Coriolanus - Act 4 - Scene 3

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
    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.

Volsce

    Coriolanus 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, Coriolanus, 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

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