SCENE I.-Rome. Before the Gate of the City. With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother, I would the gods had nothing else to do But once a day, it would unclog my heart Men. Vol. Anger's my meat: I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding.-Come, let's go: Leave this faint puling, and lament as I do, [Exeunt. SCENE III-A Highway between Rome and Antium. Enter a Roman and a Volce, meeting. Rom. I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian. 1 Volc. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against them. Know you me yet? Volc. Nicanor?-No. Rom. The same, sir. Volc. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volcian state to find you out there you have well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Volc. 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. Rom. 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. Volc. Coriolanus banished? Rom. Banished, sir. Volc. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. I Rom. The day serves well for them now. 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. Volc. He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you: you have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home. Rom. 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? Volc. 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. Rom. 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. Volc. You take my part from me, sir: I have the most cause to be glad of yours. Rom. Well, let us go together. [Exeunt. Thou hast a grim appearance, and thy face Bears a command in 't: though thy tackle's torn, Thou shew'st a noble vessel. What's thy name? Cor. Prepare thy brow to frown.-Know'st thou me yet? Auf. I know thee not: thy name? Cor. My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done The cruelty and envy of the people, I had feared death, of all the men i' the world maims Of shame seen through thy country, speed thee straight, And make my misery serve thy turn: so use it Thou art tired, then, in a word, I also am Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart A root of ancient envy. If Jupiter Should from yon cloud speak divine things, and say, ""Tis true," I'd not believe them more than thee, All-noble Marcius.-Let me twine As ever, in ambitious strength, I did Contend against thy valour. Know thou first, I loved the maid I married; never man thee We have a power on foot; and I had purpose Had we no quarrel else to Rome but that |