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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    875Let not this waspe outliue 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. When did the Tigers young ones teach the(dam,
    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. What wouldst thou haue me proue my selfe a(bastard?
    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:
    Some 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