The Complete Works of William Shakespeare · William Shakespeare
SCENE III. A highway between Rome and Antium
Enter a Roman and a Volsce. 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?
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