Act II, Scene I — Rome. Before the palace.
Enter AARON.[4089]
Aar. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, Safe out of fortune's shot, and sits aloft, Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash, Advanced above pale envy's threatening reach.[4090] As when the golden sun salutes the morn, 5 And, having gilt the ocean with his beams, Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach, And overlooks the highest-peering hills;[4091] So Tamora:[4092] Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,[4093] 10 And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown. Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,[4094] To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,[4095] And mount her pitch, whom thou in triumph long Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains, 15 And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.[4096] Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts![4097] I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold, To wait upon this new-made empress.[4098] 20 To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,[4099] This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,[4100] This siren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine, And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's. Holloa! what storm is this? 25
Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, braving.[4101]
Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,[4102] And manners, to intrude where I am graced, And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.[4103]
Chi. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all, And so in this, to bear me down with braves. 30 'Tis not the difference of a year or two Makes me less gracious, or thee more fortunate:[4104] 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, 35 And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.[4105]
Aar. [Aside] Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep the peace.[4106][4107]
Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised, Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side,[4108] Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends?[4109] 40 Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath 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![4110] 45 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:[4111] I would not for a million of gold The cause were known to them it most concerns; 50 Nor would your noble mother for much more Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.[4112] For shame, put up.
Dem. Not I, till I have sheathed[4113] My rapier in his bosom, and withal Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat[4114] 55 That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.
Chi. For that I am prepared and full resolved.[4115] Foul-spoken coward! that thunder'st with thy tongue[4116] And with thy weapon nothing darest perform.[4117]
Aar. Away, I say![4106] 60 Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore,[4118] This petty brabble will undo us all.[4119] Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous[4120] It is to jet upon a prince's right?[4121] What, is Lavinia then become so loose, 65 Or Bassianus so degenerate, That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd Without controlment, justice, or revenge?[4122] Young lords, beware! an should the empress know[4123] This discord's ground, the music would not please.[4124] 70
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:[4125] Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.
Aar. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome[4106][4126] 75 How furious and impatient they be, And cannot brook competitors in love? I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths By this device.[4127]
Chi. Aaron, a thousand deaths[4128] Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.[4128][4129] 80
Aar. To achieve her! how?
Dem. Why makest thou it so strange?[4130] 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 85 Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know: Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother, Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge.[4131]
Aar. [Aside] Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.[4106][4132] 90
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,[4133] And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose?
Aar. Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch or so[4106] 95 Would serve your turns.
Chi. Ay, so the turn were served.
Dem. Aaron, thou hast hit it.
Aar. Would you had hit it too![4106] 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, then,[4134] 100 That both should speed?[4135]
Chi. Faith, not me.
Dem. Nor me, so I were one.[4136]
Aar. For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar: 'Tis policy and stratagem must do That you affect; and so must you resolve, 105 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.[4137] A speedier course than lingering languishment[4138] 110 Must we pursue, and I have found the path.[4139] My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand; There will the lovely Roman ladies troop: The forest walks are wide and spacious; And many unfrequented plots there are 115 Fitted by kind for rape and villany: Single you thither then this dainty doe, And strike her home by force, if not by words: This way, or not at all, stand you in hope. Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit[4140] 120 To villany and vengeance consecrate, Will we acquaint with all that we intend;[4141] And she shall file our engines with advice,[4142] That will not suffer you to square yourselves, But to your wishes' height advance you both. 125 The emperor's court is like the house of Fame, The palace full of tongues, of eyes and ears:[4143] The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf and dull;[4144] There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your turns; There serve your lust, shadow'd from heaven's eye,[4145] 130 And revel in Lavinia's treasury.
Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice.
Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream[4146] To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits,[4147] Per Styga, per manes vehor. [Exeunt.[4148] 135
Act II, Scene II — A forest near Rome. Horns and cry of hounds heard.
Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c., MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.[4149]
Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,[4150] The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green:[4151] Uncouple here, and let us make a bay, And wake the emperor and his lovely bride, And rouse the prince, and ring a hunter's peal,[4152] 5 That all the court may echo with the noise.[4153] Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,[4154] To attend the emperor's person carefully.[4155] 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, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, and their Attendants.[4156]
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;[4157] Somewhat too early for new-married ladies. 15
Bas. Lavinia, how say you?
Lav. I say, no;[4158][4159] I have been broad awake two hours and more.[4159][4160]
Sat. Come on then; horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport. [To Tamora] Madam, now shall ye see[4161] Our Roman hunting.
Marc. I have dogs, my lord, 20 Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase, And climb the highest promontory top.[4162]
Tit. And I have horse will follow where the game Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.[4163]
Dem. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,[4164] 25 But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. [Exeunt.[4164]
Act II, Scene III — A lonely part of the forest.
Enter AARON, with a bag of gold.[4165]
Aar. He that had wit would think that I had none,[4166] To bury so much gold under a tree, And never after to inherit it. Let him that thinks of me so abjectly Know that this gold must coin a stratagem, 5 Which, cunningly effected, will beget[4167] A very excellent piece of villany: And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest [Hides the gold.[4168] That have their alms out of the empress' chest.
Enter TAMORA.[4169]
Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad,[4170] 10 When every thing doth make a gleeful boast? The birds chant melody on every bush; The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun;[4171] The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind, And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground: 15 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,[4172] Let us sit down and mark their yellowing noise;[4173] 20 And, after conflict such as was supposed The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd,[4174] When with a happy storm they were surprised, And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave, We may, each wreathed in the other's arms, 25 Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber; Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds[4175] Be unto us as is a nurse's song Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.
Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your desires,[4176] 30 Saturn is dominator over mine: What signifies my deadly-standing eye,[4177] My silence and my cloudy melancholy, My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls Even as an adder when she doth unroll 35 To do some fatal execution?[4178] No, madam, these are no venereal signs: 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,[4179] Thy sons make pillage of her chastity, And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood. 45 Seest thou this letter? take it up, I pray thee,[4180] And give the king this fatal-plotted scroll.[4181] Now question me no more; we are espied; Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty, Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction.[4182] 50
Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life![4183]
Aar. No more, great empress; Bassianus comes:[4166] Be cross with him, and I'll go fetch thy sons To back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be. [Exit.
Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA.[4184]
Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal empress,[4185][4186] 55 Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?[4187] 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![4188] 60 Had I the power that some say Dian had, Thy temples should be planted presently[4189] With horns, as was Actæon's, and the hounds[4190] Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs,[4191] Unmannerly intruder as thou art! 65
Lav. Under your patience, gentle empress,[4186] 'Tis 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 'Tis pity they should take him for a stag.
Bas. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian[4192] Doth make your honour of his body's hue, Spotted, detested, and abominable. Why are you sequester'd from all your train, 75 Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed, And wander'd hither to an obscure plot, Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor,[4193] If foul desire had not conducted you?
Lav. And, being intercepted in your sport,[4194] 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;[4195] This valley fits the purpose passing well.
Bas. The king my brother shall have note of this.[4196] 85
Lav. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long:[4197] Good king, to be so mightily abused!
Tam. Why have I patience to endure all this?[4198]
Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON.
Dem. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother![4199] Why doth your highness look so pale and wan?[4200] 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;[4201] The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe:[4202] 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, Would make such fearful and confused cries, As any mortal body hearing it[4203] Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. No sooner had they told this hellish tale, 105 But straight they told me they would bind me here Unto the body of a dismal yew,[4204] And leave me to this miserable death: And then they call'd me foul adulteress, Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms 110 That ever ear did hear to such effect:[4205] 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.[4206] 115
Dem. This is a witness that I am thy son. [Stabs Bassianus.[4207]
Chi. And this for me, struck home to show my strength.[4208]
[Also stabs Bassianus, who dies.
Lav. Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora,[4209] For no name fits thy nature but thy own!
Tam. Give me the poniard; you shall know, my boys,[4210] 120 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, 125 And with that painted hope braves your mightiness:[4211][4212] And shall she carry this unto her grave?[4212][4213]
Chi. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch.[4214] Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.[4215] 130
Tam. But when ye have the honey ye desire,[4216] Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.[4217]
Chi. I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.[4218] Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy That nice-preserved honesty of yours.[4219] 135
Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face--[4220]
Tam. I will not hear her speak; away with her!
Lav. Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word.
Dem. Listen, fair madam: let it be your glory To see her tears, but be your heart to them 140 As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.[4221]
Lav. When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam?[4222] O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee;[4223] The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble;[4224] Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.[4225] 145 Yet every mother breeds not sons alike: [To Chiron] Do thou entreat her show a woman pity.[4226]
Chi. What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?[4227]
Lav. 'Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark:[4227][4228] Yet have I heard,--O, could I find it now!-- 150 The lion, moved with pity, did endure To have his princely paws pared all away:[4229] 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, 155 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, That gave thee life, when well he might have slain thee, Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears.[4230] 160
Tam. Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me, Even for his sake am I pitiless.[4231] Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain, To save your brother from the sacrifice; But fierce Andronicus would not relent: 165 Therefore, away with her, and use her as you will;[4232] The worse to her, the better loved of me.
Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen,[4233] And with thine own hands kill me in this place! For 'tis not life that I have begg'd so long; 170 Poor I was slain when Bassianus died.[4234]
Tam. What begg'st thou then? fond woman, let me go.[4235]
Lav. Tis present death I beg; and one thing more That womanhood denies my tongue to tell: O, keep me from their worse than killing lust, 175 And tumble me into some loathsome pit, Where never man's eye may behold my body: Do this, and be a charitable murderer.
Tam. So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee: No, let them satisfy their lust on thee. 180
Dem. Away! for thou hast stay'd us here too long.[4236]
Lav. No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature![4236][4237] The blot and enemy to our general name![4238] Confusion fall--[4239]
Chi. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth. Bring thou her husband:[4240] 185 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.[4241]
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.[4242] Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor, 190 And let my spleenful sons this trull deflower. [Exit.
Re-enter AARON, with QUINTUS and MARTIUS.[4243]
Aar. Come on, my lords, the better foot before:[4244] Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit[4245] Where I espied the panther fast asleep.
Quin. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes. 195
Mart. And mine, I promise you; were it not for shame,[4246] Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile.
[Falls into the pit.[4247]
Quin. What, art thou fall'n? What subtle hole is this,[4248] Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers,[4249] Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood 200 As fresh as morning dew distill'd on flowers?[4250] 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[4251] That ever eye with sight made heart lament! 205
Aar. [Aside] Now will I fetch the king to find them here,[4252] That he thereby may have a likely guess[4253] How these were they that made away his brother. [Exit.[4254]
Mart. Why dost not comfort me, and help me out[4255] From this unhallow'd and blood-stained hole?[4256] 210
Quin. I am surprised with an uncouth fear;[4257] A chilling sweat o'er-runs my trembling joints;[4258] My heart suspects more than mine eye can see.
Mart. To prove thou hast a true-divining heart,[4259] Aaron and thou look down into this den,[4260] 215 And see a fearful sight of blood and death.
Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart[4261] 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[4262] 220 Was I a child to fear I know not what.
Mart. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here, All on a heap, like to a slaughter'd lamb,[4263] In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.
Quin. If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he?[4264] 225
Mart. Upon his bloody finger he doth wear A precious ring, that lightens all the hole,[4265] Which, like a taper in some monument, Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks,[4266] And shows the ragged entrails of the pit:[4267] 230 So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus When he by night lay bathed in maiden blood. 0 brother, help me with thy fainting hand-- If fear hath made thee faint, as me it hath--[4268] Out of this fell devouring receptacle,[4269] 235 As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth.[4270]
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. 240 I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink.
Mart. Nor I no strength to climb without thy help.[4271]
Quin. Thy hand once more; I will not loose again,[4272] Till thou art here aloft, or I below: Thou canst not come to me: I come to thee. [Falls in. 245
Enter SATURNINUS with AARON.[4273]
Sat. Along with me: I'll see what hole is here,[4274] And what he is that now is leap'd into it.[4275] Say, who art thou that lately didst descend Into this gaping hollow of the earth?[4276]
Mart. The unhappy son of old Andronicus; 250 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; 255 'Tis not an hour since I left them there.[4277]
Mart. We know not where you left them all alive;[4278] But, out, alas! here have we found him dead.
Re-enter TAMORA, with Attendants; TITUS ANDRONICUS, and LUCIUS.[4279]
Tam. Where is my lord the king?
Sat. Here, Tamora; though grieved with killing grief.[4280] 260
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,[4281] The complot of this timeless tragedy; 265 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--[4282] Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 'tis we mean-- Do thou so much as dig the grave for him: 270 Thou know'st our meaning. Look for thy reward[4283] 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.' 275 O Tamora! was ever heard the like?[4284] 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.[4285]
Aar. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold.[4286] 280
Sat. [To Titus] Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kind,[4287] 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.[4288] 285
Tam. What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing![4289] How easily murder is discovered!
Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee I beg this boon, with tears not lightly shed, That this fell fault of my accursed sons, 290 Accursed, if the fault be proved in them--[4290]
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.
Tit. I did, my lord: yet let me be their bail;[4291] 295 For, by my fathers' reverend tomb, I vow[4292] They shall be ready at your highness' will To answer their suspicion with their lives.[4293]
Sat. Thou shalt not bail them: see thou follow me. Some bring the murder'd body, some the murderers:[4294] 300 Let them not speak a word; the guilt is plain;[4295] For, by my soul, were there worse end than death, That end upon them should be executed.[4296]
Tam. Andronicus, I will entreat the king: Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough.[4297] 305
Tit. Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them.
[Exeunt.[4298]
Act II, Scene IV — Another part of the forest.
Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, with LAVINIA, ravished; her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out.[4299]
Dem. So, now go tell, an if thy tongue can speak,[4300] Who 'twas that cut thy tongue and ravish'd thee.[4301]
Chi. Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning so, An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe.[4302]
Dem. See, how with signs and tokens she can scrowl.[4303] 5
Chi. Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands.[4304]
Dem. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash; And so let's leave her to her silent walks.
Chi. An 'twere my case, I should go hang myself.[4305]
Dem. If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord. 10
[Exeunt Demetrius and Chiron.
Horns winded, within. Enter MARCUS, from hunting.[4306]
Mar. Who is this? my niece, that flies away so fast![4307] Cousin, a word; where is your husband?[4308] 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! 15 Speak, gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands[4309] Have lopp'd and hew'd and made thy body bare[4309] Of her two branches, those sweet ornaments, Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in, And might not gain so great a happiness 20 As have thy love? Why dost not speak to me?[4310] Alas, a crimson river of warm blood, Like to a bubbling fountain stirr'd with wind, Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips,[4311] Coming and going with thy honey breath. 25 But, sure, some Tereus hath deflowered thee, And, lest thou shouldst detect him, cut thy tongue.[4312] Ah, now thou turn'st away thy face for shame! And, notwithstanding all this loss of blood, As from a conduit with three issuing spouts,[4313] 30 Yet do thy cheeks look red as Titan's face Blushing to be encounter'd with a cloud. Shall I speak for thee? shall I say 'tis so?[4314] O, that I knew thy heart; and knew the beast,[4315] That I might rail at him, to ease my mind! 35 Sorrow concealed, like an oven stopp'd, Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is. Fair Philomel, why she but lost her tongue,[4316] And in a tedious sampler sew'd her mind:[4317] But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee; 40 A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met,[4318] And he hath cut those pretty fingers off, That could have better sew'd than Philomel.[4319] O, had the monster seen those lily hands Tremble, like aspen-leaves, upon a lute, 45 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,[4320] He would have dropp'd his knife, and fell asleep[4321] 50 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? 55 Do not draw back, for we will mourn with thee: O, could our mourning ease thy misery! [Exeunt.[4322]
FOOTNOTES:
[4089] ACT II. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus secunda. F₁. Actus secundus. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq. See note (I).
Rome.] Rowe.
Before the palace] Theobald.
Enter Aaron.] sound trumpets, Manet Moore. Qq. Enter Aaron alone. Ff.
[4090] above] about F₁.
[4091] highest-peering] Theobald. highest piering Qq F₁ F₂. highest piring F₃ F₄.
[4092] So Tamora] Marked by Keightley as an imperfect line.
[4093] wit] will Hanmer (Warburton).
earthly] Qq F₁ F₂. early F₃ F₄.
[4094] thy heart] the heart F₂.
[4095] mount aloft] soar aloft S. Walker conj.
[4096] is] was Collier (Collier MS.)
[4097] servile] Q₁. idle Q₂ Ff.
[4098] empress] empresse F₁ F₂. emperesse Qq. emperess F₃ F₄.
[4099] wait] wait upon Hanmer.
[4100] Semiramis] F₃ F₄. Semerimis Qq F₁. Samiramis F₂.
this nymph] Q₁. this Queene Q₂ Ff. om. Hanmer, reading This queen ... Semiramis as one line. this quean Jackson conj.
[4101] Holloa] Hollo Qq. Holla Ff.
braving] om. Rowe.
[4102] SCENE II. Pope.
want] F₂ F₃ F₄. wants Qq F₁.
[4103] know'st] Ff. knowest Qq.
[4104] or] om. Hanmer.
[4105] passions] passion Rowe.
[4106] Aar.] Moore. Qq.
[4107] [Aside] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.
[4108] dancing-rapier] Steevens. daunsing rapier Qq F₁ F₂. dancing rapier F₃ F₄. dangling rapier Long MS.
[4109] friends?] friends: Q₁.
[4110] [Coming forward] Dyce. Interposing. Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.
how now] Qq F₁. now F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4111] wot the ... grudge:] wote, the ... grudge. Ff. wote, the ... grudge, Qq.
[4112] dishonour'd] Pope. dishonoured or dishonored Qq Ff.
[4113] Dem.] Chi. Theobald (Warburton).
[4114] those] Q₁. these Q₂ Ff.
[4115] Chi.] Dem. Theobald (Warburton).
[4116] Foul-spoken ... tongue] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
that] Thou Rowe.
[4117] darest] darst Q₁. durst Q₂. dar'st Ff.
[4118] [beating down their Swords. Capell.
[4119] petty] Qq F₄. pretty F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4120] lords,] lords-- Rowe.
[4121] jet] iet Qq. set Ff. jut Malone.
[4122] revenge?] Q₂ Ff. revenge. Q₁.
[4123] an] Capell. and Qq Ff.
[4124] discord's] F₄. discords Qq. discord F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4125] Youngling ... choice] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
meaner] Qq F₁ F₂. better F₃ F₄.
[4126] Why, are] Theobald. Why are Qq Ff.
not, in Rome] Theobald. not in Rome, Qq F₁ F₂. not in Rome F₃ F₄.
[4127] device] Theobald. devise Qq Ff.
[4128] Aaron ... love] Arranged as by Hanmer. Two lines, the first ending propose, in Qq Ff.
[4129] propose] oppose Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX.).
love.] Q₁. do love. Q₂ Ff. do love? Rowe.
[4130] makest] mak'st Ff. makes Qq.
[4131] have] Qq F₁. have yet F₂ F₃ F₄.
Vulcan's] Vulcanus' or old Vulcan's Anon. conj.
[4132] [Aside] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.
Saturninus] Q₁ F₂ F₃ F₄. Saturnius F₁. Saturnine Q₂.
[4133] not thou] Qq F₁ F₂. thou not F₃ F₄.
struck] F₃ F₄. strooke Q₁. strucke Q₂ F₁ F₂.
[4134] this?] Q₂ Ff. this: Q₁.
then] then? Ff.
[4135] That ... speed] Qq. Omitted in Ff.
speed?] speede? Q₂. speede. Q₁.
[4136] Faith] I' faith Capell.
Nor ... one] No, nor me Hanmer.
[4137] Bassianus'] Pope. Bassianus Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. Bassianus's F₄.
[4138] than] Rowe. this Qq Ff.
[4139] we] ye Hanmer.
[4140] sacred] secret Anon. conj.
[4141] Will we] We will Rowe (ed. 2).
[4142] advice] F₄. advise Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4143] and] Q₁. of Q₂ Ff.
[4144] dreadful] dreadless Collier MS.
dull] dumb Anon. conj.
[4145] lust] Qq. lusts Ff.
shadow'd] Ff. shadowed Qq.
[4146] Sit] Qq. Sẏ F₁. Si F₂ F₃ F₄.
stream] streame Qq. streames F₁ F₂. streams F₃ F₄.
[4147] these] Q₁. their Q₂ Ff. See note (II).
[4148] Styga] F₄. Stygia F₃. Stigia Qq F₁ F₂.
[4149] SCENE II.] Rowe. SCENE III. Pope. ACT II. SCENE I. Johnson conj.
A forest near Rome.] A forest. Rowe. A Chace near Rome. Court before a Lodge. Capell.
Horns ... heard.] Capell.
Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Titus Andronicus and his three sonnes, making a noyse with hounds & hornes. Qq. Enter ... hornes, and Marcus. Ff.
[4150] morn] Moone Q₁.
grey] gay Hanmer.
[4151] green] wide Collier MS.
[4152] ring ... peal] sing ... round Collier MS. ring ... round Collier MS. (as quoted in Collier, ed. 2).
[4153] noise] sound Collier MS.
[4154] as it is ours] and so will I Collier MS.
[4155] attend] tend Pope.
[4156] new ... inspired] brought comfort and delight Collier MS.
A cry ... peal. Enter....] Heere a cry of Houndes, and winde hornes in a peale, then enter.... Qq. Winde Hornes. Heere a cry.... peale, then Enter.... Ff.
[4157] lords] lord Dyce. lads Anon. conj.
[4158] I say] Why, I say Hanmer.
[4159] I say ... more] As in Ff. One line in Qq.
[4160] broad] Qq. om. Ff.
[4161] [To Tamora] Steevens.
[4162] promontory] Promontary F₁. promontory's Collier MS.
[4163] way] Qq F₁. away F₂ F₃ F₄.
run] F₃ F₄. runne F₂. runnes Qq F₁.
[4164] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.
[4165] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff.
A lonely ... forest.] A desart part of the Forest. Theobald.
Enter Aaron....] Enter Aaron, with a Bag of Gold, which he hides. Capell. Enter Aron alone. Qq Ff (Aaron F₁ F₄).
[4166] Aar.] Moore. Qq.
[4167] effected] affected Rowe (ed. 2).
[4168] [Hides the gold.] Malone.
[4169] Enter Tamora.] Enter Tamora alone to the Moore. Qq. Enter Tamora to the Moore. Ff.
[4170] My ... sad] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
sad] so sad Rowe (ed. 1).
[4171] rolled] coiled Collier (Collier MS.)
[4172] if] om. F₂.
[4173] yellowing] Qq. yelping Ff. yelling Pope.
[4174] and Dido] of Dido Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).
[4175] Whiles] Whilst Rowe.
[4176] Madam ... desires] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4177] deadly-standing] Theobald. deadly standing Qq Ff.
[4178] execution?] Q₂ Ff. execution. Q₁.
[4179] lose] F₃ F₄. loose Qq F₁ F₂.
[4180] letter?] Q₁. letter, Q₂ Ff.
[4181] fatal-plotted] Theobald. fatall plotted Qq Ff.
[4182] dreads] dread Pope.
[4183] Ah ... life] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4184] quarrels] Q₁ F₃ F₄. quarrell Q₂ F₁ F₂.
[Exit.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.
Enter....] Pope. Enter.... Qq Ff, after line 50.
[4185] SCENE V. Pope.
Who] Qq. Whom Ff.
Who ... empress] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4186] empress] emperess Rowe (ed. 2).
[4187] her] Q₁. our Q₂ Ff.
troop] troops Rowe (ed. 2).
[4188] my] Q₁. our Q₂ Ff.
[4189] presently] F₃ F₄. presently, Qq. presently. F₁ F₂.
[4190] was] were Capell.
[4191] drive] thrive Heath conj. dine Collier (Collier MS.)
thy] Q₁. his Q₂ Ff.
[4192] swarth] Ff. swartie Q₁. swarty Q₂. swart Capell.
Cimmerian] Theobald. Cymmerian F₂ F₃ F₄. Cymerion Qq F₁.
[4193] but with a] Q₁. with a Q₂ Ff. with him, a Capell conj.
[4194] intercepted] interrupted Rowe.
[4195] raven-colour'd] Pope. raven culloured Qq. raven coloured Ff.
[4196] note] Pope. notice Qq Ff.
[4197] him] her Steevens conj.
[4198] have I] F₂ F₃ F₄. I have Qq F₁.
this?] Ff. this. Qq.
[4199] How ... mother] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4200] doth] does Rowe.
[4201] barren detested] barren and detested Rowe. bare, detested Capell.
[4202] baleful] hailful Grey conj.
[4203] body] barely Collier (Collier MS.)
[4204] yew] Ff. ewgh Q₁. ewe Q₂.
[4205] ear] eare Qq F₁. ease F₂. ears F₃ F₄.
[4206] ye not henceforth] Qq Ff. ye not from henceforth Pope. not henceforth Capell.
[4207] [Stabs Bassianus.] Stab him. Qq F₁ F₃. Sab him. F₂. Stabs him. F₄.
[4208] And ... strength] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
struck] Q₁ F₄. strook Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[Also stabs....] Stabbing him likewise. Theobald. Stabing suddenly Bassianus; who falls. Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4209] Ay, come] Hanmer. I come Qq Ff. I, come Theobald.
Semiramis] F₂ F₃ F₄. Semeramis Qq F₁.
[4210] the] Q₁. thy Q₂ Ff.
[4211] painted hope ... mightiness] Qq F₁. painted hope, she ... mightinesse F₂ F₃ F₄. painted cope she ... mightiness Theobald (Warburton). paint now braves your mightiness Capell. painted, braves your mightiness Steevens conj. painted shape, she braves your might Collier (Collier MS.) faint hope braves your mightiness Grant White conj. painted upbraids your mightiness or prankt, outbraves your mightiness Anon. conj.
hope] robe Heath conj.
[4212] painted hope ... this] painted, ... this hope Anon. conj.
[4213] grave?] Q₂ Ff. grave. Q₁.
[4214] An if ... eunuch] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
An] Hanmer. And Qq Ff.
eunuch] Euenuke Qq.
[4215] trunk pillow] Trunke-Pillow F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4216] ye ... ye] F₂ F₃ F₄. ye ... we Qq F₁. you ... you Rowe.
[4217] outlive, us] Theobald. outlive us Qq Ff.
[4218] you] om. Pope.
[4219] nice-preserved] Ff. nice preserved Qq.
[4220] bear'st] Ff. bearest Qq.
woman's] womans Qq F₃ F₄. woman F₁ F₂.
face--] Rowe. face. Qq Ff.
[4221] flint] Qq F₁ F₂. flints F₃ F₄.
[4222] dam?] Q₂ Ff. dam. Q₁.
[4223] learn] teach Pope.
[4224] suck'dst] Rowe (ed. 2). suckst Qq. suck'st Ff.
[4225] thy teat] her teat Collier (Collier MS.) the teat Collier conj.
[4226] [To Chiron] Warburton. om. Qq Ff.
[4227] Two lines in Qq. Four lines, ending What, ... bastard?... true, ... larke, in Ff.
[4228] After this line S. Walker would insert Nor the fell lioness bring forth a lamb.
[4229] paws] claws Singer (Collier MS.)
[4230] ears] yeares Q₁.
[4231] am I] am I now F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4232] with her] om. Hanmer.
and] om. Capell.
[4233] O ... queen] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[Kneeling. Collier (Collier MS.)
[4234] Bassianus] Bascianus Q₁. Bussianus Q₂.
[4235] Tam.] om. F₂.
then? fond ... go] F₃ F₄. then fond ... goe? Qq. then? fond ... go? F₁ F₂.
[4236] Two lines in Qq. Four, ending Away, ... long ... grace ... creature, in Ff.
[4237] [Rising. Collier (Collier MS.)
[4238] to] of Rowe.
[4239] fall--] Q₂ F₁. fall. Q₁. all-- F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4240] Nay ... husband:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[Dragging off Lavinia. Pope.
[4241] [Demetrius....] Capell. Exeunt. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁.
[4242] Andronici] Ff. Adronicie Q₁. Andronicie Q₂.
[4243] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter Aron, with two of Titus sonnes. Qq Ff.
Martius.] Capell. Marcus. Rowe.
[4244] SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE IV. The same. Capell. Dyce continues the scene.
Aar.] om. Qq.
[4245] loathsome] lonesome Collier MS.
[4246] were it] were't Pope.
[4247] [Falls....] Marcus falls.... Rowe. om. Qq Ff.
[4248] What ... this,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4249] cover'd] Pope. covered Qq Ff.
rude-growing] Pope. rude growing Qq Ff.
[4250] morning] Q₁ F₄. mornings Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4251] Mart.] Mart. [under the stage. Collier MS.
O ... object] Two lines in Ff.
dismal'st] dismallest, Pope, omitting hurt.
hurt] Q₁. Omitted in Q₂ Ff.
[4252] [Aside] Johnson.
[4253] have] give Steevens (1793).
[4254] [Exit.] Qq. Exit Aaron. F₁ F₄. Exit Aron. F₂ F₃.
[4255] SCENE VII. Pope.
[4256] unhallow'd] Ff. unhollow Qq.
[4257] uncouth] uncouch F₂ F₃.
[4258] chilling] killing Rowe.
[4259] true-divining] Theobald. true divining Qq Ff.
[4260] this den] the den Rowe.
[4261] Aaron ... heart] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4262] how] Q₂ Ff. who Q₁.
[4263] like to a] Qq. like to the Ff.
[4264] he?] Q₂ Ff. hee. Q₁.
[4265] the] Q₂ Ff. this Q₁.
[4266] earthy] Q₁. earthly Q₂ Ff.
[4267] the] Ff. this Qq.
[4268] thee] the F₂.
[4269] fell devouring] fell-devouring S. Walker conj.
[4270] Cocytus'] Cocytus F₄. Ocitus Qq F₁. Cocitus F₂ F₃.
[4271] Nor] And Pope.
[4272] more; I] Theobald. more, I Qq Ff. more I Pope.
loose] lose Rowe. loose't Capell conj.
[4273] [Falls in.] Pope. Boths fall in. F₁ F₂. Both fall in. F₃ F₄. om. Qq.
Enter....] Enter the Emperour, and Aron the Moore. Qq Ff (and om. Q₂ Ff)(Aaron F₁ F₄).
[4274] SCENE VIII. Pope.
[4275] into it] into't Pope.
[4276] earth? Q₂ Ff. earth. Q₁.
[4277] them] Q₁. him Q₂ Ff.
[4278] them] Qq. him Ff.
[4279] Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter ... Ff.
with Attendants;] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.
Titus Andronicus,] Andronicus, Qq Ff.
[4280] Sat.] F₂ F₃ F₄. King. Qq F₁ (and throughout the scene).
grieved] gnaw'd S. Walker conj.
[4281] [Giving a letter] She giveth Saturnine a Letter. Qq Ff, after line 267.
[4282] Sat. [Reads] Saturninus reades the Letter. Qq Ff.
An] Hanmer. And Qq Ff.
[4283] meaning. Lock ... reward meaning: ... reward Pope. meaning, ... reward, Q₁. meaning, ... reward. Q₂. meaning, ... reward Ff.
[4284] O ...] Theobald. King. Oh ... Qq F₁. Sat. Oh ... F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4285] murder'd] murther'd Pope. murthered Qq Ff.
[4286] [Shewing it. Johnson.
[4287] [To Titus] Rowe.
[4288] torturing] F₃ F₄. tortering Qq F₁ F₂.
[4289] What ... thing!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4290] fault] Theobald. faultes Q₁. faults Q₂ Ff.
them--] F₃ F₄. them. Qq F₁ F₂.
[4291] I ... bail;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4292] fathers'] Delius. fathers Qq Ff. father's Rowe.
reverend] F₄. reverent Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4293] their suspicion] this suspicion Collier (Collier MS.)
[4294] murder'd] Rowe (ed. 2). murther'd Rowe (ed. 1). murthered Qq Ff.
[4295] the] their Collier (Collier MS.)
[4296] [Attendants draw Quintus, and Martius, out of the Pit, and the Body of Bassianus; and Exeunt, bearing them off. Capell.
[4297] Exeunt Sat. Tam. Aar. and Train. Capell.
[4298] Come ... them.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[Exeunt.] Ff. om. Qq. Exeunt severally. Theobald. Exeunt Titus, and Lucius. Capell.
[4299] SCENE IV.] Dyce. SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE V. Capell.
Another ...] Dyce. The same ... Capell.
Enter ...] Enter the Empresse sonnes, with Lavinia, her handes cut off, and her tongue cut out, and ravisht. Qq Ff.
[4300] an] Theobald. and Qq Ff.
[4301] that cut] cut out Collier (Collier MS.)
[4302] An if ... thee play] Capell. And if ... thee play Qq Ff. And, if ... thee, play Rowe.
[4303] scrowl] scrowle Qq. scowle F₁ F₂. scowl F₃ F₄. scrawl Delius.
[4304] Go ... hands.] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending home, in Ff.
[4305] An] Capell. And Ff. If Pope.
case] Pope. cause Qq Ff.
[4306] [Exeunt ...] Theobald. Exeunt. Ff. om. Qq.
Horns winded within.] Wind Hornes. Ff. om. Qq. Horns within: Lavinia starts, and is making from them; Enter Marcus. Capell.
Enter ... hunting.] Qq. Enter ... hunting, to Lavinia. Ff.
[4307] Who is] Who's Pope.
this? my ... fast!] this, my ... fast, Q₁. this my ... fast? Q₂. this, my ... fast? Ff.
[4308] a word] a word with you Keightley.
husband?] Q₂ Ff. husband. Q₁.
[4309] hands Have] Rowe (ed. 2). hands, Hath Qq. hands Hath Ff. hand Hath Capell.
[4310] have] Theobald. halfe Qq F₁ F₂. half F₃ F₄.
[4311] rosed] rosy Rowe. roseate or roseat Collier MS.
[4312] him] Rowe. them Qq Ff.
[4313] three] Hanmer. theyr Q₁. their Q₂ Ff.
[4314] thee?... so?] Ff. thee, ... so. Q₁. thee, ... so? Q₂.
[4315] heart] F₃ F₄. hart Qq F₁ F₂. hurt S. Walker conj.
[4316] Philomel, why she] Edd. Philomela, why she Q₁. Philomella she Q₂. Philomela she Ff.
[4317] sew'd] Pope. sowed Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. sewed F₄.
[4318] cousin, hast thou met,] cosen hast thou met, Q₁. hast thou met, Q₂. hast thou met withall Ff.
[4319] sew'd] Pope. sowed Qq F₁ F₂. sewed F₃ F₄.
[4320] tongue hath made] Qq Ff. charming instrument has made Ravenscroft's version. tongue of thine hath often made Hanmer. tongue hath made in minstrelsy Collier (Collier MS.) Printed as an imperfect line by Keightley.
[4321] fell] fall'n Hanmer.
[4322] mourning] morning F₂.
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.[4323]
Tit. 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; 5 And for these bitter tears, which now you see[4324] Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheeks; Be pitiful to my condemned sons, Whose souls are not corrupted as 'tis thought.[4325] 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.[4326]
For these, tribunes, in the dust I write[4327] My heart's deep languor and my soul's sad tears:[4328] Let my tears stanch the earth's dry appetite;[4329] My sons' sweet blood will make it shame and blush. 15 O earth, I will befriend thee more with rain,[4330] That shall distil from these two ancient urns,[4331] Than youthful April shall with all his showers:[4332][4333] In summer's drought I'll drop upon thee still;[4333] In winter with warm tears I'll melt the snow, 20 And keep eternal spring-time on thy face, So thou refuse to drink my dear sons' blood.
Enter LUCIUS, with his weapon drawn.[4334]
O reverend tribunes! O gentle, aged men![4335] Unbind my sons, reverse the doom of death; And let me say, that never wept before, 25 My tears are now prevailing orators.
Luc. O noble father, you lament in vain: The tribunes hear you not; no man is by;[4336] And you recount your sorrows to a stone.
Tit. Ah, Lucius, for thy brothers let me plead. 30 Grave tribunes, once more I entreat of you,--[4337]
Luc. My gracious lord, no tribune hears you speak.
Tit. Why, 'tis no matter, man: if they did hear,[4338] They would not mark me; or if they did mark,[4339] They would not pity me; yet plead I must,[4339] 35 And bootless unto them....[4339] Therefore I tell my sorrows to the stones;[4340] Who, though they cannot answer my distress, Yet in some sort they are better than the tribunes,[4341] For that they will not intercept my tale:[4342] 40 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;[4343] 45 A stone is silent and offendeth not, And tribunes with their tongues doom men to death. [Rises.[4344] But wherefore stand'st thou with thy weapon drawn?[4345]
Luc. To rescue my two brothers from their death: For which attempt the judges have pronounced[4346] 50 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[4347] 55 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;[4348] Or, if not so, thy noble heart to break: 60 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![4349]
Tit. Faint-hearted boy, arise, and look upon her. 65 Speak, Lavinia, what accursed hand[4350] Hath made thee handless in thy father's sight?[4351] What fool hath added water to the sea, Or brought a faggot to bright-burning Troy? My grief was at the height before thou camest;[4352] 70 And now, like Nilus, it disdaineth bounds. Give me a sword, I'll chop off my hands too;[4353] For they have fought for Rome, and all in vain; And they have nursed this woe, in feeding life;[4354] In bootless prayer have they been held up, 75 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. 'Tis well, Lavinia, that thou hast no hands; For hands to do Rome service is but vain.[4355] 80
Luc. Speak, gentle sister, who hath martyr'd thee?
Marc. O, that delightful engine of her thoughts, That blabb'd them with such pleasing eloquence, Is torn from forth that pretty hollow cage, Where, like a sweet melodious bird, it sung 85 Sweet varied notes, enchanting every ear![4356]
Luc. O, say thou for her, who hath done this deed?[4357]
Marc. O, thus I found her, straying in the park, Seeking to hide herself, as doth the deer That hath received some unrecuring wound. 90
Tit. It was my dear; and he that wounded her[4358] 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,[4359] 95 Expecting ever when some envious surge Will in his brinish bowels swallow him. This way to death my wretched sons are gone; Here stands my other son, a banish'd man; And here my brother, weeping at my woes: 100 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?[4360] 105 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 Thy brothers are condemn'd, and dead by this. Look, Marcus! ah, son Lucius, look on her! 110 When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd.[4361]
Marc. Perchance she weeps because they kill'd her husband; Perchance because she knows them innocent.[4362] 115
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; Witness the sorrow that their sister makes. Gentle Lavinia, let me kiss thy lips; 120 Or make some sign how I may do thee ease:[4363] 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[4364] 125 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, And made a brine-pit with our bitter tears? Or shall we cut away our hands, like thine? 130 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,[4365] To make us wonder'd at in time to come. 135
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.
Tit. Ah, Marcus, Marcus! brother, well I wot Thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine, 140 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: 145 His napkin, with his true tears all bewet,[4366] Can do no service on her sorrowful cheeks. O, what a sympathy of woe is this, As far from help as Limbo is from bliss!
Enter AARON.[4367]
Aar. Titus Andronicus, my lord the emperor[4368][4369] 150 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, That gives sweet tidings of the sun's uprise? With all my heart, I'll send the emperor[4370] 160 My hand:[4370] 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: 165 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, And rear'd aloft the bloody battle-axe, Writing destruction on the enemy's castle?[4371] 170 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,[4369] 175 For fear they die before their pardon come.
Marc. My hand shall go.
Luc. By heaven, it shall not go!
Tit. Sirs, strive no more: such wither'd herbs as these[4372] Are meet for plucking up, and therefore mine.
Luc. Sweet father, if I shall be thought thy son, 180 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. 185
Marc. But I will use the axe. [Exeunt Lucius and Marcus.[4373]
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,[4374] And never, whilst I live, deceive men so: 190 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.[4375]
Tit. Now stay your strife: what shall be is dispatch'd.[4376] Good Aaron, give his majesty my hand:[4377] Tell him it was a hand that warded him 195 From thousand dangers; bid him bury it; More hath it merited; that let it have.[4378] As for my sons, say I account of them[4379] As jewels purchased at an easy price; And yet dear too, because I bought mine own. 200
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[4380] Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it![4381] Let fools do good, and fair men call for grace, 205 Aaron will have his soul black like his face. [Exit.
Tit. O, here I lift this one hand up to heaven,[4382] And bow this feeble ruin to the earth: If any power pities wretched tears,[4383] To that I call! [To Lav.] What, would thou kneel with me?[4384] 210 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,[4385] 215 And do not break into these deep extremes.[4386]
Tit. Is not my sorrow deep, having no bottom?[4387] Then be my passions bottomless with them.
Marc. But yet let reason govern thy lament.
Tit. If there were reason for these miseries, 220 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? 225 I am the sea; hark, how her sighs do blow![4388] 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:[4389] 230 For why my bowels cannot hide her woes,[4390] 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 235 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:[4391] That woe is me to think upon thy woes, 240 More than remembrance of my father's death. [Exit.
Marc. Now let hot Ætna cool in Sicily,[4392] 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, 245 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! 250
[Lavinia kisses Titus.[4393]
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;[4394] Thou dost not slumber: see, thy two sons' heads, 255 Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here,[4395] Thy other banish'd son with this dear sight[4396] Struck pale and bloodless, and thy brother, I,[4397] Even like a stony image, cold and numb. Ah, now no more will I control thy griefs:[4398] 260 Rend off thy silver hair, thy other hand[4399] Gnawing with thy teeth; and be this dismal sight[4400] The closing up of our most wretched eyes: Now is a time to storm; why art thou still?
Tit. Ha, ha, ha! 265
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: 270 Then which way shall I find Revenge's cave?[4401] 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 Even in their throats that have committed them. 275 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; 280 And in this hand the other will I bear. Lavinia, thou shalt be employ'd in these things;[4402][4403] Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth.[4403][4404] As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight; Thou art an exile, and thou must not stay: Hie to the Goths, and raise an army there: 285 And, if you love me, as I think you do,[4405] Let's kiss and part, for we have much to do.
[Exeunt all but Lucius.[4406]
Luc. Farewell, Andronicus, my noble father,[4407] The wofull'st man that ever lived in Rome: 290 Farewell, proud Rome; till Lucius come again,[4408] He leaves his pledges dearer than his life:[4409] Farewell, Lavinia, my noble sister; O, would thou wert as thou tofore hast been! But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives 295 But in oblivion and hateful griefs. If Lucius live, he will requite your wrongs;[4410] And make proud Saturnine and his empress[4411] Beg at the gates, like Tarquin and his queen.[4412] Now will I to the Goths and raise a power, 300 To be revenged on Rome and Saturnine. [Exit.[4413]
Act III, Scene II — A room in Titus's house. A banquet set out.
Enter TITUS, MARCUS, LAVINIA, and young LUCIUS, a Boy.[4414]
Tit. So, so; now sit: and look you eat no more Than will preserve just so much strength in us As will revenge these bitter woes of ours. Marcus, unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot: Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands,[4415] 5 And cannot passionate our tenfold grief With folded arms. This poor right hand of mine Is left to tyrannize upon my breast; Who, when my heart, all mad with misery,[4416] 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![4417] When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating,[4418] Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still.[4419] Wound it with sighing, girl, kill it with groans;[4420] 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.[4421] 20
Marc. Fie, brother, fie! teach her not thus to lay Such violent hands upon her tender life.
Tit. 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? 25 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,[4422] Lest we remember still that we have none. 30 Fie, fie, how franticly I square my talk, As if we should forget we had no hands, If Marcus did not name the word of hands![4423] Come, let's fall to; and, gentle girl, eat this: Here is no drink. Hark, Marcus, what she says; 35 I can interpret all her martyr'd signs; She says she drinks no other drink but tears, Brew'd with her sorrow, mesh'd upon her cheeks:[4424] Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought;[4425] In thy dumb action will I be as perfect 40 As begging hermits in their holy prayers:[4426] 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,[4427] 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.
Tit. 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?[4428][4429]
Marc. At that that I have kill'd, my lord,--a fly.[4428][4430]
Tit. Out on thee, murderer! thou kill'st my heart;[4428][4431] Mine eyes are cloy'd with view of tyranny:[4428][4432] 55 A deed of death done on the innocent[4428] Becomes not Titus' brother: get thee gone;[4428] I see thou art not for my company.[4428]
Marc. Alas, my lord, I have but kill'd a fly.[4428]
Tit. 'But!' How, if that fly had a father and mother?[4428][4433] 60 How would he hang his slender gilded wings,[4428] And buzz lamenting doings in the air![4428][4434] Poor harmless fly,[4428] That, with his pretty buzzing melody,[4428] Came here to make us merry! and thou hast kill'd him.[4428][4435] 65
Marc. Pardon me, sir; it was a black ill-favour'd fly,[4428][4436] Like to the empress' Moor; therefore I kill'd him.[4428]
Tit. O, O, O,[4428][4437] Then pardon me for reprehending thee,[4428] For thou hast done a charitable deed.[4428] 70 Give me thy knife, I will insult on him;[4428] Flattering myself, as if it were the Moor[4428][4438] Come hither purposely to poison me.[4428] There's for thyself, and that's for Tamora.[4428] Ah, sirrah![4428][4439] 75 Yet, I think, we are not brought so low,[4428][4440] But that between us we can kill a fly[4428] That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor.[4428]
Marc. Alas, poor man! grief has so wrought on him, He takes false shadows for true substances. 80
Tit. Come, take away. Lavinia, go with me:[4441] 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.[4442] 85
FOOTNOTES:
[4323] ACT III. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus Tertius. Ff. Omitted in Qq.
Rome. A street] Capell. A street in Rome. Theobald.
Enter....] Enter the Iudges and Senatours with Titus two sonnes bound, passing on the Stage to the place of execution, and Titus going before pleading. Qq Ff.
[4324] now you] you now Rowe (ed. 2).
[4325] are] F₂ F₃ F₄. is Qq F₁.
[4326] [Lieth down;....] Andronicus lieth downe, and the Iudges passe by him. Qq Ff.
[4327] these, tribunes] Qq F₁. these, these Tribunes F₂ F₃. these, these, Tribunes F₄. these, good tribunes Malone. these two, tribunes Jackson conj. these, O tribunes Keightley (Collier conj.)
[4328] languor and] anguish in Collier (Collier MS.)
[4329] stanch] Qq F₁. stench F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4330] befriend] Qq F₃ F₄. be friend F₁ F₂.
more with] with more Collier (Collier MS.)
[Exeunt. Ff. om. Qq. Tribunes &c. pass Titus, and Exeunt with the Prisoners. Capell (after tears, line 13).
[4331] urns] Hanmer. ruines Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. ruins F₄.
[4332] his] her Rowe.
[4333] showers: In ... drought] showres. In ... drought, Qq. showres In ... drought: F₁ F₂. showers In ... drought: F₃ F₄.
[4334] Enter ... weapon....] Qq Ff. Enter ... sword.... Rowe.
[4335] reverend] F₃ F₄. reverent Qq F₁ F₂.
O gentle] gentle Rowe.
O gentle, aged men] gentle-aged-men Boswell. gentle-aged men S. Walker conj. aged gentlemen Anon. conj.
[4336] you not] Qq F₂ F₃ F₄. not F₁.
[4337] you,--] you-- Rowe. you. Qq Ff.
[4338] man:] man: [rises.] Capell.
[4339] or ... them....] Edd. or ... them. Q₁. or if they did marke, All bootlesse unto them. Q₂. oh if they did heare They would not pitty me. Ff. or if they did mark, They would not pity me. Pope. or, if they did mark, All bootless unto them, they would not pity me. Capell. or ... them since I complain. Dyce conj.
[4340] to] Q₁. bootles to Q₂ F₁ F₂. bootless to F₃ F₄.
[4341] they are] they're Pope. are Hanmer.
[4342] [rising. Hudson.
[4343] A stone ... stones] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
A stone is] Stone's Steevens conj.
soft as] Qq. as soft Ff.
[4344] [Rises] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.
[4345] stand'st] standest Rowe (ed. 2).
[4346] pronounced] pronounc'd F₃ F₄. pronounc'st F₁ F₂. pronounst Qq.
[4347] must prey] must pray Q₁ F₁. no prey] no pray Q₁.
[4348] SCENE II. Pope.
aged] Q₁. noble Q₂ Ff.
[4349] Ay] F₄. Aye Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. Ah Rowe.
[4350] Lavinia] Qq F₁. my Lavinia F₂ F₃ F₄. speak, Lavinia Anon. conj.
[4351] sight] spight Theobald.
[4352] height] light F₂.
[4353] I'll] or Steevens conj.
[4354] And ... life] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4355] is] Qq Ff. are Rowe.
[4356] Sweet ... every ear] Rich ... old and young Collier MS.]
Sweet varied] Sweet various F₄. Sweet-varied S. Walker conj.
[4357] O ... deed?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4358] It ... her] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.]
dear] F₃. deare Qq F₁ F₂. deer F₄.
[4359] Who ... wave] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
marks] markes Qq F₁. makes F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4360] lively] lovely Johnson (1771, '73). living Collier MS.
[4361] gather'd] F₄. gathred Qq F₁ F₂. gath'red F₃.
wither'd] Rowe. withered Qq Ff.
[4362] them] Q₁. him Q₂ Ff.
[4363] sign] signe Qq. signes F₁ F₂ F₃. signs F₄.
[4364] as] Collier (Collier MS. and Long MS.) in Qq Ff. like Rowe. e'en Anon. conj.
[4365] device] Theobald. devise Qq Ff.
misery Qq. miseries Ff.
[4366] with his] F₄. with her Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4367] Enter Aaron] Enter Aron the Moore alone. Qq Ff.
[4368] SCENE III. Pope.
[4369] Aar.] Moore. Qq Ff.
[4370] With ... hand] As in Steevens. One line in Qq Ff.
emperor My hand] king my hand Capell. my hand to him Collier (Collier MS.)
[4371] enemy's] Steevens (Capell conj.) enemies Qq Ff. enemies' Warburton.
castle] casque Theobald. cask Hanmer. crest S. Walker conj. castles Keightley. See note (III).
[4372] wither'd] F₄. withred Qq. withered F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4373] use the axe] use it Collier (Capell conj.)
[Exeunt Lucius and Marcus.] Theobald. Exeunt. Qq Ff.
[4374] Aar.] Aron. Q₁. Moore. Q₂ Ff.
[Aside] First marked by Rowe. Capell marks lines 191, 192 only, as spoken aside.
[4375] pass] can pass Steevens (1793).
[Cuts off....] He cuts off Titus hand. Qq. Ff.
Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Lucius and Marcus againe. Qq Ff.
[4376] your] you F₁.
[4377] my] me F₁.
[4378] merited;] merited? Hanmer.
[4379] for] for for F₁.
[4380] [Aside] First marked by Rowe.
[4381] fat] sat F₂.
thoughts] Qq F₁. thought F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4382] SCENE IV. Pope.
O, here] O here Q₁. O heere Q₂ F₁ F₂. O hear F₃. O hear, F₄.
[4383] wretched] wretches' S. Walker conj.
[4384] [To Lav.] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.
would] Qq. wilt Ff. won't Capell conj.
[4385] possibilities] possibilitie Q₁.
[4386] deep extremes] two extreams Rowe. woe-extremes Warburton.
[4387] Is ... sorrow] Are ... sorrows S. Walker conj.
[4388] blow] F₂ F₃ F₄. flow Qq F₁.
[4389] overflow'd and drown'd] Ff. overflowed and drowned Qq.
[4390] For why] Dyce. For why, Qq Ff. For why? Capell.
[4391] griefs ... sports] griefe ... sports Q₁. grief's ... sport Pope.
[4392] Sicily] F₃ F₄. Cycilie Q₁. Cicilie Q₂ F₁. Cicily F₂.
[4393] breathe] F₄. breath Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[Lavinia....] Lavinia kisses him. Johnson. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4394] flattery] slattery F₂.
[4395] hand] Qq F₄. hands F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4396] son] F₄. sonne Qq. sonnes F₁ F₂. sons F₃.
dear] dire Hanmer.
[4397] our] your Theobald.
[4398] thy] Theobald. my Qq Ff.
[4399] Rend off] Rent off Q₁ Ff. Rent of Q₂.
[4400] Gnawing] Gnaw Capell.
[4401] cave?] Q₂ Ff. cave. Q₁.
[4402] Lavinia] F₂ F₃ F₄. And Lavinia Qq F₁.
Lavinia ... employ'd] Lavinia, (in a line by itself) Thou too shalt be employed Steevens conj. And thou shalt be employed Collier conj.
employed in these things] Ff. imployde in these Armes Q₁. imployd in these Armes Q₂. employed in these aims Grant White (Dyce conj.) employ'd: these arms! Edd. (Globe edition). See note (IV).
[4403] employ'd ... hand,] employed: in these arms Bear thou my hand:-- Jackson conj.
[4404] teeth] arms Capell.
[4405] you do] 'tis true Collier MS.
[4406] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Manet Lucius. Ff. Exeunt. Qq.
[4407] SCENE V. Pope.
[4408] Rome; till] Rome; 'till Rowe (ed. 2). Rome till Qq. Rome, till Ff.
[4409] leaves] Rowe. loves Qq Ff.
[4410] requite] Qq F₃ F₄. requit F₁ F₂.
[4411] Saturnine] Qq F₁. Saturninus F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4412] like] likes F₁.
[4413] [Exit.] Exit Lucius. Qq Ff.
[4414] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope.
A room....] An apartment.... Theobald.
A banquet....] A Bnaket. F₁. A Banquet. F₂ F₃ F₄.
Enter....] Enter Andronicus, Marcus, Lavinia and the Boy. Ff. The whole of this scene is omitted in the Quartos.
[4415] and] an F₂.
[4416] Who] Ff. And Rowe.
[4417] [To Lavinia] Johnson.
[4418] with outrageous] without ragious F₁.
[4419] still.] still? F₁ F₂. still: F₃ F₄.
[4420] sighing] singing Rowe.
[4421] fool] F₃ F₄. foole F₁ F₂. soul Long MS. (erased).
sea-salt] F₂ F₃ F₄. Sea salt F₁.
[4422] to talk] no talk Rowe.
[4423] hands!] hands? F₃ F₄. hands. F₁ F₂.
[4424] Brew'd] Breu'd F₁.
sorrow] F₁. sorrows F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4425] complainer, I] Capell. complaynet, I F₁. complaint, O I F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4426] hermits] hemits F₂.
[4427] wrest] rest Warburton (a misprint).
[4428] What ... Moor] Erased in Collier MS.
[4429] thy] F₂ F₃ F₄. om F₁.
[4430] fly] flys F₁.
[4431] thee,] F₄. thee F₃. the F₁ F₂.
[4432] are] F₂ F₃ F₄. om. F₁.
[4433] 'But!' How, if] But? How if F₁ F₂. But? How, if F₃. But, how if F₄. But how, if Stevens.
father and mother?] father, sir? Capell. father, brother? Ritson conj. father? Stevens conj.
[4434] lamenting doings] laments and dolings Hanmer.
doings] dolings Theobald. dronings Anon. MS. conj. apud Theobald ('Shakespeare restored' p. 184).
[4435] Came ... him.] One line in Capell. Two in Ff.
[4436] Pardon ... fly,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
sir; it was] it was Hanmer. 'twas Capell conj.
[4437] O, O, O,] O, O, Capell, reading O, O, ... thee, as one line.
[4438] myself] my selfes F₁.
[4439] Ah, sirrah!] As a separate line in Capell. Joined to line 74 in Ff. Omitted by Pope. Joined to line 76 in Steevens (1778).
[4440] Yet, I think] Yet still I think Pope. Why, yet, I think Capell. Yet I do think Steevens. But yet I think or Yet do I think Grant White conj.
[4441] Tit. Come, take away.] Capell. See note (V).
[4442] begin] Ff. begins Rowe (ed. 2).
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.[4443]
Boy. Help, grandsire, help! my aunt Lavinia[4444] 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.[4445] 5
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:[4446] See, Lucius, see how much she makes of thee:[4447] 10 Somewhither would she have thee go with her.[4448] Ah, boy, Cornelia never with more care[4449] Read to her sons than she hath read to thee[4450] Sweet poetry and Tully's Orator.[4451]
Marc. Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus?[4452] 15
Boy. My lord, I know not, I, nor can I guess, Unless some fit or frenzy do possess her:[4453] For I have heard my grandsire say full oft, Extremity of griefs would make men mad;[4454] And I have read that Hecuba of Troy 20 Ran mad for sorrow: that made me to fear;[4455] 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: Which made me down to throw my books and fly, 25 Causeless perhaps. But pardon me, sweet aunt: And, madam, if my uncle Marcus go, I will most willingly attend your ladyship.[4456]
Marc. Lucius, I will. [Lavinia turns over with her stumps the books which Lucius has let fall.[4457]
Tit. How now, Lavinia! Marcus, what means this? 30 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,[4458] And so beguile thy sorrow, till the heavens 35 Reveal the damn'd contriver of this deed.[4459] Why lifts she up her arms in sequence thus?
Marc. I think she means that there were more than one[4460] Confederate in the fact; ay, more there was; Or else to heaven she heaves them for revenge.[4461] 40
Tit. Lucius, what book is that she tosseth so?[4462]
Boy. Grandsire, 'tis Ovid's Metamorphoses:[4463] 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![4464] 45 Help her:[4465] What would she find? Lavinia, shall I read? This is the tragic tale of Philomel, And treats of Tereus' treason and his rape; And rape, I fear, was root of thine annoy. 50
Marc. See, brother, see; note how she quotes the leaves.
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![4466] 55 Ay, such a place there is, where we did hunt--[4466] O, had we never, never hunted there!-- Pattern'd by that the poet here describes, By nature made for murders and for rapes.
Marc. O, why should nature build so foul a den, 60 Unless the gods delight in tragedies?[4467]
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,[4468] That left the camp to sin in Lucrece' bed?[4469] 65
Marc. Sit down, sweet niece: brother, sit down by me. Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury, Inspire me, that I may this treason find! My lord, look here: look here, Lavinia: This sandy plot is plain; guide, if thou canst, 70 This after me. [_He writes his name with his staff, and guides it with feet and mouth._] I have writ my name[4470] Without the help of any hand at all. Cursed be that heart that forced us to this shift![4471] Write thou, good niece; and here display at last[4472] What God will have discovered for revenge:[4473] 75 Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain, That we may know the traitors and the truth!
[She takes the staff in her month, and guides it with her stumps, and writes.
Tit. O, do ye read, my lord, what she hath writ?[4474] 'Stuprum. Chiron. Demetrius.'
Marc. What, what! the lustful sons of Tamora 80 Performers of this heinous, bloody deed?[4475]
Tit. Magni Dominator poli,[4476] Tam lentus audis scelera? tam lentus vides?
Marc. O, calm thee, gentle lord; although I know There is enough written upon this earth 85 To stir a mutiny in the mildest thoughts And arm the minds of infants to exclaims.[4477] My lord, kneel down with me; Lavinia, kneel; And kneel, sweet boy, the Roman Hector's hope; And swear with me, as, with the woful fere[4478] 90 And father of that chaste dishonour'd dame,[4479] Lord Junius Brutus sware for Lucrece' rape,[4480] That we will prosecute by good advice[4481] Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths, And see their blood, or die with this reproach.[4482] 95
Tit. 'Tis sure enough, an you knew how.[4483] But if you hunt these bear-whelps, then beware:[4484][4485] The dam will wake; and if she wind you once,[4485][4486] She's with the lion deeply still in league, And lulls him whilst she playeth on her back,[4487] 100 And when he sleeps will she do what she list. You are a young huntsman, Marcus; let alone;[4488] And, come, I will go get a leaf of brass, And with a gad of steel will write these words, And lay it by: the angry northern wind 105 Will blow these sands, like Sibyl's leaves, abroad, And where's your lesson then? Boy, what say you?[4489]
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. 110
Marc. Ay, that's my boy! thy father hath full oft For his ungrateful country done the like.[4490]
Boy. And, uncle, so will I, an if I live.[4491]
Tit. Come, go with me into mine armoury;[4492] Lucius, I'll fit thee, and withal, my boy[4493] 115 Shall carry from me to the empress' sons[4493][4494] Presents that I intend to send them both: Come, come; thou'lt do thy message, wilt thou not?[4495]
Boy. Ay, with my dagger in their bosoms, grandsire.[4496]
Tit. No, boy, not so; I'll teach thee another course.[4497] 120 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.[4498]
Marc. O heavens, can you hear a good man groan, And not relent, or not compassion him? 125 Marcus, attend him in his ecstasy, 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.[4499] Revenge, ye heavens, for old Andronicus! [Exit.[4500] 130
Act IV, 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_.[4501]
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. 5 [Aside] And pray the Roman gods confound you both![4502]
Dem. Gramercy, lovely Lucius: what's the news?[4503]
Boy. [Aside] That you are both decipher'd, that's the news,[4502][4504] For villains mark'd with rape.--May it please you,[4505] 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;[4506] And so I do, and with his gifts present Your lordships, that, whenever you have need,[4507] 15 You may be armed and appointed well: And so I leave you both, [Aside] like bloody villains.[4502]
[Exeunt Boy and Attendant.[4508]
Dem. What's here? A scroll, and written round about! Let's see: [Reads] 'Integer vitæ, scelerisque purus, 20 Non eget Mauri jaculis, nec arcu.'[4509]
Chi. O, 'tis a verse in Horace; I know it well: I read it in the grammar long ago.
Aar. Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it. [Aside] Now, what a thing it is to be an ass![4510] 25 Here's no sound jest: the old man hath found their guilt,[4510][4511] And sends them weapons wrapp'd about with lines,[4510][4512] That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.[4510] But were our witty empress well afoot,[4510] She would applaud Andronicus' conceit:[4510] 30 But let her rest in her unrest awhile.--[4510] 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 35 To brave the tribune in his brother's hearing.[4513]
Dem. But me more good, to see so great a lord Basely insinuate and send us gifts.
Aar. Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius? Did you not use his daughter very friendly? 40
Dem. I would we had a thousand Roman dames At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.[4514]
Chi. A charitable wish and full of love.[4515]
Aar. Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.[4515][4516]
Chi. And that would she for twenty thousand more. 45
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.[4517]
Dem. Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?
Chi. Belike, for joy the emperor hath a son. 50
Dem. Soft! who comes here?
Enter Nurse, with a blackamoor Child.
Nur. Good morrow, lords:[4518][4519] O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?[4519]
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! 55 Now help, or woe betide thee evermore!
Aar. Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep![4520] What dost thou wrap and fumble in thine arms?
Nur. O, that which I would hide from heaven's eye, Our empress' shame and stately Rome's disgrace! 60 She is deliver'd, lords, she is deliver'd.[4521]
Aar. To whom?[4522][4523]
Nur. I mean, she is brought a-bed.[4522]
Aar. Well, God give her good rest! What hath he sent her?[4522][4524]
Nur. A devil.[4522]
Aar. Why, then she is the devil's dam;[4522][4525] A joyful issue.[4522][4525] 65
Nur. A joyless, dismal, black and sorrowful issue: Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad Amongst the fairest breeders of our clime:[4526] The empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal, And bids thee christen it with thy dagger's point. 70
Aar. 'Zounds, ye whore! is black so base a hue?[4527] Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous blossom, sure.[4528]
Dem. Villain, what hast thou done?
Aar. That which thou canst not undo.[4529]
Chi. Thou hast undone our mother. 75
Aar. Villain, I have done thy mother.[4530]
Dem. And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her.[4531] Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed choice! Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!
Chi. It shall not live. 80
Aar. It shall not die.[4532]
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: 85 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.[4533]
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, 90 He dies upon my scimitar's sharp point[4534] That touches this my first-born son and heir! I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus, With all his threatening band of Typhon's brood, Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war, 95 Shall seize this prey out of his father's hands.[4535] What, what, ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys![4536] Ye white-limed walls! ye alehouse painted signs![4537] Coal-black is better than another hue, In that it scorns to bear another hue;[4538] 100 For all the water in the ocean Can never turn the swan's black legs to white,[4539] Although she lave them hourly in the flood. Tell the empress from me, I am of age[4540] To keep mine own, excuse it how she can. 105
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, 110 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.
Nur. The emperor in his rage will doom her death.
Chi. I blush to think upon this ignomy.[4541] 115
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![4542] Here's a young lad framed of another leer: Look, how the black slave smiles upon the father, 120 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[4543] He is enfranchised and come to light: 125 Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,[4544] Although my seal be stamped in his face.
Nur. Aaron, what shall I say unto the empress?[4545]
Dem. Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done, And we will all subscribe to thy advice:[4546] 130 Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.[4547]
Aar. Then sit we down, and let us all consult. My son and I will have the wind of you: Keep there: now talk at pleasure of your safety. [They sit.[4548]
Dem. How many women saw this child of his? 135
Aar. Why, so, brave lords! when we join in league,[4549] I am a lamb: but if you brave the Moor, The chafed boar, the mountain lioness, The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.[4550] But say, again, how many saw the child?[4551] 140
Nur. Cornelia the midwife and myself; And no one else but the deliver'd empress.[4552]
Aar. The empress, the midwife, and yourself: Two may keep counsel when the third's away:[4553] Go to the empress, tell her this I said. [He kills the Nurse.[4554] 145 Weke, weke![4555] So cries a pig prepared to the spit.[4555][4556]
Dem. What mean'st thou, Aaron? wherefore didst thou this?[4557]
Aar. O Lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy: Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours, 150 A long-tongued babbling gossip? no, lords, no: And now be it known to you my full intent. Not far, one Muliteus, my countryman,[4558] His wife but yesternight was brought to bed; His child is like to her, fair as you are: 155 Go pack with him, and give the mother gold, And tell them both the circumstance of all; And how by this their child shall be advanced,[4559] And be received for the emperor's heir,[4560] And substituted in the place of mine, 160 To calm this tempest whirling in the court;[4561] And let the emperor dandle him for his own. Hark ye, lords; you see I have given her physic,
[Pointing to the Nurse.[4562]
And you must needs bestow her funeral; The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: 165 This done, see that you take no longer days,[4563] But send the midwife presently to me. The midwife and the nurse well made away, Then let the ladies tattle what they please.[4564]
Chi. Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air[4565] 170 With secrets.[4565]
Dem. For this care of Tamora, Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
[Exeunt Dem. and Chi. bearing off the Nurse's body.[4566]
Aar. Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies; There to dispose this treasure in mine arms, And secretly to greet the empress' friends. 175 Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence; For it is you that puts us to our shifts:[4567] I'll make you feed on berries and on roots,[4568] And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,[4569] And cabin in a cave, and bring you up 180 To be a warrior and command a camp. [Exit.
Act IV, 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_.[4570]
Tit. Come, Marcus, come; kinsmen, this is the way.[4571] Sir boy, let me see your archery;[4572] Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there straight. Terras Astræa reliquit:[4573] Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled.[4573][4574] 5 Sirs, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shall[4573][4575] Go sound the ocean, and cast your nets;[4573] Happily you may catch her in the sea;[4573][4576] Yet there's as little justice as at land: No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it; 10 'Tis 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;[4577] Tell him, it is for justice and for aid, 15 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.
Marc. O Publius, is not this a heavy case, 25 To see thy noble uncle thus distract?
Pub. Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns[4578][4579] 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.[4580] Join with the Goths, and with revengeful war Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.
Tit. Publius, how now! how now, my masters![4581] 35 What, have you met with her?[4581]
Pub. No, my good lord; but Pluto sends you word,[4578] If you will have Revenge from hell, you shall: Marry, for Justice, she is so employ'd,[4582] 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.[4583] Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we, 45 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:[4584] And sith there's no justice in earth nor hell,[4585] 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;[4586]
[He gives them the arrows.
'Ad Jovem,' that's for you: here, 'Ad Apollinem:'[4587] 'Ad Martem,' that's for myself:[4588] Here, boy, to Pallas: here, to Mercury: 55 To Saturn, Caius, not to Saturnine;[4589] You were as good to shoot against the wind. To it, boy! Marcus, loose when I bid.[4590] Of my word, I have written to effect;[4591] There's not a god left unsolicited. 60
Marc. Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court:[4592] We will afflict the emperor in his pride.
Tit. Now, masters, draw. [They shoot.] O, well said, Lucius![4593] Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas.[4594]
Marc. My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon;[4595] 65 Your letter is with Jupiter by this.
Tit. Ha, ha![4596] Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?[4596] See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns.[4597]
Marc. This was the sport, my lord: when Publius shot, 70 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?[4598] She laugh'd, and told the Moor he should not choose But give them to his master for a present. 75
Tit. Why, there it goes: God give his lordship joy![4599]
Enter a Clown, with a basket, and two pigeons in it.[4600]
News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post is come.[4601] Sirrah, what tidings? have you any letters? Shall I have justice? what says Jupiter?
Clo. O, the gibbet-maker! he says that he hath taken[4602] 80 them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the next week.
Tit. But what says Jupiter, I ask thee?[4603]
Clo. Alas, sir, I know not Jupiter; I never drank with[4604][4605] him in all my life.[4604] 85
Tit. Why, villain, art not thou the carrier?
Clo. Ay, of my pigeons, sir; nothing else.[4606]
Tit. Why, didst thou not come from heaven?
Clo. From heaven! alas, sir, I never came there: God[4607] forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young[4608] 90 days. Why, I 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.
Marc. Why, sir, that is as fit as can be to serve for your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to the 95 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, 100 But give your pigeons to the emperor: By me thou shalt have justice at his hands. Hold, hold; meanwhile here's money for thy charges.[4609] Give me pen and ink.[4610] Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication? 105
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. 110
Clo. I warrant you, sir, let me alone.
Tit. Sirrah, hast thou a knife? come, let me see it. 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,[4611] 115 Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.
Clo. God be with you, sir; I will. [Exit.[4612]
Tit. Come, Marcus, let us go. Publius, follow me. [Exeunt.[4613]
Act IV, Scene IV — The same. Before the palace.
Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, Lords, _and others_; SATURNINUS with the Arrows in his hand that TITUS shot.[4614]
Sat. Why, lords, what wrongs are these! was ever seen[4615] An emperor in Rome thus overborne,[4616] Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent Of egal justice used in such contempt?[4617] My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,[4618] 5 However these disturbers of our peace[4619] Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd But even with law against the wilful sons[4620] Of old Andronicus. And what an if[4621] His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits, 10 Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,[4622] 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: 15 Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome! What's this but libelling against the senate,[4623] And blazoning our unjustice every where?[4623][4624] A goodly humour, is it not, my lords? As who would say, in Rome no justice were. 20 But if I live, his feigned ecstasies[4625] Shall be no shelter to these outrages: But he and his shall know that justice lives In Saturninus' health; whom, if he sleep,[4626][4627] He'll so awake, as he in fury shall[4627] 25 Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.[4628]
Tam. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,[4629] Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,[4630] Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,[4631] 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[4632] Than prosecute the meanest or the best For these contempts. [Aside] Why, thus it shall become[4633] High-witted Tamora to gloze with all:[4634] 35 But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,[4635] Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,[4635][4636] Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.[4637]
Enter Clown.
How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us?
Clo. Yea, forsooth, an your mistership be emperial.[4638] 40
Tam. Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.
Clo. 'Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you god-den:[4639][4640] I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons[4639] here. [Saturninus reads the letter.[4639][4641]
Sat. Go, take him away, and hang him presently.[4642] 45
Clo. How much money must I have?[4643]
Tam. Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.[4644]
Clo. Hanged! by'r lady, then I have brought up a neck[4645] to a fair end. [Exit, guarded.[4646]
Sat. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! 50 Shall I endure this monstrous villany? I know from whence this same device proceeds:[4647] May this be borne? As if his traitorous sons,[4648] That died by law for murder of our brother, Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully![4649] 55 Go, drag the villain hither by the hair; Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege:[4650] 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.[4651]
What news with thee, Æmilius?[4652]
Æmil. Arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause.[4653] The Goths have gather'd head, and with a power[4654] Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil, They hither march amain, under conduct[4655] 65 Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus; Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do[4656] As much as ever Coriolanus did.
Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?[4657][4658] 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:[4659] 'Tis he the common people love so much; Myself hath often heard them say,[4660] When I have walked like a private man, 75 That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully, And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor.[4661]
Tam. Why should you fear? is not your city strong?[4662]
Sat. Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,[4657] 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?[4663] The eagle suffers little birds to sing, And is not careful what they mean thereby, Knowing that with the shadow of his wings[4664] 85 He can at pleasure stint their melody: Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome.[4665] 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; Whenas the one is wounded with the bait, The other rotted with delicious feed.[4666]
Sat. But he will not entreat his son for us.[4657][4667]
Tam. If Tamora entreat him, then he will:[4668] 95 For I can smooth, and fill his aged ears[4669] With golden promises; that, were his heart Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,[4670] Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue. [To Æmilius] Go thou before, be our ambassador:[4671] 100 Say that the emperor requests a parley Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.[4672]
Sat. Æmilius, do this message honourably:[4657][4667] And if he stand on hostage for his safety,[4673] 105 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,[4674] To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. 110 And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again, And bury all thy fear in my devices.[4675]
Sat. Then go successantly, and plead to him. [Exeunt.[4676]
FOOTNOTES:
[4443] ACT IV. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus Quartus. Ff. om. Qq.
Rome. Titus's garden.] Edd. Titus's House. Theobald. Before Titus' House. Capell.
Enter young Lucius....] Ff. Enter Lucius sonne.... Qq.
Then enter....] Enter.... Qq Ff.
[4444] Boy.] Ff. Puer. Qq (and throughout the scene).
[4445] thine] Qq. thy Ff.
[4446] Fear her not] Qq. Feare not Ff. Fear thou not Rowe.
[4447] See] Marc. See S. Walker conj.
[4448] Somewhither] Some whether Qq F₁. Some whither F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4449] Ah,] F₄. A Q₁. Ah Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4450] Read ... read] Ff. Red ... red Qq.
[4451] Orator] Oratory Rowe. oratory Pope.
[4452] Marc.] Capell. Qq Ff continue the line to the preceding speaker.
[4453] or] of Anon. conj.
[4454] griefs] greeves Q₁. grief Rowe.
[4455] for] Q₁. through Q₂ Ff.
[4456] will] F₁ F₂. om. F₃ F₄.
[4457] [Lavinia....] Malone, following Capell. om. Qq Ff.
[4458] take] make Rowe.
[4459] After deed Ff insert, as a separate line, What booke?
[4460] were] Q₁. was Q₂ Ff.
[4461] for] Qq. to Ff.
[4462] tosseth] tosses Rowe.
[4463] Metamorphoses] Pope. Metamorphosis Qq Ff.
[4464] Soft! so] Soft, so Qq Ff. Soft! see how Rowe. Soft, soft; how Capell. Soft! how Knight. Soft, soft! so Keightley.
[4465] Help her:] As a separate line in Capell. Joined to line 47 in Qq Ff. Helping her (as a stage direction) Edd. Globe ed. (Dyce conj.) See note (VI).
[4466] See ... hunt] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.
[4467] tragedies?] tragedies, Q₁.
[4468] slunk] F₃ F₄. slunke F₁ F₂. slonke Qq.
erst] ersts F₁.
[4469] sin] finne Q₁.
bed?] F₃ F₄. bed. Qq F₁ F₂.
[4470] me. I] mee, I Q₁. me, I Q₂ F₁. me, when I F₂ F₃ F₄. me. where I Collier MS. me. There I Collier conj. me. See, I Keightley.
[He ... mouth.] Qq Ff, after line 69. Transferred hither by Collier. Placed after line 72 by Capell.
feet] his feet F₄.
mouth.] mouths. F₂.
[4471] be that] be the Collier MS.
heart] F₂ F₃ F₄. hart Qq F₁.
this] Qq F₂ F₃ F₄. that F₁.
[4472] last] least Rowe.
[4473] discovered] discover'd F₃ F₄.
[4474] Tit.] F₂ F₃ F₄. Titus. Q₂. Ti. F₁. Omitted in Q₁. Boy. Capell MS. conj.
ye] you F₃ F₄.
writ] writs F₁.
[4475] heinous] hateful Rowe.
[4476] Magni Dominator] Qq Ff. Magne Dominator Theobald. Magne Regnator Hanmer.
[4477] exclaims] exclaim Keightley. extremes Anon. conj.
[4478] fere] feere Qq F₁ F₂. feer F₃. peer F₄.
[4479] dishonour'd] Capell. dishonoured Qq Ff.
[4480] sware] F₃ F₄. sweare Qq F₁ F₂.
[4481] advice] Q₁ F₃ F₄. advise Q₂ F₁ F₂. device Collier conj.
[4482] or] ere Theobald.
[4483] an] Capell. and Qq Ff. if Pope.
how] how to do it Collier (Collier MS.)
[4484] hunt] hurt Rowe.
[4485] beware: The] Capell. beware, The Qq. beware The Ff. be ware: The Capell conj.
[4486] wake; and if ... once,] Theobald. wake, and if ... once, Qq Ff. wake, an if ... once: Staunton.
[4487] playeth] palyeth F₁.
[4488] You are] You're Pope.
let alone] Q₁. let it alone Q₂ Ff.
[4489] your] you Q₁.
[4490] his] this Rowe (ed. 2).
[4491] an if] Theobald. and if Qq Ff.
[4492] mine] my Pope.
[4493] boy Shall] boy, Shalt Capell.
[4494] from] for Capell.
[4495] thy] my Rowe.
[4496] bosoms] bosomes Qq F₁. bosome F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4497] thee] om. Collier MS.
[4498] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Boy, Titus and Lavinia. Capell. Exeunt. Qq Ff.
[4499] yet] yet's Hanmer.
[4500] Revenge, ye heavens,] Dyce (Johnson conj.) Revenge the heavens Qq Ff. Revenge, oh heav'ns, Hanmer. Revenge thee, heav'ns, Warburton. Revenge then heavens, Tyrwhitt conj. Revenge thee, heaven, Capell. Revenge!--the heavens' Jackson conj. Revenge, the heavens, S. Walker conj.
[4501] SCENE II.] Pope.
The same. A room in the palace.] Capell. The Palace. Theobald.
Enter ... an Attendant....] Enter ... another.... Qq Ff.
[4502] [Aside] First marked by Capell.
[4503] what's] what Q₁.
[4504] Boy. That ... news,] Puer. That ... newes, Qq. Omitted in Ff.
[4505] For villains] For villaines Qq. For villaine's F₁. Boy. For villaines F₂. Boy. For villains F₃ F₄.
[4506] bid] Q₁. bad Q₂ Ff.
[4507] that] Pope. om. Qq Ff.
[4508] like bloody] like-bloody Anon. conj.
[Exeunt....] Capell. Exit. Qq Ff.
[4509] eget] Qq F₃ F₄. egit F₁ F₂.
Mauri] maury Q₂ F₁.
arcu] F₂ F₃ F₄. arcus Qq F₁.
[4510] Now ... awhile] First marked as 'Aside' by Johnson.
[4511] sound] fond Theobald.
[4512] them] Q₁. the Q₂ Ff.
[4513] brother's] Rowe. brothers Q₂ Ff. bothers Q₁.
[4514] our] out F₂.
[4515] Chi. A charitable ... love. Aar. Here] Aar. A charitable ... love: Here S. Walker conj.
[4516] lacks] Qq F₃ F₄. lack's F₁ F₂. lacketh Theobald.
your] Qq F₃ F₄. you F₁ F₂.
for to say] for say F₂. to say Pope.
[4517] [Aside] Johnson.
[Trumpets sound within.] Trumpets sound. Qq. Flourish. Ff. Trumpets within. Capell.
[4518] Enter....] Qq Ff. Enter a Nurse hastily, with a Child in her Arms. Capell.
Act IV, Scene III — Pope
[4519] Good ... Moor?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.
[4520] caterwauling] Theobald. catterwaling Q₁. catterwalling Q₂ Ff.
[4521] deliver'd ... deliver'd] Pope. delivered ... delivered Qq Ff.
[4522] To whom ... issue] Capell ends the lines at God ... devil ... joyful issue.
[4523] whom?] whom. Q₁.
a-bed] a bed Qq F₁ F₂. to bed F₃ F₄.
[4524] Well ... her] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4525] Why ... issue] Arranged as by Hanmer. One line in Qq Ff.
[4526] breeders] burdens Collier MS.
[4527] 'Zounds, ye] Zounds ye Qq. Out you Ff. Out, out, you Theobald. Out on you, Capell. Why, zounds you Keightley. Zounds, you white Lettsom conj.
[4528] blowse] blows Q₂.
[4529] That] Done! that Capell, ending the line at thou.
[4530] Aar. Villain ... mother.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.
I have] I've Theobald.
[4531] undone her.] undone her, Q₁. undone, Q₃ F₁ F₂. undone-- F₃ F₄.
[4532] It ... die] I say, it ... die Steevens conj.
[4533] [Takes....] Capell, substantially. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4534] scimitar's] Hanmer. Semitars Qq Ff. Cymitar's Rowe.
[4535] prey] pray Q₁.
[4536] ye sanguine] y'unsanguine Hanmer.
[4537] white-limed] white limed Pope (ed. 2). white-lim'd Theobald, white-limbde Qq. white-limb'd Ff. white-limn'd Malone conj.
[4538] scorns] seems Johnson. See note (VII).
[4539] white] write F₂.
[4540] of age] a man Collier MS.
[4541] ignomy] ignomie Qq. ignominie F₁. ignominy F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4542] the heart] thy heart Q₁.
[4543] that] Q₂ Ff. your Q₁.
imprison'd] Pope. imprisoned Qq Ff.
[4544] he is] he's Pope.
[4545] empress?] empresse. Q₁.
[4546] advice] F₄. advise Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4547] all be] be all Pope.
[4548] [They sit.] They sit on the ground. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4549] when] now when or so when Anon. conj.
we] Qq F₁. we all F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4550] as] Qq F₃ F₄. at F₁ F₂.
[4551] child?] child. Q₁.
[4552] no one] Qq. none Ff.
deliver'd] Pope. delivered Qq Ff.
[4553] the] the the F₁.
[4554] [He kills the Nurse.] He kils her. Qq Ff.
[4555] Weke ... spit] Edd. One line in Qq Ff.
[4556] prepared] Qq F₁ F₂. prepar'd F₃ F₄.
[4557] What ... this?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4558] far, one Muliteus] Qq Ff. far, one Muliteus lives Rowe. far, one Muley lives Steevens conj. far, one Muli lives Singer. far hence, Muli lives Collier (Collier MS.), far on, Muli lives Collier conj.
[4559] shall] may Johnson (1771).
[4560] received] receiv'd Warburton.
[4561] whirling] whistling Long MS.
[4562] Hark ye, lords] Hark ye, my lords Theobald. But, hark ye, lords Capell.
you see] Q₁. ye see Q₂ Ff.
I] that I Steevens (1793).
[Pointing to the Nurse.] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.
[4563] take no longer days] make no long delays Collier MS.
[4564] please] may Collier MS.
[4565] Aaron ... secrets] Arranged as by Theobald. One line in Qq. Ff.
[4566] [Exeunt....] Exeunt ... Nurse. Capell. Exeunt. Qq. Ff.
[4567] puts] put Theobald.
[4568] feed] thrive Collier MS. See note (VIII).
[4569] feed] feast Hanmer.
[4570] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope.
The same. A public place.] Capell. A street near the Palace. Theobald.
Enter....] Enter Titus, old Marcus, young Lucius, and other gentlemen with bowes, and Titus beares the arrowes with Letters on the endes of them. Qq Ff.
young Lucius, and other Gentlemen (Publius ... Caius)] Edd. Publius, young Lucius, and other Gentlemen, Collier, ed. 2 (Williams conj.)
[4571] come; kinsmen,] Theobald. come, kinsemen Q₁. come, kinsmen Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃. come kinsmen, F₄.
[4572] let] Qq F₁. now let F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4573] Terras ... sea] Arranged as by Capell. Four lines, ending Marcus ... tooles, ... Ocean, ... sea, in Qq Ff.
[4574] you] your Rowe (ed. 2).
[4575] Sirs] Sir Johnson (1771).
[4576] Happily] happily Qq. haply Ff.
catch] Q₁. finde Q₂. find Ff.
[4577] deliver him] Qq F₁ F₂. to deliver him F₃ F₄. to deliver Pope.
[4578] Pub.] 1. G. Capell.
[4579] lord] F₂ F₃ F₄. lords Qq F₁.
[4580] Kinsmen] Kinsman S. Walker conj.
[4581] masters! What, have] masters, what? Have Hanmer. masters? well; What, have Capell.
[4582] so] now Hanmer.
[4583] Acheron] F₂ F₃ F₄. Acaron Qq F₁.
[4584] backs] Qq F₄. back F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4585] there's no justice] no justice is Collier (Collier MS.)
nor] or Hanmer.
[4586] Come, to] Theobald. Come to Qq Ff.
You are] you're Pope.
[4587] Apollinem] Rowe (ed. 2). Apollonem Qq F₂ F₃ F₄. Appollonem F₁.
[4588] that's] O, that's Capell.
[4589] To Saturn, Caius] Capell. To Saturnine, to Caius Qq Ff. To Cœlus and to Saturn Rowe (ed. 1). To Saturn and to Cœlus Rowe (ed. 2).
[4590] boy] my boys Capell. my boy Keightley.
loose] loose thou Hanmer. loose you Malone.
[4591] Of my] O' my Hanmer. Sirs, o' my Capell.
[4592] Kinsmen] Kindsmen Q₁.
[4593] [They shoot.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.
[4594] boy, in] Theobald. boy in Qq Ff.
give it] she'll give it Capell. give it to Johnson.
Pallas] to Pallas Hanmer.
[4595] aim] F₄. aime Qq F₁. ayme F₂. aym F₃. am Rowe. aim'd Collier MS.
[4596] Ha! ha! Publius, Publius] As in Dyce. In the same line in Qq Ff. Ha, Publius, Publius, ha! Hanmer. Ha! Publius, Publius Capell.
[4597] thou hast] thou'st Pope.
[4598] empress' villain] empress, villain Rowe.
villain?] Hanmer. villaine: Qq Ff.
[4599] his] Q₁. your Q₂ Ff.
[4600] a Clown] the Clowne Qq Ff.
in it] Qq F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4601] News ... come.] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two, the first ending heaven, in Qq Ff.
[4602] O,] Ho Qq Ff. Who? Rowe.
gibbet-maker] F₄. Iiebbetmaker Q₁. Iibbetmaker Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃.
he hath] hath Rowe (ed. 2).
[4603] But] Tut F₃ F₄.
[4604] Alas, ... life.] As prose first by Capell. Two lines, the first ending Jupiter, in Qq Ff.
[4605] Jupiter] Jew Peter Steevens conj.
[4606] nothing] of nothing Keightley.
[4607] From ... there:] As prose in Pope. A separate line in Qq Ff.
[4608] to heaven] into heaven Rowe.
[4609] here's] Qq F₄. her's F₁ F₃. hers F₂.
[4610] pen] Qq F₁. a pen F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4611] to] Q₁. om. Q₂ Ff.
[4612] [Exit.] Qq F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4613] let us] let's Steevens (1793).
[4614] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope.
The same. Before....] Capell. The Palace. Theobald.
Enter....] Malone, after Capell. Enter Emperour and Empresse, and her two sonnes, the Emperour brings the Arrowes in his hand that Titus shot at him. Qq Ff (shoot F₂).
[4615] Why, lords,] As in Qq. As a separate line in Ff.
[4616] An] Am F₂.
in] of Rowe.
[4617] egal] egall Qq F₁. equall F₂. equal F₃ F₄.
contempt?] contempt. Q₁.
[4618] know, as know ... gods] Edd. know, as do ... gods Rowe. know the mightfull gods Qq Ff. know, the mightfull gods no less Collier (Collier MS.)
[4619] these] the Rowe.
[4620] law] the law Boswell. See note (IX).
[4621] an if] Theobald. and if Qq Ff.
[4622] wreaks] freaks Hanmer.
[4623] the senate, And blazoning] the state, And blazing Capell conj.
[4624] unjustice] Qq. injustice Ff.
[4625] ecstasies] extasy Capell conj.
[4626] health] wealth Capell conj.
whom] who Capell.
[4627] if he ... as he] Qq Ff. if she ... as she Rowe.
[4628] proud'st] proudest Rowe.
[4629] my lovely] most lovely Warburton.
[4630] thoughts] thought Rowe (ed. 2).
[4631] age] rage Capell conj.
[4632] comfort] pity Capell.
[4633] [Aside] F₁, opposite line 35. Omitted in Qq F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4634] with all] withal Pope.
[4635] quick, Thy] quick, And, through the bodies of thy children, drawn Thy S. Walker conj.
[4636] Thy life-blood out] Thy life blood out Qq F₁. Thy life blood ont F₂. Thy life blood on't F₃ F₄. My ... on't Grant White. The ... on't Collier MS. See note (VIII).
out: ... wise,] out, ... wise: Staunton conj.
[4637] anchor] Q₁. anchor's Q₂ Ff.
[4638] Yea] Yes Johnson.
an] Pope. & Q₁. and Q₂ Ff.
mistership] mistresship Johnson.
[4639] 'Tis ... here.] As prose first in Capell. Two lines in Qq Ff. Four rhyming lines in Collier MS.
[4640] god-den] godden Q₁. good den Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃. good-e'en F₄. good-even Theobald.
[4641] here] for want of better Collier MS.
[Saturninus....] The Emperor.... Johnson. Hee.... Qq Ff.
[4642] presently.] presently? Q₁.
[4643] have?] have. Q₁.
[4644] you] thou F₃ F₄.
[4645] by'r] F₄. ber F₁ bir F₂ F₃. be Qq.
then] then, friend, Collier MS., reading as rhymed verse.
up a] my Collier MS.
[4646] [Exit, guarded.] Capell. Exit. Qq Ff.
[4647] device] F₄. devise Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4648] borne? As] Ff. borne, as Qq.
[4649] butcher'd] Ff. butchered Qq.
[4650] shape] share Hanmer. have Collier MS.
[4651] Enter Æmilius.] Theobald. Enter Nuntius Emillius. Qq F₁ F₂. Enter Nuntius Emilius. F₃. Enter Nuntius Æmilius. F₄.
[4652] What....] Capell. Satur. What.... Q₁ F₁ F₂ F₃. Saturn. What.... Q₂. Sat. What.... F₄.
[4653] Arm, my lords] Arme my Lords Qq F₁ F₂. Arm my Lords F₃ F₄. Arm, my lords, arm Hanmer. Arm, arm, my lords Warburton. Arm, arm, my lord Edd., Globe Ed. (Capell conj.) Arm, my lord Dyce. Arm ye, my lords Anon. conj.
[4654] gather'd] Ff. gathered Qq.
[4655] conduct] Qq F₁. the conduct F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4656] this] his Rowe.
[4657] Sat.] King. Qq.
[4658] Goths?] Gothes, Qq.
[4659] Ay, now begin] Rowe. I, now begin F₃ F₄. I now begins Q₁. I, now begins Q₂ F₁. I now begin F₂.
[4660] hath often heard] Qq Ff. hath often over-heard Theobald. have often over-heard Hanmer. hath very often heard Collier (Collier MS.)
say] say aloud Keightley.
[4661] they have] om. Collier MS.
that Lucius] he Anon. conj.
[4662] your] Qq. our Ff.
[4663] in it] in 's flame Collier MS.
in it?] in it; Qq.
[4664] wings] wing Knight, reading lines 83-86 as a quatrain.
[4665] mayst] may'st F₃ F₄. mayest Qq F₁ F₂.
[4666] feed] feede Q₂. seede Q₁. Foode F₁ F₂. Food F₃ F₄.
[4667] Sat.] King. Qq Ff.
[4668] then] than Q₁.
[4669] smooth] sooth Capell conj.
ears] eares Q₁. eare Q₂ F₁ F₂. ear F₃ F₄.
[4670] ears] yeares Qq.
[4671] [To Æmilius] Rowe. before, be] Capell. before to be Qq. before to Ff. before as Rowe.
[4672] Even ... Andronicus.] Q₁. Omitted in Q₂ Ff.
[4673] on] F₄. in Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4674] with all] withall F₂.
[4675] devices] F₃ F₄. devises Qq F₁ F₂.
[4676] successantly] successfully Rowe. incessantly Capell. thou instantly Collier conj.
successantly, and plead] and plead incessantly Collier conj.
to him] Qq. for him Ff. for me Rowe. 'fore him Collier (Collier MS.) See note (VIII).
[Exeunt] Qq. Exit. Ff.
Act V, Scene I — Plains near Rome.
Flourish. Enter LUCIUS and Goths, with drum and colours.[4677]
Luc. Approved warriors, and my faithful friends, I have received letters from great Rome, Which signify what hate they bear their emperor,[4678] And how desirous of our sight they are. Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, 5 Imperious, and impatient of your wrongs; And wherein Rome hath done you any scath, Let him make treble satisfaction.
First Goth. Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus,[4679] 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,[4680] Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day, Led by their master to the flowered fields,[4681] 15 And be avenged on cursed Tamora.[4682]
All the Goths. And as he saith, so say we all with him.[4683]
Luc. I 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.[4684]
Sec. Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd[4685] 20 To gaze upon a ruinous monastery; And, as I earnestly did fix mine eye Upon the wasted building, suddenly[4686] I heard a child cry underneath a wall. I made unto the noise; when soon I heard 25 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-- 'For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth; Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe, 35 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; And here's the base fruit of his burning lust.[4687] Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey[4688] This growing image of thy fiend-like face?[4689] 45 Why dost not speak? what, deaf? not a word?[4690] 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.[4691]
Aar. Lucius, save the child, And bear it from me to the empress. If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things, 55 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!'[4692]
Luc. Say on: an if it please me which thou speak'st,[4693] Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourish'd. 60
Aar. An if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius,[4694] 'Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak; For I must talk of murders, rapes and massacres, Acts of black night, abominable deeds,[4695] Complots of mischief, treason, villanies[4696] 65 Ruthful to hear, yet piteously perform'd:[4697] And this shall all be buried in my death,[4698] Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.
Luc. Tell on thy mind; I say thy child shall live.[4699]
Aar. Swear that he shall, and then I will begin. 70
Luc. Who should I swear by? thou believest no god:[4700] That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?[4701]
Aar. What if I do not? as, indeed, I do not;[4702] Yet, for I know thou art religious And hast a thing within thee called conscience, 75 With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies, Which I have seen thee careful to observe, Therefore I urge thy oath; for that I know[4703] An idiot holds his bauble for a god,[4703] And keeps the oath which by that god he swears,[4703] 80 To that I'll urge him: therefore thou shalt vow[4703] 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;[4704] Or else I will discover nought to thee.[4705] 85
Luc. Even by my god I swear to thee I will.[4706]
Aar. First know thou, I begot him on the empress.[4707]
Luc. O most insatiate, and luxurious woman![4708]
Aar. Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity To that which thou shalt hear of me anon. 90 'Twas her two sons that murder'd Bassianus;[4709] They cut thy sister's tongue, and ravish'd her, And cut her hands, and trimm'd her as thou saw'st.[4710]
Luc. O detestable villain! call'st thou that trimming?[4711][4712]
Aar. Why, she was wash'd and cut and trimm'd, and 'twas[4711] 95 Trim sport for them that had the doing of it.[4711][4713]
Luc. O barbarous, beastly villains, like thyself!
Aar. Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them: That codding spirit had they from their mother, As sure a card as ever won the set; 100 That bloody mind, I think, they learn'd of me, As true a dog as ever fought at head. Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth. I train'd thy brethren to that guileful hole, Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay: 105 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: And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue, Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it?[4714] 110 I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand; And, when I had it, drew myself apart,[4715] And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter: I pried me through the crevice of a wall[4716] When for his hand he had his two sons' heads; 115 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, She swounded almost at my pleasing tale,[4717] And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses. 120
First Goth. What, canst thou say all this, and never blush?[4679]
Aar. Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.[4718]
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, 125 Few come within the compass of my curse--[4719] Wherein I did not some notorious ill: As kill a man, or else devise his death; Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it; Accuse some innocent, and forswear myself;[4720] 130 Set deadly enmity between two friends; Make poor men's cattle break their necks;[4721] Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night And bid the owners quench them with their tears.[4722] Oft have I digg'd up dead men from their graves, 135 And set them upright at their dear friends' doors,[4723] Even when their sorrows almost were forgot;[4724] And on their skins, as on the bark of trees, Have with my knife carved in Roman letters 'Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.' 140 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 die 145 So sweet a death as hanging presently.
Aar. If there be devils, would I were a devil, To live and burn in everlasting fire, So I might have your company in hell, But to torment you with my bitter tongue! 150
Luc. Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more.
Enter a Goth.[4725]
Third Goth. My lord, there is a messenger from Rome[4726] Desires to be admitted to your presence.
Luc. Let him come near.
Enter ÆMILIUS.[4727]
Welcome, Æmilius: what's the news from Rome?[4728] 155
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, He craves a parley at your father's house, Willing you to demand your hostages, 160 And they shall be immediately deliver'd.[4729]
First Goth. What says our general?[4679]
Luc. Æmilius, let the emperor give his pledges Unto my father and my uncle Marcus, And we will come. March away. [Flourish. Exeunt.[4730] 165
Act V, Scene II — Rome. Before Titus's house.
Enter TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, and CHIRON, disguised.[4731]
Tam. Thus, in this strange and sad habiliment,[4732] 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,[4733] 5 To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge; Tell him Revenge is come to join with him, And work confusion on his enemies. [They knock.[4734]
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, And all my study be to no effect?[4735] 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. 15
Tam. Titus, I am come to talk with thee.[4736]
Tit. No, not a word: how can I grace my talk, Wanting a hand to give it action?[4737] Thou hast the odds of me; therefore no more.
Tam. If thou didst know me, thou wouldst talk with me.[4738] 20
Tit. I am not mad; I know thee well enough: Witness this wretched stump, witness these crimson lines;[4739] Witness these trenches made by grief and care; Witness the tiring day and heavy night; Witness all sorrow, that I know thee well 25 For our proud empress, mighty Tamora: Is not thy coming for my other hand?[4740]
Tam. Know, thou sad man, I am not Tamora;[4741] 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,[4742] By working wreakful vengeance on thy foes.[4743] 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, 35 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.[4744] 40
Tit. Art thou Revenge? and art thou sent to me, To be a torment to mine enemies?[4745]
Tam. I am; therefore come down and welcome me.[4746]
Tit. Do me some service ere I come to thee. Lo, by thy side where Rape and Murder stands;[4747] 45 Now give some surance that thou art Revenge,[4748] 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.[4749] Provide thee two proper palfreys, black as jet,[4750] 50 To hale thy vengeful waggon swift away, And find out murderers in their guilty caves:[4751] And when thy car is loaden with their heads, I will dismount, and by the waggon-wheel[4752] Trot like a servile footman all day long, 55 Even from Hyperion's rising in the east[4753] Until his very downfall in the sea: And day by day I'll do this heavy task, So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there.
Tam. These are my ministers and come with me.[4754] 60
Tit. Are these thy ministers? what are they call'd?
Tam. Rapine and Murder; therefore called so,[4755] 'Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men.[4756]
Tit. Good Lord, how like the empress' sons they are, And you the empress! but we worldly men 65 Have miserable, mad, mistaking eyes.[4757] 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.[4758]
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,[4759] For now he firmly takes me for Revenge; And, being credulous in this mad thought, I'll make him send for Lucius his son; 75 And, whilst I at a banquet hold him sure, I'll find some cunning practice out of hand, 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.[4760]
Tit. Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee:[4761] 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: 85 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 them 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. 95
Tam. Show me a thousand that have done thee wrong, And I will be revenged on them all.[4762]
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.[4763] Go thou with them; and in the emperor's court There is a queen, attended by a Moor; 105 Well mayst thou know her by thine own proportion,[4764] For up and down she doth resemble thee: 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. 110 But would it please thee, good Andronicus,[4765] 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, 115 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?[4766] 120
Tit. Marcus, my brother! 'tis sad Titus calls.
Enter MARCUS.[4767]
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: 125 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.[4768] 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.[4769]
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, 135 And cleave to no revenge but Lucius.[4770]
Tam. [Aside to her sons] What say you, boys? will you bide with him,[4771] Whiles I go tell my lord the emperor How I have govern'd our determined jest? Yield to his humour, smooth and speak him fair,[4772] 140 And tarry with him till I turn again.[4773]
Tit. [Aside] I know them all, though they suppose me mad;[4774] And will o'er-reach them in their own devices:[4775] A pair of cursed hell-hounds and their dam.[4776]
Dem. Madam, depart at pleasure; leave us here. 145
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.[4777]
Chi. Tell us, old man, how shall we be employ'd?
Tit. Tut, I have work enough for you to do.[4778] 150 Publius, come hither, Caius, and Valentine!
Enter PUBLIUS and others.[4779]
Pub. What is your will?[4780]
Tit. Know you these two?[4781]
Pub. The empress' sons, I take them, Chiron and[4779][4782][4783] Demetrius.[4783] 155
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: Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour, 160 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.[4784]
Chi. Villains, forbear! we are the empress' sons.
Pub. And therefore do we what we are commanded.[4779] Stop close their mouths, let them not speak a word. 165 Is he sure bound? look that you bind them fast.
Re-enter TITUS, with LAVINIA; he bearing a knife, and she a basin.[4785]
Tit. Come, come, Lavinia; look, thy foes are bound.[4786] Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me; But let them hear what fearful words I utter. O villains, Chiron and Demetrius! 170 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[4787] Two of her brothers were condemn'd to death, My hand cut off and made a merry jest; 175 Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dear Than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity, Inhuman traitors, you constrain'd and forced. What would you say, if I should let you speak?[4788] Villains, for shame you could not beg for grace. 180 Hark, wretches! how I mean to martyr you. This one hand yet is left to cut your throats,[4789] Whilst that Lavinia 'tween her stumps doth hold[4790] The basin that receives your guilty blood. You know your mother means to feast with me,[4791] 185 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; And of the paste a coffin I will rear,[4792] And make two pasties of your shameful heads; 190 And bid that strumpet, your unhallow'd dam,[4793] Like to the earth, swallow her own increase.[4794] 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, 195 And worse than Progne I will be revenged:[4795] And now prepare your throats. Lavinia, come,
[He cuts their throats.[4796]
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; 200 And in that paste let their vile heads be baked.[4797] Come, come, be every one officious[4798] To make this banquet; which I wish may prove[4799] More stern and bloody than the Centaurs' feast.[4800] So, now bring them in, for I'll play the cook,[4801] 205 And see them ready against their mother comes.
[Exeunt, bearing the dead bodies.[4802]