And virtue ftoops and trembles at her frown. To wait, faid I? to wanton with this Queen, Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving. Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge, And manners, to intrude where I am graced; Chi. Demetrius, thou doft overween in all, To ferve, and to deserve my mistrefs' grace; Aar. Clubs, clubs !--these lovers will not keep the peace. Dem. Why,boy, although our mother (unadvis'd) Gave you a dancing rapier by your fide, Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends? Rowe and Mr Pope adopted this reading: I have restored, with all the old copies, earthly. Go to; So near the Emperor's palace dare you draw? Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge: The caufe were known to them it most concerns.. For fhame, put up.. Chi. Not I, till I have fheath'd (10) My rapier in his bofom, and withal Thruft thefe reproachful fpeeches down his throat, That he hath breath'd in my difhonour here. Dem. For that I am prepar'd and full refolved,--Foul-fpoken coward! thou thundereft with thy tongue, And with thy weapon nothing dareft perform. Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore, Why, Lords--and think you not how dangerous What, is Lavinia then become so loose, (10) Not I, till I have fheathed My rapier in his bofom,-] This fpeech, which has been all along given to Demetrius, as the next has been to Chiron, I have, by the advice of Mr Warburton, vice verfa given to Chiron and Demetrius: for it is Demetrius, as it appears from the tenor of the fcene, who had thrown out reproachful fpeeches on Chiron. That for her love fuch quarrels may be broached, Without controulment, juftice, or revenge? Young Lords, beware-and should the Empress know This difcord's ground, the mufic would not please. Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope. [choice; 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 Chi. Aaron, a thoufand deaths would I propofe, To atchieve her whom I do love. Aar. To atchieve her how? Dem. Why makest 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 loved. 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 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 fhould he defpair, that knows to court it With words, fair looks, and liberality? Aar. Why, then it feems fome certain fnatch or Would ferve your turns. Chi. Ay, fo the turn were ferved. [fo Aar. Would you had hit it too, Then fhould not we be tired with this ado: Why, hark ye, hark ye--and are ye fuch fools (11) To fquare for this? would it offend you then That both fhould speed? Chi. Faith, not me. Dem. Nor me, fo I were one. Aar. For ihame, be friends; and join for that 'Tis policy and ftratagem must do [you jar. A fpeedier courfe than ling ring languishment (11) -and are you fuch fools -Would it offend you then Dem. Nor me, fo I were one.] This is verbum fat fapienti, with a vengeance. The two brothers fhew more fagacity in this paffage, than they do throughout the play befides; for they make their anfwer to Aaron, without ever staying to hear him propound his question. But there is no occafion for this fpirit of divination. The fupplement, which I have made, is reftored from the old Quarto, which Mr Pope pretends to have collated. ANDRONICUS. We will acquaint with all that we intend; And the fhall file our engines with advice, That will not fuffer you to fquare yourselves, But to your wifhes' height advance you both. The Emperor's court is like the houfe of Fame, The palace full of tongues, of eyes, and ears: The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf and dull: There fpeak and ftrike, brave boys, and take your turns. There ferve your lufts, shadow'd from Heaven's eye; And revel in Lavinia's treafury. Chi. Thy counfel, lad, fmells of no cowardife. 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. SCENE changes to a Foreft. [Exeunt. Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS and his three Sons, with bounds and horns, and MARCUS. Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and gray; 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, Tit. Many good-morrows to your Majesty; |