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The Tragedie of Titus Andronicus

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft And then enter
Saturninus
and his Followers at one dooreand Bassianus and his Followers at
the
otherwith Drum & Colours.

Saturninus. Noble PatriciansPatrons of my right
Defend the iustice of my Cause with Armes.
And Countrey-menmy louing Followers
Pleade my Successiue Title with your Swords.
I was the first borne Sonnethat was the last
That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome:
Then let my Fathers Honours liue in me
Nor wrong mine Age with this indignitie

Bassianus. RomainesFriendsFollowers
Fauourers of my Right:
If euer BassianusCæsars Sonne
Were gracious in the eyes of Royall Rome
Keepe then this passage to the Capitoll:
And suffer not Dishonour to approach
Th' Imperiall Seate to Vertue: consecrate
To IusticeContinenceand Nobility:
But let Desert in pure Election shine;
And Romanesfight for Freedome in your Choice.
Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft with the Crowne.

Princesthat striue by Factionsand by Friends
Ambitiously for Rule and Empery:
Knowthat the people of Rome for whom we stand
A speciall Partyhaue by Common voyce
In Election for the Romane Emperie
Chosen AndronicusSur-named Pious
For many good and great deserts to Rome.
A Nobler mana brauer Warriour
Liues not this day within the City Walles.
He by the Senate is accited home
From weary Warres against the barbarous Gothes
That with his Sonnes (a terror to our Foes)
Hath yoak'd a Nation strongtrain'd vp in Armes.
Ten yeares are spentsince first he vndertooke
This Cause of Romeand chasticed with Armes
Our Enemies pride. Fiue times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Romebearing his Valiant Sonnes
In Coffins from the Field.
And now at lastladen with Honours Spoyles
Returnes the good Andronicus to Rome
Renowned Titusflourishing in Armes.
Let vs intreatby Honour of his Name
Whom (worthily) you would haue now succeede
And in the Capitoll and Senates right
Whom you pretend to Honour and Adore
That you withdraw youand abate your Strength
Dismisse your Followersand as Suters should



Pleade your Deserts in Peace and Humblenesse

Saturnine. How fayre the Tribune speakes
To calme my thoughts

Bassia. Marcus Andronicusso I do affie
In thy vprightnesse and Integrity:
And so I Loue and Honor theeand thine
Thy Noble Brother Titusand his Sonnes
And Her (to whom my thoughts are humbled all)
Gracious LauiniaRomes rich Ornament
That I will heere dismisse my louing Friends:
And to my Fortunesand the Peoples Fauour
Commit my Cause in ballance to be weigh'd.

Exit Souldiours.

Saturnine. Friendsthat haue beene
Thus forward in my Right
I thanke you alland heere Dismisse you all
And to the Loue and Fauour of my Countrey
Commit my Selfemy Personand the Cause:
Romebe as iust and gracious vnto me
As I am confident and kinde to thee.
Open the Gatesand let me in

Bassia. Tribunesand mea poore Competitor.

Flourish. They go vp into the Senat house.

Enter a Captaine.

Cap. Romanes make way: the good Andronicus
Patron of VertueRomes best Champion
Successefull in the Battailes that he fights
With Honour and with Fortune is return'd
From whence he circumscribed with his Sword
And brought to yoke the Enemies of Rome.

Sound Drummes and Trumpets. And then enter two of Titus
Sonnes; After
themtwo men bearing a Coffin couered with blackethen two
other Sonnes.
After themTitus Andronicusand then Tamora the Queene of
Gothes& her
two Sonnes Chiron and Demetriuswith Aaron the Mooreand
othersas many
as can bee: They set downe the Coffinand Titus speakes.

Andronicus. Haile Rome:
Victorious in thy Mourning Weedes:
Loe as the Barke that hath discharg'd his fraught
Returnes with precious lading to the Bay
From whence at first she weigh'd her Anchorage:
Commeth Andronicus bound with Lawrell bowes
To resalute his Country with his teares
Teares of true ioy for his returne to Rome
Thou great defender of this Capitoll
Stand gracious to the Rites that we intend.
Romainesof fiue and twenty Valiant Sonnes
Halfe of the number that King Priam had
Behold the poore remaines aliue and dead!
These that Suruiuelet Rome reward with Loue:
These that I bring vnto their latest home


With buriall amongst their Auncestors.
Heere Gothes haue giuen me leaue to sheath my Sword:
Titus vnkindeand carelesse of thine owne
Why suffer'st thou thy Sonnes vnburied yet
To houer on the dreadfull shore of Stix?
Make way to lay them by their Bretheren.


They open the Tombe.


There greete in silence as the dead are wont
And sleepe in peaceslaine in your Countries warres:
O sacred receptacle of my ioyes
Sweet Cell of vertue and Nobilitie
How many Sonnes of mine hast thou in store
That thou wilt neuer render to me more?


Luc. Giue vs the proudest prisoner of the Gothes
That we may hew his limbesand on a pile
Ad manus fratrumsacrifice his flesh:
Before this earthly prison of their bones
That so the shadowes be not vnappeas'd
Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth

Tit. I giue him youthe Noblest that Suruiues
The eldest Son of this distressed Queene

Tam. Stay Romaine Bretherengracious Conqueror
Victorious Titusrue the teares I shed
A Mothers teares in passion for her sonne:
And if thy Sonnes were euer deere to thee
Oh thinke my sonnes to be as deere to mee.
Sufficeth notthat we are brought to Rome
To beautifie thy Triumphsand returne
Captiue to theeand to thy Romaine yoake
But must my Sonnes be slaughtred in the streetes
For Valiant doings in their Countries cause?
O! If to fight for King and Common-weale
Were piety in thineit is in these:
Andronicusstaine not thy Tombe with blood.
Wilt thou draw neere the nature of the Gods?
Draw neere them then in being mercifull.
Sweet mercy is Nobilities true badge
Thrice Noble Titusspare my first borne sonne

Tit. Patient your selfe Madamand pardon me.
These are the Brethrenwhom you Gothes beheld
Aliue and deadand for their Bretheren slaine
Religiously they aske a sacrifice:
To this your sonne is marktand die he must
T' appease their groaning shadowes that are gone

Luc. Away with himand make a fire straight
And with our Swords vpon a pile of wood
Let's hew his limbes till they be cleane consum'd.

Exit Sonnes with Alarbus.

Tamo. O cruell irreligious piety

Chi. Was euer Scythia halfe so barbarous?

Dem. Oppose me Scythia to ambitious Rome
Alarbus goes to restand we suruiue
To tremble vnder Titus threatning lookes.
Then Madam stand resolu'dbut hope withall
The selfe same Gods that arm'd the Queene of Troy


With opportunitie of sharpe reuenge
Vpon the Thracian Tyrant in his Tent
May fauour Tamora the Queene of Gothes
(When Gothes were Gothesand Tamora was Queene)
To quit the bloody wrongs vpon her foes.
Enter the Sonnes of Andronicus againe.


Luci. See Lord and Fatherhow we haue perform'd
Our Romaine rightesAlarbus limbs are lopt
And intrals feede the sacrifising fire
Whole smoke like incense doth perfume the skie.
Remaineth nought but to interre our Brethren
And with low'd Larums welcome them to Rome

Tit. Let it be soand let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their Soules.

Flourish.


Then Sound Trumpetsand lay the Coffins in the Tombe.


In peace and Honour rest you heere my Sonnes
Romes readiest Championsrepose you heere in rest
Secure from worldly chaunces and mishaps:
Heere lurks no Treasonheere no enuie swels
Heere grow no damned grudgesheere are no stormes
No noysebut silence and Eternall sleepe
In peace and Honour rest you heere my Sonnes.
Enter Lauinia.


Laui. In peace and Honourliue Lord Titus long
My Noble Lord and Fatherliue in Fame:
Loe at this Tombe my tributarie teares
I render for my Bretherens Obsequies:
And at thy feete I kneelewith teares of ioy
Shed on the earth for thy returne to Rome.
O blesse me heere with thy victorious hand
Whose Fortune Romes best Citizens applau'd

Ti. Kind Rome
That hast thus louingly reseru'd
The Cordiall of mine age to glad my hart
Lauinia liueout-liue thy Fathers dayes:
And Fames eternall date for vertues praise

Marc. Long liue Lord Titusmy beloued brother
Gracious Triumpher in the eyes of Rome

Tit. Thankes Gentle Tribune
Noble brother Marcus

Mar. And welcome Nephews from succesfull wars
You that suruiue and you that sleepe in Fame:
Faire Lords your Fortunes are all alike in all
That in your Countries seruice drew your Swords.
But safer Triumph is this Funerall Pompe
That hath aspir'd to Solons Happines
And Triumphs ouer chaunce in honours bed.
Titus Andronicusthe people of Rome
Whose friend in iustice thou hast euer bene
Send thee by me their Tribune and their trust
This Palliament of white and spotlesse Hue
And name thee in Election for the Empire
With these our late deceased Emperours Sonnes:


Be Candidatus thenand put it on
And helpe to set a head on headlesse Rome


Tit. A better head her Glorious body fits
Then his that shakes for age and feeblenesse:
What should I don this Robe and trouble you
Be chosen with proclamations to day
To morrow yeeld vp ruleresigne my life
And set abroad new businesse for you all.
Rome I haue bene thy Souldier forty yeares
And led my Countries strength successefully
And buried one and twenty Valiant Sonnes
Knighted in Fieldslaine manfully in Armes
In right and Seruice of their Noble Countrie:
Giue me a staffe of Honour for mine age
But not a Scepter to controule the world
Vpright he held it Lordsthat held it last

Mar. Titusthou shalt obtaine and aske the Emperie

Sat. Proud and ambitious Tribune can'st thou tell?
Titus. Patience Prince Saturninus

Sat. Romaines do me right.
Patricians draw your Swordsand sheath them not
Till Saturninus be Romes Emperour:
Andronicus would thou wert shipt to hell
Rather then rob me of the peoples harts

Luc. Proud Saturnineinterrupter of the good
That Noble minded Titus meanes to thee

Tit. Content thee PrinceI will restore to thee
The peoples hartsand weane them from themselues

Bass. AndronicusI do not flatter thee
But Honour theeand will doe till I die:
My Faction if thou strengthen with thy Friend?
I will most thankefull beand thankes to men
Of Noble mindesis Honourable Meede

Tit. People of Romeand Noble Tribunes heere
I aske your voyces and your Suffrages
Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

Tribunes. To gratifie the good Andronicus
And Gratulate his safe returne to Rome
The people will accept whom he admits

Tit. Tribunes I thanke youand this sure I make
That you Create your Emperours eldest sonne
Lord Saturninewhose Vertues will I hope
Reflect on Rome as Tytans Rayes on earth
And ripen Iustice in this Common-weale:
Then if you will elect by my aduise
Crowne himand say: Long liue our Emperour

Mar. An. With Voyces and applause of euery sort
Patricians and Plebeans we Create
Lord Saturninus Romes Great Emperour.
And sayLong liue our Emperour Saturnine.

A long Flourish till they come downe.

Satu. Titus Andronicusfor thy Fauours done


To vs in our Election this day
I giue thee thankes in part of thy Deserts
And will with Deeds requite thy gentlenesse:
And for an Onset Titus to aduance
Thy Nameand Honorable Familie
Lauinia will I make my Empresse
Romes Royall MistrisMistris of my hart
And in the Sacred Pathan her espouse:
Tell me Andronicus doth this motion please thee?


Tit. It doth my worthy Lordand in this match
I hold me Highly Honoured of your Grace
And heere in sight of Rometo Saturnine
King and Commander of our Common-weale
The Wide-worlds Emperourdo I Consecrate
My Swordmy Chariotand my Prisoners
Presents well Worthy Romes Imperiall Lord:
Receiue them thenthe Tribute that I owe
Mine Honours Ensignes humbled at my feete

Satu. Thankes Noble TitusFather of my life
How proud I am of theeand of thy gifts
Rome shall recordand when I do forget
The least of these vnspeakable Deserts
Romans forget your Fealtie to me

Tit. Now Madam are you prisoner to an Emperour
To him that for your Honour and your State
Will vse you Nobly and your followers

Satu. A goodly Ladytrust me of the Hue
That I would choosewere I to choose a new:
Cleere vp Faire Queene that cloudy countenance
Though chance of warre
Hath wrought this change of cheere
Thou com'st not to be made a scorne in Rome:
Princely shall be thy vsage euery way.
Rest on my wordand let not discontent
Daunt all your hopes: Madam he comforts you
Can make you Greater then the Queene of Gothes?
Lauinia you are not displeas'd with this?

Lau. Not I my Lordsith true Nobilitie
Warrants these words in Princely curtesie

Sat. Thankes sweete LauiniaRomans let vs goe:
Ransomlesse heere we set our Prisoners free
Proclaime our Honors Lords with Trumpe and Drum

Bass. Lord Titus by your leauethis Maid is mine

Tit. How sir? Are you in earnest then my Lord?
Bass. I Noble Titusand resolu'd withall
To doe my selfe this reasonand this right

Marc. Suum cuiquamis our Romane Iustice
This Prince in Iustice ceazeth but his owne

Luc. And that he will and shallif Lucius liue

Tit. Traytors auantwhere is the Emperours Guarde?
Treason my LordLauinia is surpris'd

Sat. Surpris'dby whom?
Bass. By him that iustly may
Beare his Betroth'dfrom all the world away


Muti. Brothers helpe to conuey her hence away
And with my Sword Ile keepe this doore safe

Tit. Follow my Lordand Ile soone bring her backe

Mut. My Lord you passe not heere

Tit. What villaine Boybar'st me my way in Rome?
Mut. Helpe Lucius helpe. He kils him


Luc. My Lord you are vniustand more then so
In wrongfull quarrellyou haue slaine your son

Tit. Nor thounor he are any sonnes of mine
My sonnes would neuer so dishonour me.
Traytor restore Lauinia to the Emperour

Luc. Dead if you willbut not to be his wife
That is anothers lawfull promist Loue.
Enter aloft the Emperour with Tamora and her two sonnesand
Aaron the
Moore.

Empe. No Titusnothe Emperour needs her not
Nor hernor theenor any of thy stocke:
Ile trust by Leisure him that mocks me once.
Thee neuer: nor thy Trayterous haughty sonnes
Confederates allthus to dishonour me.
Was none in Rome to make a stale
But Saturnine? Full well Andronicus
Agree these Deedswith that proud bragge of thine
That said'stI beg'd the Empire at thy hands

Tit. O monstrouswhat reproachfull words are these?

Sat. But goe thy wayesgoe giue that changing peece
To him that flourisht for her with his Sword:
A Valliant sonne in-law thou shalt enioy:
Onefit to bandy with thy lawlesse Sonnes
To ruffle in the Common-wealth of Rome

Tit. These words are Razors to my wounded hart

Sat. And therefore louely Tamora Queene of Gothes
That like the stately Thebe mong'st her Nimphs
Dost ouer-shine the Gallant'st Dames of Rome
If thou be pleas'd with this my sodaine choyse
Behold I choose thee Tamora for my Bride
And will Create thee Empresse of Rome.
Speake Queene of Goths dost thou applau'd my choyse?
And heere I sweare by all the Romaine Gods
Sith Priest and Holy-water are so neere
And Tapers burne so brightand euery thing
In readines for Hymeneus stand
I will not resalute the streets of Rome
Or clime my Pallacetill from forth this place
I leade espous'd my Bride along with me

Tamo. And heere in sight of heauen to Rome I sweare
If Saturnine aduance the Queen of Gothes
Shee will a Hand-maid be to his desires
A louing Nursea Mother to his youth

Satur. Ascend Faire Queene


Panthean Lordsaccompany
Your Noble Emperour and his louely Bride
Sent by the heauens for Prince Saturnine
Whose wisedome hath her Fortune Conquered
There shall we Consummate our Spousall rites.


Exeunt. omnes.


Tit. I am not bid to waite vpon this Bride:
Titus when wer't thou wont to walke alone
Dishonoured thus and Challenged of wrongs?
Enter Marcus and Titus Sonnes.

Mar. O Titus see! O see what thou hast done!
In a bad quarrellslaine a Vertuous sonne

Tit. No foolish Tribuneno: No sonne of mine
Nor thounor these Confedrates in the deed
That hath dishonoured all our Family
Vnworthy brotherand vnworthy Sonnes

Luci. But let vs giue him buriall as becomes:
Giue Mutius buriall with our Bretheren

Tit. Traytors awayhe rest's not in this Tombe:
This Monument fiue hundreth yeares hath stood
Which I haue Sumptuously re-edified.
Heere none but Souldiersand Romes Seruitors
Repose in Fame: None basely slaine in braules
Bury him where you canhe comes not heere

Mar. My Lord this is impiety in you
My Nephew Mutius deeds do plead for him
He must be buried with his bretheren

Titus two Sonnes speakes. And shallor him we will accompany

Ti. And shall! What villaine was it spake that word?
Titus sonne speakes. He that would vouch'd it in any place but
heere

Tit. What would you bury him in my despight?
Mar. No Noble Titusbut intreat of thee
To pardon Mutiusand to bury him

Tit. MarcusEuen thou hast stroke vpon my Crest
And with these Boyes mine Honour thou hast wounded
My foes I doe repute you euery one.
So trouble me no morebut get you gone

1.Sonne. He is not himselfelet vs withdraw

2.Sonne. Not I tell Mutius bones be buried.

The Brother and the sonnes kneele.

Mar. Brotherfor in that name doth nature plea'd

2.Sonne. Fatherand in that name doth nature speake

Tit. Speake thou no more if all the rest will speede

Mar. Renowned Titus more then halfe my soule


Luc. Deare Fathersoule and substance of vs all

Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to interre
His Noble Nephew heere in vertues nest
That died in Honour and Lauinia's cause.
Thou art a Romainebe not barbarous:
The Greekes vpon aduise did bury Aiax
That slew himselfe: And Laertes sonne
Did graciously plead for his Funerals:
Let not young Mutius then that was thy ioy
Be bar'd his entrance heere

Tit. Rise Marcusrise
The dismall'st day is this that ere I saw
To be dishonored by my Sonnes in Rome:
Wellbury himand bury me the next.
They put him in the Tombe.

Luc. There lie thy bones sweet Mutius with thy friends.
Till we with Trophees do adorne thy Tombe.

They all kneele and say.


No man shed teares for Noble Mutius
He liues in Famethat di'd in vertues cause.
Enter.


Mar. My Lord to step out of these sudden dumps
How comes it that the subtile Queene of Gothes
Is of a sodaine thus aduanc'd in Rome?

Ti. I know not Marcus: but I know it is
(Whether by deuise or no) the heauens can tell
Is she not then beholding to the man
That brought her for this high good turne so farre?
Yesand will Nobly him remunerate.

Flourish.


Enter the EmperorTamoraand her two sonswith the Moore at
one doore.
Enter at the other doore Bassianus and Lauinia with others.


Sat. So Bassianusyou haue plaid your prize
God giue you ioy sir of your Gallant Bride

Bass. And you of yours my Lord: I say no more
Nor wish no lesseand so I take my leaue

Sat. Traytorif Rome haue lawor we haue power
Thou and thy Faction shall repent this Rape

Bass. Rape call you it my Lordto cease my owne
My true betrothed Loueand now my wife?
But let the lawes of Rome determine all
Meane while I am possest of that is mine

Sat. 'Tis good sir: you are very short with vs
But if we liueweele be as sharpe with you

Bass. My Lordwhat I haue done as best I may
Answere I mustand shall do with my life
Onely thus much I giue your Grace to know
By all the duties that I owe to Rome
This Noble Gentleman Lord Titus heere


Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd
That in the rescue of Lauinia
With his owne hand did slay his youngest Son
In zeale to youand highly mou'd to wrath.
To be controul'd in that he frankly gaue:
Receiue him then to fauour Saturnine
That hath expre'st himselfe in all his deeds
A Father and a friend to theeand Rome


Tit. Prince Bassianus leaue to plead my Deeds
'Tis thouand thosethat haue dishonoured me
Rome and the righteous heauens be my iudge
How I haue lou'd and Honour'd Saturnine

Tam. My worthy Lord if euer Tamora
Were gracious in those Princely eyes of thine
Then heare me speake indifferently for all:
And at my sute (sweet) pardon what is past

Satu. What Madambe dishonoured openly
And basely put it vp without reuenge?

Tam. Not so my Lord
The Gods of Rome fore-fend
I should be Authour to dishonour you.
But on mine honour dareI vndertake
For good Lord Titus innocence in all:
Whose fury not dissembled speakes his griefes:
Then at my sute looke graciously on him
Loose not so noble a friend on vaine suppose
Nor with sowre lookes afflict his gentle heart.
My Lordbe rul'd by mebe wonne at last
Dissemble all your griefes and discontents
You are but newly planted in your Throne
Least then the peopleand Patricians too
Vpon a iust suruey take Titus part
And so supplant vs for ingratitude
Which Rome reputes to be a hainous sinne.
Yeeld at intreatsand then let me alone:
Ile finde a day to massacre them all
And race their factionand their familie
The cruell Fatherand his trayt'rous sonnes
To whom I sued for my deare sonnes life.
And make them know what 'tis to let a Queene.
Kneele in the streetesand beg for grace in vaine.
Comecomesweet Emperour(come Andronicus)
Take vp this good old manand cheere the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frowne

King. Rise Titusrise
My Empresse hath preuail'd

Titus. I thanke your Maiestie
And her my Lord.
These wordsthese lookes
Infuse new life in me

Tamo. TitusI am incorparate in Rome
A Roman now adopted happily.
And must aduise the Emperour for his good
This day all quarrels die Andronicus.
And let it be mine honour good my Lord
That I haue reconcil'd your friends and you.
For you Prince BassianusI haue past
My word and promise to the Emperour


That you will be more milde and tractable.
And feare not Lords:
And you Lauinia
By my aduise all humbled on your knees
You shall aske pardon of his Maiestie


Son. We doe
And vow to heauenand to his Highnes
That what we didwas mildlyas we might
Tendring our sisters honour and our owne

Mar. That on mine honour heere I do protest

King. Away and talke nottrouble vs no more

Tamora. Naynay
Sweet Emperourwe must all be friends
The Tribune and his Nephews kneele for grace
I will not be deniedsweet hart looke back

King. Marcus
For thy sake and thy brothers heere
And at my louely Tamora's intreats
I doe remit these young mens haynous faults.
Stand vp: Lauiniathough you left me like a churle
I found a friendand sure as death I sware
I would not part a Batchellour from the Priest.
Comeif the Emperours Court can feast two Brides
You are my guest Lauiniaand your friends:
This day shall be a Loue-day Tamora

Tit. To morrow and it please your Maiestie
To hunt the Panther and the Hart with me
With horne and Hound
Weele giue your Grace Bon iour

Satur. Be it so Titusand Gramercy to.

Exeunt.

Actus Secunda.

Flourish. Enter Aaron alone.

Aron. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus toppe
Safe out of Fortunes shotand sits aloft
Secure of Thunders cracke or lightning flash
Aduanc'd about pale enuies threatning reach:
As when the golden Sunne salutes the morne
And hauing gilt the Ocean with his beames
Gallops the Zodiacke in his glistering Coach
And ouer-lookes the highest piering hills:
So Tamora
Vpon her wit doth earthly honour waite
And vertue stoopes and trembles at her frowne.
Then Aaron arme thy hartand fit thy thoughts
To mount aloft with thy Emperiall Mistris
And mount her pitchwhom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner heldfettred in amorous chaines
And faster bound to Aarons charming eyes
Then is Prometheus ti'de to Caucasus.
Away with slauish weedesand idle thoughts
I will be bright and shine in Pearle and Gold


To waite vpon this new made Empresse.
To waite said I? To wanton with this Queene
This Goddessethis Semirimisthis Queene.
This Syrenthat will charme Romes Saturnine
And see his shipwrackeand his Common weales.
Hollowhat storme is this?
Enter Chiron and Demetrius brauing.


Dem. Chiron thy yeres wants witthy wit wants edge
And manners to intru'd where I am grac'd
And may for ought thou know'st affected be

Chi. Demetriusthou doo'st ouer-weene in all
And so in thisto beare me downe with braues
'Tis not the difference of a yeere or two
Makes me lesse graciousor thee more fortunate:
I am as ableand as fitas thou
To serueand to deserue my Mistris grace
And that my sword vpon thee shall approue
And plead my passions for Lauinia's loue

Aron. Clubsclubsthese louers will not keep the peace

Dem. Why Boyalthough our mother (vnaduised)
Gaue you a daunsing Rapier by your side
Are you so desperate growne to threat your friends?
Goe too: haue your Lath glued within your sheath
Till you know better how to handle it

Chi. Meane while sirwith the little skill I haue
Full well shalt thou perceiue how much I dare

Deme. I Boygrow ye so braue?

They drawe.

Aron. Why how now Lords?
So nere the Emperours Pallace dare you draw
And maintaine such a quarrell openly?
Full well I wotethe ground of all this grudge.
I would not for a million of Gold
The cause were knowne to them it most concernes.
Nor would your noble mother for much more
Be so dishonored in the Court of Rome:
For shame put vp

Deme. Not Itill I haue sheath'd
My rapier in his bosomeand withall
Thrust these reprochfull speeches downe his throat
That he hath breath'd in my dishonour heere

Chi. For that I am prepar'dand full resolu'd
Foule spoken Coward
That thundrest with thy tongue
And with thy weapon nothing dar'st performe

Aron. A way I say.
Now by the Gods that warlike Gothes adore
This pretty brabble will vndoo vs all:
Why Lordsand thinke you not how dangerous
It is to set vpon a Princes right?
What is Lauinia then become so loose
Or Bassianus so degenerate
That for her loue such quarrels may be broacht


Without controulementIusticeor reuenge?
Young Lords bewareand should the Empresse know
This discord groundthe musicke would not please

Chi. I care not Iknew she and all the world
I loue Lauinia more then all the world

Demet. Youngling
Learne thou to make some meaner choise
Lauinia is thine elder brothers hope

Aron. Why are ye mad? Or know ye not in Rome
How furious and impatient they be
And cannot brooke Competitors in loue?
I tell you Lordsyou doe but plot your deaths
By this deuise

Chi. Aarona thousand deaths would I propose
To atchieue her whom I do loue

Aron. To atcheiue herhow?

Deme. Whymak'st thou it so strange?
Shee is a womantherefore may be woo'd
Shee is a womantherfore may be wonne
Shee is Lauinia therefore must be lou'd.
What manmore water glideth by the Mill
Then wots the Miller ofand easie it is
Of a cut loafe to steale a shiue we know:
Though Bassianus be the Emperours brother
Better then he haue worne Vulcans badge

Aron. Iand as good as Saturninus may

Deme. Then why should he dispaire that knowes to court it
With wordsfaire lookesand liberality:
What hast not thou full often strucke a Doe
And borne her cleanly by the Keepers nose?

Aron. Why then it seemes some certaine snatch or so
Would serue your turnes

Chi. I so the turne were serued

Deme. Aaron thou hast hit it

Aron. Would you had hit it too
Then should not we be tir'd with this adoo:
Why harke yeeharke yeeand are you such fooles
To square for this? Would it offend you then?

Chi. Faith not me

Deme. Nor meso I were one

Aron. For shame be friends& ioyne for that you iar:
'Tis pollicieand stratageme must doe
That you affectand so must you resolue
That what you cannot as you would atcheiue
You must perforce accomplish as you may:
Take this of meLucrece was not more chast
Then this LauiniaBassianus loue
A speedier course this lingring languishment
Must we pursueand I haue found the path:
My Lordsa solemne hunting is in hand.
There will the louely Roman Ladies troope:
The Forrest walkes are wide and spacious


And many vnfrequented plots there are
Fitted by kinde for rape and villanie:
Single you thither then this dainty Doe
And strike her home by forceif not by words:
This way or not at allstand you in hope.
Comecomeour Empresse with her sacred wit
To villainie and vengance consecrate
Will we acquaint with all that we intend
And she shall file our engines with aduise
That will not suffer you to square your selues
But to your wishes height aduance you both.
The Emperours Court is like the house of Fame
The pallace full of tonguesof eyesof eares:
The Woods are ruthlessedreadfulldeafeand dull:
There speakeand strike braue Boyes& take your turnes.
There serue your lustsshadow'd from heauens eye
And reuell in Lauinia's Treasurie


Chi. Thy counsell Lad smells of no cowardise

Deme. Sit fas aut nefastill I finde the streames
To coole this heata Charme to calme their fits
Per Stigia per manes Vehor.

Exeunt.

Enter Titus Andronicus and his three sonnesmaking a noyse with
hounds
and hornesand Marcus.

Tit. The hunt is vpthe morne is bright and gray
The fields are fragrantand the Woods are greene
Vncouple heereand let vs make a bay
And wake the Emperourand his louely Bride
And rouze the Princeand ring a hunters peale
That all the Court may eccho with the noyse.
Sonnes let it be your chargeas it is ours
To attend the Emperours person carefully:
I haue bene troubled in my sleepe this night
But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd.

Winde Hornes.

Heere a cry of houndesand winde hornes in a pealethen Enter
SaturninusTamoraBassianusLauiniaChironDemetriusand
their
Attendants.

Ti. Many good morrowes to your Maiestie
Madam to you as many and as good.
I promised your Gracea Hunters peale

Satur. And you haue rung it lustily my Lords
Somewhat to earely for new married Ladies

Bass. Lauiniahow say you?
Laui. I say no:
I haue bene awake two houres and more

Satur. Come on thenhorse and Chariots let vs haue
And to our sport: Madamnow shall ye see
Our Romaine hunting

Mar. I haue dogges my Lord


Will rouze the proudest Panther in the Chase
And clime the highest Promontary top

Tit. And I haue horse will follow where the game
Makes wayand runnes likes Swallowes ore the plaine
Deme. Chiron we hunt not wewith Horse nor Hound
But hope to plucke a dainty Doe to ground.

Exeunt.

Enter Aaron alone.

Aron. He that had witwould thinke that I had none
To bury so much Gold vnder a Tree
And neuer after to inherit it.
Let him that thinks of me so abiectly
Know that this Gold must coine a Stratageme
Which cunningly effectedwill beget
A very excellent peece of villany;
And so repose sweet Gold for their vnrest
That haue their Almes out of the Empresse Chest.
Enter Tamora to the Moore.

Tamo. My louely Aaron
Wherefore look'st thou sad
When euery thing doth make a Gleefull boast?
The Birds chaunt melody on euery bush
The Snake lies rolled in the chearefull Sunne
The greene leaues quiuerwith the cooling winde
And make a cheker'd shadow on the ground:
Vnder their sweete shadeAaron let vs sit
And whil'st the babling Eccho mock's the Hounds
Replying shrilly to the well tun'd-Hornes
As if a double hunt were heard at once
Let vs sit downeand marke their yelping noyse:
And after conflictsuch as was suppos'd.
The wandring Prince and Dido once enioy'd
When with a happy storme they were surpris'd
And Curtain'd with a Counsaile-keeping Caue
We may each wreathed in the others armes
(Our pastimes done) possesse a Golden slumber
Whiles Hounds and Hornesand sweet Melodious Birds
Be vnto vsas is a Nurses Song
Of Lullabieto bring her Babe asleepe

Aron. Madame
Though Venus gouerne your desires
Saturne is Dominator ouer mine:
What signifies my deadly standing eye
My silenceand my Cloudy Melancholie
My fleece of Woolly hairethat now vncurles
Euen as an Adder when she doth vnrowle
To do some fatall execution?
No Madamthese are no Veneriall signes
Vengeance is in my heartdeath in my hand
Bloodand reuengeare Hammering in my head.
Harke Tamorathe Empresse of my Soule
Which neuer hopes more heauenthen rests in thee
This is the day of Doome for Bassianus;
His Philomel must loose her tongue to day
Thy Sonnes make Pillage of her Chastity
And wash their hands in Bassianus blood.
Seest thou this Lettertake it vp I pray thee
And giue the King this fatall plotted Scrowle


Now question me no morewe are espied
Heere comes a parcell of our hopefull Booty
Which dreads not yet their liues destruction.
Enter Bassianus and Lauinia.

Tamo. Ah my sweet Moore:
Sweeter to me then life

Aron. No more great EmpresseBassianus comes
Be crosse with himand Ile goe fetch thy Sonnes
To backe thy quarrell what so ere they be

Bassi. Whom haue we heere?
Romes Royall Empresse
Vnfurnisht of our well beseeming troope?
Or is it Dian habited like her
Who hath abandoned her holy Groues
To see the generall Hunting in this Forrest?

Tamo. Sawcie controuler of our priuate steps:
Had I the powerthat some say Dian had
Thy Temples should be planted presently.
With Hornesas was Acteonsand the Hounds
Should driue vpon his new transformed limbes
Vnmannerly Intruder as thou art

Laui. Vnder your patience gentle Empresse
'Tis thought you haue a goodly gift in Horning
And to be doubtedthat your Moore and you
Are singled forth to try experiments:
Ioue sheild your husband from his Hounds to day
'Tis pitty they should take him for a Stag

Bassi. Beleeue me Queeneyour swarth Cymerion
Doth make your Honour of his bodies Hue
Spotteddetestedand abhominable.
Why are you sequestred from all your traine?
Dismounted from your Snow-white goodly Steed
And wandred hither to an obscure plot
Accompanied with a barbarous Moore
If foule desire had not conducted you?

Laui. And being intercepted in your sport
Great reason that my Noble Lordbe rated
For SaucinesseI pray you let vs hence
And let her ioy her Rauen coloured loue
This valley fits the purpose passing well

Bassi. The King my Brother shall haue notice of this

Laui. Ifor these slips haue made him noted long
Good Kingto be so mightily abused

Tamora. Why I haue patience to endure all this?
Enter Chiron and Demetrius.

Dem. How now deere Soueraigne
And our gracious Mother
Why doth your Highnes looke so pale and wan?

Tamo. Haue I not reason thinke you to looke pale.
These two haue tic'd me hither to this place
A barrendetested vale you see it is.
The Trees though Sommeryet forlorne and leane
Ore-come with Mosseand balefull Misselto.
Heere neuer shines the Sunneheere nothing breeds
Vnlesse the nightly Owleor fatall Rauen:


And when they shew'd me this abhorred pit
They told me heere at dead time of the night
A thousand Fiendsa thousand hissing Snakes
Ten thousand swelling Toadesas many Vrchins
Would make such fearefull and confused cries
As any mortall body hearing it
Should straite fall mador else die suddenly.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale
But strait they told me they would binde me heere
Vnto the body of a dismall yew
And leaue me to this miserable death.
And then they call'd me foule Adulteresse
Lasciuious Gothand all the bitterest tearmes
That euer eare did heare to such effect.
And had you not by wondrous fortune come
This vengeance on me had they executed:
Reuenge itas you loue your Mothers life
Or be ye not henceforth cal'd my Children


Dem. This is a witnesse that I am thy Sonne.

stab him.

Chi. And this for me
Strook home to shew my strength

Laui. I come Semeramisnay Barbarous Tamora.
For no name fits thy nature but thy owne

Tam. Giue me thy poyniardyou shal know my boyes
Your Mothers hand shall right your Mothers wrong

Deme. Stay Madam heere is more belongs to her
First thrash the Cornethen after burne the straw:
This Minion stood vpon her chastity
Vpon her Nuptiall vowher loyaltie.
And with that painted hopebraues your Mightinesse
And shall she carry this vnto her graue?

Chi. And if she doe
I would I were an Eunuch
Drag hence her husband to some secret hole
And make his dead Trunke-Pillow to our lust

Tamo. But when ye haue the hony we desire
Let not this Waspe out-liue vs both to sting

Chir. I warrant you Madam we will make that sure:
Come Mistrisnow perforce we will enioy
That nice-preserued honesty of yours

Laui. Oh Tamorathou bear'st a woman face

Tamo. I will not heare her speakeaway with her

Laui. Sweet Lords intreat her heare me but a word

Demet. Listen faire Madamlet it be your glory
To see her tearesbut be your hart to them
As vnrelenting flint to drops of raine

Laui. When did the Tigers young-ones teach the dam?
O doe not learne her wrathshe taught it thee
The milke thou suck'st from her did turne to Marble
Euen at thy Teat thou had'st thy Tyranny


Yet euery Mother breeds not Sonnes alike
Do thou intreat her shew a woman pitty

Chiro. What
Would'st thou haue me proue my selfe a bastard?

Laui. 'Tis true
The Rauen doth not hatch a Larke
Yet haue I heardOh could I finde it now
The Lion mou'd with pittydid indure
To haue his Princely pawes par'd all away.
Some saythat Rauens foster forlorne children
The whil'st their owne birds famish in their nests:
Oh be to me though thy hard hart say no
Nothing so kind but something pittifull

Tamo. I know not what it meanesaway with her

Lauin. Oh let me teach thee for my Fathers sake
That gaue thee life when well he might haue slaine thee:
Be not obdurateopen thy deafe eares

Tamo. Had'st thou in person nere offended me.
Euen for his sake am I pittilesse:
Remember Boyes I powr'd forth teares in vaine
To saue your brother from the sacrifice
But fierce Andronicus would not relent
Therefore away with herand vse her as you will
The worse to herthe better lou'd of me

Laui. Oh Tamora
Be call'd a gentle Queene
And with thine owne hands kill me in this place
For 'tis not life that I haue beg'd so long
Poore I was slainewhen Bassianus dy'd

Tam. What beg'st thou then? fond woman let me go?

Laui. 'Tis present death I begand one thing more
That womanhood denies my tongue to tell:
Oh keepe me from their worse then killing lust
And tumble me into some loathsome pit
Where neuer mans eye may behold my body
Doe thisand be a charitable murderer

Tam. So should I rob my sweet Sonnes of their fee
No let them satisfie their lust on thee

Deme. Away
For thou hast staid vs heere too long

Lauinia. No Grace
No womanhood? Ah beastly creature
The blot and enemy to our generall name
Confusion fall


Chi. Nay then Ile stop your mouth
Bring thou her husband
This is the Hole where Aaron bid vs hide him

Tam. Farewell my Sonnessee that you make her sure
Nere let my heart know merry cheere indeed
Till all the Andronici be made away:
Now will I hence to seeke my louely Moore
And let my spleenefull Sonnes this Trull defloure.
Enter.


Enter Aaron with two of Titus Sonnes.

Aron. Come on my Lordsthe better foote before
Straight will I bring you to the lothsome pit
Where I espied the Panther fast asleepe

Quin. My sight is very dull what ere it bodes

Marti. And mine I promise youwere it not for shame
Well could I leaue our sport to sleepe a while

Quin. What art thou fallen?
What subtile Hole is this
Whose mouth is couered with Rude growing Briers
Vpon whose leaues are drops of new-shed-blood
As fresh as mornings dew distil'd on flowers
A very fatall place it seemes to me:
Speake Brother hast thou hurt thee with the fall?

Martius. Oh Brother
With the dismal'st obiect
That euer eye with sight made heart lament

Aron. Now will I fetch the King to finde them heere
That he thereby may haue a likely gesse
How these were they that made away his Brother.

Exit Aaron.

Marti. Why dost not comfort me and helpe me out
From this vnhallow'd and blood-stained Hole?

Quintus. I am surprised with an vncouth feare
A chilling sweat ore-runs my trembling ioynts
My heart suspects more then mine eie can see

Marti. To proue thou hast a true diuining heart
Aaron and thou looke downe into this den
And see a fearefull sight of blood and death

Quintus. Aaron is gone
And my compassionate heart
Will not permit mine eyes once to behold
The thing whereat it trembles by surmise:
Oh tell me how it isfor nere till now
Was I a child to feare I know not what

Marti. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed heere
All on a heape like to the slaughtred Lambe
In this detesteddarkeblood-drinking pit

Quin. If it be darkehow doost thou know 'tis he?

Mart. Vpon his bloody finger he doth weare
A precious Ringthat lightens all the Hole:
Which like a Taper in some Monument
Doth shine vpon the dead mans earthly cheekes
And shewes the ragged intrailes of the pit:
So pale did shine the Moone on Piramus
When he by night lay bath'd in Maiden blood:
O Brother helpe me with thy fainting hand.
If feare hath made thee faintas mee it hath
Out of this fell deuouring receptacle
As hatefull as Ocitus mistie mouth

Quint. Reach me thy handthat I may helpe thee out
Or wanting strength to doe thee so much good


I may be pluckt into the swallowing wombe
Of this deepe pitpoore Bassianus graue:
I haue no strength to plucke thee to the brinke


Martius. Nor I no strength to clime without thy help

Quin. Thy hand once moreI will not loose againe
Till thou art heere aloftor I below
Thou can'st not come to meI come to thee.

Both fall in.

Enter the EmperourAaron the Moore.

Satur. Along with meIle see what hole is heere
And what he is that now is leapt into it.
Saywho art thou that lately did'st descend
Into this gaping hollow of the earth?

Marti. The vnhappie sonne of old Andronicus
Brought hither in a most vnluckie houre
To finde thy brother Bassianus dead

Satur. My brother dead? I know thou dost but iest
He and his Lady both are at the Lodge
Vpon the North-side of this pleasant Chase
'Tis not an houre since I left him there

Marti. We know not where you left him all aliue
But out alasheere haue we found him dead.
Enter TamoraAndronicusand Lucius.

Tamo. Where is my Lord the King?
King. Heere Tamorathough grieu'd with killing griefe


Tam. Where is thy brother Bassianus?
King. Now to the bottome dost thou search my wound
Poore Bassianus heere lies murthered

Tam. Then all too late I bring this fatall writ
The complot of this timelesse Tragedie
And wonder greatly that mans face can fold
In pleasing smiles such murderous Tyrannie.

She giueth Saturnine a Letter.

Saturninus reads the Letter. And if we misse to meete him
hansomely
Sweet huntsmanBassianus 'tis we meane
Doe thou so much as dig the graue for him
Thou know'st our meaninglooke for thy reward
Among the Nettles at the Elder tree:
Which ouer-shades the mouth of that same pit:
Where we decreed to bury Bassianuss
Doe this and purchase vs thy lasting friends

King. Oh Tamorawas euer heard the like?
This is the pitand this the Elder tree
Looke sirsif you can finde the huntsman out
That should haue murthered Bassianus heere

Aron. My gracious Lord heere is the bag of Gold

King. Two of thy whelpesfell Curs of bloody kind


Haue heere bereft my brother of his life:
Sirs drag them from the pit vnto the prison
There let them bide vntill we haue deuis'd
Some neuer heard-of tortering paine for them

Tamo. What are they in this pit
Oh wondrous thing!
How easily murder is discouered?

Tit. High Emperourvpon my feeble knee
I beg this boonewith tearesnot lightly shed
That this fell fault of my accursed Sonnes
Accursedif the faults be prou'd in them

King. If it be prou'd? you see it is apparant
Who found this LetterTamora was it you?
Tamora. Andronicus himselfe did take it vp

Tit. I did my Lord
Yet let me be their baile
For by my Fathers reuerent Tombe I vow
They shall be ready at your Highnes will
To answere their suspition with their liues

King. Thou shalt not baile themsee thou follow me:
Some bring the murthered bodysome the murtherers
Let them not speake a wordthe guilt is plaine
For by my soulewere there worse end then death
That end vpon them should be executed

Tamo. Andronicus I will entreat the King
Feare not thy Sonnesthey shall do well enough

Tit. Come Lucius come
Stay not to talke with them.

Exeunt.

Enter the Empresse Sonneswith Lauiniaher hands cut off and
her tongue
cut outand rauisht.

Deme. So now goe tell and if thy tongue can speake
Who t'was that cut thy tongue and rauisht thee

Chi. Write downe thy mindbewray thy meaning so
And if thy stumpes will let thee play the Scribe

Dem. See how with signes and tokens she can scowle

Chi. Goe home
Call for sweet waterwash thy hands

Dem. She hath no tongue to callnor hands to wash.
And so let's leaue her to her silent walkes

Chi. And t'were my causeI should goe hang my selfe

Dem. If thou had'st hands to helpe thee knit the cord.

Exeunt.

Winde Hornes.

Enter Marcus from huntingto Lauinia.


Who is thismy Neece that flies away so fast?
Cosen a wordwhere is your husband?
If I do dreamewould all my wealth would wake me;
If I doe wakesome Planet strike me downe
That I may slumber in eternall sleepe.
Speake gentle Neecewhat sterne vngentle hands
Hath loptand hew'dand made thy body bare
Of her two branchesthose sweet Ornaments
Whose circkling shadowesKings haue sought to sleep in
And might not gaine so great a happines
As halfe thy Loue: Why doost not speake to me?
Alasa Crimson riuer of warme blood
Like to a bubling fountaine stir'd with winde
Doth rise and fall betweene thy Rosed lips
Comming and going with thy hony breath.
But sure some Tereus hath defloured thee
And least thou should'st detect themcut thy tongue.
Ahnow thou turn'st away thy face for shame:
And notwithstanding all this losse of blood
As from a Conduit with their issuing Spouts
Yet doe thy cheekes looke red as Titans face
Blushing to be encountred with a Cloud
Shall I speake for thee? shall I say 'tis so?
Oh that I knew thy hartand knew the beast
That I might raile at him to ease my mind.
Sorrow concealedlike an Ouen stopt.
Doth burne the hart to Cinders where it is.
Faire Philomela she but lost her tongue
And in a tedious Sampler sowed her minde.
But louely Neecethat meane is cut from thee
A craftier Tereus hast thou met withall
And he hath cut those pretty fingers off
That could haue better sowed then Philomel.
Oh had the monster seene those Lilly hands
Tremble like Aspen leaues vpon a Lute
And make the silken strings delight to kisse them
He would not then haue toucht them for his life.
Or had he heard the heauenly Harmony
Which that sweet tongue hath made:
He would haue dropt his knife and fell asleepe
As Cerberus at the Thracian Poets feete.
Comelet vs goeand make thy father blinde
For such a sight will blinde a fathers eye.
One houres storme will drowne the fragrant meades
Whatwill whole months of teares thy Fathers eyes?
Doe not draw backefor we will mourne with thee:
Oh could our mourning ease thy misery.


Exeunt.


Actus Tertius.


Enter the Iudges and Senatours with Titus two sonnes bound
passing on
the Stage to the place of executionand Titus going before
pleading.


Ti. Heare me graue fathersnoble Tribunes stay

For pitty of mine agewhose youth was spent

In dangerous warreswhilst you securely slept:

For all my blood in Romes great quarrell shed

For all the frosty nights that I haue watcht

And for these bitter teareswhich now you see


Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheekes
Be pittifull to my condemned Sonnes
Whose soules is not corrupted as 'tis thought:
For two and twenty sonnes I neuer wept
Because they died in honours lofty bed.
Andronicus lyeth downeand the Iudges passe by him.
For theseTribunesin the dust I write
My harts deepe languorand my soules sad teares:
Let my teares stanch the earths drie appetite.
My sonnes sweet bloodwill make it shame and blush:
O earth! I will be friend thee more with raine


Exeunt.


That shall distill from these two ancient ruines
Then youthfull Aprill shall with all his showres
In summers drought: Ile drop vpon thee still
In Winter with warme teares Ile melt the snow
And keepe eternall spring time on thy face
So thou refuse to drinke my deare sonnes blood.
Enter Luciuswith his weapon drawne.


Oh reuerent Tribunesoh gentle aged men
Vnbinde my sonnesreuerse the doome of death
And let me say (that neuer wept before)
My teares are now preualing Oratours


Lu. Oh noble fatheryou lament in vaine
The Tribunes heare notno man is by
And you recount your sorrowes to a stone

Ti. Ah Lucius for thy brothers let me plead
Graue Tribunesonce more I intreat of you

Lu. My gracious Lordno Tribune heares you speake

Ti. Why 'tis no matter manif they did heare
They would not marke me: oh if they did heare
They would not pitty me.
Therefore I tell my sorrowes bootles to the stones.
Who though they cannot answere my distresse
Yet in some sort they are better then the Tribunes
For that they will not intercept my tale;
When I doe weepethey humbly at my feete
Receiue my tearesand seeme to weepe with me
And were they but attired in graue weedes
Rome could afford no Tribune like to these.
A stone is as soft waxe
Tribunes more hard then stones:
A stone is silentand offendeth not
And Tribunes with their tongues doome men to death.
But wherefore stand'st thou with thy weapon drawne?

Lu. To rescue my two brothers from their death
For which attempt the Iudges haue pronounc'st
My euerlasting doome of banishment

Ti. O happy manthey haue befriended thee:
Why foolish Luciusdost thou not perceiue
That Rome is but a wildernes of Tigers?
Tigers must prayand Rome affords no prey
But me and mine: how happy art thou then
From these deuourers to be banished?
But who comes with our brother Marcus heere?
Enter Marcus and Lauinia.


Mar. Titusprepare thy noble eyes to weepe
Or if not sothy noble heart to breake:
I bring consuming sorrow to thine age

Ti. Will it consume me? Let me see it then

Mar. This was thy daughter

Ti. Why Marcus so she is

Luc. Aye me this obiect kils me

Ti. Faint-harted boyarise and looke vpon her
Speake Lauiniawhat accursed hand
Hath made thee handlesse in thy Fathers sight?
What foole hath added water to the Sea?
Or brought a faggot to bright burning Troy?
My griefe was at the height before thou cam'st
And now like Nylus it disdaineth bounds:
Giue me a swordIle chop off my hands too
For they haue fought for Romeand all in vaine:
And they haue nur'st this woe
In feeding life:
In bootelesse prayer haue they bene held vp
And they haue seru'd me to effectlesse vse.
Now all the seruice I require of them
Is that the one will helpe to cut the other:
'Tis well Lauiniathat thou hast no hands
For hands to do Rome seruiceis but vaine

Luci. Speake gentle sisterwho hath martyr'd thee?

Mar. O that delightfull engine of her thoughts
That blab'd them with such pleasing eloquence
Is torne from forth that pretty hollow cage
Where like a sweet mellodius bird it sung
Sweet varied notes inchanting euery eare

Luci. Oh say thou for her
Who hath done this deed?

Marc. Oh thus I found her straying in the Parke
Seeking to hide herselfe as doth the Deare
That hath receiude some vnrecuring wound

Tit. It was my Deare
And he that wounded her
Hath hurt me morethen had he kild me dead:
For now I stand as one vpon a Rocke
Inuiron'd with a wildernesse of Sea.
Who markes the waxing tide
Grow waue by waue
Expecting euer when some enuious surge
Will in his brinish bowels swallow him.
This way to death my wretched sonnes are gone:
Heere stands my other sonnea banisht man
And heere my brother weeping at my woes.
But that which giues my soule the greatest spurne
Is deere Lauiniadeerer then my soule.
Had I but seene thy picture in this plight
It would haue madded me. What shall I doe?
Now I behold thy liuely body so?
Thou hast no hands to wipe away thy teares
Nor tongue to tell me who hath martyr'd thee:
Thy husband he is deadand for his death


Thy brothers are condemn'dand dead by this.
Looke Marcusah sonne Lucius looke on her:
When I did name her brothersthen fresh teares
Stood on her cheekesas doth the hony dew
Vpon a gathred Lillie almost withered

Mar. Perchance she weepes because they kil'd her
husband
Perchance because she knowes him innocent

Ti. If they did kill thy husband then be ioyfull
Because the law hath tane reuenge on them.
Nonothey would not doe so foule a deede
Witnes the sorrow that their sister makes.
Gentle Lauinia let me kisse thy lips
Or make some signes how I may do thee ease:
Shall thy good Vncleand thy brother Lucius
And thou and I sit round about some Fountaine
Looking all downewards to behold our cheekes
How they are stain'd in meadowesyet not dry
With miery slime left on them by a flood:
And in the Fountaine shall we gaze so long
Till the fresh taste be taken from that cleerenes
And made a brine pit with our bitter teares?
Or shall we cut away our hands like thine?
Or shall we bite our tonguesand in dumbe shewes
Passe the remainder of our hatefull dayes?
What shall we doe? Let vs that haue our tongues
Plot some deuise of further miseries
To make vs wondred at in time to come

Lu. Sweet Father cease your tearesfor at your griefe
See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps

Mar. Patience deere Neecegood Titus drie thine
eyes

Ti. Ah MarcusMarcusBrother well I wot
Thy napkin cannot drinke a teare of mine
For thou poore man hast drown'd it with thine owne

Lu. Ah my Lauinia I will wipe thy cheekes

Ti. Marke Marcus markeI vnderstand her signes
Had she a tongue to speakenow would she say
That to her brother which I said to thee.
His Napkin with her true teares all bewet
Can do no seruice on her sorrowfull cheekes.
Oh what a simpathy of woe is this!
As farre from helpe as Limbo is from blisse
Enter Aron the Moore alone.

Moore. Titus Andronicusmy Lord the Emperour
Sends thee this wordthat if thou loue thy sonnes
Let MarcusLuciusor thy selfe old Titus
Or any one of youchop off your hand
And send it to the King: he for the same
Will send thee hither both thy sonnes aliue
And that shall be the ransome for their fault

Ti. Oh gracious Emperouroh gentle Aaron.
Did euer Rauen sing so like a Larke
That giues sweet tydings of the Sunnes vprise?
With all my heartIle send the Emperour my hand


Good Aron wilt thou help to chop it off?

Lu. Stay Fatherfor that noble hand of thine
That hath throwne downe so many enemies
Shall not be sent: my hand will serue the turne
My youth can better spare my blood then you
And therfore mine shall saue my brothers liues

Mar. Which of your hands hath not defended Rome
And rear'd aloft the bloody Battleaxe
Writing destruction on the enemies Castle?
Oh none of both but are of high desert:
My hand hath bin but idlelet it serue
To ransome my two nephewes from their death
Then haue I kept it to a worthy end

Moore. Nay come agreewhose hand shall goe along
For feare they die before their pardon come

Mar. My hand shall goe

Lu. By heauen it shall not goe

Ti. Sirs striue no moresuch withered hearbs as these
Are meete for plucking vpand therefore mine

Lu. Sweet Fatherif I shall be thought thy sonne
Let me redeeme my brothers both from death

Mar. And for our fathers sakeand mothers care
Now let me shew a brothers loue to thee

Ti. Agree betweene youI will spare my hand

Lu. Then Ile goe fetch an Axe

Mar. But I will vse the Axe.

Exeunt.

Ti. Come hither AaronIle deceiue them both
Lend me thy handand I will giue thee mine

Moore. If that be cal'd deceitI will be honest
And neuer whil'st I liue deceiue men so:
But Ile deceiue you in another sort
And that you'l say ere halfe an houre passe.

He cuts off Titus hand.

Enter Lucius and Marcus againe.

Ti. Now stay your strifewhat shall beis dispatcht:
Good Aron giue his Maiestie my hand
Tell himit was a hand that warded him
From thousand dangers: bid him bury it:
More hath it merited: That let it haue.
As for my sonnessay I account of them
As iewels purchast at an easie price
And yet deere toobecause I bought mine owne

Aron. I goe Andronicusand for thy hand
Looke by and by to haue thy sonnes with thee:
Their heads I meane: Oh how this villany
Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it.
Let fooles doe goodand faire men call for grace


Aron will haue his soule blacke like his face.
Enter.

Ti. O heere I lift this one hand vp to heauen
And bow this feeble ruine to the earth
If any power pitties wretched teares
To that I call: what wilt thou kneele with me?
Doe then deare heartfor heauen shall heare our prayers
Or with our sighs weele breath the welkin dimme
And staine the Sun with fogge as somtime cloudes
When they do hug him in their melting bosomes

Mar. Oh brother speake with possibilities
And do not breake into these deepe extreames

Ti. Is not my sorrow deepehauing no bottome?
Then be my passions bottomlesse with them

Mar. But yet let reason gouerne thy lament

Titus. If there were reason for these miseries
Then into limits could I binde my woes:
When heauen doth weepedoth not the earth oreflow?
If the windes ragedoth not the Sea wax mad
Threatning the welkin with his big-swolne face?
And wilt thou haue a reason for this coile?
I am the Sea. Harke how her sighes doe flow:
Shee is the weeping welkinI the earth:
Then must my Sea be moued with her sighes
Then must my earth with her continuall teares
Become a deluge: ouerflow'd and drown'd:
For whymy bowels cannot hide her woes
But like a drunkard must I vomit them:
Then giue me leauefor loosers will haue leaue
To ease their stomackes with their bitter tongues
Enter a messenger with two heads and a hand.

Mess. Worthy Andronicusill art thou repaid
For that good hand thou sentst the Emperour:
Heere are the heads of thy two noble sonnes.
And heeres thy hand in scorne to thee sent backe:
Thy griefestheir sports: Thy resolution mockt
That woe is me to thinke vpon thy woes
More then remembrance of my fathers death.
Enter.

Marc. Now let hot aetna coole in Cicilie
And be my heart an euer-burning hell:
These miseries are more then may be borne.
To weepe with them that weepedoth ease some deale
But sorrow flouted atis double death

Luci. Ah that this sight should make so deep a wound
And yet detested life not shrinke thereat:
That euer death should let life beare his name
Where life hath no more interest but to breath

Mar. Alas poore hart that kisse is comfortlesse
As frozen water to a starued snake

Titus. When will this fearefull slumber haue an end?

Mar. Now farwell flatteriedie Andronicus
Thou dost not slumbersee thy two sons heads
Thy warlike handsthy mangled daughter here:


Thy other banisht sonnes with this deere sight
Strucke pale and bloodlesseand thy brother I
Euen like a stony Imagecold and numme.
Ah now no more will I controule my griefes
Rent off thy siluer hairethy other hand
Gnawing with thy teethand be this dismall sight
The closing vp of our most wretched eyes:
Now is a time to stormewhy art thou still?


Titus. Hahaha
Mar. Why dost thou laugh? it fits not with this houre


Ti. Why I haue not another teare to shed:
Besidesthis sorrow is an enemy
And would vsurpe vpon my watry eyes
And make them blinde with tributarie teares.
Then which way shall I finde Reuenges Caue?
For these two heads doe seeme to speake to me
And threat meI shall neuer come to blisse
Till all these mischiefes be returned againe
Euen in their throats that haue committed them.
Come let me see what taske I haue to doe
You heauie peoplecircle me about
That I may turne me to each one of you
And sweare vnto my soule to right your wrongs.
The vow is madecome Brother take a head
And in this hand the other will I beare.
And Lauinia thou shalt be employd in these things:
Beare thou my hand sweet wench betweene thy teeth:
As for thee boygoe get thee from my sight
Thou art an Exileand thou must not stay
Hie to the Gothesand raise an army there
And if you loue meas I thinke you doe
Let's kisse and partfor we haue much to doe.

Exeunt.

Manet Lucius.

Luci. Farewell Andronicus my noble Father:
The woful'st man that euer liu'd in Rome:
Farewell proud Rometil Lucius come againe
He loues his pledges dearer then his life:
Farewell Lauinia my noble sister
O would thou wert as thou to fore hast beene
But nownor Lucius nor Lauinia liues
But in obliuion and hateful griefes:
If Lucius liuehe will requit your wrongs
And make proud Saturnine and his Empresse
Beg at the gates like Tarquin and his Queene.
Now will I to the Gothes and raise a power
To be reueng'd on Rome and Saturnine.

Exit Lucius

A Banket.

Enter AndronicusMarcusLauiniaand the Boy.

An. Sosonow sitand looke you eate no more
Then will preserue iust so much strength in vs
As will reuenge these bitter woes of ours.
Marcus vnknit that sorrow-wreathen knot:
Thy Neece and I (poore Creatures) want our hands
And cannot passionate our tenfold griefe


With foulded Armes. This poore right hand of mine
Is left to tirranize vppon my breast.
Who when my hart all mad with misery
Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh
Then thus I thumpe it downe.
Thou Map of woethat thus dost talk in signes
When thy poore hart beates without ragious beating
Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still?
Wound it with sighing girlekil it with grones:
Or get some little knife betweene thy teeth
And iust against thy hart make thou a hole
That all the teares that thy poore eyes let fall
May run into that sinkeand soaking in
Drowne the lamenting foolein Sea salt teares


Mar. Fy brother fyteach her not thus to lay
Such violent hands vppon her tender life

An. How now! Has sorrow made thee doate already?
Why Marcusno man should be mad but I:
What violent hands can she lay on her life:
Ahwherefore dost thou vrge the name of hands
To bid Aeneas tell the tale twice ore
How Troy was burntand he made miserable?
O handle not the theameto talke of hands
Least we remember still that we haue none
Fiefiehow Frantiquely I square my talke
As if we should forget we had no hands:
If Marcus did not name the word of hands.
Comelets fall tooand gentle girle eate this
Heere is no drinke? Harke Marcus what she saies
I can interpret all her martir'd signes
She saiesshe drinkes no other drinke but teares
Breu'd with her sorrow: mesh'd vppon her cheekes
Speechlesse complaynerI will learne thy thought:
In thy dumb actionwill I be as perfect
As begging Hermits in their holy prayers.
Thou shalt not sighe nor hold thy stumps to heauen
Nor winkenor nodnor kneelenor make a signe;
But I (of these) will wrest an Alphabet

And by still practicelearne to know thy meaning

Boy. Good grandsire leaue these bitter deepe laments
Make my Aunt merrywith some pleasing tale

Mar. Alasthe tender boy in passion mou'd
Doth weepe to see his grandsires heauinesse

An. Peace tender Saplingthou art made of teares
And teares will quickly melt thy life away.

Marcus strikes the dish with a knife.

What doest thou strike at Marcus with knife

Mar. At that that I haue kil'd my Lorda Fly

An. Out on the murderour: thou kil'st my hart
Mine eyes cloi'd with view of Tirranie:
A deed of death done on the Innocent
Becoms not Titus brother: get thee gone
I see thou art not for my company

Mar. Alas (my Lord) I haue but kild a flie


An. But? How: if that Flie had a father and mother?
How would he hang his slender gilded wings
And buz lamenting doings in the ayer
Poore harmelesse Fly
That with his pretty buzing melody
Came heere to make vs merry
And thou hast kil'd him

Mar. Pardon me sir
It was a blacke illfauour'd Fly
Like to the Empresse Mooretherefore I kild him

An. Ooo
Then pardon me for reprehending thee
For thou hast done a Charitable deed:
Giue me thy knifeI will insult on him
Flattering my selfeas if it were the Moore
Come hither purposely to poyson me.
There's for thy selfeand thats for Tamora: Ah sirra
Yet I thinke we are not brought so low
But that betweene vswe can kill a Fly
That comes in likenesse of a Cole-blacke Moore

Mar. Alas poore mangriefe ha's so wrought on him
He takes false shadowesfor true substances

An. Cometake away: Lauiniagoe with me
Ile to thy clossetand goe read with thee
Sad storieschanced in the times of old.
Come boyand goe with methy sight is young
And thou shalt readwhen mine begin to dazell.

Exeunt.

Actus Quartus.

Enter young Lucius and Lauinia running after himand the Boy
flies from
her with his bookes vnder his arme. Enter Titus and Marcus.

Boy. Helpe Gransier helpemy Aunt Lauinia
Followes me euery where I know not why.
Good Vncle Marcus see how swift she comes
Alas sweet AuntI know not what you meane

Mar. Stand by me Luciusdoe not feare thy Aunt

Titus. She loues thee boy too well to doe thee harme
Boy. I when my father was in Rome she did


Mar. What meanes my Neece Lauinia by these signes?

Ti. Feare not Luciussomewhat doth she meane:
See Lucius seehow much she makes of thee:
Some whether would she haue thee goe with her.
Ah boyCornelia neuer with more care
Read to her sonnesthen she hath read to thee
Sweet Poetryand Tullies Oratour:
Canst thou not gesse wherefore she plies thee thus?

Boy. My Lord I know not Inor can I gesse
Vnlesse some fit or frenzie do possesse her:
For I haue heard my Gransier say full oft
Extremitie of griefes would make men mad.
And I haue read that Hecuba of Troy


Ran mad through sorrowthat made me to feare
Although my LordI know my noble Aunt
Loues me as deare as ere my mother did
And would not but in fury fright my youth
Which made me downe to throw my bookesand flie
Causles perhapsbut pardon me sweet Aunt
And Madamif my Vncle Marcus goe
I will most willingly attend your Ladyship


Mar. Lucius I will

Ti. How now LauiniaMarcus what meanes this?
Some booke there is that she desires to see
Which is it girle of these? Open them boy
But thou art deeper read and better skild
Come and take choyse of all my Library
And so beguile thy sorrowtill the heauens
Reueale the damn'd contriuer of this deed.
What booke?
Why lifts she vp her armes in sequence thus?

Mar. I thinke she meanes that ther was more then one
Confederate in the factI more there was:
Or else to heauen she heaues them to reuenge

Ti. Lucius what booke is that she tosseth so?
Boy. Grandsier 'tis Ouids Metamorphosis
My mother gaue it me

Mar. For loue of her that's gone
Perhaps she culd it from among the rest

Ti. Softso busily she turnes the leaues
Helpe herwhat would she finde? Lauinia shall I read?
This is the tragicke tale of Philomel?
And treates of Tereus treason and his rape
And rape I feare was roote of thine annoy

Mar. See brother seenote how she quotes the leaues

Ti. Lauiniawert thou thus surpriz'd sweet girle
Rauisht and wrong'd as Philomela was?
Forc'd in the ruthlessevastand gloomy woods?
SeeseeI such a place there is where we did hunt
(O had we neuerneuer hunted there)
Patern'd by that the Poet heere describes
By nature made for murthers and for rapes

Mar. O why should nature build so foule a den
Vnlesse the Gods delight in tragedies?

Ti. Giue signes sweet girlefor heere are none but friends
What Romaine Lord it was durst do the deed?
Or slunke not Saturnineas Tarquin erst
That left the Campe to sinne in Lucrece bed

Mar. Sit downe sweet Neecebrother sit downe by me
AppolloPallasIoueor Mercury
Inspire me that I may this treason finde.
My Lord looke heerelooke heere Lauinia.

He writes his Name with his staffeand guides it with feete and
mouth.


This sandie plot is plaineguide if thou canst
This after meI haue writ my name
Without the helpe of any hand at all.



Curst be that hart that forc'st vs to that shift:
Write thou good Neeceand heere display at last
What God will haue discouered for reuenge
Heauen guide thy pen to print thy sorrowes plaine
That we may know the Traytors and the truth.


She takes the staffe in her mouthand guides it with her stumps
and
writes.


Ti. Oh doe ye read my Lord what she hath writ?
StuprumChironDemetrius

Mar. Whatwhatthe lustfull sonnes of Tamora
Performers of this hainous bloody deed?
Ti. Magni Dominator poli
Tam lentus audis sceleratam lentus vides?

Mar. Oh calme thee gentle Lord: Although I know
There is enough written vpon this earth
To stirre a mutinie in the mildest thoughts
And arme the mindes of infants to exclaimes.
My Lord kneele downe with me: Lauinia kneele
And kneele sweet boythe Romaine Hectors hope
And sweare with meas with the wofull Feere
And father of that chast dishonoured Dame
Lord Iunius Brutus sweare for Lucrece rape
That we will prosecute (by good aduise)
Mortall reuenge vpon these traytorous Gothes
And see their bloodor die with this reproach

Ti. Tis sure enoughand you knew how.
But if you hunt these Beare-whelpesthen beware
The Dam will wakeand if she winde you once
Shee's with the Lyon deepely still in league.
And lulls him whilst she playeth on her backe
And when he sleepes will she do what she list.
You are a young huntsman Marcuslet it alone:
And comeI will goe get a leafe of brasse
And with a Gad of steele will write these words
And lay it by: the angry Northerne winde
Will blow these sands like Sibels leaues abroad
And wheres your lesson then. Boy what say you?

Boy. I say my Lordthat if I were a man
Their mothers bed-chamber should not be safe
For these bad bond-men to the yoake of Rome

Mar. I that's my boythy father hath full oft
For his vngratefull country done the like

Boy. And Vncle so will Iand if I liue

Ti. Come goe with me into mine Armorie
Lucius Ile fit theeand withallmy boy
Shall carry from me to the Empresse sonnes
Presents that I intend to send them both
Comecomethou'lt do thy messagewilt thou not?

Boy. I with my dagger in their bosomes Grandsire:

Ti. No boy not soIle teach thee another course
Lauinia comeMarcus looke to my house
Lucius and Ile goe braue it at the Court
I marry will we sirand weele be waited on.

Exeunt.


Mar. O heauens! Can you heare a good man grone
And not relentor not compassion him?
Marcus attend him in his extasie
That hath more scars of sorrow in his heart
Then foe-mens markes vpon his batter'd shield
But yet so iustthat he will not reuenge
Reuenge the heauens for old Andronicus.

Exit

Enter AronChiron and Demetrius at one dore: and at another dore
young
Lucius and anotherwith a bundle of weaponsand verses writ
vpon them.

Chi. Demetrius heeres the sonne of Lucius
He hath some message to deliuer vs

Aron. I some mad message from his mad Grandfather

Boy. My Lordswith all the humblenesse I may
I greete your honours from Andronicus
And pray the Romane Gods confound you both

Deme. Gramercie louely Luciuswhat's the newes?
For villanie's markt with rape. May it please you
My Grandsire well aduis'd hath sent by me
The goodliest weapons of his Armorie
To gratifie your honourable youth
The hope of Romefor so he bad me say:
And so I do and with his gifts present
Your Lordshipswhen euer you haue need
You may be armed and appointed well
And so I leaue you both: like bloody villaines.

Exit

Deme. What's heere? a scrole& written round about?
Let's see.
Integer vitæ scelerisque purusnon egit maury iaculis nec arcus

Chi. O 'tis a verse in HoraceI know it well.
I read it in the Grammer long agoe

Moore. I iusta verse in Horace: rightyou haue it
Now what a thing it is to be an Asse?
Heer's no sound iestthe old man hath found their guilt
And sends the weapons wrapt about with lines
That wound (beyond their feeling) to the quick:
But were our witty Empresse well a foot
She would applaud Andronicus conceit:
But let her restin her vnrest a while.
And now young Lordswas't not a happy starre
Led vs to Rome strangersand more then so;
Captiuesto be aduanced to this height?
It did me good before the Pallace gate
To braue the Tribune in his brothers hearing

Deme. But me more goodto see so great a Lord
Basely insinuateand send vs gifts

Moore. Had he not reason Lord Demetrius?
Did you not vse his daughter very friendly?
Deme. I would we had a thousand Romane Dames


At such a bayby turne to serue our lust

Chi. A charitable wishand full of loue

Moore. Heere lack's but your mother for to sayAmen

Chi. And that would she for twenty thousand more

Deme. Comelet vs goand pray to all the Gods
For our beloued mother in her paines

Moore. Pray to the deuilsthe gods haue giuen vs ouer.

Flourish.

Dem. Why do the Emperors trumpets flourish thus?
Chi. Belike for ioy the Emperour hath a sonne


Deme. Softwho comes heere?
Enter Nurse with a blacke a Moore childe.

Nur. Good morrow Lords:
O tell medid you see Aaron the Moore?
Aron. Wellmore or lesseor nere a whit at all
Heere Aaron isand what with Aaron now?
Nurse. Oh gentle Aaronwe are all vndone.
Now helpeor woe betide thee euermore

Aron. Whywhat a catterwalling dost thou keepe?
What dost thou wrap and fumble in thine armes?

Nurse. O that which I would hide from heauens eye
Our Empresse shameand stately Romes disgrace
She is deliuered Lordsshe is deliuered

Aron. To whom?
Nurse. I meane she is brought a bed?
Aron. Wel God giue her good rest


What hath he sent her?
Nurse. A deuill

Aron. Why then she is the Deuils Dam: a ioyfull issue

Nurse. A ioylessedismallblacke &sorrowfull issue
Heere is the babe as loathsome as a toad
Among'st the fairest breeders of our clime
The Empresse sends it theethy stampethy seale
And bids thee christen it with thy daggers point

Aron. Out you whoreis black so base a hue?
Sweet blowseyou are a beautious blossome sure

Deme. Villaine what hast thou done?
Aron. That which thou canst not vndoe


Chi. Thou hast vndone our mother

Deme. And therein hellish dogthou hast vndone
Woe to her chanceand damn'd her loathed choyce
Accur'st the off-spring of so foule a fiend

Chi. It shall not liue

Aron. It shall not die


Nurse. Aaron it mustthe mother wils it so

Aron. Whatmust it Nurse? Then let no man but I
Doe execution on my flesh and blood

Deme. Ile broach the Tadpole on my Rapiers point:
Nurse giue it memy sword shall soone dispatch it


Aron. Sooner this sword shall plough thy bowels vp.
Stay murtherous villaineswill you kill your brother?
Now by the burning Tapers of the skie
That shone so brightly when this Boy was got
He dies vpon my Semitars sharpe point
That touches this my first borne sonne and heire.
I tell you younglingsnot Enceladus
With all his threatning band of Typhons broode
Nor great Alcidesnor the God of warre
Shall ceaze this prey out of his fathers hands:
Whatwhatye sanguine shallow harted Boyes
Ye white-limb'd wallsye Ale-house painted signes
Cole-blacke is better then another hue
In that it scornes to beare another hue:
For all the water in the Ocean
Can neuer turne the Swans blacke legs to white
Although she laue them hourely in the flood:
Tell the Empresse from meI am of age
To keepe mine owneexcuse it how she can

Deme. Wilt thou betray thy noble mistris thus?

Aron. My mistris is my mistris: this my selfe
The vigourand the picture of my youth:
Thisbefore all the world do I preferre
This mauger all the world will I keepe safe
Or some of you shall smoake for it in Rome

Deme. By this our mother is for euer sham'd

Chi. Rome will despise her for this foule escape

Nur. The Emperour in his rage will doome her death

Chi. I blush to thinke vpon this ignominie

Aron. Why ther's the priuiledge your beauty beares:
Fie trecherous huethat will betray with blushing
The close enacts and counsels of the hart:
Heer's a young Lad fram'd of another leere
Looke how the blacke slaue smiles vpon the father;
As who should sayold Lad I am thine owne.
He is your brother Lordssensibly fed
Of that selfe blood that first gaue life to you
And from that wombe where you imprisoned were
He is infranchised and come to light:
Nay he is your brother by the surer side
Although my seale be stamped in his face

Nurse. Aaron what shall I say vnto the Empresse?

Dem. Aduise thee Aaronwhat is to be done
And we will all subscribe to thy aduise:
Saue thou the childso we may all be safe

Aron. Then sit we downe and let vs all consult.
My sonne and I will haue the winde of you:
Keepe therenow talke at pleasure of your safety


Deme. How many women saw this childe of his?

Aron. Why so braue Lordswhen we ioyne in league
I am a Lambe: but if you braue the Moore
The chafed Borethe mountaine Lyonesse
The Ocean swells not so as Aaron stormes:
But say againehow many saw the childe?

Nurse. Corneliathe midwifeand my selfe
And none else but the deliuered Empresse

Aron. The Empressethe Midwifeand your selfe
Two may keepe counsellwhen the third's away:
Goe to the Empressetell her this I said

He kils her

Weekeweekeso cries a Pigge prepared to th' spit

Deme. What mean'st thou Aron?
Wherefore did'st thou this?

Aron. O Lord sir'tis a deed of pollicie?
Shall she liue to betray this guilt of our's:
A long tongu'd babling Gossip? No Lords no:
And now be it knowne to you my full intent.
Not farreone Muliteus my Country-man
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed
His childe is like to herfaire as you are:
Goe packe with themand giue the mother gold
And tell them both the circumstance of all
And how by this their Childe shall be aduaunc'd
And be receiued for the Emperours heyre
And substituted in the place of mine
To calme this tempest whirling in the Court
And let the Emperour dandle him for his owne
Harke ye Lordsye see I haue giuen her physicke
And you must needs bestow her funerall
The fields are neereand you are gallant Groomes:
This donesee that you take no longer daies
But send the Midwife presently to me.
The Midwife and the Nurse well made away
Then let the Ladies tattle what they please

Chi. Aaron I see thou wilt not trust the ayre with secrets

Deme. For this care of Tamora
Her selfeand hers are highly bound to thee.

Exeunt

Aron. Now to the Gothesas swift as Swallow flies
There to dispose this treasure in mine armes
And secretly to greete the Empresse friends:
Come on you thick-lipt-slaueIle beare you hence
For it is you that puts vs to our shifts:
Ile make you feed on berriesand on rootes
And feed on curds and whayand sucke the Goate
And cabbin in a Caueand bring you vp
To be a warriourand command a Campe.

Exit

Enter Titusold Marcusyoung Luciusand other gentlemen with
bowesand
Titus beares the arrowes with Letters on the end of them.


Tit. Come Marcuscomekinsmen this is the way.
Sir Boy let me see your Archerie
Looke yee draw home enoughand 'tis there straight:
Terras Astrea reliquitbe you remembred Marcus.
She's goneshe's fledsirs take you to your tooles
You Cosens shall goe sound the Ocean:
And cast your netshaply you may find her in the Sea
Yet ther's as little iustice as at Land:
No Publius and Semproniusyou must doe it
'Tis you must dig with Mattockeand with Spade
And pierce the inmost Center of the earth:
Then when you come to Plutoes Region
I pray you deliuer him this petition
Tell him it is for iusticeand for aide
And that it comes from old Andronicus
Shaken with sorrowes in vngratefull Rome.
Ah Rome! WellwellI made thee miserable
What time I threw the peoples suffrages
On him that thus doth tyrannize ore me.
Goe get you goneand pray be carefull all
And leaue you not a man of warre vnsearcht
This wicked Emperour may haue shipt her hence
And kinsmen then we may goe pipe for iustice

Marc. O Publius is not this a heauie case
To see thy Noble Vnckle thus distract?

Publ. Therefore my Lords it highly vs concernes
By day and night t' attend him carefully:
And feede his humour kindely as we may
Till time beget some carefull remedie

Marc. Kinsmenhis sorrowes are past remedie.
Ioyne with the Gothesand with reuengefull warre
Take wreake on Rome for this ingratitude
And vengeance on the Traytor Saturnine

Tit. Publius how now? how now my Maisters?
What haue you met with her?

Publ. No my good Lordbut Pluto sends you word
If you will haue reuenge from hell you shall
Marrie for iustice she is so imploy'd
He thinkes with Ioue in heauenor some where else:
So that perforce you must needs stay a time

Tit. He doth me wrong to feed me with delayes
Ile diue into the burning Lake below
And pull her out of Acaron by the heeles.
Marcus we are but shrubsno Cedars we
No big-bon'd-menfram'd of the Cyclops size
But mettall Marcus steele to the very backe
Yet wrung with wrongs more then our backe can beare:
And sith there's no iustice in earth nor hell
We will sollicite heauenand moue the Gods
To send downe Iustice for to wreake our wrongs:
Come to this geareyou are a good Archer Marcus.

He giues them the Arrowes.


Ad Iouemthat's for you: here ad Appollonem
Ad Martemthat's for my selfe
Heere Boy to Pallasheere to Mercury
To Saturnineto Caiusnot to Saturnine
You were as good to shoote against the winde.
Too it BoyMarcus loose when I bid:



Of my wordI haue written to effect
Ther's not a God left vnsollicited

Marc. Kinsmenshoot all your shafts into the Court
We will afflict the Emperour in his pride

Tit. Now Maisters drawOh well said Lucius:
Good Boy in Virgoes lapgiue it Pallas

Marc. My LordI aime a Mile beyond the Moone
Your letter is with Iupiter by this

Tit. HahaPubliusPubliuswhat hast thou done?
Seeseethou hast shot off one of Taurus hornes

Mar. This was the sport my Lordwhen Publius shot
The Bull being gal'dgaue Aries such a knocke
That downe fell both the Rams hornes in the Court
And who should finde them but the Empresse villaine:
She laughtand told the Moore he should not choose
But giue them to his Maister for a present

Tit. Why there it goesGod giue your Lordship ioy.
Enter the Clowne with a basket and two Pigeons in it.

Titus. Newesnewesfrom heauen
Marcus the poast is come.
Sirrahwhat tydings? haue you any letters?
Shall I haue Iusticewhat sayes Iupiter?

Clowne. Ho the Iibbetmakerhe sayes that he hath taken
them downe againefor the man must not be hang'd
till the next weeke

Tit. But what sayes Iupiter I aske thee?
Clowne. Alas sir I know not Iupiter:
I neuer dranke with him in all my life

Tit. Why villaine art not thou the Carrier?
Clowne. I of my Pigions sirnothing else


Tit. Whydid'st thou not come from heauen?

Clowne. From heauen? Alas sirI neuer came there
God forbid I should be so boldto presse to heauen in my
young dayes. Why I am going with my pigeons to the
Tribunall Plebsto take vp a matter of brawlebetwixt
my Vncleand one of the Emperialls men

Mar. Why sirthat is as fit as can be to serue for your
Orationand let him deliuer the Pigions to the Emperour
from you

Tit. Tell meecan you deliuer an Oration to the Emperour
with a Grace?
Clowne. Nay truely sirI could neuer say grace in all
my life

Tit. Sirrah come hithermake no more adoe
But giue your Pigeons to the Emperour
By me thou shalt haue Iustice at his hands.
Holdholdmeane while her's money for thy charges.
Giue me pen and inke.
Sirrahcan you with a Grace deliuer a Supplication?

Clowne. I sir
Titus. Then here is a Supplication for youand when



you come to himat the first approach you must kneele
then kisse his footethen deliuer vp your Pigeonsand
then looke for your reward. Ile be at hand sirsee you do
it brauely

Clowne. I warrant you sirlet me alone

Tit. Sirrha hast thou a knife? Come let me see it.

Heere Marcusfold it in the Oration

For thou hast made it like an humble Suppliant:

And when thou hast giuen it the Emperour

Knocke at my doreand tell me what he sayes

Clowne. God be with you sirI will.
Enter.

Tit. Come Marcus let vs goePublius follow me.

Exeunt.

Enter Emperour and Empresseand her two sonnesthe Emperour
brings the
Arrowes in his hand that Titus shot at him.

Satur. Why Lords

What wrongs are these? was euer seene

An Emperour in Rome thus ouerborne

TroubledConfronted thusand for the extent

Of egall iusticevs'd in such contempt?

My Lordsyou know the mightfull Gods

(How euer these disturbers of our peace

Buz in the peoples eares) there nought hath past

But euen with law against the willfull Sonnes

Of old Andronicus. And what and if

His sorrowes haue so ouerwhelm'd his wits

Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreakes

His fitshis frenzieand his bitternesse?

And now he writes to heauen for his redresse.

Seeheeres to Ioueand this to Mercury

This to Apollothis to the God of warre:

Sweet scrowles to flie about the streets of Rome:

What's this but Libelling against the Senate

And blazoning our Iniustice euery where?

A goodly humouris it not my Lords?

As who would sayin Rome no Iustice were.

But if I liuehis fained extasies

Shall be no shelter to these outrages:

But he and his shall knowthat Iustice liues

In Saturninus health; whom if he sleepe

Hee'l so awakeas he in fury shall

Cut off the proud'st Conspirator that liues

Tamo. My gracious Lordmy louely Saturnine

Lord of my lifeCommander of my thoughts

Calme theeand beare the faults of Titus age

Th' effects of sorrow for his valiant Sonnes

Whose losse hath pier'st him deepeand scar'd his heart;

And rather comfort his distressed plight

Then prosecute the meanest or the best

For these contempts. Why thus it shall become

High witted Tamora to glose with all:

Aside.


But TitusI haue touch'd thee to the quicke
Thy life blood out: If Aaron now be wise
Then is all safethe Anchor's in the Port.
Enter Clowne.

How now good fellowwould'st thou speake with vs?
Clow. Yea forsoothand your Mistership be Emperiall

Tam. Empresse I ambut yonder sits the Emperour

Clo. 'Tis he; God & Saint Stephen giue you good den;
I haue brought you a Letter& a couple of Pigions heere.

He reads the Letter.

Satu. Goe take him awayand hang him presently

Clowne. How much money must I haue?
Tam. Come sirrah you must be hang'd


Clow. Hang'd? ber Ladythen I haue brought vp a neck
to a faire end.
Enter.

Satu. Despightfull and intollerable wrongs
Shall I endure this monstrous villany?
I know from whence this same deuise proceedes:
May this be borne? As if his traytrous Sonnes
That dy'd by law for murther of our Brother
Haue by my meanes beene butcher'd wrongfully?
Goe dragge the villaine hither by the haire
Nor Agenor Honourshall shape priuiledge:
For this proud mockeIle be thy slaughter man:
Sly franticke wretchthat holp'st to make me great
In hope thy selfe should gouerne Rome and me.
Enter Nuntius Emillius.

Satur. What newes with thee Emillius?

Emil. Arme my LordsRome neuer had more cause
The Gothes haue gather'd headand with a power
Of high resolued menbent to the spoyle
They hither march amainevnder conduct
Of LuciusSonne to old Andronicus:
Who threats in course of this reuenge to do
As much as euer Coriolanus did

King. Is warlike Lucius Generall of the Gothes?
These tydings nip meand I hang the head
As flowers with frostor grasse beat downe with stormes:
Inow begins our sorrowes to approach
'Tis he the common people loue so much
My selfe hath often heard them say
(When I haue walked like a priuate man)
That Lucius banishment was wrongfully
And they haue wisht that Lucius were their Emperour

Tam. Why should you feare? Is not our City strong?
King. Ibut the Cittizens fauour Lucius
And will reuolt from meto succour him

Tam. Kingbe thy thoughts Imperious like thy name.
Is the Sunne dim'dthat Gnats do flie in it?
The Eagle suffers little Birds to sing
And is not carefull what they meane thereby


Knowing that with the shadow of his wings
He can at pleasure stint their melodie.
Euen so mayest thouthe giddy men of Rome
Then cheare thy spiritfor know thou Emperour
I will enchaunt the old Andronicus
With words more sweetand yet more dangerous
Then baites to fishor hony stalkes to sheepe
When as the one is wounded with the baite
The other rotted with delicious foode


King. But he will not entreat his Sonne for vs

Tam. If Tamora entreat himthen he will
For I can smooth and fill his aged eare
With golden promisesthat were his heart
Almost Impregnablehis old eares deafe
Yet should both eare and heartobey my tongue.
Goe thou before to our Embassadour
Saythat the Emperour requests a parly
Of warlike Luciusand appoint the meeting

King. Emillius do this message Honourably
And if he stand in Hostage for his safety
Bid him demaund what pledge will please him best

Emill. Your bidding shall I do effectually.
Enter.

Tam. Now will I to that old Andronicus
And temper him with all the Art I haue
To plucke proud Lucius from the warlike Gothes.
And now sweet Emperour be blithe againe
And bury all thy feare in my deuises

Satu. Then goe successantly and plead for him.
Enter.

Actus Quintus.

Flourish. Enter Lucius with an Army of Gotheswith Drum and
Souldiers.

Luci. Approued warrioursand my faithfull Friends
I haue receiued Letters from great Rome
Which signifies what hate they beare their Emperour
And how desirous of our sight they are.
Therefore great Lordsbe as your Titles witnesse
Imperious and impatient of your wrongs
And wherein Rome hath done you any scathe
Let him make treble satisfaction

Goth. Braue slipsprung from the Great Andronicus
Whose name was once our terrournow our comfort
Whose high exploitsand honourable Deeds
Ingratefull Rome requites with foule contempt:
Behold in vsweele follow where thou lead'st
Like stinging Bees in hottest Sommers day
Led by their Maister to the flowred fields
And be aueng'd on cursed Tamora:
And as he saithso say we all with him

Luci. I humbly thanke himand I thanke you all.
But who comes heereled by a lusty Goth?


Enter a Goth leading of Aaron with his child in his armes.

Goth. Renowned Luciusfrom our troups I straid
To gaze vpon a ruinous Monasterie
And as I earnestly did fixe mine eye
Vpon the wasted buildingsuddainely
I heard a childe cry vnderneath a wall:
I made vnto the noysewhen soone I heard
The crying babe control'd with this discourse:
Peace Tawny slauehalfe meand halfe thy Dam
Did not thy Hue bewray whose brat thou art?
Had nature lent theebut thy Mothers looke
Villaine thou might'st haue bene an Emperour.
But where the Bull and Cow are both milk-white
They neuer do beget a cole-blacke-Calfe:
Peacevillaine peaceeuen thus he rates the babe
For I must beare thee to a trusty Goth
Who when he knowes thou art the Empresse babe
Will hold thee dearely for thy Mothers sake.
With thismy weapon drawne I rusht vpon him
Surpriz'd him suddainelyand brought him hither
To vseas you thinke needefull of the man

Luci. Oh worthy Goththis is the incarnate deuill
That rob'd Andronicus of his good hand:
This is the Pearle that pleas'd your Empresse eye
And heere's the Base Fruit of his burning lust.
Say wall-ey'd slauewhether would'st thou conuay
This growing Image of thy fiend-like face?
Why dost not speake? what deafe? Not a word?
A halter Souldiershang him on this Tree
And by his side his Fruite of Bastardie

Aron. Touch not the Boyhe is of Royall blood

Luci. Too like the Syre for euer being good.
First hang the Child that he may see it sprall
A sight to vexe the Fathers soule withall

Aron. Get me a Ladder Luciussaue the Childe
And beare it from me to the Empresse:
If thou do thisIle shew thee wondrous things
That highly may aduantage thee to heare;
If thou wilt notbefall what may befall
Ile speake no more: but vengeance rot you all

Luci. Say onand if it please me which thou speak'st
Thy child shall liueand I will see it Nourisht

Aron. And if it please thee? why assure thee Lucius
'Twill vexe thy soule to heare what I shall speake:
For I must talke of MurthersRapesand Massacres
Acts of Blacke-nightabhominable Deeds
Complots of MischiefeTreasonVillanies
Ruthfull to heareyet pittiously perform'd
And this shall all be buried by my death
Vnlesse thou sweare to me my Childe shall liue

Luci. Tell on thy minde
I say thy Childe shall liue

Aron. Sweare that he shalland then I will begin

Luci. Who should I sweare by


Thou beleeuest no God
That grauntedhow can'st thou beleeue an oath?


Aron. What if I do notas indeed I do not
Yet for I know thou art Religious
And hast a thing within theecalled Conscience
With twenty Popish trickes and Ceremonies
Which I haue seene thee carefull to obserue:
Therefore I vrge thy oathfor that I know
An Ideot holds his Bauble for a God
And keepes the oath which by that God he sweares
To that Ile vrge him: therefore thou shalt vow
By that same Godwhat God so ere it be
That thou adorestand hast in reuerence
To saue my Boyto nourish and bring him vp
Ore else I will discouer nought to thee

Luci. Euen by my God I sweare to thee I will

Aron. First know thou
I begot him on the Empresse

Luci. Oh most Insatiate luxurious woman!

Aron. Tut Luciusthis was but a deed of Charitie
To that which thou shalt heare of me anon
'Twas her two Sonnes that murdered Bassianus
They cut thy Sisters tongueand rauisht her
And cut her hands offand trim'd her as thou saw'st

Lucius. Oh detestable villaine!
Call'st thou that Trimming?
Aron. Why she was washtand cutand trim'd
And 'twas trim sport for them that had the doing of it

Luci. Oh barbarous beastly villaines like thy selfe!

Aron. IndeedeI was their Tutor to instruct them
That Codding spirit had they from their Mother
As sure a Card as euer wonne the Set:
That bloody minde I thinke they learn'd of me
As true a Dog as euer fought at head.
Welllet my Deeds be witnesse of my worth:
I trayn'd thy Bretheren to that guilefull Hole
Where the dead Corps of Bassianus lay:
I wrote the Letterthat thy Father found
And hid the Gold within the Letter mention'd.
Confederate with the Queeneand her two Sonnes
And what not donethat thou hast cause to rue
Wherein I had no stroke of Mischeife in it.
I play'd the Cheater for thy Fathers hand
And when I had itdrew my selfe apart
And almost broke my heart with extreame laughter.
I pried me through the Creuice of a Wall
When for his handhe had his two Sonnes heads
Beheld his tearesand laught so hartily
That both mine eyes were rainie like to his:
And when I told the Empresse of this sport
She sounded almost at my pleasing tale
And for my tydingsgaue me twenty kisses

Goth. What canst thou say all thisand neuer blush?
Aron. Ilike a blacke Doggeas the saying is

Luci. Art thou not sorry for these hainous deedes?
Aron. Ithat I had not done a thousand more:
Euen now I curse the dayand yet I thinke


Few come within few compasse of my curse
Wherein I did not some Notorious ill
As kill a manor else deuise his death
Rauish a Maidor plot the way to do it
Accuse some Innocentand forsweare my selfe
Set deadly Enmity betweene two Friends
Make poore mens Cattell breake their neckes
Set fire on Barnes and Haystackes in the night
And bid the Owners quench them with the teares:
Oft haue I dig'd vp dead men from their graues
And set them vpright at their deere Friends doore
Euen when their sorrowes almost was forgot
And on their skinnesas on the Barke of Trees
Haue with my knife carued in Romaine Letters
Let not your sorrow diethough I am dead.
TutI haue done a thousand dreadfull things
As willinglyas one would kill a Fly
And nothing greeues me hartily indeede
But that I cannot doe ten thousand more


Luci. Bring downe the diuellfor he must not die
So sweet a death as hanging presently

Aron. If there be diuelswould I were a deuill
To liue and burne in euerlasting fire
So I might haue your company in hell
But to torment you with my bitter tongue

Luci. Sirs stop his mouth& let him speake no more.
Enter Emillius.

Goth. My Lordthere is a Messenger from Rome
Desires to be admitted to your presence

Luc. Let him come neere.
Welcome Emilliuswhat the newes from Rome?

Emi. Lord Luciusand you Princes of the Gothes
The Romaine Emperour greetes you all by me
And for he vnderstands you are in Armes
He craues a parly at your Fathers house
Willing you to demand your Hostages
And they shall be immediately deliuered

Goth. What saies our Generall?
Luc. Emilliuslet the Emperour giue his pledges
Vnto my Fatherand my Vncle Marcus

Flourish.

And we will come: march away.

Exeunt.

Enter Tamoraand her two Sonnes disguised.

Tam. Thus in this strange and sad Habilliament
I will encounter with Andronicus
And sayI am Reuenge sent from below
To ioyne with him and right his hainous wrongs:
Knocke at his study where they say he keepes
To ruminate strange plots of dire Reuenge
Tell him Reuenge is come to ioyne with him
And worke confusion on his Enemies.


They knocke and Titus opens his study dore.

Tit. Who doth mollest my Contemplation?
Is it your tricke to make me ope the dore
That so my sad decrees may flie away
And all my studie be to no effect?
You are deceiu'dfor what I meane to do
See heere in bloody lines I haue set downe:
And what is written shall be executed

Tam. TitusI am come to talke with thee

Tit. No not a word: how can I grace my talke
Wanting a hand to giue it action
Thou hast the ods of metherefore no more

Tam. If thou did'st know me
Thou would'st talke with me

Tit. I am not madI know thee well enough
Witnesse this wretched stump
Witnesse these crimson lines
Witnesse these Trenches made by griefe and care
Witnesse the tyring dayand heauie night
Witnesse all sorrowthat I know thee well
For our proud EmpresseMighty Tamora:
Is not thy comming for my other hand?

Tamo. Know thou sad manI am not Tamora
She is thy Enemieand I thy Friend
I am Reuenge sent from th' infernall Kingdome
To ease the gnawing Vulture of the mind
By working wreakefull vengeance on my Foes:
Come downe and welcome me to this worlds light
Conferre with me of Murder and of Death
Ther's not a hollow Caue or lurking place
No Vast obscurityor Misty vale
Where bloody Murther or detested Rape
Can couch for fearebut I will finde them out
And in their eares tell them my dreadfull name
Reuengewhich makes the foule offenders quake

Tit. Art thou Reuenge? and art thou sent to me
To be a torment to mine Enemies?
Tam. I amtherefore come downe and welcome me

Tit. Doe me some seruice ere I come to thee:
Loe by thy side where Rape and Murder stands
Now giue some surance that thou art Reuenge
Stab themor teare them on thy Chariot wheeles
And then Ile come and be thy Waggoner
And whirle along with thee about the Globes.
Prouide thee two proper Palfriesas blacke as Iet
To hale thy vengefull Waggon swift away
And finde out Murder in their guilty cares.
And when thy Car is loaden with their heads
I will dismountand by the Waggon wheele
Trot like a Seruile footeman all day long
Euen from Eptons rising in the East
Vntill his very downefall in the Sea.
And day by day Ile do this heauy taske
So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there

Tam. These are my Ministersand come with me

Tit. Are them thy Ministerswhat are they call'd?


Tam. Rape and Murdertherefore called so
Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men

Tit. Good Lord how like the Empresse Sons they are
And you the Empresse: But we worldly men
Haue miserable mad mistaking eyes:
Oh sweet Reuengenow do I come to thee
And if one armes imbracement will content thee
I will imbrace thee in it by and by

Tam. This closing with himfits his Lunacie
What ere I forge to feede his braine-sicke fits
Do you vpholdand maintaine in your speeches
For now he firmely takes me for Reuenge
And being Credulous in this mad thought
Ile make him send for Lucius his Sonne
And whil'st I at a Banquet hold him sure
Ile find some cunning practise out of hand
To scatter and disperse the giddie Gothes
Or at the least make them his Enemies:
See heere he comesand I must play my theame

Tit. Long haue I bene forlorneand all for thee
Welcome dread Fury to my woefull house
Rapine and Murtheryou are welcome too
How like the Empresse and her Sonnes you are.
Well are you fittedhad you but a Moore
Could not all hell afford you such a deuill?
For well I wote the Empresse neuer wags;
But in her company there is a Moore
And would you represent our Queene aright
It were conuenient you had such a deuill:
But welcome as you arewhat shall we doe?

Tam. What would'st thou haue vs doe Andronicus?
Dem. Shew me a MurthererIle deale with him


Chi. Shew me a Villaine that hath done a Rape
And I am sent to be reueng'd on him

Tam. Shew me a thousand that haue done thee wrong
And Ile be reuenged on them all

Tit. Looke round about the wicked streets of Rome
And when thou find'st a man that's like thy selfe
Good Murder stab himhee's a Murtherer.
Goe thou with himand when it is thy hap
To finde another that is like to thee
Good Rapine stab himhe is a Rauisher.
Go thou with themand in the Emperours Court
There is a Queene attended by a Moore
Well maist thou know her by thy owne proportion
For vp and downe she doth resemble thee.
I pray thee doe on them some violent death
They haue bene violent to me and mine

Tam. Well hast thou lesson'd vsthis shall we do.
But would it please thee good Andronicus
To send for Lucius thy thrice Valiant Sonne
Who leades towards Rome a Band of Warlike Gothes
And bid him come and Banquet at thy house.
When he is heereeuen at thy Solemne Feast
I will bring in the Empresse and her Sonnes
The Emperour himselfeand all thy Foes
And at thy mercy shall they stoopand kneele


And on them shalt thou easethy angry heart:
What saies Andronicus to this deuise?
Enter Marcus.


Tit. Marcus my Brother'tis sad Titus calls
Go gentle Marcus to thy Nephew Lucius
Thou shalt enquire him out among the Gothes
Bid him repaire to meand bring with him
Some of the chiefest Princes of the Gothes
Bid him encampe his Souldiers where they are
Tell him the Emperourand the Empresse too
Feasts at my houseand he shall Feast with them
This do thou for my loueand so let him
As he regards his aged Fathers life

Mar. This will I doand soone returne againe

Tam. Now will I hence about thy businesse
And take my Ministers along with me

Tit. Naynaylet Rape and Murder stay with me
Or els Ile call my Brother backe againe
And cleaue to no reuenge but Lucius

Tam. What say you Boyeswill you bide with him
Whiles I goe tell my Lord the Emperour
How I haue gouern'd our determined iest?
Yeeld to his Humoursmooth and speake him faire
And tarry with him till I turne againe

Tit. I know them allthough they suppose me mad
And will ore-reach them in their owne deuises
A payre of cursed hell-hounds and their Dam

Dem. Madam depart at pleasureleaue vs heere

Tam. Farewell Andronicusreuenge now goes
To lay a complot to betray thy Foes

Tit. I know thou doo'stand sweet reuenge farewell

Chi. Tell vs old manhow shall we be imploy'd?
Tit. TutI haue worke enough for you to doe
Publius come hitherCaiusand Valentine

Pub. What is your will?
Tit. Know you these two?
Pub. The Empresse Sonnes


I take themChironDemetrius

Titus. Fie Publiusfiethou art too much deceau'd
The one is MurderRape is the others name
And therefore bind them gentle Publius
Caiusand Valentinelay hands on them
Oft haue you heard me wish for such an houre
And now I find ittherefore binde them sure

Chi. Villaines forbearewe are the Empresse Sonnes

Pub. And therefore do wewhat we are commanded.
Stop close their moutheslet them not speake a word
Is he sure boundlooke that you binde them fast.

Exeunt.


Enter Titus Andronicus with a knifeand Lauinia with a Bason.

Tit. Comecome Lauinialookethy Foes are bound
Sirs stop their moutheslet them not speake to me
But let them heare what fearefull words I vtter.
Oh VillainesChironand Demetrius
Here stands the spring whom you haue stain'd with mud
This goodly Sommer with your Winter mixt
You kil'd her husbandand for that vil'd fault
Two of her Brothers were condemn'd to death
My hand cut offand made a merry iest
Both her sweet Handsher Tongueand that more deere
Then Hands or tongueher spotlesse Chastity
Inhumaine Traytorsyou constrain'd and for'st.
What would you sayif I should let you speake?
Villaines for shame you could not beg for grace.
Harke Wretcheshow I meane to martyr you
This one Hand yet is leftto cut your throats
Whil'st that Lauinia tweene her stumps doth hold:
The Bason that receiues your guilty blood.
You know your Mother meanes to feast with me
And calls herselfe Reuengeand thinkes me mad.
Harke VillainesI will grin'd your bones to dust
And with your blood and itIle make a Paste
And of the Paste a Coffen I will reare
And make two Pasties of your shamefull Heads
And bid that strumpet your vnhallowed Dam
Like to the earth swallow her increase.
This is the Feastthat I haue bid her to
And this the Banquet she shall surfet on
For worse then Philomel you vsd my Daughter
And worse then ProgneI will be reueng'd
And now prepare your throats: Lauinia come.
Receiue the bloodand when that they are dead
Let me goe grin'd their Bones to powder small
And with this hatefull Liquor temper it
And in that Paste let their vil'd Heads be bakte
Comecomebe euery one officious
To make this Banketwhich I wish might proue
More sterne and bloody then the Centaures Feast.
He cuts their throats.

So now bring them infor Ile play the Cooke
And see them readygainst their Mother comes.

Exeunt.

Enter LuciusMarcusand the Gothes.

Luc. Vnckle Marcussince 'tis my Fathers minde
That I repair to RomeI am content

Goth. And ours with thine befallwhat Fortune will

Luc. Good Vnckle take you in this barbarous Moore
This Rauenous Tigerthis accursed deuill
Let him receiue no sustenancefetter him
Till he be brought vnto the Emperours face
For testimony of her foule proceedings.
And see the Ambush of our Friends be strong
If ere the Emperour meanes no good to vs

Aron. Some deuill whisper curses in my eare
And prompt me that my tongue may vtter forth


The Venemous Mallice of my swelling heart

Luc. Away Inhumaine DoggeVnhallowed Slaue
Sirshelpe our Vnckleto conuey him in

Flourish.

The Trumpets shew the Emperour is at hand.

Sound Trumpets. Enter Emperour and Empressewith Tribunes
and others.

Sat. Whathath the Firemament more Suns then one?
Luc. What bootes it thee to call thy selfe a Sunne?
Mar. Romes Emperour & Nephewe breake the parle


These quarrels must be quietly debated
The Feast is ready which the carefull Titus
Hath ordained to an Honourable end
For Peacefor Louefor Leagueand good to Rome:
Please you therfore draw nie and take your places


Satur. Marcus we will.

Hoboyes.

A Table brought in. Enter Titus like a Cookeplacing the meat on
the
Tableand Lauinia with a vale ouer her face.

Titus. Welcome my gracious Lord
Welcome Dread Queene
Welcome ye Warlike Gotheswelcome Lucius
And welcome all: although the cheere be poore
'Twill fill your stomacksplease you eat of it

Sat. Why art thou thus attir'd Andronicus?
Tit. Because I would be sure to haue all well
To entertaine your Highnesseand your Empresse

Tam. We are beholding to you good Andronicus?

Tit. And if your Highnesse knew my heartyou were:
My Lord the Emperour resolue me this
Was it well done of rash Virginius
To slay his daughter with his owne right hand.
Because she was enfor'ststain'dand deflowr'd?

Satur. It was Andronicus

Tit. Your reasonMighty Lord?
Sat. Because the Girleshould not suruiue her shame
And by her presence still renew his sorrowes

Tit. A reason mightystrongand effectuall
A patternepresidentand liuely warrant
For me (most wretched) to performe the like:
DiedieLauiniaand thy shame with thee
And with thy shamethy Fathers sorrow die.

He kils her.

Sat. What hast donevnnaturall and vnkinde?

Tit. Kil'd her for whom my teares haue made me blind.
I am as wofull as Virginius was
And haue a thousand times more cause then he


Sat. What was she rauisht? tell who did the deed
Tit. Wilt please you eat

Wilt please your Highnesse feed?
Tam. Why hast thou slaine thine onely Daughter?
Titus. Not I'twas Chiron and Demetrius

They rauisht herand cut away her tongue
And they'twas theythat did her all this wrong


Satu. Go fetch them hither to vs presently

Tit. Why there they are bothbaked in that Pie
Whereof their Mother daintily hath fed
Eating the flesh that she herselfe hath bred.
'Tis true'tis truewitnesse my kniues sharpe point.

He stabs the Empresse.

Satu. Die franticke wretchfor this accursed deed

Luc. Can the Sonnes eyebehold his Father bleed?
There's meede for meededeath for a deadly deed

Mar. You sad fac'd menpeople and Sonnes of Rome
By vprores seuer'd like a flight of Fowle
Scattred by windes and high tempestuous gusts:
Oh let me teach you howto knit againe
This scattred Corneinto one mutuall sheafe
These broken limbs againe into one body

Goth. Let Rome herselfe be bane vnto herselfe
And shee whom mightie kingdomes cursie too
Like a forlorne and desperate castaway
Doe shamefull execution on her selfe.
But if my frostie signes and chaps of age
Graue witnesses of true experience
Cannot induce you to attend my words
Speake Romes deere friendas er'st our Auncestor
When with his solemne tongue he did discourse
To loue-sicke Didoes sad attending eare
The story of that balefull burning night
When subtil Greekes surpriz'd King Priams Troy:
Tell vs what Sinon hath bewicht our eares
Or who hath brought the fatall engine in
That giues our Troyour Rome the ciuill wound.
My heart is not compact of flint nor steele
Nor can I vtter all our bitter griefe
But floods of teares will drowne my Oratorie
And breake my very vttranceeuen in the time
When it should moue you to attend me most
Lending your kind hand Commiseration.
Heere is a Captainelet him tell the tale
Your hearts will throb and weepe to heare him speake

Luc. This Noble Auditorybe it knowne to you
That cursed Chiron and Demetrius
Were they that murdred our Emperours Brother
And they it were that rauished our Sister
For their fell faults our Brothers were beheaded
Our Fathers teares despis'dand basely cousen'd
Of that true hand that fought Romes quarrell out
And sent her enemies vnto the graue.
Lastlymy selfe vnkindly banished
The gates shut on meand turn'd weeping out
To beg reliefe among Romes Enemies


Who drown'd their enmity in my true teares
And op'd their armes to imbrace me as a Friend:
And I am turned forthbe it knowne to you
That haue preseru'd her welfare in my blood
And from her bosome tooke the Enemies point
Sheathing the steele in my aduentrous body.
Alas you knowI am no Vaunter I
My scars can witnessedumbe although they are
That my report is iust and full of truth:
But softme thinkes I do digresse too much
Cyting my worthlesse praise: Oh pardon me
For when no Friends are bymen praise themselues


Marc. Now is my turne to speake: Behold this Child
Of this was Tamora deliuered
The issue of an Irreligious Moore
Chiefe Architect and plotter of these woes
The Villaine is aliue in Titus house
And as he isto witnesse this is true.
Now iudge what course had Titus to reuenge
These wrongsvnspeakeable past patience
Or more then any liuing man could beare.
Now you haue heard the truthwhat say you Romaines?
Haue we done ought amisse? shew vs wherein
And from the place where you behold vs now
The poore remainder of Andronici
Will hand in hand all headlong cast vs downe
And on the ragged stones beat forth our braines
And make a mutuall closure of our house:
Speake Romaines speakeand if you say we shall
Loe hand in handLucius and I will fall

Emilli. Come comethou reuerent man of Rome
And bring our Emperour gently in thy hand
Lucius our Emperour: for well I know
The common voyce do cry it shall be so

Mar. Luciusall haile Romes Royall Emperour
Goegoe into old Titus sorrowfull house
And hither hale that misbelieuing Moore
To be adiudg'd some direfull slaughtering death
As punishment for his most wicked life.
Lucius all haile to Romes gracious Gouernour

Luc. Thankes gentle Romanesmay I gouerne so
To heale Romes harmesand wipe away her woe.
But gentle peoplegiue me ayme a-while
For Nature puts me to a heauy taske:
Stand all aloofebut Vnckle draw you neere
To shed obsequious teares vpon this Trunke:
Oh take this warme kisse on thy pale cold lips
These sorrowfull drops vpon thy bloud-slaine face
The last true Duties of thy Noble Sonne

Mar. Teare for teareand louing kisse for kisse
Thy Brother Marcus tenders on thy Lips:
O were the summe of these that I should pay
Countlesseand infinityet would I pay them

Luc. Come hither Boycomecomeand learne of vs
To melt in showres: thy Grandsire lou'd thee well:
Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee:
Sung thee asleepehis Louing Brestthy Pillow:
Many a matter hath he told to thee
Meeteand agreeing with thine Infancie:


In that respect thenlike a louing Childe
Shed yet some small drops from thy tender Spring
Because kinde Nature doth require it so:
Friendsshould associate Friendsin Greefe and Wo.
Bid him farwellcommit him to the Graue
Do him that kindnesseand take leaue of him


Boy. O GrandsireGrandsire: euen with all my heart
Would I were Deadso you did Liue againe.
O LordI cannot speake to him for weeping
My teares will choake meif I ope my mouth

Romans. You sad Andronicihaue done with woes
Giue sentence on this execrable Wretch
That hath beene breeder of these dire euents

Luc. Set him brest deepe in earthand famish him:
There let him standand raueand cry for foode:
If any one releeuesor pitties him
For the offencehe dyes. This is our doome:
Some stayto see him fast'ned in the earth

Aron. O why should wrath be mute& Fury dumbe?
I am no Baby Ithat with base Prayers
I should repent the Euils I haue done.
Ten thousand worsethen euer yet I did
Would I performe if I might haue my will:
If one good Deed in all my life I did
I do repent it from my very Soule

Lucius. Some louing Friends conuey the Emp[erour]. hence
And giue him buriall in his Fathers graue.
My Fatherand Lauiniashall forthwith
Be closed in our Housholds Monument:
As for that heynous Tyger Tamora
No Funerall Ritenor man in mournfull Weeds:
No mournfull Bell shall ring her Buriall:
But throw her foorth to Beasts and Birds of prey:
Her life was Beast-likeand deuoid of pitty
And being soshall haue like want of pitty.
See Iustice done on Aaron that damn'd Moore
From whomour heauy happes had their beginning:
Then afterwardsto Order well the State
That like Euentsmay ne're it Ruinate.

Exeunt. omnes.

FINIS. The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus.