Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore, Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous What, is Lavinia then become so loose, Or Bassianus so degenerate, That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd Young lords, beware; and should the empress know Demet. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice: Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope. Aaron. 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 thousand deaths would I propose, Aaron. To achieve her, how? Demet. 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 worn Vulcan's badge. Aaron. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may. Demet. Then why should he despair that knows to court it With words, fair looks, and liberality? What, hast not thou full often struck a doe, Aaron. Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch Then should not we be tir'd with this ado. Why, hark ye, hark ye, and are you such fools Chi. Faith, not me. Demet. Nor me, so I were one. Aaron. For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar. 'T is policy and stratagem must do That you affect, and so must you resolve That what you cannot as you would achieve A speedier course than ling'ring languishment a Sacred-in the Latin sense, accursed. That will not suffer you to square yourselves, Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. SCENE 11.-A Forest. [Exeunt. Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, his three Sons, and MARcus, making a noise with hounds and horns. Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey, Here a cry of hounds, and wind horns in a peal; then enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and their 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 lustily, my lords; Lav. I say no: I have been broad awake two hours and more. Sat. Come on, then; horse and chariots let us have, Marc. Tit. And I have horse will follow where the game Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain. Demet. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound; But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. SCENE III.-The Forest. Enter AARON. [Exeunt. Aaron. He that had wit would think that I had none, To bury so much gold under a tree, And never after to inherit it. Let him that thinks of me so abjectly Know that this gold must coin a stratagem, Which, cunningly effected, will beget A very excellent piece of villainy; And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest, That have their alms out of the empress' chest. Enter TAMORA. Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad, When everything doth make a gleeful boast? The birds chant melody on every bush; The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun; The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind, And make a checker'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, The wand'ring prince and Dido once enjoy'd, Of lullaby, to bring her babe asleep. Aaron. Madam, though Venus govern your desires, Saturn is dominator over mine: What signifies my deadly standing eye, No, madam, these are no venereal signs; Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee, Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life! Aaron. No more, great empress, Bassianus comes. |