Seest thou this letter? take it up I pray thee, Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. [Exit. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal emperess, Unfurnish'd 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 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 Doth make your honour of his body's hue, Spotted, detested, and abominable. ! Part. Why are you sequester'd from all your train? Bas. 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, 2 Hedge-hogs. As any mortal body, hearing it, Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. No sooner had they told this hellish tale, 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, [Stabs BASSIANUS. Chi, And this for me, struck home to show my strength. [Stabbing him likewise. Lav. Ay come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous Ta mora! 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: 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 Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,- Lav. When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam? Yet [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 Some say that ravens foster forlorn children, 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, But fierce Andronicus would not relent. 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, 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 off LAVINIA. This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [Exeunt. Tam. Farewell, my sons: see that you make her sure: |