Nicanor speaks with the cheerful matter-of-factness of a man who has made his peace with betrayal — no guilt, no drama, just useful information exchanged. Watch for how he frames treachery as market intelligence.
I know you well, sir, and you know me. Your name I think is Adrian.
I'm well acquainted with you, and you're well acquainted with me. Adrian is your name, if I remember correctly.
I know you, and you know me. Adrian, right?
i know you you know me you're adrian
It is so, sir. Truly, I have forgot you.
That's right, sir. I have to admit, I've forgotten you.
Yeah, that's me. Honestly, I've forgotten who you are.
yeah that's me i forgot you tho
I am a Roman, and my services are, as you are, against ’em. Know you me
yet?
I'm a Roman, and my services are, like yours, against them. Do you recognize me yet?
I'm a Roman, and like you, I'm serving against Rome. Do you remember me?
i'm roman i'm against rome like you do you remember me?
Nicanor, no?
Nicanor, no?
Nicanor, no?
nicanor, no?
The same, sir.
The same, sir.
The same, sir.
the same, sir.
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.
You had more beard the last time I saw you, but your face is well recognized by your voice. What's the news from Rome? I have a message from the Volscian state to find you there. You've saved me a day's journey.
You had a bigger beard last time I saw you, but I recognize your voice. What's happening in Rome? I had orders to track you down there. Lucky you ran into me—saved me a whole day of travel.
you had more beard before but your voice gives you away what's going on in rome? saved me a trip
There hath been in Rome strange insurrections, the people against the
senators, patricians, and nobles.
There have been strange uprisings in Rome, with the people rising up against the senators, patricians, and nobles.
Rome's had some wild upheaval—the common people fighting against the senators, patricians, and nobles.
rome's been crazy people vs the rich and powerful
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.
Is it ended? Our state doesn't think so. They are preparing for war and hope to attack them while they're still divided.
Is it over? No, our government doesn't think so. We're getting ready for war and planning to strike while they're still at each other's throats.
over? nah we're ready to fight strike while they're divided
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.
The main fire has died down, but a small spark could reignite it. The nobles are so upset about Coriolanus's banishment that they're ready to seize all power from the people and strip them of their tribunes forever. This anger is still burning, I tell you, and it's almost ready to explode violently.
The worst is over for now, but it wouldn't take much to get things burning again. The nobles are so furious about Coriolanus being banished that they're itching to grab total control from the people and kick out their representatives for good. Trust me, the anger is still simmering and it's about to blow.
it's calmed down but barely the nobles hate coriolanus getting banished they want to crush the people it's about to explode
This is one of Shakespeare's deliberately minor scenes — two minor characters, no emotional stakes, just information exchanged. Its function is structural: it widens the camera from the personal (Coriolanus's farewell, Volumnia's grief) to the geopolitical. Rome thinks it has solved a problem by exporting it. This scene shows us that the problem is already being weaponized. The Volscian state was preparing for war anyway; Coriolanus's banishment just improves their timing. The spy Nicanor is a fascinating type — a Roman working against Rome with complete psychological comfort, no apparent ideology, just professional satisfaction at being useful. He is almost the anti-Coriolanus: where Coriolanus cannot bend at all, Nicanor has bent so far he's snapped. He doesn't agonize. He networks.
Coriolanus banished?
Coriolanus banished?
Coriolanus banished?
coriolanus banished?
Banished, sir.
Banished, sir.
Banished, sir.
banished, sir.
You will be welcome with this intelligence, Nicanor.
You'll be welcomed when you bring this news, Nicanor.
They're going to be thrilled to hear this news from you, Nicanor.
they'll love hearing this nicanor
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.
The timing is perfect for them now. I've heard it said that the best time to turn a man's wife against him is when she's already fallen out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will look good in these wars, since his great opponent Coriolanus is now unwanted in his country.
The timing couldn't be better for them. You know how it goes—the best time to turn a wife against her husband is when they're already fighting. Your man Tullus Aufidius is going to look great in these wars, especially with his biggest rival Coriolanus now completely rejected by Rome.
timing's perfect people turn on each other easy aufidius vs coriolanus? coriolanus is done
He cannot choose. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter
you. You have ended my business, and I will merrily accompany you home.
He has no choice. I'm very lucky to have run into you by accident. You've completed my task, and I'll happily go home with you.
He's got no other option. I'm incredibly lucky to have stumbled across you like this. You've taken care of everything I needed, so I'll head home with you in good spirits.
he's got no choice i got lucky meeting you you finished the job let's go home
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?
Before supper, I'll tell you the strangest things happening in Rome, all of which help their enemies. Do you have an army ready, you say?
I'll tell you some wild stories about Rome between now and supper, all stuff that benefits their enemies. So you're saying you've got an army ready to go?
i got wild stories about rome all good for their enemies you got an army ready?
A most royal one. The centurions and their charges, distinctly
billeted, already in th’ entertainment, and to be on foot at an hour’s
warning.
A truly magnificent one. The centurions and their troops are distinctly housed, already enlisted and ready, and can be on their feet in an hour's notice.
An absolutely impressive one. The centurions and their soldiers are properly housed, all enlisted and ready to go, and we can get them moving in just an hour.
yeah a really good one centurions and troops ready can move in an hour
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.
I'm pleased to hear they're ready, and I think I'm the one who will put them into action right away. So, sir, we're well met, and I'm very glad to have you with me.
I'm happy to hear they're ready, and I think I'm the guy who's going to get them moving right now. So, sir, it's good to meet you, and I'm really glad you're here.
glad they're ready i'm gonna get them moving glad to meet you
You take my part from me, sir. I have the most cause to be glad of
yours.
You're taking my role away, sir. I have the most reason to be glad of yours.
You're stealing my thunder, sir. I'm the one who should be most grateful for you being here.
you're taking my moment i should be thanking you
Well, let us go together.
Well, let's go together.
All right, let's go together.
let's go
The Reckoning
A scene of pure exposition and atmosphere, but its atmosphere is chilling — two spies on a road, cheerfully discussing how to exploit the chaos Coriolanus's banishment has created. The news travels fast in the wrong direction. Rome's weakness is already Volscian intelligence.
If this happened today…
Two defense contractors — one ostensibly working for the US government, one for a foreign power — run into each other on a flight out of Dulles and have a very productive chat. The first one's been leaking intel for months. The second is heading home with a target list. They discover their agendas align perfectly. They agree to share a cab to the hotel.