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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The most Lamentable Tragedie
    With 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 today,
    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.
    Why 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. Why I haue patience to indure all this.
    Enter Chiron and Demetrius.
    Demet. How now deare soueraigne, and our gratious(Mother,
    Why 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