Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

The most Lamentable Tragedie
Your letter is with Iubiter by this.
Titus. Ha, ha, Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?
1935See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus hornes.
Marcus. This was the sport my Lord, when Publius shot
The Bull being galde, gaue Aries such a knocke,
That downe fell both the Rams hornes in the Court,
And who should finde them but the Empresse villaine:
1940Shee laught, and tolde the Moore hee should not choose,
But giue them to his Master for a present.
Titus. Why there it goes, God giue his Lordship ioy.

Enter the Clowne with a basket and two pidgeons in it.

Clowne. Newes, newes from heauen,
1945Marcus the Poast is come.
Titus. Sirra what tidings, haue you any letters,
Shall I haue iustice, what saies Iubiter?
Clowne. Ho the Gibbetmaker? Hee saies that he hath
taken them downe againe, for the man must not be hangd
1950till the next weeke.
Titus. But what saies Iubiter I aske thee?
Clowne. Alas sir, I know not Iubiter,
I neuer dranke with him in all my life.
Titus. Why villaine art not thou the Carrier.
1955Clowne. I of my pidgeons sir, nothing els.
Titus. Why didst thou not come from heauen?
Clowne. From heauen, alas sir, I neuer came there,
God forbid I should be so bolde, to presse to heauen in my
young daies:
Why I am going with my pidgeons to the tribunall
1960 Plebs, to take vp a matter of brawle betwixt my Vncle,
and one of the Emperals men.
Marcus. Why sir, that is as fit as can bee to serue for
your Oration, and let him deliuer the pidgeons to the
Emperour from you.
Titus.