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A highway between Rome and Antium. |
A highway between Rome and Antium. |
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Enter a Roman and a Volsce, meeting |
A Roman and a Volsce enter and meet. |
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ROMAN
I know you well, sir, and you know me: your name, I think, is Adrian. |
ROMAN
I know who you are, sir, and you know me. I think your name is Adrian. |
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VOLSCE
It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. |
VOLSCE
That is my name, sir. I’m sorry, but I’ve forgotten yours. |
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ROMAN
I am a Roman; and my services are, as you are, against ’em: know you me yet? |
ROMAN
I’m a Roman, but like you, I work against the Romans. Do you remember me yet? |
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VOLSCE
Nicanor? no. |
VOLSCE
Nicanor? No. |
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ROMAN
The same, sir. |
ROMAN
That’s it, sir. |
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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. |
VOLSCE
You had a fuller beard the last time I saw you, but your speech gives you away. What’s happening in Rome? I have instructions from the Volscian state to look for you there. You’ve saved me a day’s journey. |
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ROMAN
There hath been in Rome strange insurrections; the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. |
ROMAN
There’s been an unusual uprising in Rome: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. |
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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. |
VOLSCE
Has been? You mean it’s over? Our state doesn’t think so. They’re preparing to attack and hope to surprise them in the middle of the chaos. |
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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. |
ROMAN
Most of it’s over, but one small thing would make it erupt again: if the nobles take the news of Coriolanus’ banishment so personally that they themselves decide to take all power from the people and do away with their tribunes forever. This could easily happen, and it would definitely lead to violence. |
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VOLSCE
Coriolanus banished! |
VOLSCE
Coriolanus has been banished! |
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ROMAN
Banished, sir. |
ROMAN
Banished, sir. |
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VOLSCE
You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor. |
VOLSCE
You’ll be welcome with this news, Nicanor. |
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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. |
ROMAN
Things are looking good for the Volsces now. As they say, the best time to seduce another man’s wife is when she’s in a fight with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will do well in this attack, since his main enemy, Coriolanus, is no longer fighting for his own country. |
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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. |
VOLSCE
His victory is inevitable. I’m so glad to run into you. You’ve told me what I needed to know, and I’ll happily accompany you home. |
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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? |
ROMAN
Between now and dinner, I’ll tell you all the strange things that are happening in Rome, all of which is good news to her enemies. You said you had an army ready? |
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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. |
VOLSCE
A most royal army. Each officer commands a hundred men, and they are all accounted for and deployable on an hour’s notice. |
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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. |
ROMAN
I’m overjoyed to hear that they’re ready. I think my report will be what sends them into battle. So glad we met, sir. |
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VOLSCE
You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause to be glad of yours. |
VOLSCE
Me, too, sir. I have even more reason to be glad to have met you. |
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ROMAN
Well, let us go together. |
ROMAN
Well, let’s go together. |
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Exeunt |
They exit. |