Act V, Scene III — Court of Titus's house. A banquet set out.
Enter LUCIUS, MARCUS, and Goths, with AARON, prisoner.[4803]
Luc. Uncle Marcus, since it is my father's mind[4804] That I repair to Rome, I am content.
First Goth. And ours with thine, befall what fortune will.[4805]
Luc. Good uncle, take you in this barbarous Moor, This ravenous tiger, this accursed devil; 5 Let him receive no sustenance, fetter him,[4806] Till he be brought unto the empress' face,[4807] For testimony of her foul proceedings:[4808] And see the ambush of our friends be strong; I fear the emperor means no good to us.[4809] 10
Aar. Some devil whisper curses in mine ear,[4810] And prompt me, that my tongue may utter forth The venomous malice of my swelling heart!
Luc. Away, inhuman dog! unhallow'd slave![4811] Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in. 15
[Exeunt Goths, with Aaron. Flourish within.[4812]
The trumpets show the emperor is at hand.
Enter SATURNINUS and TAMORA, with ÆMILIUS, Tribunes, Senators, and others.[4813]
Sat. What, hath the firmament moe suns than one?[4814]
Luc. What boots it thee to call thyself a sun?[4815]
Marc. Rome's emperor, and nephew, break the parle;[4816] These quarrels must be quietly debated. 20 The feast is ready, which the careful Titus Hath ordain'd to an honourable end,[4817] For peace, for love, for league and good to Rome: Please you, therefore, draw nigh, and take your places.
Sat. Marcus, we will. 25
[Hautboys sound. The Company sit down at table.
Enter TITUS, like a Cook, placing the meat on the table, and LAVINIA with a veil over her face, young LUCIUS, and others.[4818]
Tit. Welcome, my gracious lord; welcome, dread queen;[4819] Welcome, ye warlike Goths; welcome, Lucius;[4820] And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor, 'Twill fill your stomachs; please you eat of it.
Sat. Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?[4821] 30
Tit. Because I would be sure to have all well, To entertain your highness and your empress.
Tam. We are beholding to you, good Andronicus.[4822]
Tit. An if your highness knew my heart, you were.[4823] My lord the emperor, resolve me this: 35 Was it well done of rash Virginius To slay his daughter with his own right hand, Because she was enforced, stain'd, and deflower'd?
Sat. It was, Andronicus.[4821]
Tit. Your reason, mighty lord?[4824] 40
Sat. Because the girl should not survive her shame,[4821] And by her presence still renew his sorrows.
Tit. A reason mighty, strong and effectual,[4825] A pattern, precedent, and lively warrant,[4826] For me, most wretched, to perform the like. 45 Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee, And with thy shame thy father's sorrow die! [Kills Lavinia.[4827]
Sat. What hast thou done, unnatural and unkind?[4821][4828]
Tit. Kill'd her, for whom my tears have made me blind. I am as woful as Virginius was, 50 And have a thousand times more cause than he To do this outrage, and it now is done.[4829]
Sat. What, was she ravish'd? tell who did the deed.[4830]
Tit. Will't please you eat? will't please your highness feed?[4831]
Tam. Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus?[4832] 55
Tit. Not I; 'twas Chiron and Demetrius: They ravish'd her, and cut away her tongue; And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong.
Sat. Go fetch them hither to us presently.[4821][4833]
Tit. Why, there they are both, baked in that pie; 60 Whereof their mother daintily hath fed, Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. 'Tis true, 'tis true; witness my knife's sharp point.
[Kills Tamora.[4834]
Sat. Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed!
[Kills Titus.[4835]
Luc. Can the son's eye behold his father bleed? 65 There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed!
[Kills Saturninus. A great tumult. Lucius, Marcus, and others go up into the balcony.[4836]
Marc. You sad-faced men, people and sons of Rome, By uproars sever'd, as a flight of fowl[4837] Scatter'd by winds and high tempestuous gusts,[4838] O, let me teach you how to knit again[4839] 70 This scatter'd corn into one mutual sheaf, These broken limbs again into one body;[4840] Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself,[4840] And she whom mighty kingdoms court'sy to,[4841] Like a forlorn and desperate castaway,[4842] 75 Do shameful execution on herself. But if my frosty signs and chaps of age,[4843] Grave witnesses of true experience, Cannot induce you to attend my words,-- [To Lucius] Speak, Rome's dear friend: as erst our ancestor,[4844] 80 When with his solemn tongue he did discourse To love-sick Dido's sad attending ear The story of that baleful burning night[4845] When subtle Greeks surprised King Priam's Troy; Tell us what Sinon hath bewitch'd our ears, 85 Or who hath brought the fatal engine in That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound. My heart is not compact of flint nor steel; Nor can I utter all our bitter grief, But floods of tears will drown my oratory, 90 And break my utterance, even in the time[4846] When it should move you to attend me most, Lending your kind commiseration.[4847] Here is a captain, let him tell the tale;[4848] Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak. 95
Luc. Then, noble auditory, be it known to you,[4849] That cursed Chiron and Demetrius Were they that murdered our emperor's brother;[4850] And they it were that ravished our sister:[4851] For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded, 100 Our father's tears despised, and basely cozen'd Of that true hand that fought Rome's quarrel out And sent her enemies unto the grave.[4852] Lastly, myself unkindly banished, The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out, 105 To beg relief among Rome's enemies; Who drown'd their enmity in my true tears, And oped their arms to embrace me as a friend. I am the turned forth, be it known to you,[4853] That have preserved her welfare in my blood, 110 And from her bosom took the enemy's point, Sheathing the steel in my adventurous body. Alas, you know I am no vaunter, I; My scars can witness, dumb although they are, That my report is just and full of truth. 115 But, soft! methinks I do digress too much, Citing my worthless praise: O, pardon me; For when no friends are by, men praise themselves.
Marc. Now is my turn to speak. Behold the child:
[Pointing to the Child in the arms of an Attendant.[4854]
Of this was Tamora delivered; 120 The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes: The villain is alive in Titus' house, And as he is, to witness this is true.[4855] Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge[4856] 125 These wrongs, unspeakable, past patience, Or more than any living man could bear. Now you have heard the truth, what say you, Romans? Have we done aught amiss, show us wherein,[4857] And, from the place where you behold us now, 130 The poor remainder of Andronici[4858] Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down[4859] And on the ragged stones beat forth our brains[4860] And make a mutual closure of our house. Speak, Romans, speak, and if you say we shall, 135 Lo, hand in hand, Lucius and I will fall.
Æmil. Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome,[4861] And bring our emperor gently in thy hand, Lucius our emperor; for well I know The common voice do cry it shall be so.[4862] 140
All. Lucius, all hail, Rome's royal emperor![4863]
Marc. Go, go into old Titus' sorrowful house, [To Attendants.[4864] And hither hale that misbelieving Moor, To be adjudged some direful slaughtering death,[4865] As punishment for his most wicked life. [Exeunt Attendants. 145
LUCIUS, MARCUS, and the others descend.[4866]
All. Lucius, all hail, Rome's gracious governor![4867]
Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans: may I govern so, To heal Rome's harms and wipe away her woe![4868] But, gentle people, give me aim awhile,[4869] For nature puts me to a heavy task;[4870] 150 Stand all aloof; but, uncle, draw you near, To shed obsequious tears upon this trunk.[4871] O, take this warm kiss on thy pale cold lips, [Kissing Titus.[4872] These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face,[4873] The last true duties of thy noble son! 155
Marc. Tear for tear and loving kiss for kiss[4874] Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips: O, were the sum of these that I should pay Countless and infinite, yet would I pay them!
Luc. Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us 160 To melt in showers: thy grandsire loved thee well: Many a time he danced thee on his knee, Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow; Many a matter hath he told to thee, Meet and agreeing with thine infancy;[4875] 165 In that respect then, like a loving child, Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring, Because kind nature doth require it so: Friends should associate friends in grief and woe: Bid him farewell; commit him to the grave; 170 Do him that kindness, and take leave of him.[4876]
Boy. O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart[4877] Would I were dead, so you did live again! O Lord, I cannot speak to him for weeping; My tears will choke me, if I ope my mouth. 175
Re-enter Attendants with AARON.[4878]
A Roman. You sad Andronici, have done with woes:[4879] Give sentence on this execrable wretch That hath been breeder of these dire events.
Luc. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him; There let him stand and rave and cry for food: 180 If any one relieves or pities him, For the offence he dies. This is our doom: Some stay to see him fasten'd in the earth.
Aar. O, why should wrath be mute, and fury dumb?[4880] I am no baby, I, that with base prayers 185 I should repent the evils I have done:[4881] Ten thousand worse than ever yet I did Would I perform, if I might have my will: If one good deed in all my life I did, I do repent it from my very soul. 190
Luc. Some loving friends convey the emperor hence,[4882] And give him burial in his father's grave:[4883] My father and Lavinia shall forthwith Be closed in our household's monument. As for that heinous tiger, Tamora,[4884] 195 No funeral rite, nor man in mourning weeds,[4885] No mournful bell shall ring her burial;[4886] But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey:[4887] Her life was beastly and devoid of pity,[4888] And, being so, shall have like want of pity.[4889] 200 See justice done on Aaron, that damn'd Moor,[4890] By whom our heavy haps had their beginning:[4891] Then, afterwards, to order well the state,[4892] That like events may ne'er it ruinate. [Exeunt.[4893]
FOOTNOTES:
[4677] ACT V. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus Quintus. Ff. om. Qq.
Plains near Rome.] Capell. A camp. Rowe. A Camp, at a small Distance from Rome. Theobald.
Flourish.] F₁. om. Qq F₂ F₃ F₄.
Enter....] Capell (substantially). Enter Lucius with an Armie of Gothes, with Drum and Souldiers. Qq Ff (Drums Q₁).
[4678] signify] Rowe. signifies Qq Ff. signify's Anon. conj.
[4679] First Goth.] 1. G. Capell. Goth. Qq Ff.
[4680] Be bold] Qq F₃ F₄. Behold F₁ F₂.
us:] us; Theobald. us, Q₂ Ff. us Q₁.
[4681] flowered] flowred Qq Ff. flower'd Rowe.
[4682] avenged] aduengd Q₁.
[4683] All the Goths.] Omn. F₂ F₃ F₄. Omitted in Qq F₁.
[4684] Enter ... leading....] F₂ F₃ F₄. Enter ... leading of.... Qq F₁.
[4685] SCENE II. Pope.
Sec. Goth.] 2. G. Capell. Goth. Qq Ff.
Renowned] Renowmed Q₁.
[4686] building, suddenly] building suddainly, Q₁.
[4687] his] her Capell conj.
[4688] whither] Q₁ F₃ F₄. whether Q₂ F₁ F₂.
[4689] face?] face, Q₁.
[4690] not] Qq F₁. no! not F₂ F₃ F₄. what! not Keightley. dumb? not Anon. conj.
[4691] Get me a ladder.] Given to Lucius first by Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). In Qq Ff it is given to Aaron.
[A ladder....] Ladder brought, Aaron led up it. Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4692] more but] Qq. more: but Ff.
'Vengeance ... all!'] Put in inverted commas by Edd.
[4693] an if] Dyce. and if Qq Ff.
[4694] An if] Warburton. And if Qq Ff.
[4695] night] nights Q₂.
[4696] villanies] villaines F₂.
[4697] yet piteously] yet pitilessly Heath conj. yet piteousless Singer. despiteously Collier (Collier MS.)
[4698] in] Q₁. by Q₂ Ff.
[4699] Tell ... live] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4700] Who ... god] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
by?] F₃ F₄. by, Qq F₁. by; F₂.
[4701] oath?] oath. Q₁.
[4702] not?] Hanmer. not, Qq Ff. not! Theobald.
[4703] for that ... urge him] Marked as 'Aside' by Hanmer.
[4704] to nourish] Qq F₁ F₂. nourish F₃ F₄.
[4705] Or] Qq F₄. Ore F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4706] to] to to F₁.
[4707] First ... empress] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
the] Qq F₁. thy F₂ F₃ F₄.
empress] emperess F₃.
[4708] and] Q₁. om. Q₂ Ff.
[4709] murder'd] Pope. murdered Qq Ff.
[4710] And ... hands] Qq. And ... hands off Ff. Cut her hands off Collier MS.
hands, and trimm'd] hands off; trim'd Capell.
saw'st] F₁ F₄. sawest Qq. sawst F₂ F₃.
[4711] O detestable ... of it] Arranged as by Capell. Three lines, ending trimming ... trimd ... it, in Qq. Four lines, ending villaine!... trimming?... trim'd ... it, in Ff.
[4712] detestable] most detestable Hanmer, ending the lines that ... trimm'd ... of't.
trimming?] Ff. trimming. Q₁. trimming Q₂.
[4713] of it] of't Pope.
[4714] in it?] Rowe. in it, Q₁. in it. Q₂ Ff. in't? Pope.
[4715] apart] a part Q₁.
[4716] crevice] Ff. crevie Qq.
[4717] swounded] sounded Qq F₁ F₂. swooned F₃ F₄.
[4718] Ay, like] Rowe. I like Qq. I, like Ff.
[4719] within the] within few F₁.
[4720] forswear] then forswear Hanmer, ending lines 130-132 forswear ... between ... necks.
[4721] break their necks] break their necks and die Malone conj. stray and break their Jackson conj. ofttimes break their necks Collier (Collier MS.) Marked as an imperfect line by Keightley.
[4722] owners] wretched owners Capell, ending lines 132-134 at fire ... bid ... tears.
their] the F₁.
[4723] upright] up right F₂.
doors] F₃ F₄. doores F₂. doore Qq F₁.
[4724] sorrows ... were] Malone. sorrowes ... was Qq F₁. sorrow ... was F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4725] Enter a Goth.] Capell. Enter Emillius. Qq Ff. Enter a Goth with Æmilius. Malone.
[4726] Third Goth.] 3. G. Capell. Goth. Qq Ff.
[4727] [Exit Goth. Capell.
Enter Æmilius.] Capell. After line 151 in Qq Ff.
[4728] what's] Qq F₄. what F₁. whats F₂ F₃.
[4729] deliver'd] Pope. delivered Qq Ff.
[4730] March away. [Flourish. Exeunt] F₁. March away. Q₁. March away. [Exeunt. Q₂ F₂ F₃ F₄. away! march! [Exeunt. Hanmer. Away. [March. Exeunt. Capell. [March away. Exeunt. Steevens conj. March! away! [Exeunt. Collier.
[4731] SCENE II.] Rowe. SCENE III. Pope.
Rome. Before Titus's house.] Malone. Titus's Palace in Rome. Rowe. Court of Titus's house. Capell.
Enter ... Demetrius and Chiron....] Enter Tamora, and her two sonnes disguised. Qq Ff.
[4732] this ... habiliment] this ... habillament Q₁. this ... habilliament Q₂ F₁. this ... habillaments F₂. this ... habiliments F₃ F₄. these ... habiliments Rowe (ed. 2).
[4733] his] the Rowe.
[4734] [They knock. Enter Titus, above.] Capell. They knock, and Titus appears above. Rowe. They knocke and Titus opens his studie doore. Qq Ff.
[4735] effect?] effect. Q₁.
[4736] Titus] Lord Titus Capell. Old Titus Collier MS.
am come] am Revenge, come Jackson conj. am here come Staunton conj.
thee] thee awhile Steevens conj.
[4737] it action?] Ff. that accord, Qq. it that accord? Pope.
[4738] If ... with me] One in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4739] Witness ... lines] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
witness these] Witness the Rowe (ed. 2). these Theobald.
[4740] hand?] hand. Q₁.
[4741] Know, thou sad] Capell. Know thou sad Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. Know thou, sad F₄.
[4742] thy] the F₁.
[4743] thy] my F₁.
[4744] offender] Q₁. offenders Q₂ Ff.
[4745] enemies?] enemies. Q₁.
[4746] me.] me? Q₁.
[4747] stands] stand Hanmer.
[4748] surance] 'surance Hanmer.
[4749] globes] globe Dyce.
[4750] thee two] the two F₂. two Rowe. thee Steevens (1793).
black] as blacke Q₂ F₁.
[4751] murderers] Capell. murder Qq Ff. murders Rowe.
caves] F₂ F₃ F₄. cares Qq F₁.
[4752] the] thy Rowe.
[4753] Hyperion's] F₄. Hiperions F₂. Hiperious F₃. Epeons Qq. Eptons F₁.
[4754] these] Dyce. them Qq F₁. they F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4755] Rapine] F₂ F₃ F₄. Rape Qq F₁.
[4756] 'Cause] Pope. Cause Qq Ff.
of] on Rowe.
[4757] mad, mistaking] mad-mistaking S. Walker conj.
[4758] [Exit above.] Exit Titus from above. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4759] speeches] speech Rowe.
[4760] ply] Qq. play Ff.
Enter....] Collier (Collier MS.) Enter Titus. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4761] SCENE IV. Pope.
[4762] I will] Ile F₁.
[4763] he's] Hanmer. he is Qq Ff.
[4764] thine] Q₁. thy Q₂ Ff.
[4765] thee, good] F₄. thee good Qq F₁ the good F₂ F₃.
[4766] device] Pope. devise Qq Ff.
[4767] Enter Marcus.] Theobald. After line 120 in Qq Ff.
[4768] Feast] Qq. Feasts Ff.
[4769] [Exit.] om. Qq F₁.
[4770] Lucius] Lucius' S. Walker conj.
[4771] [Aside to her sons] Aside. Hanmer. To her sons. Johnson. Omitted in Qq Ff.
will you] you will Rowe (ed. 2).
bide] abide Rowe. 'bide Collier (ed. 1).
[4772] Yield] Yeede Q₁.
[Aside. Hanmer.
[4773] turn] return Rowe (ed. 2). come Pope.
[4774] [Aside] Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4775] devices] Rowe (ed. 2). devises Qq Ff. device S. Walker conj.
[4776] dam] Dame Q₁.
[4777] Tit.] Dem. Boswell.
[Exit Tamora.] Capell. In Rowe after line 147. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4778] Tut] But Q₂.
[4779] hither] Ff. hether Qq.
Enter Publius....] Enter Publius and Servants. Rowe. Enter certain Gentlemen, and Domesticks. Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4780] Pub.] 1. G. Capell.
[4781] you] ye Rowe.
[4782] and] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.
[4783] The ... Demetrius] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending sonnes, in Ff.
[4784] And ... cry] Qq. Omitted in Ff, and restored by Capell.
[Exit.] Exit Titus. Rowe, after line 161. om. Qq Ff.
[Publius....] Malone, from Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4785] bound?] F₃ F₄. bound, Qq F₁ F₂.
you] ye F₄.
fast.] Qq. fast. Exeunt. Ff.
Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Titus Andronicus with a knife, and Lavinia with a Bason. Qq Ff.
[4786] SCENE V. Pope.
[4787] vile] F₄. vild Q₁. vilde Q₂. vil'd F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4788] you say] ye say Theobald.
[4789] is] it F₂.
[4790] 'tween] 'twixt Rowe.
[4791] your] you F₂.
[4792] I will] will I F₃ F₄.
[4793] unhallow'd] Pope. unhallowed Qq Ff.
[4794] own] om. F₁.
[4795] Progne] Proene Theobald.
[4796] [He....] Qq Ff (after line 204). He ... throats, and Lavinia receives the blood in a bason. Rowe (after line 197).
[4797] vile] Q₁. vilde Q₂. vil'd F₁. vild'd F₂. wild F₃ F₄.
[4798] every] ever F₂ F₃.
[4799] may] Qq. might Ff.
[4800] Centaurs'] Warburton. Centaurs Q₁ F₄. Centaures Q₂ F₁ F₂ F₃. Centaur's Johnson.
[4801] them] om. Capell.
I'll] I will Staunton (Dyce conj.), reading So, as a separate line.
[4802] against] Qq. gainst F₁ F₂. 'gainst F₃ F₄.
their] the F₂ F₃ F₄.
[Exeunt ... bodies.] Exeunt, bearing in the Bodies. Capell. Exeunt. Qq Ff.
[4803] SCENE III.] Capell. Pope continues the scene.
Court ... out.] The same. Gardens of the same. A magnificcent Pavillion; Tables under it; Domesticks attending. Capell.
Goths, with Aaron, prisoner.] Rowe. The Gothes. Qq Ff.
[4804] Uncle] Good uncle Hanmer. Why, uncle Capell. Since, uncle S. Walker conj.
it is] Warburton. tis Qq. 'tis Ff.
[4805] First Goth.] 1. G. Capell. Goth. Qq Ff.
thine, befall] Q₁ F₄. thine befall Q₂. thine befall, F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4806] sustenance] sustnance Q₁.
[4807] Till] Tell Q₁.
empress'] Empresse Q₁. Emperours Q₂ F₂ F₃ F₄. Emperous F₁.
[4808] her] Qq F₁. his F₂ F₃ F₄. these Rowe.
[4809] I fear] F₄. I feare Qq. If ere F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4810] Aar.] Aron. F₁. Aaron. F₂ F₃ F₄. Moore. Qq.
mine] Qq. my Ff.
[4811] unhallow'd] Rowe (ed. 2). unhallowed Qq Ff.
[4812] [Exeunt ... Aaron.] Rowe, after line 14. Attendants lead in Aaron. Capell. om. Qq Ff.
Flourish within.] Flourish. Ff. om. Qq.
[4813] Enter....] Sound trumpets. Enter Emperour, and Empresse, with Tribunes and others. Qq Ff.
Æmilius,] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.
[4814] SCENE VI. Pope.
Sat.] Ff. King. Qq.
moe] Qq. more Ff.
[4815] thee] the F₂.
[4816] the parle] Qq F₁. the parly F₂ F₃ F₄. your parley Hanmer.
[4817] ordain'd] Pope. ordained Qq Ff.
[4818] Sat.] Empe. Q₁.
[Hautboys ... table.] Malone, after Capell. Hoboyes. A Table brought in. Ff. Omitted in Qq.
Enter ... young Lucius and others.] Malone. Sound trumpets, enter ... face. Qq. Enter ... face. Ff.
[4819] Welcome ... queen;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4820] welcome, Lucius] thou Lucius, welcome Hanmer. Lucius, welcome Capell. and welcome, Lucius Collier MS.
[4821] Sat.] King. Q₁.
[4822] beholding] beholden Rowe (ed. 2).
[4823] An] Hanmer. And Qq Ff.
[4824] lord?] Q₂ Ff. lord. Q₁.
[4825] reason mighty] mighty reason Capell.
and] om. Hanmer.
[4826] precedent] Pope. president Qq Ff.
[4827] sorrow die] sorrows flee Collier MS.
[Kills Lavinia.] he kills her. Q₂ Ff. om. Q₁.
[4828] thou] om. F₁.
unkind?] unkinde, Q₁.
[4829] To do ... done.] Omitted in Ff.
now is] Q₁. is now Q₂.
[4830] Sat.] King. Qq.
ravish'd] ravisht? Q₂ Ff. ravisht, Q₁.
[4831] Will't] Wil't F₄. Wilt Qq F₁ F₂ F₃, in both cases.
Will't ... feed?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.
[4832] daughter thus?] Q₁ F₂ F₃ F₄. daughter Q₂. daughter? F₁.
[4833] hither] Ff. hether Qq.
[4834] [Kills Tamora.] He stabs the Empresse. Qq Ff.
[4835] Sat.] Empe. Qq.
[Kills Titus.] He stabs Titus. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.
[4836] [Kills Saturninus.] Lucius stabs the Emperor. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.
A great ... balcony.] Edd. Company in Confusion: A great Tumult: the Andronici, and their Friends, gain the Steps of Titus' House: Tumult ceases. Capell. om. Qq Ff.
[4837] uproars] uprores Qq F₁. uproree F₂. uprore F₃ F₄.
as] Q₁. like Q₂ Ff.
[4838] tempestuous] Ff. tempestious Qq.
gusts] guests F₂.
[4839] how to] Qq. how, to Ff.
[4840] body; Lest Rome] Capell. body. Roman Lord. Let Rome Qq. body. Goth. Let Rome Ff (Goth, F₂). body. Sen. Lest Rome Malone. See note (X).
[4841] court'sy to] cursie too Qq F₁. cursie to F₂. curtsie to F₃ F₄.
[4842] castaway] Ff. cast away Qq.
[4843] But if....] Mar. But if.... F₄.
[4844] [To Lucius] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.
[4845] baleful burning] baleful-burning S. Walker conj.
[4846] my] Q₁. my very Q₂ Ff.
in the] i' the Capell, reading my very with Q₂ Ff.
[4847] kind] Qq. kind hand Ff.
[4848] a captain] our captain S. Walker conj.
[4849] Then] Qq. This Ff.
[4850] murdered] Rowe. murdred Qq Ff.
[4851] they it were] they they were Hanmer. they it was Capell.
[4852] unto] into Rowe.
[4853] I am the turned forth] Q₁. And I am the turned forth Q₂. And I am turned forth F₁ F₂ F₃. And I am turn'd forth F₄. And I am the turn'd forth Capell. And I'm thus turned forth S. Walker conj. And I am turn'd forth thus Keightley.
[4854] turn] tongue Rowe, a misprint, corrected first by Capell.
the] Q₁. this Q₂ Ff.
[Pointing....] Shewing it.... Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.
[4855] And] Qq Ff. Damn'd Theobald.
is, to] Ff. is to Qq.
[4856] cause] F₄. course Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.
revenge] revenge. Q₁.
[4857] amiss,] amisse, Q₁. amisse? Q₂ Ff.
[4858] Andronici] F₁. Andronicie Qq. Andronicus F₂ F₃ F₄. the Andronici Capell.
[4859] Will] We'll Rowe (ed. 2).
[4860] forth] out Rowe.
[4861] Come, come ... Rome] Come down, come down ... Rome Capell. Come, come ... Rome, come down S. Walker conj. _Come, come to us, ... Rome_ Keightley.
reverend] Rowe. reveren'd F₄. reverent Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. reverendest Anon. conj.
[4862] do] doth Hanmer.
[4863] All.] Rom. Capell. Marcus. Qq. Mar. Ff.
[4864] Marc.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.
[To Attendants.] Capell. om. Qq Ff. To an Attendant. Malone. To Attendants, who go into the house. Dyce.
[4865] adjudged] adiudge Q₁.
direful slaughtering] direful lingering Collier MS. direful-slaughtering S. Walker conj.
[4866] [Exeunt Attendants.] Edd. om. Qq Ff.
Lucius....] Lucius, and the rest, come down; with them young Lucius. Capell. om. Qq Ff.
[4867] All.] Rom. Capell. om. Qq Ff, continuing the line to Marcus.
Rome's] Rowe. to Romes Qq Ff.
[4868] harms] harm Rowe.
wipe] drive Rowe.
[4869] aim] room Collier conj. (withdrawn). air Grant White conj.
[4870] task] style Collier MS.
[4871] trunk] bier Collier MS.
[Kneels over Titus' body. Capell.
[4872] thy] they F₂.
pale cold] pale-cold S. Walker conj.
[Kissing Titus.] Kisses Titus. Johnson. om. Qq Ff.
[4873] blood-stain'd] F₃ F₄. blood slaine Q₁. bloud-slaine Q F₁ F₂.
[4874] Tear] Teare Qq F₁. A teare F₂ F₃ F₄. Ay, tear Rowe.
[Kneeling by him. Capell.
[4875] thine] thy Rowe.
[4876] him ... him] Ff. them ... them Qq.
and take leave of him] all that he can have Collier MS.
[4877] Boy.] Ff. Puer. Qq.
heart] hart. Q₁. hart, Q₂.
[4878] Re-enter Attendants....] Dyce. Enter Romans with Aaron. Rowe. Enter Attendant.... Capell.
[4879] SCENE VII. Pope.
A Roman.] Romaine. Qq. Romans. F₁ F₃ F₄. Romanes. F₂. 2. R. Capell. 1 Rom. Malone. Æm. Edd., Globe Ed. (Dyce conj.)
[4880] dumb?] dumb, Q₁.
[4881] evils] evil Rowe.
[4882] emperor] Emp. F₁.
[4883] father's] Rowe. fathers Qq Ff. fathers' Anon. conj.
[4884] heinous] ravenous Collier MS.
tiger] tygress Rowe.
[4885] rite] Q₂ Ff. right Q₁. rites Rowe.
mourning] Q₁. mournefull Q₂. mournfull F₁ F₂. mournful F₃ F₄.
[4886] mournful bell] solemn bell Staunton conj.
[4887] beasts] Qq F₁ F₄. beast F₂ F₃.
of prey] Ff. to pray Q₁. to prey Q₂.
[4888] beastly] Qq. beast-like Ff.
[4889] shall] she shall Hanmer.
[4890] on Aaron] to Aaron Steevens (1793).
[4891] By] Qq. From Ff.
haps] Qq F₃ F₄. happes F₁. happee F₂.
[4892] Then] Than Q₁.
to order] we'll order Rowe (ed. 2).
[4893] [Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff. om. Qq.
NOTES.
NOTE I.
II. 1. The Quartos have no distinction of act or scene here or elsewhere. After Exeunt comes immediately a stage direction Sound Trumpets, manet Moore. The first Folio, after Actus Secunda, has Flourish. Enter Aaron alone. The Editor of the second Folio seeing the impropriety of introducing Aaron alone with a flourish of trumpets, omitted the word Flourish. Capell was doubtless right in supposing that it had been displaced from the end of the last scene.
Johnson is of opinion that this scene ought to continue the first act.
NOTE II.
II. 1. 134. Mr Collier, reading 'these,' says, 'The Quartos give the text correctly.' The Quarto of 1611 has 'their.'
NOTE III.
III. 1. 170. In the copy of Theobald's edition before us, which belonged to Warburton, the latter has written 'Mr Warburton' opposite Theobald's note in defence of his emendation, thereby claiming for himself the merit of the conjecture. But in his own edition he retains the old reading 'castle,' while in a note he assigns the emendation to Theobald, and ridicules him for adopting it. Theobald first proposed it in a letter to Concanen (Nichols' Illustrations, II. 220).
NOTE IV.
III. 1. 277, 278. Perhaps the original MS. had as follows:
'And thou, Lavinia, shalt be imployd, Beare thou my hand sweet wench betweene thy teeth.'
The Author, or some other corrector, to soften what must have been ludicrous in representation, wrote 'Armes' above 'teeth' as a substitute for the latter. The printer of the first Quarto took 'Armes' to belong to the first line, and conjecturally filled up the lacuna with 'in these,' making, also, an accidental alteration in the position of 'thou.' Then a corrector of the second Quarto, from which the first folio was printed, made sense of the passage by substituting 'things' for 'Armes.'
NOTE V.
III. 2. 81. The first Folio has: 'An. Come, take away:' The second: 'And: Come take away:' The third and fourth: 'And, Come, take away;'
thus continuing the speech to Marcus. Rowe omitted 'And,' and the true reading was not restored before Capell.
Mr Collier, in his second edition, says: 'In the Folio of the Earl of Ellesmere, this speech has no prefix; but the conjunction 'And' for And. was mistakenly put before 'Come.'' Mr Staunton however tells us that there is a full stop after 'And,' and that though not in italics the word is clearly meant for Andronicus.
NOTE VI.
IV. 1. 46. Mr Dyce says that Theobald omitted the words 'Help her:' but this is a mistake. They are retained by Theobald, and by every other editor we know of.
NOTE VII.
IV. 2. 100. 'Seems' is an error of Johnson's own printer. In his note on the passage, he conjectures that 'scorns' is the true reading, without knowing that it was to be found in every edition previous to his own. For an instance of similar carelessness, see Note VI. to The Third Part of King Henry VI.
NOTE VIII.
IV. 2. 178. Mr Collier, in his Appendix to Coleridge's Lectures, states that his MS. corrector substitutes 'thrive' for 'feed' in this line, while, in the note to his second edition of Shakespeare, he says that the substitution is made in the next line, 'thrive on curds, &c.'
In IV. 4. 37, we have assigned a reading to the MS. corrector, because we find it in Mr Collier's one-volume edition, though he has not mentioned it elsewhere.
In IV. 4. 113, he gives, in the Appendix to Coleridge's Lectures, and in his second edition of Shakespeare, 'Then go incessantly, and plead 'fore him,' as the reading of the MS. corrector, while in the one-volume edition, he gives, on the same authority, 'Then go successfully, and plead 'fore him.' We have left unnoticed other discrepancies, where, as is usually the case, they were unimportant to the sense. We mention the fact once for all, in order to defend ourselves from the charge of inaccuracy. Indeed, it is on this ground alone that we ever call attention to those errors of our predecessors, which are, in themselves, venial and unimportant.
NOTE IX.
IV. 4. 8. Steevens says that the first Folio here has 'the law.' It is 'law' in every copy which we have been able to consult.
NOTE X.
V. 3. 72, 73. Mr Collier mentions that the correction 'Lest' for 'Let' was also made by Southerne in his copy of the fourth Folio. The further correction, which is due to Capell, was claimed by Steevens, and is frequently given to him by modern editors. The corruption was perhaps due to a copyist or printer, who, not seeing that 'Let' was miswritten for 'Lest,' yet felt that the words 'Let Rome, &c.' were not suitable to Marcus, and gave them to a Roman lord, at a guess. The Editor of the first Folio, or some corrector of the Quarto from which he printed, thinking the words not suitable to a Roman, gave them to a Goth.
It may be however that the four lines 'Let Rome ... herself' were intended to be spoken by a Roman lord after Marcus had stabbed the Emperor. Perhaps they were an after-thought of the author and written at the foot of the page, and the printer of the first Quarto, thus misled, inserted them in the middle of Marcus's speech.
In so doubtful a case we have acquiesced in what may be considered the received text.
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
Transcriber's Notes:
P. xiii added Erratum corrections to text.
Retained line wrapping in plays to retain prose numbering.
Converted linenotes to footnotes with anchors at line ends.
Retained incorrect line numbers, e.g. there are often more than 5 lines (or occasionally less than 5) between increments of 5.
Anchors assigned to linenotes without line references.
Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.
Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.