This man, Aufidius, Was my closest friend in Rome: and yet you see!
You keep a constant temper.
You keep your calm well.
Now, sir, is your name Menenius?
Now, sir, is your name Menenius?
’Tis a spell, you see, of much power: you know the way home again.
It’s a powerful charm, you see: you know the way home again.
Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back?
Do you hear how we’re being blamed for holding your greatness back?
What cause, do you think, I have to swoon?
What reason, do you think, do I have to faint?
I neither care for the world nor your general: for such things as you, I can scarce think there’s any, ye’re so slight. He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not from another: let your general do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and your misery increase with your age! I say to you, as I was said to, Away!
I don’t care about the world or your general: for people like you, I can hardly believe there’s anyone, you’re so insignificant. Someone who wants to die on his own doesn’t fear it from anyone else: let your general do his worst. As for you, stay as you are, live long; and let your misery grow with your age! I say to you, as I was told, Go away!
A noble fellow, I warrant him.
A noble man, I swear.
The worthy fellow is our general: he’s the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.
The worthy man is our general: he’s the rock, the oak that can’t be shaken by the wind.