Dem. But me more good, to see so great a lord Basely insinuate, and send us gifts. Aar. Had he not reason, lord Demetrius ? Did you not use his daughter very friendly? Dem. I would, we had a thousand Roman dames At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust. Chi. A charitable wish, and full of love. Aar. Here lacks but your mother for to say amen. Chi. And that would she for twenty thousand more. Dem. Come, let us go; and pray to all the gods For our beloved mother in her pains. Aar. Pray to the devils; the gods have given us [Aside. Flourish. Dem. Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish o'er. thus? Chi. Belike, for joy the emperor hath a son. Enter a Nurse, with a black-a-moor child in her arms. Nur. Good-morrow, lords: O'tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor? Aar. Well, more, or less, or ne'er a whit at all, Aar. Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep? eye, Our empress' shame, and stately Rome's disgrace!→→ She is deliver'd, lords, she is deliver❜d. Aar. To whom? Nur. I mean, she's brought to bed. Give her good rest! What hath he sent her? Nur. A devil. Aar. Why, then she's the devil's dam; a joyful issue. Nur. A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue : The empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal, Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous blossom, sure. Aar. Done! that which thou Canst not undo. Chi. Thou hast undone our mother. Aar. Villain, I have done thy mother. Dem. And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone. Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed choice! Accurs'd the offspring of so foul a fiend! Chi. It shall not live. Aar. It shall not die. Nur. Aaron, it must: the mother wills it so. Aar. What, myst it, nurse? then let no man, but I, Do execution on my flesh and blood. Dem. I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point: With all his threat'ning band of Typhon's brood, What, what, ye sanguine shallow-hearted boys! In that it scorns to bear another hue : Can never turn a swan's black legs to white, Chi. I blush to think upon this ignominy. Aar. Why, there's the privilege your beauty bears: Look, how the black slave smiles upon the father; Of that self-blood that first gave life to you; Nay, he's your brother by the surer side, Nur. Aaron, what shall I say unto the empress ? And we will all subscribe to thy advice; you: Aar. Then sit we down, and let us all consult. My son and I will have the wind of Keep there: Now talk at pleasure of your safety. [They sit on the ground. Dem. How many women saw this child of his? Aar. Why, so, brave lords: When we all join in league, I am a lamb but if you brave the Moor, Aar. The emperess, the midwife, and yourself: Two may keep counsel, when the third's away: Go to the empress; tell her, this I said : [Stabbing her. Weke, weke !—so cries a pig prepared to the spit. Dem. What mean'st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this? Aar. O lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy: Go pack with him, and give the mother gold, And you must needs bestow her funeral; The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: The midwife, and the nurse, well made away, Dem. For this care of Tamora, Herself, and hers, are highly bound to thee. [Exeunt Dem. and Chi, bearing off the Nurse. I'll make you feed on berries, and on roots, To be a warrior, and command a camp. [Exit. SCENE III.-The same, A public place, Enter TITUS, bearing arrows, with letters at the ends of them; with him MARCUS, young LuCIUS, and other Gentlemen, with bows. Tit. Come, Marcus, come ;-Kinsmen, this is the way: Sir boy, now let me see your archery; Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there straight: Terras Astræa reliquit : Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled. Happily you may find her in the sea; No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it; |