Bas. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian Doth make your honour of his body's hue. Why are you sequester'd from all your train? Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed, And wander'd hither to an obscure plot, Accompanied with a barbarous Moor? Lav. My noble lord, I pray you let us hence, And let her 'joy her raven-colour'd love. 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? The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, 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. And, had you not by wondrous fortune come, [Stabs BASSIANUS. Chi. And this for me, struck home to show my strength. [Stabbing him likewise. 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; 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. Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust. Tam. Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting. Chi. I warrant you, madam; we will make that sure. Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,Fam.. 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 one's teach the dam? O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee: ble; - Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranný.- [To CHIRON. Chi. What! would'st thou have me prove myself a bastard? Lav. 'Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark: To have his princely paws par'd all away. 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. Hadst 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 death I beg; O, keep me from what's worse! my body: And tumble me into some loathsome pit; creature! The blot and enemy to our general name! Confusion fall. 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: Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed, Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor. SCENE IV. [Exit. 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 subtile hole is this, Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briars; Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood, As fresh as morning's dew distill'd on flowers? very fatal place it seems to me : A Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall? That he thereby may give a likely guess, Quin. I am surprised with an uncouth fear: And see a fearful sight of blood and death. Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart Will not permit mine eyes once to behold Mart. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here, |