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Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
THE
MOST LA-
mentable Romaine
Tragedie of Titus Andronicus:
As it was Plaide by the Right Ho-
nourable the Earle of Darbie, Earle of Pembrooke,
and Earle of Sussex their seruants.
LONDON,
Printed by Iohn Danter, and are
to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington,
at the little North doore of Paules at the
signe of the Gunne.
1594.
The most Lamen-
table Romaine Tragedie of
Titus Andronicus: As it was Plaide by
the Right Honourable the Earle
of Darbie, Earle of Pembrooke,
and Earle of Sussex their
Seruants.
Enter the Tribunes and Senatours aloft: And then enter
Saturninus and his followers at one dore, and Bassianus and
his followers, with Drums and Trumpets.
Saturninus.
NOble Patricians, Patrons of my Right,
Defend the iustice of my cause with armes.
And Countrimen my louing followers,
10Plead my successiue Title with your swords:
I am his first borne sonne, that was the last
That ware the Imperiall Diademe of Rome,
Then let my Fathers honours liue in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignitie,
15
Bassianus.
Romaines, friends, followers, fauourers of my Right,
If euer Bassianus Ceasars sonne,
VVere gratious in the eyes of Royall Rome,
Keepe then this passage to the Capitoll,
20And suffer not dishonour to approch,
The Imperiall seate to vertue, consecrate
To iustice, continence, and Nobillitie:
But let desert in pure election shine,
And Romaines fight for freedome in your choice.
25
Marcus Andronicus with the Crowne.
Princes that striue by factions and by friends,
Ambitiously for Rule and Emperie,
Know that the people of Rome for whom we stand
A speciall Partie, haue by common voice,
30In election for the Romaine Empery
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius:
For many good and great deserts to Rome,
A Nobler man, a brauer VVarriour,
Liues not this day within the Cittie walls.
35Hee by the Senate is accited home,
From weary warres against the barbarous Gothes,
That with his sonnes a terrour to our foes,
Hath yoakt a Nation strong, traind vp in Armes.
Tenne yeares are spent since first he vndertooke
40This cause of Rome, and chastised with armes
Our enemies pride: Fiue times he hath returnd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sonnes,
In Coffins from the field, and at this day,
43.1To the Monument of that Andronicy
Done sacrifice of expiation,
And slaine the Noblest prisoner of the Gothes.
And now at last laden with honours spoiles,
45Returnes the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus flourishing in Armes.
Let vs intreat by honour of his name,
VVhom worthily you would haue now succeede,
And in the Capitall and Senates Right,
50VVhom you pretend to honour and adore,
That you withdraw you, and abate your strength,
Dismisse your followers, and as suters should,
Pleade your deserts in peace and humblenes.
Saturninus.
55How faire the Tribune speakes to calme my thoughts.
Bassianus.
Marcus Andronicus, so I doe affie,
In thy vprightnes and integritie,
And so I loue and honour thee and thine,
Thy Noble brother Titus and his sonnes,
60And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
Gratious Lauinia, Romes rich ornament,
That I will here dismisse my louing friends:
And to my fortunes and the peoples fauour,
Commit my cause in ballance to be waid.
Exit Soldiers.
Saturninus.
Friends that haue beene thus forward in my right.
I thanke you all, and here dismisse you all,
And to the loue and fauour of my Countrie,
70Commit my selfe, my person, and the cause:
Rome be as iust and gratious vnto me,
As I am confident and kinde to thee.
Open the gates and let me in.
Bassianus. Tribunes and me a poore Competitor.
75
They goe vp into the Senate house.
Enter a Captaine.
Romaines make way, the good Andronicus,
Patron of vertue, Romes best Champion:
Succesful in the battailes that he fights,
80VVith honour and with fortune is returnd,
From where he circumscribed with his sword,
And brought to yoake the enemies of Rome.
Sound Drums and Trumpets, and then enter two of Titus
sonnes, and then two men bearing a Coffin couered with black,
85then two other sonnes, then Titus Andronicus, and then Ta-
mora the Queene of Gothes and her two sonnes Chiron and
Demetrius, with Aron the More, and others as many as can
be, then set downe the Coffin, and Titus speakes.
Titus. Haile Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds,
Lo as the Barke that hath dischargd his fraught,
Returnes with pretious lading to the bay,
From whence at first shee wayd her anchorage;
95Commeth Andronicus, bound with Lawrell bowes,
To resalute his Countrie with his teares,
Teares of true ioy for his returne to Rome,
Thou great defender of this Capitoll,
Stand gratious to the rights that we entend.
100Romaines, of fiue and twenty valiant sonnes,
Halfe of the number that king Priam had,
Behold the poore remaines aliue and dead:
These that suruiue, let Rome reward with loue:
These that I bring vnto their latest home,
105VVith buriall amongst their auncestors.
Here Gothes haue giuen me leaue to sheath my sword,
Titus vnkinde, and careles of thine owne,
VVhy sufferst thou thy sonnes vnburied yet,
To houer on the dreadfull shore of slix,
110Make way to lay them by their brethren.
They open the Tombe.
There greete in silence as the dead are wont,
And sleepe in peace, slaine in your Countries warres:
O sacred Receptacle of my ioyes,
115Sweete Cell of vertue and Nobilitie,
How many sonnes hast thou of mine in store,
That thou wilt neuer render to me more.
Lucius. Giue vs the prowdest prisoner of the Gothes.
That we may hew his limbs and on a pile,
120Ad manus fratrum, sacrifice his flesh:
Before this earthy prison of their boanes,
That so the shadows be not vnappeazde,
Nor we disturbde with prodegies on earth.
Titus. I giue him you the Noblest that suruiues,
125The eldest sonne of this distressed Queene.
Tamora. Stay Romaine brethren, gratious Conque-
Victorious Titus, rue the teares I shed,
A mothers teares in passion for her sonne:
And if thy sonnes were euer deare to thee,
130Oh thinke my sonne to be as deare to mee.
Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome
To beautifie thy triumphs, and returne
Captiue to thee, and to thy Romaine yoake:
But must my sonnes be slaughtered in the streets,
135For valiant dooings in their Countries cause?
O if to fight for king and common-weale,
VVere pietie in thine, it is in these:
Andronicus, staine not thy tombe with bloud.
VVilt thou draw neere the nature of the Gods?
140Draw neere them then in being mercifull,
Sweete mercie is Nobilities true badge,
Thrice Noble Titus, spare my first borne sonne.
Titus. Patient your selfe Madam, and pardon me,
These are their brethren, whom your Gothes beheld
145Aliue and dead, and for their brethren slaine,
Religiously they aske a sacrifice:
To this your sonne is markt, and die he must,
T'appease their groning shadowes that are gone.
Lucius. Away with him, and make a fire straight,
150And with our swords vpon a pile of wood,
Lets hew his limbs till they be cleane consumde.
Exit Titus sonnes with Alarbus.
Tamora. O cruell irreligeous pietie.
Chiron. VVas neuer Sythia halfe so barbarous.
155Demetrius. Oppose not Sythia to ambitious Rome,
Alarbus goes to rest and we suruiue,
To tremble vnder Titus threatning looke,
Then Madam stand resolud, but hope withall,
The selfe same Gods that armde the Queene of Troy
160VVith opportunitie of sharpe reuenge
Vpon the Thracian Tyrant in his Tent,
May fauour Tamora the Queene of Go thes,
(VVhen Gothes were Gothes, and Tamora was Queene,)
To quit the bloodie wrongs vpon her foes.
165
Enter the sonnes of Andronicus againe.
Lucius. See Lord and father how we haue performd
Our Romane rights, Alarbus limbs are lopt,
And intrals feede the sacrifising fire,
VVhose smoke like incense doth perfume the skie,
170Remaineth nought but to interre our brethren,
And with lowd larums welcome them to Rome.
Titus. Let it be so, and let Andronicus,
Make this his latest farewell to their soules.
175
Sound Trumpets, and lay the Coffin in the Tombe.
In peace and honour rest you here my sonnes,
Roomes readiest Champions, repose you here in rest,
Secure from worldly chaunces and mishaps:
Here lurks no treason, here no enuie swels,
180Here grow no damned drugges, here are no stormes,
No noyse, but silence and eternall sleepe,
In peace and honour rest you here my sonnes.
Enter Lauinia.
In peace and honour, liue Lord Titus long,
185My Noble Lord and father liue in fame:
Lo at this Tombe my tributarie teares,
I render for my brethrens obsequies:
And at thy feete I kneele, with teares of ioy
Shed on this earth, for thy returne to Rome,
190O blesse me here with thy victorious hand,
VVhose fortunes Roomes best Citizens applaud.
Titus. Kinde Rome that hast thus louingly reserude,
The Cordiall of mine age to glad my hart,
195Lauinia liue, outliue thy fathers daies,
And fames eternall date for vertues praise.
Marcus. Long liue Lord Titus my beloued brother,
Gratious triumpher in the eies of Rome.
Titus. Thanks gentle Tribune, Noble brother Marcus.
Marcus. And welcome Nephews from succesfull wars
You that suruiue, and you that sleepe in fame:
Faire Lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your Countries seruice drew your swords,
205But safer triumph is this funerall pompe,
That hath aspirde to Solons happines,
And triumphs ouer chaunce in honours bed.
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
VVhose friend in iustice thou hast euer beene,
210Send thee by mee their Tribune and their trust,
This Palliament of white and spotles hue,
And name thee in election for the Empire,
VVith these our late deceased Emperours sonnes:
Be Candidatus then and put it on,
215And helpe to set a head on headles Roome.
Titus. A better head her glorious bodie fits,
Than his that shakes for age and feeblenes:
VVhat should I don this Roabe and trouble you?
Be chosen with Proclamations to daie,
220To morrow yeeld vp rule, resigne my life,
And set abroad new busines for you all.
Roome I haue beene thy souldier fortie yeares,
And led my Countries strength succesfullie,
And buried one and twentie valiant sonnes
225Knighted in Field, slaine manfullie in Armes,
In right and seruice of their Noble Countrie:
Giue me a staffe of Honour for mine age,
But not a scepter to controwle the world,
Vpright he held it Lords that held it last.
230Marcus. Titus thou shalt obtaine & aske the Emperie.
Saturni. Proud and ambitious Tribune canst thou tell.
Titus. Patience Prince Saturninus.
Saturninus. Romaines doe me right.
Patricians draw your swords and sheath them not,
235Till Saturninus be Romes Emperour:
Andronicus would thou were shipt to hell,
Rather than robbe me of the peoples harts.
Lucius. Prowd Saturnine, interrupter of the good,
That noble minded Titus meanes to thee.
240Titus. Content thee Prince, I will restore to thee
The peoples harts, and weane them from themselues.
Bassianus. Andronicus I doo not flatter thee,
But honour thee and will doo till I die:
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends
245I will most thankefull be, and thanks to men
Of Noble minds, is honourable meede.
Titus. People of Rome, and peoples Tribunes here,
I aske your voyces and your suffrages,
Will yee bestow them friendly on Andronicus.
250Tribunes. To gratifie the good Andronicus,
And gratulate his safe returne to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.
Titus. Tribunes I thanke you, and this sute I make,
That you create our Emperours eldest sonne,
255Lord Saturnine: whose vertues will I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Tytus Raies on earth,
And ripen iustice in this Common weale:
Then if you will elect by my aduise,
Crowne him and say, Long liue our Emperour.
260Marcus An. VVith voyces and applause of euery sort,
Patricians and Plebeans, we create
Lord Saturninus Romes great Emperour,
And say Long liue our Emperour Saturnine.
265Saturnine. Titus Andronicus, for thy fauours done,
To vs in our election this day,
I giue thee thankes in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentlenes:
And for an onset Titus to aduance,
270Thy name and honourable familie,
Lauinia will I make my Empresse,
Romes Royall Mistris, Mistris of my hart,
And in the sacred Pathan her espouse:
Tell me Andronicus doth this motion please thee.
275Titus. It doth my worthie Lord, and in this match,
I hold me highly Honoured of your Grace,
And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,
King and Commander of our common weale,
The wide worlds Emperour, doe I consecrate
280My sword, my Chariot, and my Prisoners,
Presents well worthy Romes imperious Lord:
Receiue them then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honours Ensignes humbled at thy feete.
Saturnine. Thankes Noble Titus Father of my life,
285How proude I am of thee and of thy gifts
Rome shall record, and when I doe forget
The least of these vnspeakeable deserts,
Romans forget your Fealtie to me.
Titus. Now Madam are you prisoner to an Emperour.
290To him that for your honour and your state,
VVill vse you Nobly, and your followers.
Saturnine. A goodly Lady trust me of the hue,
That I would choose were I to choose a new:
Cleare vp faire Queene that cloudy countenance,
295Though change of war hath wrought this change of chear
Thou comst not to be made a scorne in Rome.
Princely shall be thy vsage euerie waie
Rest on my word, and let not discontent,
300Daunt all your hopes, Madam he comforts you,
Can make you greater than the Queene of Gothes,
Lauinia you are not displeasde with this.
Lauinia. Not I my Lord, sith true Nobilitie,
VVarrants these words in Princely curtesie.
305Saturnine. Thanks sweete Lauinia, Romans let vs goe,
Raunsomles here we set our prisoners free,
Proclaime our Honours Lords with Trumpe and Drum.
Bassianus. Lord Titus by your leaue, this maid is mine.
Titus. How sir, are you in earnest then my Lord?
310Bascianus. I Noble Titus and resolude withall,
To doo my selfe this reason and this right.
Marcus. Suum cuique is our Romane iustice,
This Prince in iustice ceazeth but his owne.
Lucius. And that he will, and shall if Lucius liue.
315Titus. Traitors auaunt, where is the Emperours gard?
Treason my Lord, Lauinia is surprizde.
Saturnine. Surprizde, by whom?
Bascianus. By him that iustly may,
Beare his betrothde from all the world away.
320Mutius. Brothers, helpe to conuay her hence away,
And with my sword Ile keepe this doore safe.
Titus. Follow my Lord, and Ile soone bring her backe.
Mutius. My Lord you passe not here.
Titus. What villaine boy, barst me my way in Rome?
325Mutius. Helpe Lucius, helpe.
Lucius. My Lord you are vniust, and more than so,
In wrongfull quarrell you haue slaine your sonne.
Titus. Nor thou, nor he, are any sonnes of mine,
My sonnes would neuer so dishonour me,
330Traitor restore Lauinia to the Emperour.
Lucius. Dead if you will, but not to be his wife,
That is anothers lawfull promist loue.
Enter aloft the Emperour with Tamora and her two
sonnes and Aron the moore.
335Emperour. No Titus, no, the Emperour needes her not,
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stocke:
Ile trust by leysure, him that mocks me once,
Thee neuer, nor thy traiterous hawtie sonnes,
Confederates all thus to dishonour mee.
340VVas none in Rome to make a stale
But Saturnine? Full well Andronicus
Agree these deeds, with that prowd bragge of thine,
That saidst I begd the Empire at thy hands.
Titus O monstrous, what reprochfull words are these?
345Saturn. But goe thy waies, goe giue that changing piece,
To him that florisht for her with his sword:
A valiant sonne in law thou shalt inioy,
One fit to bandie with thy lawlesse sonnes,
To ruffle in the Common-wealth of Rome.
350Titus. These words are rasors to my wounded hart.
Satur. And therfore louely Tamora Queene of Gothes,
That like the statelie Thebe mongst her Nymphs,
Dost ouershine the gallanst Dames of Rome,
If thou be pleasde with this my sodaine choise,
355Behold I choose thee Tamora for my Bride,
And will create thee Emperesse of Rome.
Speake Queene of Gothes dost thou applaud my choise?
And here I sweare by all the Romane Gods,
Sith Priest and holy water are so neere,
360And tapers burne so bright, and euery thing
In readines for Hymeneus stand,
I will not resalute the streets of Rome,
Or clime my Pallace, till from forth this place,
I lead espowsde my Bride along with mee.
365Tamora. And here in sight of heauen to Rome I sweare,
If Saturnine aduaunce the Queene of Gothes,
Shee will a handmaide be to his desires,
A louing Nurse, a Mother to his youth.
Sat. Ascend faire Queene: Panthean Lords accompany
Your Noble Emperour and his louelie Bride,
Sent by the Heauens for Prince Saturnine,
VVhose wisdome hath her Fortune conquered,
There shall wee consummate our spousall rites.
375
Exeunt Omnes.
Titus. I am not bid to wait vpon this bride,
Titus when wert thou wont to walke alone,
Dishonoured thus and challenged of wrongs.
Enter Marcus and Titus sonnes.
380Marcus. O Titus see: O see what thou hast done
In a bad quarrell slaine a vertuous sonne.
Titus. No foolish Tribune, no: No sonne of mine,
Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deede,
That hath dishonoured all our Familie,
385Vnworthy brother, and vnworthy sonnes.
Lucius. But let vs giue him buriall as becomes,
Giue Mucius buriall with our bretheren.
Titus. Traitors away, he rests not in this toombe:
This monument fiue hundreth yeares hath stood,
390VVhich I haue sumptuouslie reedified:
Here none but souldiers and Romes seruitors
Repose in fame: None basely slaine in braules.
Burie him where you can he comes not here.
Marcus. My Lord this is impietie in you,
395My Nephew Mutius deedes doo plead for him,
He must be buried with his brethren.
Titus two sonnes speakes.
And shall or him wee will accompanie.
Titus. And shall. what villaine was it spake that word?
400
Titus sonne speakes.
He that would vouch it in any place but here.
Titus. VVhat would you burie him in my despight?
Marcus. No Noble Titus, but intreat of thee.
To pardon Mutius and to bury him.
405Titus. Marcus: Euen thou hast stroke vpon my Crest.
And with these boyes mine honour thou hast wounded,
My foes I doe repute you euerie one,
So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
3. Sonne. He is not with himselfe, let vs withdraw.
4102. Sonne. Not I till Mutius bones be buried.
The brother and the sonnes kneele.
Marcus. Brother, for in that name doth nature pleade.
2. sonne. Father, and in that name doth nature speake.
Titus. Speake thou no more, if all the rest will speede.
415Marcus. Renowmed Titus, more than halfe my soule.
Lucius. Deare father, soule and substance of vs all.
Marcus Suffer thy brother Marcus to interre,
His Noble Nephew here in vertues nest,
That died in honour and Lauinias cause.
420Thou art a Romane, be not barbarous:
The Greeks vpon aduise did burie Ayax
That slew himselfe: and wise Laertes sonne,
Did gratiouslie plead for his Funeralls:
Let not young Mutius then that was thy ioy,
425Be bard his entrance here.
Titus. Rise Marcus, rise,
The dismalst day is this that ere I saw,
To be dishonoured by my sonnes in Rome:
Well burie him, and burie me the next.
430
they put him in the tombe.
Lucius. There lie thy bones sweete Mutius with thy
Till wee with Trophees doo adorne thy tombe:
they all kneele and say,
No man shed teares for Noble Mutius,
435He liues in fame, that dide in vertues cause.
Exit all but Marcus and Titus.
Marcus. My Lord to step out of these dririe dumps,
How comes it that the subtile Queene of Gothes,
Is of a sodaine thus aduaunc'd in Rome.
Titus. I know not Marcus, but I know it is.
440(VVhether by deuise or no, the heauens can tell.)
Is shee not then beholding to the man,
That brought her for this high good turne so farre.
Enter the Emperour, Tamora
Enter at the other doore
and her two sonnes, with the
Bascianus and Lauinia,
Moore at one doore.
with others.
Saturnine. So Bascianus, you haue plaid your prize,
God giue you ioy sir of your gallant Bride.
450Bascianus. And you of yours my Lord, I say no more,
Nor wish no lesse, and so I take my leaue.
Saturnine. Traitor, if Rome haue law, or we haue power,
Thou and thy faction shall repent this Rape.
Bassianus. Rape call you it my Lord to ceaze my owne,
455My true betrothed loue, and now my wife:
But let the lawes of Rome determine all,
Meane while am I possest of that is mine.
Saturnine. Tis good sir, you are verie short with vs.
But if we liue, weele be as sharpe with you.
460Bascianus. My Lord what I haue done as best I may,
Answere I must, and shall doo with my life,
Onely thus much I giue your Grace to know,
By all the dueties that I owe to Rome,
This Noble Gentleman Lord Titus here,
465Is in opinion and in honour wrongd,
That in the rescue of Lauinia,
VVith his owne hand did slay his youngest sonne,
In zeale to you, and highly moude to wrath,
To be controwld in that he frankelie gaue.
470Receaue him then to fauour Saturnine,
That hath exprest himselfe in all his deeds,
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
Titus. Prince Bascianus leaue to pleade my deeds,
Tis thou, and those, that haue dishonoured me,
475Rome and the righteous heauens be my iudge,
How I haue loude and honoured Saturnine.
Tamora. My worthy Lord, if euer Tamora,
VVere gratious in those Princelie eies of thine,
Then heare me speake indifferently for all:
480And at my sute (sweete) pardon what is past.
Saturnine. VVhat Madam be dishonoured openly,
And baselie put it vp without reuenge.
Tamora. Not so my Lord, the Gods of Rome forfend.
485I should be Authour to dishonour you.
But on mine honour dare I vndertake,
For good Lord Titus innocence in all,
VVhose furie not dissembled speakes his griefes:
Then at my sute looke gratiouslie on him,
490Loose not so noble a friend on vaine suppose,
Nor with sowre looks afflict his gentle hart.
My Lord: Be rulde by me, be wonne at last,
Dissemble all your griefes and discontents,
You are but newlie planted in your Throne,
495Least then the people, and Patricians too,
Vpon a iust suruay take Titus part,
And so supplant you for ingratitude,
VVhich Rome reputes to be a hainous sinne.
Yeeld at intreats: and then let me alone,
500Ile find a day to massacre them all,
And race their faction and their familie,
The cruell father, and his traiterous sonnes,
To whom I sued for my deare sonnes life.
And make them know what tis to let a Queene,
505Kneele in the streets and begge for grace in vaine.
Come, come sweete Emperour, (come Andronicus:)
Take vp this good old man, and cheare the hart,
That dies in tempest of thy angrie frowne.
Saturnine. Rise Titus rise, my Empresse hath preuaild.
Titus. I thanke your Maiestie, and her my Lord,
These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.
515Tamora. Titus I am incorporate in Rome,
A Roman now adopted happilie,
And must aduise the Emperour for his good,
This day all quarrels die Andronicus.
And let it be mine honour good my Lord,
520That I haue reconciled your friends and you.
For you Prince Bassianus I haue past
My word and promise to the Emperour,
That you will be more milde and tractable.
And feare not Lords, and you Lauinia,
By my aduise all humbled on your knees,
You shall aske pardon of his Maiestie.
VVee doo, and vowe to Heauen and to his Highnes,
530That what wee did, was mild ie as we might,
Tendring our sisters honour and our owne.
Marcus. That on mine honour here doo I protest.
Saturnine. Away, and talke not, trouble vs no more.
Tamora. Nay, nay sweet Emperor, we must all be friends,
535The Tribune and his Nephews kneele for grace,
I will not be denied, sweete hart looke backe.
Saturnine. Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brothers here,
540And at my louelie Tamoras intreats,
I doo remit these young mens hainous faults,
Stand vp: Lauinia though you left me like a Churle,
I found a friend, and sure as death I swore,
I would not part a Batchiler from the Priest.
545Come if the Emperours Court can feast two Brides,
You are my guest Lauinia and your friends:
This daie shall be a loue-daie Tamora.
Titus. To morrow and it please your Maiestie,
To hunt the Panther and the Hart with me,
550VVith horne and hound, weele giue your grace boniour.
Saturnine. Be it so Titus and gramercie too.
Exeunt.
sound trumpets, manet Moore.
555Aron. Now climeth Tamora Olympus toppe,
Safe out of fortunes shot, and sits aloft,
Secure of thunders cracke or lightning flash,
Aduaunc'd aboue pale enuies threatning reach,
As when the golden suune salutes the morne,
560And hauing gilt the Ocean with his beames,
Gallops the Zodiacke in his glistering Coach,
And ouer-looks the highest piering hills.
So Tamora.
Vpon her wit doth earthly honour wait,
565And vertue stoops and trembles at her frowne,
Then Aron arme thy hart, and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy Emperiall Mistris,
And mount her pitch, whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held, fettred in amourous chaines,
570And faster bound to Arons charming eies,
Than is Prometheus tide to Caucasus.
Away with slauish weedes and seruile thoughts,
I will be bright and shine in pearle and golde,
To wait vpon this new made Emperesse.
575To wait said I? to wanton with this Queene,
This Goddesse, this Semerimis, this Nymph,
This Syren that will charme Romes Saturnine,
And see his shipwracke, and his Common-weales.
Hollo, what storme is this?
580
Enter Chiron and Demetrius brauing.
Demetrius. Chiron thy yeares wants wit, thy wits wants
And manners to intrude where I am grac'd,
And may for ought thou knowest affected bee.
Chiron. Demetrius, thou dost ouerweene in all,
585And so in this, to beare me downe with braues,
Tis not the difference of a yeare or two
Makes me lesse gratious, or thee more fortunate:
I am as able and as fit as thou,
To serue, and to deserue my Mistris grace,
590And that my sword vpon thee shall approue,
And plead my passions for Lauinias loue.
Moore. Clubs, Clubs, these louers will not keepe the
Demetrius. Why boy, although our mother (vnaduizd)
Gaue you a daunsing Rapier by your side,
595Are you so desperate growne to threat your friends:
Goe too: haue your lath glued within your sheath,
Till you know better how to handle it.
Chiron. Meane while sir, with the little skill I haue,
Full well shalt thou perceiue how much I dare.
600Demetrius. I boy, grow yee so braue?
they drawe.
Moore. VVhy how now Lords?
So neere the Emperours Pallace dare yee drawe,
And maintaine such a quarrell openlie?
Full well I wote the ground of all this grudge,
605I would not for a million of gold,
The cause were knowne to them it most concernes,
Nor would your Noble Mother for much more,
Be so dishonoured in the Court of Rome.
For shame put vp.
610Demetrius. Not I till I haue sheathd,
My Rapier in his bosome, and withall
Thrust those reprochfull speeches downe his throat,
That he hath breathd in my dishonour here.
Chiron. For that I am prepard, and full resolude,
615Fowle spoken Coward, that thundrest with thy tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing darst performe.
Moore. Away I say.
Now by the Gods that warlike Gothes adore,
620This pettie brabble will vndoo vs all:
VVhy Lords, and thinke you not how dangerous
It is to iet vpon a Princes right?
VVhat is Lauinia then become so loose,
Or Bascianus so degenerate,
625That for her loue such quarrels may be brocht,
VVithout controulement, iustice, or reuenge.
Young Lords beware, and should the Empresse know,
This discords ground, the musicke would not please.
Chiron. I care not I, knew shee and all the world,
630I loue Lauinia more than all the world.
Demetrius. Yongling learne thou to make some meaner
Lauinia is thine elder brothers hope.
Moore. VVhy are ye mad? or know yee not in Rome,
635How furious and impatient they bee,
And cannot brooke competitors in loue?
I tell you Lords, you doo but plot your deaths,
By this deuise.
Chiron. Aron, A thousand deaths would I propose,
640To atchiue her whom I loue.
Aron. To atchiue her how?
Demetrius. VVhy makes thou it so strange?
Shee is a woman, therefore may be woode,
Shee is a woman, therefore may be woonne,
645Shee is Lauinia, therefore must be loude.
VVhat man, more water glideth by the mill
Than wots the Miller of, and easie it is,
Of a cut loafe to steale a shiue we know:
Though Bascianus be the Emperours brother,
650Better than he haue worne Vulcans badge.
Moore. I and as good as S aturninus may.
Demetrius. Then why should he dispaire that knows to
VVith words, faire looks, and liberalitie.
VVhat hast not thou full often stroke a Doe,
655And borne her cleanlie by the Keepers nose?
Moore. VVhy then it seemes some certaine snatch, or so
VVould serue your turnes.
Chiron. I so the turne were serued.
Demetrius. Aron thou hast hit it.
660Moore. VVould you had hit it too,
Then should not we be tirde with this adoo.
VVhy harke ye, harke ye, and are you such fooles
To square for this: would it offend you then
663.1That both should speede.
Chiron. Faith not me.
665Demetrius. Nor me so I were one.
Aron. For shame be friends, and ioine for that you iar,
Tis pollicie and stratageme must doo
That you affect, and so must you resolue,
That what you cannot as you would atchiue,
670You must perforce accomplish as you may:
Take this of mee, Lucrece was not more chast
Than this Lauinia, Bascianus loue.
A speedier course this lingring languishment
Must we pursue, and I haue found the path:
675My Lords a solemne hunting is in hand,
There will the louelie Romane Ladies troope:
The forrest walks are wide and spatious,
And many vnfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kinde for rape and villanie:
680Single you thither then this daintie Doe,
And strike her home by force, if not by words,
This waie or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our Empresse with her sacred wit
To villanie and vengeance consecrate,
685VVill we acquaint withall what we intend,
And shee shall file our engines with aduise,
That will not suffer you to square your selues,
But to your wishes hight aduaunce you both.
The Emperours Court is like the house of fame,
690The Pallace full of tongues, of eies, and eares:
The woods are ruthles, dreadfull, deafe, and dull:
There speake, and strike braue boies, and take your turns,
There serue your lust, shadowed from heauens eie,
And reuell in Lauinias treasurie.
695Chiron. Thy counsell Lad smels of no cowardize.
Demetrius. Sit fas aut nefas, till I finde the streame,
To coole this heate, a charme to calme these fits,
Per Stigia, per manes Vehor.
Exeunt.
Enter Titus Andronicus, and his three sonnes.
700making a noise with hounds & hornes.
Titus. The hunt is vp the Moone is bright and gray,
The fields are fragrant, and the woods are greene,
Vncouple here, and let vs make a bay,
And wake the Emperour, and his louelie Bride,
705And rowze the Prince, and ring a Hunters peale,
That all the Court may eccho with the noise.
Sonnes let it be your charge, as it is ours,
To attend the Emperours person carefullie:
I haue beene troubled in my sleepe this night,
710But dawning day new comfort hath inspirde.
Here a crie of Hounds, and wind hornes in a peale: then
enter Saturninus, Tamora, Bascianus, Lauinia, Chiron,
Demetrius, and their Attendants.
715Titus. Many good morrowes to your Maiestie,
Madam to you as many, and as good,
I promised your Grace a Hunters peale.
Saturnine. And you haue rung it lustilie my Lords,
Somewhat too earlie for new married Ladies.
720Bascianus. Lauinia, how say you?
Laui. I say no: I haue been broad awake, two howres &
Saturnine. Come on then, horse and Chariots let vs haue,
And to our sport: Madam, now shall ye see,
725Our Romane hunting.
Marcus. I haue Dogges my Lord,
VVill rouze the prowdest Panther in the Chase,
And clime the highest promontarie topp.
Titus. And I haue horse will follow where the game
730Makes way and runnes like swallowes ore the plaine.
Demetrius. Chiron we hunt not we, with horse nor hound
But hope to plucke a daintie Doe to ground.
Exeuut.
Enter Aron alone.
Moore. He that had wit, would thinke that I had none,
735To burie so much gold vnder a tree,
And neuer after to inherit it.
Let him that thinks of me so abiectlie,
Know that this gold must coine a stratageme,
VVhich cunninglie effected will beget,
740A verie excellent peece of villanie:
And so repose sweet gold for their vnrest,
That haue their almes out of the Empresse Chest.
Enter Tamora alone to the Moore.
Tamora. My louelie Aron, wherefore lookst thou sad,
VVhen euerie thing dorh make a gleefull bost?
The birds chaunt melodie on euerie bush,
The snakes lies rolled in the chearefull sunne,
The greene leaues quiuer with the cooling winde,
750And make a checkerd shadow on the ground:
Vnder their sweet shade, Aron let vs sit,
And whilst the babling eccho mocks the hounds,
Replying shrillie to the well tun'd hornes,
As if a double hunt were heard at once,
755Let vs sit downe and marke their yellowing noyse:
And after conflict such as was supposde
The wandring Prince and Dido once inioyed,
VVhen with a happie storme they were surprisde,
And curtaind with a counsaile-keeping Caue,
760VVe may each wreathed in the others armes,
(Our pastimes done,) possesse a golden slumber,
VVhiles hounds and hornes, and sweete mellodious birds
Be vnto vs as is a Nurces song
Of Lullabie, to bring her Babe a sleepe.
765Moore. Maddam, though Venus gouerne your desires,
Saturne is dominator ouer mine:
VVhat signifies my deadlie standing eie,
My silence, ann my clowdie melancholie,
770My fleece of wollie haire that now vncurles,
Euen as an Adder when shee doth vnrowle,
To doo some fatall execution.
No Maddam, these are no veneriall signes,
Vengeance is in my hart, death in my hand,
775Blood and reuenge are hammering in my head.
Harke Tamora the Empresse of my soule,
Which neuer hopes more heauen than rests in thee,
This is the daie of doome for Bassianus,
His Philomel must loose her tongue to daie,
780Thy sonnes make pillage of her chasttitie,
And wash their hands in Bascianus blood.
Seest thou this letter? take it vp I pray thee,
And giue the king this fatall plotted scrowle.
Now question me no more we are espied,
785Here comes a parcell of our hopeful lbootie,
VVhich dreads not yet their liues destruction.
Enter Bascianus, and Lauinia.
Tamora. Ah my sweete Moore, sweeter to me than life.
790Moore. No more great Empresse, Bascianus comes,
Be crosse with him, and Ile goe fetch thy sonnes
To backe thy quarrels what so ere they bee.
Bascianus. who haue we here? Romes Royall Empresse,
795Vnfurnisht of her well beseeming troope?
Or is it Dian habited like her,
VVho hath abandoned her holie groues,
To see the generall hunting in this Forrest?
Tamora. Sawcie controwler of my priuate steps,
800Had I the powre that some say Dian had,
Thy temples should be planted presentlie,
VVith hornes as was Acteons, and the hounds,
Should driue vpon thy new transformed limbes,
Vnmannerly intruder as thou art.
805Lauinea. Vnder your patience gentle Empresse,
Tis thought you haue a goodly gift in horning,
And to be doubted that your Moore and you,
Are singled forth to trie thy experimens:
Ioue sheeld your husband from his hounds to day,
810Tis pittie they should take him for a Stag.
Bassianus. Beleeue me Queene your swartie Cymerion,
Doth make your honour of his bodies hue,
Spotted, detested, and abhominable.
VVhy are you sequestred from all your traine,
815Dismounted from your snow white goodly steede,
And wandred hither to an obsure plot,
Accompanied but with a barbarous Moore,
If foule desire had not conducted you?
Lauinia. And being intercepted in your sport,
820Great reason that my Noble Lord be rated
For sausines, I pray you let vs hence,
And let her ioy her Rauen culloured loue,
This valie fitts the purpose passing well.
Bass. The King my brother shall haue notice of this.
825Lauinia I, for these slips haue made him noted long,
Good King to be so mightily abused.
Queene. VVhy I haue patience to indure all this.
Enter Chiron and Demetrius.
Demet. How now deare soueraigne, and our gratious
VVhy doth your highnes looke so pale and wan?
Queene. Haue I not reason thinke you to looke pale,
These two haue ticed me hither to this place,
A barren, detested vale you see it is,
835The trees though summer yet forlorne and leane,
Ouercome with mosse and balefull misselto.
Here neuer shines the sunne, here nothing breeds,
Vnlesse the nightly Owle or fatall Rauen:
And when they showd me this abhorred pit,
840They told me here at dead time of the night,
A thousand feends, a thousand hissing snakes,
Ten thousand swelling toades, as manie vrchins,
VVould make such fearefull and confused cries,
As any mortall body hearing it
845Should strait fall mad, or els die suddainely.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale,
Bu strait they told me they would binde me here,
Vnto the body of a dismall Ewghe,
And leaue me to this miserable death.
850And then they calde me foule adulteresse,
Lauicious Goth, and all the bitterest tearmes,
That euer eare did heare to such effect.
And had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed:
855Reuenge it as you loue your Mothers life,
Or be yee not hence forth cald my Children,
Demetrius. This is a witnes that I am thy son.
stab him.
Chi. And this for me struck home, to shew my strength.
860Lauinia. I come Semeranis, nay barbarous Tamora,
For no name fits thy nature but thy owne.
Tamora. Giue me the poynard, you shall know my boies,
Your Mothers hand shall right your Mothers wrong.
Demetrius. Stay Madame here is more belongs to her,
865First thrash the corne, then after burne the straw:
This minion stood vpon her chastitie,
Vpon her Nuptiall vow, her loyaltie,
And with that painted hope, braues your mightenes,
And shall she carrie this vnto her graue.
870Chiron. And if she doe, I would I were an Euenuke,
Drag hence her husband to some secret hole,
And make his dead trunke pillow to our lust.
Tamora. But when yee haue the honie we desire,
875Let not this waspe out liue vs both to sting.
Chiron. I warrant you maddame we will make that sure:
Come Mistris now perforce we will enioy,
That nice preserued honestie of yours.
Lauinia. Oh Tamora, thou bearest a womans face.
880Tamora. I will not heare her speake awaie with her.
Lauinia. Sweet Lords intreat her heare me but a word.
Demetrius. Listen faire Maddame let it be your glory
To see her teares, but be your hart to them:
As vnrelenting Flint to drops of raine.
885Lauinia. VVhen did the Tigers young ones teach the
Oh doe not learne her wrath: she taught it thee,
The Milke thou suckst from her did turne to Marble,
Euen at thy teat thou hadst thy tyrranie,
Yet euerie Mother breeds not sonnes a like,
890Doe thou intreat her shew a womans pittie.
Chiron. VVhat wouldst thou haue me proue my selfe a
Lauinia. Tis true the Rauen doth not hatch a Larke,
895Yet haue I hard, Oh could I finde it now,
The Lion moued with pittie did indure,
To haue his Princelie pawes parde all away:
So me say that Rauens foster forlorne children,
The whilst their owne birds famish in their nests:
900Oh be to me though thy hard hart say no,
Nothing so kinde but something pittifull.
Tamora. I know not what it meanes, away with her.
Lauinia. Oh let me teach thee for my Fathers sake,
That gaue thee life when well he might haue slaine thee,
905Be not obdurate, open thy deafe yeares.
Tamora. Hadst thou in person nere offended mee,
Euen for his sake am I pittilesse.
Remember boyes I powrd forth teares in vaine,
To saue your brothet from the sacrifice,
910But fearce Andronicus would not relent,
Therefore away with her, and vse her as you will,
The worse to her the better lou'd of mee.
Lauinia. Oh Tamora be calld a Gentle Queene,
915And with thine owne hands kill me in this place,
For tis not life that I haue begd so long,
Poore I was slaine when Bascianus dide.
Tamora. VVhat begst thou then fond woman let me
Lauinia. Tis present death I beg, and one thing more,
920That woman-hood denies my tong to tell,
Oh keepe me from there worse than killing lust,
And tumble me into some lothsome pit,
VVhere neuer mans eye may behold my bodie,
Doe this and be a charitable murderer.
925Tamora. So should I rob my sweet sonnes of their fee,
No let them satisfiee their lust on thee.
Demetrius. Away for thou hast staide vs here too long.
Lauinia. No grace, no womanhood, ah beastly creature,
The blot and enemie to our generall name,
Confusion fall
Chiron. Nay then Ile stop your mouth, bring thou her
935This is the hole where Aron bid vs hide him.
Tamora. Farewell my sons, see that you make her sure,
Nere let my hart know merry cheare indeede,
Till all the Andronicie be made away:
Now will I hence to seeke my louely Moore,
940And let my spleenfull sonnes this Trull defloure.
Enter Aron with two of Titus sonnes.
Come on my Lords the better foot before,
Straight will I bring you to the lothsome pit,
VVhere I espied the Panther fast asleepe.
945Quintus. My sight is verie dull what ere it bodes.
Mart. And mine I promise you, were it not for shame,
VVell could I leaue our sport to sleepe a while.
Quintus. VVhat art thou fallen what subtill hole is this,
950VVhose mouth is couered with rude growing briers,
Vpon whose leaues are drops of new shed blood,
As fresh as morning dew distild on flowers,
A verie fatall place it seemes to mee,
Speake brother hast thou hurt thee with the fall?
955M artius. Oh brother with the dismalst obiect hurt,
That euer eie with sight made hart lament.
Aron. Now will I fetch the King to finde them here,
That he thereby may haue a likely gesse,
Exit.
960How these were they, that made away his brother.
Martius. VVhy dost not comfort me and help me out
From this vnhollow, and bloodstained hole.
Quintus. I am surprised with an vncouth feare,
965A chilling sweat oreruns my trembling ioynts,
My hart suspects more than mine eie can see.
Martius. To proue thou hast a true diuining hart,
Aron, and thou looke downe into this den,
And see a fearefull sight of blood and death.
970Quintus. Aron is gone, and my compassionate hart,
Will not permit mine eyes once to behold,
The thing where at it trembles by surmise:
Oh tell me who it is, for nere till now,
975VVas I a child to feare I know not what.
Martius. Lord Bassianus lies bereaud in blood,
All on a heape like to a slaughtered Lambe,
In this detested darke blood drinking pit.
Quintus. If it be darke how dost thou know tis hee.
980Martius. Vpon his bloody finger he doth weare
A pretious ring, that lightens all this hole:
VVhich like a taper in some monument,
Doth shine vpon the dead mans earthy cheekes,
And shewes the ragged intrals of this pit:
985So pale did shine the Moone on Priamus,
VVhen he by night lay bathd in Maiden blood,
O Brother help me with thy fainting hand,
If feare hath made thee faint as me it hath,
Out of this fell deuouring receptacle,
990As hatefull as Ocitus mistie mouth.
Quint. Reach me thy hand, that I may helpe thee out,
Or wanting strength to doe thee so much good,
I may be pluckt into the swallowing wombe,
Of this deepe pit, poore Bassianus graue:
995I haue no strength to plucke thee to the brinck,
Martius. Nor I no strength to clime without thy help.
Quint. Thy hand once more, I will not loose againe,
Till thou art here a loft or I belowe:
Thou canst not come to me, I come to thee.
1000
Enter the Emperour and Aron,
the Moore.
Saturninus. Along with me, Ile see what hole is here.
And what he is that now is leapt into it.
Say who art thou that lately didst descend,
Into this gaping hollow of the earth.
1005Martius. The vnhappie sonnes of old Andronicus,
Brought hither in a most vnluckie houre,
To finde thy brother Bassianus dead.
Saturninus. My brother dead, I know thou dost but
He and his Ladie both are at the lodge,
1010Vpon the north side of this pleasant chase,
Tis not an houre since I left them there.
Mart. VVe know not where you left them all a liue,
But out alas, here haue we found him dead.
Enter Tamora, Andronicus, and Lucius.
1015Tamora. VVhere is my Lord the King?
King. Here Tamora, though griude with killing griefe.
Tamora. VVhere is thy brother Bassianus?
King. Now to the bottome dost thou search my wound,
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,
Who found this letter, Tamora was it you?
Tamora. Andronicus himselfe did take it vp.
Titus. I did my Lord, yet let me be their baile,
For by my Fathers reuerent toombe I vowe,
They shall be ready at your highnes will,
To answere their suspition with their liues.
King. Thou shalt not baile them, see thou follow me.
1060Some bring the murthered body, some the murtherers,
Let them not speake a word the guilt is plaine,
For by my soule, were there worse end than death,
That end vpon them should be executed.
Tamora. Andronicus I will intreat the King,
1065Feare not thy sonnes, they shall doe well enough.
Titus. Come Lucius come, stay not to talke with them.
Enter the Empresse sonnes with Lauinia, her handes
cut off, and her tongue cut out, & rauisht.
1070Deme. So now go tell and if thy tongue can speake,
VVho twas that cut thy tongue and rauisht thee.
Chi. VVrite downe thy minde bewray thy meaning so,
And if thy stumpes will let thee play the scribe.
Deme. See how with signes and tokens she can scrowle.
1075Chi. Goe home, call for sweet water wash thy hands.
Demet. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash'
And so lets leaue her to her silent walkes.
Chi. And twere my cause, I should goe hang my selfe.
1080Demet. If thou hadst hands to helpe thee knit the corde.
Exeunt.
Enter Marcus from hunting.
VVho is this, my Neece that flies away so fast,
1085Cosen a word, where is your husband:
If I doe dreame would all my wealth would wake me.
If I doe wake some Plannet strike me downe,
That I may slumber an eternall sleepe.
Speake gentle Neece, what sterne vngentle hands,
1090Hath lopt, and hewde, and made thy body bare,
Of her two branches those sweet Ornaments,
VVhose cyrcling shadowes, Kings haue sought to sleepe
And might not gaine so great a happines
As halfe thy loue: VVhy dost not speake to me?
1095Alas, a crimson Riuer of warme blood,
Like to a bubling Fountaine stirde with winde,
Doth rise and fall betweene thy Rosed lips,
Comming and going with thy honie breath.
But sure some Tereus hath deflowred thee,
1100And lest thou shouldst detect them cut thy tongue.
Ah now thou turnst awaie thy face for shame,
And notwithstanding all this losse of blood,
As from a Conduit with their issuing spouts,
Yet doe thy cheekes looke red as Titans face,
1105Blushing to be encountred with a Clowde.
Shall I speake for thee, shall I say tis so.
Oh that I knew thy hart, and knew the beast,
That I might raile at him to ease my minde.
Sorrow concealed like an Ouen stoppt,
1110Doth burne the hart to cinders where it is.
Faire Philomela, why she but lost her tongue,
And in a tedious sampler sowed her minde.
But louely Neece, that meane is cut from thee,
A craftier Tereus, Cosen hast thou met,
1115And he hath cut those prettie fingers off,
That could haue better sowed than Philomel.
Oh had the monster seene those Lillie hands,
Tremble like aspen leaues vpon a Lute,
And make the silken strings delight to kisse them,
1120He would not then haue tucht them for his life.
Or had he heard the heauenly Harmonie,
VVhich that sweete tongue hath made,
He would haue dropt his knife and fell a sleepe,
As Cerberus at the Thracian Poets feete.
1125Come let vs goe, and make thy father blind,
For such a sight will blind a fathers eie.
One houres storme will drowne the fragrant meades,
VVhat will whole months of teares thy fathers eies?
Doe not drawe backe, for we will mourne with thee,
1130Oh could our mourning ease thy miserie.
Exeunt.
Enter the Iudges and Senatours with Titus two sonnes
bound, passing on the Stage to the place of execution, and Ti-
tus going before pleading.
1135Titus. Heare me graue Fathers, Noble Tribunes stay,
For pittie of mine age, whose youth was spent
In dangerous warres, whilst you securelie slept.
For all my blood in Roomes great quarrell shed,
For all the frostie nights that I haue watcht,
1140And for these bitter teares which now you see,
Filling the aged wrincles in my cheeks,
Be pittifull to my condemned sonnes,
VVhose soules is not corrupted as tis thought.
For two and twentie sonnes I neuer wept,
1145Because they died in honours loftie bed,
Andronicus lieth downe, and the Iudges passe by him.
For these, Tribunes, in the dust I write
My harts deepe languor, and my soules sad teares:
Let my teares staunch the earths drie appetite,
1150My sonnes sweete blood will make it shame and blush:
O earth I will befriend thee more with raine,
That shall distill from these two auntient ruines,
Than youthfull Aprill shall with all his showres.
In summers drought, Ile drop vpon thee still,
1155In winter with warme teares Ile melt the snow,
And keepe eternall springtime outhy face,
So thou refuse to drinke my deare sonnes blood.
Enter Lucius with his weapon drawne.
Oh reuerent Tribunes, Oh gentle aged men
1160Vnbinde my sonnes, reuerse the doome of death,
And let me say, (that neuer wept before)
My teares are now preuailing Oratours.
Lucius. Oh Noble Father you lament in vaine,
The Tribunes heare you not, no man is by,
1165And you recount your sorrowes to a stone.
Titus. Ah Lucius, for thy brothers let me plead,
Graue Tribunes, once more I intreat of you.
Lucius. My gratious Lord, no T ribune heares you speak.
Titus. VVhy tis no matter man, if they did heare
1170They would not marke me, if they did marke,
They would not pittie me, yet pleade I must,
1171.1And bootlesse vnto them.
Therefore I tell my sorrowes to the stones,
who though they cannot answere my distresse,
Yet in some sort they are better than the Tribunes,
1175For that they will not intercept my tale:
when I doe weepe, they humblie at my feete
Receiue my teares, and seeme to weepe with me,
And were they but attired in graue weeds,
Rome could afford no Tribunes like to these:
1180A stone is soft as waxe, Tribunes more hard than stones:
A stone is silent, and offendeth not,
And Tribunes with their tongues doome men to death.
But wherefore standst thou with thy weapon drawne?
1185Lucius. To rescue my two brothers from their death,
For which attempt the Iudges haue pronouncst,
My euerlasting doome of banishment.
Titus. O happie man, they haue befriended thee:
why foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceiue
1190That Rome is but a wildernes of tygers?
Tygers must pray, and Rome affords no pray
But me and mine, how happie art thou then,
From these deuourers to be banished.
But who comes with our brother Marcus here?
1195
Enter Marcus with Lauinia.
Marcus. Titus, prepare thy aged eies to weepe,
Or if not so, thy Noble hart to breake:
I bring consuming sorrow to thine age.
Titus. will it consume mee? Let me see it then.
1200Marcus. This was thy Daughter.
Titus. why Marcus so shee is.
Lucius. Ay mee, this Obiect kils mee.
Titus. Faint-harted-boy, arise and looke vpon her.
Speake Lauinea, what accursed hand,
1205Hath made thee handles in thy fathers sight?
what foole hath added water to the sea?
Or brought a faggot to bright burning Troy?
My griefe was at the height before thou camst,
And now like Nylus it disdaineth bounds.
1210Giue me a sword Ile choppe off my hands too,
For they haue fought for Rome, and all in vaine:
And they haue nurst this woe, in feeding life:
In bootlesse praier haue they beene held vp,
1215And they haue serude me to effectles vse.
Now all the seruice I require of them,
Is that the one will helpe to cut the other,
Tis well Lauinia that thou hast no hands,
For hands to doe Rome seruice is but vaine.
1220Lucius. Speake gentle sister, who hath martred thee.
Marcus. Oh that delightfull engine of her thoughts,
That blabd them with such pleasing eloquence,
Is torne from forth that prettie hollow cage,
VVhere like a sweete mellodious bird it sung,
1225Sweete varied notes inchaunting euerie eare.
Lucius. Oh say thou for her, who hath done this deed?
Marcus. Oh thus I found her straying in the Parke,
Seeking to hide her selfe, as doth the Deare
1230That hath receaude some vnrecuring wound.
Titus. It was my Deare, and he that wounded her,
Hath hurt me more than had he kild me dead:
For now I stand as one vpon a rocke,
1235Inuirond with a wildernes of sea,
VVho markes the waxing tide, grow waue by waue,
Expecting euer when some enuious surge,
VVill in his brinish bowels swallow him.
1240This way to death my wretched sonnes are gone,
Here stands my other sonne a banisht man,
And here my brother weeping at my woes:
But that which giues my soule the greatest spurne
Is deare Lauinia, dearer than my soule.
1245Had I but seene thy picture in this plight,
It would haue madded me: what shall I doo,
Now I behold thy liuelie bodie so?
Thou hast no hands to wipe away thy teares,
Nor tongue to tell me who hath martred thee:
1250Thy husband he is dead, and for his death
Thy brothers are condemnde, and dead by this.
Looke Marcus, Ah sonne Lucius looke on her,
VVhen I did name her brothers, then fresh teares
Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honie dew,
1255Vpon a gathred Lillie almost withered.
Marcus. Perchance shee weepes because they kild her
Perchance, because shee knowes them innocent.
Titus. If they did kill thy husband then be ioyfull,
1260Because the Law hath tane reuenge on them.
No, no, they would not doo so fowle a deede,
VVitnes the sorrow that their sister makes.
Gentle Lauinia, let me kisse thy lips,
Or make some signe how I may doe thee ease:
1265Shall thy good Vncle, and thy brother Lucius,
And thou, and I,sit round about some Fountaine,
Looking all downewards to behold our cheekes,
How they are staind like meadowes yet not drie,
VVith mierie slime left on them by a flood?
1270And in the fountaine shall wee gaze so long,
Till the fresh tast be taken from that clearenes,
And made a brine pit with our bitter teares?
Or shall we cut away our hands like thine?
Or shall we bite our tongues? and in dumbe showes
1275Passe the remainder of our hatefull daies?
VVhat shall we doe? Let vs that haue our tongues,
Plot some deuise of further miserie,
To make vs wonderd at in time to come.
Lucius. Sweete father cease your teares, for at your grief
1280See how my wretched sister sobs and weepes.
Marcus. Patience deare niece, good Titus dry thine eies.
Titus. Ah M arcus, Marcus, Brother well I wote,
Thy napkin cannot drinke a teare of mine,
1285For thou poore man, hast drownd it with thine owne.
Lucius. Ah my Lauinia, I will wipe thy cheekes.
Titus. Marke Marcus, marke, I vnderstand her signes,
Had shee a tongue to speake, now would shee say
That to her Brother, which I said to thee.
1290His napking with her true teares all bewet,
Can doe no seruice on her sorrowfull cheekes,
Oh what a simpathie of woe is this,
As farre from helpe, as Lymbo is from blisse.
Enter Aron the M oore alone.
1295Moore. Titus Andronicus, My Lord the Emperour,
Sends thee this word, that if thou loue thy sonnes,
Let M arcus, Lucius, or thy selfe olde Titus,
Or any one of you, chop off your hand
And send it to the King, he for the same,
1300will send thee hither both thy sonnes aliue,
And that shall be the raunsome for their fault.
Titus. Oh gratious Emperour, Oh gentle Aron,
Did euer Rauen sing so like a Larke,
That giues sweete tidings of the Sunnes vprise?
1305VVith all my hart, Ile send the Emperour my hand,
Good Aron wilt thou helpe to chop it off?
Lucius. Stay father, for that Noble hand of thine,
That hath throwne downe so many enemies,
Shall not be sent: my hand will serue the turne,
1310My youth can better spare my bloud than you,
And therefore mine shall saue my brothers liues.
Marcus. which of your hands hath not defended Rome,
And reard aloft the bloudie Battleaxe,
wrighting destruction on the enemies Castle?
1315Oh none of both, but are of high desert:
My hand hath beene but idle, let it serue
To raunsome my two Nephews from their death,
Then haue I kept it to a worthie ende.
Moore. Nay come agree whose hand shall goe along,
1320For feare they die before their pardon come.
Marcus. My hand shall goe.
Lucius. By heauen it shall not goe.
Titus. Sirs striue no more, such withred hearbs as these
Are meete for plucking vp, and therefore mine.
1325Lucius. Sweete father, if I shall be thought thy sonne,
Let me redeeme my brothers both from death.
Marcus. And for our fathers sake, and mothers care,
Now let me show a brothers loue to thee.
Titus. Agree betweene you, I will spare my hand.
1330Lucius. Then Ile goe fetch an Axe.
Marcus. But I will vse the Axe.
Exeunt.
Titus. Come hither Aron, Ile deceiue them both,
Lend me thy hand, and I will giue thee mine.
Moore. If that be calde deceit, I will be honest,
1335And neuer whilst I liue deceiue men so:
But Ile deceiue you in another sort,
And that youle say ere halfe an houre passe.
He cuts off Titus hand.
Enter Lucius and Marcus againe.
1340Titus. Now stay your strife, what shall be, is dispatcht.
Good Aron giue his Maiestie my hand,
Tell him it was a hand that warded him
From thousand dangers, bid him burie it,
More hath it merited, that let it haue:
1345As for my sonnes, say I account of them,
As iewels purchasde at an easie price,
And yet deare too, because I bought mine owne.
Aron. I goe Andronicus, and for thy hand,
Looke by and by to haue thy sonnes with thee.
1350Their heads I meane: Oh how this villanie,
Doth fat me with the verie thoughts of it.
Let fooles doe good, and faire men call for grace,
Aron will haue his soule blacke like his face.
Exit.
Titus. Oh here I lift this one hand vp to heauen,
1355And bow this feeble ruine to the earth,
If any power pitties wretched teares,
To that I call: what wouldst thou kneele with mee?
Doe then deare hart, for heauen shall heare our praiers,
Or with our sighs wele breath the welkin dimme,
1360And staine the sunne with fogge, as sometime clowds,
VVhen they doe hug him in their melting bosomes.
Marcus. Oh Brother speake with possibilitie,
And doe not breake into these deepe extreames.
Titus. Is not my sorrow deepe hauing no bottome?
1365Then be my passions bottomlesse with them.
Marcus. But yet let reason gouerne thy lament.
Titus. If there were reason for these miseries,
Then into limits could I binde my woes:
VVhen heauen doth weepe, doth not the earth oreflow?
1370If the winds rage, doth not the sea waxe mad,
Threatning the welkin with his bigswolne face?
And wilt thou haue a reason for this coile?
I am the sea. Harke how her sighs doth flow:
Shee is the weeping welkin, I the earth:
1375Then must my sea be mooued with her sighs,
Then must my earth with her continuall teares,
Become a deluge: ouerflowed and drownd:
For why, my bowels cannot hide her woes,
But like a drunkard must I vomit them.
1380Then giue me leaue, for loosers will haue leaue,
To ease their stomacks with their bitter tongues.
Enter a messenger with two heads and a hand.
Messenger. VVorthy Andronicus, ill art thou repaid,
For that good hand thou sentst the Emperour:
1385Here are the heads of thy two Noble sonnes,
And heres thy hand in scorne to thee sent backe:
Thy griefe, their sports: Thy resolution mockt:
That woe is me to thinke vpon thy woes,
More than remembrance of my fathers death.
1390Marcus. Now let hote Ætna coole in Cycilie,
And be my hart an euerburning hell:
These miseries are more than may be borne.
To weepe with them that weepe doth ease some deale,
But sorrow flowted at, is double death.
1395Lucius. Ah that this sight should make so deepe a wound
And yet detested life not shrinke thereat:
That euer death should let life beare his name,
VVhere life hath no more interest but to breath.
Marcus. Alas poore hart, that kisse is comfortlesse,
1400As frozen water to a starued snake.
Titus. VVhen will this fearefull slumber haue an end?
Mar. Now farewell flattrie, die Andronicus,
Thou dost not slumber, see thy two sonnes heads,
Thy warlike hand, thy mangled Daughter heere:
1405Thy other banisht sonne with this deere sight,
Strucke pale and bloodlesse, and thy brother I,
Euen like a stony image cold and numme.
Ah now no more will I controwle thy greefes,
Rent off thy siluer haire, thy other hand,
1410Gnawing with thy teeth, and be this dismall sight
The closing vp of our most wretched eies:
Now is a time to storme, why art thou still?
Titus. Ha, ha, ha.
M. VVhy dost thou laugh? It fits not with this houre.
1415Titus. VVhy I haue not another teare to shed;
Besides this sorrow is an enemie,
And would vsurpe vpon my watrie eies,
And make them blinde with tributarie teares.
Then which way shall I find Reuenges Caue,
1420For these two heads doe seeme to speake to mee
And threat me, I shall neuer come to blisse,
Till all these mischiefes be returnd againe,
Euen in their throats that hath commited them.
Come let me see what taske I haue to doe,
1425You heauie people cirkle me about.
That I may turne mee to each one of you,
And sweare vnto my soule to right your wrongs,
The vow is made. Come brother take a head,
And in this hand the other will I beare,
1430And Lauinia thou shalt be imployde in these Armes,
Beare thou my hand sweet wench betweene thy teeth:
As for thee boy, goe get thee from my sight,
Thou art an Exile, and thou must not stay,
Hie to the Gothes and raise an armie there,
1435And if yee loue me as I thinke you doe,
Lets kisse and part for we haue much to doe.
Exeunt.
Lucius. Farewell Andronicus my Noble Father,
The woefulst man that euer liude in Rome:
1440Farewell proud Rome till Lucius come againe,
He loues his pledges dearer than his life:
Farewell Lauinia my Noble sister,
O would thou wert as thou to fore hast beene,
But now nor Lucius nor Lauinia liues,
1445But in obliuion and hatefull greefes:
If Lucius liue, he will requite your wrongs,
And make proud Saturnine and his Emperesse,
Beg at the gates like T arquin and his Queene.
Now will I to the Gothes and raise a powre,
1450To bee reuengd on Rome and Saturnine.
Exit Lucius.
Enter Lucius sonne and Lauinia running after him, and
the Boy flies from her with his Bookes vn-
der his Arme.
Enter Titus and Marcus.
Puer. Help Grandsier helpe, my Aunt Lauinia,
1545Followes me euerie where I know not why.
Good Vnckle Marcus see how swift shee comes,
Alas sweet Aunt I know not what you meane.
Marcus. Stand by me Lucius, doe not feare thine Aunt.
Titus. She loues thee boy too well to doe thee harme.
1550Puer. I when my Father was in Rome she did.
M. VVhat meanes my Neece Lauinia by these signes.
Tit. Feare her not Lucius, somewhat doth she meane,
See Lucius see, how much she makes of thee:
Some whither would she haue thee goe with her.
1555A boy, Cornelia neuer with more care,
Red to her sonnes than she hath red to thee,
Sweet Poetrie and Tullies Oratour:
Canst thou not gesse wherefore she plies thee thus.
Puer. My Lord I know not I, nor can I gesse,
1560Vnlesse some fit or frenzie do possesse her:
For I haue heard my Grandsier say full oft,
Extremitie of greeues would make men mad.
And I haue red that Hecuba of Troy,
Ran mad for sorrow, that made me to feare,
1565Although my Lord I know my Noble Aunt,
Loues me as deare as ere my Mother did,
And would not but in furie fright my youth,
VVhich made me downe to throwe my bookes and flie
Causeles perhaps, but pardon me sweet Aunt,
1570And Maddam if my Vnckle Marcus goe,
I will most willinglie attend your Ladyship.
Mar. Lucius I will.
Titus. How now Lauinia, Marcus what meanes this?
Some booke there is that she desires to see:
1575VVhich is it gyrle of these, open them boy,
But thou art deeper read and better skild,
Come and take choise of all my Lybrarie,
And so beguile thy sorrow, till the heauens
Reueale the damn'd contriuer of this deede.
VVhy lifts she vp her Armes in sequence thus?
M. I thinke she meanes that there were more than one
Confederate in the fact, I more there was:
Or else to heauen, she heaues them for reuenge.
1585Titus. Lucius what booke is that shee tosseth so.
Puer. Grandsier tis Ouids Metamorphosis,
My Mother gaue it me.
Marcus. For loue of her thats gone,
Perhaps shee culd it from among the rest.
1590Titus. Soft so busilie she turnes the leaues,
Help her, what would she finde? Lauinia shal I read?
This is the tragicke tale of Philomel,
And treats of Tereus treason and his rape,
And rape I feare, was roote of thy annoie,
1595Marcus. See brother see, note how she coats the leaues,
Titus. Lauinia wert thou thus surpriz'd sweet gyrle?
Rauisht and wrongd as Phlomela was,
Frocd in the ruthlesse Vast and gloomie woods;
See, see, I such a place there is where we did hunt,
1600(O had we neuer, neuer hunted there,)
Patternd by that the Poet here describes,
By nature made for murthers and for rapes,
Mar. O why should nature build so fowle a den.
Vnlesse the Gods delight in Tragedies,
1605Titus. Giue signes sweet gyrle, for here are none but
VVhat Romaine Lord it was durst doe the deed?
Or slonke not Saturnine as Tarquin erst,
That left the Campe to sinne in Lucrece bed
Marc. Sit downe sweet Neece, brother sit downe by
1610Appollo, Pallas, Ioue or Mercurie,
Inspire me that I may this treason finde,
My Lord looke here, looke here Lauinia,
He writes his name with his staffe and guides it
with feete and mouth.
1615This sandie plot is plaine, guide if thou canst
This after me, I haue writ my name,
Without the help of any hand at all.
Curst be that hart that forcd vs to this shift:
VVrite thou good Neece, and here display at last,
1620VVhat God will haue discouered for reuenge,
Heauen guide thy pen to print thy sorrowes plaine,
That we may know the traytors and the truth,
Shee takes the staffe in her mouth, and guides it with her
stumps and writes.
1625Oh doe yee read my Lord what she hath writ,
Stuprum, Chiron, Demetrius.
Marcus. VVhat, what, the lustfull sonnes of Tamora,
Performers of this haynous bloody deede.
Titus. Magni Dominator poli,
1630Tam lentus audis scelera, tam lentus vides?
Marcus. Oh calme thee gentle Lord, although I know
There is enough written vpon this earth,
To stir a mutinie in the mildest thoughts,
And arme the mindes of infants to exclaimes,
1635My Lord kneele downe with me, L auinia kneele,
And kneele sweet boy, the Romaine Hectors
And sweare with me as with the wofull feere,
And father of that chast dishonoured Dame,
Lord Iunius Brutus sweare for Lucrece rape,
1640That we will prosecute by good aduice
Mortall reuenge vpon these Traiterous Gothes,
And see their blood or die with this reproch.
Titus. Tis sure enough, and you knew how,
But if you hunt these Beare whelpes then beware,
1645The Dam will wake and if she winde yee once,
Shee's with the Lion deepely still in league,
And luls him whilst shee plaieth on her backe.
And when he sleepes, will shee doe what she list.
You are a young huntsman Marcus, let alone,
1650And come I will goe get a leafe of brasse,
And with a gad of steele will write these words,
And lay it by: the angry northen wind
Will blow these sands like Sibels leaues abroad,
And wheres our lesson then, boy what say you?
1655Puer. I say my Lord that if I were a man,
Their mothers bed-chamber should not be safe,
For these base bond-men to the yoake of Rome.
Marcus I thats my boy, thy father hath full oft,
For his vngratefull Countrie done the like.
1660Puer. And Vnkle so will I, and if I liue.
Titus. Come goe with me into mine Armorie,
Lucius Ile fit thee, and withall my boy
Shall carrie from me to the Empresse sonnes,
Presents that I intend to send them both:
1665Come, come, thoult doe my message wilt thou not?
Puer. I with my dagger in their bosomes Grandsier.
Titus. No boy not so, Ile teach thee another course,
Lauinia come, Marcus looke to my house,
Lucius and Ile goe braue it at the Court,
1670I marrie will we sir, and weele be waited on.
Exeunt.
Marcus. O heauens, can you heare a goodman grone
And not relent, or not compassion him?
Marcus attend him in his extasie,
That hath more scars of sorrow in his hart,
1675Than foe-mens marks vpon his battred shield,
But yet so iust, that he will not reuenge,
Reuenge the heauens for olde Andronicus.
Exit.
Enter Aron, Chiron, and Demetrius at one doore, and at
the other doore young Lucius, and another with a bundle of
1680weapons, and verses writ vpon them.
Chiron Demetrius, her's the sonne of Lucius,
He hath some message to deliuer vs.
Aron. I some mad message from his mad Grandfather.
Puer. My Lords, with all the humblenes I may,
1685I greete your Honours from Andronicus;
And pray the Romane Gods confound you both.
Demetrius. Gramarcie Louelie Lucius, whats the news.
1687.1Puer. That you are both discipherd, thats the newes,
For villaines markt with rape. May it please you,
My Grandsier well aduisde hath sent by me,
1690The goodliest weapons of his Armorie,
To gratefie your honourable youth
The hope of Rome, for so he bid me say:
And so I doe, and with his gifts present
Your Lordships, when euer you haue neede,
1695You may be armed and appointed well,
And so I leaue you both: Like bloudie villaines.
Exit.
Demetri. what's here? a scrole, and written round about,
Let's see,
Integer vitæ scelerisque purus, non eget mauri iaculis nec arcu.
Chiron. O tis a verse in Horace I know it well,
I read it in the Grammer long agoe.
Moore. I iust, a verse in Horace, right you haue it,
Now what a thing it is to be an Asse.
1705Her's no sound ieast, the olde man hath found their gilt,
And sends them weapons wrapt about with lines,
That wound beyond their feeling to the quicke:
But were our wittie Empresse well a foote,
Shee would applaud Andronicus conceit,
1710But let her rest in her vnrest a while.
And now young Lords, wast not a happie starre,
Led vs to Rome strangers, and more than so
Captiues, to be aduaunced to this height:
It did me good before the Pallace gate,
1715To braue the Tribune in his brothers hearing.
Demetrius. But me more good to see so great a Lord,
Baselie insinuate and send vs gifts.
Aron. Had he not reason Lord Demetrius,
Did you not vse his daughter very friendlie?
1720Demetrius. I would we had a thousand Romane Dames
At such a bay, by turne to serue our lust.
Chiron. A charitable wish, and full of loue.
Aron. Here lacks but your mother for to say Amen.
Chiron. And that would she for twenty thousand more.
1725Deme. Come let vs goe and pray to all the Gods,
For our beloued mother in her paines.
Aron. Pray to the deuills, the Gods haue giuen vs ouer.
Trumpets sound.
Demet. VVhy do the Emperours trumpets flourish
1730Chi. Belike for ioy the Emperour hath a sonne.
Demetrius. Soft who comes here.
Enter Nurse with a blackamoore childe.
Nurse. God morrow Lords, O tell me did you see Aron
1735Aron. VVell, more or lesse, or nere a whit at all,
Here Aron is, and what with Aron now.
Nurse. Oh gentle Aron we are all vndone,
Now helpe, or woe betide thee euermore.
Aron. VVhy what a catterwalling dost thou keepe,
1740what dost thou wrap and fumble in thy armes?
Nur. O that which I would hide from heauens eye,
Our Empresse shame and stately Romes disgrace,
Shee is deliuered Lords she is deliuered.
Aron. To whome.
1745Nur. I meane she is brought a bed.
Aron. VVell god giue her good rest, what hath he sent
Nurse. A diuell.
A. VVhy then she is the deuils Dam, a ioyfull issue,
1750N. A Ioyles, dismall, blacke, and sorrowfull issue,
Here is the babe as loathsome as a toade,
Amongst the fairefast breeders of our clime,
The Empresse sends it thee, thy stampe, thy seale,
And bids thee christen it with thy daggers point.
1755A. Zounds ye whore, is blacke so base a hue?
Sweete blowse you are a beautious blossome sure.
Deme. Villaine what hast thou done?
A. That which thou canst not vndoe.
Chiron. Thou hast vndone our mother.
1759.1Aron. Villaine I haue done thy mother.
1760Deme. And therein hellish dog thou hast vndone her,
VVoe to her chaunce, and damde her loathed choice,
Accurst the offspring of so foule a fiend.
Chi. It shall not liue,
Aron. It shall not die.
1765Nurse. Aron it must, the mother wils it so.
Aron. VVhat must it Nurse? then let no man but I,
Doe execution on my flesh and blood.
Demet. Ile broach the tadpole on my Rapiers point,
Nurse giue it me, my sword shall soone dispatch it.
1770Aron. Sooner this sword shall plow thy bowels vp,
Stay murtherous villaines will you kill your brother?
Now by the burning tapors of the skie,
That shone so brightly when this boy was got,
He dies vpon my Semitars sharpe point,
1775That touches this my first borne sonne and heire:
I tell you yonglings, not Enceladus,
VVith all his threatning band of Typhons broode,
Nor great Alciades, nor the God of warre,
Shall ceaze this pray out of his fathers hands:
1780VVhat, what, yee sanguine shallow harted boies,
Yee whitelimde walles, yee ale-house painted signes,
Cole-blacke is better than another hue,
In that it scornes to beare another hue:
For all the water in the Ocean,
1785Can neuer turne the swans blacke legs to white,
Although shee laue them howrely in the flood:
Tell the Empresse from mee I am of age
To keepe mine owne, excuse it how shee can.
Demetrius. VVilt thou betray thy Noble Mistris thus.
1790Aron. My Mistris is my Mistris, this my selfe,
The vigour, and the picture of my youth:
This before all the world doe I preferre,
This mauger all the world will I keepe safe,
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
1795Demetrius. By this our mother is for euer shamde.
Chiron. Rome will despise her for this foule escape.
Nurse. The Emperour in his rage will doome her death.
Chiron. I blush to thinke vpon this ignomie.
Aron. VVhy ther's the Priuiledge your beautie bears:
1800Fie trecherous hue, that will betraie with blushing
The close enacts and counsels of thy hart:
Her's a young Lad framde of another leere,
Looke how the blacke slaue smiles vpon the father,
As who should say, olde Lad I am thine owne.
1805Hee is your brother Lords, sensiblie fed
Of that selfe bloud that first gaue life to you,
And from your wombe where you imprisoned were,
Hee is infraunchised, and come to light:
Nay hee is your brother by the surer side,
1810Although my seale be stamped in his face.
Nurse. Aron, what shall I say vnto the Empresse.
Demetrius. Aduise thee Aron, what is to be done,
And we will all subscribe to thy aduise:
Saue thou the childe, so wee may all be safe.
1815Aron. Then sit we downe and let vs all consult,
My sonne and I will haue the winde of you:
Keepe there, now talke at pleasure of your safetie.
Demetrius. How many women saw this childe of his?
Aron. why so braue Lords, when we ioine in league
1820I am a Lambe, but if you braue the Moore,
The chafed Bore, the mountaine Lionesse,
The Ocean swels not so as Aron stormes:
But saie againe, how manie saw the childe.
Nurse. Cornelia the Midwife, and my selfe,
1825And no one els but the deliuered Empresse.
Aron. The Empresse, the Midwife, and your selfe,
Two may keepe counsell when the third's away:
Goe to the Empresse, tell her this I said.
He kils her.
VVeeke, weeke, so cries a Pigge prepared to the spit.
1830Deme. what meanst thou Aron, wherfore didst thou this?
Aron. O Lord sir, tis a deede of pollicie,
Shall shee liue to betraie this gilt of ours?
A long tongude babling Gossip, No Lords, no:
1835And now be it knowne to you my full intent.
Not farre, one Muliteus my Countriman
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed,
His childe is like to her, faire as you are:
Goe packe with him, and giue the mother gold,
1840And tell them both, the circumstance of all,
And how by this their childe shall be aduaunst,
And be receiued for the Emperours Heire,
And substituted in the place of mine,
To calme this tempest whirling in the Court,
1845And let the Lmperour dandle him for his owne.
Harke yee Lords, you see I haue giuen her Phisicke,
And you must needs bestow her Funerall,
The fields are neere, and you are gallant Groomes:
This done, see that you take no longer daies,
1850But send the Midwife presentlie to mee.
The Midwife and the Nurse well made away,
Then let the Ladies tattle what they please.
Chi. Aron, I see thou wilt not trust the aire with secrets.
Demetrius. For this care of Tamora,
1855Her selfe, and hers, are highlie bound to thee.
Exeunt.
Aron. Now to the Gothes as swift as swallow flies,
There to dispose this treasure in mine armes,
And secretlie to greete the Empresse friends:
Come on you thicke-lipt-slaue, Ile beare you hence,
1860For it is you that puts vs to our shifts:
Ile make you feede on berries, and on roots,
And feede on curds and whay, and sucke the Goate,
And cabbin in a Caue, and bring you vp,
To be a warriour and commaund a Campe.
Exit.
1865
Enter Titus, olde Marcus, young Lucius, and other gen-
tlemen with bowes, and Titus beares the arrowes with letters
on the ends of them.
Titus. Come Marcus, come, kinsemen this is the way,
Sir boy let me see your Archerie,
1870Looke yee draw home inough and tis there straight,
Terras Astrea reliquit, be you remembred Marcus,
Shees gone, shees fled, sirs take you to your tooles,
You Cosens shall goe sound the Ocean,
And cast your nets, happilie you may catch her in the sea,
1875Yet ther's as little iustice as at land:
No Publius and Sempronius, you must doe it,
Tis you must dig with mattocke and with spade,
And pierce the inmost Center of the earth,
Then when you come to Plutoes Region,
1880I pray you deliuer him this petition,
Tell him it is for iustice and for aide,
And that it comes from olde Andronicus
Shaken with sorrowes in vngratefull Rome.
Ah Rome, well, well, I made thee miserable,
1885VVhat time I threw the peoples suffrages
On him that thus doth tyrrannize ore mee.
Goe get you gone, and pray be carefull all,
And leaue you not a man of warre vnsearcht,
This wicked Emperour may haue shipt her hence,
1890And kinsemen then we may goe pipe for iustice.
Marcus. O Publius, is not this a heauie case
To see thy Noble Vnkle thus distract?
Publius. Therefore my Lords it highly vs concernes,
By daie and night t'attend him carefullie:
1895And feede his humour kindly as we may,
Till time beget some carefull remedie.
Marcus. Kinsmen his sorrowes are past remedie
Ioine with the Gothes, and with reuengefull warre,
Take wreake on Rome for this ingratitude,
1900And vengeance on the traitour Saturnine.
Titus. Publius how now, how now my Masters,
VVhat haue you met with her?
Publius. No my good Lord, but Pluto sends you word,
If you will haue reuenge from hell you shall,
1905Marrie for Iustice shee is so imploid,
He thinks with Ioue in heauen, or some where else,
So that perforce you must needs staie a time.
Titus. He doth me wrong to feede me with delaies,
Ile diue into the burning lake belowe,
1910And pull her out of Acaron by the heeles.
Marcus we are but shrubs, no Cedars wee,
No big-boand-men framde of the Cyclops size,
But mettall Marcus, steele to the verie backe,
Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can beare:
1915And sith ther's no iustice in earth nor hell,
VVe will sollicite heauen and moue the Gods,
To send downe Iustice for to wreake our wrongs:
Come to this geare, you are a good Archer Marcus,
He giues them the Arrowes.
1920Ad Iouem, thats for you, here ad Apollonem,
Ad Martem, thats for my selfe,
Here boy to Pallas, here to Mercurie,
To Saturnine, to Caius, not to Saturnine,
You were as good to shoote against the winde.
1925Too it boy, Marcus loose when I bid,
Of my word I haue written to effect,
Ther's not a God left vnsollicited.
Marcus. Kinsemen, shoot all your shafts into the Court,
VVee will afflict the Emperour in his pride.
1930Titus. Now Masters draw, Oh well said Lucius,
Good boy in Virgoes lappe, giue it Pallas.
Marcus. My Lord, I aime a mile beyond the Moone,
Your letter is with Iubiter by this.
Titus. Ha, ha, Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?
1935See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus hornes.
Marcus. This was the sport my Lord, when Publius shot
The Bull being galde, gaue Aries such a knocke,
That downe fell both the Rams hornes in the Court,
And who should finde them but the Empresse villaine:
1940Shee laught, and tolde the Moore hee should not choose,
But giue them to his Master for a present.
Titus. VVhy there it goes, God giue his Lordship ioy.
Enter the Clowne with a basket and two pidgeons in it.
Clowne. Newes, newes from heauen,
1945Marcus the Poast is come.
Titus. Sirra what tidings, haue you any letters,
Shall I haue iustice, what saies Iubiter?
Clowne. Ho the Gibbetmaker? Hee saies that he hath
taken them downe againe, for the man must not be hangd
1950till the next weeke.
Titus. But what saies Iubiter I aske thee?
Clowne. Alas sir, I know not Iubiter,
I neuer dranke with him in all my life.
Titus. VVhy villaine art not thou the Carrier.
1955Clowne. I of my pidgeons sir, nothing els.
Titus. VVhy didst thou not come from heauen?
Clowne. From heauen, alas sir, I neuer came there,
God forbid I should be so bolde, to presse to heauen in my
young daies:
VVhy I am going with my pidgeons to the tribunall
1960Plebs, to take vp a matter of brawle betwixt my Vncle,
and one of the Emperals men.
Marcus. VVhy sir, that is as fit as can bee to serue for
your Oration, and let him deliuer the pidgeons to the
Emperour from you.
1965Titus. Tell mee, can you deliuer an Oration to the Em-
perour with a grace.
Clowne. Nay truelie sir, I could neuer say grace in all
my life.
Titus. Sirra come hither, make no more adoo,
1970But giue your pidgeons to the Emperour,
By mee thou shalt haue iustice at his hands,
Hold, hold, meanewhile here's money for thy charges,
Giue me pen and inke.
Sirra, can you with a grace deliuer vp a Supplication?
1975Clowne. I sir.
Titus. Then here is a Supplication for you, and when you
come to him, at the first approch you must kneele, then
kisse his foote, then deliuer vp your pidgeons, and then
looke for your reward. Ile bee at hand sir, see you doe it
1980brauelie.
Clowne. I warrant you sir, let me alone.
Titus. Sirra 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.
1985And when thou hast giuen it to the Emperour,
Knocke at my doore, and tell me what he saies.
Clowne. God be with you sir, I will.
Exit.
Titus. Come Marcus let vs goe, Publius follow mee.
Exeunt.
1990
Enter Emperour and Empresse and her two sonnes, the
Emperour brings the Arrowes in his hand
that Titus shot at him.
Saturnine. VVhy Lords what wrongs are these, was euer
1995An Emperour in Rome thus ouerborne,
Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent
Of egall iustice, vsde in such contempt.
My Lords you know the mightfull Gods,
How euer these disturbers of our peace
2000Buz in the peoples eares, there nought hath past
But euen with law against the wilfull sonnes
Of old Andronicus. And what and if
His sorrowes haue so ouerwhelmde his witts?
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreakes,
2005His fits, his frencie, and his bitternes?
And now he writes to heauen for his redresse,
See heres to Ioue, and this to Mercurie.
This to Apollo, this to the God of warre:
Sweete skrowles to flie about the streets of Rome,
2010Whats this but libelling against the Senate,
And blazoning our vniustice euerie where,
A goodly humor is it not my Lords?
As who would say in Rome no iustice were.
But if I liue his fained extasies
2015Shall be no shelter to these outrages,
But he and his shall know that iustice liues
In Saturninus health, whome if he sleepe,
Hele so a wake as he in furie shall,
Cut off the proud'st conspiratour that liues.
2020Tamora. My gratious Lord, my louely Saturnine,
Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,
Calme thee and beare the faults of Titus age,
The'ffects of sorrow for his valiant sonnes,
VVhose losse hath pearst him deepe and skard his hart,
2025And rather comfort his distressed plight,
Than prosecute the meanest or the best
For these contempts: why thus it shall become
Hie witted Tamora to glose with all.
But Titus I haue touched thee to the quicke,
2030Thy life blood out: if Aron now be wise,
Then is all safe, the Anchor in the port.
Enter Clowne.
How now good fellow wouldst thou speake with vs?
Clowne. Yea forsooth & your Mistriship be Emperiall,
2035Tamora. Empresse I am, but yonder sits the Emperour.
Clow. Tis he, God and Saint Steuen giue you Godden,
I haue brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.
He reads the letter.
Satur. Goe take him away and hang him presently?
2040Clow. How much money must I haue.
Tamora. Come sirra you must be hanged.
Clowne. Hangd be Lady, then I haue brought vp a neck
to a faire end.
Exit.
Satur. Dispightfull and intollerable wrongs,
2045Shall I endure this monstrous villanie?
I know from whence this same deuise proceeds.
May this be borne as if his traitorous sonnes,
That dide by law for murther of our brother,
Haue by my meanes bin butchered wrongfully.
2050Goe dragge the villaine hither by the haire,
Nor age, nor honour, shall shape priueledge,
For this proud mocke, Ile be thy slaughter man,
Sly franticke wretch, that holpst to make me great,
In hope thy selfe should gouerne Rome and me.
2055
Enter Nutius Emillius.
Satur. VVhat newes with thee Emillius?
Emillius. Arme my Lords, Rome neuer had more cause,
The Gothes haue gathered head and with a power
Of high resolued men, bent to the spoile,
2060They hither march amaine, vnder conduct
Of Lucius, sonne to old Andronicus,
VVho threats in course of this reuenge, to doe
As much as euer Coriolanus did.
King. Is warlike Lucius Generall of the Gothes,
2065These tidings nip me, and I hang the head
As flowers with frost, or grasse beat downe with stormes.
I now begins our sorrowes to approch,
Tis he the common people loue so much,
My selfe hath often heard them say,
2070VVhen I haue walked like a priuate man,
That Lucius banishment was wrongfullie,
And they haue wisht that Lucius were their Emperour.
Tamora. why should you feare, is not your Citie strong?
King. I but the Citizens fauour Lucius,
2075And will reuolt from me to succour him.
Tamora. King Be thy thoughts imperious like thy name,
Is the sunne dimde, that Gnats doe flie in it,
The Eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not carefull what they meane thereby,
2080Knowing that with the shadow of his winges,
He can at pleasure slint their melodie.
Euen so maiest thou the giddie men of Rome,
Then cheare thy spirit for know thou Emperour,
I will inchaunt the old Andronicus,
2085With words more sweete and yet more dangerous
Then baites to fish, or honniestalkes to sheepe,
When as the one is wounded with the bait,
The other rotted with delicious seede.
King. But he will not intreat his sonne for vs.
2090Tamora. If Tamora intreat him than he will,
For I can smooth and fill his aged eares,
VVith golden promises, that were his hart
Almost impregnable, his old yeares deafe,
Yet should both eare and hart obay my tongue.
2095Goe thou before to be our Ambassador,
Say that the Emperour requests a parlie,
Of warIike Lucius, and appoint the meeting,
2097.1Euen at his Fathers house the old Andronicus.
King. Emillius doe this message honourably,
And if he stand in hostage for his saftie,
2100Bid him demaund what pledge will please him best.
Emillius. Your bidding shall I doe effectually.
Exit.
Tamora. Now will I to that old Andronicus,
And temper him with all the Art I haue,
To plucke proude Lucius from the warlike Gothes.
2105And now sweet Emperour be blith againe,
And burie all thy feare in my deuises,
Saturnine. Then goe sucessantly and plead to him.
Exeunt.
Enter Lucius with an Armie of Gothes with
2110Drums and Souldiers.
Lucius. Approued warriours, and my faithfull friends,
I haue receaued letters from great Rome,
VVhich signifies what hate they beare their Emperour,
And how desirous of our sight they are.
2115Therefore great Lords bee as your titles witnes,
Imperious, and impatient of your wrongs,
And wherein Rome hath done you any skath,
Let him make treable satisfaction.
Goth. Braue slip sprong from the great Andronicus,
2120VVhose name was once our terrour, now our comfort,
VVhose high exployts and honourable deeds,
Ingratefull Rome requites with foule contempt,
Be bold in vs weele follow where thou leadst,
Like stinging Bees in hottest summers day,
2125Led by their Master to the flowred fields,
And be aduengde on cursed Tamora:
And as he saith, so say we all with him.
Lucius. I humblie thanke him and I thanke you all,
But who comes here led by a lustie Gothe?
2130
Enter a Goth leading of Aron with his child
in his Armes.
Goth. Renowmed Lucius from our troupes I straid,
To gaze vpon a ruinous Monasterie,
And as I earnestly did fixe mine eye,
2135Vpon the wasted building suddainely,
I heard a child crie vnderneath a wall,
I made vnto the noise, when soone I heard,
The crying babe controld with this discourse:
Peace tawnie slaue, halfe me, and halfe thy Dame,
2140Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art,
Had nature lent thee but thy mothers looke,
Villaine thou mightst haue bin an Emperour.
But where the bull and Cow are both milke white,
They neuer doe beget a coleblacke Calfe:
2145Peace Villaine peace, euen thus he rates the babe,
For I must beare thee to a trustie Goth,
VVho when he knowes thou art the Empresse babe,
VVill hold thee dearely for thy mothers sake.
VVith this my weapon drawen I rusht vpon him
2150Surprisde him suddainely, and brought him hither
To vse as you thinke needefull of the man.
Lucius. Oh worthie Goth this is the incarnate diuell,
That robd Andronicus of his good hand,
This is the Pearle that pleasd your Empresse eye,
2155And her's the base fruit of her burning lust,
Say wall-eyd slaue whither wouldst thou conuay,
This growing image of thy fiendlike face,
VVhy doost not speake? what deafe, not a word?
A halter Souldiers, hang him on this tree,
2160And by his side his fruite of Bastardie.
Aron. Touch not the boy, he is of Roiall bloud.
Luc. Too like the sier for euer being good,
First hang the child that he may see it sprall,
A sight to vex the fathers soule withall.
2165Aron. Get me a ladder, Lucius saue the child,
And beare it from me to the Empresse:
If thou do this, ile shew thee wondrous things,
That highly may aduantage thee to heare,
If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,
2170Ile speake no more, but vengeance rotte you all.
Lucius. Say on, and if it please me which thou speakst,
Thy child shall liue, and I will see it nourisht.
Aron. And if it please thee? why assure thee Lucius,
Twill vexe thy soule to heare what I shall speake:
2175For I must talke of murthers, rapes, and massakers,
Acts of black night, abhominable deeds,
Complots of mischiefe, treason, villanie s,
Ruthfull to heare, yet pitteously performde,
And this shall all be buried in my death,
2180Vnlesse thou sweare to me my child shall liue.
Lucius. Tell on thy minde, I say thy child shall liue.
Aron. Sweare that he shall, and then I will begin.
Luci. VVho should I sweare by, thou beleeuest no God,
That graunted, how canst thou beleeue an oath.
Aron. VVhat if I doe not, as indeed I do not,
Yet for I know thou art religious,
And hast a thing within thee called conscience,
2190VVith twenty popish tricks and ceremonies,
VVhich I haue seene thee carefull to obserue,
Therefore I vrge thy oath, for that I know,
An ideot holds his bauble for a God,
And keepes the oath which by that God he sweares,
2195To that ile vrge him, therefore thou shalt vow,
By that same God, what God so ere it be
That thou adorest, and hast in reuerence,
To saue my boy, to nourish and bring him vp,
Or else I will discouer nought to thee.
2200Lucius. Euen by my God I sweare to thee I will.
Aron. First know thou, I begot him on the Empresse.
Lucius. Oh most insatiate and luxurious woman.
Aron. Tut Lucius, this was but a deed of charitie,
2205To that which thou shalt heare of me anon,
Twas her two sonnes that murdered Bassianus,
They cut thy Sisters tongue, and rauisht her,
And cut her hands, and trimd her as thou sawest.
Luc. Oh detestable villaine, callst thou that trimming.
2210Aron. VVhy she was washt, and cut, and trimd,
And twas trim sport for them which had the doing of it.
Luc. Oh barberous beastlie villaines like thy selfe.
Aron. Indeed I was their tutor to instruct them,
2215That codding spirit had they from their mother,
As sure a card as euer wonne the set:
That bloodie minde I thinke they learnd of me,
As true a Dog as euer fought at head:
VVell let my deeds be witnes of my worth,
2220I traind thy brethren to that guilefull hole,
where the dead corpes of Bassianus laie:
I wrote the letter that thy Father found,
And hid the gold within that letter mentioned,
Confederate with the Queene and her two sonnes.
2225And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue,
wherein I had no stroke of mischiefe in it,
I plaid the cheater for thy fathers hand,
And when I had it drew my selfe a part,
And almost broke my hart with extreame laughter,
2230I pried me through the creuice of a wall,
when for his hand he had his two sonnes heads,
Beheld his teares and laught so hartelie,
That both mine eyes were raynie like to his:
And when I tolde the Empresse of this sport,
2235Shee sounded almost at my pleasing tale,
And for my tidings gaue me twentie kisses.
Goth.
VVhat canst thou say all this and neuer blush.
Aron.
I like a blacke Dog, as the saying is.
Lucius.
Art thou not sorrie for these hainous deeds.
2240
Aron.
I that I had not done a thousand more,
Euen now I curse the day and yet I thinke
Fewe come within the compasse of my curse,
wherein I did not some notorious ill.
As kill a man, or els deuise his death,
2245Rauish a maide, or plot the waie to doe it,
Accuse some innocent, and forsweare my selfe,
Set deadly enmitie betweene two friends,
Make poore mens cattle breake their necks,
Set fire on barnes and haystalks in the night,
2250And bid the owners quench them with their teares:
Oft haue I digd vp dead men from their graues,
And set them vpright at their deare friends dore,
Euen when their sorrowes almost was forgot,
And on their skinnes as on the barke of trees,
2255Haue with my knife carued in Romaine letters,
Let not your sorrow die though I am dead.
But I haue done a thousand dreadfull things,
As willingly as one would kill a flie,
And nothing grieues me hartelie indeede,
2260But that I cannot doe ten thousand more.
Lucius. Bring downe the Diuell for he must not die,
So sweet a death as hanging presently.
Aron. If there be Diuels would I were a Diuel,
To liue and burne in euerlasting fire,
2265So I might haue your companie in hell,
But to torment you with my bitter tongue.
Luci. Sirs stop his mouth and let him speake no more.
Enter Emillius.
Goth. My Lord there is a messenger from Rome,
2270Desiers to be admitted to your presence.
Lucius. Let him come nere.
VVelcome Emillius, what's the newes from Rome?
Emil. Lord Lucius, and you Princes of the Gothes,
The Romaine Emperour greets you all by me,
2275And for he vnderstands you are in Armes,
He craues a Parley at your fathers house,
VVilling you to demaund your hostages,
And they shall be immediatly deliuered.
Goth. VVhat saies our Generall.
2280Luci. Emillius, let the Emperour giue his pledges,
Vnto my Father and my Vnkle Marcus,
And we will come, march away.
Enter Tamora and her two sonnes disguised.
Tamora. Thus in this strange and sad habilliament,
2285I will encounter with Andronicus,
And say I am reuenge sent from belowe,
To ioyne with him and right his hainous wrongs,
Knocke at his studie where they say he keepes,
To ruminate strange plots of diere reuenge,
2290Tell him reuenge is come to ioyne with him,
And worke confusion on his enemies.
They knocke and Titus opens his studie doore.
Titus. VVho doth molest my contemplation?
Is it your tricke to make me ope the dore,
2295That so my saddecrees may flie away,
And all my studie be to no effect.
You are deceiude, for what I meane to doe,
See here in bloodie lines I haue set downe.
And what is written shall be executed.
2300Tamora. Titus, I am come to talke with thee.
Titus. No not a word, how can I grace my talke,
VVanting a hand to giue that accord,
Thou hast the odds of me therefore no more.
Tamora. If thou didst know me thou wouldst talk with
Titus. I am not mad, I know thee well enough,
VVitnes this wretched stump, witnes these crimson lines,
witnes these trenches made by greefe and care,
2310witnes the tiring day and heauie night,
witnes all sorrow that I know thee well
For our proud Empresse, mighty Tamora:
Is not thy comming for my other hand.
Tamora. Know thou sad man, I am not Tamora,
2315Shee is thy enemie, and I thy friend,
I am Reuenge sent from th'infernall Kingdome,
To ease the gnawing vulture of thy minde,
By working wreakfull vengeance on thy foes:
Come downe and welcome me to this worlds light,
2320Conferre with me of murder and of death,
Ther's not a hollow Caue or lurking place,
No vast obscuritie or mistie vale,
VVhere bloodie murther or detested rape,
Can couch for feare but I will finde the mout,
2325And in their eares tell them my dreadfull name,
Reuenge which makes the foule offender quake.
Titus. Art thou Reuenge? and art thou sent to mee,
To be a torment to mine enemies.
Tamora. I am, therefore come downe and welcome mee
2330Titus. Doe me some seruice ere I come to thee,
Lo by thy side where Rape and Murder stands,
Now giue some surance that thou art reuenge,
Stab them, or teare them on thy Chariot wheeles,
And then Ile come and be thy wagoner,
2335And wherle along with thee about the Globes.
Prouide thee two proper palfrays, black as iet,
To hale thy vengefull waggon swift away,
And finde out murder in their guiltie cares.
And when thy Car is loaden with their heads,
2340I will dismount and by thy waggon wheele,
Trotte like a seruile footeman all day long,
Euen from Epeons rising in the East,
Vntill his verie downefall in the Sea.
And day by day Ile do this heauie taske,
2345So thou destroy Rapine and Murderthere.
Tamora. These are my ministers and come with me.
Titus. Are them thy ministers, what are they calld?
Tamora. Rape and Murder, therefore called so.
Cause they take vengeance of such kinde of men.
2350Tit. Good Lord how like the Empresse sonnes they are,
And you the Empresse, but we wordlie men
Haue miserable mad mistaking eies:
Oh sweete Reuenge, now doe I come to thee,
And if one armes imbracement will content thee,
2355I will imbrace thee in it by and by.
Tamora. This closing with him fits his Lunacie,
VVhat ere I forge to feede his braine-sicke humors,
Doe you vphold and maintaine in your speeches,
For now he firmelie takes me for Reuenge,
2360And being credulous in this mad thought,
Ile make him send for Lucius his sonne,
And whilst I at a banket hold him sure,
Ile finde some cunning practise out of hand,
To scatter and disperse the giddie Gothes,
2365Or at the least make them his enemies:
See here he comes, and I must plie my theame.
Titus. Long haue I bin forlorne and all for thee,
welcome dread Furie to my woefull house,
Rapine and Murther you are welcome too:
2370How like the Empresse and her sonnes you are,
well are you fitted, had you but a Moore,
Could not all hell afford you such a Diuell?
For well I wot the Empresse neuer wags,
But in her companie there is a Moore.
2375And would you represent our Queene a right,
It were conuenient you had such a Diuell:
But welcome as you are, what shall wee doe?
Tamora. what wouldst thou haue vs doe Andronicus?
Demet. Show me a murtherer Ile deale with him.
2380Chi. Show me a villaine that hath done a rape,
And I am sent to be reuengde on him.
Tamora. Show me a thousand that hath done thee wrong,
And I will be reuenged on them all.
Titus. Looke round about the wicked streets of Rome,
2385And when thou findst a man that's like thy selfe,
Good murther stab him, hee's a murtherer.
Goe thou with him, and when it is thy hap,
To finde another that is like to thee,
Good Rapine stab him, he is a rauisher.
2390Goe thou with them, and in the Emperours Court,
There is a Queene attended by a Moore,
VVell shalt thou know her by thine owne proportion,
For vp and downe she doth resemble thee,
I pray thee doe on them some violent death,
2395They haue bin violent to me and mine.
Tamora. VVell hast thou lessond vs, this shall we doe,
But would it please thee good Andronicus,
To send for Lucius thy thrice valiant sonne,
VVho leades towards Rome a band of warlike Gothes,
2400And bid him come and banquet at thy house,
VVhen he is here euen at thy solemne feast,
I will bring in the Empresse and hir sonnes,
The Emperour him selfe and all thy foes,
And at thy mercie shall they stoope and kneele,
2405And on them shalt thou ease thy angry hart:
VVhat sayes Andronicus to this deuise.
Enter Marcus.
Titus. Marcus my brother, tis sad Titus calles,
Goe gentle Marcus to thy nephew Lucius,
2410Thou shalt enquire him out among the Gothes,
Bid him repaire to me and bring with him,
Some of the chiefest Princes of the Gothes,
Bid him encampe his Souldiers where they are.
Tell him the Emperour and the Empresse too
2415Feast at my house, and he shall feast with them,
This doe thou for my loue, and so let him,
As he regards his aged Fathers life.
Marcus. This will I doe, and soone returne againe.
Tamora. Now will I hence about thy busines,
2420And take my ministers a long with me.
Titus. Nay, nay, let rape and murder stay with me,
Or els Ile call my brother backe againe,
And cleaue to no reuenge but Lucius.
Tamora. VVhat say you boyes will you abide with
2425VVhiles I goe tell my Lord the Emperour,
How I haue gouernd our determind iest,
Yeeld to his humor, smooth and speake him faire,
And tarrie with him till I turne againe.
Titus. I knew them all though they supposd me mad,
2430And will ore reach them in their owne deuises,
A paire of cursed hell hounds and their Dame.
Deme. Maddam depart at pleasure, leaue vs here.
Tamora. Farewell Andronicus, Reuenge now goes,
To lay a complot to betray thy foes.
2435Titus. I know thou dost and sweet Reuenge farewell.
Chiron. Tell vs old man how shall we be imploid,
Titus. Tut I haue worke enough for you to doe
Publius, come hither, Caius, and Valentine.
Publius. VVhat is your will?
2440Titus. Know you these two.
Pub. The Empresse sonnes I take them, Chiron, Deme-
Titus. Fie, Publius fie, thou art too much deceaude,
The one is Murder and Rape is the others name,
2445And therefore binde them gentle Publius,
Caius and Valentine, lay hands on them,
Oft haue you heard me wish for such an houre,
And now I finde it therefore binde them sure,
2448.1And stop their mouthes if they begin to crie.
Chiron. Villaines forbeare we are the Empresse sons.
2450Pub. And therefore doe we what we are commanded,
Stop close their mouthes let them not speak a word,
Is he sure bound, looke that you bind them fast.
Enter Titus Andronicus, with a knife, and Lauinia, with
a Bason.
2455Titus. Come, come, Lauinia looke thy foes are bound,
Sirs stop their mouthes let them not speake to me,
But let them heare what fearefull words I vtter.
Oh villaines Chiron and Demetrius,
Here stands the spring whome you haue staind with mud,
2460This goodly sommer with your winter mixt,
You kild her husband, and for that vild fault,
Two of her brothers were condemnd to death,
My hand cut off and made a merrie iest,
Both her sweete hands, hir tongue, and that more deare
2465Than hands or tongue, her spotlesse chastitie,
Inhumane traitors you constraind and forst.
VVhat would you say if I should let you speake?
Villaines for shame you could not beg for grace.
Harke wretches how I meane to marter you,
2470This one hand yet is left to cut your throats,
VVhiles that Lauinia tweene her stumps doth hold,
The bason that receaues your guiltie blood.
You know your Mother meanes to feast with me,
And calles herselfe Reuenge and thinks me mad.
2475Harke villaines I will grinde your bones to dust,
And with your blood and it Ile make a paste,
And of the paste a coffen I will reare,
And make two pasties of your shamefull heades,
And bid that strumpet your vnhallowed Dam,
2480Like to the earth swallow her owne increase.
This is the feast that I haue bid her too,
And this the banket she shall surfet on,
For worse than Philomell you vsde my daughter,
And worse than Progne I will be reuengd.
2485And now prepare your throats, Lauinia come,
Receaue the blood, and when that they are dead,
Let me goe grinde their bones to powder small,
And with this hatefull liquour temper it,
And in that paste let their vile heades be bakt,
2490Come, come, be euerie one officius,
To make this banket which I wish may proue
More sterne and bloodie than the Centaurs feast,
He cuts their throats.
So now bring them in for Ile play the Cooke,
2495And see them readie against their Mother comes,
Exeunt.
Enter L ucius, M arcus, and the Gothes.
Lucius. Vnckle Marcus, since tis my Fathers minde,
That I repaire to Rome I am content.
Got. And ours with thine, befall what Fortune will.
2500Luci. Good Vnckle take you in this barberous Moore,
This rauenous tiger, this accursed diuell,
Let him receaue no sustnance, fetter him,
Till he be brought vnto the Empresse face,
For testemonie of her foule proceedings,
2505And see the Ambush of our friends be strong,
I feare the Emperour meanes no good to vs.
Moore. Some diuell whisper curses in my eare,
And prompt me that my tongue may vtter forth,
The venemous mallice of my swelling hart.
2510Lucius. Away inhumane dogge vnhallowed slaue.
Sirs help our vnckle to conuay him in,
The trumpets shewe the Emperour is at hand.
Sound Trumpets. Enter Emperour and Empresse with Tri-
bunes and others.
2515King. VVhat hath the firmament mo sunnes than one?
Lucius. VVhat boots it thee to call thy selfe a sunne?
Mar. Romes Emperour and Nephew break the Parle,
These quarrels must be quietly debated,
The feast is ready which the carefull Titus,
2520Hath ordainde to an honorable end,
For peace, for loue, for league and good to Rome,
Please you therefore, draw nie and take your places.
King. Marcus we will.
2525
Trumpets sounding, Enter Titus like a Cooke, placing the
dishes, and Lauinia with a vaile ouer her face.
Titus. VVelcome my Lord, welcome dread Queene,
VVelcome yee warlike Gothes, welcome Lucius,
2530And welcome all although the cheare be poore,
Twill fill your stomacks, please you eate of it.
King. VVhy art thou thus attired Andronicus?
Titus. Because I would be sure to haue all well,
To entertaine your highnes and your Empresse.
2535Tamora. VVe are beholding to you good Andronicus,
Titus. And if your highnes knew my hart you were,
My Lord the Emperour resolue me this,
VVas it well done of rash Virginius
To slay his daughter with his owne right hand
2540Because she was enforst, stainde, and deflowrde?
King. It was Andronicus.
Titus. Your reason mighty Lord.
King. Because the girle should not suruiue her shame,
And by her presence still renewe his sorrowes.
2545Titus. A reason mighty, strong, and effectuall,
A patterne president, and liuelie warrant,
For me most wretched to performe the like,
Die, die, Lauinia and thy shame with thee,
And with thy shame thy Fathers sorrow die.
King. VVhat hast thou done, vnnaturall and vnkinde.
Tit. Kild her for whom my teares haue made me blind.
I am as woefull as Virginius was,
And haue a thousand times more cause than he,
2555To doe this outrage, and it now is done.
King. VVhat was she rauisht, tell who did the deede.
T. VVilt please you eate, wilt please your highnes feed.
Tam. VVhy hast thou slaine thine only Daughter thus?
Titus. Not I, twas Chiron, and Demetrius,
2560They Rauisht her and cut away her tongue,
And they, twas they, that did her all this wrong.
King, Goe fetch them hither to vs presently.
Titus. VVhy there they are both baked in this Pie.
VVhereof their Mother daintilie hath fed,
2565Eating the flesh that shee her selfe hath bred,
Tis true, tis true, witnes my kniues sharpe point.
He stabs the Empresse.
Emperour. Die franticke wretch for this accursed deede,
Lucius. Can the sonnes eie behold his father bleede?
2570Ther's meede for meede, death for a deadly deede.
Marcus. You sad facde men, people and sons of Rome
By vprores seuerd as a flight of fowle,
Scatterd by winds and high tempestuous gusts,
Oh let me teach you how to knit againe,
2575This scattered corne into one mutuall sheaffe,
These broken limbs againe into one bodie.
Romane Lord. Let Rome her selfe bee bane vnto her
And shee whome mightie kingdomes cursie too,
Like a forlorne and desperate cast away,
2580Doe shamefull execution on her selfe.
But if my frostie signes and chappes of age,
Graue witnesses of true experience,
Cannot induce you to attend my words,
Speake Roomes deare friend as erst our Ancestor,
2585when with his solemne tongue he did discourse
To loue sicke Didoes sad attending eare,
The storie of that balefull burning night,
VVhen subtile Greekes surprizd King Priams Troy.
Tell vs what Sinon hath bewicht our eares,
2590Or who hath brought the fatall engine in
That giues our Troy, our Rome the ciuill wound.
My hart is not compact of flint nor steele,
Nor can I vtter all our bitter greefe,
But flouds of teares will drowne my Oratorie,
2595And breake my vttrance euen in the time,
VVhen it should moue yee to attend me most,
And force you to commiseration,
Her's Romes young Captaine let him tell the tale,
VVhile I stand by and weepe to heare him speake.
2600Lucius. Then gratious auditorie be it knowne to you,
That Chiron and the damn'd Demetrius,
Were they that murdred our Emperours brother,
And they it were that rauished our sister,
For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded,
2605Our Fathers teares dispisde, and basely cousend,
Of that true hand that fought Romes quarrell out,
And sent her enemies vnto the graue.
Lastly my selfe vnkindely banished,
The gates shut on me and turnd weeping out,
2610To beg reliefe among Romes enemies,
VVho drownd their enmetie in my true teares,
And opt their armes to imbrace me as a friend,
I am the turned forth be it knowne to you,
That haue preserude her welfare in my blood,
2615And from her bosome tooke the enemies point,
Sheathing the steele in my aduentrous body.
Alas you know I am no vaunter I,
My scars can witnes dumb although they are,
That my report is iust and full of truth,
2620But soft, me thinkes I doe digresse too much,
Cyting my worthles praise, Oh pardon me
For when no friends are by, men praise themselues.
Marcus. Now is my turne to speake, behold the child,
Of this was Tamora deliuered,
2625The issue of an irreligious Moore,
Chiefe architect and plotter of these woes,
The villaine is aliue in Titus house,
And as he is to witnes this is true,
Now iudge what course had Titus to reuenge.
2630These wrongs vnspeakeable past patience,
Or more than any liuing man could beare,
Now haue you heard the truth, what say you Romaines?
Haue we done ought amisse, shew vs wherein,
And from the place where you behold vs pleading,
2635The poore remainder of Andronicie,
VVill hand in hand, all headlong hurle our selues,
And on the ragged stones beat forth our soules,
And make a mutuall closure of our house,
Speake Romans speake, and if you say wee Shall,
2640Lo hand in hand Lucius and I will fall.
Emillius. Come come thou reuerent man of Rome,
And bring our Emperour gently in thy hand,
Lucius our Emperour for well I know,
The common voice doe cry it shall be so.
2645Marcus. Lucius, all haile Romes royall Emperour.
Goe goe into old Titus sorrowfull house,
And hither hale that misbelieuing Moore,
To be adiudge some dyrefull slaughtring death,
As punishment for his most wicked life.
2650Lucius all haile Romes gratious gouernour.
Lucius. Thankes gentle Romanes may I gouerne so,
To heale Romes harmes, and wipe away her woe,
But gentle people giue me ayme a while,
For nature puts me to a heauie taske,
2655Stand all a loofe but vnckle draw you neare,
To shed obsequious teares vpon this trunke,
Oh take this warme kisse on thy pale cold lips,
These sorrowfull drops vpon thy blood slaine face,
The last true duties of thy noble sonne.
2660Marcus. Teare for teare, and louing kisse for kisse,
Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips,
Oh were the summe of these that I should pay,
Countlesse and infinite, yet would I pay them.
Lucius. Come hither boy come, come and learne of vs
2665To melt in showers, thy Grandsire lou'd thee well,
Many a time hee daunst thee on his knee,
Song thee a sleepe his louing brest thy pillow,
Many a storie hath he told to thee,
And bid thee bare his prettie tales in minde,
2670And talke of them when he was dead and gone.
Marcus. How manie thousand times hath these poore
VVhen they were liuing warmd themselues on thine,
Oh now sweete boy giue them their latest kisse,
Bid him farewell commit him to the graue,
2675Doe them that kindnes and take leaue of them.
Puer. Oh Grandsire, Grandsire, eu'n with all my hart,
VVould I were dead so you did liue againe,
O Lord I cannot speake to him for weeping,
My teares will choacke me if I ope my mouth.
2680Romane. You sad Andronicie haue done with woes,
Giue sentence on this execrable wretch,
That hath bin breeder of these dyre euents.
Lucius. Set him brest deepe in earth and famish him,
There let him stand and raue and crie for foode.
2685If any one releeues or pitties him,
For the offence he dies, this is our doome,
Some stay to see him fastned in the earth.
Aron. Ah why should wrath be mute and furie dumb,
I am no babie I, that with base prayers
2690I should repent the euils I haue done,
Ten thousand worse than euer yet I did
VVould I performe if I might haue my will,
If one good deed in all my life I did
I doe repent it from my verie soule.
2695Lu. Some louing friends conuay the Emperour hence,
And giue him buriall in his fathers graue,
My Father and Lauinia shall forthwith,
Be closed in our housholds monument,
As for that rauinous tiger Tamora,
2700No funerall right, nor man in mourning weede,
No mournefull bell shall ring her buriall
But throw her forth to beasts and birds to pray,
Her life was beastlie and deuoide of pittie,
And being dead let birds on her take pittie.
Exeunt.
Finis the T ragedie of Titus Andronicus.