The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (1057 page)

Enter AARON

AARON.

Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,

Safe out of Fortune's shot, and sits aloft,

Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash,

Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach.

As when the golden sun salutes the morn,

And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,

Gallops the zodiac in his glistening coach

And overlooks the highest-peering hills,

So Tamora.

Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,

And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.

Then, Aaron, arm thy heart and fit thy thoughts

To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,

And mount her pitch whom thou in triumph long.

Hast prisoner held, fett'red in amorous chains,

And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes

Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.

Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts!

I will be bright and shine in pearl and gold,

To wait upon this new-made emperess.

To wait, said I? To wanton with this queen,

This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,

This siren that will charm Rome's Saturnine,

And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's.

Hullo! what storm is this?

Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving

Now Tamora has reached the summit of Olympus,

she can't be harmed by fortune, and sits on high,

safe from the thunder and lightning,

promoted beyond the reach of envious people.

It's like when the golden sun comes in the morning

and, having gilded the ocean with his beams,

he gallops across the sky in his shining coach

and looks down on the highest mountains,

that's Tamora.

Honourable men wait for her decisions,

and goodness bows down and trembles when she frowns.

So, Aaron, strengthen your heart and mind

to climb up to your imperial mistress,

join her at the top, the one whom you have

kept prisoner for so long, bound by chains of love,

tied more securely to Aaron's enchanting eyes

than Prometheus is tied to his rock.

No more slave's clothing and servant's thoughts!

I will be bright, and shine with pearls and gold

when I serve this newly made Empress.

Serve, did I say?–To frolic with this Queen,

this goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,

this siren that will charm Rome's Saturnine

and cause him and his kingdom to be wrecked.

Hello, what's this storm?

DEMETRIUS.

Chiron, thy years wants wit, thy wits wants edge

And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd,

And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be.

Chiron, you need wit to match your age, and your wits

lacking in sharpness and manners, as you are intruding where I am welcomed

and for all you know am loved.

CHIRON.

Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;

And so in this, to bear me down with braves.

'Tis not the difference of a year or two

Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate:

I am as able and as fit as thou

To serve and to deserve my mistress' grace;

And that my sword upon thee shall approve,

And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

Demetrius, you are always so arrogant;

this is no exception, trying to shout me down.

There's only a difference of a year or two

which doesn't make me less gracious or you more blessed:

I'm just as able and as suitable as you

to serve my mistress and deserve her kindness;

and I shall prove that to you with my sword,

and show how much I want Lavinia's love.

AARON.

[Aside] Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not keep the

peace.

Call the watchmen! These lovers will not keep the peace.

DEMETRIUS.

Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd,

Gave you a dancing rapier by your side,

Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends?

Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath

Till you know better how to handle it.

Why, boy, although our mother, unwisely,

gave you an ornamental sword to wear,

have you become so keen to threaten your friends?

Give over; have your toy sword glued inside its sheath

until you have a better idea of how to handle it.

CHIRON.

Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,

Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.

In the meantime, sir, with what little skill I have,

you will see how eager I am to use it.

DEMETRIUS.

Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? [They draw]

Oh yes, boy, you're that brave are you?

AARON.

[Coming forward] Why, how now, lords!

So near the Emperor's palace dare ye draw

And maintain such a quarrel openly?

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.

Why, what's all this, lords!

Do you dare to draw weapons so close to the Emperor's palace

and fight each other so openly?

I'm well aware of why you're fighting:

I wouldn't take a million pounds

to let the ones who are most closely involved know about it;

and your noble mother would turn down even more

rather than be so dishonoured in the court of Rome.

For shame, put away your weapons.

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.

I won't, until I have put away

my rapier in his heart, and what's more

shoved the reproaches with which he has

dishonoured me back down his throat.

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.

I'm ready for that and well up to it,

you dirty mouthed coward, you roar with your tongue,

and don't dare do anything with your weapon.

AARON.

Away, I say!

Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore,

This petty 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.

That's enough, I say!

Now, by the gods of the warlike Goths,

this petty quarrel will get us all in trouble.

Why, lords, haven't you thought about how dangerous

it is to encroach on the rights of princes?

What, has Lavinia become such a tart,

or Bassianus become so degenerate,

that you can start a fight for her love

without restraint, justice, or punishment?

Beware, young lords–and if the Empress found out

what started this argument, things would not go well.

CHIRON.

I care not, I, knew she and all the world:

I love Lavinia more than all the world.

I don't care, I wouldn't care if she and all the world knew:

I love Lavinia more than all the world.

DEMETRIUS.

Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:

Lavina is thine elder brother's hope.

Youngster, learn to aim lower:

Lavinia is your older brother's target.

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.

What, are you mad, or don't you know how

angry and intolerant they are in Rome,

and won't tolerate rivals in love?

I tell you, my lords, this business

can only end in your deaths.

CHIRON.

Aaron, a thousand deaths

Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.

Aaron, I would die a thousand deaths

to get the one I love.

AARON.

To achieve her- how?

Get 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.

Why are you making such an issue of it?

She's a woman, so she can be wooed;

she's a woman, so she can be won;

she is Lavinia, so she must be loved.

What, man!There's more water goes past the mill

than the miller knows about, and it's easy

to steal a slice of a sliced loaf, that's obvious.

Although Bassanius is the brother of the Emperor,

better men than him have been cheated.

AARON.

[Aside] Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

Yes, and men as high as Saturnius could be.

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?

Then why should a man give up hope when he knows how to woo

with words, good looks and generosity?