But to your wishes' height advance you both. There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your turns; And revel in Lavinia's treasury. Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream To cool this heat, a charm to calm these(24) fits, Per Styga, per manes vehor. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A forest near Rome. Horns and cry of hounds heard. Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c., MARCUS, LUCIUS, Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,(25) Horns wind a peal. Enter SATURNINUS, Tamora, Bassianus, 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 lord;(26) Somewhat too early for new-married ladies. Bas. Lavinia, how say you? I have been broad awake two hours and more. VOL. V. Sat. Come on, then; horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport.—Madam, now shall ye see Our Roman hunting. Marc. I have dogs, my lord, Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase, [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 lonely part of the forest. Enter AARON, with a bag of gold. Aar. 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 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 chant melody on every bush; The snake lies rollèd in the cheerful sun; The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind, As if a double hunt were heard at once, When with a happy storm they were surpris'd, Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep. Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your desires, What signifies my deadly-standing eye, No, madam, these are no venereal signs: Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life! Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sons To back thy quarrels, (27) whatsoe'er they be. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal empress, Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her, Who hath abandoned her holy groves [Exit. Tam. Saucy controller of our private steps! Thy temples should be planted presently Lav. Under your patience, gentle empress, Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day! 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 (29) of this. Lav. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long : Good king, to be so mightily abus'd! Tam. Why have I (30) patience to endure all this? Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON. Dem. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother! Why doth your highness look so pale and wan? Tam. Have I not reason, think you, to look pale? The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds, And when they show'd me this abhorrèd pit, 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 show my strength. [Also stabs Bassianus, who dies. Lav. Ay, come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous Tamora, For no name fits thy nature but thy own! 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 :(31) Chi. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, Tam. But when ye have the honey ye (32) desire, |