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CHIRON。 Meanwhile； sir； with the little skill I have； Full well shalt thou
perceive how much I dare。 DEMETRIUS。 Ay； boy； grow ye so brave？
＇They draw＇ AARON。 ＇Coming forward＇ Why； how now； lords！ So near
the Emperor's palace dare ye draw And maintain such a quarrel openly？
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Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge： I would not for a million of
gold The cause were known to them it most concerns； Nor would your
noble mother for much more Be so dishonoured in the court of Rome。 For
shame； put up。 DEMETRIUS。 Not I； till I have sheath'd My rapier in his
bosom； and withal Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat That
he hath breath'd in my dishonour here。 CHIRON。 For that I am prepar'd
and full resolv'd； Foul…spoken coward； that thund'rest with thy tongue； And
with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform。 AARON。 Away； I say！ Now； by
the gods that warlike Goths adore； 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； an 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 served。
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
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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 ling'ring 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
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SCENE II。 A forest near Rome
Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS； and his three sons； LUCIUS；
QUINTUS； MARTIUS； making a noise with hounds and horns； and
MARCUS TITUS。 The hunt is up； the morn is bright and grey； 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 attend the Emperor's person carefully。
I have been troubled in my sleep this night； But dawning day new comfort
hath inspir'd。
Here a cry of hounds； and wind horns in a peal。 Then enter
SATURNINUS； TAMORA； BASSIANUS LAVINIA； CHIRON；
DEMETRIUS； and their attendants Many good morrows to your Majesty！
Madam； to you as many and as good！ I promised your Grace a hunter's
peal。 SATURNINUS。 And you have rung it lustily； my lords… Somewhat
too early for new…married ladies。 BASSIANUS。 Lavinia； how say you？
LAVINIA。 I say no； I have been broad awake two hours and more。
SATURNINUS。 Come on then； horse and chariots let us have； And to our
sport。 ＇To TAMORA＇ Madam； now shall ye see Our Roman hunting。
MARCUS。 I have dogs； my lord； Will rouse the proudest panther in the
chase； And climb the highest promontory top。 TITUS。 And I have horse
will follow where the game Makes way； and run like swallows o'er the
plain。 DEMETRIUS。 Chiron； we hunt not； we； with horse nor hound； But
hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground。 Exeunt
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SCENE III。 A lonely part of the forest
Enter AARON alone； 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 inherit 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 villainy。 And so
repose； sweet gold； for their unrest ＇Hides the gold＇ That have their alms
out of the Empress' chest。
Enter TAMORA alone； to the Moor
TAMORA。 My lovely Aaron； wherefore look'st thou sad When
everything does make a gleeful boast？ The birds chant melody on every
bush； The snakes lie rolled in the cheerful sun； The green leaves quiver
with the cooling wind And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground；
Under their sweet shade； Aaron； let us sit； And while the babbling echo
mocks the hounds； Replying shrilly to the well…tun'd horn