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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    And keepes the oath which by that God he sweares,
    2195To that ile vrge him, therefore thou shalt vow,
    By that same God, what God so ere it be
    That thou adorest, and hast in reuerence,
    To saue my boy, to nourish and bring him vp,
    Or else I will discouer nought to thee.
    2200Lucius. Euen by my God I sweare to thee I will.
    Aron. First know thou, I begot him on the Empresse.
    Lucius. Oh most insatiate and luxurious woman.
    Aron. Tut Lucius, this was but a deed of charitie,
    2205To that which thou shalt heare of me anon,
    Twas her two sonnes that murdered Bassianus,
    They cut thy Sisters tongue, and rauisht her,
    And cut her hands, and trimd her as thou sawest.
    Luc. Oh detestable villaine, callst thou that trimming,
    2210Aron. Why she was washt, and cut, and trimd,
    And twas trim sport for them which had the doing of it.
    Luc. Oh barberous beastlie villaines like thyselfe.
    Aron. Indeed I was their tutor to instruct them,
    2215That codding spirit had they from their mother,
    +
    As sure a card as euer wonne the set:
    That bloodie minde I thinke they learnd of me,
    As true a Dog as euer fought at head:
    Well let my deeds be witnes of my worth,
    2220I traind thy brethren to that guilefull hole,
    where the dead corpes of Bassianus laie:
    I wrote the letter that thy Father found,
    And hid the gold within that letter mentioned,
    Confederate with the Queene and her two sonnes.
    2225And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue,
    wherein I had no stroke of mischiefe in it,
    I plaid the cheater for thy fathers hand,
    And when I had it drew myselfe apart,
    And almost broke my hart with extreame laughter,
    2230I pried me through the creuice of a wall,
    when