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The Tragedy of 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]