Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your desires, Saturn is dominator over mine: What signifies my deadly-standing eye, No, madam, these are no venereal signs; Aar. No more, great empress, Bassianus comes: Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. [Exit. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal emperess, Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her; verbs to loll and lollop evidently spring from the same root. And by meant house; go to by is go to house or cradle. The common compliment at parting, good by is good house, may your house prosper; and Selby, the Archbishop of York's palace, is great house. So that lullaby implies literally sleep in house, i. e. the cradle. HOLT WHITE. Who hath abandoned her holy groves, Tam. Saucy controller of our private steps! Lav. Under your patience, gentle emperess, 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* Doth make your honour of his body's hue, Spotted, detested, and abominable. Why are you sequester'd from all your train? Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed, And wander'd hither to an obscure plot, Accompanied with a barbarous Moor, If foul desire had not conducted you? Lav. And, being intercepted in your sport, Great reason that my noble lord be rated For sauciness. I pray you, let us hence, And let her 'joy her raven-colour'd love; This valley fits the purpose passing well. 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? 7 Should drive-] i. e. fly with impetuosity at him. 8 swarth Cimmerian-] Swarth is black. The Moor is called Cimmerian, from the affinity of blackness to darkness. Enter CHIRON and DEMEtrius. Dem. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother, Why doth your highness look so pale and wan? The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, 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. And then they call'd me, foul adulteress, And, had you not by wondrous fortune come, 9 urchins,] i. e. hedgehogs. 'Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.] This is said in fabulous physiology, of those that hear the groan of the mandrake torn up. Chi. And this for me, struck home to show my [Stabbing him likewise. Lav. Ay come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous Ta strength. mora! 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:* 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 sure. Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,- Lav. When did the tiger's young ones teach the O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee: And with that painted hope braves your mightiness:] Painted hope is only specious hope, or ground of confidence more plausible than solid. JOHNSON. Yet every mother breeds not sons alike; [TO CHIRON Chi. What! would'st thou have me prove myself 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 slain thee, Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears. Tam. Had thou in person ne'er offended me, Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain, Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen, Tam. What begg'st thou then; fond woman, let me go. Lav. 'Tis present death I beg; and one thing more, That womanhood denies my tongue to tell: O, keep me from their worse than killing lust, And tumble me into some loathsome pit; Where never man's eye may behold my body: Do this, and be a charitable murderer. |