SCENE III. A highway between Rome and Antium.
Enter 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 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.
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
Coriolan*s, 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
Coriolan*s banished!
ROMAN
Banished, 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 fallen out with her husband. Your noble
Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his
great opposer, Coriolan*s, 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 the 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.
Exeunt