style="font-size:15px;"> This pretty brabble will undo us all.—Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jet upon a prince’s right?
What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,
That for her love such quarrels may be broach’d
Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware! and should the empress know
This discord’s ground, the music would not please.
CHIRON.
I care not, I, knew she and all the world:
I love Lavinia more than all the world.
DEMETRIUS.
Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:
Lavina 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.
CHIRON.
Aaron, a thousand deaths
Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.
AARON.
To achieve her!—How?
DEMETRIUS.
Why mak’st 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 lov’d.
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, we know:
Though Bassianus be the emperor’s brother,
Better than he have worn Vulcan’s badge.
AARON.
[Aside.] Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.
DEMETRIUS.
Then why should he despair that knows to court it
With words, fair looks, and liberality?
What, hast not thou 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.
CHIRON.
Ay, so the turn were serv’d.
DEMETRIUS.
Aaron, thou hast hit it.
AARON.
Would you had hit it too!
Then should not we be tir’d with this ado.
Why, hark ye, hark ye,—and are you such fools
To square for this? Would it offend you, then,
That both should speed?
CHIRON.
Faith, not me.
DEMETRIUS.
Nor me, so I were one.
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;
And many unfrequented plots there are
Fitted by kind for rape and villainy:
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 villainy and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all what 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, and ears:
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull;
There speak and strike, brave boys, and take your turns;
There serve your lust, shadowed from heaven’s eye,
And revel in Lavinia’s treasury.
CHIRON.
Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice.
DEMETRIUS.
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.]
SCENE II. A Forest near Rome;
