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Aar. Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep

the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd, Gave you a dancing-rapier2 by your side,

Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends? Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath, Till you know better how to handle it.

Chi. Mean while, sir, with the little skill I have, Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare. Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? [They draw. Aar. Why, how now, lords? So near the emperor's palace dare you draw, And maintain such a quarrel openly?

Full well I wot3 the ground of all this grudge;

I would not for a million of gold,

The cause were known to them it most concerns: Nor would your noble mother, for much more,

Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.

For shame, put up.

Dem.

Not I; till I have sheath'd My rapier in his bosom, and, withal,

Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat, That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here.

Chi. For that I am prepar'd and full resolv'd,Foul-spoken coward! that thunder'st with thy tongue,

And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform.
Aar. Away, I say.-

Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore,

This petty brabble will undo us all.—

Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous

It is to jut upon a prince's right?

What, is Lavinia then become so loose,

Or Bassianus so degenerate,

That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd,

Without controlment, justice, or revenge?

(1) This was the usual outcry for assistance, when any riot in the street happened. (2) A sword worn in dancing.

(3) Know.

Young lords, beware!--an should the empress know This discord's ground, the music would not please.

Chi. I care not, I, knew she and all the world; I love Lavinia more than all the world.

Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make son e meaner choice:

Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

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
By this device.

Chi.

Aaron, a thousand deaths 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 court it

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.
Dem. Aaron, thou hast hit it.
Aar.

Ay, so the turn were serv'd.

'Would you had hit it too;

Then should not we be tir'd with this ado.

(1) Slice.

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,

Aar. For shame, be friends; and join for that you jar.

'Tis policy and stratagern must do

That you affect; and so must you resolve;
That what you cannot, as you would, achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.

A speedier course than lingering languishment
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The forest walks are wide and spacious;
And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind2 for rape and villany:
Single you thither then this dainty doc,
And strike her home by force, if not by words:
This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our empress, with her sacred3 wit,
o villany and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not suffer you to square yourselves,
But to your wishes' height advance you both.
The emperor's court is like the house of fame,
The pa ace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears:
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull;
There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your

turns:

There serve your lust, shadow'd from heaven's eye, And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

(1) Quarrel.

(2) By nature.

(3) Sacred here signifies accursed; a Latinism.

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 fits, Per Styga, per manes vehor.

[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,

And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,
And rouse the prince; and ring a hunter's peal,
That all the court may echo with the noise.
Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,
To tend the emperor's person carefully:
I have been troubled in my sleep this night,
But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd.

Horns wind a peal. Enter Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and At tendants.

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, Somewhat too early for new-married ladies. Bas. Lavinia, how say you?

I say, no;

Lav. I have been broad awake two hours and more. Sat. Come on then, horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport:-Madam, now shall ye see Our Roman hunting.

Mar.

[To Tamora.

I have dogs, my lord, Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase, And climb the highest promontory top.

Tit. And I have horse will follow where the

game

Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.

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Dem. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor

hound,

But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. [Exe. SCENE III-A desert 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,2

[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 chequer'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 suppos'd
The wandering prince of Dido once enjoy'd,
When with a happy storm they were surpris'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,

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