I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths By this device. Aaron, a thousand deaths Chi. Would I propose, 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 Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know: Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother, Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge. Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may. [Aside. Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows to With words, fair looks, and liberality? What, hast thou not full often struck a doe, And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose? Aar. Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch or so Would serve your turns. Chi. [court it Ay, so the turn were serv'd. Dem. Aaron, thou hast hit it. Aar. 'Would you had hit it too: Then should not we be tir'd with this ado. Why, hark ye, hark ye,--And are you such fools, To square for this? Would it offend you then That both should speed? Chi. Dem. So I were one. I'faith, not me. Nor me, [jar. Aar. For shame, be friends; and join for that you A speedier course than lingering languishment Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-A Forest near Rome. A Lodge seen at a distance. Horns, and cry of Hounds heard. Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c. MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. 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, Horns wind a peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty ;- I have been broad awake two hours and more. [TO TAMORA. Tit. And I have horse will follow where the game Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain. Dem. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound, But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. [Exeunt. SCENE III.—A desert Part of the Forest. Aar. He that had wit, would think that I had none, Let him, that thinks of me so abjectly, A very excellent piece of villany: And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest, [Hides the gold. That have their alms out of the empress' chest. Enter TAMORA. Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad, When every thing doth make a gleeful boast? The birds chaunt melody on every bush; The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun; The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind, And make a checquer'd shadow on the ground: Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit, And whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds, Replying shrilly to the well-tun'd horns, As if a double hunt were heard at once,Let us sit down, and mark their yelling noise : And-after conflict, such as was supposed The wandering prince of Dido once enjoy'd, When with a happy storm they were surpriz'd, And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,We may, each wreathed in the other's arms, Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber; Whiles hounds, and horns, and sweet melodious birds, Be unto us, as is a nurse's song Of lullaby, to bring her babe asleep. Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your desires, Saturn is dominator over mine: What signifies my deadly-standing eye, To do some fatal execution? No, madam, these are no venereal signs; Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life! Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. [Exit. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal emperess, Tam. Saucy controller of our private steps! Lav. Under your patience, gentle emperess, 'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning; And to be doubted, that your Moor and you Are singled forth to try experiments: Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day! 'Tis pity, they should take him for a stag. Bas. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian Why are you sequester'd from all your train? Lav. And, being intercepted in your sport, Bas. The king, my brother, shall have note of this. Lav. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long: Good king! to be so mightily abus'd! Tam. Why have I patience to endure all this? Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS. Dem. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother, Why doth your highness look so pale and wan ? As any mortal body, hearing it, Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. But straight they told me, they would bind me here And leave me to this miserable death. [Stabs BASSIANUS. Chi. And this for me, struck home to shew my strength. [Stabbing him likewise. Lav. Ay come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous TaFor no name fits thy nature but thy own! [mora! Tam. Give me thy poniard; you shall know, my boys, Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong. Dem. Stay, madam, here is more belongs to her; First, thrash the corn, then after burn the straw: This minion stood upon her chastity, Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty, And with that painted hope braves your mightiness: And shall she carry this unto her grave? Chi. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust. Tam. But when you have the honey you desire, Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting. Chi. I warrant you, madam; we will make that Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy [sure.That nice-preserved honesty of yours. Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face.Tam. I will not hear her speak; away with her. Lav. Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word. Dem. Listen, fair madam: Let it be your glory To see her tears; but be your heart to them, As unrelenting flint to drops of rain. Lav. When did the tiger's young ones teach the O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee: [dam? The milk, thou suck'dst from her, did turn to marble: Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.— Yet every mother breeds not sons alike; a bastard? Lav. 'Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark: Yet I have heard, (O could I find it now!) The lion, mov'd with pity, did endure To have his princely paws par'd all away. Some say that ravens foster forlorn children, The whilst their own birds famish in their nests: O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no, Nothing so kind, but something pitiful! Tam. I know not what it means; away with her. Lav. O, let me teach thee: for my father's sake, That gave thee life, when well he might have slair. Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears. [thee, Tam. Had thou in person ne'er offended me, Even for his sake am I pitiless: Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain, To save your brother from the sacrifice; But fierce Andronicus would not relent. Therefore away with her, and use her as you The worse to her, the better lov'd of me. : will; Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen, And with thine own hands kill me in this place: For 'tis not life, that I have begg'd so long; |