My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand; 112
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: 116
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 120
To villainy and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not suffer you to square yourselves, 124
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; 128
There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your turns;
There serve your lusts, shadow'd from heaven's eye,
And revel in Lavinia's treasury.
Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. 132
Dem. 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.
112 solemn: formal, grand
116 by kind: by nature
120 sacred; cf. n.
123 file our engines: sharpen, or finish off, our designs
124 square yourselves: settle it between yourselves
126 house of Fame; cf. n.
133 Sit fas aut nefas: Be it right or wrong
135 Per Styga, per manes vehor: I am borne across the Styx, and among the shades of the dead; cf. n.
