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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Knocke at his studie where they say he keepes,
    To ruminate strange plots of diere reuenge,
    2290Tell him reuenge is come to ioyne with him,
    And worke confusion on his enemies.


    They knocke and Titus opens his studie doore.

    Titus. Who doth molest my contemplation?
    Is it your tricke to make me ope the dore,
    2295That so my sad decrees may flie away,
    And all my studie be to no effect.
    You are deceiude, for what I meane to doe,
    See here in bloodie lines I haue set downe.
    And what is written shall be executed.
    2300Tamora. Titus, I am come to talke with thee.
    Titus. No not a word, how can I grace my talke,
    Wanting a hand to giue that accord,
    Thou hast the odds of me therefore no more.
    Tamora. If thou didst know me thou wouldst talk with(me.
    Titus. I am not mad, I know thee well enough,
    Witnes this wretched stump, witnes these crimson lines,
    witnes these trenches made by greefe and care,
    2310witnes the tiring day and heauie night,
    witnes all sorrow that I know thee well
    For our proud Empresse, mighty Tamora:
    Is not thy comming for my other hand.
    Tamora. Know thou sad man, I am not Tamora,
    2315Shee is thy enemie, and I thy friend,
    I am Reuenge sent from th'infernall Kingdome,
    To ease the gnawing vulture of thy minde,
    By working wreakfull vengeance on thy foes:
    Come downe and welcome me to this worlds light,
    2320Conferre with me of murder and of death,
    Ther's not a hollow Caue or lurking place,
    I3 No