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Titus Andronicus (Folio, 1623)
The Tragedie of Titus Andronicus. 51
2520Hath ordained to an Honourable end,
2521For Peace, for Loue, for League, and good to Rome:
2522Please you therfore draw nie and take your places.
2524A Table brought in.
2525Enter Titus like a Cooke, placing the meat on
2526the Table, and Lauinia with a vale ouer her face.
2527Titus. Welcome my gracious Lord,
2528Welcome Dread Queene,
2529Welcome ye Warlike Gothes, welcome Lucius,
2530And welcome all: although the cheere be poore,
2537My Lord the Emperour resolue me this,
2539To slay his daughter with his owne right hand,
2546A patterne, president, and liuely warrant,
2547For me (most wretched) to performe the like:
2548Die, die, Lauinia, and thy shame with thee,
2550He kils her.
2552Tit. Kil'd her for whom my teares haue made me blind.
2553I am as wofull as Virginius was,
2560They rauisht her, and cut away her tongue,
2561And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong.
2563Tit. Why there they are both, baked in that Pie,
2564Whereof their Mother dantily hath fed,
2567He stabs the Empresse.
2569Luc. Can the Sonnes eye, behold his Father bleed?
2570There's meede for meede, death for a deadly deed.
2574Oh let me teach you how, to knit againe
2576These broken limbs againe into one body.
2582Graue witnesses of true experience,
2583Cannot induce you to attend my words,
2587The story of that balefull burning night,
2589Tell vs what Sinon hath bewicht our eares,
2590Or who hath brought the fatall engine in,
2591That giues our Troy, our Rome the ciuill wound.
2593Nor can I vtter all our bitter griefe,
2594But floods of teares will drowne my Oratorie,
2595And breake my very vttrance, euen in the time
2597Lending your kind hand Commiseration.
2598Heere is a Captaine, let him tell the tale,
2599Your hearts will throb and weepe to heare him speake.
2600Luc. This Noble Auditory, be it knowne to you,
2602Were they that murdred our Emperours Brother,
2604For their fell faults our Brothers were beheaded,
2606Of that true hand that fought Romes quarrell out,
2607And sent her enemies vnto the graue.
2609The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out,
2610To beg reliefe among Romes Enemies,
2611Who drown'd their enmity in my true teares,
2612And op'd their armes to imbrace me as a Friend:
2613And I am turned forth, be it knowne to you,
2614That haue preseru'd her welfare in my blood,
2615And from her bosome tooke the Enemies point,
2616Sheathing the steele in my aduentrous body.
2617Alas you know, I am no Vaunter I,
2619That my report is iust and full of truth:
2624Of this was Tamora deliuered,
2625The issue of an Irreligious Moore,
2628And as he is, to witnesse this is true.
2631Or more then any liuing man could beare.
2632Now you haue heard the truth, what say you Romaines?
2634And from the place where you behold vs now,
2635The poore remainder of Andronici,
2636Will hand in hand all headlong cast vs downe,
2637And on the ragged stones beat forth our braines,
2640Loe hand in hand, Lucius and I will fall.
2641Emilli. Come come, thou reuerent man of Rome,
2642And bring our Emperour gently in thy hand,
2643Lucius our Emperour: for well I know,
2647And hither hale that misbelieuing Moore,
2650Lucius all haile to Romes gracious Gouernour.
ee2 Lucius