Chapter 84
420 Words
SCENE III. A highway between Rome and AntiumEnter a ROMAN and a VOLSCE, meeting
ROMAN. I know you well, sir, and you know me; your name, I think,
is Adrian.
VOLSCE. It is so, sir. Truly, I have forgot you.
ROMAN. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em.
Know you me yet?
VOLSCE. Nicanor? No!
ROMAN. The same, sir.
VOLSCE. YOU had more beard when I last saw you, but your favour is
well appear'd by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a
note from the Volscian state, to find you out there. You have
well saved me a day's journey.
ROMAN. There hath been in Rome strange insurrections: the people
against the senators, patricians, and nobles.
VOLSCE. Hath been! Is it ended, then? Our state thinks not so; they
are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in
the heat of their division.
ROMAN. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make
it flame again; for the nobles receive so to heart the banishment
of that worthy Coriolanus that they are in a ripe aptness to take
all power from the people, and to pluck from them their tribunes
for ever. This lies glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature
for the violent breaking out.
VOLSCE. Coriolanus banish'd!
ROMAN. Banish'd, sir.
VOLSCE. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.
ROMAN. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said the
fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fall'n out
with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in
these wars, his great opposer, Coriolanus, being now in no
request of his country.
VOLSCE. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to
encounter you; you have ended my business, and I will merrily
accompany you home.
ROMAN. I shall between this and supper tell you most strange things
from Rome, all tending to the good of their adversaries. Have you
an army ready, say you?
VOLSCE. A most royal one: the centurions and their charges,
distinctly billeted, already in th' entertainment, and to be on
foot at an hour's warning.
ROMAN. I am joyful to hear of their readiness, and am the man, I
think, that shall set them in present action. So, sir, heartily
well met, and most glad of your company.
VOLSCE. You take my part from me, sir. I have the most cause to be
glad of yours.
ROMAN. Well, let us go together.
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