Know, that this gold must coin a stratagem; A very excellent piece of villany; And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest, [Hides the gold. That have their alms out of the empress' chest.1 Enter TAMOra. Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad, When every thing doth make a gleeful boast? The birds chant melody on every bush; The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun; The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind, And make a checkered 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-tuned horns, As if a double hunt were heard at onceLet us sit down and mark their yelling noise. And-after conflict, such as was supposed The wandering prince and Dido once enjoyed, When with a happy storm they were surprised, And curtained with a counsel-keeping caveWe may, each wreathed in the other's arms, Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber; Whiles hounds, and horns, and sweet, melodious birds, Be unto us, as is a nurse's song Of lullaby, to bring her babe asleep. Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your desires, Saturn is dominator over mine. What signifies my deadly-standing eye, No, madam, these are no venereal signs; 1 This is obscure. It seems to mean only, that they who are to come at this gold of the empress are to suffer by it.-Johnson. Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee, Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life! Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. [Exit. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal empress Unfurnished of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her; Who hath abandoned her holy groves, To see the general hunting in this forest? Lav. Under your patience, gentle empress, Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day! Bas. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian1 Doth make your honor of his body's hue, Spotted, detested, and abominable. your train Why are you sequestered from all If foul desire had not conducted P you Lav. And, being intercepted in your sport, Bas. The king, my brother, shall have note of this. Lav. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long.2 Good king! to be so mightily abused! 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? The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, 1 Swarth is dusky. The Moor is called Cimmerian from the affinity of blackness to darkness. 2 He had yet been married but one night. The true reading may be "made her," i. e. Tamora. 3 Hedgehogs. As any mortal body, hearing it, Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.1 But straight they told me, they would bind me here And leave me to this miserable death. And then they called me, foul adulteress, [Stabs BASSIANUS. Chi. And this for me, struck home to show my [Stabbing him likewise. Lav. Ay, come, Semiramis,2-nay, barbarous Tamora! For no name fits thy nature but thy own! strength. 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 3 braves your mightiness; Chi. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. Tam. But when you have the honey you desire, 1 This is said in fabulous physiology of those that hear the groan of the mandrake when torn up. 2 The propriety of this address will be best understood by consulting Pliny's Nat. Hist. ch. 42. 3 Painted hope is only specious hope, or ground of confidence more plausible than solid. Steevens thought that the word hope was interpolated, the sense being complete and the line more harmonious without it. Chi. I warrant you, madam; we will make that sure. Come, mistress, now, perforce, we will enjoy Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,- 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! wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard? Lav. 'Tis true the raven doth not hatch a lark: 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, Even for his sake am I pitiless.— Remember, boys, I poured forth tears in vain, To save your brother from the sacrifice; But fierce Andronicus would not relent. Therefore away with her, and use her as you will; Lav. O Tamora, be called a gentle queen, |