&mlquo;Aar.
&mlquo;He, that had wit, would think that I had none,
&mlquo;To bury so much gold under a tree,
&mlquo;And never after to inherit it^{6 note}.
&mlquo;Let him, that thinks of me so abjectly,
&mlquo;Know, that this gold must coin a stratagem;
&mlquo;Which, cunningly effected, will beget
&mlquo;A very excellent piece of villainy:
&mlquo;And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest^{7 note}

Enter Tamora.

&mlquo;Tam.
&mlquo;My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad^{9 note}

&mlquo;The birds chaunt melody on every bush;
&mlquo;The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun;
&mlquo;The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind,
&mlquo;And make a checquer'd shadow^{1 note}

&mlquo;Aar.
&mlquo;Madam, though Venus govern your desires,
&mlquo;Saturn is dominator over mine^{4 note}

&mlquo;Tam.
&mlquo;Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!

&mlquo;Aar.
&mlquo;No more, great empress, Bassianus comes:
&mlquo;Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sons
&mlquo;To back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be. [Exit. Enter Bassianus and Lavinia.

Bas.
Who have we here? Rome's royal emperess,
Unfurnish'd of her^{6 note}

Tam.
Saucy controller of our private steps^{7 note}!
Had I the power, that, some say, Dian had,
Thy temples should be planted presently
With horns, as was Actæon's; and the hounds
Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs^{8 note}

Lav.
Under your patience, gentle emperess,
'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning;
And to be doubted, that your Moor and you

Are singled forth to try experiments:
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^{9 note}

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^{2 note}

Lav.
Ay, for these slips have made him noted long^{3 note}

Tam.
Why have I patience to endure all this? Enter Chiron and Demetrius.

Dem.
How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother,

Why doth your highness look so pale and wan?

&mlquo;Tam.
&mlquo;Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?
&mlquo;These two have 'tic'd me hither to this place,
&mlquo;A barren detested vale^{4 note}

&mlquo;That ever ear did hear to such effect.
&mlquo;And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,
&mlquo;This vengeance on me had they executed:
&mlquo;Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,
&mlquo;Or be ye not henceforth call'd my children.

Dem.
This is a witness that I am thy son. [Stabs Bassianus.

Chi.
And this for me, struck home to show my strength. [Stabbing him likewise.

Lav.
Ay, come, Semiramis^{8 note},—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^{9 note}

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^{1 note}

Chi.
I warrant you, madam; we will make that sure.—
Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy
That nice preserved honesty of yours.

Lav.
O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,—

Tam.
I will not hear her speak; away with her.

Lav.
Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word.

Dem.
Listen, fair madam: Let it be your glory
To see her tears; but be your heart to them,
As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.

Lav.
When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam?
O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee:
The milk, thou suck'dst from her, did turn to marble;
Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.—
Yet every mother breeds not sons alike:
Do thou entreat her show a woman pity. [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,
Even for his sake am I pitiless:—
Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain,
To save your brother from the sacrifice;
But fierce Andronicus would not relent,
Therefore away with her^{2 note}, and use her as you will;
The worse to her, the better lov'd of me.

Lav.
O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen,
And with thine own hands kill me in this place:
For 'tis not life, that I have begg'd so long;
Poor I was slain, when Bassianus died.

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.

Tam.
So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee:
No, let them satisfy their lust on thee.

Dem.
Away, for thou hast staid us here too long.

Lav.
No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature!
The blot and enemy to our general name!
Confusion fall—

Chi.
Nay, then I'll stop your mouth:—Bring thou her husband; [Dragging off Lavinia.

This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [Exeunt.

Tam.
Farewell, my sons: see, that you make her sure:
Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed,
Till all the Andronici be made away.
Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor,
And let my spleenful sons this trull deflour. [Exit.

Previous section

Next section