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And you must needs bestow her funeral;
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: 165
This done, see that you take no longer days,[4563]
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.[4564]
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: 165
This done, see that you take no longer days,[4563]
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.[4564]
Dem. For this care of Tamora,
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.
[Exeunt Dem. and Chi. bearing off the Nurse's body.[4566]
Aar. Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies;
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms,
And secretly to greet the empress' friends. 175
Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence;
For it is you that puts us to our shifts:[4567]
I'll make you feed on berries and on roots,[4568]
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,[4569]
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up 180
To be a warrior and command a camp. [Exit.
There to dispose this treasure in mine arms,
And secretly to greet the empress' friends. 175
Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence;
For it is you that puts us to our shifts:[4567]
I'll make you feed on berries and on roots,[4568]
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,[4569]
And cabin in a cave, and bring you up 180
To be a warrior and command a camp. [Exit.
Scene III. The same. A public place.
Enter Titus, bearing arrows with letters at the ends of them; with him, Marcus, young Lucius, and other Gentlemen (Publius, Sempronius, and Caius), with bows.[4570]
Tit. Come, Marcus, come; kinsmen, this is the way.[4571]
Sir boy, let me see your archery;[4572]
Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there straight.
Terras Astræa reliquit:[4573]
Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled.[4573][4574] 5
Sirs, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shall[4573][4575]
Go sound the ocean, and cast your nets;[4573]
Happily you may catch her in the sea;[4573][4576]
Yet there's as little justice as at land:
No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it; 10
'Tis you must dig with mattock and with spade,
And pierce the inmost centre of the earth:
Then, when you come to Pluto's region,
I pray you, deliver him this petition;[4577]
Tell him, it is for justice and for aid, 15
And that it comes from old Andronicus,
Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome.
Ah, Rome! Well, well; I made thee miserable
What time I threw the people's suffrages
On him that thus doth tyrannize o'er me. 20
Go, get you gone; and pray be careful all,
And leave you not a man-of-war unsearch'd:
This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her hence;
And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice.
Sir boy, let me see your archery;[4572]
Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there straight.
Terras Astræa reliquit:[4573]
Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled.[4573][4574] 5
Sirs, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shall[4573][4575]
Go sound the ocean, and cast your nets;[4573]
Happily you may catch her in the sea;[4573][4576]
Yet there's as little justice as at land:
No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it; 10
'Tis you must dig with mattock and with spade,
And pierce the inmost centre of the earth:
Then, when you come to Pluto's region,
I pray you, deliver him this petition;[4577]
Tell him, it is for justice and for aid, 15
And that it comes from old Andronicus,
Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome.
Ah, Rome! Well, well; I made thee miserable
What time I threw the people's suffrages
On him that thus doth tyrannize o'er me. 20
Go, get you gone; and pray be careful all,
And leave you not a man-of-war unsearch'd:
This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her hence;
And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice.
Marc. O Publius, is not this a heavy case, 25
To see thy noble uncle thus distract?
To see thy noble uncle thus distract?
Pub. Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns[4578][4579]
By day and night to attend him carefully,
And feed his humour kindly as we may,
Till time beget some careful remedy. 30
By day and night to attend him carefully,
And feed his humour kindly as we may,
Till time beget some careful remedy. 30
Marc. Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy.[4580]
Join with the Goths, and with revengeful war
Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude
And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.
Join with the Goths, and with revengeful war
Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude
And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.
Pub. No, my good lord; but Pluto sends you word,[4578]
If you will have Revenge from hell, you shall:
Marry, for Justice, she is so employ'd,[4582]
He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else, 40
So that perforce you must needs stay a time.
If you will have Revenge from hell, you shall:
Marry, for Justice, she is so employ'd,[4582]
He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else, 40
So that perforce you must needs stay a time.
Tit. He doth me wrong to feed me with delays.
I'll dive into the burning lake below,
And pull her out of Acheron by the heels.[4583]
Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we, 45
No big-boned men framed of the Cyclops' size;
But metal, Marcus, steel to the very back,
Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear:[4584]
And sith there's no justice in earth nor hell,[4585]
We will solicit heaven, and move the gods 50
To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs.
Come, to this gear. You are a good archer, Marcus;[4586]
I'll dive into the burning lake below,
And pull her out of Acheron by the heels.[4583]
Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we, 45
No big-boned men framed of the Cyclops' size;
But metal, Marcus, steel to the very back,
Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear:[4584]
And sith there's no justice in earth nor hell,[4585]
We will solicit heaven, and move the gods 50
To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs.
Come, to this gear. You are a good archer, Marcus;[4586]
[He gives them the arrows.
'Ad Jovem,' that's for you: here, 'Ad Apollinem:'[4587]
'Ad Martem,' that's for myself:[4588]
Here, boy, to Pallas: here, to Mercury: 55
To Saturn, Caius, not to Saturnine;[4589]
You were as good to shoot against the wind.
To it, boy! Marcus, loose when I bid.[4590]
Of my word, I have written to effect;[4591]
There's not a god left unsolicited. 60
'Ad Martem,' that's for myself:[4588]
Here, boy, to Pallas: here, to Mercury: 55
To Saturn, Caius, not to Saturnine;[4589]
You were as good to shoot against the wind.
To it, boy! Marcus, loose when I bid.[4590]
Of my word, I have written to effect;[4591]
There's not a god left unsolicited. 60
Marc. Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court:[4592]
We will afflict the emperor in his pride.
We will afflict the emperor in his pride.
Tit. Now, masters, draw. [They shoot.] O, well said, Lucius![4593]
Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas.[4594]
Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas.[4594]
Marc. My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon;[4595] 65
Your letter is with Jupiter by this.
Your letter is with Jupiter by this.
Tit. Ha, ha![4596]
Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?[4596]
See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns.[4597]
Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?[4596]
See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns.[4597]
Marc. This was the sport, my lord: when Publius shot, 70
The Bull, being gall'd, gave Aries such a knock
That down fell both the Ram's horns in the court;
And who should find them but the empress' villain?[4598]
She laugh'd, and told the Moor he should not choose
But give them to his master for a present. 75
The Bull, being gall'd, gave Aries such a knock
That down fell both the Ram's horns in the court;
And who should find them but the empress' villain?[4598]
She laugh'd, and told the Moor he should not choose
But give them to his master for a present. 75
Tit. Why, there it goes: God give his lordship joy![4599]
Enter a Clown, with a basket, and two pigeons in it.[4600]
News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post is come.[4601]
Sirrah, what tidings? have you any letters?
Shall I have justice? what says Jupiter?
Sirrah, what tidings? have you any letters?
Shall I have justice? what says Jupiter?
Clo. O, the gibbet-maker! he says that he hath taken[4602] 80
them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the
next week.
them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the
next week.
Tit. But what says Jupiter, I ask thee?[4603]
Tit. Why, villain, art not thou the carrier?
Clo. Ay, of my pigeons, sir; nothing else.[4606]
Tit. Why, didst thou not come from heaven?
Clo. From heaven! alas, sir, I never came there: God[4607]
forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young[4608] 90
days. Why, I am going with my pigeons to the tribunal
plebs, to take up a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and
one of the emperial's men.
forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young[4608] 90
days. Why, I am going with my pigeons to the tribunal
plebs, to take up a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and
one of the emperial's men.
Marc. Why, sir, that is as fit as can be to serve for
your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to the 95
emperor from you.
your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to the 95
emperor from you.
Tit. Tell me, can you deliver an oration to the emperor
with a grace?
with a grace?
Clo. Nay, truly, sir, I could never say grace in all my life.
Tit. Sirrah, come hither: make no more ado, 100
But give your pigeons to the emperor:
By me thou shalt have justice at his hands.
Hold, hold; meanwhile here's money for thy charges.[4609]
Give me pen and ink.[4610]
Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication? 105
But give your pigeons to the emperor:
By me thou shalt have justice at his hands.
Hold, hold; meanwhile here's money for thy charges.[4609]
Give me pen and ink.[4610]
Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication? 105
Clo. Ay, sir.
Tit. Then here is a supplication for you. And when you
come to him, at the first approach you must kneel; then kiss
his foot; then deliver up your pigeons; and then look for
your reward. I'll be at hand, sir; see you do it bravely. 110
come to him, at the first approach you must kneel; then kiss
his foot; then deliver up your pigeons; and then look for
your reward. I'll be at hand, sir; see you do it bravely. 110
Clo. I warrant you, sir, let me alone.
Tit. Sirrah, hast thou a knife? come, let me see it.
Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration;
For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant:
And when thou hast given it to the emperor,[4611] 115
Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.
Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration;
For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant:
And when thou hast given it to the emperor,[4611] 115
Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.
Clo. God be with you, sir; I will. [Exit.[4612]
Tit. Come, Marcus, let us go. Publius, follow me. [Exeunt.[4613]
Scene IV. The same. Before the palace.
Enter Saturninus, Tamora, Chiron, Demetrius, Lords, and others; Saturninus with the Arrows in his hand that Titus shot.[4614]
Sat. Why, lords, what wrongs are these! was ever seen[4615]
An emperor in Rome thus overborne,[4616]
Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent
Of egal justice used in such contempt?[4617]
My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,[4618] 5
However these disturbers of our peace[4619]
Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd
But even with law against the wilful sons[4620]
Of old Andronicus. And what an if[4621]
His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits, 10
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,[4622]
His fits, his frenzy and his bitterness?
And now he writes to heaven for his redress:
See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;
This to Apollo; this to the god of war: 15
Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
What's this but libelling against the senate,[4623]
And blazoning our unjustice every where?[4623][4624]
A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
As who would say, in Rome no justice were. 20
But if I live, his feigned ecstasies[4625]
Shall be no shelter to these outrages:
But he and his shall know that justice lives
In Saturninus' health; whom, if he sleep,[4626][4627]
He'll so awake, as he in fury shall[4627] 25
Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.[4628]
An emperor in Rome thus overborne,[4616]
Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent
Of egal justice used in such contempt?[4617]
My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,[4618] 5
However these disturbers of our peace[4619]
Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd
But even with law against the wilful sons[4620]
Of old Andronicus. And what an if[4621]
His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits, 10
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,[4622]
His fits, his frenzy and his bitterness?
And now he writes to heaven for his redress:
See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;
This to Apollo; this to the god of war: 15
Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
What's this but libelling against the senate,[4623]
And blazoning our unjustice every where?[4623][4624]
A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
As who would say, in Rome no justice were. 20
But if I live, his feigned ecstasies[4625]
Shall be no shelter to these outrages:
But he and his shall know that justice lives
In Saturninus' health; whom, if he sleep,[4626][4627]
He'll so awake, as he in fury shall[4627] 25
Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.[4628]
Tam. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,[4629]
Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,[4630]
Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,[4631]
The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons, 30
Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarr'd his heart;
And rather comfort his distressed plight[4632]
Than prosecute the meanest or the best
For these contempts. [Aside] Why, thus it shall become[4633]
High-witted Tamora to gloze with all:[4634] 35
But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,[4635]
Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,[4635][4636]
Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.[4637]
Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,[4630]
Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,[4631]
The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons, 30
Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarr'd his heart;
And rather comfort his distressed plight[4632]
Than prosecute the meanest or the best
For these contempts. [Aside] Why, thus it shall become[4633]
High-witted Tamora to gloze with all:[4634] 35
But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,[4635]
Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,[4635][4636]
Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.[4637]
Enter Clown.
How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us?
Clo. Yea, forsooth, an your mistership be emperial.[4638] 40
Tam. Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.
Clo. 'Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you god-den:[4639][4640]
I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons[4639]
here. [Saturninus reads the letter.[4639][4641]
I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons[4639]
here. [Saturninus reads the letter.[4639][4641]
Sat. Go, take him away, and hang him presently.[4642] 45
Clo. How much money must I have?[4643]
Tam. Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.[4644]
Sat. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! 50
Shall I endure this monstrous villany?
I know from whence this same device proceeds:[4647]
May this be borne? As if his traitorous sons,[4648]
That died by law for murder of our brother,
Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully![4649] 55
Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege:[4650]
For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughter-man;
Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great,
In hope thyself should govern Rome and me. 60
Shall I endure this monstrous villany?
I know from whence this same device proceeds:[4647]
May this be borne? As if his traitorous sons,[4648]
That died by law for murder of our brother,
Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully![4649] 55
Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege:[4650]
For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughter-man;
Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great,
In hope thyself should govern Rome and me. 60
Enter Æmilius.[4651]
What news with thee, Æmilius?[4652]
Æmil. Arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause.[4653]
The Goths have gather'd head, and with a power[4654]
Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil,
They hither march amain, under conduct[4655] 65
Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus;
Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do[4656]
As much as ever Coriolanus did.
The Goths have gather'd head, and with a power[4654]
Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil,
They hither march amain, under conduct[4655] 65
Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus;
Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do[4656]
As much as ever Coriolanus did.
Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?[4657][4658]
These tidings nip me, and I hang the head 70
As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms:
Ay, now begin our sorrows to approach:[4659]
'Tis he the common people love so much;
Myself hath often heard them say,[4660]
When I have walked like a private man, 75
That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,
And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor.[4661]
These tidings nip me, and I hang the head 70
As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms:
Ay, now begin our sorrows to approach:[4659]
'Tis he the common people love so much;
Myself hath often heard them say,[4660]
When I have walked like a private man, 75
That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,
And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor.[4661]
Tam. Why should you fear? is not your city strong?[4662]
Sat. Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,[4657]
And will revolt from me to succour him. 80
And will revolt from me to succour him. 80
Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name.
Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it?[4663]
The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby,
Knowing that with the shadow of his wings[4664] 85
He can at pleasure stint their melody:
Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome.[4665]
Then cheer thy spirit: for know, thou emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus
With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, 90
Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep;
Whenas the one is wounded with the bait,
The other rotted with delicious feed.[4666]
Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it?[4663]
The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby,
Knowing that with the shadow of his wings[4664] 85
He can at pleasure stint their melody:
Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome.[4665]
Then cheer thy spirit: for know, thou emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus
With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, 90
Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep;
Whenas the one is wounded with the bait,
The other rotted with delicious feed.[4666]
Tam. If Tamora entreat him, then he will:[4668] 95
For I can smooth, and fill his aged ears[4669]
With golden promises; that, were his heart
Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,[4670]
Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.
[To Æmilius] Go thou before, be our ambassador:[4671] 100
Say that the emperor requests a parley
Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting
Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.[4672]
For I can smooth, and fill his aged ears[4669]
With golden promises; that, were his heart
Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,[4670]
Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.
[To Æmilius] Go thou before, be our ambassador:[4671] 100
Say that the emperor requests a parley
Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting
Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.[4672]
Sat. Æmilius, do this message honourably:[4657][4667]
And if he stand on hostage for his safety,[4673] 105
Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.
And if he stand on hostage for his safety,[4673] 105
Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.
Æmil. Your bidding shall I do effectually. [Exit.
Tam. Now will I to that old Andronicus,
And temper him with all the art I have,[4674]
To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. 110
And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
And bury all thy fear in my devices.[4675]
And temper him with all the art I have,[4674]
To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. 110
And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
And bury all thy fear in my devices.[4675]
Sat. Then go successantly, and plead to him. [Exeunt.[4676]