Wine, wine, wine! What service is here? I think our fellows are asleep.
Wine, wine, wine! Where's the service? I think our workers have fallen asleep.
Wine! Wine! Wine! Where's the service? I think the other guys have nodded off.
wine wine wine where's service guys are asleep
Where’s Cotus? My master calls for him. Cotus!
Where is Cotus? My master is calling for him. Cotus!
Where's Cotus? The boss is looking for him. Cotus!
where's cotus boss needs him
A goodly house. The feast smells well, but I
Appear not like a guest.
This is a beautiful house. The food smells wonderful, but I don't appear as a guest.
This is gorgeous. The food smells amazing, but I don't look like I belong at the party.
nice house food smells good i don't look like a guest
What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here’s no place for you.
Pray go to the door.
What do you want, friend? Where are you from? You don't belong here. Please leave.
What do you need, friend? Where are you coming from? You're not welcome here. Get out.
what you want where you from get out
I have deserved no better entertainment
In being Coriolanus.
I have received no better treatment than this while being Coriolanus.
I've been treated no better before, even when I was Coriolanus.
been treated worse before even as coriolanus
Whence are you, sir?—Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives
entrance to such companions?—Pray, get you out.
Where are you from, sir? Does the doorkeeper have his eyes open, letting in such people? Please get out.
Where are you coming from, sir? What's the porter thinking, letting someone like you in? Get out.
where you from what's porter thinking go
Away!
Away!
Away!
away!
Away? Get you away.
Leave? Get away from here.
Leave? Get out of here.
go away
Now th’ art troublesome.
You're being trouble now.
Now you're being annoying.
stop being annoying
Are you so brave? I’ll have you talked with anon.
Are you feeling so bold? I'll have someone talk to you soon.
Are you feeling tough? I'm going to have a word with you in a moment.
tough guy we're talking soon
What fellow’s this?
What fellow’s this?
What fellow’s this?
what fellow’s this?
A strange one as ever I looked on. I cannot get him out o’ th’ house.
Prithee call my master to him.
He's the strangest person I've ever seen. I can't get him out of the house. Please call my master to see him.
He's the weirdest guy I've ever seen. I can't get him to leave. Can you get the master?
weirdest guy ever can't get him out get the boss
What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.
What business do you have here, fellow? Please leave the house.
What are you doing here? Please get out of the house.
what you doing get out
Let me but stand. I will not hurt your hearth.
Just let me stand here. I won't harm your home.
Just let me stand. I won't do any damage.
let me stay i won't hurt nothing
What are you?
What are you?
What are you?
what are you?
A gentleman.
A gentleman.
A gentleman.
a gentleman.
A marv’llous poor one.
A remarkably poor one.
A pretty poor one.
poor as hell
True, so I am.
That's true, I am.
Yeah, I am.
true
Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station. Here’s no place
for you. Pray you, avoid. Come.
I ask you, poor gentleman, go stand somewhere else. You're not welcome here. Please leave. Come on.
Look, poor guy, go stand somewhere else. You don't belong here. Let's go.
go stand elsewhere you don't belong let's go
Follow your function, go, and batten on cold bits.
Do your job, go on, and eat the leftover scraps.
Do your work and get out of here and eat what's left.
do your job go eat scraps
What, you will not?—Prithee, tell my master what a strange guest he has
here.
What, you won't leave? Please tell my master there's a strange guest here.
You won't go? Can you tell the master there's someone really weird here?
you won't leave tell boss there's a weirdo
And I shall.
And I shall.
And I shall.
and i shall.
Shakespeare never names or explains Aufidius's feelings for Coriolanus, and the critics have been arguing about it ever since. The speech in which Aufidius says his heart dances 'more than when I first my wedded mistress saw / Bestride my threshold' is either (a) hyperbole about the intensity of warrior-rivalry, (b) homoerotic in nature, or (c) something Shakespeare himself was not categorizing — a form of intense attachment that the culture didn't have a clear term for. What's undeniable is the physical specificity of Aufidius's fantasies: the unbuckling of helmets, the gripping of throats, the waking 'half dead from nothing.' This is not merely admiration. Shakespeare is exploring the way extreme competition can generate an intensity that resembles — and perhaps is — love.
Where dwell’st thou?
Where do you live?
Where do you live?
where you from
Under the canopy.
Under the canopy.
Under the canopy.
under the canopy.
Under the canopy?
Under the canopy?
Under the canopy?
under the canopy?
Ay.
Ay.
Ay.
ay.
Where’s that?
Where’s that?
Where’s that?
where’s that?
I’ th’ city of kites and crows.
In the city of kites and crows.
In a city full of predators and scavengers.
city of kites and crows basically nowhere
I’ th’ city of kites and crows? What an ass it is! Then thou dwell’st
with daws too?
In the city of kites and crows? What a fool you are! So you live with jackdaws too?
The city of kites and crows? That's ridiculous! So you live with jackdaws too?
city of predators you're an idiot with the jackdaws too
No, I serve not thy master.
No, I don't serve your master.
No, I don't work for your boss.
i don't work for you
How, sir? Do you meddle with my master?
What do you mean? Are you questioning my master?
What? Are you messing with my boss?
you messing with my boss
Ay, ’tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress. Thou
prat’st and prat’st. Serve with thy trencher, hence!
Yes, it's more honorable service than to meddle with your lover. You talk and talk. Serve with your dish and get out!
Yeah, that's more honorable than messing with your girlfriend. You keep running your mouth. Get out of here with your serving tray!
more honorable than your girlfriend thing stop talking go serve
Aufidius speaks with an intensity that collapses the boundary between warrior rivalry and something closer to love — watch for how his admiration for Coriolanus is always entangled with his need to destroy him, even in this moment of embrace.
Where is this fellow?
Where is this person?
Where's that guy?
where is he
Here, sir. I’d have beaten him like a dog, but for disturbing the lords
within.
Here, sir. I would have beaten him like a dog, but I didn't want to disturb the lords inside.
He's right here, sir. I would've beaten him senseless, but I didn't want to bother the nobles inside.
here i'd beat him but didn't want to bother the lords
Whence com’st thou? What wouldst thou?
Thy name? Why speak’st not? Speak, man. What’s thy name?
Where are you from? What do you want? Your name? Why won't you speak? Speak up, man. What's your name?
Where are you coming from? What do you want? Your name? Why aren't you talking? Speak up! What's your name?
where you from what you want name speak
[_Removing his muffler_.] If, Tullus,
Not yet thou know’st me, and, seeing me, dost not
Think me for the man I am, necessity
Commands me name myself.
If you don't know me yet, Tullus, and seeing me, don't realize who I am, then I have to tell you my name.
Look, Tullus, if you don't recognize me and you're not getting that I'm the man I actually am, I'm just going to have to introduce myself.
if u don't know who i am u gotta hear my name
What is thy name?
What is your name?
What's your name?
your name
A name unmusical to the Volscians’ ears
And harsh in sound to thine.
A name that's unpleasant to the Volscians' ears and harsh to yours.
A name that sounds ugly to the Volscians and harsh to your ears.
name you don't want to hear harsh to volscians harsh to you
Say, what’s thy name?
Thou has a grim appearance, and thy face
Bears a command in’t. Though thy tackle’s torn,
Thou show’st a noble vessel. What’s thy name?
Tell me, what's your name? You have a stern appearance, and your face commands respect. Despite your torn clothes, you show the bearing of nobility. What's your name?
Come on, what's your name? You look pretty intimidating, and there's something commanding about your face. Your clothes are torn, but you've still got a noble air about you. What's your name?
what's your name you look tough commanding presence clothes torn but noble
Prepare thy brow to frown. Know’st thou me yet?
Get ready to frown in anger. Do you know who I am yet?
Brace yourself. Do you recognize me now?
prepare yourself know me yet
I know thee not. Thy name?
I don't know you. What's your name?
I don't know who you are. What's your name?
don't know you your name
My name is Caius Martius, who hath done
To thee particularly and to all the Volsces
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname Coriolanus. The painful service,
The extreme dangers, and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country are requited
But with that surname, a good memory
And witness of the malice and displeasure
Which thou shouldst bear me. Only that name remains.
The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devoured the rest,
And suffered me by th’ voice of slaves to be
Whooped out of Rome. Now this extremity
Hath brought me to thy hearth, not out of hope—
Mistake me not—to save my life; for if
I had feared death, of all the men i’ th’ world
I would have ’voided thee, but in mere spite,
To be full quit of those my banishers,
Stand I before thee here. Then if thou hast
A heart of wreak in thee, that wilt revenge
Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims
Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight
And make my misery serve thy turn. So use it
That my revengeful services may prove
As benefits to thee, for I will fight
Against my cankered country with the spleen
Of all the under fiends. But if so be
Thou dar’st not this, and that to prove more fortunes
Thou ’rt tired, then, in a word, I also am
Longer to live most weary, and present
My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice,
Which not to cut would show thee but a fool,
Since I have ever followed thee with hate,
Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country’s breast,
And cannot live but to thy shame, unless
It be to do thee service.
My name is Caius Martius, and I have caused you particularly and all the Volscians great harm and damage. My surname Coriolanus is witness to this. My painful military service, the extreme dangers I faced, and the blood I shed for my ungrateful country have been repaid only with that surname—a memory of the hatred and displeasure you should rightfully bear toward me. Only that name remains to me. The cruelty and envy of the people, permitted by our cowardly nobles who have all abandoned me, have destroyed everything else, and I have been driven out of Rome by the voice of slaves. Now this dire situation has brought me to your hearth, not out of hope—don't misunderstand me—to save my life. If I had feared death, I would have avoided you above all men in the world. But out of pure spite, to be fully quit of those who banished me, I stand before you here. So if you have a heart for revenge, if you want to avenge your own particular wrongs and repair the shame your country has suffered, act immediately and turn my misery to your advantage. Use it so that my vengeful services prove beneficial to you, for I will fight against my corrupted country with the fury of all the demons below. But if you don't dare this, and if you're tired of proving yourself further, then in short, I am also weary of living, and I present my throat to you and to your ancient hatred. Not to cut it would make you a fool, since I have always pursued you with hatred, drawn rivers of blood from your country, and I cannot live except to your shame, unless it is to serve you.
My name is Caius Martius, and I've done you and all the Volscians serious harm. My nickname Coriolanus proves it. All my years of painful military service, the extreme dangers I faced, and the blood I shed for my ungrateful country—all of it was repaid with just that name, a reminder of how much you should hate me. That's all that's left of me. The people and the nobles—those cowards who abandoned me—destroyed everything else, and they threw me out of Rome like trash. Now here I am at your place, not because I'm hoping to save my life, understand me. If I'd been afraid of dying, I would never have come near you. No, I came here purely to spite those people who kicked me out. So here's the deal: if you want revenge for what I've done to you, if you want to fix the shame your country suffered, then use me. Put my suffering to work for you. I'll fight against Rome with all the fury of a demon. But if you're not up for it, if you're tired of fighting, then fine. I'm tired too, sick of living. You can kill me. My throat is right here. You'd be a fool not to take it, since I've always been your enemy, I've spilled your people's blood, and I can't live without bringing you shame—unless I'm working for you.
i'm caius martius i've hurt you volscians my name coriolanus proves it i'm done with rome they threw me out use me for revenge or kill me i don't care
O Martius, Martius,
Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart
A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter
Should from yond cloud speak divine things
And say ’tis true, I’d not believe them more
Than thee, all-noble Martius. Let me twine
Mine arms about that body, whereagainst
My grained ash an hundred times hath broke
And scarred the moon with splinters. Here I clip
The anvil of my sword and do contest
As hotly and as nobly with thy love
As ever in ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valour. Know thou first,
I loved the maid I married; never man
Sighed truer breath. But that I see thee here,
Thou noble thing, more dances my rapt heart
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw
Bestride my threshold. Why, thou Mars, I tell thee
We have a power on foot, and I had purpose
Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn
Or lose mine arm for’t. Thou hast beat me out
Twelve several times, and I have nightly since
Dreamt of encounters ’twixt thyself and me;
We have been down together in my sleep,
Unbuckling helms, fisting each other’s throat,
And waked half dead with nothing. Worthy Martius,
Had we no other quarrel else to Rome but that
Thou art thence banished, we would muster all
From twelve to seventy and, pouring war
Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome,
Like a bold flood o’erbear ’t. O, come, go in,
And take our friendly senators by th’ hands,
Who now are here, taking their leaves of me,
Who am prepared against your territories,
Though not for Rome itself.
Oh Martius, Martius, every word you've spoken has pulled out an ancient root of envy from my heart. If Jupiter himself spoke divine truths from the clouds and said it was true, I wouldn't believe them more than I believe you, noble Martius. Let me wrap my arms around that body, against which my wooden spear has broken a hundred times and scarred the moon with splinters. Here I embrace the anvil of my sword, and I fight with you now as hotly and as nobly with love as I ever fought against your valor with ambitious strength. Know first that I loved my wife; no man ever sighed more genuinely. But seeing you here now, noble thing, my enraptured heart dances more than when I first saw my wife cross the threshold of my house. Why, you Mars-like creature, I tell you, we have an army ready, and I had planned once more to cut your shield from your arm or lose mine trying. You've beaten me twelve separate times, and since then I've dreamed every night of battles between you and me; we've been wrestling together in my sleep, unbuckling helmets, choking each other, and waking up half dead with nothing. Noble Martius, if we had no other reason to make war on Rome except that you've been banished, we would gather everyone from twelve years old to seventy and pour war into Rome's heart like a bold flood to overwhelm it. Come, go inside, and take our friendly senators by the hand. They're here now taking their leave of me as I prepare for war against your territories, though not for Rome itself.
Martius, Martius, every word you've spoken has ripped out an old hatred from my heart. If the god Jupiter came down from the clouds and said it was true, I wouldn't believe him more than I believe you. Let me put my arms around you. This is the body that broke my spear a hundred times and left me scarred. Here I hold the weapon I fought you with, and now I fight you with love just as fiercely as I used to fight with ambition. Let me be honest—I loved my wife, loved her truly. But seeing you here now, you amazing man, my heart is more thrilled than it was on my wedding day. We have a whole army ready, and I was planning to fight you one more time, to cut you down or die trying. You've beaten me twelve times, and I've dreamed about fighting you every night since then—wrestling with you, choking each other, waking up half dead. Noble Martius, if Rome's only crime was banishing you, we'd take every man from the youngest to the oldest and flood Rome with war until it drowns. Come on, let's go inside and welcome our senators by the hand. They're here saying goodbye to me as I prepare to fight your people, though not Rome itself.
martius you destroyed my hatred my spear broke on you and now i love you i'm more thrilled seeing you than my own wife we'll destroy rome for what they did to you
You bless me, gods!
The gods bless me!
I'm blessed!
blessed by gods
Therefore, most absolute sir, if thou wilt have
The leading of thine own revenges, take
Th’ one half of my commission and set down—
As best thou art experienced, since thou know’st
Thy country’s strength and weakness—thine own ways,
Whether to knock against the gates of Rome,
Or rudely visit them in parts remote
To fright them ere destroy. But come in.
Let me commend thee first to those that shall
Say yea to thy desires. A thousand welcomes!
And more a friend than e’er an enemy—
Yet, Martius, that was much. Your hand. Most welcome!
Therefore, most absolute sir, if you want to lead your own revenge, take half of my authority and set your own plans—since you know best, having knowledge of Rome's strengths and weaknesses—whether to attack the gates of Rome directly or visit them in remote parts first to frighten them before you destroy them. But come inside first. Let me introduce you to those who will agree to your wishes. A thousand welcomes! And I'm more your friend now than I ever was your enemy—and Martius, that was considerable. Give me your hand. Welcome!
So, if you want to command your own revenge, take half of my power and plan it your way—you know best since you understand Rome's strengths and weaknesses—whether to attack the gates directly or hit them first in remote places to scare them before you destroy them. But come inside first. Let me introduce you to the senators who will give you everything you want. Welcome, welcome! I'm more your friend now than I was ever your enemy—and that's saying something. Shake my hand. Welcome!
take half my power plan your revenge attack rome your way come meet the senators they'll support you
Two of the Servingmen come forward.
Two servants step forward.
Two servants walk up.
two servants step up
Here’s a strange alteration!
What a strange change!
This is crazy—what a change!
wild change
By my hand, I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel, and yet
my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him.
I swear, I was going to hit him with a club, and yet something told me his clothes were deceiving me.
I swear, I was about to beat him with a club, but something about him didn't match his clothes.
was gonna hit him but his clothes didn't match who he is
What an arm he has! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb as
one would set up a top.
What strength in his arm! He spun me around with just his finger and thumb like I was a spinning top.
Look at that arm! He spun me around with just his finger and thumb like I was a toy.
his arm is insane he moved me like a spinning toy
The second half of this scene is a masterpiece of tonal whiplash. The three servants who spent the scene trying to throw Coriolanus out are now the most enthusiastic commentators on what they've witnessed. Their debate about whether Aufidius or Martius is the greater soldier is conducted with complete sincerity and comic incompetence — 'directitude' is a word that doesn't exist. Their conclusion that 'war exceeds peace as day does night' is a kind of dark comedy: three men who work in a kitchen are philosophizing about the superiority of war, while Coriolanus and Aufidius are inside making arrangements to destroy a city. Shakespeare uses these voices to let the audience breathe after the intensity of the encounter — and then lands the dark punchline. The servants are excited for a war whose consequences they cannot imagine.
Nay, I knew by his face that there was something in him. He had, sir, a
kind of face, methought—I cannot tell how to term it.
No, I knew by his face there was something special about him. He had a kind of face, I thought—I can't quite describe it.
No, I could tell by his face there was something special about him. There was something about his face—I can't quite put it into words.
his face showed it something special can't describe
He had so, looking as it were—Would I were hanged, but I thought there
was more in him than I could think.
His face was like that—I'd be hanged if I didn't think there was more to him than I could comprehend.
Yeah, his face showed it—I swear, there was something about him I couldn't quite grasp.
his face showed it there's more than i could understand
So did I, I’ll be sworn. He is simply the rarest man i’ th’ world.
So did I, I swear it. He is simply the most extraordinary man in the world.
Same, I swear. He's the most amazing man on earth.
yeah most amazing man alive
I think he is. But a greater soldier than he you wot one.
I think he is. But you know one greater soldier than he is.
I think so too. But there's one soldier greater than him.
one soldier better aufidius
Who, my master?
Who, my master?
Who, my master?
who, my master?
Nay, it’s no matter for that.
No, it doesn't matter about that.
No, never mind about that.
doesn't matter
Worth six on him.
That stranger is worth six of our master.
Please, that guy's worth six of our boss.
new guy > six of our boss
Nay, not so neither. But I take him to be the greater soldier.
No, I disagree with that. But I do believe he's the greater soldier.
No, that's too much. But he is the better soldier.
nah not that much but he's better
Faith, look you, one cannot tell how to say that. For the defence of a
town our general is excellent.
Honestly, you can't really say that. For defending a town, our general is excellent.
Look, you can't really compare them. For defending a town, our general is excellent.
can't compare aufidius great at defense
Ay, and for an assault too.
Yes, and for attacking too.
Yeah, and at attacking too.
and at attacking
O slaves, I can tell you news, news, you rascals!
FIRST and SECOND SERVINGMAN.
What, what, what? Let’s partake.
Oh slaves, I can tell you news, news, you scoundrels! What, what, what? Let us hear it.
Hey you guys, I've got news for you! What, what? Come on, tell us!
i got news tell us what is it
I would not be a Roman, of all nations; I had as lief be a condemned
man.
FIRST and SECOND SERVINGMAN.
Wherefore? Wherefore?
I would not be a Roman out of all nations; I would just as soon be a condemned man. Why? Why?
I wouldn't be a Roman if I had a choice; I'd rather be condemned to death. Why? Why?
wouldn't be roman 'd rather be dead why
Why, here’s he that was wont to thwack our general, Caius Martius.
Look, here's the man who used to beat our general—Caius Martius himself.
This is the guy who used to pound our general—Caius Martius.
it's martius he beat our general
Why do you say, “thwack our general”?
Why do you say he beat our general?
What do you mean he beat our general?
he beat our general?
I do not say “thwack our general,” but he was always good enough for
him.
I'm not saying he beat our general, but he was always a match for him.
I'm not saying he beat him, but he was always his equal.
not beat him but they were matched
Come, we are fellows and friends. He was ever too hard for him; I have
heard him say so himself.
Come on, we're all friends. Martius was always too strong for him—Aufidius himself has admitted it.
Come on, we're all pals. Martius was always too tough for him—he's said so himself.
we're friends martius was stronger aufidius knows it
He was too hard for him directly, to say the troth on’t, before
Corioles; he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado.
To tell the truth, he was directly too strong for him before Corioles; he slashed him and cut him like grilled meat.
Honestly, he was way stronger before the city of Corioles; he slashed him to pieces like he was grilling meat.
before corioles he cut him up like grilled meat
An he had been cannibally given, he might have boiled and eaten him
too.
If he had been a cannibal, he might have boiled and eaten him too.
If he'd been a cannibal, he would've cooked and eaten him too.
if he was cannibal would've eaten him
But, more of thy news?
But what else is your news?
So what else do you have to tell us?
what else
Why, he is so made on here within as if he were son and heir to Mars;
set at upper end o’ th’ table; no question asked him by any of the
senators but they stand bald before him. Our general himself makes a
mistress of him, sanctifies himself with’s hand, and turns up the white
o’ th’ eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general
is cut i’ th’ middle and but one half of what he was yesterday, for the
other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He’ll go,
he says, and sowl the porter of Rome gates by th’ ears. He will mow all
down before him and leave his passage polled.
Well, he's treated here like he were the son and heir of Mars; he sits at the head of the table; the senators don't question him but stand bareheaded before him. Our general treats him like a lover, blesses himself with his hand, and hangs on his every word. But the real news is that our general is divided in half—he's only half of what he was yesterday, because Martius has taken the other half by request and agreement of everyone at the table. Martius says he'll go seize the porter of Rome's gates by the ears. He'll mow down everyone in front of him and clear his path.
He's being treated like he's Mars's own son; he's sitting at the head of the table; the senators bow to him. Our general worships him, treats him like a god, and listens to everything he says. But here's the real news: our general is split in half now. He's only half of what he was yesterday because Martius got the other half—everyone at the table agreed to it. Martius says he's going to grab the porter of Rome's gates by his ears. He's going to destroy everyone in his path and clear the way.
he's treated like a god head of table senators bow to him our general split with him he's gonna destroy rome
And he’s as like to do’t as any man I can imagine.
And he's as likely to do it as any man I can imagine.
And he's going to do it too, definitely.
he'll definitely do it
Do’t? He will do’t! For look you, sir, he has as many friends as
enemies, which friends, sir, as it were, durst not, look you, sir, show
themselves, as we term it, his friends whilest he’s in directitude.
Do it? He will do it! Because look, he has as many friends as enemies, but these friends, as it were, didn't dare show themselves as his friends while he was in his current situation.
Do it? He absolutely will! Look, he has tons of friends and enemies, but all those friends kept their distance when he was in trouble. Now they'll come out.
he'll do it has friends and enemies friends hid when he was down now they'll show up
Directitude? What’s that?
Directitude? What’s that?
Directitude? What’s that?
directitude? what’s that?
But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood,
they will out of their burrows like coneys after rain, and revel all
with him.
But when they see him risen again and in battle mood, they'll come out of their holes like rabbits after rain and all celebrate with him.
But once he's back in power and ready for war, they'll come crawling out like rabbits after it rains and party with him.
once he's back they'll come crawling out like rabbits after rain
But when goes this forward?
But when will this happen?
So when is this going to start?
when this happening
Tomorrow, today, presently. You shall have the drum struck up this
afternoon. ’Tis as it were parcel of their feast, and to be executed
ere they wipe their lips.
Tomorrow, today, or right now. The drum will sound this afternoon. It's part of their feast, and it will happen before they even finish eating.
Tomorrow, today, right now—whenever. We'll hear the war drums this afternoon. It's basically part of the dinner entertainment, and it'll start before they even finish their meal.
today this afternoon drums will sound war starts before dinner ends
Why then, we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing
but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers.
Then we'll have an exciting world again. This peace is nothing but making metal rust, creating tailors, and breeding poets.
Then we'll have action again. Peace just makes weapons rust and creates poets and tailors.
finally action peace is boring rust and poets
Let me have war, say I. It exceeds peace as far as day does night. It’s
sprightly walking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy,
lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard
children than war’s a destroyer of men.
Give me war, I say. It exceeds peace as far as day exceeds night. War is lively, loud, and vigorous. Peace is like a stroke, lethargy—muffled, deaf, sleepy, insensible—and creates more bastard children than war destroys men.
I want war. War is so much better than peace. War is active, loud, and exciting. Peace is a sickness—dull, quiet, sluggish, numb—and it actually creates more bastards than war kills soldiers.
give me war it's better than peace war is alive peace is death
’Tis so, and as war in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it
cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds.
That's true, and while war might be called a rapist, it cannot be denied that peace makes many cuckolds.
Exactly, and if war takes what it wants, then peace definitely creates plenty of cuckolds.
war is violent peace makes cuckolds
Ay, and it makes men hate one another.
Yes, and peace makes men hate one another.
Yeah, and peace makes people hate each other.
makes people hate each other
Reason: because they then less need one another. The wars for my money!
I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volscians. They are rising; they are
rising.
That's because they need each other less. Give me wars anytime! I hope to see Romans worth as little as Volscians. They're coming; they're coming.
That's because they don't need each other. I'm betting on war! I hope to see Romans beaten down like Volscians. It's happening; it's coming!
no need for each other give me war romans gonna fall it's happening
In, in, in, in!
Come in, come in, come in, come in!
Let's go in! Let's go!
let's go
The Reckoning
The most extraordinary encounter in the play — two warriors who have tried to kill each other a dozen times, meeting now in Aufidius's hall, and something almost incandescent happening between them. Aufidius's speech ('more dances my rapt heart than when I first my wedded mistress saw') is one of Shakespeare's most startling lines. Then the scene deflates, brilliantly, into the servants debating who could beat whom, and concluding that war is better than peace. The whole arc of the scene — from the sublime to the bathetic and back — is Shakespeare at full power.
If this happened today…
Imagine the greatest NFL linebacker of his generation showing up, unannounced, at a rival team's facility in civilian clothes. The security staff tries to throw him out. He refuses to leave. Eventually their head coach appears. The linebacker says: your team is ready, I have nothing left to offer my old team, and I'd like to play against them with you. The coach embraces him. The equipment staff, watching from the doorway, spends the rest of the night arguing about who's actually better, settling on: war is always more exciting than peace.