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Act 3, Scene 3
Coriolanus Translation Act 4, Scene 1
Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, with the young Nobility of Rome
CORIOLANUS
Come, leave your tears: a brief farewell: the beast With many heads butts me away. Nay, mother, Where is your ancient courage? you were used To say extremity was the trier of spirits; That common chances common men could bear; That when the sea was calm all boats alike Show'd mastership in floating; fortune's blows, When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves A noble cunning: you were used to load me With precepts that would make invincible The heart that conn'd them.
CORIOLANUS
Come on, stop crying. A brief farewell is enough; the beast with many heads butts me away. Mother, no—where is your courage? You used to say that challenge was the spirit's forge, that average men could bear average events, that when the sea was calm all boats were good at floating. The true blows of bad luck, when they really hit home, call for more than average men. You gave me all these sayings that, to believe them, would make a man invincible.
VIRGILIA
O heavens! O heavens!
VIRGILIA
Oh, heavens! Oh, heavens!
CORIOLANUS
Nay! prithee, woman,—
CORIOLANUS
Stop it, please woman—
VOLUMNIA
Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome,And occupations perish!
VOLUMNIA
May the plague strike everyone in Rome, and all the workers perish!
CORIOLANUS
What, what, what! I shall be loved when I am lack'd. Nay, mother. Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say, If you had been the wife of Hercules, Six of his labours you'ld have done, and saved Your husband so much sweat. Cominius, Droop not; adieu. Farewell, my wife, my mother: I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius, Thy tears are salter than a younger man's, And venomous to thine eyes. My sometime general, I have seen thee stem, and thou hast oft beheld Heart-hardening spectacles; tell these sad women 'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes, As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My mother, you wot well My hazards still have been your solace: and Believe't not lightly— though I go alone, Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen— your son Will or exceed the common or be caught With cautelous baits and practise.
CORIOLANUS
Hear, hear, hear! They'll miss me once I'm gone. Mother, come back to that spirit when you used to say that if you'd been the wife of Hercules, you'd have done six of his labors and saved your husband the trouble. Cominius, don't look so sad; good-bye. Farewell, my wife, my mother: I'll be fine. Old and true Menenius, your tears are saltier than a younger man's would be, and poisonous to your eyes. Cominius, my old general, you've often seen spectacles that would harden the heart; tell these sad women it's as good to laugh at fate as to cry. Mother, you know well that my risks have always been your comfort, and believe me, although I go alone like a lonely dragon—whose terrifying surroundings make him more feared and talked about then seen—your son will as always be better than average; never caught by baits or cleverness.
VOLUMNIA
My first son. Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee awhile: determine on some course, More than a wild exposture to each chance That starts i' the way before thee.
VOLUMNIA
My first son. Where will you go? Take good Cominius with you for a while, and choose some course. Don't just go wildly toward whatever chance waits for you daily.
CORIOLANUS
O the gods!
CORIOLANUS
Oh, gods!
COMINIUS
I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou mayst hear of us And we of thee: so if the time thrust forth A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send O'er the vast world to seek a single man, And lose advantage, which doth ever cool I' the absence of the needer.
COMINIUS
I'll travel behind you for a month and help you figure out where you can stay, so that you can hear of us and vice versa, so if by any chance this vote is reversed, we will not have to seek everywhere for a single man, and lose whatever advantage we would've had to find you when we most need you.
CORIOLANUS
Fare ye well: Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full Of the wars' surfeits, to go rove with one That's yet unbruised: bring me but out at gate. Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and My friends of noble touch, when I am forth, Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come. While I remain above the ground, you shall Hear from me still, and never of me aught But what is like me formerly.
CORIOLANUS
Good-bye, no. You are old, and are too beaten up by the harshness of war to go wander with someone still unbruised; just walk me about of the gate. Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and my noble friends: when I go, just bid me farewell and smile. Please, come. While I live, you'll hear from me, and I will always be what I have always been.
MENENIUS
That's worthily As any ear can hear. Come, let's not weep. If I could shake off but one seven years From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'ld with thee every foot.
MENENIUS
That's as good as we could ever ask. Come on, let's not weep. If were just seven years younger, by the good gods, I'd accompany you every step of the way.
CORIOLANUS
Give me thy hand: Come.
CORIOLANUS
Give me your hand; come.
Exeunt
