Act IV.
Scene III.
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.
Vols. 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?
Vols. Nicanor? No.
Rom. The same, sir.
Vols. You had more beard, when I last saw
you; but your favour is well approved 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.
Rom. There hath been in Rome strange in-
surrections: the people against the senators,
patricians, and nobles.
Vols. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our
state thinks not so; they are in a most war-like
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 apt-
ness 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.
Vols. Coriolanus banished!
Rom. Banished, sir.
Vols. You will be welcome with this intelli-
gence, 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.
Vols. He cannot choose. I am most for-
tunate, 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?
Vols. 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. So, sir, heartily well met, and
most glad of your company.
Vols. You take my part from me, sir; I have
the most cause to be glad of yours.
Rom. Well, let us go together. [Exeunt.
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