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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    of Titus Andronicus.
    This growing image of thy fiendlike face,
    Why doost not speake? what deafe, not a word?
    A halter Souldiers, hang him on this tree,
    2160And by his side his fruite of Bastardie.
    Aron. Touch not the boy, he is of Roiall bloud.
    Luc. Too like the sier for euer being good,
    First hang the child that he may see it sprall,
    A sight to vex the fathers soule withall.
    2165Aron. Get me a ladder, Lucius saue the child,
    And beare it from me to the Empresse:
    If thou do this, ile shew thee wondrous things,
    That highly may aduantage thee to heare,
    If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,
    2170Ile speake no more, but vengeance rotte you all.
    Lucius. Say on, and if it please me which thou speakst,
    Thy child shall liue, and I will see it nourisht.
    Aron. And if it please thee? why assure thee Lucius,
    Twill vexe thy soule to heare what I shall speake:
    2175For I must talke of murthers, rapes, and massakers,
    Acts of black night, abhominable deeds,
    Complots of mischiefe, treason, villanies,
    Ruthfull to heare, yet pitteously performde,
    And this shall all be buried in my death,
    2180Vnlesse thou sweare to me my child shall liue.
    Lucius. Tell on thy minde, I say thy child shall liue.
    Aron. Sweare that he shall, and then I will begin.
    Luci. Who should I sweare by, thou beleeuest no God,
    That graunted, how canst thou beleeue an oath.
    Aron. What if I doe not, as indeed I do not,
    Yet for I know thou art religious,
    And hast a thing within thee called conscience,
    2190With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies,
    Which I haue seene thee carefull to obserue,
    Therefore I vrge thy oath, for that I know,
    An ideot holds his bauble for a God,
    I And
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