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Enter AARON, CHIRON, and DEMETRIUS at one door, and at the other door YOUNG LUCIUS and another, with a bundle
of weapons and verses writ upon them.
Enter AARON, CHIRON, and DEMETRIUS at one door, and at the other door YOUNG LUCIUS and another, with a bundle
of weapons and verses writ upon them.
CHIRON  
Demetrius, here’s the son of Lucius.
He hath some message to deliver us.
CHIRON  
Demetrius, here’s the son of Lucius.
He hath some message to deliver us.
AARON  
Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.
AARON  
Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.
YOUNG LUCIUS  
My lords, with all the humbleness I may,
5
I greet your Honors from Andronicus—
Aside. And pray the Roman gods confound you both.
YOUNG LUCIUS  
My lords, with all the humbleness I may,
I greet your Honors from Andronicus—
Aside. And pray the Roman gods confound you both.
DEMETRIUS  
Gramercy, lovely Lucius. What’s the news?
DEMETRIUS  
Gramercy, lovely Lucius. What’s the news?
YOUNG LUCIUS, aside
That you are both deciphered, that’s the news,
For villains marked with rape.—May it please you,
10
My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me
The goodliest weapons of his armory
To gratify your honorable youth,
The hope of Rome; for so he bid me say,
And so I do, and with his gifts present
15
Your Lordships, that, whenever you have need,
You may be armèd and appointed well,
And so I leave you both— (aside) like bloody villains.
YOUNG LUCIUS, aside
That you are both deciphered, that’s the news,
For villains marked with rape.—May it please you,
My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me
The goodliest weapons of his armory
To gratify your honorable youth,
The hope of Rome; for so he bid me say,
And so I do, and with his gifts present
Your Lordships, that, whenever you have need,
You may be armèd and appointed well,
And so I leave you both— (aside) like bloody villains.
He exits, with Attendant.
He exits, with Attendant.
DEMETRIUS  
What’s here? A scroll, and written round about.
Let’s see:
20 He reads:
“Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,
Non eget Mauri iaculis, nec arcu.”
DEMETRIUS  
What’s here? A scroll, and written round about.
Let’s see:
He reads:
“Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,
Non eget Mauri iaculis, nec arcu.”
CHIRON  
O, ’tis a verse in Horace; I know it well.
I read it in the grammar long ago.
CHIRON  
O, ’tis a verse in Horace; I know it well.
I read it in the grammar long ago.
AARON  
Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.
25 Aside.
Now, what a thing it is to be an ass!
Here’s no sound jest. The old man hath found their
   guilt
And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines
That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.
30
But were our witty empress well afoot,
She would applaud Andronicus’ conceit.
But let her rest in her unrest awhile.—
And now, young lords, was ’t not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and, more than so,
35
Captives, to be advancèd to this height?
It did me good before the palace gate
To brave the tribune in his brother’s hearing.
AARON  
Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.
Aside.
Now, what a thing it is to be an ass!
Here’s no sound jest. The old man hath found their
   guilt
And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines
That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.
But were our witty empress well afoot,
She would applaud Andronicus’ conceit.
But let her rest in her unrest awhile.—
And now, young lords, was ’t not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and, more than so,
Captives, to be advancèd to this height?
It did me good before the palace gate
To brave the tribune in his brother’s hearing.
DEMETRIUS  
But me more good to see so great a lord
Basely insinuate and send us gifts.
DEMETRIUS  
But me more good to see so great a lord
Basely insinuate and send us gifts.
AARON  
40
Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius?
Did you not use his daughter very friendly?
AARON  
Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius?
Did you not use his daughter very friendly?
DEMETRIUS  
I would we had a thousand Roman dames
At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.
DEMETRIUS  
I would we had a thousand Roman dames
At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.
CHIRON  
A charitable wish, and full of love!
CHIRON  
A charitable wish, and full of love!
AARON  
45
Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.
AARON  
Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.
CHIRON  
And that would she, for twenty thousand more.
CHIRON  
And that would she, for twenty thousand more.
DEMETRIUS  
Come, let us go and pray to all the gods
For our belovèd mother in her pains.
DEMETRIUS  
Come, let us go and pray to all the gods
For our belovèd mother in her pains.
AARON, aside
Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.
AARON, aside
Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.
Trumpets sound offstage.
Trumpets sound offstage.
DEMETRIUS  
50
Why do the Emperor’s trumpets flourish thus?
DEMETRIUS  
Why do the Emperor’s trumpets flourish thus?
CHIRON  
Belike for joy the Emperor hath a son.
CHIRON  
Belike for joy the Emperor hath a son.
DEMETRIUS  
Soft, who comes here?
DEMETRIUS  
Soft, who comes here?
Enter NURSE, with a blackamoor child in her arms.
Enter NURSE, with a blackamoor child in her arms.
NURSE  
Good morrow, lords.
O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?
NURSE  
Good morrow, lords.
O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?
AARON  
55
Well, more or less, or ne’er a whit at all,
Here Aaron is. And what with Aaron now?
AARON  
Well, more or less, or ne’er a whit at all,
Here Aaron is. And what with Aaron now?
NURSE  
O, gentle Aaron, we are all undone!
Now help, or woe betide thee evermore.
NURSE  
O, gentle Aaron, we are all undone!
Now help, or woe betide thee evermore.
AARON  
Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep!
60
What dost thou wrap and fumble in thy arms?
AARON  
Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep!
What dost thou wrap and fumble in thy arms?
NURSE  
O, that which I would hide from heaven’s eye,
Our empress’ shame and stately Rome’s disgrace.
She is delivered, lords, she is delivered.
NURSE  
O, that which I would hide from heaven’s eye,
Our empress’ shame and stately Rome’s disgrace.
She is delivered, lords, she is delivered.
AARON  
To whom?
AARON  
To whom?
NURSE  
65
I mean, she is brought abed.
NURSE  
I mean, she is brought abed.
AARON  
Well, God give her good rest. What hath he sent her?
AARON  
Well, God give her good rest. What hath he sent her?
NURSE  
A devil.
NURSE  
A devil.
AARON  
Why, then she is the devil’s dam. A joyful issue!
AARON  
Why, then she is the devil’s dam. A joyful issue!
NURSE  
A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue!
70
Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad
Amongst the fair-faced breeders of our clime.
The Empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,
And bids thee christen it with thy dagger’s point.
NURSE  
A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue!
Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad
Amongst the fair-faced breeders of our clime.
The Empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,
And bids thee christen it with thy dagger’s point.
AARON  
Zounds, you whore, is black so base a hue?
75 To the baby.
Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous
blossom, sure.
AARON  
Zounds, you whore, is black so base a hue?
To the baby.
Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous
blossom, sure.
DEMETRIUS  
Villain, what hast thou done?
DEMETRIUS  
Villain, what hast thou done?
AARON  
That which thou canst not undo.
AARON  
That which thou canst not undo.
CHIRON  
Thou hast undone our mother.
CHIRON  
Thou hast undone our mother.
AARON  
80
Villain, I have done thy mother.
AARON  
Villain, I have done thy mother.
DEMETRIUS  
And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her.
Woe to her chance, and damned her loathèd choice!
Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!
DEMETRIUS  
And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her.
Woe to her chance, and damned her loathèd choice!
Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!
CHIRON  
It shall not live.
CHIRON  
It shall not live.
AARON  
85
It shall not die.
AARON  
It shall not die.
NURSE  
Aaron, it must. The mother wills it so.
NURSE  
Aaron, it must. The mother wills it so.
AARON  
What, must it, nurse? Then let no man but I
Do execution on my flesh and blood.
AARON  
What, must it, nurse? Then let no man but I
Do execution on my flesh and blood.
DEMETRIUS  
I’ll broach the tadpole on my rapier’s point.
90
Nurse, give it me. My sword shall soon dispatch it.
DEMETRIUS  
I’ll broach the tadpole on my rapier’s point.
Nurse, give it me. My sword shall soon dispatch it.
AARON, taking the baby
Sooner this sword shall plow thy bowels up!
Stay, murderous villains, will you kill your brother?
Now, by the burning tapers of the sky
That shone so brightly when this boy was got,
95
He dies upon my scimitar’s sharp point
That touches this my firstborn son and heir.
I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus
With all his threat’ning band of Typhon’s brood,
Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war
100
Shall seize this prey out of his father’s hands.
What, what, you sanguine, shallow-hearted boys,
You white-limed walls, you alehouse painted signs!
Coal-black is better than another hue
In that it scorns to bear another hue;
105
For all the water in the ocean
Can never turn the swan’s black legs to white,
Although she lave them hourly in the flood.
Tell the Empress from me, I am of age
To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.
AARON, taking the baby
Sooner this sword shall plow thy bowels up!
Stay, murderous villains, will you kill your brother?
Now, by the burning tapers of the sky
That shone so brightly when this boy was got,
He dies upon my scimitar’s sharp point
That touches this my firstborn son and heir.
I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus
With all his threat’ning band of Typhon’s brood,
Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war
Shall seize this prey out of his father’s hands.
What, what, you sanguine, shallow-hearted boys,
You white-limed walls, you alehouse painted signs!
Coal-black is better than another hue
In that it scorns to bear another hue;
For all the water in the ocean
Can never turn the swan’s black legs to white,
Although she lave them hourly in the flood.
Tell the Empress from me, I am of age
To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.
DEMETRIUS  
110
Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?
DEMETRIUS  
Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?
AARON  
My mistress is my mistress, this myself,
The vigor and the picture of my youth.
This before all the world do I prefer;
This maugre all the world will I keep safe,
115
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
AARON  
My mistress is my mistress, this myself,
The vigor and the picture of my youth.
This before all the world do I prefer;
This maugre all the world will I keep safe,
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
DEMETRIUS  
By this our mother is forever shamed.
DEMETRIUS  
By this our mother is forever shamed.
CHIRON  
Rome will despise her for this foul escape.
CHIRON  
Rome will despise her for this foul escape.
NURSE  
The Emperor in his rage will doom her death.
NURSE  
The Emperor in his rage will doom her death.
CHIRON  
I blush to think upon this ignomy.
CHIRON  
I blush to think upon this ignomy.
AARON  
120
Why, there’s the privilege your beauty bears.
Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing
The close enacts and counsels of thy heart.
Here’s a young lad framed of another leer.
Look how the black slave smiles upon the father,
125
As who should say “Old lad, I am thine own.”
He is your brother, lords, sensibly fed
Of that self blood that first gave life to you,
And from that womb where you imprisoned were
He is enfranchisèd and come to light.
130
Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,
Although my seal be stampèd in his face.
AARON  
Why, there’s the privilege your beauty bears.
Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing
The close enacts and counsels of thy heart.
Here’s a young lad framed of another leer.
Look how the black slave smiles upon the father,
As who should say “Old lad, I am thine own.”
He is your brother, lords, sensibly fed
Of that self blood that first gave life to you,
And from that womb where you imprisoned were
He is enfranchisèd and come to light.
Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,
Although my seal be stampèd in his face.
NURSE  
Aaron, what shall I say unto the Empress?
NURSE  
Aaron, what shall I say unto the Empress?
DEMETRIUS  
Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done,
And we will all subscribe to thy advice.
135
Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.
DEMETRIUS  
Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done,
And we will all subscribe to thy advice.
Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.
AARON  
Then sit we down, and let us all consult.
My son and I will have the wind of you.
Keep there. Now talk at pleasure of your safety.
AARON  
Then sit we down, and let us all consult.
My son and I will have the wind of you.
Keep there. Now talk at pleasure of your safety.
DEMETRIUS, to the NURSE
How many women saw this child of his?
DEMETRIUS, to the NURSE
How many women saw this child of his?
AARON  
140
Why, so, brave lords! When we join in league,
I am a lamb; but if you brave the Moor,
The chafèd boar, the mountain lioness,
The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.
To the NURSE. But say again, how many saw the
145
child?
AARON  
Why, so, brave lords! When we join in league,
I am a lamb; but if you brave the Moor,
The chafèd boar, the mountain lioness,
The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.
To the NURSE. But say again, how many saw the
child?
NURSE  
Cornelia the midwife and myself,
And no one else but the delivered Empress.
NURSE  
Cornelia the midwife and myself,
And no one else but the delivered Empress.
AARON  
The Empress, the midwife, and yourself.
Two may keep counsel when the third’s away.
150
Go to the Empress; tell her this I said.
AARON  
The Empress, the midwife, and yourself.
Two may keep counsel when the third’s away.
Go to the Empress; tell her this I said.
He kills her.
He kills her.
“Wheak, wheak”! So cries a pig preparèd to the spit.
“Wheak, wheak”! So cries a pig preparèd to the spit.
DEMETRIUS  
What mean’st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this?
DEMETRIUS  
What mean’st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this?
AARON  
O Lord, sir, ’tis a deed of policy.
Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours,
155
A long-tongued babbling gossip? No, lords, no.
And now be it known to you my full intent:
Not far one Muliteus my countryman
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed.
His child is like to her, fair as you are.
160
Go pack with him, and give the mother gold,
And tell them both the circumstance of all,
And how by this their child shall be advanced
And be receivèd for the Emperor’s heir,
And substituted in the place of mine,
165
To calm this tempest whirling in the court;
And let the Emperor dandle him for his own.
Hark you, lords, you see I have given her physic,
   indicating the NURSE
And you must needs bestow her funeral.
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms.
170
This done, see that you take no longer days,
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.
AARON  
O Lord, sir, ’tis a deed of policy.
Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours,
A long-tongued babbling gossip? No, lords, no.
And now be it known to you my full intent:
Not far one Muliteus my countryman
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed.
His child is like to her, fair as you are.
Go pack with him, and give the mother gold,
And tell them both the circumstance of all,
And how by this their child shall be advanced
And be receivèd for the Emperor’s heir,
And substituted in the place of mine,
To calm this tempest whirling in the court;
And let the Emperor dandle him for his own.
Hark you, lords, you see I have given her physic,
   indicating the NURSE
And you must needs bestow her funeral.
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms.
This done, see that you take no longer days,
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.
CHIRON  
Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air
175
With secrets.
CHIRON  
Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air
With secrets.
DEMETRIUS  
For this care of Tamora,
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
DEMETRIUS  
For this care of Tamora,
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
DEMETRIUS and CHIRON exit, carrying the NURSE’s body.
DEMETRIUS and CHIRON exit, carrying the NURSE’s body.
AARON  
Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies,
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms
180
And secretly to greet the Empress’ friends.—
Come on, you thick-lipped slave, I’ll bear you hence,
For it is you that puts us to our shifts.
I’ll make you feed on berries and on roots,
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,
185
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up
To be a warrior and command a camp.
AARON  
Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies,
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms
And secretly to greet the Empress’ friends.—
Come on, you thick-lipped slave, I’ll bear you hence,
For it is you that puts us to our shifts.
I’ll make you feed on berries and on roots,
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up
To be a warrior and command a camp.
He exits with the baby.
He exits with the baby.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter AARON, CHIRON, and DEMETRIUS at one door, and at the other door YOUNG LUCIUS and another, with a bundle
of weapons and verses writ upon them.
Enter AARON, CHIRON, and DEMETRIUS at one door, and at the other door YOUNG LUCIUS and another, with a bundle
of weapons and verses writ upon them.
CHIRON  
Demetrius, here’s the son of Lucius.
He hath some message to deliver us.
CHIRON  
Demetrius, here’s the son of Lucius.
He hath some message to deliver us.
AARON  
Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.
AARON  
Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.
YOUNG LUCIUS  
My lords, with all the humbleness I may,
5
I greet your Honors from Andronicus—
Aside. And pray the Roman gods confound you both.
YOUNG LUCIUS  
My lords, with all the humbleness I may,
I greet your Honors from Andronicus—
Aside. And pray the Roman gods confound you both.
DEMETRIUS  
Gramercy, lovely Lucius. What’s the news?
DEMETRIUS  
Gramercy, lovely Lucius. What’s the news?
YOUNG LUCIUS, aside
That you are both deciphered, that’s the news,
For villains marked with rape.—May it please you,
10
My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me
The goodliest weapons of his armory
To gratify your honorable youth,
The hope of Rome; for so he bid me say,
And so I do, and with his gifts present
15
Your Lordships, that, whenever you have need,
You may be armèd and appointed well,
And so I leave you both— (aside) like bloody villains.
YOUNG LUCIUS, aside
That you are both deciphered, that’s the news,
For villains marked with rape.—May it please you,
My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me
The goodliest weapons of his armory
To gratify your honorable youth,
The hope of Rome; for so he bid me say,
And so I do, and with his gifts present
Your Lordships, that, whenever you have need,
You may be armèd and appointed well,
And so I leave you both— (aside) like bloody villains.
He exits, with Attendant.
He exits, with Attendant.
DEMETRIUS  
What’s here? A scroll, and written round about.
Let’s see:
20 He reads:
“Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,
Non eget Mauri iaculis, nec arcu.”
DEMETRIUS  
What’s here? A scroll, and written round about.
Let’s see:
He reads:
“Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,
Non eget Mauri iaculis, nec arcu.”
CHIRON  
O, ’tis a verse in Horace; I know it well.
I read it in the grammar long ago.
CHIRON  
O, ’tis a verse in Horace; I know it well.
I read it in the grammar long ago.
AARON  
Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.
25 Aside.
Now, what a thing it is to be an ass!
Here’s no sound jest. The old man hath found their
   guilt
And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines
That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.
30
But were our witty empress well afoot,
She would applaud Andronicus’ conceit.
But let her rest in her unrest awhile.—
And now, young lords, was ’t not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and, more than so,
35
Captives, to be advancèd to this height?
It did me good before the palace gate
To brave the tribune in his brother’s hearing.
AARON  
Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.
Aside.
Now, what a thing it is to be an ass!
Here’s no sound jest. The old man hath found their
   guilt
And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines
That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.
But were our witty empress well afoot,
She would applaud Andronicus’ conceit.
But let her rest in her unrest awhile.—
And now, young lords, was ’t not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and, more than so,
Captives, to be advancèd to this height?
It did me good before the palace gate
To brave the tribune in his brother’s hearing.
DEMETRIUS  
But me more good to see so great a lord
Basely insinuate and send us gifts.
DEMETRIUS  
But me more good to see so great a lord
Basely insinuate and send us gifts.
AARON  
40
Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius?
Did you not use his daughter very friendly?
AARON  
Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius?
Did you not use his daughter very friendly?
DEMETRIUS  
I would we had a thousand Roman dames
At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.
DEMETRIUS  
I would we had a thousand Roman dames
At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.
CHIRON  
A charitable wish, and full of love!
CHIRON  
A charitable wish, and full of love!
AARON  
45
Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.
AARON  
Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.
CHIRON  
And that would she, for twenty thousand more.
CHIRON  
And that would she, for twenty thousand more.
DEMETRIUS  
Come, let us go and pray to all the gods
For our belovèd mother in her pains.
DEMETRIUS  
Come, let us go and pray to all the gods
For our belovèd mother in her pains.
AARON, aside
Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.
AARON, aside
Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.
Trumpets sound offstage.
Trumpets sound offstage.
DEMETRIUS  
50
Why do the Emperor’s trumpets flourish thus?
DEMETRIUS  
Why do the Emperor’s trumpets flourish thus?
CHIRON  
Belike for joy the Emperor hath a son.
CHIRON  
Belike for joy the Emperor hath a son.
DEMETRIUS  
Soft, who comes here?
DEMETRIUS  
Soft, who comes here?
Enter NURSE, with a blackamoor child in her arms.
Enter NURSE, with a blackamoor child in her arms.
NURSE  
Good morrow, lords.
O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?
NURSE  
Good morrow, lords.
O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?
AARON  
55
Well, more or less, or ne’er a whit at all,
Here Aaron is. And what with Aaron now?
AARON  
Well, more or less, or ne’er a whit at all,
Here Aaron is. And what with Aaron now?
NURSE  
O, gentle Aaron, we are all undone!
Now help, or woe betide thee evermore.
NURSE  
O, gentle Aaron, we are all undone!
Now help, or woe betide thee evermore.
AARON  
Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep!
60
What dost thou wrap and fumble in thy arms?
AARON  
Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep!
What dost thou wrap and fumble in thy arms?
NURSE  
O, that which I would hide from heaven’s eye,
Our empress’ shame and stately Rome’s disgrace.
She is delivered, lords, she is delivered.
NURSE  
O, that which I would hide from heaven’s eye,
Our empress’ shame and stately Rome’s disgrace.
She is delivered, lords, she is delivered.
AARON  
To whom?
AARON  
To whom?
NURSE  
65
I mean, she is brought abed.
NURSE  
I mean, she is brought abed.
AARON  
Well, God give her good rest. What hath he sent her?
AARON  
Well, God give her good rest. What hath he sent her?
NURSE  
A devil.
NURSE  
A devil.
AARON  
Why, then she is the devil’s dam. A joyful issue!
AARON  
Why, then she is the devil’s dam. A joyful issue!
NURSE  
A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue!
70
Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad
Amongst the fair-faced breeders of our clime.
The Empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,
And bids thee christen it with thy dagger’s point.
NURSE  
A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue!
Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad
Amongst the fair-faced breeders of our clime.
The Empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,
And bids thee christen it with thy dagger’s point.
AARON  
Zounds, you whore, is black so base a hue?
75 To the baby.
Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous
blossom, sure.
AARON  
Zounds, you whore, is black so base a hue?
To the baby.
Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous
blossom, sure.
DEMETRIUS  
Villain, what hast thou done?
DEMETRIUS  
Villain, what hast thou done?
AARON  
That which thou canst not undo.
AARON  
That which thou canst not undo.
CHIRON  
Thou hast undone our mother.
CHIRON  
Thou hast undone our mother.
AARON  
80
Villain, I have done thy mother.
AARON  
Villain, I have done thy mother.
DEMETRIUS  
And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her.
Woe to her chance, and damned her loathèd choice!
Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!
DEMETRIUS  
And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her.
Woe to her chance, and damned her loathèd choice!
Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!
CHIRON  
It shall not live.
CHIRON  
It shall not live.
AARON  
85
It shall not die.
AARON  
It shall not die.
NURSE  
Aaron, it must. The mother wills it so.
NURSE  
Aaron, it must. The mother wills it so.
AARON  
What, must it, nurse? Then let no man but I
Do execution on my flesh and blood.
AARON  
What, must it, nurse? Then let no man but I
Do execution on my flesh and blood.
DEMETRIUS  
I’ll broach the tadpole on my rapier’s point.
90
Nurse, give it me. My sword shall soon dispatch it.
DEMETRIUS  
I’ll broach the tadpole on my rapier’s point.
Nurse, give it me. My sword shall soon dispatch it.
AARON, taking the baby
Sooner this sword shall plow thy bowels up!
Stay, murderous villains, will you kill your brother?
Now, by the burning tapers of the sky
That shone so brightly when this boy was got,
95
He dies upon my scimitar’s sharp point
That touches this my firstborn son and heir.
I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus
With all his threat’ning band of Typhon’s brood,
Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war
100
Shall seize this prey out of his father’s hands.
What, what, you sanguine, shallow-hearted boys,
You white-limed walls, you alehouse painted signs!
Coal-black is better than another hue
In that it scorns to bear another hue;
105
For all the water in the ocean
Can never turn the swan’s black legs to white,
Although she lave them hourly in the flood.
Tell the Empress from me, I am of age
To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.
AARON, taking the baby
Sooner this sword shall plow thy bowels up!
Stay, murderous villains, will you kill your brother?
Now, by the burning tapers of the sky
That shone so brightly when this boy was got,
He dies upon my scimitar’s sharp point
That touches this my firstborn son and heir.
I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus
With all his threat’ning band of Typhon’s brood,
Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war
Shall seize this prey out of his father’s hands.
What, what, you sanguine, shallow-hearted boys,
You white-limed walls, you alehouse painted signs!
Coal-black is better than another hue
In that it scorns to bear another hue;
For all the water in the ocean
Can never turn the swan’s black legs to white,
Although she lave them hourly in the flood.
Tell the Empress from me, I am of age
To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.
DEMETRIUS  
110
Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?
DEMETRIUS  
Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?
AARON  
My mistress is my mistress, this myself,
The vigor and the picture of my youth.
This before all the world do I prefer;
This maugre all the world will I keep safe,
115
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
AARON  
My mistress is my mistress, this myself,
The vigor and the picture of my youth.
This before all the world do I prefer;
This maugre all the world will I keep safe,
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
DEMETRIUS  
By this our mother is forever shamed.
DEMETRIUS  
By this our mother is forever shamed.
CHIRON  
Rome will despise her for this foul escape.
CHIRON  
Rome will despise her for this foul escape.
NURSE  
The Emperor in his rage will doom her death.
NURSE  
The Emperor in his rage will doom her death.
CHIRON  
I blush to think upon this ignomy.
CHIRON  
I blush to think upon this ignomy.
AARON  
120
Why, there’s the privilege your beauty bears.
Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing
The close enacts and counsels of thy heart.
Here’s a young lad framed of another leer.
Look how the black slave smiles upon the father,
125
As who should say “Old lad, I am thine own.”
He is your brother, lords, sensibly fed
Of that self blood that first gave life to you,
And from that womb where you imprisoned were
He is enfranchisèd and come to light.
130
Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,
Although my seal be stampèd in his face.
AARON  
Why, there’s the privilege your beauty bears.
Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing
The close enacts and counsels of thy heart.
Here’s a young lad framed of another leer.
Look how the black slave smiles upon the father,
As who should say “Old lad, I am thine own.”
He is your brother, lords, sensibly fed
Of that self blood that first gave life to you,
And from that womb where you imprisoned were
He is enfranchisèd and come to light.
Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,
Although my seal be stampèd in his face.
NURSE  
Aaron, what shall I say unto the Empress?
NURSE  
Aaron, what shall I say unto the Empress?
DEMETRIUS  
Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done,
And we will all subscribe to thy advice.
135
Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.
DEMETRIUS  
Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done,
And we will all subscribe to thy advice.
Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.
AARON  
Then sit we down, and let us all consult.
My son and I will have the wind of you.
Keep there. Now talk at pleasure of your safety.
AARON  
Then sit we down, and let us all consult.
My son and I will have the wind of you.
Keep there. Now talk at pleasure of your safety.
DEMETRIUS, to the NURSE
How many women saw this child of his?
DEMETRIUS, to the NURSE
How many women saw this child of his?
AARON  
140
Why, so, brave lords! When we join in league,
I am a lamb; but if you brave the Moor,
The chafèd boar, the mountain lioness,
The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.
To the NURSE. But say again, how many saw the
145
child?
AARON  
Why, so, brave lords! When we join in league,
I am a lamb; but if you brave the Moor,
The chafèd boar, the mountain lioness,
The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.
To the NURSE. But say again, how many saw the
child?
NURSE  
Cornelia the midwife and myself,
And no one else but the delivered Empress.
NURSE  
Cornelia the midwife and myself,
And no one else but the delivered Empress.
AARON  
The Empress, the midwife, and yourself.
Two may keep counsel when the third’s away.
150
Go to the Empress; tell her this I said.
AARON  
The Empress, the midwife, and yourself.
Two may keep counsel when the third’s away.
Go to the Empress; tell her this I said.
He kills her.
He kills her.
“Wheak, wheak”! So cries a pig preparèd to the spit.
“Wheak, wheak”! So cries a pig preparèd to the spit.
DEMETRIUS  
What mean’st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this?
DEMETRIUS  
What mean’st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this?
AARON  
O Lord, sir, ’tis a deed of policy.
Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours,
155
A long-tongued babbling gossip? No, lords, no.
And now be it known to you my full intent:
Not far one Muliteus my countryman
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed.
His child is like to her, fair as you are.
160
Go pack with him, and give the mother gold,
And tell them both the circumstance of all,
And how by this their child shall be advanced
And be receivèd for the Emperor’s heir,
And substituted in the place of mine,
165
To calm this tempest whirling in the court;
And let the Emperor dandle him for his own.
Hark you, lords, you see I have given her physic,
   indicating the NURSE
And you must needs bestow her funeral.
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms.
170
This done, see that you take no longer days,
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.
AARON  
O Lord, sir, ’tis a deed of policy.
Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours,
A long-tongued babbling gossip? No, lords, no.
And now be it known to you my full intent:
Not far one Muliteus my countryman
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed.
His child is like to her, fair as you are.
Go pack with him, and give the mother gold,
And tell them both the circumstance of all,
And how by this their child shall be advanced
And be receivèd for the Emperor’s heir,
And substituted in the place of mine,
To calm this tempest whirling in the court;
And let the Emperor dandle him for his own.
Hark you, lords, you see I have given her physic,
   indicating the NURSE
And you must needs bestow her funeral.
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms.
This done, see that you take no longer days,
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.
CHIRON  
Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air
175
With secrets.
CHIRON  
Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air
With secrets.
DEMETRIUS  
For this care of Tamora,
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
DEMETRIUS  
For this care of Tamora,
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
DEMETRIUS and CHIRON exit, carrying the NURSE’s body.
DEMETRIUS and CHIRON exit, carrying the NURSE’s body.
AARON  
Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies,
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms
180
And secretly to greet the Empress’ friends.—
Come on, you thick-lipped slave, I’ll bear you hence,
For it is you that puts us to our shifts.
I’ll make you feed on berries and on roots,
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,
185
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up
To be a warrior and command a camp.
AARON  
Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies,
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms
And secretly to greet the Empress’ friends.—
Come on, you thick-lipped slave, I’ll bear you hence,
For it is you that puts us to our shifts.
I’ll make you feed on berries and on roots,
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up
To be a warrior and command a camp.
He exits with the baby.
He exits with the baby.
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