Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    What ere I forge to feede his braine-sicke humors,
    Doe you vphold and maintaine in your speeches,
    For now he firmelie takes me for Reuenge,
    2360And being credulous in this mad thought,
    Ile make him send for Lucius his sonne,
    And whilst I at a banket hold him sure,
    Ile finde some cunning practise out of hand,
    To scatter and disperse the giddie Gothes,
    2365Or at the least make them his enemies:
    See here he comes, and I must plie my theame.
    Titus. Long haue I bin forlorne and all for thee,
    welcome dread Furie to my woefull house,
    Rapine and Murther you are welcome too:
    2370How like the Empresse and her sonnes you are,
    well are you fitted, had you but a Moore,
    Could not all hell afford you such a Diuell?
    For well I wot the Empresse neuer wags,
    But in her companie there is a Moore.
    2375And would you represent our Queene aright,
    It were conuenient you had such a Diuell:
    But welcome as you are, what shall wee doe?
    Tamora. what wouldst thou haue vs doe Andronicus?
    Demet. Show me a murtherer Ile deale with him.
    2380Chi. Show me a villaine that hath done a rape,
    And I am sent to be reuengde on him.
    Tamora. Show me a thousand that hath done thee wrong,
    And I will be reuenged on them all.
    Titus. Looke round about the wicked streets of Rome,
    2385And when thou findst a man that's like thyselfe,
    Good murther stab him, hee's a murtherer.
    Goe thou with him, and when it is thy hap,
    To finde another that is like to thee,
    Good Rapine stab him, he is a rauisher.
    2390Goe thou with them, and in the Emperours Court,
    There is a Queene attended by a Moore,
    Well