Tam. Saucy controller of our private steps! Thy temples should be planted presently Lav. Under your patience, gentle empress, Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day! Bas. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian Why are you sequester'd from all your train, Lav. And, being intercepted in your sport, Bas. The king my brother shall have note (29) of this. Lav. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long : Good king, to be so mightily abus'd! Tam. Why have I (30) patience to endure all this? Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON. 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, Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. But straight they told me they would bind me here And leave me to this miserable death: [Stabs Bassianus. Chi. And this for me, struck home to show my strength. [Also stabs Bassianus, who dies. Lav. Ay, come, Semiramis,-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; Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty, And with that painted hope braves your mightiness :(31) Chi. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, Tam. But when ye have the honey ye (32) 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-preservèd honesty of yours. 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; The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble; [To Chiron. Chi. What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bas tard? Lav. 'Tis true,—the raven doth not hatch a lark : Yet have I 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! Tam. Hadst 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, and use her as you will; Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen, 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, 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 stay'd 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: This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [Demetrius throws the body of Bassianus into the pit; then exeunt Demetrius and Chiron, dragging off Lavinia. 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. Re-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 espied the panther fast asleep. Quin. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes. Mart. And mine, I promise you; were't not for shame, Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile. [Falls into the pit. Quin. What, art thou fall'n ?-What subtle hole is this, Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers, Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood As fresh as morning's dew distill'd on flowers? A very fatal place it seems to me. Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall? Mart. O brother, with the dismall'st object hurt That ever eye with sight made heart lament! Aar. [aside] Now will I fetch the king to find them here, That he thereby may give a likely guess How these were they that made away his brother. Mart. Why dost not comfort me, and help me out From this unhallow'd and blood-stainèd hole? Quin. I am surprisèd with an uncouth fear; And see a fearful sight of blood and death. Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart Mart. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here, Quin. If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he? As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth. [Exit. Quin. Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out; Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good, I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus' grave. I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink. |