SCENE III.
A Highway between Rome and Antium.
Enter a Roman and a Volsce, meeting.
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 appeared by your tongue. What's
the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian
-- 227 --
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 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 banished?
Rom.
Banished, 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, 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.
-- 228 --
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.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
