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.

Aaron. 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,1 to achieve her whom I love.
Aaron. To achieve her!-How?

Dem.

Why makest 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 loved.
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,9 we know.
Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge.
Aaron. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

[aside.

Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows to

court it

With words, fair looks, and liberality?

1 i. e. propose to venture.

2 Slice.

What, hast thou not full often struck a doe,
And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose?
Aaron. Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch

or so

Would serve your turns.

Chi.

Ay, so the turn were served.

Would you had hit it too;

Dem. Aaron, thou hast hit it.
Aaron.

Then should not we be tired with this ado.

Why, hark ye, hark ye;—and are you such fools, To square 1 for this? Would it offend you then That both should speed?

Chi.

Dem.

So I were one.

I' faith, not me.

Nor me,

Aaron. 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 achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.

A speedier course than lingering 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;

1 Quarrel.

And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind1 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 cowardice.
Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream
To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits,
Per Styga, per manes vehor.

[Exeunt.

1 By nature.

2 Sacred here means accursed: a Latinism.

SCENE II.

A forest near Rome: a lodge seen at a distance. Horns and cry of hounds heard.

Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c. MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.

"Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and

gray,

"The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green. Uncouple here; and let us make a bay,

"And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,

"And rouse the prince; and ring a hunter's peal, "That all the court may echo with the noise. "Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours, "To tend the emperor's person carefully. "I have been troubled in my sleep this night, "But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.

Horns wind a peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and Attendants.

Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty ;—
Madam, to you as many and as good!

I promised your grace a hunter's peal.
Sat. And you have rung it lustily, my lords,
Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.
Bas. Lavinia, how say you?

Lav.

SHAK.

I say, no;

x.

I have been broad awake two hours and more.

Sat. Come on then, horse and chariots let us

Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,
And climb the highest promontory top.

Tit. And I have horse will follow where the

game

Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain. Dem. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor

hound;

But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A desert part of the forest.

Enter AARON, with a bag of gold.

"Aaron. He, that had wit, would think that I

had none,

"To bury so much gold under a tree,

"And never after to inherit1 it.

"Let him, that thinks of me so abjectly,

Know, that this gold must coin a stratagem,

"Which, cunningly effected, will beget

"A very excellent piece of villany:

1 Possess.