Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

ofTitus Andronicus.
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, Dmetrius.
Marcus. What, 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, Lauinia kneele,
And kneele sweet boy, the Romaine Hectors h op
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,
GTheir