Dem.
Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,
And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd;
And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.

Chi.
Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;
And so in this to bear me down with braves.
'Tis not the difference of a year, or two,
Makes me less gracious, thee more fortunate:
I am as able, and as fit, as thou,
To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace;

And that my sword upon thee shall approve,
And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

Aar.
Clubs, clubs^{1 note}

Dem.
Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd,
Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side^{2 note}

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 wot 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^{3 note}
My rapier in his bosom, and, withal,
Thrust these reproachful^{4 note} 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^{5 note}
,
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?
Young lords, beware!—an should the empress know
This discord's ground, the musick 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 some 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^{6 note}

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^{7 note}

She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd.
What, man! more water glideth by the mill^{8 note}

Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive^{9 note}

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^{2 note}

Aar.
Why then, it seems, some certain snatch or so
Would serve your turns.

Chi.
Ay, so the turn were serv'd.

Dem.
Aaron, thou hast hit it.

Aar.
'Would you had hit it too;
Then should not we be tir'd with this ado.
Why, hark ye, hark ye,—And are you such fools,
To square for this^{4 note}

Chi.
I' faith, not me.

Dem.
Nor me,
So I were one.

Aar.
For shame, be friends; and join for that you jar.
'Tis policy and stratagem 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^{5 note}

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 kind^{6 note} for rape and villainy:
Single you thither then this dainty doe,
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 sacred wit^{7 note}

,
To villainy and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice^{8 note},
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 palace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears^{9 note}:
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.

Chi.
Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice.

Dem.
Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream
To cool this heat^{1 note}
, a charm to calm these fits,
Per Styga, per manes vehor^{2 note}. [Exeunt. 3 ^note

Previous section

Next section