Titus Andronicus (Dover Thrift) - William Shakespeare (retail)

# Titus Andronicus

## William Shakespeare

### DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.
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DOVER THRIFT EDITIONS

GENERAL EDITOR: MARY CAROLYN WALDREP EDITOR OF THIS VOLUME: ALISON DAURIO

_Copyright_

Copyright © 2014 by Dover Publications, Inc.

All rights reserved.

_Theatrical Rights_

This Dover Thrift Edition may be used in its entirety, in adaptation, or in any other way for theatrical productions, professional and amateur, in the United States, without fee, permission, or acknowledgment. (This may not apply outside of the United States, as copyright conditions may vary.)

_Bibliographical Note_

This Dover edition, first published in 2014, contains the unabridged text of _Titus Andronicus_ as published in Volume XIV of _The Caxton Edition of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare_ , Caxton Publishing Company, London, n.d. The introductory Note was prepared specially for this edition, and the explanatory footnotes from the Caxton edition have been revised.

_International Standard Book Number_

_eISBN-13: 978-0-486-79004-6_

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### Note

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564–1616) was born in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. Although much of his early life remains sketchy, it is known that he moved to London around 1589 to earn his way as an actor and playwright. He joined an acting company known as Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1594, a decision that finally enabled him to share in the financial success of his plays. Only eighteen of his thirty-seven plays were published during his lifetime, and these were usually sold directly to theater companies and printed in quartos, or single-play editions, without his approval.

The bloodiest and most violent of all Shakespeare's tragedies, _Titus Andronicus_ was completed sometime between 1588 and 1593, and was likely modeled after the "revenge plays" that were so popular during this time. When Titus, an aging Roman general, returns from war, he finds the emperor of Rome dead, and his two sons vying for the crown. To his surprise, Titus himself is offered the crown. But as he is old and tired, he decides to turn it over to the emperor's eldest son, Saturninus—thus setting off the whirlwind of killings, severed limbs, rape, cannibalism, live burial, and insanity that characterize the bard's most brutal tale.

### DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

SATURNINUS, son to the late Emperor of Rome, afterwards emperor.

BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus.

TITUS, ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman.

MARCUS, ANDRONICUS, tribune of the people, and brother to Titus.

LUCIUS, sons to Titus Andronicus.

QUINTUS, sons to Titus Andronicus.

MARTIUS, sons to Titus Andronicus.

MUTIUS, sons to Titus Andronicus.

YOUNG, LUCIUS, a boy, son to Lucius.

PUBLIUS, son to Marcus Andronicus.

ÆMILIUS, a noble Roman.

ALARBUS, sons to Tamora.

DEMETRIUS, sons to Tamora.

CHIRON, sons to Tamora.

AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.

A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans and Goths.

TAMORN, Queen of the Goths.

LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus.

A Nurse, and a black Child.

Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE: _Rome, and the country near it_

### Contents

**ACT I.**

SCENE I. _Rome. Before the Capitol—The Tomb of the Andronici Appearing_

**ACT II.**

SCENE I. _Rome. Before the Palace_

SCENE II. _A Forest near Rome. Horns and Cry of Hounds Heard_

SCENE III. _A Lonely Part of the Forest_

SCENE IV. _Another Part of the Forest_

**ACT III.**

SCENE I. _Rome. A Street_

SCENE II. _A Room in Titus's House. A Banquet Set Out_

**ACT IV.**

SCENE I. _Rome. Titus's Garden_

SCENE II. _The Same. A Room in the Palace_

SCENE III. _The Same A Public Place_

SCENE IV. _The Same. Before the Palace_

**ACT V.**

SCENE I. _Plains near Rome_

SCENE II. _Rome. Before Titus's House_

SCENE III. _Court of Titus's House. A Banquet Set Out_

### ACT I.

#### SCENE I. _Rome. Before the Capitol—The Tomb of the Andronici Appearing_.

_Flourish, Enter the_ Tribunes _and_ Senators _aloft. And then enter below,_ SATURNINUS _and his_ Followers _from one side, and_ BASSIANUS _and his_ Followers _from the other side, with drum and colours_

SATURNINUS. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,

Defend the justice of my cause with arms;

And, countrymen, my loving followers,

Plead my successive title with your swords: 4

I am his first-born son, that was the last

That ware the imperial diadem of Rome;

Then let my father's honours live in me,

Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.8

BAS. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right,

If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, 10

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

Keep then this passage to the Capitol;

And suffer not dishonour to approach

The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,

To justice, continence and nobility:15

But let desert in pure election shine;16

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

_Enter_ MARCUS ANDRONICUS, _aloft, with the crown_

MARC. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends

Ambitiously for rule and empery,19

Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand 20

A special party, have by common voice,21

In election for the Roman empery,

Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius

For many good and great deserts to Rome:

A nobler man, a braver warrior,

Lives not this day within the city walls:

He by the senate is accited home27

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;

That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,29

Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms. 30

Ten years are spent since first he undertook

This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms

Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd

Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons

In coffins from the field.

And now at last, laden with honour's spoils,

Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,

Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Let us entreat, by honour of his name,

Whom worthily you would have now succeed, 40

And in the Capitol and senate's right,41

Whom you pretend to honour and adore,

That you withdraw you and abate your strength,43

Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,

Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

SAT. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

BAS. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy47

In thy uprightness and integrity,

And so I love and honour thee and thine,

Thy noble brother Titus and his sons, 50

And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,

Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,

That I will here dismiss my loving friends,

And to my fortunes and the people's favour

Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.

[ _Exeunt the Followers of Bassianus._

SAT. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,

I thank you all, and here dismiss you all,

And to the love and favour of my country

Commit myself, my person and the cause. 60

[ _Exeunt the Followers of Saturninus._

Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,

As I am confident and kind to thee.

Open the gates, and let me in.

BAS. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

[ _Flourish. Saturninus and Bassianus go up into the Capitol._

_Enter a_ Captain

CAP. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus,

Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,

Successful in the battles that he fights, 70

With honour and with fortune is return'd

From where he circumscribed with his sword,

And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

_Drums and trumpets sounded. Enter_ MARTIUS _and_ MUTIUS _after them, two_ Men _bearing a coffin covered with black; then_ LUCIUS _and_ QUINTUS _After them,_ TITUS ANDRONICUS, _and then_ TAMORN Queen of Goths, _with_ ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON, _and other_ Goths, _prisoners;_ Soldiers _and_ People _following. The_ Bearers _set down the coffin, and_ TITUS _speaks_

TIT. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!

Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught

Returns with precious lading to the bay

From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,

Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,

To re-salute his country with his tears,

Tears of true joy for his return to Rome. 80

Thou great defender of this Capitol,

Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!

Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,

Half of the number that King Priam had,

Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!

These that survive let Rome reward with love;

These that I bring unto their latest home,

With burial amongst their ancestors:

Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.

Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, 90

Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,

To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?

Make way to lay them by their brethren.

[ _They open the tomb._

There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,

And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!

O sacred receptacle of my joys,

Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many sons hast thou of mine in store,

That thou wilt never render to me more! 100

LUC. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,

That we may hew his limbs and on a pile

"Ad manes fratrum" sacrifice his flesh,

Before this earthy prison of their bones,

That so the shadows be not unappeased,

Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.

TIT. I give him you, the noblest that survives,

The eldest son of this distressed queen.

TAM. Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror,

Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, 110

A mother's tears in passion for her son:

And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,

O, think my son to be as dear to me!

Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome,

To beautify thy triumphs and return,

Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke;

But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,

For valiant doings in their country's cause?

O, if to fight for king and commonweal

Were piety in thine, it is in these. 120

Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood.

Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?

Draw near them then in being merciful:

Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge:

Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

TIT. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.126

These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld

Alive and dead; and for their brethren slain

Religiously they ask a sacrifice:

To this your son is mark'd, and die he must, 130

To appease their groaning shadows that are gone.

LUC. Away with him! and make a fire straight;

And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,

Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.

[ _Exeunt the sons of Andronicus with Alarbus._

TAM. O cruel, irreligious piety!

CHI. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?

DEM. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.138

Alarbus goes to rest, and we survive

To tremble under Titus' threatening look. 140

Then, madam, stand resolved; but hope withal,

The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy

With opportunity of sharp revenge

Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,

May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths,

When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen,

To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.147

_Re-enter the sons of_ ANDRONICUS, _with their swords bloody_

LUC. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd

Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,

And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, 150

Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.

Remaineth nought but to inter our brethren,

And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.

TIT. Let it be so; and let Andronicus

Make this his latest farewell to their souls.

[ _Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb._

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;

Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,

Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!

Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, 160

Here grow no damned drugs; here are no storms,

No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!

_Enter_ LAVINIA

LAV. In peace and honour live Lord Titus long;

My noble lord and father, live in fame!

Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears

I render, for my brethren's obsequies;

And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy

Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:

O, bless me here with thy victorious hand, 170

Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!

TIT. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved

The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!174

Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,

And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!

_Enter, below,_ MARTIUS ANDRONICUS _and_ Tribunes; _re-enter_ SATURNINUS,. _and_ BASSIANU, _attended_

MARC. Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,

Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

TIT. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.

MARC. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame! 180

Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,

That in your country's service drew your swords:

But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,

That hath aspired to Solon's happiness,184

And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.

Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,

Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,

Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,188

This palliament of white and spotless hue;189

And name thee in election for the empire, 190

With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:

Be candidatus then, and put it on,

And help to set a head on headless Rome.

TIT. A better head her glorious body fits194

Than his that shakes for age and feebleness:

What should I don this robe, and trouble you?196

Be chosen with proclamations to-day,

To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,

And set abroad new business for you all?199

Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years, 200

And led my country's strength successfully,

And buried one and twenty valiant sons,

Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,

In right and service of their noble country:

Give me a staff of honour for mine age,

But not a sceptre to control the world:

Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

MARC. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.208

SAT. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?

TIT. Patience, Prince Saturninus. 210

SAT. Romans, do me right;

Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not

Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.

Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell,

Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!

LUC. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good

That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

TIT. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee

The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.

BAS Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, 220

But honour thee, and will do till I die:

My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,

I will most thankful be; and thanks to men

Of noble minds is honourable meed.

TIT. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,

I ask your voices and your suffrages:

Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

TRIBUNES. To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,

The people will accept whom he admits. 230

TIT. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,

That you create your emperor's eldest son,

Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,

Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,

And ripen justice in this commonweal:

Then, if you will elect by my advice,

Crown him, and say "Long live our emperor!"

MARC. With voices and applause of every sort,

Patricians and plebeians, we create

Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor, 240

And say "Long live our Emperor Saturnine!"

[ _A long flourish till they come down._

SAT. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done

To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,

And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:

And, for an onset, Titus, to advance247

Thy name and honourable family,

Lavinia will I make my empress,

Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, 250

And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:251

Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?252

TIT. It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match

I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:

And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,

King and commander of our commonweal,

The wide world's emperor, do I consecrate

My sword, my chariot and my prisoners;

Presents well worthy Rome's imperious lord:

Receive them then, the tribute that I owe, 260

Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.

SAT. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!

How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts,

Rome shall record; and when I do forget

The least of these unspeakable deserts,

Romans, forget your fealty to me.

TIT. _To Tamora_ ] Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor;

To him that, for your honour and your state,

Will use you nobly and your followers.

SAT. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue 270

That I would choose, were I to choose anew.

Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance;

Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,273

Thou comest not to be made a scorn in Rome:

Princely shall be thy usage every way.

Rest on my word, and let not discontent

Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you

Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.

Lavinia, you are not displeased with this?

LAV. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility 280

Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

SAT. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go:

Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:

Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.

[ _Flourish. Saturninus courts Tamora in dumb show._

BAS. [ _Seizing Lavinia_ ] Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

TIT. How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?

BAS. Ay, noble Titus, and resolved withal

To do myself this reason and this right.

MARC. "Suum cuique" is our Roman justice:

This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

LUC. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.

TIT. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard?

Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!

SAT. Surprised! by whom?

BAS. By him that justly may

Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

[ _Exeunt Bassianus and Marcus with Lavinia._

MUT. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, 300

And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.

[ _Exeunt Lucius, Quintus, and Martius._

TIT. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.

MUT. My lord, you pass not here.

TIT. What, villain boy!

Barr'st me my way in Rome? [ _Stabbing Mutius._

MUT. Help, Lucius, help! [ _Dies._

[ _During the fray, Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius,_ _Chiron and Aaron go out, and re-enter above._

_Re-enter_ LUCIUS

LUC. My lord, you are unjust; and, more than so, 310

In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.

TIT. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine;

My sons would never so dishonour me:

Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.

LUC. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,

That is another's lawful promised love. [ _Exit._ 316

SAT. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,

Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:

I'll trust by leisure him that mocks me once;319

Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons, 320

Confederates all thus to dishonour me.

Was none in Rome to make a stale322

But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,

Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,

That saidst, I begg'd the empire at thy hands.

TIT. O monstrous! what reproachful words are these?

SAT. But go thy ways; go give that changing piece 327

To him that flourish'd for her with his sword:328

A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;

One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, 330

To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.331

TIT. These words are razors to my wounded heart.

SAT. And therefore, lovely Tamora, Queen of Goths,

That, like the stately Phœbe 'mongst her nymphs,334

Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,

If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,

Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,

And will create thee empress of Rome.

Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?

And here I swear by all the Roman gods, 340

Sith priest and holy water are so near,

And tapers burn so bright, and every thing

In readiness for Hymenæus stand,343

I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,

Or climb my palace, till from forth this place

I lead espoused my bride along with me.

TAM. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear,

If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths,

She will a handmaid be to his desires,

A loving nurse, a mother to his youth. 350

SAT. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany

Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,

Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,

Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered:

There shall we consummate our spousal rites.

[ _Exeunt all but Titus._

TIT. I am not bid to wait upon this bride.

Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,

Dishonour'd thus and challenged of wrongs?

_Re-enter_ MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, _and_ MARTIUS

MARC. O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done! 360

In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

TIT. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,

Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed

That hath dishonour'd all our family;

Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!

LUC. But let us give him burial, as becomes;

Give Mutius burial with our brethren.

TIT. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb:

This monument five hundred years hath stood,

Which I have sumptuously re-edified: 370

Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors

Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls:

Bury him where you can, he comes not here.

MARC. My lord, this is impiety in you:

My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him;

He must be buried with his brethren.

QUIN. And shall, or him we will accompany.

MART. And shall, or him we will accompany.

TIT. And shall! what villain was it spake that word?

QUIN. He that would vouch it in any place but here. 380

TIT. What, would you bury him in my despite?

MARC. No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee

To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

TIT. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,

And with these boys mine honour thou hast wounded:

My foes I do repute you every one;

So trouble me no more, but get you gone.

MART. He is not with himself; let us withdraw.

QUIN. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.

[ _Marcus and the sons of Titus kneel._ 390

MARC. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,—

QUIN. Father, and in that name doth nature speak,—

TIT. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

MARC. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,—

LUC. Dear father, soul and substance of us all,—

MARC. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter

His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,

That died in honour and Lavinia's cause.

Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous:

The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax 400

That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son

Did graciously plead for his funerals:

Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,

Be barr'd his entrance here.

TIT. Rise, Marcus, rise:

The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw,

To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!

Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

[ _Mutius is put into the tomb._

LUC. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, 410

Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.

ALL. [ _Kneeling_ ] No man shed tears for noble Mutius;

He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.

MARC. My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,

How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths

Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?

TIT. I know not, Marcus; but I know it is,

Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell:418

Is she not then beholding to the man

That brought her for this high good turn so far? 420

Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

_Flourish. Re-enter, from one side,_ SATURNINUS. _attended,_ TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, _and_ AARON, _from the other,_ BASSINUNS, LAVINIA, _with others_

SAT. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:422

God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!

BAS. And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,

Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave.

SAT. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have power,

Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

BAS. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,

My true-betrothed love, and now my wife?

But let the laws of Rome determine all; 430

Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.

SAT. T is good, sir: you are very short with us;

But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.

BAS. My lord, what I have done, as best I may,

Answer I must, and shall do with my life.

Only thus much I give your grace to know:436

By all the duties that I owe to Rome,

This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,

Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd;

That, in the rescue of Lavinia, 440

With his own hand did slay his youngest son,

In zeal to you and highly moved to wrath

To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:443

Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,

That hath express'd himself in all his deeds

A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

TIT. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds:447

'T is thou and those that have dishonour'd me.

Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge,

How I have loved and honour'd Saturnine! 450

TAM. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora

Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,

Then hear me speak indifferently for all;453

And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

SAT. What, madam! be dishonour'd openly,

And basely put it up without revenge?456

TAM. Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend

I should be author to dishonour you!458

But on mine honour dare I undertake459

For good Lord Titus' innocence in all; 460

Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs:

Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;

Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,463

Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.

[ _Aside to Sat._ ] My lord, be ruled by me, be won at last;

Dissemble all your griefs and discontents:

You are but newly planted in your throne;

Lest then the people, and patricians too,

Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,

And so supplant you for ingratitude, 470

Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,

Yield at entreats, and then let me alone:472

I'll find a day to massacre them all,

And raze their faction and their family,

The cruel father and his traitorous sons,

To whom I sued for my dear son's life;

And make them know what 't is to let a queen

Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.—

Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus;

Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart 480

That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

SAT. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.

TIT. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord:

These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

TAM. Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,

A Roman now adopted happily,

And must advise the emperor for his good.

This day all quarrels die, Andronicus.

And let it be mine honour, good my lord,

That I have reconciled your friends and you. 490

For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd

My word and promise to the emperor,

That you will be more mild and tractable.

And fear not, lords, and you, Lavinia;

By my advice, all humbled on your knees,

You shall ask pardon of his majesty.

LUC. We do; and vow to heaven, and to his highness,

That what we did was mildly as we might,

Tendering our sister's honour and our own.499

MARC. That, on mine honour, here I do protest. 500

SAT. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.

TAM. Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends:

The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace;

I will not be denied: sweet heart, look back.504

SAT. Marcus, for thy sake and thy brother's here,

And at my lovely Tamora's entreats,506

I do remit these young men's heinous faults:

Stand up.

Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

I found a friend; and sure as death I swore 510

I would not part a bachelor from the priest.

Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,

You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.

This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.514

TIT. To-morrow, an it please your majesty

To hunt the panther and the hart with me,

With horn and hound we'll give your grace bonjour.

SAT. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.518

[ _Flourish. Exeunt._

* * *

4 _my successive title_ ] my hereditary right to succeed.

8 _mine age_ ] my seniority in point of age.

15 _continence_ ] self-restraint.

16 _in pure election_ ] in the purity of free election (instead of in right of birth).

19 _empery_ ] empire, a common form.

21 _by common voice_ ] unanimously.

27 _accited_ ] summoned.

29 _That_ ] He who.

41 _in the Capitol... right_ ] in the name of the Capitol and the senate's authority.

43 _abate your strength_ ] reduce your numbers

47 _affy_ ] trust.

126 _Patient yourself_ ] calm yourself, be patient.

130 _mark'd_ ] destined.

138 _Oppose not... Rome_ ] Do not contrast Scythia with ambitious Rome, which is much more cruel.

147 _quit_ ] requite, avenge.

174–175 _outlive... praise_ ] a poetical exaggeration; a wish that, in order to preserve eternally the example of virtue, Lavinia may live for ever.

184 _That hath... Solon's happiness_ ] An allusion to Solon's well-known saying "Call no man happy till he is dead." The warriors who die in honourable warfare alone realise final happiness.

188 _trust_ ] trustee, the man in whom they put their trust.

189 _palliament_ ] a rare coinage from the medieval Latin "palliamentum," a robe or cloak.

194–195 _A better head... feebleness_ ] Titus gives himself a character which is quite out of harmony with his conduct throughout the play.

196 _What...?_ ] Why?

199 _And set abroad... all_ ] And put you all again to the trouble of making a new election; augment your public responsibilities.

208 _obtain and ask_ ] obtain by asking.

247 _onset_ ] beginning.

251 _Pantheon_ ] the temple built in the Campus Martius at Rome by Agrippa, $.&. 27.

252 _motion_ ] proposal, proposition.

273 _change of cheer_ ] change of condition (from happiness to sorrow).

316 _That_ ] She ( _i.e.,_ Lavinia).

319 _I'll trust by leisure_ ] I'll trust when I have the leisure (an unlikely condition). The speaker ironically means that he is not likely to trust.

322 _stale_ ] laughing-stock, object of ridicule.

327 _that changing piece_ ] that fickle baggage.

328 _flourish'd_ ] brandished insolently.

331 _ruffle_ ] swagger, behave boisterously.

334 _Phœbe_ ] the name applied by classical authors to Diana, chiefly in her character of goddess of the moon.

343 _Hymenæus_ ] the god of marriage.

418 _by device_ ] by stratagem.

422 _play'd your prize_ ] won your match.

436 _Only thus much... to know_ ] This is sufficient information for me to impart to you.439 _opinion_ ] credit.

443 _To be controll'd... gave_ ] To be checked or interfered with when offering a free gift.

447 _leave to plead my deeds_ ] cease making my achievements the ground of your plea.

453 _indifferently_ ] impartially.

456 _put it up_ ] put up with it.

458 _I should be author... you_ ] I should do anything derogatory to you.

459 _undertake_ ] become surety, pledge my word.

463 _suppose_ ] surmise.

472 _Yield at entreats_ ] Yield to entreaties.

480 _Take up_ ] Lift up, cause to rise.

499 _Tendering_ ] Having tender regard for.

504 _look back_ ] reconsider

506 _entreats_ ] entreaties.

514 _a love-day_ ] a day of friendly settlement, of reconciliation.

518 _gramercy_ ] A French phrase for "grand merci" ( _i.e.,_ best thanks); "bonjour" has much the same significance in the previous line.

### ACT II.

#### SCENE I. _Rome. Before the Palace_.

_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,4

Advanced above pale envy's threatening reach.

As when the golden sun salutes the morn,

And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,

Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,

And overlooks the highest-peering hills;

So Tamora: 10

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 long15

Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains,

And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes17

Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.

Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts!

I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold, 20

To wait upon this new-made empress.

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

This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,23

This siren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,

And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's.

Holloa! what storm is this?

_Enter_ DEMETRIUS _and_ CHIRON, _braving_

DEM. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,

And manners, to intrude where I am graced,

And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.29

CHI. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all,30

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

'T is 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,36

And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

AAR. _Aside_ ] Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep the peace.38

DEM. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised,39

Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side, 40

Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends?

Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath42

Till you know better how to handle it.

CHI. Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,

Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.

DEM. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? [ _They draw._

AAR. [ _Coming forward_ ] Why, how now, lords!

So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,

And maintain such a quarrel openly?

Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge:50

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 dishonour'd in the court of Rome.

For shame, put up.

DEM. Not I, till I have sheathed

My rapier in his bosom, and withal

Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat,

That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.

CHI. For that I am prepared and full resolved. 60

Foul-spoken coward! that thunder'st with thy tongue,

And with thy weapon nothing darest perform.

AAR. 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?67

What, is Lavinia then become so loose,

Or Bassianus so degenerate,

That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd 70

Without controlment, justice, or revenge?

Young lords, beware! an should the empress know

This discord's ground, the music would not please.73

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

I love Lavinia more than all the world.

DEM. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:

Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

AAR. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome

How furious and impatient they be,

And cannot brook competitors in love? 80

I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths By this device.

CHI. Aaron, a thousand deaths

Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.

AAR. To achieve her! how?84

DEM. Why makest 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 loved.

What, man! more water glideth by the mill 90

Than wots the miller of; and easy it is

Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know:92

Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother,

Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge.94

AAR. [ _Aside_ ] Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

DEM. 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?99

AAR. Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch or so 100

Would serve your turns.

CHI. Ay, so the turn were served.

DEM. Aaron, thou hast hit it.

AAR. Would you had hit it too!

Then should not we be tired with this ado.

Why, hark ye, hark ye! and are you such fools

To square for this? would it offend you,107

then, That both should speed?

CHI. Faith, not me.

DEM. Nor me, so I were one. 110

AAR. For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar:111

'T is policy and stratagem must do

That you affect; and so must you resolve,

That what you cannot as you would achieve,

You must perforce accomplish as you may.

Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.118

A speedier course than lingering languishment Must we pursue, and I have found the path.

My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand; 120

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 villany:124

Single you thither then this dainty doe,125

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 wit128

To villany and vengeance consecrate,

Will we acquaint with all that we intend; 130

And she shall file our engines with advice,131

That will not suffer you to square yourselves,132

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;

There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your turns;

There serve your lust, shadow'd from heaven's eye,

And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

CHI. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. 140

DEM. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream141

To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits,

Per Styga, per manes vehor.

[ _Exeunt._

#### SCENE II. _A Forest near Rome. Horns and Cry of Hounds Heard_.

_Enter_ TITUS ANDRONICUS, _with_ Hunters, &c., MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, _and_ MARTIUS

TIT. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,1

The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green:

Uncouple here, and let us make a bay,3

And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,

And rouse the prince, and ring a hunter's peal,

That all the court may echo with the noise.

Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,

To attend the emperor's person carefully.

I have been troubled in my sleep this night,

But dawning day new comfort hath inspired. 10

_A cry of hounds, and horns winded in a peal. Enter_ SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSINUNS, LAVINIA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, _and their_ Attendants.

Many good morrows to your majesty;

Madam, to you as many and as good:

I promised your grace a hunter's peal.

SAT. And you have rung it lustily, my lords;

Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.

BAS. Lavinia, how say you?

L AV. I say, no;

I have been broad awake two hours and more.

SAT. Come on then; horse and chariots let us have,

And to our sport. [ _To Tamora_ ] Madam, now shall ye see 20

Our Roman hunting.

MARC. I have dogs, my lord,

Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,

And climb the highest promontory top.

TIT And I have horse will follow where the game

Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.

DEM. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,

But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.

[ _Exeunt._

#### SCENE III. _A Lonely Part of the Forest_.

_Enter_ AARON, _with a bag of gold_

AAR. He that had wit would think that I had none,

To bury so much gold under a tree,

And never after to inherit it.

Let him that thinks of me so abjectly3

Know that this gold must coin a stratagem,

Which, cunningly effected, will beget

A very excellent piece of villany:

And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest [ _Hides the gold._

That have their alms out of the empress' chest.8

_Enter_ TAMORN,

TAM. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad, 10

When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?

The birds chant melody on every bush;

The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun;13

The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind,

And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:

Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,

And, whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,

Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns,

As if a double hunt were heard at once,

Let us sit down and mark their yellowing noise; 20

And, after conflict such as was supposed

The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd,

When with a happy storm they were surprised,23

And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,

We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,

Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;26

Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds

Be unto us as is a nurse's song

Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.

AAR. Madam, though Venus govern your desires, 30

Saturn is dominator over mine:31

What signifies my deadly-standing eye,32

My silence and my cloudy melancholy,

My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls

Even as an adder when she doth unroll35

To do some fatal execution?

No, madam, these are no venereal signs:37

Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,

Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.

Hark, Tamora, the empress of my soul, 40

Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee,

This is the day of doom for Bassianus:

His Philomel must lose her tongue to-day,43

Thy sons make pillage of her chastity,

And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood.

Seest thou this letter? take it up,

I pray thee, And give the king this fatal-plotted scroll.

Now question me no more; we are espied;

Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty,49

Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction. 50

TAM. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!

AAR. No more, great empress; Bassianus comes:

Be cross with him, and I'll go fetch thy sons

To back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be. [ _Exit._

_Enter_ BASSINUNS _and_ LAVINIA

BAS. Who have we here? Rome's royal empress,

Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?

Or is it Dian, habited like her,

Who hath abandoned her holy groves

To see the general hunting in this forest?

TAM. Saucy controller of my private steps! 60

Had I the power that some say Dian had,

Thy temples should be planted presently

With horns, as was Actæon's, and the hounds

Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs,64

Unmannerly intruder as thou art!

LAV. Under your patience, gentle empress,

'T is thought you have a goodly gift in horning;

And to be doubted that your Moor and you

Are singled forth to try experiments:

Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day! 70

'T is pity they should take him for a stag.

BAS. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian

Doth make your honour of his body's hue,

Spotted, detested, and abominable.

Why are you sequester'd from all your train,

Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed,

And wander'd hither to an obscure plot,

Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor

If foul desire had not conducted you?

LAV. And, being intercepted in your sport, 80

Great reason that my noble lord be rated

For sauciness. I pray you, let us hence,

And let her joy her raven-colour'd love;

This valley fits the purpose passing well.

BAS. The king my brother shall have note of this.

LAV. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long:

Good king, to be so mightily abused!

TAM. Why have I patience to endure all this?

_Enter_ DEMETRIUS _and_ CHIRON

DEM. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother!

Why doth your highness look so pale and wan? 90

TAM. Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?

These two have ticed me hither to this place:

A barren detested vale, you see it is;

The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,

O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe:95

Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds,

Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven:

And when they show'd me this abhorred pit,

They told me, here, at dead time of the night,

A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes, 100

Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,101

Would make such fearful and confused cries,

As any mortal body hearing it

Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.

No sooner had they told this hellish tale,

But straight they told me they would bind me here

Unto the body of a dismal yew,

And leave me to this miserable death:

And then they call'd me foul adultress,

Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms110

That ever ear did hear to such effect:

And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,

This vengeance on me had they executed.

Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,

Or be ye not henceforth call'd my children.

DEM. This is a witness that I am thy son

.[ _Stabs Bassianus._

CHI. And this for me, struck home to show my strength

.[ _Also stabs Bassianus, who dies._

LAV. Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora, 120

For no name fits thy nature but thy own!

TAM. Give me the poniard; you shall know, my boys,

Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong.

DEM. Stay, madam; here is more belongs to her;

First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw;

This minion stood upon her chastity,

Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty,

And with that painted hope braves your mightiness:128

And shall she carry this unto her grave?

CHI. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. 130

Drag hence her husband to some secret hole,

And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.

TAM. But when ye have the honey ye desire,

Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.

CHI. I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.

Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy

That nice-preserved honesty of yours.

LAV.O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face—

TAM. I will not hear her speak; away with her!

LAV. Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word. 140

DEM. Listen, fair madam: let it be your glory

To see her tears, but be your heart to them

As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.

LAV. When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam?

O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee;145

The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble;

Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.

Yet every mother breeds not sons alike:

[ _To Chiron_ ] Do thou entreat her show a woman pity.

CHI. What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard? 150

LAV.'T is true; the raven doth not hatch a lark:

Yet have I heard,—O, could I find it now!—

The lion, moved with pity, did endure

To have his princely paws pared all away:

Some say that ravens foster forlorn children,

The whilst their own birds famish in their nests:

O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no,

Nothing so kind, but something pitiful!

TAM. I know not what it means: away with her!

LAV.O, let me teach thee! for my father's sake, 160

That gave thee life, when well he might have slain thee,

Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears.

TAM. Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me,

Even for his sake am I pitiless.

Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain,

To save your brother from the sacrifice;

But fierce Andronicus would not relent:

Therefore, away with her, and use her as you will;

The worse to her, the better loved of me.

LAV. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen, 170

And with thine own hands kill me in this place!

For 't is not life that I have begg'd so long;

Poor I was slain when Bassianus died.

TAM. What begg'st thou then? fond woman, let me go.

LAV.'T is present death I beg; and one thing more

That womanhood denies my tongue to tell:

O, keep me from their worse than killing lust,

And tumble me into some loathsome pit,

Where never man's eye may behold my body:

Do this, and be a charitable murderer. 180

TAM. So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee:

No, let them satisfy their lust on thee.

DEM. Away! for thou hast stay'd us here too long.

LAV. No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature!

The blot and enemy to our general name!

Confusion fall—

CHI. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth. Bring thou her husband:

This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.

[ _Demetrius throws the body of Bassianus into the pit; then exeunt Demetrius and Chiron, dragging off Lavinia._ 190

TAM. Farewell, my sons; see that you make her sure.

Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed,

Till all the Andronici be made away.

Now will I hence to seek my lovely

Moor, And let my spleenful sons this trull deflower.

[ _Exit._

_Re-enter_ AARON, _with_ QUINTUS _and_ MARTIUS

AAR. Come on, my lords, the better foot before:

Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit

Where I espied the panther fast asleep.

QUIN. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes.

MART. And mine, I promise you; were it not for shame, 200

Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile.

[ _Falls into the pit._

QUIN. What, art thou fall'n? What subtle hole is this,

Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers,

Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood

As fresh as morning dew distill'd on flowers?

A very fatal place it seems to me.

Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall?

MART. O brother, with the dismal'st object hurt

That ever eye with sight made heart lament! 210

AAR. _Aside_ ] Now will I fetch the king to find them here,

That he thereby may have a likely guess

How these were they that made away his brother. [ _Exit._

MART. Why dost not comfort me, and help me out

From this unhallow'd and blood-stained hole?

QUIN. I am surprised with an uncouth fear;

A chilling sweat o'er-runs my trembling joints;

My heart suspects more than mine eye can see.

MART. To prove thou hast a true-divining heart,

Aaron and thou look down into this den, 220

And see a fearful sight of blood and death.

QUIN. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart

Will not permit mine eyes once to behold

The thing whereat it trembles by surmise:

O, tell me how it is; for ne'er till now

Was I a child to fear I know not what.

MART. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here,227

All on a heap, like to a slaughter'd lamb,

In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.

QUIN. If it be dark, how dost thou know 't is he? 230

MART. Upon his bloody finger he doth wear

A precious ring, that lightens all the hole,232

Which, like a taper in some monument,

Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks,

And shows the ragged entrails of the pit:235

So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus

When he by night lay bathed in maiden blood.

O brother, help me with thy fainting hand—

If fear hath made thee faint, as me it hath—

Out of this fell devouring receptacle, 240

As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth.241

QUIN. Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out;

Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good,

I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb

Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus' grave.

I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink.

MART. Nor I no strength to climb without thy help.

QUIN. Thy hand once more; I will not loose again,

Till thou art here aloft, or I below:

Thou canst not come to me: I come to thee. [ _Falls in._ 250

_Enter_ SATURNINUS. _with_ AARON,

SAT. Along with me: I'll see what hole is here,

And what he is that now is leap'd into it.

Say, who art thou that lately didst descend

Into this gaping hollow of the earth?

MART. The unhappy son of old Andronicus;

Brought hither in a most unlucky hour,

To find thy brother Bassianus dead.

SAT. My brother dead! I know thou dost but jest:

He and his lady both are at the lodge

Upon the north side of this pleasant chase;260

'T is not an hour since I left them there.

MART. We know not where you left them all alive;

But, out, alas! here have we found him dead.

_Re-enter_ TAMORN _with_ Attendants; TITUS ANDRONICUS _and_ LUCIUS

TAM Where is my lord the king?

SAT. Here, Tamora; though grieved with killing grief.

TAM Where is thy brother Bassianus?

SAT. Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound:

Poor Bassianus here lies murdered.

TAM. _Giving a letter_ ] Then all too late I bring this fatal writ,

The complot of this timeless tragedy;270

And wonder greatly that man's face can fold

In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny.

SAT. [ _Reads_ ] "An if we miss to meet him handsomely—

Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 't is we mean—

Do thou so much as dig the grave for him:

Thou know'st our meaning. Look for thy reward

Among the nettles at the elder-tree,

Which overshades the mouth of that same pit

Where we decreed to bury Bassianus.

Do this and purchase us thy lasting friends." 280

O Tamora! was ever heard the like?

This is the pit, and this the elder-tree.

Look, sirs, if you can find the huntsman out

That should have murder'd Bassianus here.

AAR. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold.

SAT. [ _To Titus_ ] Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kind,286

Have here bereft my brother of his life.

Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison:

There let them bide until we have devised

Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them. 290

TAM. What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing!

How easily murder is discovered!

TAM. High emperor, upon my feeble knee

I beg this boon, with tears not lightly shed,

That this fell fault of my accursed sons,

Accursed, if the fault be proved in them—

SAT. If it be proved! you see it is apparent.

Who found this letter? Tamora, was it you?

TAM. Andronicus himself did take it up.

TAM. I did, my lord: yet let me be their bail; 300

For, by my fathers' reverend tomb,

I vow They shall be ready at your highness' will,

To answer their suspicion with their lives.

SAT. Thou shalt not bail them: see thou follow me.

Some bring the murder'd body, some the murderers:

Let them not speak a word; the guilt is plain;

For, by my soul, were there worse end than death,

That end upon them should be executed.

TAM. Andronicus, I will entreat the king:

Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough.310

TAM. Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them.

[ _Exeunt._

#### SCENE IV. _Another Part of the Forest_.

_Enter_ DEMETRIUS _and_ CHIRON _with_ LAVINIA _ravished; her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out_

DEM. So, now go tell, an if thy tongue can speak,

Who 't was that cut thy tongue and ravish'd thee.

CHI. Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning so,

An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe.

DEM. See, how with signs and tokens she can scrowl.

CHI. Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands.

DEM. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash;

And so let's leave her to her silent walks.

CHI. An 't were my case, I should go hang myself.

DEM. If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord. 10

[ _Exeunt Demetrius and Chiron._

_Horns winded within. Enter_ MARCUS, _from hunting_

MAR. Who is this? my niece, that flies away so fast!

Cousin, a word; where is your husband?

If I do dream, would all my wealth would wake me!

If I do wake, some planet strike me down,

That I may slumber in eternal sleep!

Speak, gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands

Have lopp'd and hew'd and made thy body bare

Of her two branches, those sweet ornaments,

Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in, 20

And might not gain so great a happiness

As have thy love? Why dost not speak to me?

Alas, a crimson river of warm blood,

Like to a bubbling fountain stirr'd with wind,

Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips,

Coming and going with thy honey breath.

But, sure, some Tereus hath deflowered thee,

And, lest thou shouldst detect him, cut thy tongue.

Ah, now thou turn'st away thy face for shame!

And, notwithstanding all this loss of blood, 30

As from a conduit with three issuing spouts,

Yet do thy cheeks look red as Titan's face32

Blushing to be encounter'd with a cloud.

Shall I speak for thee? shall I say 't is so?

O, that I knew thy heart; and knew the beast,

That I might rail at him, to ease my mind!

Sorrow concealed, like an oven stopp'd,

Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is.

Fair Philomel, why she but lost her tongue,

And in a tedious sampler sew'd her mind: 40

But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee;

A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met,42

And he hath cut those pretty fingers off,

That could have better sew'd than Philomel.

O, had the monster seen those lily hands

Tremble, like aspen-leaves, upon a lute,

And make the silken strings delight to kiss them,

He would not then have touch'd them for his life!

Or, had he heard the heavenly harmony

Which that sweet tongue hath made, 50

He would have dropp'd his knife, and fell asleep

As Cerberus at the Thracian poet's feet.

Come, let us go and make thy father blind;

For such a sight will blind a father's eye:

One hour's storm will drown the fragrant meads;

What will whole months of tears thy father's eyes?

Do not draw back, for we will mourn with thee:

O, could our mourning ease thy misery!

[ _Exeunt._

* * *

4 _Secure_ ] Careless or fearless.

15 _pitch_ ] the full height to which a falcon soars; a hawking term.

17 _charming_ ] bewitching, in the literal sense.

23 _Semiramis_ ] a semi-mythical Queen of Babylon.

29 _affected_ ] loved.

30 _thou dost over-ween in all_ ] thou hast an excessive opinion of thyself in all regards.31 _braves_ ] brags, bravado.

36 _approve_ ] prove.

38 _Clubs, clubs!_ ] the common Elizabethan street cry summoning the watchman to stop a brawl.

39 _unadvised_ ] imprudently.

40 _a dancing-rapier_ ] a light sword worn by dancers for ornament, not for use.

42 _your lath_ ] your sword of lath or wood.

50 _the ground of all this grudge_ ] the source of all this ill feeling.

67 _jet_ ] encroach.

73 _ground_ ] a musical term for the simple melody on which the harmony of a song was developed.

84 _achieve_ ] win.

92 _shive_ ] slice; the expression is proverbial.

94 _Vulcan's badge_ ] the cuckold's badge. Vulcan was the deluded husband of Venus.

99 _cleanly_ ] neatly, adroitly.

100 _snatch_ ] hurried enjoyment.

107 _square_ ] quarrel.

111 _join for that you jar_ ] combine to obtain what you quarrel over.

118 _lingering languishment_ ] prolonged sentimental wooing.

124 _by kind_ ] by nature.

125 _Single_ ] Single out, isolate.

128 _sacred_ ] ironically used for accursed.

131 _file our engines_ ] help our projects, make them run smooth.

132 _square yourselves_ ] put yourselves in the attitude of fight, quarrel with one another.

141–143 _Sit fas_... _vehor_ ] The Latin words mean "Be it right or wrong, willy-nilly,... I am borne through the river Styx and through (the land of) disembodied spirits."

1 _The hunt is up_ ] The cry of the huntsmen in starting the chase. _grey_ ] blue grey, or blue.

3 _Uncouple_ ] Slip off the leashes. _make a bay_ ] rouse a barking in unison.

3 _inherit_ ] possess.

8 _for their unrest_ ] to cause disquiet to those.

13 _rolled_ ] coiled.

20 _yellowing_ ] a form of "yelling."

23 _happy_ ] opportune.

26 _golden slumber_ ] The epithet is conventional in poetry of earlier and later date.

31 _Saturn_ ] the planet of hate and moroseness.

32 _deadly-standing eye_ ] murderously glaring eye.

35 _unroll_ ] uncoil.

37 _venereal_ ] amorous.

43 _His Philomel_... _to-day_ ] There are many references in this play to the classical myth of Philomel, who was ravished by Tereus, husband of her sister Progne, and had her tongue cut out, so that the secret might not be revealed.

49 _parcel_ ] part, portion.

64 _drive upon_ ] rush upon.

95 _O'ercome_ ] Overspread. _baleful mistletoe_ ] mistletoe berries are poisonous.

101 _urchins_ ] hedgehogs.

110 _Goth_ ] "Goth" was usually pronounced like "goat."

128 _painted hope_ ] specious assurance.

145 _learn_ ] teach.

227 _embrewed here_ ] steeped in blood

232 _A precious ring_... _all the hole_ ] The gem known as the carbuncle was commonly credited with emitting light.

235 _ragged entrails_ ] rugged interior.

241 _Cocytus'_ ] One of the six rivers of Hades.

260 _chase_ ] any unenclosed tract of land.

270 _timeless_ ] untimely; a very common usage.

286 _kind_ ] nature or strain.

310 _Fear not thy sons_ ] Have no fear about thy sons.

32 _Titan's face_ ] The sun's face.

42–44 _A craftier Tereus... Philomel_ ] In the Ovidian tale the outraged and tongueless Philomela embroiders on a piece of stuff words narrating her misfortunes and forwards it to her sister Progne.

### ACT III.

#### SCENE I. _Rome. A Street_.

_Enter_ Judges, Senators, _and_ Tribunes, _with_ MARTIUS _and_ QUINTUS, _bound, passing on to the place of execution;_ TITUS _going before, pleading_

TITUS. Hear me, grave fathers! noble tribunes, stay!

For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent

In dangerous wars, whilst you securely slept;

For all my blood in Rome's great quarrel shed;

For all the frosty nights that I have watch'd;

And for these bitter tears which now you see

Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheeks;

Be pitiful to my condemned sons,

Whose souls are not corrupted as 't is thought.

For two and twenty sons I never wept, 10

Because they died in honour's lofty bed.

[ _Lieth down; the Judges, &c., pass by him, and Exeunt._

For these, tribunes, in the dust I write

My heart's deep languor and my soul's sad tears:

Let my tears stanch the earth's dry appetite;

My sons' sweet blood will make it shame and blush.

O earth, I will befriend thee more with rain,

That shall distil from these two ancient urns,

Than youthful April shall with all his showers:

In summer's drought I'll drop upon thee still; 20

In winter with warm tears I'll melt the snow,

And keep eternal spring-time on thy face,

So thou refuse to drink my dear sons' blood.

_Enter_ LUCIUS, _with his weapon drawn_

O reverend tribunes! O gentle, aged men!

Unbind my sons, reverse the doom of death;

And let me say, that never wept before,

My tears are now prevailing orators.

LUC. O noble father, you lament in vain:

The tribunes hear you not; no man is by;

And you recount your sorrows to a stone. 30

TIT Ah, Lucius, for thy brothers let me plead.

Grave tribunes, once more I entreat of you,—

LUC. My gracious lord, no tribune hears you speak.

TIT Why, 't is no matter, man: if they did hear,

They would not mark me; or if they did mark,

They would not pity me; yet plead I must,

And bootless unto them....

Therefore I tell my sorrows to the stones;

Who, though they cannot answer my distress,

Yet in some sort they are better than the tribunes, 40

For that they will not intercept my tale:

When I do weep, they humbly at my feet

Receive my tears, and seem to weep with me;

And, were they but attired in grave weeds,

Rome could afford no tribune like to these.

A stone is soft as wax, tribunes more hard than stones;

A stone is silent and offendeth not,

And tribunes with their tongues doom men to death. [ _Rises._

But wherefore stand'st thou with thy weapon drawn?

LUC. To rescue my two brothers from their death: 50

For which attempt the judges have pronounced

My everlasting doom of banishment.

TIT. O happy man! they have befriended thee.

Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive

That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers?

Tigers must prey, and Rome affords no prey

But me and mine: how happy art thou then,

From these devourers to be banished!

But who comes with our brother Marcus here?

_Enter_ MARCUS _and_ LAVINIA

MARC Titus, prepare thy aged eyes to weep; 60

Or, if not so, thy noble heart to break:

I bring consuming sorrow to thine age.

TIT. Will it consume me? let me see it then.

MARC. This was thy daughter.

TIT. Why, Marcus, so she is.

LUC. Ay me, this object kills me!

TIT. Faint-hearted boy, arise, and look upon her.

Speak, Lavinia, what accursed hand

Hath made thee handless in thy father's sight?

What fool hath added water to the sea, 70

Or brought a faggot to bright-burning Troy?

My grief was at the height before thou camest;

And now, like Nilus, it disdaineth bounds.73

Give me a sword, I'll chop off my hands too;

For they have fought for Rome, and all in vain;

And they have nursed this woe, in feeding life;

In bootless prayer have they been held up,

And they have served me to effectless use:

Now all the service I require of them

Is, that the one will help to cut the other. 80

'T is well, Lavinia, that thou hast no hands;

For hands to do Rome service is but vain.

LUC. Speak, gentle sister, who hath martyr'd thee?

MARC. O, that delightful engine of her thoughts,84

That blabb'd them with such pleasing eloquence,

Is torn from forth that pretty hollow cage,

Where, like a sweet melodious bird, it sung

Sweet varied notes, enchanting every ear!

LUC. O, say thou for her, who hath done this deed?

MARC. O, thus I found her, straying in the park, 90

Seeking to hide herself, as doth the deer

That hath received some unrecuring wound.92

TIT. It was my dear; and he that wounded her 93

Hath hurt me more than had he kill'd me dead:

For now I stand as one upon a rock,

Environ'd with a wilderness of sea;

Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,

Expecting ever when some envious surge

Will in his brinish bowels swallow him.

This way to death my wretched sons are gone; 100

Here stands my other son, a banish'd man;

And here my brother, weeping at my woes:

But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn,

Is dear Lavinia, dearer than my soul.

Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,

It would have madded me: what shall I do,

Now I behold thy lively body so?107

Thou hast no hands, to wipe away thy tears;

Nor tongue, to tell me who hath martyr'd thee:

Thy husband he is dead; and for his death 110

Thy brothers are condemn'd, and dead by this.

Look, Marcus! ah, son Lucius, look on her!

When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears

Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew114

Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd.

MARC. Perchance she weeps because they kill'd her husband;

Perchance because she knows them innocent.

TIT. If they did kill thy husband, then be joyful,

Because the law hath ta'en revenge on them.

No, no, they would not do so foul a deed; 120

Witness the sorrow that their sister makes.

Gentle Lavinia, let me kiss thy lips;

Or make some sign how I may do thee ease:

Shall thy good uncle, and thy brother Lucius,

And thou, and I, sit round about some fountain,

Looking all downwards, to behold our cheeks

How they are stain'd, as meadows yet not dry

With miry slime left on them by a flood?

And in the fountain shall we gaze so long

Till the fresh taste be taken from that clearness, 130

And made a brine-pit with our bitter tears?

Or shall we cut away our hands, like thine?

Or shall we bite our tongues, and in dumb shows

Pass the remainder of our hateful days?

What shall we do? let us, that have our tongues,

Plot some device of further misery,

To make us wonder'd at in time to come.

LUC. Sweet father, cease your tears; for, at your grief,

See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps.

MARC. Patience, dear niece. Good Titus, dry thine eyes. 140

TIT. Ah, Marcus, Marcus! brother, well I wot

Thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine,

For thou, poor man, hast drown'd it with thine own.

LUC. Ah, my Lavinia, I will wipe thy cheeks.

TIT. Mark, Marcus, mark! I understand her signs:

Had she a tongue to speak, now would she say

That to her brother which I said to thee:

His napkin, with his true tears all bewet,

Can do no service on her sorrowful cheeks.

O, what a sympathy of woe is this, 150

As far from help as Limbo is from bliss!151

_Enter_ AARON

AAR. Titus Andronicus, my lord the emperor

Sends thee this word, that, if thou love thy sons,

Let Marcus, Lucius, or thyself, old Titus,

Or any one of you, chop off your hand,

And send it to the king: he for the same

Will send thee hither both thy sons alive;

And that shall be the ransom for their fault.

TIT. O gracious emperor! O gentle Aaron!

Did ever raven sing so like a lark, 160

That gives sweet tidings of the sun's uprise?

With all my heart, I'll send the emperor

My hand:

Good Aaron, wilt thou help to chop it off?

LUC. Stay, father! for that noble hand of thine,

That hath thrown down so many enemies,

Shall not be sent: my hand will serve the turn:

My youth can better spare my blood than you;

And therefore mine shall save my brothers' lives.

MARC. Which of your hands hath not defended Rome, 170

And rear'd aloft the bloody battle-axe,

Writing destruction on the enemy's castle?

O, none of both but are of high desert:

My hand hath been but idle; let it serve

To ransom my two nephews from their death;

Then have I kept it to a worthy end.

AAR. Nay, come, agree whose hand shall go along,

For fear they die before their pardon come.

MARC. My hand shall go.

LUC. By heaven, it shall not go! 180

TIT. Sirs, strive no more: such wither'd herbs as these

Are meet for plucking up, and therefore mine.

LUC. Sweet father, if I shall be thought thy son,

Let me redeem my brothers both from death.

MARC. And, for our father's sake and mother's care,

Now let me show a brother's love to thee.

TIT. Agree between you; I will spare my hand.

LUC. Then I'll go fetch an axe.

MARC. But I will use the axe.

[ _Exeunt Lucius and Marcus._ 190

TIT. Come hither, Aaron; I'll deceive them both:

Lend me thy hand, and I will give thee mine.

AAR. [ _Aside_ ] If that be call'd deceit,

I will be honest, And never, whilst I live, deceive men so:

But I'll deceive you in another sort,

And that you'll say, ere half an hour pass.

[ _Cuts off Titus's hand._

_Re-enter_ LUCIUS _and_ MARCUS

TIT. Now stay your strife: what shall be is dispatch'd.

Good Aaron, give his majesty my hand:

Tell him it was a hand that warded him 200

From thousand dangers; bid him bury it;

More hath it merited; that let it have.

As for my sons, say I account of them

As jewels purchased at an easy price;

And yet dear too, because I bought mine own.

AAR. I go, Andronicus: and for thy hand

Look by and by to have thy sons with thee.

[ _Aside_ ] Their heads, I mean. O, how this villany

Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it!209

Let fools do good, and fair men call for grace, 210

Aaron will have his soul black like his face.

[ _Exit._

TIT. O, here I lift this one hand up to heaven,

And bow this feeble ruin to the earth:

If any power pities wretched tears,

To that I call! [ _To Lav._ ] What, would thou kneel with me?

Do, then, dear heart; for heaven shall hear our prayers;

Or with our sighs we'll breathe the welkin dim,

And stain the sun with fog, as sometime clouds

When they do hug him in their melting bosoms.

MARC. O brother, speak with possibilities, 220

And do not break into these deep extremes.

TIT. Is not my sorrow deep, having no bottom?

Then be my passions bottomless with them.

MARC. But yet let reason govern thy lament.

TIT. If there were reason for these miseries,

Then into limits could I bind my woes:

When heaven doth weep, doth not the earth o'erflow?

If the winds rage, doth not the sea wax mad,

Threatening the welkin with his big-swoln face?

And wilt thou have a reason for this coil? 230

I am the sea; hark, how her sighs do blow!

She is the weeping welkin, I the earth:

Then must my sea be moved with her sighs;

Then must my earth with her continual tears

Become a deluge, overflow'd and drown'd:

For why my bowels cannot hide her woes,236

But like a drunkard must I vomit them.

Then give me leave; for losers will have leave

To ease their stomachs with their bitter tongues.

_Enter a_ Messenger, _with two heads and a hand_

MESS. Worthy Andronicus, ill art thou repaid 240

For that good hand thou sent'st the emperor.

Here are the heads of thy two noble sons;

And here's thy hand, in scorn to thee sent back,

Thy griefs their sports, thy resolution mock'd:

That woe is me to think upon thy woes,

More than remembrance of my father's death, [ _Exit._

MARC. Now let hot Ætna cool in Sicily,

And be my heart an ever-burning hell!

These miseries are more than may be borne.

To weep with them that weep doth ease some deal, 250

But sorrow flouted at is double death.

LUC. Ah, that this sight should make so deep a wound,

And yet detested life not shrink thereat!

That ever death should let life bear his name,

Where life hath no more interest but to breathe!

[ _Lavinia kisses Titus._

MARC. Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless

As frozen water to a starved snake.

TIT. When will this fearful slumber have an end?

MARC. Now, farewell, flattery: die, Andronicus; 260

Thou dost not slumber: see, thy two sons' heads,

Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here,

Thy other banish'd son with this dear sight

Struck pale and bloodless, and thy brother, I,

Even like a stony image, cold and numb.

Ah, now no more will I control thy griefs:

Rend off thy silver hair, thy other hand

Gnawing with thy teeth; and be this dismal sight

The closing up of our most wretched eyes:

Now is a time to storm; why art thou still? 270

TIT. Ha, ha, ha!

MARC. Why dost thou laugh? it fits not with this hour.

TIT. Why, I have not another tear to shed:

Besides, this sorrow is an enemy,

And would usurp upon my watery eyes,

And make them blind with tributary tears:

Then which way shall I find Revenge's cave?

For these two heads do seem to speak to me,

And threat me I shall never come to bliss

Till all these mischiefs be return'd again 280

Even in their throats that have committed them.

Come, let me see what task I have to do.

You heavy people, circle me about,

That I may turn me to each one of you,

And swear unto my soul to right your wrongs.

The vow is made. Come, brother, take a head;

And in this hand the other will I bear.

Lavinia, thou shalt be employ'd in these things:

Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth.

As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight; 290

Thou art an exile, and thou must not stay:

Hie to the Goths, and raise an army there:

And, if you love me, as I think you do,

Let's kiss and part, for we have much to do.

[ _Exeunt all but Lucius._

LUC. Farewell, Andronicus, my noble father,

The wofull'st man that ever lived in Rome:

Farewell, proud Rome; till Lucius come again,

He leaves his pledges dearer than his life:

Farewell, Lavinia, my noble sister; 300

O, would thou wert as thou tofore hast been!

But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives

But in oblivion and hateful griefs.

If Lucius live, he will requite your wrongs;

And make proud Saturnine and his empress

Beg at the gates, like Tarquin and his queen.

Now will I to the Goths and raise a power,

To be revenged on Rome and Saturnine. [ _Exit._

#### SCENE II. _A Room in Titus's House. A Banquet Set Out_.

_Enter_ TITUS MARCUS LAVINIA _and young_ LUCIUS _a_ Boy307

TIT. So, so; now sit: and look you eat no more

Than will preserve just so much strength in us

As will revenge those bitter woes of ours.

Marcus, unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot:4

Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands,

And cannot passionate our tenfold grief6

With folded arms. This poor right hand of mine

Is left to tyrannize upon my breast;

Who, when my heart, all mad with misery,

Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh, 10

Then thus I thump it down.

[ _To Lavinia_ ] Thou map of woe, that thus dost talk in signs!

When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating,

Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still.

Wound it with sighing, girl, kill it with groans;15

Or get some little knife between thy teeth,

And just against thy heart make thou a hole;

That all the tears that thy poor eyes let fall

May run into that sink, and soaking in

Drown the lamenting fool in sea-salt tears.20

MARC. Fie, brother, fie! teach her not thus to lay

Such violent hands upon her tender life.

TITUS How now! has sorrow made thee dote already?

Why, Marcus, no man should be mad but I.

What violent hands can she lay on her life?

Ah, wherefore dost thou urge the name of hands;

To bid Æneas tell the tale twice o'er,

How Troy was burnt and he made miserable?

O, handle not the theme, to talk of hands,

Lest we remember still that we have none. 30

Fie, fie, how franticly I square my talk,31

As if we should forget we had no hands,

If Marcus did not name the word of hands!

Come, let's fall to; and, gentle girl, eat this:

Here is no drink. Hark, Marcus, what she says;

I can interpret all her martyr'd signs;36

She says she drinks no other drink but tears,

Brew'd with her sorrow, mesh'd upon her cheeks: 38

Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought;

In thy dumb action will I be as perfect 40

As begging hermits in their holy prayers:

Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven,

Nor wink, nor nod, nor kneel, nor make a sign,

But I of these will wrest an alphabet,

And by still practice learn to know thy meaning.45

BOY. Good grandsire, leave these bitter deep laments:

Make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale.

MARC. Alas, the tender boy, in passion moved,

Doth weep to see his grandsire's heaviness.

TITUS Peace, tender sapling; thou art made of tears, 50

And tears will quickly melt thy life away.

[ _Marcus strikes the dish with a knife._

What dost thou strike at, Marcus, with thy knife?

MARC. At that that I have kill'd, my lord,—a fly.

TITUS Out on thee, murderer! thou kill'st my heart;

Mine eyes are cloy'd with view of tyranny:

A deed of death done on the innocent

Becomes not Titus' brother: get thee gone;

I see thou art not for my company.

MARC. Alas, my lord, I have but kill'd a fly. 60

TITUS "But!" How, if that fly had a father and mother?

How would he hang his slender gilded wings,

And buzz lamenting doings in the air!63

Poor harmless fly,

That, with his pretty buzzing melody,

Came here to make us merry! and thou hast kill'd him.

MARC. Pardon me, sir; it was a black ill-favour'd fly,

Like to the empress' Moor; therefore I kill'd him.

TIT. O, O, O,

Then pardon me for reprehending thee, 70

For thou hast done a charitable deed.

Give me thy knife, I will insult on him; 72

Flattering myself, as if it were the Moor

Come hither purposely to poison me.

There's for thyself, and that's for Tamora.

Ah, sirrah!

Yet, I think, we are not brought so low,

But that between us we can kill a fly

That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor.

MARC. Alas, poor man! grief has so wrought on him, 80

He takes false shadows for true substances.

TITUS Come, take away. Lavinia, go with me:

I'll to thy closet; and go read with thee

Sad stories chanced in the times of old.

Come, boy, and go with me: thy sight is young,

And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.

[ _Exeunt._

* * *

73 _like Nilus_ ] an allusion to the annual overflow of the river Nile.

84 engine of her thoughts] tongue.

92 unrecuring] incurable.

93 my dear] a favourite pun with Shakespeare.

107 _lively_ ] living.

114 _the honey-dew_ ] the sweet sticky secretion deposited by the tiny insect, generically called aphis, on the leaves of flowers.

151 _Limbo_ ] A region on the borders of hell to which the fathers or patriarchs of old were believed to be consigned.

209 _fat_ ] fatten.

230 _coil_ ] commotion.

236 _For why_ ] Because.

307 _a power_ ] an army

4 _that sorrow-wreathen knot_ ] Marcus' folded arms, the posture ordinarily associated with deep melancholy.

6 _passionate_ ] express with passionate gesture.

15 _Wound it with sighing_ ] It was a common belief that sighs consumed the heart's blood.

20 _fool_ ] here a term of endearment.

31 _square_ ] shape, regulate.

36 _her martyr'd signs_ ] signs of martyrdom, suffering.

38 _mesh'd_ ] mixed up together, a variant of "mashed."

45 _still_ ] constant, continual.

63 _lamenting doings_ ] tidings of woe.

72 _insult on him_ ] triumph insolently over him.

### ACT IV.

#### SCENE I. _Rome. Titus's Garden_.

_Enter young_ LUCIUS _and_ LAVINIA _running after him, and the boy flies from her, with his books under his arm. Then enter_ TITUS _and_ MARCUS

BOY. Help, Grandsire, Help! my aunt Lavinia

Follows me every where, I know not why:

Good uncle Marcus, see how swift she comes.

Alas, sweet aunt, I know not what you mean.

MARC. Stand by me, Lucius; do not fear thine aunt.

TIT. She loves thee, boy, too well to do thee harm.

BOY. Ay, when my father was in Rome she did.

MARC. What means my niece Lavinia by these signs?

TIT. Fear her not, Lucius: somewhat doth she mean:

See, Lucius, see how much she makes of thee: 10

Somewhither would she have thee go with her.

Ah, boy, Cornelia never with more care12

Read to her sons than she hath read to thee

Sweet poetry and Tully's Orator.14

MARC. Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus?

BOY. My lord, I know not, I, nor can I guess,

Unless some fit or frenzy do possess her:

For I have heard my grandsire say full oft,

Extremity of griefs would make men mad;

And I have read that Hecuba of Troy 20

Ran mad for sorrow: that made me to fear;

Although, my lord, I know my noble aunt

Loves me as dear as e'er my mother did,

And would not, but in fury, fright my youth:24

Which made me down to throw my books and fly,

Causeless perhaps. But pardon me, sweet aunt:

And, madam, if my uncle Marcus go,

I will most willingly attend your ladyship.

MARC. Lucius, I will. [ _Lavinia turns over with her stumps the books which Lucius has let fall._ 30

TIT. How now, Lavinia! Marcus, what means this?

Some book there is that she desires to see.

Which is it, girl, of these? Open them, boy.

But thou art deeper read, and better skill'd:

Come, and take choice of all my library,

And so beguile thy sorrow, till the heavens

Reveal the damn'd contriver of this deed.

Why lifts she up her arms in sequence thus?

MARC. I think she means that there were more than one

Confederate in the fact; ay, more there was; 40

Or else to heaven she heaves them for revenge.

TIT. Lucius, what book is that she tosseth so?42

BOY. Grandsire, 't is Ovid's Metamorphoses: 43

My mother gave it me.

MARC. For love of her that's gone,

Perhaps she cull'd it from among the rest.

TIT. Soft! so busily she turns the leaves!

Help her:

What would she find? Lavinia, shall I read?

This is the tragic tale of Philomel, 50

And treats of Tereus' treason and his rape; 51

And rape, I fear, was root of thine annoy.52

MARC. See, brother, see; note how she quotes the leaves.53

TIT. Lavinia, wert thou thus surprised, sweet girl,

Ravish'd and wrong'd, as Philomela was,

Forced in the ruthless, vast, and gloomy woods?

See, see!

Ay, such a place there is, where we did hunt,—

O, had we never, never hunted there!—

Pattern'd by that the poet here describes, 60

By nature made for murders and for rapes.

MARC. O, why should nature build so foul a den,

Unless the gods delight in tragedies?

TIT. Give signs, sweet girl, for here are none but friends,

What Roman lord it was durst do the deed:

Or slunk not Saturnine, as Tarquin erst,

That left the camp to sin in Lucrece' bed?

MARC. Sit down, sweet niece: brother, sit down by me.

Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury,

Inspire me, that I may this treason find! 70

My lord, look here: look here, Lavinia:

This sandy plot is plain; guide, if thou canst,

This after me.72

This after me.

[ _He writes his name with his staff, and guides it with feet and mouth._ ] I have writ my name

Without the help of any hand at all.

Cursed be that heart that forced us to this shift!

Write thou, good niece; and here display at last

What God will have discovered for revenge:

Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain,

That we may know the traitors and the truth! 80

[ _She takes the staff in her mouth, and guides it with her stumps, and writes._

TIT. O, do ye read, my lord, what she hath writ?

"Stuprum. Chiron. Demetrius."

MARC. What, what! the lustful sons of Tamora84

Performers of this heinous, bloody deed?

TIT. Magni Dominator poli,

Tam lentus audis scelera? tam lentus vides?

MARC. O, calm thee, gentle lord; although I know

There is enough written upon this earth 90

To stir a mutiny in the mildest thoughts,

And arm the minds of infants to exclaims.

My lord, kneel down with me; Lavinia, kneel;

And kneel, sweet boy, the Roman Hector's hope;94

And swear with me, as, with the woful fere95

And father of that chaste dishonour'd dame,

Lord Junius Brutus sware for Lucrece' rape,

That we will prosecute by good advice98

Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths,

And see their blood, or die with this reproach. 100

TIT.'T is sure enough, an you knew how.

But if you hunt these bear-whelps, then beware:

The dam will wake; and if she wind you once,

She's with the lion deeply still in league,

And lulls him whilst she playeth on her back,

And when he sleeps will she do what she list.

You are a young huntsman, Marcus; let alone;

And, come, I will go get a leaf of brass,

And with a gad of steel will write these words,109

And lay it by: the angry northern wind 110

Will blow these sands, like Sibyl's leaves, abroad,

And where's your lesson then? Boy, what say you?

BOY. I say, my lord, that if I were a man,

Their mother's bed-chamber should not be safe

For these bad bondmen to the yoke of Rome.115

MARC. Ay, that's my boy! thy father hath full oft

For his ungrateful country done the like.

BOY. And, uncle, so will I, an if I live.

TIT. Come, go with me into mine armoury;

Lucius, I'll fit thee, and withal, my boy 120

Shall carry from me to the empress' sons

Presents that I intend to send them both:

Come, come; thou'lt do thy message, wilt thou not?

BOY. Ay, with my dagger in their bosoms, grandsire.

TIT. No, boy, not so; I'll teach thee another course.

Lavinia, come. Marcus, look to my house:

Lucius and I'll go brave it at the court;

Ay, marry, will we, sir; and we'll be waited on.

[ _Exeunt Titus, Lavinia, and young Lucius._

MARC. O heavens, can you hear a good man groan, 130

And not relent, or not compassion him?131

Marcus, attend him in his ecstasy,132

That hath more scars of sorrow in his heart

Than foemen's marks upon his batter'd shield,

But yet so just that he will not revenge.

Revenge, ye heavens, for old Andronicus! [ _Exit._

#### SCENE II. _The Same. A Room in the Palace_.

_Enter_ AARON, CHIRON _and_ DEMETRIUS _at one door; and at another door, young_ LUCIUS, _and an_ Attendant, _with a bundle of weapons and verses writ upon them_

CHI. Demetrius, here's the son of Lucius;

He hath some message to deliver us.

AAR. Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.

BOY. My lords, with all the humbleness I may,

I greet your honours from Andronicus.

[ _Aside_ ] And pray the Roman gods confound you both!

DEM. Gramercy, lovely Lucius: what's the news?

BOY. [ _Aside_ ] That you are both decipher'd, that's the news,

For villains mark'd with rape.—May it please you,

My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me 10

The goodliest weapons of his armoury

To gratify your honourable 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 armed and appointed well:16

And so I leave you both, [ _Aside_ ] like bloody villains.

[ _Exeunt Boy and Attendant_

DEM. What's here? A scroll, and written round about!

Let's see: 20

"Integer vitæ, scelerisque purus,21

Non eget Mauri jaculis, nec arcu."22

CHI. O, 't is a verse in Horace; I know it well:

I read it in the grammar long ago.24

AAR. 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,27

And sends them weapons wrapp'd about with lines,

That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.29

But were our witty empress well afoot, 30

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 advanced to this height?

It did me good, before the palace gate

To brave the tribune in his brother's hearing.

DEM. But me more good, to see so great a lord

Basely insinuate and send us gifts.39

AAR. Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius? 40

Did you not use his daughter very friendly?

DEM. I would we had a thousand Roman dames

At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.43

CHI. A charitable wish and full of love.

AAR. Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.

CHI. And that would she for twenty thousand more.

DEM. Come, let us go, and pray to all the gods

For our beloved mother in her pains.

AAR. [ _Aside_ ] Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.

[ _Trumpets sound within._ 50

DEM. Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?

CHI. Belike, for joy the emperor hath a son.

DEM. Soft! who comes here?

_Enter_ Nurse, _with a blackamoor_ Child

NUR Good morrow, lords:

O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?

AAR. Well, more or less, or ne'er a whit at all,

Here Aaron is; and what with Aaron now?

NUR. O gentle Aaron, we are all undone!

Now help, or woe betide thee evermore!

AAR. Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep! 60

What dost thou wrap and fumble in thine arms?

NURO, that which I would hide from heaven's eye,

Our empress' shame and stately Rome's disgrace!

She is deliver'd, lords, she is deliver'd.

AAR. To whom?

NUR. I mean, she is brought a-bed.

AAR. Well, God give her good rest! What hath he sent her?

NUR. A devil.

AAR. Why, then she is the devil's dam;

A joyful issue. 70

NUR. A joyless, dismal, black and sorrowful issue:

Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad

Amongst the fairest breeders of our clime:73

The empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,

And bids thee christen it with thy dagger's point.

AAR. 'Zounds, ye whore! is black so base a hue?

Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous blossom, sure.77

DEM. Villain, what hast thou done?

AAR.That which thou canst not undo.

CHI. Thou hast undone our mother. 80

AAR. Villain, I have done thy mother.

DEM. And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her.

Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed choice!

Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!

CHI. It shall not live.

AAR. It shall not die.

NUR Aaron, it must; the mother wills it so.

AAR. What, must it, nurse? then let no man but I

Do execution on my flesh and blood.

DEM. I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point:90

Nurse, give it me; my sword shall soon dispatch it.

AAR. Sooner this sword shall plough thy bowels up.

[ _Takes the Child from the Nurse, and draws._

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

Titus Andronicus

That touches this my first-born son and heir!

I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus,99

With all his threatening band of Typhon's brood, 100

Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war,101

Shall seize this prey out of his father's hands.

What, what, ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys! 103

Ye white-limed walls! ye alehouse painted signs!104

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 110

To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.

DEM. Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?

AAR. My mistress is my mistress, this myself,

The vigour 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.

DEM. By this our mother is for ever shamed.

CHI. Rome will despise her for this foul escape. 119

NUR The emperor in his rage will doom her death. 120

CHI. I blush to think upon this ignomy.121

AAR. Why, there's the privilege your beauty bears:

Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing

The close enacts and counsels of the heart!124

Here's a young lad framed of another leer:125

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 imprison'd were 130

He is enfranchised and come to light:

Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,

Although my seal be stamped in his face.

NUR Aaron, what shall I say unto the empress?

DEM. 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.

AAR. Then sit we down, and let us all consult.

My son and I will have the wind of you:139

Keep there: now talk at pleasure of your safety. 140

[ _They sit._

DEM. How many women saw this child of his?

AAR. Why, so, brave lords! when we join in league,

I am a lamb: but if you brave the Moor,

The chafed boar, the mountain lioness,

The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.

But say, again, how many saw the child?

NUR Cornelia the midwife and myself;

And no one else but the deliver'd empress.

AAR. The empress, the midwife, and yourself: 150

Two may keep counsel when the third's away:151

Go to the empress, tell her this I said.

[ _He kills the Nurse._

Weke, weke!

So cries a pig prepared to the spit.

DEM. What mean'st thou, Aaron? wherefore didst thou this?

AAR.O Lord, sir, 't is 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. 160

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,164

And tell them both the circumstance of all;

And how by this their child shall be advanced,

And be received 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. 170

Hark ye, lords; you see I have given her physic,

[ _Pointing to the Nurse._

And you must needs bestow her funeral;

The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms:174

This done, see that you take no longer days,175

But send the midwife presently to me.

The midwife and the nurse well made away,

Then let the ladies tattle what they please.

CHI. Aaron; I see thou wilt not trust the air

With secrets. 180

DEM. For this care of Tamora,

Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.

[ _Exeunt Dem. and Chi. bearing off the Nurse's body._

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.

Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence;

For it is you that puts us to our shifts:188

I'll make you feed on berries and on roots,

And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat, 190

And cabin in a cave, and bring you up

To be a warrior and command a camp. [ _Exit._

#### SCENE III. _The Same A Public Place_.

_Enter_ TITUS _bearing arrows with letters at the ends of them; with him,_ MARCUS _young_ LUCIUS _and other_ Gentlemen (PUBLIUS, SEMPRONIUS, _and_ CAIUS),. _with bows_

TIT. Come, Marcus, come; kinsmen, this is the way.

Sir boy, let me see your archery;

Look ye draw home enough, and 't is there straight.3

Terras Astræa reliquit:4

Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled.

Sirs, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shall

Go sound the ocean, and cast your nets;

Happily you may catch her in the sea;8

Yet there's as little justice as at land:

No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it; 10

'T is you must dig with mattock and with spade,

And pierce the inmost centre of the earth:

Then, when you come to Pluto's region,

I pray you, deliver him this petition;

Tell him, it is for justice and for aid,

And that it comes from old Andronicus,

Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome.

Ah, Rome! Well, well; I made thee miserable

What time I threw the people's suffrages

On him that thus doth tyrannize o'er me. 20

Go get you gone; and pray be careful all,

And leave you not a man-of-war unsearch'd:

This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her hence;

And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice.24

MARC. O Publius, is not this a heavy case,

To see thy noble uncle thus distract?

PUB. Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns

By day and night to attend him carefully,

And feed his humour kindly as we may,

Till time beget some careful remedy. 30

MARC. Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy.

Join with the Goths, and with revengeful war

Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude,33

And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.

TIT. Publius, how now! how now, my masters!

What, have you met with her?

PUB. No, my good lord; but Pluto sends you word,

If you will have Revenge from Hell, you shall:

Marry, for Justice, she is so employ'd,

He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else, 40

So that perforce you must needs stay a time.

TIT. He doth me wrong to feed me with delays.

I'll dive into the burning lake below,

And pull her out of Acheron by the heels.44

Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we,

No big-boned men framed of the Cyclops' size;

But metal, Marcus, steel to the very back,

Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear:

And sith there's no justice in earth nor hell,

We will solicit heaven, and move the gods 50

To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs.

Come, to this gear. You are a good archer, Marcus;52

[ _He gives them the arrows._

"Ad Jovem," that's for you: here, "Ad Apollinem:"

"Ad Martem," that's for myself:

Here, boy, to Pallas: here, to Mercury:

To Saturn, Caius, not to Saturnine;

You were as good to shoot against the wind.

To it, boy! Marcus, loose when I bid.

Of my word, I have written to effect; 60

There's not a god left unsolicited.

MARC. Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court:

We will afflict the emperor in his pride.

TIT. Now, masters, draw. [ _They shoot._ ] O, well said, Lucius! 64

Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas.65

MARC. My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon;66

Your letter is with Jupiter by this.

TIT. Ha, ha!

Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?

See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns. 70

MARC. his was the sport, my lord: when Publius shot,

The Bull, being gall'd, gave Aries such a knock

That down fell both the Ram's horns in the court;

And who should find them but the empress' villain?

She laugh'd, and told the Moor he should not choose

But give them to his master for a present.

TIT. Why, there it goes: God give his lordship joy!

_Enter a_ Clown, _with a basket, and two pigeons in it_

News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post is come.

Sirrah, what tidings? have you any letters?

Shall I have justice? what says Jupiter? 80

CLO. O, the gibbet-maker! he says that he hath taken them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the next week.

TIT. But what says Jupiter, I ask thee?

CLO. Alas, sir, I know not Jupiter; I never drank with him in all my life.

TIT. Why, villain, art not thou the carrier?

CLO. Ay, of my pigeons, sir; nothing else.

TIT. Why, didst thou not come from heaven?

CLO. From heaven! alas, sir, I never came there: God forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young days. Why, I 90 am going with my pigeons to the tribunal plebs, to take up a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and one of the emperial's men.91

MARC. Why, sir, that is as fit as can be to serve for your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to the emperor from you.

TIT. Tell me, can you deliver an oration to the emperor with a grace?

CLO. Nay, truly, sir, I could never say grace in all my life.

TIT. Sirrah, come hither: make no more ado,

But give your pigeons to the emperor:

By me thou shalt have justice at his hands. 100

Hold, hold; meanwhile here's money for thy charges.

Give me pen and ink.

Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication?

CLO. Ay, sir.

TIT. Then here is a supplication for you. And when you come to him, at the first approach you must kneel; then kiss his foot;

then deliver up your pigeons; and then look for your reward. I'll be at hand, sir; see you do it bravely.

CLO. I warrant you, sir, let me alone.

TIT. Sirrah, hast thou a knife? come, let me see it. 110

Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration;

For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant:

And when thou hast given it to the emperor,

Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.

CLO. God be with you, sir; I will. [ _Exit._

TIT. Come, Marcus, let us go. Publius, follow me.

[ _Exeunt._

#### SCENE IV. _The Same. Before the Palace_.

_Enter_ SATURNINUS,.TAMORN, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, _and others;_ SATURNINUS _with the Arrows in his hand that_ TITUS _shot_

SAT. Why, lords, what wrongs are these! was ever seen

An emperor in Rome thus overborne,

Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent3

Of egal justice used in such contempt?4

My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,

However these disturbers of our peace

Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd

But even with law against the wilful sons8

Of old Andronicus. And what an if

His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits, 10

Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,11

His fits, his frenzy and his bitterness?

And now he writes to heaven for his redress:

See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;

This to Apollo; this to the god of war:

Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!

What's this but libelling against the senate,

And blazoning our unjustice every where?

A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?

As who would say, in Rome no justice were. 20

But if I live, his feigned ecstasies21

Shall be no shelter to these outrages:

But he and his shall know that justice lives

In Saturninus' health; whom, if he sleep,

He'll so awake, as he in fury shall

Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.

TAM. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,

Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,

Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,

The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons, 30

Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarr'd his heart;

And rather comfort his distressed plight

Than prosecute the meanest or the best

For these contempts. [ _Aside_ ] Why, thus it shall become

High-witted Tamora to gloze with all:35

But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,

Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,37

Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.

_Enter_ Clown

How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us?

CLO. Yea, forsooth, an your mistership be emperial. 40

TAM. Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.

CLO.'T is he. God and Saint Stephen give you god-den:

I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.

[ _Saturninus reads the letter._

SAT. Go, take him away, and hang him presently.

CLO. How much money must I have?

TAM. Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.

CLO. Hanged! by 'r lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end.

[ _Exit, guarded._

SAT. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! 50

Shall I endure this monstrous villany?

I know from whence this same device proceeds:

May this be borne? As if his traitorous sons,

That died by law for murder of our brother,

Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully!

Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;

Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege:

For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughter-man;

Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great,

In hope thyself should govern Rome and me. 60

_Enter_ ÆMILIUS

What news with thee, Æmilius?

ÆMIL. Arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause.63

The Goths have gather'd head, and with a power

Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil,

They hither march amain, under conduct

Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus;

Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do

As much as ever Coriolanus did.

SAT. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?

These tidings nip me, and I hang the head 70

As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms:

Ay, now begin our sorrows to approach:

'T is he the common people love so much;

Myself hath often heard them say,

When I have walked like a private man,

That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,

And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor.

TAM. Why should you fear? is not your city strong?

SAT. Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,

And will revolt from me to succour him. 80

TAM. King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name.

Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it?

The eagle suffers little birds to sing,

And is not careful what they mean thereby,

Knowing that with the shadow of his wings

He can at pleasure stint their melody:86

Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome.

Then cheer thy spirit: for know, thou emperor,

I will enchant the old Andronicus

With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, 90

Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep; 91

Whenas the one is wounded with the bait,

The other rotted with delicious feed.

SAT. But he will not entreat his son for us.

TAM. If Tamora entreat him, then he will:

For I can smooth, and fill his aged ears96

With golden promises; that, were his heart

Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,

Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.

[ _To Æmilius_ ] Go thou before, be our ambassador: 100

Say that the emperor requests a parley

Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting

Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.

SAT. Æmilius, do this message honourably:

And if he stand on hostage for his safety,

Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

ÆMIL. Your bidding shall I do effectually. [ _Exit._

TAM. Now will I to that old Andronicus,

And temper him with all the art I have,

To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. 110

And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,

And bury all thy fear in my devices.

SAT. Then go successantly, and plead to him.113

[ _Exeunt._

* * *

12 _Cornelia_ ] The courageous mother of the Gracchi.

14 _Tully's Orator_ ] One of Cicero's two treatises on oratory was called _Orator._ The second more famous treatise was called _De Oratore._

24 _fury_ ] fury of madness.

42 _tosseth_ ] turns over (the leaves of).

43 _Ovid's Metamorphoses_ ] the most popular of Ovid's works.

50–51 _This is_... _rape_ ] See note on II, iii, 43.

52 _annoy_ ] suffering.

53 _quotes_ ] observes, marks.

72 _This sandy_... _plain_ ] This sandy plot of earth is level.

84 _Stuprum_ ] Latin for "violation."

94 _Roman Hector's hope_ ] The Trojan Hector's son was Astyanax.

95 _fere_ ] companion; here "husband."

98 _by good advice_ ] deliberately.

109 _gad_ ] piercing instrument, sharp point.

115 _bondmen to the yoke of Rome_ ] Rome's prisoners of war, and thus of the status of slaves.

131 _compassion_ ] pity.

132 _ecstasy_ ] fit of madness, frenzy.

16 _appointed_ ] equipped.

21–22 "Integer ... nec arcu"] the first two lines of Horace's well-known ode, Bk. I, no. xxii. "The man of spotless life and free from guilt needs no Moorish javelins or bow" (to protect him).

24 _the grammar_ ] Lily's Grammar, a book in common use in Elizabethan grammar schools.

27 _Here's no sound jest_ ] This is no safe jest. This is a perilous jest.

29 _beyond their feeling_ ] without their perceiving it.

30 _witty_ ] clever. _well afoot_ ] well recovered from childbed.

39 _Basely insinuate_ ] Ingratiate himself with us in undignified fashion.

43 _At such a bay_ ] At such an extremity, within our power.

73 _breeders_ ] women (who bear children).

77 _blowse_ ] blowsy, red-faced wench.

90 _broach_ ] spit.

99–101 _Enceladus_... _Typhon_... _Alcides_ ] giants of classical mythology who warred against the gods.

103 _sanguine_ ] red-complexioned.

104 _white-limed_ ] whitewashed.

119 _foul escape_ ] escapade, transgression.

121 _ignomy_ ] a common contraction of "ignominy."

124 _enacts_ ] enactments, resolutions.

125 _leer_ ] complexion.

139 _have the wind of you_ ] keep the advantage of you; an archer's expression when contriving to shoot with the wind at his back, and in his opponent's face.

151 _Two... away_ ] a common proverb.

164 _Go pack_ ] Go and plot, contrive.

174 _gallant grooms_ ] strong fellows.

175 _take no longer days_ ] take as short a time as possible.

188 _puts us to our shifts_ ] drives us to cunning schemes.

3 _draw home_ ] shoot with force.

4 _Terras Astræa reliquit_ ] From Ovid, _Metamorphoses,_ I, 149, 150: "Victa iacet pietas, et uirgo cæde madentes Ultima cælestum _terras Astræa reliquit_ " ("Goodness lies conquered, and the virgin Astræa, last of the immortals, has left the slaughter-stained earth"). Astræa was the goddess of justice.

8 _Happily_ ] Haply, perhaps.

24 _go pipe_ ] go whistle.

30 _careful_ ] possibly "provident," "efficient."

33 _wreak_ ] vengeance.

44 _Acheron_ ] properly a river of Hades.

52 _this gear_ ] the business.

64 _well said_ ] well done; a common usage.

65 _in Virgo's lap_ ] as far as the constellation Virgo.

66 _a mile beyond the moon_ ] out of reach or range.

91 _tribunal plebs_ ] an ignorant mispronunciation of "tribunus plebis." _take up_ ] make up, settle.

3–4 _for the extent Of egal justice_ ] in consequence of the impartial administration of justice.

8 _even with_ ] in agreement with.

11 _wreaks_ ] efforts at vengeance.

21 _ecstasies_ ] fits of frenzy.

35 _gloze with_ ] wheedle, cajole.

37 _Thy life-blood out_ ] So that thy life-blood is drawn

63 _gather'd head_ ] collected an army.

86 _stint_ ] stop.

91 _honey-stalks_ ] sweet-clover flower, which eaten to excess kills cattle.

96 _smooth_ ] wheedle, cajole.

113 _successantly_ ] a word unknown elsewhere. It may be an error for _successfully,_ or may be formed from an invented present participle meaning "following after."

### ACT V.

#### SCENE I. _Plains near Rome_.

_Flourish. Enter_ LUCIUS _and_ Goths, _with drum and colours_

LUCIUS. Approved warriors, and my faithful friends,

I have received letters from great Rome,

Which signify what hate they bear their emperor,

And how desirous of our sight they are.

Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,

Imperious, and impatient of your wrongs;

And wherein Rome hath done you any scath,7

Let him make treble satisfaction.

FIRST GOTH. Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus,

Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort; 10

Whose high exploits and honourable deeds

Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,

Be bold in us: we'll follow where thou lead'st,13

Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day,

Led by their master to the flowered fields,

And be avenged on cursed Tamora.

ALL THE GOTHS And as he saith, so say we all with him.

LUCI humbly thank him, and I thank you all.

But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth?

_Enter a_ Goth, _leading_ AARON _with his Child in his arms_

SEC GOTHS. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd 20

To gaze upon a ruinous monastery;21

And, as I earnestly did fix mine eye

Upon the wasted building, suddenly

I heard a child cry underneath a wall.

I made unto the noise; when soon I heard

The crying babe controll'd with this discourse:

"Peace, tawny slave, half me and half thy dam!

Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art,

Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look,

Villain, thou mightst have been an emperor: 30

But where the bull and cow are both milk-white,

They never do beget a coal-black calf.

Peace, villain, peace!"—even thus he rates the babe—33

"For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth;

Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe,

Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake."

With this, my weapon drawn, I rush'd upon him,

Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither,

To use as you think needful of the man.

LUC. O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil 40

That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand;

This is the pearl that pleased your empress' eye;42

And here's the base fruit of his burning lust.

Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey 44

This growing image of thy fiend-like face?

Why dost not speak? what, deaf? not a word?

A halter, soldiers! hang him on this tree,

And by his side his fruit of bastardy.

AAR. Touch not the boy; he is of royal blood.

LUC. Too like the sire for ever being good. 50

First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl;

A sight to vex the father's soul withal.

Get me a ladder.

[ _A ladder brought, which Aaron is made to ascend._

AAR. Lucius, save the child,

And bear it from me to the empress.

If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things,

That highly may advantage thee to hear:

If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,

I'll speak no more but "Vengeance rot you all!" 60

LUC. Say on: an if it please me which thou speak'st,

Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourish'd.

AAR. An if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius,

'T will vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak;

For I must talk of murders, rapes and massacres,

Acts of black night, abominable deeds,

Complots of mischief, treason, villanies

Ruthful to hear, yet piteously perform'd: 68

And this shall all be buried in my death,

Unless thou swear to me my child shall live. 70

LUC. Tell on thy mind; I say thy child shall live.

AAR. Swear that he shall, and then I will begin.

LUC. Who should I swear by? thou believest no god:

That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?

AAR. What if I do not? as, indeed, I do not;

Yet, for I know thou art religious,

And hast a thing within thee called conscience,

With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies,

Which I have seen thee careful to observe,

Therefore I urge thy oath; for that I know 80

An idiot holds his bauble for a god,81

And keeps the oath which by that god he swears,

To that I'll urge him: therefore thou shalt vow

By that same god, what god soe'er it be,

That thou adorest and hast in reverence,

To save my boy, to nourish and bring him up;

Or else I will discover nought to thee.

LUC. Even by my god I swear to thee I will.

AAR. First know thou, I begot him on the empress.

LUC. O most insatiate, and luxurious woman!90

AAR. Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity

To that which thou shalt hear of me anon.

'T was her two sons that murder'd Bassianus;

They cut thy sister's tongue, and ravish'd her,

And cut her hands, and trimm'd her as thou saw'st.

LUC. O detestable villain! call'st thou that trimming?

AAR. Why, she was wash'd and cut and trimm'd, and 't was

Trim sport for them that had the doing of it.

LUC. O barbarous, beastly villains, like thyself!

AAR. Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them: 100

That codding spirit had they from their mother,101

As sure a card as ever won the set;

That bloody mind, I think, they learn'd of me,

As true a dog as ever fought at head.104

Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth.

I train'd thy brethren to that guileful hole,106

Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay:

I wrote the letter that thy father found,

And hid the gold within the letter mention'd,

Confederate with the queen and her two sons: 110

And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue,

Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it?

I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand;

And, when I had it, drew myself apart,

And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter:

I pried me through the crevice of a wall

When for his hand he had his two sons' heads;

Beheld his tears and laugh'd so heartily,

That both mine eyes were rainy like to his:

And when I told the empress of this sport, 120

She swounded almost at my pleasing tale,121

And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses.

FIRST GOTH. What, canst thou say all this, and never blush?

AAR. Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.124

LUC. Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds?

AAR. Ay, that I had not done a thousand more.

Even now I curse the day—and yet, I think,

Few come within the compass of my curse—

Wherein I did not some notorious ill:

As kill a man, or else devise his death; 130

Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it;

Accuse some innocent, and forswear myself;

Set deadly enmity between two friends;

Make poor men's cattle break their necks;

Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night,

And bid the owners quench them with their tears.

Oft have I digg'd up dead men from their graves,

And set them upright at their dear friends' doors,

Even when their sorrows almost were forgot;

And on their skins, as on the bark of trees, 140

Have with my knife carved in Roman letters

"Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead."

Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things

As willingly as one would kill a fly;

And nothing grieves me heartily indeed,

But that I cannot do ten thousand more.

LUC. Bring down the devil; for he must not die147

So sweet a death as hanging presently.

AAR. If there be devils, would I were a devil,

To live and burn in everlasting fire, 150

So I might have your company in hell,

But to torment you with my bitter tongue!

LUC. Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more.

_Enter a_ Goth

THIRD GOTH. My lord, there is a messenger from Rome Desires to be admitted to your presence.

LUC. Let him come near.

_Enter_ ÆMIL

Welcome, Æmilius: what's the news from Rome?

ÆMIL. Lord Lucius, and you princes of the Goths,

The Roman emperor greets you all by me;

And, for he understands you are in arms, 160

He craves a parley at your father's house,

Willing you to demand your hostages,

And they shall be immediately deliver'd.

FIRST GOTH. What says our general?

LUC. Æmilius, let the emperor give his pledges

Unto my father and my uncle Marcus,

And we will come. March away. [ _Flourish. Exeunt._

#### SCENE II. _Rome. Before Titus's House_.

_Enter_ TAMORN, DEMETRIUS, _and_ CHIRON, _disguised_

TAM. Thus, in this strange and sad habiliment,

I will encounter with Andronicus,

And say I am Revenge, sent from below

To join with him and right his heinous wrongs.

Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps,

To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge;5

Tell him Revenge is come to join with him,

And work confusion on his enemies. [ _Knock._

_Enter_ TITUS, _above_

TIT. Who doth molest my contemplation?

Is it your trick to make me ope the door, 10

That so my sad decrees may fly away,11

And all my study be to no effect?

You are deceived: for what I mean to do

See here in bloody lines I have set down;

And what is written shall be executed.

TAM. Titus, I am come to talk with thee.

TIT. No, not a word: how can I grace my talk,

Wanting a hand to give it action?

Thou hast the odds of me; therefore no more.

TAM. If thou didst know me, thou wouldst talk with me. 20

TIT. I am not mad; I know thee well enough:

Witness this wretched stump, witness these crimson lines;

Witness these trenches made by grief and care;

Witness the tiring day and heavy night;

Witness all sorrow, that I know thee well

For our proud empress, mighty Tamora:

Is not thy coming for my other hand?

TAM. Know, thou sad man, I am not Tamora;

She is thy enemy, and I thy friend:

I am Revenge; sent from the infernal kingdom, 30

To ease the gnawing vulture of thy mind,

By working wreakful vengeance on thy foes.32

Come down and welcome me to this world's light;

Confer with me of murder and of death:

There's not a hollow cave or lurking-place,

No vast obscurity or misty vale,

Where bloody murder or detested rape

Can couch for fear, but I will find them out,

And in their ears tell them my dreadful name,

Revenge, which makes the foul offender quake. 40

TIT. Art thou Revenge? and art thou sent to me,

To be a torment to mine enemies?

TAM. I am; therefore come down and welcome me.

TIT. Do me some service ere I come to thee.

Lo, by thy side where Rape and Murder stands;

Now give some surance that thou art Revenge,

Stab them, or tear them on thy chariot-wheels;

And then I'll come and be thy waggoner,

And whirl along with thee about the globes.

Provide thee two proper palfreys, black as jet, 50

To hale thy vengeful waggon swift away,

And find out murderers in their guilty caves:

And when thy car is loaden with their heads,

I will dismount, and by the waggon-wheel

Trot like a servile footman all day long,

Even from Hyperion's rising in the east56

Until his very downfall in the sea:

And day by day I'll do this heavy task,

So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there.59

TAM. These are my ministers and come with me. 60

TIT. Are these thy ministers? what are they call'd?

TAM. Rapine and Murder; therefore called so,

'Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men.

TIT. Good Lord, how like the empress' sons they are,

And you the empress! but we worldly men

Have miserable, mad, mistaking eyes.

O sweet Revenge, now do I come to thee;

And, if one arm's embracement will content thee,

I will embrace thee in it by and by. [ _Exit above._

TAM. This closing with him fits his lunacy: 70

Whate'er I forge to feed his brain-sick fits,

Do you uphold and maintain in your speeches,

For now he firmly takes me for Revenge;

And, being credulous in this mad thought,

I'll make him send for Lucius his son;

And, whilst I at a banquet hold him sure,

I'll find some cunning practice out of hand,77

To scatter and disperse the giddy Goths,

Or at the least make them his enemies.

See, here he comes, and I must ply my theme. 80

_Enter_ TITUS _below_

TIT. Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee:

Welcome, dread Fury, to my woful house:

Rapine and Murder, you are welcome too:

How like the empress and her sons you are!

Well are you fitted, had you but a Moor:

Could not all hell afford you such a devil?

For well I wot the empress never wags

But in her company there is a Moor;

And, would you represent our queen aright,

It were convenient you had such a devil: 90

But welcome, as you are. What shall we do?

TAM. What wouldst thou have us do, Andronicus?

DEM. Show me a murderer, I'll deal with him.

CHI. Show me a villain that hath done a rape,

And I am sent to be revenged on him.

TAM. Show me a thousand that have done thee wrong,

And I will be revenged on them all.

TIT. Look round about the wicked streets of Rome,

And when thou find'st a man that's like thyself,

Good Murder, stab him; he's a murderer. 100

Go thou with him, and when it is thy hap

To find another that is like to thee,

Good Rapine, stab him; he's a ravisher.

Go thou with them; and in the emperor's court

There is a queen, attended by a Moor;

Well mayst thou know her by thine own proportion,

For up and down she doth resemble thee:107

I pray thee, do on them some violent death;

They have been violent to me and mine.

TAM. Well hast thou lesson'd us; this shall we do.

But would it please thee, good Andronicus,

To send for Lucius, thy thrice valiant son,

Who leads towards Rome a band of warlike Goths,

And bid him come and banquet at thy house;

When he is here, even at thy solemn feast,

I will bring in the empress and her sons,

The emperor himself, and all thy foes;

And at thy mercy shall they stoop and kneel,

And on them shalt thou ease thy angry heart.

What says Andronicus to this device? 120

TIT. Marcus, my brother! 't is sad Titus calls.

_Enter_ MARCUS

Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius;

Thou shalt inquire him out among the Goths:

Bid him repair to me and bring with him

Some of the chiefest princes of the Goths:

Bid him encamp his soldiers where they are:

Tell him the emperor and the empress too

Feast at my house, and he shall feast with them.

This do thou for my love, and so let him,

As he regards his aged father's life. 130

MARC. This will I do, and soon return again. [ _Exit._

TAM. Now will I hence about thy business,

And take my ministers along with me.

TIT. Nay, nay, let Rape and Murder stay with me;

Or else I'll call my brother back again,

And cleave to no revenge but Lucius.

TIT. _Aside to her sons_ ] What say you, boys? will you bide with him,

Whiles I go tell my lord the emperor

How I have govern'd our determined jest?140

Yield to his humour, smooth and speak him fair, 141

And tarry with him till I turn again.

TIT. [ _Aside_ ] I know them all, though they suppose me mad;

And will o'er-reach them in their own devices:

A pair of cursed hell-hounds and their dam.

DEM. Madam, depart at pleasure; leave us here.

TAM. Farewell, Andronicus: Revenge now goes

To lay a complot to betray thy foes.

TIT. I know thou dost; and, sweet Revenge, farewell.

[ _Exit Tamora._ 150

CHI. Tell us, old man, how shall we be employ'd?

TIT. Tut, I have work enough for you to do.

Publius, come hither, Caius, and Valentine!

_Enter_ PUBLIUS _and others_

PUB. What is your will?

TIT. Know you these two?

PUB. The empress' sons, I take them, Chiron and Demetrius.

TIT. Fie, Publius, fie! thou art too much deceived;

The one is Murder, Rape is the other's name;

And therefore bind them, gentle Publius:

Caius and Valentine, lay hands on them: 160

Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour,

And now I find it; therefore bind them sure;

And stop their mouths, if they begin to cry. [ _Exit._

[ _Publius, &c. lay hold on Chiron and Demetrius._

CHI. Villains, forbear! we are the empress' sons.

PUB. And therefore do we what we are commanded.

Stop close their mouths, let them not speak a word.

Is he sure bound? look that you bind them fast.

_Re-enter_ TITUS, _with_ LAVINIA. _he bearing a knife, and she a basin_

TIT. Come, come, Lavinia; look, thy foes are bound.

Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me; 170

But let them hear what fearful words I utter.

O villains, Chiron and Demetrius!

Here stands the spring whom you have stain'd with mud,

This goodly summer with your winter mix'd.

You kill'd her husband, and for that vile fault

Two of her brothers were condemn'd to death,

My hand cut off and made a merry jest;

Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dear

Than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity,

Inhuman traitors, you constrain'd and forced. 180

What would you say, if I should let you speak?

Villains, for shame you could not beg for grace.

Hark, wretches! how I mean to martyr you.

This one hand yet is left to cut your throats,

Whilst that Lavinia 'tween her stumps doth hold

The basin that receives your guilty blood.

You know your mother means to feast with me,

And calls herself Revenge, and thinks me mad:

Hark, villains! I will grind your bones to dust,

And with your blood and it I'll make a paste; 190

And of the paste a coffin I will rear,191

And make two pasties of your shameful heads;

And bid that strumpet, your unhallow'd dam,

Like to the earth, swallow her own increase.194

This is the feast that I have bid her to,

And this the banquet she shall surfeit on;

For worse than Philomel you used my daughter,197

And worse than Progne I will be revenged:198

And now prepare your throats. Lavinia, come,

[ _He cuts their throats._ 200

Receive the blood: and when that they are dead,

Let me go grind their bones to powder small,

And with this hateful liquor temper it;

And in that paste let their vile heads be baked.

Come, come, be every one officious205

To make this banquet; which I wish may prove

More stern and bloody than the Centaurs' feast.

So, now bring them in, for I'll play the cook,

And see them ready against their mother comes.

[ _Exeunt, bearing the dead bodies._ 210

#### SCENE III. _Court of Titus's House. A Banquet Set Out_.

_Enter_ LUCIUS, MARCUS, _and_ Goths, _with_ AARON, _prisoner_

LUC. Uncle Marcus, since it is my father's mind

That I repair to Rome, I am content.

FIRST GOTH. And ours with thine, befall what fortune will. 3

LUC. Good uncle, take you in this barbarous Moor,

This ravenous tiger, this accursed devil;

Let him receive no sustenance, fetter him,

Till he be brought unto the empress' face,

For testimony of her foul proceedings:

And see the ambush of our friends be strong;

I fear the emperor means no good to us. 10

AAR. Some-devil whisper curses in mine ear,

And prompt me, that my tongue may utter forth

The venomous malice of my swelling heart!

LUC. Away, inhuman dog! unhallow'd slave!

Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in,

[ _Exeunt Goths, with Aaron. Flourish within._

The trumpets show the emperor is at hand.

_Enter_ SATURNINUS. _and_ TAMORN, _with_ ÆMILIUS. Tribunes, Senators, _and others_

SAT. What, hath the firmament moe suns than one?

LUC. What boots it thee to call thyself a sun?

MARC. Rome's emperor, and nephew, break the parle;20

These quarrels must be quietly debated.

The feast is ready, which the careful Titus

Hath ordain'd to an honourable end,

For peace, for love, for league and good to Rome:

Please you, therefore, draw nigh, and take your places.

SAT. Marcus, we will.

[ _Hautboys sound. The Company sit down at table._

_Enter_ TITUS, _like a Cook, placing the meat on the table, and_ LAVINIA _with a veil over her face, young_ LUCIUS, _and others_

TIT. Welcome, my gracious lord; welcome, dread queen;

Welcome, ye warlike Goths; welcome, Lucius; 30

And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor,

'T will fill your stomachs; please you eat of it.

SAT. Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?

TIT. Because I would be sure to have all well,

To entertain your highness and your empress.

TAM. We are beholding to you, good Andronicus.

TIT. An if your highness knew my heart, you were.

My lord the emperor, resolve me this:

Was it well done of rash Virginius

To slay his daughter with his own right hand,

Because she was enforced, stain'd, and deflower'd? 40

SAT. It was, Andronicus.

TIT. Your reason, mighty lord?

SAT. Because the girl should not survive her shame,

And by her presence still renew his sorrows.

TIT. A reason mighty, strong and effectual,

A pattern, precedent, and lively warrant,46

For me, most wretched, to perform the like.

Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee,

And with thy shame thy father's sorrow die!

[ _Kills Lavinia._ 50

SAT. What hast thou done, unnatural and unkind?

TIT. Kill'd her, for whom my tears have made me blind.

I am as woful as Virginius was,

And have a thousand times more cause than he

To do this outrage, and it now is done.

SAT. What, was she ravish'd? tell who did the deed.

TIT. Will't please you eat? will't please your highness feed?

TAM. Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus?

TIT. Not I; 't was Chiron and Demetrius:

They ravish'd her, and cut away her tongue; 60

And they, 't was they, that did her all this wrong.

SAT. Go fetch them hither to us presently.

TIT. Why, there they are both, baked in that pie;

Whereof their mother daintily hath fed,

Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred.

'T is true, 't is true; witness my knife's sharp point.

[ _Kills Tamora._

SAT. Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed!

[ _Kills Titus._

LUC. Can the son's eye behold his father bleed? 70

There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed!

[ _Kills Saturninus. A great tumult. Lucius, Marcus, and others go up into the balcony._

MARC. You sad-faced men, people and sons of Rome,

By uproars sever'd, as a flight of fowl

Scatter'd by winds and high tempestuous gusts,

O, let me teach you how to knit again

This scatter'd corn into one mutual sheaf,78

These broken limbs again into one body;

Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself, 80

And she whom mighty kingdoms court'sy to,

Like a forlorn and desperate castaway,

Do shameful execution on herself.

But if my frosty signs and chaps of age,84

Grave witnesses of true experience,

Cannot induce you to attend my words,—

[ _To Lucius_ ] Speak, Rome's dear friend: as erst our ancestor,87

When with his solemn tongue he did discourse

To love-sick Dido's sad attending ear

The story of that baleful burning night, 90

When subtle Greeks surprised King Priam's Troy;

Tell us what Sinon hath bewitch'd our ears,

Or who hath brought the fatal engine in93

That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound.

My heart is not compact of flint nor steel;

Nor can I utter all our bitter grief,

But floods of tears will drown my oratory,

And break my utterance, even in the time

When it should move you to attend me most,

Lending your kind commiseration. 100

Here is a captain, let him tell the tale;

Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak.

LUC. Then, noble auditory, be it known to you,

That cursed Chiron and Demetrius

Were they that murdered our emperor's brother;

And they it were that ravished our sister:

For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded,

Our father's tears despised, and basely cozen'd

Of that true hand that fought Rome's quarrel out,

And sent her enemies unto the grave. 110

Lastly, myself unkindly banished,

The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out,

To beg relief among Rome's enemies;

Who drown'd their enmity in my true tears,

And oped their arms to embrace me as a friend.

I am the turned forth, be it known to you,116

That have preserved her welfare in my blood,

And from her bosom took the enemy's point,

Sheathing the steel in my adventurous body.

Alas, you know I am no vaunter, I; 120

My scars can witness, dumb although they are,

That my report is just and full of truth.

But, soft! methinks I do digress too much,

Citing my worthless praise: O, pardon me;

For when no friends are by, men praise themselves.

MARC. Now is my turn to speak. Behold the child:

[ _Pointing to the Child in the arms of an Attendant._

Of this was Tamora delivered;

The issue of an irreligious Moor,

Chief architect and plotter of these woes: 130

The villain is alive in Titus' house,

And as he is, to witness this is true.

Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge

These wrongs, unspeakable, past patience,

Or more than any living man could bear.

Now you have heard the truth, what say you,

Romans? Have we done aught amiss, show us wherein,

And, from the place where you behold us now,

The poor remainder of Andronici

Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down, 140

And on the ragged stones beat forth our brains,141

And make a mutual closure of our house.142

Speak, Romans, speak, and if you say we shall,

Lo, hand in hand, Lucius and I will fall.

ÆMIL. Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome,

And bring our emperor gently in thy hand,

Lucius our emperor; for well I know

The common voice do cry it shall be so.

ALL. Lucius, all hail, Rome's royal emperor!

MARC. Go, go into old Titus' sorrowful house, 150

[ _To Attendants._

And hither hale that misbelieving Moor,

To be adjudged some direful slaughtering death,

As punishment for his most wicked life.

[ _Exeunt Attendants._

LUCIUS, MARCUS, _and the others descend_

ALL. Lucius, all hail, Rome's gracious governor!

LUC. Thanks, gentle Romans: may I govern so,

To heal Rome's harms and wipe away her woe!

But, gentle people, give me aim awhile,159

For nature puts me to a heavy task; 160

Stand all aloof; but, uncle, draw you near,

To shed obsequious tears upon this trunk.

O, take this warm kiss on thy pale cold lips,

[ _Kissing Titus._

These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face,

The last true duties of thy noble son!

MARC. Tear for tear and loving kiss for kiss

Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips:

O, were the sum of these that I should pay

Countless and infinite, yet would I pay them! 170

LUC. Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us

To melt in showers: thy grandsire loved thee well:

Many a time he danced thee on his knee,

Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow;

Many a matter hath he told to thee,

Meet and agreeing with thine infancy;

In that respect then, like a loving child,177

Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring,

Because kind nature doth require it so:

Friends should associate friends in grief and woe: 180

Bid him farewell; commit him to the grave;

Do him that kindness, and take leave of him.

BOY, O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart

Would I were dead, so you did live again!

O Lord, I cannot speak to him for weeping;

My tears will choke me, if I ope my mouth.

_Re-enter_ Attendants _with_ AARON

A ROMAN. You sad Andronici, have done with woes:

Give sentence on this execrable wretch,

That hath been breeder of these dire events.

LUC. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him; 190

There let him stand and rave and cry for food:

If any one relieves or pities him,

For the offence he dies.

This is our doom:

Some stay to see him fasten'd in the earth.

AAR. O, why should wrath be mute, and fury dumb?

I am no baby, I, that with base prayers

I should repent the evils I have done:

Ten thousand worse than ever yet I did

Would I perform, if I might have my will:

If one good deed in all my life I did, 200

I do repent it from my very soul

LUC. Some loving friends convey the emperor hence,

And give him burial in his father's grave:

My father and Lavinia shall forthwith

Be closed in our household's monument.

As for that heinous tiger, Tamora,

No funeral rite, nor man in mourning weeds,

No mournful bell shall ring her burial;

But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey:

Her life was beastly and devoid of pity,

And, being so, shall have like want of pity.

See justice done on Aaron, that damn'd Moor,

By whom our heavy haps had their beginning:

Then, afterwards, to order well the state,214

That like events may ne'er it ruinate.215

[ _Exeunt._

* * *

7 _scath_ ] injury.

13 _Be bold in us_ ] Have confidence in us.

21 _ruinous monastery_ ] These words, like "popish tricks," are curious anachronisms, considering the historical date of the play's action.

33 _villain_ ] a term of endearment.

42 _This is the pearl_... _eye_ ] a proverbial phrase.

44 _wall-eyed_ ] fierce-eyed.

68 _piteously perform'd_ ] done so as to excite pity.

81 _bauble_ ] the toy-stick surmounted by a doll's head, ordinarily carried by the professional fool.

90 _luxurious_ ] lustful.

101 _codding_ ] lecherous.

104 _a dog_... _head_ ] a mastiff or bull-dog, which when fighting a bull or bear was wont to rush at its head and seize its nose.

106 _train'd_ ] drew, enticed.

121 _swounded_ ] an old form of "swooned."

124 _Ay, like a black dog_... _is_ ] To blush like a black dog is an old proverb, meaning that one has a brazen face, one cannot blush at all.

147 _Bring down the devil_ ] Bring Aaron down from the ladder _._

5 _keeps_ ] resides.

11 _decrees_ ] resolution.

32 _wreakful_ ] vengeful.

56 _Hyperion's_ ] Hyperion here, as elsewhere in Shakespeare, is loosely used as the sun-god.

59 _Rapine_ ] here used for "rape" _._

70 _closing with_ ] coming to terms with, humouring.

77 _practice out of hand_ ] stratagem at once.

107 _up and down_ ] altogether.

140 _govern'd_ ] managed.

141 _smooth_ ] flatter, cajole.

191 a _coffin_ ] a term technically applied in culinary matters to the raised crust of a pie.

194 _increase_ ] offspring.

197–198 _Philomel_... _Progne_ ] For the story, see II, iii, 43.

205 _officious_ ] helpful.

3 _ours with thine_ ] our mind agrees with thine.

20 _break the parle_ ] begin the parley (of peace).

46 _lively warrant_ ] warrant from real life.

78 _mutual_ ] common.

84 _chaps_ ] furrows.

87 _our ancestor_ ] Æneas.

93 _the fatal engine_ ] the Trojan horse.

116 _the turned forth_ ] the castaway.

141 _ragged_ ] rough, rugged.

142 _closure_ ] ending.

159 _give me aim_ ] give me scope or guidance, show me consideration.

177 _In that respect_ ] On that account.

214 _Then_... _state_ ] Then will we apply ourselves to set the state in order.

215 _ruinate_ ] ruin.
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