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Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Themost Lamentable Tragedie
Poore Bassianus here lies murthered.
1020Tamora. Then all too late I bring this fatall writ.
The complot of this timelesse Tragedie,
And wonder greatly that mans face can fold,
In pleasing smiles such murderous tyrranie.
She giueth Saturnine a letter.

1025
Saturninus reads the letter.

And if wee misse to meete him handsomelie,
Sweet huntsman, Bassianus tis we meane,
Doe thou so much as dig the graue for him,
Thou knowst our meaning looke for thy reward,
1030Among the Nettles at the Elder tree,
Which ouer shades the mouth of that same pit,
Where we decreed to burie Bassianus,
Doe this and purchase vs thy lasting friends.

King. Oh Tamora was euer heard the like,
1035This is the pit, and this the Elder tree,
Looke Sirs if you can finde the huntsman out,
That should haue murthered Bassianus here.
Aron. My gratious Lord here is the bag of gold.
King. Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kinde,
1040Haue here bereft my brother of his life:
Sirs drag them from the pit vnto the prison,
There let them bide vntill we haue deuisd,
Some neuer hard of tortering paine for them.
Tam. VVhat are they in this pit, Oh wondrous thing!
How easily murder is discouered.
Titus. High Emperour, vpon my feeble knee,
I beg this boone, with teares not lightly shed,
That this fell fault of my accursed sonnes,
1050Accursed, if the faults be proud in them.
King. If it be proude, you see it is apparant,
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