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  • Title: Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

  • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

    of Titus Andronicus.
    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(choise,
    Lauinia is thine elder brothers hope.
    Moore. Why 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. Why 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.
    What 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 Vulcaens badge.
    Moore. I and as good as S aturninus may.
    Demetrius. Then why should he dispaire that knows to(court it,
    With words, faire looks, and liberalitie.
    What hast not thou full often stroke a Doe,
    655And borne her cleanlie by the Keepers nose?
    Moore. Why then it seemes some certaine snatch, or so
    Would serue your turnes.
    Chiron. I so the turne were serued.
    Demetrius. Aron thou hast hit it.
    660Moore. Would you had hit it too,
    Then should not we be tirde with this adoo.
    Why harke ye, harke ye, and are you such fooles
    To