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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    No vast obscuritie or mistie vale,
    Where bloodie murther or detested rape,
    Can couch for feare but I will finde the mout,
    2325And in their eares tell them my dreadfull name,
    Reuenge which makes the foule offender quake.
    Titus. Art thou Reuenge? and art thou sent to mee,
    To be a torment to mine enemies.
    Tamora. I am, therefore come downe and welcome mee
    2330Titus. Doe me some seruice ere I come to thee,
    Lo by thy side where Rape and Murder stands,
    Now giue some surance that thou art reuenge,
    Stab them, or teare them on thy Chariot wheeles,
    And then Ile come and be thy wagoner,
    2335And wherle along with thee about the Globes.
    Prouide thee two proper palfrays, black as iet,
    To hale thy vengefull waggon swift away,
    And finde out murder in their guiltie cares.
    And when thy Car is loaden with their heads,
    2340I will dismount and by thy waggon wheele,
    Trotte like a seruile footeman all day long,
    Euen from Epeons rising in the East,
    Vntill his verie downefall in the Sea.
    And day by day Ile do this heauie taske,
    2345So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there.
    Tamora. These are my ministers and come with me.
    Titus. Are them thy ministers, what are they calld?
    Tamora. Rape and Murder, therefore called so.
    Cause they take vengeance of such kinde of men.
    2350Tit. Good Lord how like the Empresse sonnes they are,
    And you the Empresse, but we wordlie men
    Haue miserable mad mistaking eies:
    Oh sweete Reuenge, now doe I come to thee,
    And if one armes imbracement will content thee,
    2355I will imbrace thee in it by and by.
    Tamora. This closing with him fits his Lunacie,
    what