Enter Bassianus and Lavinia. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal emperess, Who hath abandoned her holy groves, 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 Why are you sequester'd from all your train? Bus. 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? Enter Chiron and Demetrius. Dem. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother, Why doth your highness look so pale and wan? Tam. Have I not reason, think you, to look pale? The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds, And, when they show'd me this abhorred pit, Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. But straight they told me, they would bind me here Unto the body of a dismal yew; And leave me to this miserable death. And then they call'd me, foul adulteress, And, had you not by wondrous fortune come, [Stabs Bassianus. 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! ⚫ Hedgehogs. Tam. Give me thy poniard; you shall kuow, my boys, Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong. Dem. Stay, madain, 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 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: [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: 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. 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! Chi. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth:-Bring thou her husband; [Dragging of Lavinia. This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [Excunt. 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, SCENE IV. The same. Enter Aaron, with Quintus and Martius. Aar. Come on, my lords; the better foot before: Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit, Where I espy'd the panther fast asleep. Quin. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes. Mart. And mine, I promise you; wer't not for shame, Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile. [Martius falls into the pit. Quin. What, art thou fallen? What subtle hole is this, Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briars; Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall! That he thereby may give a likely guess, How these were they that made away his brother. [Exit Aaron. Mart. Why dost not comfort me, and help me out From this unhallow'd and blood-stained hole? Quin. I am surprised with an uncouth fear; |