Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUs, braving.

Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,
And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd;
And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.
Chi. Demetrius, thou doft over-ween in all;
And fo in this to bear me down with braves.
'Tis not the difference of a year, or two,
Makes me lefs gracious, thee more fortunate :
I am as able, and as fit, as thou,

To ferve, and to deferve my mistress' grace;
And that my fword upon thee shall approve,
And plead my paffions for Lavinia's love.

Aar. Clubs, clubs! thefe lovers will not keep the peace. Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd, Gave you a dancing-rapier by your fide,

Are you fo defperate grown, to threat your friends?
Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath,
Till you know better how to handle it.

Chi. Mean while, fir, with the little skill I have,
Full well fhalt thou perceive how much I dare.

Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye fo brave?

Aar.

[They draw. Why, how now, lords?

So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
And maintain fuch a quarrel openly?

Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge;

I would not for a million of gold,

The cause were known to them it most concerns:

Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
Be fo difhonour'd in the court of Rome.

For fhame, put up.

Dem.

Not I; till I have fheath'd

My rapier in his bofom, and, withal,

Thrust

Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat,
That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here.

Chi. For that I am prepar'd and full refolv'd,—
Foul-spoken coward! that thunder'st with thy tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform.
Aar. Away, I fay.-

Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore,
This petty brabble will undo us all.-

Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jut upon a prince's right?

What, is Lavinia then become so loose,

Or Baffianus fo degenerate,

That for her love fuch quarrels may be broach'd,
Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware!-an fhould the empress know
This difcord's ground, the musick would not please.
Chi. I care not, I, knew she and all the world;

I love Lavinia more than all the world.

Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make fome meaner choice:

Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

Aar. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome How furious and impatient they be,

And cannot brook competitors in love?

I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.

Chi.

Aaron, a thousand deaths Would I propofe, to achieve her whom I love. Aar. To achieve her!-How?

Dem.

Why mak'st thou it so strange?

She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore may be won;
She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd.
What, man! more water glideth by the mill

C 3

Than

Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to fteal a fhive, we know:
Though Baffianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge.
Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

[Afide.

Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows to court

it

With words, fair looks, and liberality?

What, haft thou not full often ftruck a doe,

And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nofe?

Aar. Why then, it seems, fome certain fnatch or fe Would ferve your turns.

Chi.

Ay, fo the turn were ferv'd.

Dem. Aaron, thou haft hit it.

Aar.

'Would you had hit it too;

Then fhould not we be tir'd with this ado.

Why, hark ye, hark ye,-And are you fuch fools,
To square for this? Would it offend you then

Aar. For fhame, be friends; and join for that you jar.

'Tis policy and stratagem must do

That you affect; and fo muft you refolve;

That what you cannot, as you would, achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me. Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Baffianus' love.
A fpeedier course than lingering languishment
Muft we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a folemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop
The forest walks are wide and spacious

*

And

And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind for rape and villainy :
Single you thither then this dainty doe,

And strike her home by force, if not by words:
This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our emprefs, with her facred wit,
To villainy and vengeance confecrate,

Will

we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not fuffer you to square yourselves,
But to your wishes' height advance you both.
The emperor's court is like the house of fame,
The palace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears:
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull;

There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your turns :
There ferve your luft, fhadow'd from heaven's eye,
And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

Chi. Thy counfel, lad, fmells of no cowardice.
Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream
To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits,
Per Styga, per manes vehor.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Foreft near Rome. A Lodge seen at a distance. Horns, and cry of bounds, heard.

Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c. MAR: CUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MÁRTIUS.

Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey, The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green: Uncouple here, and let us make a bay,

And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,

And rouse the prince; and ring a hunter's peal,
That all the court may echo with the noise.
Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,
To tend the emperor's perfon carefully :
I have been troubled in my fleep this night,
But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd.

Horns wind a peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and Attendants.

Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty ;-
Madam, to you as many and as good!-
I promised your grace a hunter's peal.

Sat. And you have rung it luftily, my lords,
Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.
Baf. Lavinia, how say you

Lav.

u?

I fay, no;

I have been broad awake two hours and more.

Sat. Come on then, horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport:-Madam, now shall ye see

Our Roman hunting.

Mar.

[To TAMORA,

I have dogs, my lord, Will roufe the proudest panther in the chase, And climb the highest promontory top.

Tit. And I have horfe will follow where the game Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.

Dem. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horfe nor hound, But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.

[Exeunt.

SCENE