Aar. Some devil whisper curses in mine ear, And prompt me, that my tongue may utter forth The venomous malice of my swelling heart! Luc. Away, inhuman dog! unhallowed slave!— Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in. [Exeunt Goths, with AARON. Flourish. The trumpets show the emperor is at hand. Enter SATURNINUS and TAMORA, with Tribunes, Senators, and others. Sat. What, hath the firmament more suns than one? Luc. What boots it thee, to call thyself a sun? Mar. Rome's emperor, and nephew, break' the parle ; These quarrels must be quietly debated. The feast is ready, which the careful Titus Hath ordained to an honorable end, For peace, for love, for league, and good to Rome. Please you, therefore, draw nigh, and take your places. Sat. Marcus, we will. [Hautboys sound. The company sit down at table. Enter TITUS, dressed like a cook, LAVINIA, veiled, young Lucius, and others. TITUS places the dishes on the table. Tit. Welcome, my gracious lord; welcome, dread queen; Welcome, ye warlike Goths; welcome, Lucius; And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor, 'Twill fill your stomachs; please you eat of it. Sat. Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus? Tit. Because I would be sure to have all well, To entertain your highness and your empress. Tam. We are beholden to you, good Andronicus. Tit. An if your highness knew my heart, you were. My lord the emperor resolve me this; 1 i. e. end the debate. Was it well done of rash Virginius, To slay his daughter with his own right hand, Tit. Your reason, mighty lord! Sat. Because the girl should not survive her shame, And by her presence still renew his sorrows. Tit. A reason mighty, strong, and effectual; A pattern, precedent, and lively warrant, For me, most wretched, to perform the like.Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee; [He kills LAVINIA. And, with thy shame, thy father's sorrow die! Sat. What hast thou done, unnatural, and unkind! Tit. Killed her, for whom my tears have made me blind. I am as woful as Virginius was; And have a thousand times more cause than he Sat. What, was she ravished? tell, who did the deed. Tit. Will't please you eat? will't please your highness feed? Tam. Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus? Tit. Not I; 'twas Chiron, and Demetrius. They ravished her, and cut away her tongue, And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong. Sat. Go, fetch them hither to us presently. Tit. Why, there they are both, baked in that pie; Whereof their mother daintily hath fed, Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. 'Tis true, 'tis true; witness my knife's sharp point. Sat. Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed. [Killing TITUS. Luc. Can the son's eye behold his father bleed? There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed. [Kills SATURNINUS. A great tumult. The People in confusion disperse. MARCUS, LUCIUS, and their partisans, ascend the steps before TITUS's house. gusts, Mar. You sad-faced men, people and sons of Rome, Sen. Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself, But if my frosty signs and chaps of age, Cannot induce you to attend my words, Speak, Rome's dear friend; [To LUCIUS;] as erst our ancestor, When with his solemn tongue he did discourse The story of that baleful, burning night, When subtle Greeks surprised king Priam's Troy. But floods of tears will drown my oratory, Here is a captain; let him tell the tale; Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak. Were they that murdered our emperor's brother; For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded; Lastly, myself unkindly banished, The gates shut on me, and turned weeping out, My scars can witness, dumb although they are, Of this was Tamora delivered; The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes; Damned as he is, to witness this is true. Now you have heard the truth, what say you, Romans The poor remainder of Andronici Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down,' Speak, Romans, speak; and, if you say, we shall, Emil. Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome, And bring our emperor gently in thy hand, Lucius our emperor; for, well I know, The common voice do cry, it shall be so. Rom. [Several speak.] Lucius, all hail; Rome's royal emperor ! 1 i. e. we, the poor remainder, &c. will cast us down. 1 LUCIUS, &c. descend. Mar. Go, go into old Titus' sorrowful house; [To an Attendant. To be adjudged some direful, slaughtering death, Rom. [Several speak.] Lucius, all hail; Rome's Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans. May I govern so, Mar. Tear for tear, and loving kiss for kiss, O, were the sum of these that I should pay Countless and infinite, yet would I pay them! Luc. Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us Meet and agreeing with thine infancy; Friends should associate friends in grief and wo. |