Scene Three
[A Highway between Rome and Antium]
Enter a Roman and a Volsce.
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 4
you are, against 'em: know you me yet?
Vols. Nicanor? No.
Rom. The same, sir.
Vols. You had more beard, when I last saw 8
you; but your favour is well appeared 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. 12
Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insur-
rections: the people against the senators, patri-
cians, and nobles.
Vols. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state 16
thinks not so; they are in a most warlike prepara-
tion, and hope to come upon them in the heat of
their division.
Rom. The main blaze of it is past, but a small 20
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 24
from them their tribunes for ever. This lies
glowing, I can tell you, and is almost mature for
the violent breaking out.
9 favour: face
appeared: made to appear, manifested
11 note: instruction
23 ripe aptness: complete readiness
26 glowing: i.e. like a spark
