Original: Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart
Modern: Every word you’ve spoken has pulled from my heart

Original: A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Modern: A deep root of old hatred. If Jupiter himself

Original: Should from yond cloud speak divine things,
Modern: Should speak holy words from that cloud up there,

Original: And say ‘Tis true,’ I’ld not believe them more
Modern: And say “It’s true,” I wouldn’t believe him more

Original: Than thee, all noble CORIOLANUS. Let me twine
Modern: Than I believe you, noble Coriolanus. Let me wrap

Original: Mine arms about that body, where against
Modern: My arms around that body, which has fought against

Original: My grained ash an hundred times hath broke
Modern: My spear a hundred times and broken it

Original: And scarr’d the moon with splinters: here I clip
Modern: And sent splinters flying everywhere. Here I embrace

Original: The anvil of my sword, and do contest
Modern: The target of my sword, and now I compete

Original: As hotly and as nobly with thy love
Modern: As passionately and honorably for your friendship

Original: As ever in ambitious strength I did
Modern: As I ever did with ambitious strength

Original: Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
Modern: Fight against your courage. You should know first,

Original: I loved the maid I married; never man
Modern: I loved the woman I married; no man ever

Original: Sigh’d truer breath; but that I see thee here,
Modern: Breathed more genuine sighs; but seeing you here,

Original: Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart
Modern: You noble warrior! my captivated heart dances more

Original: Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Modern: Than when I first saw my new bride

Original: Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars! I tell thee,
Modern: Cross my doorway. Listen, you god of war! I tell you,

Original: We have a power on foot; and I had purpose
Modern: We have an army ready; and I had planned

Original: Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn,
Modern: Once more to hack your shield from your strong arm,

Original: Or lose mine arm fort: thou hast beat me out
Modern: Or lose my own arm trying. You have defeated me

Original: Twelve several times, and I have nightly since
Modern: Twelve different times, and every night since then

Original: Dreamt of encounters ‘twixt thyself and me;
Modern: I’ve dreamed of battles between you and me.

Original: We have been down together in my sleep,
Modern: We’ve wrestled together in my dreams,

Original: Unbuckling helms, fisting each other’s throat,
Modern: Tearing off helmets, grabbing each other’s throats,

Original: And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy CORIOLANUS,
Modern: And I wake up exhausted with nothing to show. Worthy Coriolanus,

Original: Had we no quarrel else to Rome, but that
Modern: If we had no other complaint against Rome, except that

Original: Thou art thence banish’d, we would muster all
Modern: You were banished from there, we would gather everyone

Original: From twelve to seventy, and pouring war
Modern: From age twelve to seventy, and pour war

Original: Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,
Modern: Into the guts of ungrateful Rome,

Original: Like a bold flood o’er-bear. O, come, go in,
Modern: Like a fierce flood that destroys everything. Oh, come inside,

Original: And take our friendly senators by the hands;
Modern: And shake hands with our friendly senators,

Original: Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,
Modern: Who are here now, saying goodbye to me,

Original: Who am prepared against your territories,
Modern: As I prepare to attack your territories,

Original: Though not for Rome itself.
Modern: Though not Rome itself.

Original: Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have
Modern: Therefore, most perfect sir, if you want to have

Original: The leading of thine own revenges, take
Modern: Command of your own revenge, then take

Original: The one half of my commission; and set down—
Modern: Half of my authority and decide—

Original: As best thou art experienced, since thou know’st
Modern: Using your experience, since you know

Original: Thy country’s strength and weakness,—thine own ways;
Modern: Your country’s strengths and weaknesses—your own strategy:

Original: Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,
Modern: Whether to attack the gates of Rome directly,

Original: Or rudely visit them in parts remote,
Modern: Or roughly attack them in distant areas,

Original: To fright them, ere destroy. But come in:
Modern: To scare them before destroying them. But come inside:

Original: Let me commend thee first to those that shall
Modern: Let me introduce you first to those who will

Original: Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!
Modern: Agree to your plans. A thousand welcomes!

Original: And more a friend than e’er an enemy;
Modern: And you’re more a friend now than you ever were an enemy;

Original: Yet, CORIOLANUS, that was much. Your hand: most welcome!
Modern: But Coriolanus, you were quite an enemy. Your hand: you’re so welcome!

In Act IV, Scene v of Coriolanus, the scene takes place in the home of Aufidius in Antium. Coriolanus, now banished from Rome, arrives disguised in mean apparel and presents himself at the door. The servants of Aufidius are suspicious and dismissive of this shabby stranger, repeatedly attempting to turn him away. Coriolanus refuses to leave, and when Aufidius himself enters, Coriolanus reveals his true identity. He tells Aufidius that, having been banished by the ungrateful citizens of Rome, he has come to offer either his services to the Volscians or his throat to Aufidius as an enemy. He declares that if Aufidius is unwilling to make use of him, he should kill him outright, as he has no other place to turn.

Aufidius is moved and overwhelmed by the arrival of his great rival, and he welcomes Coriolanus with genuine warmth and admiration, embracing him and expressing that he has long held a deep respect for his former enemy’s military prowess. Aufidius pledges to share his command with Coriolanus and promises that together they will march against Rome. After the two men exit together, the servants who had previously dismissed the disguised Coriolanus discuss what they have witnessed, marveling at the sudden reversal of fortune and speaking with awe about Coriolanus’s commanding presence and reputation.

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.