Original: He that will give good words to thee will flatter
Modern: Anyone who speaks kindly to you is just flattering you

Original: Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,
Modern: In a disgusting way. What do you want, you dogs,

Original: That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you,
Modern: Since you like neither peace nor war? Peace scares you,

Original: The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Modern: War makes you arrogant. Anyone who trusts you,

Original: Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Modern: When he expects to find you brave as lions, finds you cowardly as rabbits;

Original: Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,
Modern: When he needs you cunning as foxes, you’re foolish as geese: you are no more reliable

Original: Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,
Modern: Than a burning coal placed on ice,

Original: Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is
Modern: Or a hailstone in the sun. Your specialty is

Original: To make him worthy whose offence subdues him
Modern: To praise someone whose crimes have brought him down

Original: And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness
Modern: And curse the justice that punished him. Whoever deserves greatness

Original: Deserves your hate; and your affections are
Modern: Earns your hatred; and your loyalties are like

Original: A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that
Modern: A sick man’s craving, who wants most the thing

Original: Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Modern: That will make him sicker. Anyone who depends

Original: Upon your favours swims with fins of lead
Modern: On your support tries to swim wearing lead weights

Original: And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust Ye?
Modern: And tries to chop down oak trees with weak reeds. Damn you! Trust you?

Original: With every minute you do change a mind,
Modern: Every minute you change your opinion,

Original: And call him noble that was now your hate,
Modern: And call the man you just hated noble,

Original: Him vile that was your garland. What’s the matter,
Modern: Call the man you just honored vile. What’s wrong,

Original: That in these several places of the city
Modern: That in these different parts of the city

Original: You cry against the noble senate, who,
Modern: You’re shouting against the noble senate, who,

Original: Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else
Modern: Under the gods, keep you in line, because otherwise

Original: Would feed on one another? What’s their seeking?
Modern: You’d destroy each other? What are they looking for?

In Act I, Scene 1 of Coriolanus, Roman citizens gather in armed rebellion, complaining of severe food shortages and expressing their hatred for Caius Marcius (later Coriolanus), whom they blame for their suffering. The citizens, led by the First Citizen, declare their intention to kill Marcius rather than starve. Menenius Agrippa, a patrician, attempts to calm the crowd by telling them the famous fable of the belly and the members, arguing that the patricians serve Rome like the belly serves the body by distributing nourishment. His diplomatic efforts are interrupted when Caius Marcius himself arrives and immediately berates the citizens with contempt, calling them cowards and accusing them of being unreliable in both peace and war.

The tension escalates when news arrives that the Volscians, led by Aufidius, are marching against Rome. Marcius welcomes this news of war, expressing his eagerness to fight his old enemy Aufidius. The Senate has already appointed Cominius as general with Marcius as his lieutenant. Two new tribunes, Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus, are introduced as representatives of the people, though Marcius dismisses them with characteristic disdain. The scene concludes with Marcius departing for war, while the tribunes remain behind, discussing their concerns about his pride and their plans to monitor his growing influence with the people during his absence.

Coriolanus tells the tragic story of a Roman military hero whose pride and contempt for the common people ultimately leads to his downfall. The play opens with Roman citizens rioting over grain shortages, angry at the patrician class’s indifference to their suffering. Caius Marcius, a fierce Roman general, successfully leads the siege against the Volscian city of Corioles, earning the honorary name “Coriolanus.” Despite his military prowess, he openly despises the plebeians (common citizens) and reluctantly agrees to seek the consulship only at his mother Volumnia’s urging.

When Coriolanus runs for consul, he must follow tradition by displaying his war wounds to the citizens and asking for their votes. Though initially successful, the tribunes Brutus and Sicinius manipulate the fickle crowd against him, exploiting his arrogant nature and aristocratic disdain. When Coriolanus explodes in rage against the people’s ingratitude and the democratic process itself, he is banished from Rome. His famous response - “I banish you!” - reveals his wounded pride and inability to bend to political necessity.

In exile, Coriolanus seeks out his former enemy Aufidius, leader of the Volscians, and offers to help destroy Rome in revenge. Together they march on the city with devastating success. As Rome faces imminent destruction, various delegations plead with Coriolanus to spare the city, but he remains unmoved until his mother Volumnia, wife Virgilia, and young son appear before him. In the play’s climactic scene, Volumnia’s emotional appeal finally breaks through his resolve, and he agrees to make peace - knowing this decision will likely cost him his life. True to expectation, Aufidius and his conspirators kill Coriolanus for his “betrayal,” viewing his mercy toward Rome as weakness and treachery to their cause.