Volcian, meeting.
-- 87 --
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; 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: note You have well saved me a day's
journey.
Rom.
There hath been in Rome strange insurrections:
the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles.
Vol.
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.
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
-- 88 --
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,14Q0997 and their
charges, distinctly billeted already 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.
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.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
