Aar. The empress, the midwife, and yourself:
Two may keep counsel when the third's away:[4553]
Go to the empress, tell her this I said. [He kills the Nurse.[4554] 145
Weke, weke![4555]
So cries a pig prepared to the spit.[4555][4556]
Dem. What mean'st thou, Aaron? wherefore didst thou this?[4557]
Aar. O Lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy:
Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours, 150
A long-tongued babbling gossip? no, lords, no:
And now be it known to you my full intent.
Not far, one Muliteus, my countryman,[4558]
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed;
His child is like to her, fair as you are: 155
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,[4559]
And be received for the emperor's heir,[4560]
And substituted in the place of mine, 160
To calm this tempest whirling in the court;[4561]
And let the emperor dandle him for his own.
Hark ye, lords; you see I have given her physic,
[Pointing to the Nurse.[4562]
And you must needs bestow her funeral;
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: 165
This done, see that you take no longer days,[4563]
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.[4564]
Chi. Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air[4565] 170
With secrets.[4565]
Dem. For this care of Tamora,
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
[Exeunt Dem. and Chi. bearing off the Nurse's body.[4566]
Aar. Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies;
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms,
And secretly to greet the empress' friends. 175
Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence;
For it is you that puts us to our shifts:[4567]
I'll make you feed on berries and on roots,[4568]
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,[4569]
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up 180
To be a warrior and command a camp. [Exit.