Aar.
Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's shot; and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning flash;
Advanc'd above pale ^note envy's threat'ning reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiack in his glist'ring coach,

And overlooks the highest-peering hills:
So Tamora:—
Upon her wit ^note doth earthly honour wait,
And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.
Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, ^note and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus ty'd to Caucasus.
Away with slavish weeds, and idle thoughts!
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperess.
To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis; ^note this nymph, ^note14Q1182
This Syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And see his shipwreck, and his common-weal's.
Hola! what storm is this? Enter Chiron, and Demetrius, braving.

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

Chi.
Demetrius, thou dost overween 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 ^note 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 ^note for Lavinia's love.

Aar.
Clubs! clubs! these lovers will not keep the peace.

Dem.
Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd,

Gave you a dancing rapier by your side,
Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends?
Go to; have your lath glew'd 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, ^note [draws.

Dem.
Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? [draws too.

Aar.
Why, how ^note now, lords? [interposing.
So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
And maintain such a quarrel openly?
Full well I wote 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 ^note perform.

Aar.
Away, I say.— [beating down their Swords.
Now by the gods that warlike Goths adore,
This petty ^note brabble will undo us all.—
Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is, to jet upon ^note a prince's right?
What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,
That for her love such quarrels may be broacht,
Without controulment, justice, or revenge?

Young lords, beware! an should the empress know
This discord's ^note 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, to atchieve her whom I love ^note.

Aar.
To atchieve her! How?

Dem.
Why mak'st ^note 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 ^note worn Vulcan's badge.

&clquo;Aar.
&clquo;Ay, and as good as Saturninus ^note may.&crquo;

Dem.
Then why should he despair, that knows to court it
With words, fair looks, and liberality?
What, hast not thou full often struck a doe,
And born her cleanly by the keeper's nose?

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? Would it offend you then,
That both should speed? ^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, atchieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chast
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.
A speedier course than ling'ring ^note 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 kind for rape and villany:
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,
To 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 palace 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.

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

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

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