1    Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
2    Safe out of fortune's shot; and sits aloft,
3    Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash;
4    Advanced above pale envy's threatening reach.
5    As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
6    And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
7    Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,
8    And overlooks the highest-peering hills;
9    So Tamora:
10   Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,
11   And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.
12   Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,
13   To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
14   And mount her pitch, whom thou in triumph long
15   Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains
16   And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes
17   Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
18   Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts!
19   I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
20   To wait upon this new-made empress.
21   To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,
22   This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,
23   This siren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
24   And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's.
25   Holloa! what storm is this?

26   Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,
27   And manners, to intrude where I am graced;
28   And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.

29   Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;
30   And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
31   'Tis not the difference of a year or two
32   Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate:
33   I am as able and as fit as thou
34   To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace;
35   And that my sword upon thee shall approve,
36   And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

Aside
37    Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep
38   the peace.

39   Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised,
40   Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side,
41   Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends?
42   Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath
43   Till you know better how to handle it.

44   Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,
45   Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.

46   Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?

Coming forward
47    Why, how now, lords!
48   So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
49   And maintain such a quarrel openly?
50   Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge:
51   I would not for a million of gold
52   The cause were known to them it most concerns;
53   Nor would your noble mother for much more
54   Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.
55   For shame, put up.

56   Not I, till I have sheathed
57   My rapier in his bosom and withal
58   Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat
59   That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.

60   For that I am prepared and full resolved.
61   Foul-spoken coward, that thunder'st with thy tongue,
62   And with thy weapon nothing darest perform!

63   Away, I say!
64   Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore,
65   This petty brabble will undo us all.
66   Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
67   It is to jet upon a prince's right?
68   What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
69   Or Bassianus so degenerate,
70   That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd
71   Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
72   Young lords, beware! and should the empress know
73   This discord's ground, the music would not please.

74   I care not, I, knew she and all the world:
75   I love Lavinia more than all the world.

76   Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:
77   Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

78   Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome
79   How furious and impatient they be,
80   And cannot brook competitors in love?
81   I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
82   By this device.

83   Aaron, a thousand deaths
84   Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.

85   To achieve her! how?

86   Why makest thou it so strange?
87   She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;
88   She is a woman, therefore may be won;
89   She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved.
90   What, man! more water glideth by the mill
91   Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
92   Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know:
93   Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother.
94   Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge.

Aside
95    Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

96   Then why should he despair that knows to court it
97   With words, fair looks and liberality?
98   What, hast not thou full often struck a doe,
99   And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose?

100  Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch or so
101  Would serve your turns.

102  Ay, so the turn were served.

103  Aaron, thou hast hit it.

104  Would you had hit it too!
105  Then should not we be tired with this ado.
106  Why, hark ye, hark ye! and are you such fools
107  To square for this? would it offend you, then
108  That both should speed?

109  Faith, not me.

110  Nor me, so I were one.

111  For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar:
112  'Tis policy and stratagem must do
113  That you affect; and so must you resolve,
114  That what you cannot as you would achieve,
115  You must perforce accomplish as you may.
116  Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste
117  Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.
118  A speedier course than lingering languishment
119  Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
120  My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
121  There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
122  The forest walks are wide and spacious;
123  And many unfrequented plots there are
124  Fitted by kind for rape and villany:
125  Single you thither then this dainty doe,
126  And strike her home by force, if not by words:
127  This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
128  Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit
129  To villany and vengeance consecrate,
130  Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
131  And she shall file our engines with advice,
132  That will not suffer you to square yourselves,
133  But to your wishes' height advance you both.
134  The emperor's court is like the house of Fame,
135  The palace full of tongues, of eyes, and ears:
136  The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull;
137  There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take
138  your turns;
139  There serve your lusts, shadow'd from heaven's eye,
140  And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

141  Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice,

142  Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream
143  To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits.
144  Per Styga, per manes vehor.