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Vol. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you.

Rom. I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against 'em : Know you me yet?

Vol. Nicanor? No.

Rom. The same, sir.

140

Vol. You had more beard, when I last saw you; but your favour is well appear'd 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 sav'd me a day's journey.

Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles..

149

Vol. 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. Vol. Coriolanus banish'd !

Rom. Banish'd, sir.

160

Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.

Rom. The day serves well for them now. I have heard it said, The fittest time to corrupt a man's wife, is when she is fallen out with her husband.

Your

noble

noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great opposer Coriolanus being now in no request of his country. 169

Vol. 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?

Vol. 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.

179 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.

Vol. You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of your's.

Rom. Well, let us go together.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Antium. Before AUFIDIUS's House. Enter CORIOLANUS, in mean Apparel, disguis'd, and muffled.

Cor. A goodly city is this Antium: City, 'Tis I that made thy widows; many an heir

Of these fair edifices for my wars

189

Have I heard groan, and drop : then know me not; Lest that thy wives with spits, and boys with stones,

Enter a Citizen.

In puny battle slay me.-Save you, sir.

Cit. And you.

Cor. Direct me, if it be your will,

Where great Aufidius lies: Is he in Antium ?.

Cit. He is, and feasts the nobles of the state, At his house this night.

Cor. Which is his house, 'beseech you?

Cit. This, here, before you.

Cor. Thank you, sir; farewel.

O, world, thy slippery turns!

sworn,

199

[Exit Citizen.

Friends now fast

Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart,

Whose hours, whose bed, whose meal, and exercise, Are still together, who twin, as 'twere, in love

Unseparable, shall within this hour,

On a dissention of a doit, break out

To bitterest enmity: So, fellest foes,

Whose passions and whose plots have broke their

sleep

dear friends,

To take the one the other, by some chance,
Some trick not worth an egg, shall grow
And interjoin their issues. So with me:-
My birth-place hate I, and my love's upon
This enemy town.-I'll enter: if he slay me,
He does fair justice; if he give me way,
I'll do his country service.

211

[Exit.

SCENE

SCENE V.

A Hall in AUFIDIUS's House. Musick plays. Enter a Serving-Man.

1 Serv. Wine, wine, wine! What service is here! I think our fellows are asleep.

Enter another Serving-Man.

[Exit.

2 Ser. Where's Cotus? my master calls for him.

Cotus!

Enter CORIOLANUS.

[Exit.

Cor. A goodly house: The feast smells well: but I Appear not like a guest.

Re-enter the first Serving-Man.

221

1 Serv. What would you have, friend? Whence are you? Here's no place for you: Pray, go to the door.

Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, In being Coriolanus.

Re-enter Second Servant.

[Exit.

2 Serv. Whence are you, sir? Has the porter his eyes in his head, that he gives entrance to such com

panions? Pray, get you out.

Cor. Away!

2 Serv. Away? Get you away.

230

Cor.

Cor. Now thou art troublesome.

2 Serv. Are you so brave: I'll have you talk'd with anon.

Enter a third Servant. The first meets him.

3 Serv. What fellow's this?

1 Serv. A strange one as ever I look'd on: I can. not get him out o' the house: Pr'ythee, call my mas. ter to him.

3 Serv. What have you to do here, fellow? Pray you, avoid the house.

240

Cor. Let me but stand; I will not hurt your hearth. 3 Serv. What are you?

Cor. A gentleman.

3 Serv. A marvellous poor one.

Cor. True, so I am.

3 Serv. Pray you, poor gentleman, take up some other station: here's no place for you; pray you, avoid

come.

Cor. Follow your function, go,

And batten on cold bits.

250

[Pushes him away.

3 Serv. What, will you not? Pr'ythee, tell my

master what a strange guest he has here.

2 Serv. And I shall.

3 Serv. Where dwell'st thou ?

Cor. Under the canopy.

3 Serv. Under the canopy

Cor. Ay.

!

[Exit.

3

Seru. Where's that?

Cor.

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