SCENE III.
Between Rome and Antium.
Enter a Roman, and a Volce.
Rom.
I know you well, sir, and you know me:
your name, I think, is Adrian.
Vol.
It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.
Rom.
I am a Roman; and my services are, as you
are, against 'em: Know you me yet?
Vol.
Nicanor? No.
Rom.
The same, sir.
Vol.
You had more beard, when I last saw you;
3 note
but your favour is well appear'd by your tongue.
What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the
Volcian state, to find you out there: You have well
saved me a day's journey.
Rom.
There hath been in Rome strange insurrection:
the people against the senators, patricians,
and nobles.
Vol.
Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks
-- 445 --
not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and
hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.
Rom.
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.
Vol.
Coriolanus banish'd?
Rom.
Banish'd, sir.
Vol.
You will be welcome with this intelligence,
Nicanor.
Rom.
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 fallen 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.
Vol.
He cannot choose. I am most fortunate, thus
accidentally to encounter you: You have ended my
business, and I will merrily accompany you home.
Rom.
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?
Vol.
A most royal one: the centurions, and their
charges, distinctly billeted, 4 notealready in the entertainment,
and to be on foot at an hour's warning.
Rom.
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.
-- 446 --
Vol.
You take my part from me, sir; I have the
most cause to be glad of yours.
Rom.
Well, let us go together.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].