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Titus Andronicus

by William Shakespeare

Dramatis Personae

Act 1

Flourish. Enter the Tribunes (including Marcus Andronicus) and Senators aloft. And then enter, below, Saturninus and his followers at one door, and Bassianus and his followers at another door, with other Romans, Drums, and Trumpets.

Saturninus:Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Defend the justice of my cause with arms. And countrymen, my loving followers, Plead my successive title with your swords. I am his firstborn son that was the last That wore the imperial diadem of Rome. Then let my father’s honors live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Bassianus:Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right, If ever Bassianus, Caesar’s son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, Keep, then, this passage to the Capitol, And suffer not dishonor to approach The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate, To justice, continence, and nobility; But let desert in pure election shine, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Marcus Andronicus:[(aloft, stepping forward and holding up the crown)] Princes that strive by factions and by friends Ambitiously for rule and empery, Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand A special party, have by common voice, In election for the Roman empery, Chosen Andronicus, surnamèd Pius For many good and great deserts to Rome. A nobler man, a braver warrior, Lives not this day within the city walls. He by the Senate is accited home From weary wars against the barbarous Goths, That with his sons, a terror to our foes, Hath yoked a nation strong, trained up in arms. Ten years are spent since first he undertook This cause of Rome, and chastisèd with arms Our enemies’ pride. Five times he hath returned Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons In coffins from the field. And now at last, laden with honor’s spoils, Returns the good Andronicus to Rome, Renownèd Titus flourishing in arms. Let us entreat, by honor of his name Whom worthily you would have now succeed, And in the Capitol and Senate’s right, Whom you pretend to honor and adore, That you withdraw you and abate your strength, Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should, Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Saturninus:How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

Bassianus:Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honor thee and thine, Thy noble brother Titus and his sons, And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, Gracious Lavinia, Rome’s rich ornament, That I will here dismiss my loving friends, And to my fortunes and the people’s favor Commit my cause in balance to be weighed.

Bassianus’ Soldiers exit.

Saturninus:Friends that have been thus forward in my right, I thank you all and here dismiss you all, And to the love and favor of my country Commit myself, my person, and the cause. [Saturninus’ Soldiers exit.] Rome, be as just and gracious unto me As I am confident and kind to thee. Open the gates and let me in.

Bassianus:Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

Flourish. They exit to go up into the Senate House. The Tribunes and Senators exit from the upper stage.

Enter a Captain.

A Roman Captain:Romans, make way! The good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome’s best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honor and with fortune is returned From where he circumscribèd with his sword And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome.

Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter two of Titus’ sons (Lucius and Mutius) and then two men bearing a coffin covered with black, then two other sons (Martius and Quintus), then Titus Andronicus, and then Tamora the Queen of Goths and her sons Alarbus, Chiron and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, and others as many as can be, then set down the coffin, and Titus speaks.

Titus Andronicus:Hail Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark that hath discharged his fraught Returns with precious lading to the bay From whence at first she weighed her anchorage, Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, To resalute his country with his tears, Tears of true joy for his return to Rome. Thou great defender of this Capitol, Stand gracious to the rites that we intend. Romans, of five-and-twenty valiant sons, Half of the number that King Priam had, Behold the poor remains alive and dead. These that survive let Rome reward with love; These that I bring unto their latest home, With burial amongst their ancestors. Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword. Titus, unkind and careless of thine own, Why suffer’st thou thy sons unburied yet To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx? Make way to lay them by their brethren. [They open the tomb.] There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace, slain in your country’s wars. O sacred receptacle of my joys, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons hast thou of mine in store That thou wilt never render to me more?

Lucius:Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, That we may hew his limbs and on a pile, Ad manes fratrum, sacrifice his flesh Before this earthy prison of their bones, That so the shadows be not unappeased, Nor we disturbed with prodigies on Earth.

Titus Andronicus:I give him you, the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressèd queen.

Tamora:Stay, Roman brethren!—Gracious conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, A mother’s tears in passion for her son. And if thy sons were ever dear to thee, O think my son to be as dear to me. Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome To beautify thy triumphs and return Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke, But must my sons be slaughtered in the streets For valiant doings in their country’s cause? O, if to fight for king and commonweal Were piety in thine, it is in these! [She kneels.] Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood. Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Draw near them then in being merciful. Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge. Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

Titus Andronicus:Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. These are their brethren whom your Goths beheld Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain Religiously they ask a sacrifice. To this your son is marked, and die he must, T’ appease their groaning shadows that are gone.

Lucius:Away with him, and make a fire straight, And with our swords upon a pile of wood Let’s hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.

Exit Titus’ sons with Alarbus.

Tamora:[rising and speaking aside to her sons] O cruel, irreligious piety!

Chiron:[aside to Tamora and Demetrius] Was never Scythia half so barbarous!

Demetrius:[aside to Tamora and Chiron] Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome! Alarbus goes to rest and we survive To tremble under Titus’ threat’ning look. Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal The selfsame gods that armed the Queen of Troy With opportunity of sharp revenge Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent May favor Tamora the Queen of Goths (When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen) To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.

Enter the sons of Andronicus again with bloody swords.

Lucius:See, lord and father, how we have performed Our Roman rites. Alarbus’ limbs are lopped, And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, Whose smoke like incense doth perfume the sky. Remaineth naught but to inter our brethren, And with loud larums welcome them to Rome.

Titus Andronicus:Let it be so. And let Andronicus Make this his latest farewell to their souls. [Sound trumpets, and lay the coffin in the tomb.] In peace and honor rest you here, my sons, Rome’s readiest champions, repose you here in rest, Secure from worldly chances and mishaps. Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, Here grow no damnèd drugs; here are no storms, No noise, but silence and eternal sleep. In peace and honor rest you here, my sons.

Enter Lavinia.

Lavinia:In peace and honor live Lord Titus long; My noble lord and father, live in fame. [She kneels.] Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears I render for my brethren’s obsequies, And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome. O bless me here with thy victorious hand, Whose fortunes Rome’s best citizens applaud.

Titus Andronicus:Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!— Lavinia, live, outlive thy father’s days And fame’s eternal date, for virtue’s praise.

Lavinia rises.

Enter Marcus Andronicus, carrying a white robe. Enter aloft Saturninus, Bassianus, Tribunes, Senators, and Guards.

Marcus Andronicus:Long live Lord Titus, my belovèd brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome.

Titus Andronicus:Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.

Marcus Andronicus:And welcome, nephews, from successful wars— You that survive, and you that sleep in fame. Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all, That in your country’s service drew your swords; But safer triumph is this funeral pomp, That hath aspired to Solon’s happiness, And triumphs over chance in honor’s bed.— Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome, Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been, Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust, This palliament of white and spotless hue, And name thee in election for the empire With these our late deceasèd emperor’s sons. Be candidatus, then, and put it on And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Titus Andronicus:A better head her glorious body fits Than his that shakes for age and feebleness. [To Tribunes and Senators aloft.] What, should I don this robe and trouble you? Be chosen with proclamations today, Tomorrow yield up rule, resign my life, And set abroad new business for you all? Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years, And led my country’s strength successfully, And buried one and twenty valiant sons, Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms, In right and service of their noble country. Give me a staff of honor for mine age, But not a scepter to control the world. Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

Marcus Andronicus:Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.

Saturninus:Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?

Titus Andronicus:Patience, Prince Saturninus.

Saturninus:Romans, do me right. Patricians, draw your swords and sheathe them not Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.— Andronicus, would thou were shipped to hell Rather than rob me of the people’s hearts.

Lucius:Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee.

Titus Andronicus:Content thee, prince. I will restore to thee The people’s hearts and wean them from themselves.

Bassianus:Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, But honor thee, and will do till I die. My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends, I will most thankful be, and thanks, to men Of noble minds, is honorable meed.

Titus Andronicus:People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here, I ask your voices and your suffrages. Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

Roman:To gratify the good Andronicus And gratulate his safe return to Rome, The people will accept whom he admits.

Titus Andronicus:Tribunes, I thank you, and this suit I make: That you create our emperor’s eldest son, Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope, Reflect on Rome as Titan’s rays on Earth And ripen justice in this commonweal. Then, if you will elect by my advice, Crown him and say "Long live our emperor."

Marcus Andronicus:With voices and applause of every sort, Patricians and plebeians, we create Lord Saturninus Rome’s great emperor, And say "Long live our Emperor Saturnine."

A long flourish till Saturninus, Bassianus, and Guards come down.

Saturninus:Titus Andronicus, for thy favors done To us in our election this day, I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, And will with deeds requite thy gentleness. And for an onset, Titus, to advance Thy name and honorable family, Lavinia will I make my empress, Rome’s royal mistress, mistress of my heart, And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse. Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?

Titus Andronicus:It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match I hold me highly honored of your Grace; And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine, King and commander of our commonweal, The wide world’s emperor, do I consecrate My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners, Presents well worthy Rome’s imperious lord. Receive them, then, the tribute that I owe, Mine honor’s ensigns humbled at thy feet.

Saturninus:Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life. How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts Rome shall record.—And when I do forget The least of these unspeakable deserts, Romans, forget your fealty to me.

Titus Andronicus:[to Tamora] Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor, To him that for your honor and your state Will use you nobly, and your followers.

Saturninus:[aside] A goodly lady, trust me, of the hue That I would choose, were I to choose anew.— Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance. Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer, Thou com’st not to be made a scorn in Rome. Princely shall be thy usage every way. Rest on my word, and let not discontent Daunt all your hopes. Madam, he comforts you Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.— Lavinia, you are not displeased with this?

Lavinia:Not I, my lord, sith true nobility Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

Saturninus:Thanks, sweet Lavinia.—Romans, let us go. Ransomless here we set our prisoners free. Proclaim our honors, lords, with trump and drum.

Flourish. Saturninus and his Guards exit, with Drums and Trumpets. Tribunes and Senators exit aloft.

Bassianus:Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

Titus Andronicus:How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord?

Bassianus:Ay, noble Titus, and resolved withal To do myself this reason and this right.

Bassianus takes Lavinia by the arm.

Marcus Andronicus:Suum cuique is our Roman justice. This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

Lucius:And that he will and shall, if Lucius live!

Titus Andronicus:Traitors, avaunt! Where is the Emperor’s guard? [Enter Saturninus and his Guards.] Treason, my lord. Lavinia is surprised.

Saturninus:Surprised? By whom?

Bassianus:By him that justly may Bear his betrothed from all the world away.

Mutius:Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I’ll keep this door safe.

Bassianus, Lavinia, Marcus, Lucius, Quintus, and Martius exit.

Titus Andronicus:[to Saturninus] Follow, my lord, and I’ll soon bring her back.

Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron, Aaron, and Guards exit.

Mutius:My lord, you pass not here.

Titus Andronicus:What, villain boy, Barr’st me my way in Rome?

He stabs Mutius.

Mutius:Help, Lucius, help!

Mutius dies.

Enter Lucius.

Lucius:My lord, you are unjust, and more than so! In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.

Titus Andronicus:Nor thou nor he are any sons of mine. My sons would never so dishonor me. Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor.

Enter aloft the Emperor Saturninus with Tamora and her two sons and Aaron the Moor.

Lucius:Dead if you will, but not to be his wife That is another’s lawful promised love.

He exits.

Saturninus:No, Titus, no, the Emperor needs her not, Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock. I’ll trust by leisure him that mocks me once, Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons, Confederates all thus to dishonor me. Was none in Rome to make a stale But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus, Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine That said’st I begged the empire at thy hands.

Titus Andronicus:O monstrous! What reproachful words are these?

Saturninus:But go thy ways. Go give that changing piece To him that flourished for her with his sword. A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy, One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.

Titus Andronicus:These words are razors to my wounded heart.

Saturninus:And therefore, lovely Tamora, Queen of Goths, That like the stately Phoebe ’mongst her nymphs Dost overshine the gallant’st dames of Rome, If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice, Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride, And will create thee Emperess of Rome. Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice? And here I swear by all the Roman gods, Sith priest and holy water are so near, And tapers burn so bright, and everything In readiness for Hymenaeus stand, I will not resalute the streets of Rome Or climb my palace till from forth this place I lead espoused my bride along with me.

Tamora:And here in sight of heaven to Rome I swear, If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths, She will a handmaid be to his desires, A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.

Saturninus:Ascend, fair queen, to Pantheon.—Lords, accompany Your noble emperor and his lovely bride, Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine, Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquerèd. There shall we consummate our spousal rites.

All but Titus exit.

Titus Andronicus:I am not bid to wait upon this bride. Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, Dishonored thus and challengèd of wrongs?

Enter Marcus and Titus’ sons Lucius, Martius, and Quintus.

Marcus Andronicus:O Titus, see! O, see what thou hast done! In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

Titus Andronicus:No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine, Nor thou, nor these confederates in the deed That hath dishonored all our family. Unworthy brother and unworthy sons!

Lucius:But let us give him burial as becomes, Give Mutius burial with our brethren.

Titus Andronicus:Traitors, away! He rests not in this tomb. This monument five hundred years hath stood, Which I have sumptuously reedified. Here none but soldiers and Rome’s servitors Repose in fame, none basely slain in brawls. Bury him where you can. He comes not here.

Marcus Andronicus:My lord, this is impiety in you. My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him. He must be buried with his brethren.

Martius:And shall, or him we will accompany.

Titus Andronicus:"And shall"? What villain was it spake that word?

Martius:He that would vouch it in any place but here.

Titus Andronicus:What, would you bury him in my despite?

Marcus Andronicus:No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

Titus Andronicus:Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And with these boys mine honor thou hast wounded. My foes I do repute you every one. So trouble me no more, but get you gone.

Quintus:He is not with himself; let us withdraw.

Martius:Not I, till Mutius’ bones be burièd.

The brother (Marcus) and the sons (Lucius, Martius, and Quintus) kneel.

Marcus Andronicus:Brother, for in that name doth nature plead—

Martius:Father, and in that name doth nature speak—

Titus Andronicus:Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

Marcus Andronicus:Renownèd Titus, more than half my soul—

Lucius:Dear father, soul and substance of us all—

Marcus Andronicus:Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest, That died in honor and Lavinia’s cause. Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous. The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax, That slew himself, and wise Laertes’ son Did graciously plead for his funerals. Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy, Be barred his entrance here.

Titus Andronicus:Rise, Marcus, rise. [They rise.] The dismall’st day is this that e’er I saw, To be dishonored by my sons in Rome. Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

They put Mutius in the tomb.

Lucius:There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends’, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.

They all except Titus kneel and say:

Marcus Andronicus, Lucius, Martius, Quintus:No man shed tears for noble Mutius. He lives in fame, that died in virtue’s cause.

All but Marcus and Titus exit.

Marcus Andronicus:My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps, How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?

Titus Andronicus:I know not, Marcus, but I know it is. Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell. Is she not then beholding to the man That brought her for this high good turn so far? Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

Flourish. Enter the Emperor Saturninus, Tamora and her two sons, with Aaron the Moor, Drums and Trumpets, at one door. Enter at the other door Bassianus and Lavinia, with Lucius, Martius, and Quintus, and others.

Saturninus:So, Bassianus, you have played your prize. God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride.

Bassianus:And you of yours, my lord. I say no more, Nor wish no less, and so I take my leave.

Saturninus:Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power, Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

Bassianus:"Rape" call you it, my lord, to seize my own, My true betrothèd love and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all. Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine.

Saturninus:’Tis good, sir, you are very short with us. But if we live, we’ll be as sharp with you.

Bassianus:My lord, what I have done, as best I may, Answer I must, and shall do with my life. Only thus much I give your Grace to know: By all the duties that I owe to Rome, This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here, Is in opinion and in honor wronged, That in the rescue of Lavinia With his own hand did slay his youngest son, In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath To be controlled in that he frankly gave. Receive him then to favor, Saturnine, That hath expressed himself in all his deeds A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

Titus Andronicus:Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds. ’Tis thou, and those, that have dishonored me. Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge How I have loved and honored Saturnine.

He kneels.

Tamora:[to Saturninus] My worthy lord, if ever Tamora Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine, Then hear me speak indifferently for all, And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

Saturninus:What, madam, be dishonored openly, And basely put it up without revenge?

Tamora:Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend I should be author to dishonor you. But on mine honor dare I undertake For good Lord Titus’ innocence in all, Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs. Then at my suit look graciously on him. Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose, Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart. [Aside to Saturninus.] My lord, be ruled by me; be won at last. Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. You are but newly planted in your throne. Lest, then, the people, and patricians too, Upon a just survey take Titus’ part And so supplant you for ingratitude, Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin. Yield at entreats, and then let me alone. I’ll find a day to massacre them all And raze their faction and their family, The cruel father and his traitorous sons, To whom I sued for my dear son’s life, And make them know what ’tis to let a queen Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain. [Aloud.] Come, come, sweet emperor.—Come, Andronicus.— Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

Saturninus:Rise, Titus, rise. My empress hath prevailed.

Titus Andronicus:[rising] I thank your Majesty and her, my lord. These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

Tamora:Titus, I am incorporate in Rome, A Roman now adopted happily, And must advise the Emperor for his good. This day all quarrels die, Andronicus.— And let it be mine honor, good my lord, That I have reconciled your friends and you.— For you, Prince Bassianus, I have passed My word and promise to the Emperor That you will be more mild and tractable.— And fear not, lords—and you, Lavinia. By my advice, all humbled on your knees, You shall ask pardon of his Majesty.

Marcus, Lavinia, Lucius, Martius, and Quintus kneel.

Lucius:We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness That what we did was mildly as we might, Tend’ring our sister’s honor and our own.

Marcus Andronicus:That on mine honor here do I protest.

Saturninus:Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.

Tamora:Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends. The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace. I will not be denied. Sweetheart, look back.

Saturninus:Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brother’s here, And at my lovely Tamora’s entreats, I do remit these young men’s heinous faults. Stand up. [They rise.] Lavinia, though you left me like a churl, I found a friend, and sure as death I swore I would not part a bachelor from the priest. Come, if the Emperor’s court can feast two brides, You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.— This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.

Titus Andronicus:Tomorrow, an it please your Majesty To hunt the panther and the hart with me, With horn and hound we’ll give your Grace bonjour.

Saturninus:Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.

Sound trumpets. All but Aaron exit.

Act 2

Scene 1

Aaron:Now climbeth Tamora Olympus’ top, Safe out of Fortune’s shot, and sits aloft, Secure of thunder’s crack or lightning flash, Advanced above pale Envy’s threat’ning reach. As when the golden sun salutes the morn And, having gilt the ocean with his beams, Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach And overlooks the highest-peering hills, So Tamora. Upon her wit doth earthly honor wait, And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown. Then, Aaron, arm thy heart and fit thy thoughts To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress, And mount her pitch whom thou in triumph long Hast prisoner held, fettered in amorous chains And faster bound to Aaron’s charming eyes Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus. Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts! I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold To wait upon this new-made emperess. To wait, said I? To wanton with this queen, This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph, This siren that will charm Rome’s Saturnine And see his shipwrack and his commonweal’s. Holla! What storm is this?

Enter Chiron and Demetrius, braving.

Demetrius:Chiron, thy years wants wit, thy wits wants edge And manners, to intrude where I am graced, And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be.

Chiron:Demetrius, thou dost overween in all, And so in this, to bear me down with braves. ’Tis not the difference of a year or two Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate. I am as able and as fit as thou To serve and to deserve my mistress’ grace, And that my sword upon thee shall approve And plead my passions for Lavinia’s love.

Aaron:[aside] Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not keep the peace.

Demetrius:[to Chiron] Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised, Gave you a dancing rapier by your side, Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends? Go to. Have your lath glued within your sheath Till you know better how to handle it.

Chiron:Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have, Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.

Demetrius:Ay, boy, grow you so brave?

They draw.

Aaron:Why, how now, lords? So near the Emperor’s palace dare you draw And maintain such a quarrel openly? Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge. I would not for a million of gold The cause were known to them it most concerns, Nor would your noble mother for much more Be so dishonored in the court of Rome. For shame, put up.

Demetrius:Not I, till I have sheathed My rapier in his bosom, and withal Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat That he hath breathed in my dishonor here.

Chiron:For that I am prepared and full resolved, Foul-spoken coward, that thund’rest with thy tongue And with thy weapon nothing dar’st perform.

Aaron:Away, I say! Now by the gods that warlike Goths adore, This petty brabble will undo us all. Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous It is to jet upon a prince’s right? What, is Lavinia then become so loose Or Bassianus so degenerate That for her love such quarrels may be broached Without controlment, justice, or revenge? Young lords, beware! And should the Empress know This discord’s ground, the music would not please.

Chiron:I care not, I, knew she and all the world. I love Lavinia more than all the world.

Demetrius:Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice. Lavinia is thine elder brother’s hope.

Aaron:Why, are you mad? Or know you not in Rome How furious and impatient they be, And cannot brook competitors in love? I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths By this device.

Chiron:Aaron, a thousand deaths Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.

Aaron:To achieve her how?

Demetrius:Why makes thou it so strange? She is a woman, therefore may be wooed; She is a woman, therefore may be won; She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved. What, man, more water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of, and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know. Though Bassianus be the Emperor’s brother, Better than he have worn Vulcan’s badge.

Aaron:[aside] Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

Demetrius:Then why should he despair that knows to court it With words, fair looks, and liberality? What, hast not thou full often struck a doe And borne her cleanly by the keeper’s nose?

Aaron:Why, then, it seems some certain snatch or so Would serve your turns.

Chiron:Ay, so the turn were served.

Demetrius:Aaron, thou hast hit it.

Aaron:Would you had hit it too! Then should not we be tired with this ado. Why, hark you, hark you! And are you such fools To square for this? Would it offend you then That both should speed?

Chiron:Faith, not me.

Demetrius:Nor me, so I were one.

Aaron:For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar. ’Tis policy and stratagem must do That you affect, and so must you resolve That what you cannot as you would achieve, You must perforce accomplish as you may. Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste Than this Lavinia, Bassianus’ love. A speedier course than ling’ring languishment Must we pursue, and I have found the path. My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand; There will the lovely Roman ladies troop. The forest walks are wide and spacious, And many unfrequented plots there are, Fitted by kind for rape and villainy. Single you thither then this dainty doe, And strike her home by force, if not by words. This way, or not at all, stand you in hope. Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit To villainy and vengeance consecrate, Will we acquaint withal what we intend, And she shall file our engines with advice That will not suffer you to square yourselves, But to your wishes’ height advance you both. The Emperor’s court is like the house of Fame, The palace full of tongues, of eyes, and ears; The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull. There speak and strike, brave boys, and take your turns. There serve your lust, shadowed from heaven’s eye, And revel in Lavinia’s treasury.

Chiron:Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice.

Demetrius:Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits, Per Stygia, per manes vehor.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Titus Andronicus and his three sons, and Marcus, making a noise with hounds and horns.

Titus Andronicus:The hunt is up, the moon is bright and gray, The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green. Uncouple here, and let us make a bay And wake the Emperor and his lovely bride, And rouse the Prince, and ring a hunter’s peal, That all the court may echo with the noise. Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours, To attend the Emperor’s person carefully. I have been troubled in my sleep this night, But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.

Here a cry of hounds, and wind horns in a peal. Then enter Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and their Attendants.

Titus Andronicus:Many good morrows to your Majesty;— Madam, to you as many, and as good.— I promisèd your Grace a hunter’s peal.

Saturninus:And you have rung it lustily, my lords— Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.

Bassianus:Lavinia, how say you?

Lavinia:I say no. I have been broad awake two hours and more.

Saturninus:Come on, then. Horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport. [(To Tamora)] Madam, now shall you see Our Roman hunting.

Marcus Andronicus:I have dogs, my lord, Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase And climb the highest promontory top.

Titus Andronicus:And I have horse will follow where the game Makes way and runs like swallows o’er the plain.

Demetrius:[aside to Chiron] Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound, But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter Aaron, alone, carrying a bag of gold.

Aaron:He that had wit would think that I had none, To bury so much gold under a tree And never after to inherit it. Let him that thinks of me so abjectly Know that this gold must coin a stratagem Which, cunningly effected, will beget A very excellent piece of villainy. [He hides the bag.] And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest That have their alms out of the Empress’ chest.

Enter Tamora alone to Aaron the Moor.

Tamora:My lovely Aaron, wherefore look’st thou sad, When everything doth make a gleeful boast? The birds chant melody on every bush, The snakes lies rollèd in the cheerful sun, The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind And make a checkered shadow on the ground. Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit, And whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds, Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns, As if a double hunt were heard at once, Let us sit down and mark their yellowing noise. And after conflict such as was supposed The wand’ring prince and Dido once enjoyed When with a happy storm they were surprised, And curtained with a counsel-keeping cave, We may, each wreathèd in the other’s arms, Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber, Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds Be unto us as is a nurse’s song Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.

Aaron:Madam, though Venus govern your desires, Saturn is dominator over mine. What signifies my deadly standing eye, My silence, and my cloudy melancholy, My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls Even as an adder when she doth unroll To do some fatal execution? No, madam, these are no venereal signs. Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, Blood and revenge are hammering in my head. Hark, Tamora, the empress of my soul, Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee, This is the day of doom for Bassianus. His Philomel must lose her tongue today, Thy sons make pillage of her chastity And wash their hands in Bassianus’ blood. [He takes out a paper.] Seest thou this letter? Take it up, I pray thee, And give the King this fatal-plotted scroll. [He hands her the paper.] Now, question me no more. We are espied. Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty, Which dreads not yet their lives’ destruction.

Enter Bassianus and Lavinia.

Tamora:Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!

Aaron:No more, great empress. Bassianus comes. Be cross with him, and I’ll go fetch thy sons To back thy quarrels, whatsoe’er they be.

He exits.

Bassianus:Who have we here? Rome’s royal empress, Unfurnished of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her, Who hath abandonèd her holy groves To see the general hunting in this forest?

Tamora:Saucy controller of my private steps, Had I the power that some say Dian had, Thy temples should be planted presently With horns, as was Acteon’s, and the hounds Should drive upon thy new-transformèd limbs, Unmannerly intruder as thou art.

Lavinia:Under your patience, gentle empress, ’Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning, And to be doubted that your Moor and you Are singled forth to try experiments. Jove shield your husband from his hounds today! ’Tis pity they should take him for a stag.

Bassianus:Believe me, queen, your swarthy Cimmerian Doth make your honor of his body’s hue, Spotted, detested, and abominable. Why are you sequestered from all your train, Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed, And wandered hither to an obscure plot, Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor, If foul desire had not conducted you?

Lavinia:And being intercepted in your sport, Great reason that my noble lord be rated For sauciness.—I pray you, let us hence, And let her joy her raven-colored love. This valley fits the purpose passing well.

Bassianus:The King my brother shall have notice of this.

Lavinia:Ay, for these slips have made him noted long. Good king to be so mightily abused!

Tamora:Why, I have patience to endure all this.

Enter Chiron and Demetrius.

Demetrius:How now, dear sovereign and our gracious mother, Why doth your Highness look so pale and wan?

Tamora:Have I not reason, think you, to look pale? These two have ticed me hither to this place, A barren, detested vale you see it is; The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, Overcome with moss and baleful mistletoe. Here never shines the sun, here nothing breeds, Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven. And when they showed me this abhorrèd pit, They told me, here at dead time of the night A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes, Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins, Would make such fearful and confusèd cries As any mortal body hearing it Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly. No sooner had they told this hellish tale But straight they told me they would bind me here Unto the body of a dismal yew And leave me to this miserable death. And then they called me foul adulteress, Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms That ever ear did hear to such effect. And had you not by wondrous fortune come, This vengeance on me had they executed. Revenge it as you love your mother’s life, Or be you not henceforth called my children.

Demetrius:[drawing his dagger] This is a witness that I am thy son.

Chiron:[drawing his dagger] And this for me, struck home to show my strength.

They stab Bassianus.

Lavinia:Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora, For no name fits thy nature but thy own!

Tamora:Give me the poniard! You shall know, my boys, Your mother’s hand shall right your mother’s wrong.

Demetrius:Stay, madam, here is more belongs to her. First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw. This minion stood upon her chastity, Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty, And with that painted hope braves your mightiness; And shall she carry this unto her grave?

Chiron:And if she do, I would I were an eunuch! Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.

Tamora:But when you have the honey you desire, Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.

Chiron:I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.— Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy That nice-preservèd honesty of yours.

Lavinia:O Tamora, thou bearest a woman’s face—

Tamora:I will not hear her speak. Away with her.

Lavinia:Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word.

Demetrius:[to Tamora] Listen, fair madam. Let it be your glory To see her tears, but be your heart to them As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.

Lavinia:When did the tiger’s young ones teach the dam? O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee. The milk thou suck’st from her did turn to marble. Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny. Yet every mother breeds not sons alike. [To Chiron.] Do thou entreat her show a woman’s pity.

Chiron:What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?

Lavinia:’Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark. Yet have I heard—O, could I find it now!— The lion, moved with pity, did endure To have his princely paws pared all away. Some say that ravens foster forlorn children, The whilst their own birds famish in their nests. O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no, Nothing so kind, but something pitiful.

Tamora:I know not what it means.—Away with her.

Lavinia:O, let me teach thee! For my father’s sake, That gave thee life when well he might have slain thee, Be not obdurate; open thy deaf ears.

Tamora:Hadst thou in person ne’er offended me, Even for his sake am I pitiless.— Remember, boys, I poured forth tears in vain To save your brother from the sacrifice, But fierce Andronicus would not relent. Therefore away with her, and use her as you will; The worse to her, the better loved of me.

Lavinia:O Tamora, be called a gentle queen, And with thine own hands kill me in this place! For ’tis not life that I have begged so long; Poor I was slain when Bassianus died.

Tamora:What begg’st thou, then? Fond woman, let me go!

Lavinia:’Tis present death I beg, and one thing more That womanhood denies my tongue to tell. O, keep me from their worse-than-killing lust, And tumble me into some loathsome pit Where never man’s eye may behold my body. Do this, and be a charitable murderer.

Tamora:So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee. No, let them satisfy their lust on thee.

Demetrius:[to Lavinia] Away, for thou hast stayed us here too long!

Lavinia:[to Tamora] No grace, no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature, The blot and enemy to our general name, Confusion fall—

Chiron:Nay, then, I’ll stop your mouth.—Bring thou her husband. This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.

They put Bassianus’ body in the pit and exit, carrying off Lavinia.

Tamora:Farewell, my sons. See that you make her sure. Ne’er let my heart know merry cheer indeed Till all the Andronici be made away. Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor, And let my spleenful sons this trull deflower.

She exits.

Enter Aaron with two of Titus’ sons, Quintus and Martius.

Aaron:Come on, my lords, the better foot before. Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit Where I espied the panther fast asleep.

Quintus:My sight is very dull, whate’er it bodes.

Martius:And mine, I promise you. Were it not for shame, Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile.

He falls into the pit.

Quintus:What, art thou fallen? What subtle hole is this, Whose mouth is covered with rude-growing briers Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood As fresh as morning dew distilled on flowers? A very fatal place it seems to me. Speak, brother! Hast thou hurt thee with the fall?

Martius:O, brother, with the dismal’st object hurt That ever eye with sight made heart lament!

Aaron:[aside] Now will I fetch the King to find them here, That he thereby may have a likely guess How these were they that made away his brother.

He exits.

Martius:Why dost not comfort me and help me out From this unhallowed and bloodstainèd hole?

Quintus:I am surprisèd with an uncouth fear. A chilling sweat o’erruns my trembling joints. My heart suspects more than mine eye can see.

Martius:To prove thou hast a true-divining heart, Aaron and thou look down into this den And see a fearful 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. O, tell me who it is, for ne’er till now Was I a child to fear I know not what.

Martius:Lord Bassianus lies berayed in blood, All on a heap, like to a slaughtered lamb, In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.

Quintus:If it be dark, how dost thou know ’tis he?

Martius:Upon his bloody finger he doth wear A precious ring that lightens all this hole, Which like a taper in some monument Doth shine upon the dead man’s earthy cheeks And shows the ragged entrails of this pit. So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus When he by night lay bathed in maiden blood. O, brother, help me with thy fainting hand— If fear hath made thee faint as me it hath— Out of this fell devouring receptacle, As hateful as Cocytus’ misty mouth.

Quintus:[reaching into the pit] Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out, Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good, I may be plucked into the swallowing womb Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus’ grave. [He pulls Martius’ hand.] I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink.

Martius:Nor I no strength to climb without thy help.

Quintus:Thy hand once more. I will not loose again Till thou art here aloft or I below. Thou canst not come to me. I come to thee.

He falls in.

Enter the Emperor Saturninus, with Attendants, and Aaron the Moor.

Saturninus:Along with me! I’ll see what hole is here And what he is that now is leapt into it.— Say, who art thou that lately didst descend Into this gaping hollow of the earth?

Martius:The unhappy sons of old Andronicus, Brought hither in a most unlucky hour To find thy brother Bassianus dead.

Saturninus:My brother dead! I know thou dost but jest. He and his lady both are at the lodge Upon the north side of this pleasant chase. ’Tis not an hour since I left them there.

Martius:We know not where you left them all alive, But, out alas, here have we found him dead.

Enter Tamora, Titus Andronicus, and Lucius.

Tamora:Where is my lord the King?

Saturninus:Here, Tamora, though grieved with killing grief.

Tamora:Where is thy brother Bassianus?

Saturninus:Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound. Poor Bassianus here lies murderèd.

Tamora:Then all too late I bring this fatal writ, The complot of this timeless tragedy, And wonder greatly that man’s face can fold In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny.

She giveth Saturnine a letter.

Saturninus:[(reads the letter):] An if we miss to meet him handsomely, Sweet huntsman—Bassianus ’tis we mean— Do thou so much as dig the grave for him; Thou know’st our meaning. Look for thy reward Among the nettles at the elder tree Which overshades the mouth of that same pit Where we decreed to bury Bassianus. Do this, and purchase us thy lasting friends. O Tamora, was ever heard the like? This is the pit, and this the elder tree.— Look, sirs, if you can find the huntsman out That should have murdered Bassianus here.

Aaron:My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold.

Saturninus:[to Titus] Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kind, Have here bereft my brother of his life.— Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison. There let them bide until we have devised Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them.

Tamora:What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing! How easily murder is discoverèd.

Attendants pull Quintus, Martius, and the body of Bassianus from the pit.

Titus Andronicus:[kneeling] High Emperor, upon my feeble knee I beg this boon with tears not lightly shed, That this fell fault of my accursèd sons— Accursèd if the faults be proved in them—

Saturninus:If it be proved! You see it is apparent. Who found this letter? Tamora, was it you?

Tamora:Andronicus himself did take it up.

Titus Andronicus:I did, my lord, yet let me be their bail, For by my father’s reverend tomb I vow They shall be ready at your Highness’ will To answer their suspicion with their lives.

Saturninus:Thou shalt not bail them. See thou follow me.— Some bring the murdered body, some the murderers. Let them not speak a word. The guilt is plain. For, by my soul, were there worse end than death, That end upon them should be executed.

Tamora:Andronicus, I will entreat the King. Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough.

Titus Andronicus:[rising] Come, Lucius, come. Stay not to talk with them.

They exit, with Attendants leading Martius and Quintus and bearing the body of Bassianus.

Scene 4

Enter the Empress’ sons, Demetrius and Chiron, with Lavinia, her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out, and ravished.

Demetrius:So, now go tell, an if thy tongue can speak, Who ’twas that cut thy tongue and ravished thee.

Chiron:Write down thy mind; bewray thy meaning so, An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe.

Demetrius:See how with signs and tokens she can scrowl.

Chiron:[to Lavinia] Go home. Call for sweet water; wash thy hands.

Demetrius:She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash; And so let’s leave her to her silent walks.

Chiron:An ’twere my cause, I should go hang myself.

Demetrius:If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord.

Chiron and Demetrius exit.

Enter Marcus from hunting.

Marcus Andronicus:Who is this? My niece, that flies away so fast?— Cousin, a word. Where is your husband? If I do dream, would all my wealth would wake me. If I do wake, some planet strike me down That I may slumber an eternal sleep. Speak, gentle niece. What stern ungentle hands Hath lopped and hewed and made thy body bare Of her two branches, those sweet ornaments Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in, And might not gain so great a happiness As half thy love? Why dost not speak to me? Alas, a crimson river of warm blood, Like to a bubbling fountain stirred with wind, Doth rise and fall between thy rosèd lips, Coming and going with thy honey breath. But sure some Tereus hath deflowered thee, And lest thou shouldst detect him cut thy tongue. Ah, now thou turn’st away thy face for shame, And notwithstanding all this loss of blood, As from a conduit with three issuing spouts, Yet do thy cheeks look red as Titan’s face, Blushing to be encountered with a cloud. Shall I speak for thee, shall I say ’tis so? O, that I knew thy heart, and knew the beast, That I might rail at him to ease my mind. Sorrow concealèd, like an oven stopped, Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is. Fair Philomela, why she but lost her tongue, And in a tedious sampler sewed her mind; But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee. A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met, And he hath cut those pretty fingers off That could have better sewed than Philomel. O, had the monster seen those lily hands Tremble like aspen leaves upon a lute And make the silken strings delight to kiss them, He would not then have touched them for his life. Or had he heard the heavenly harmony Which that sweet tongue hath made, He would have dropped his knife and fell asleep, As Cerberus at the Thracian poet’s feet. Come, let us go and make thy father blind, For such a sight will blind a father’s eye. One hour’s storm will drown the fragrant meads; What will whole months of tears thy father’s eyes? Do not draw back, for we will mourn with thee. O, could our mourning ease thy misery!

They exit.

Act 3

Scene 1

Enter the Judges and Senators with Titus’ two sons (Quintus and Martius) bound, passing on the stage to the place of execution, and Titus going before, pleading.

Titus Andronicus:Hear me, grave fathers; noble tribunes, stay. For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent In dangerous wars whilst you securely slept; For all my blood in Rome’s great quarrel shed, For all the frosty nights that I have watched, And for these bitter tears which now you see, Filling the agèd wrinkles in my cheeks, Be pitiful to my condemnèd sons, Whose souls is not corrupted as ’tis thought. For two-and-twenty sons I never wept Because they died in honor’s lofty bed. [Andronicus lieth down, and the Judges pass by him.] [They exit with the prisoners as Titus continues speaking.] For these, tribunes, in the dust I write My heart’s deep languor and my soul’s sad tears. Let my tears stanch the earth’s dry appetite. My sons’ sweet blood will make it shame and blush. O Earth, I will befriend thee more with rain That shall distil from these two ancient ruins Than youthful April shall with all his showers. In summer’s drought I’ll drop upon thee still; In winter with warm tears I’ll melt the snow And keep eternal springtime on thy face, So thou refuse to drink my dear sons’ blood. [Enter Lucius with his weapon drawn.] O reverend tribunes, O gentle agèd men, Unbind my sons, reverse the doom of death, And let me say, that never wept before, My tears are now prevailing orators.

Lucius:O noble father, you lament in vain. The Tribunes hear you not; no man is by, And you recount your sorrows to a stone.

Titus Andronicus:Ah, Lucius, for thy brothers let me plead.— Grave tribunes, once more I entreat of you—

Lucius:My gracious lord, no tribune hears you speak.

Titus Andronicus:Why, ’tis no matter, man. If they did hear, They would not mark me; if they did mark, They would not pity me. Yet plead I must, And bootless unto them. Therefore I tell my sorrows to the stones, Who, though they cannot answer my distress, Yet in some sort they are better than the Tribunes, For that they will not intercept my tale. When I do weep, they humbly at my feet Receive my tears and seem to weep with me, And were they but attirèd in grave weeds, Rome could afford no tribunes like to these. A stone is soft as wax, tribunes more hard than stones; A stone is silent and offendeth not, And tribunes with their tongues doom men to death. But wherefore stand’st thou with thy weapon drawn?

Lucius:To rescue my two brothers from their death, For which attempt the Judges have pronounced My everlasting doom of banishment.

Titus Andronicus:[rising] O happy man, they have befriended thee! Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers? Tigers must prey, and Rome affords no prey But me and mine. How happy art thou then From these devourers to be banishèd. But who comes with our brother Marcus here?

Enter Marcus with Lavinia.

Marcus Andronicus:Titus, prepare thy agèd eyes to weep, Or, if not so, thy noble heart to break. I bring consuming sorrow to thine age.

Titus Andronicus:Will it consume me? Let me see it, then.

Marcus Andronicus:This was thy daughter.

Titus Andronicus:Why, Marcus, so she is.

Lucius:Ay me, this object kills me!

Titus Andronicus:Faint-hearted boy, arise and look upon her.— Speak, Lavinia. What accursèd hand Hath made thee handless in thy father’s sight? What fool hath added water to the sea Or brought a faggot to bright-burning Troy? My grief was at the height before thou cam’st, And now like Nilus it disdaineth bounds.— Give me a sword. I’ll chop off my hands too, For they have fought for Rome and all in vain; And they have nursed this woe in feeding life; In bootless prayer have they been held up, And they have served me to effectless use. Now all the service I require of them Is that the one will help to cut the other.— ’Tis well, Lavinia, that thou hast no hands, For hands to do Rome service is but vain.

Lucius:Speak, gentle sister. Who hath martyred thee?

Marcus Andronicus:O, that delightful engine of her thoughts, That blabbed them with such pleasing eloquence, Is torn from forth that pretty hollow cage Where, like a sweet melodious bird, it sung Sweet varied notes, enchanting every ear.

Lucius:O, say thou for her who hath done this deed!

Marcus Andronicus:O, thus I found her straying in the park, Seeking to hide herself as doth the deer That hath received some unrecuring wound.

Titus Andronicus:It was my dear, and he that wounded her Hath hurt me more than had he killed me dead. For now I stand as one upon a rock, Environed with a wilderness of sea, Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave, Expecting ever when some envious surge Will in his brinish bowels swallow him. This way to death my wretched sons are gone; Here stands my other son a banished man, And here my brother, weeping at my woes. But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn Is dear Lavinia, dearer than my soul. Had I but seen thy picture in this plight It would have madded me. What shall I do, Now I behold thy lively body so? Thou hast no hands to wipe away thy tears, Nor tongue to tell me who hath martyred thee. Thy husband he is dead, and for his death Thy brothers are condemned, and dead by this.— Look, Marcus!—Ah, son Lucius, look on her! When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears Stood on her cheeks as doth the honeydew Upon a gathered lily almost withered.

Marcus Andronicus:Perchance she weeps because they killed her husband, Perchance because she knows them innocent.

Titus Andronicus:If they did kill thy husband, then be joyful, Because the law hath ta’en revenge on them.— No, no, they would not do so foul a deed. Witness the sorrow that their sister makes.— Gentle Lavinia, let me kiss thy lips, Or make some sign how I may do thee ease. Shall thy good uncle and thy brother Lucius And thou and I sit round about some fountain, Looking all downwards to behold our cheeks, How they are stained like meadows yet not dry With miry slime left on them by a flood? And in the fountain shall we gaze so long Till the fresh taste be taken from that clearness And made a brine pit with our bitter tears? Or shall we cut away our hands like thine? Or shall we bite our tongues and in dumb shows Pass the remainder of our hateful days? What shall we do? Let us that have our tongues Plot some device of further misery To make us wondered at in time to come.

Lucius:Sweet father, cease your tears, for at your grief See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps.

Marcus Andronicus:Patience, dear niece.—Good Titus, dry thine eyes.

Titus Andronicus:Ah, Marcus, Marcus! Brother, well I wot Thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine, For thou, poor man, hast drowned it with thine own.

Lucius:Ah, my Lavinia, I will wipe thy cheeks.

Titus Andronicus:Mark, Marcus, mark. I understand her signs. Had she a tongue to speak, now would she say That to her brother which I said to thee. His napkin, with his true tears all bewet, Can do no service on her sorrowful cheeks. O, what a sympathy of woe is this, As far from help as limbo is from bliss.

Enter Aaron the Moor alone.

Aaron:Titus Andronicus, my lord the Emperor Sends thee this word, that if thou love thy sons, Let Marcus, Lucius, or thyself, old Titus, Or any one of you, chop off your hand And send it to the King; he for the same Will send thee hither both thy sons alive, And that shall be the ransom for their fault.

Titus Andronicus:O gracious emperor! O gentle Aaron! Did ever raven sing so like a lark, That gives sweet tidings of the sun’s uprise? With all my heart I’ll send the Emperor my hand. Good Aaron, wilt thou help to chop it off?

Lucius:Stay, father, for that noble hand of thine, That hath thrown down so many enemies, Shall not be sent. My hand will serve the turn. My youth can better spare my blood than you, And therefore mine shall save my brothers’ lives.

Marcus Andronicus:Which of your hands hath not defended Rome And reared aloft the bloody battleax, Writing destruction on the enemy’s castle? O, none of both but are of high desert. My hand hath been but idle; let it serve To ransom my two nephews from their death. Then have I kept it to a worthy end.

Aaron:Nay, come, agree whose hand shall go along, For fear they die before their pardon come.

Marcus Andronicus:My hand shall go.

Lucius:By heaven, it shall not go!

Titus Andronicus:Sirs, strive no more. Such withered herbs as these Are meet for plucking up, and therefore mine.

Lucius:Sweet father, if I shall be thought thy son, Let me redeem my brothers both from death.

Marcus Andronicus:And for our father’s sake and mother’s care, Now let me show a brother’s love to thee.

Titus Andronicus:Agree between you. I will spare my hand.

Lucius:Then I’ll go fetch an ax.

Marcus Andronicus:But I will use the ax.

Lucius and Marcus exit.

Titus Andronicus:Come hither, Aaron. I’ll deceive them both. Lend me thy hand, and I will give thee mine.

Aaron:[aside] If that be called deceit, I will be honest And never whilst I live deceive men so. But I’ll deceive you in another sort, And that you’ll say ere half an hour pass.

He cuts off Titus’ hand.

Enter Lucius and Marcus again.

Titus Andronicus:Now stay your strife. What shall be is dispatched.— Good Aaron, give his Majesty my hand. Tell him it was a hand that warded him From thousand dangers. Bid him bury it. More hath it merited; that let it have. As for my sons, say I account of them As jewels purchased at an easy price, And yet dear, too, because I bought mine own.

Aaron:I go, Andronicus, and for thy hand Look by and by to have thy sons with thee. [Aside.] Their heads, I mean. O, how this villainy Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it! Let fools do good and fair men call for grace; Aaron will have his soul black like his face.

He exits.

Titus Andronicus:O, here I lift this one hand up to heaven, And bow this feeble ruin to the earth. [He kneels.] If any power pities wretched tears, To that I call. [(Lavinia kneels.)] What, wouldst thou kneel with me? Do, then, dear heart, for heaven shall hear our prayers, Or with our sighs we’ll breathe the welkin dim And stain the sun with fog, as sometime clouds When they do hug him in their melting bosoms.

Marcus Andronicus:O brother, speak with possibility, And do not break into these deep extremes.

Titus Andronicus:Is not my sorrow deep, having no bottom? Then be my passions bottomless with them.

Marcus Andronicus:But yet let reason govern thy lament.

Titus Andronicus:If there were reason for these miseries, Then into limits could I bind my woes. When heaven doth weep, doth not the Earth o’erflow? If the winds rage, doth not the sea wax mad, Threat’ning the welkin with his big-swoll’n face? And wilt thou have a reason for this coil? I am the sea. Hark how her sighs doth flow! She is the weeping welkin, I the Earth. Then must my sea be movèd with her sighs; Then must my Earth with her continual tears Become a deluge, overflowed and drowned, Forwhy my bowels cannot hide her woes But like a drunkard must I vomit them. Then give me leave, for losers will have leave To ease their stomachs with their bitter tongues.

Enter a Messenger with two heads and a hand.

Messenger:Worthy Andronicus, ill art thou repaid For that good hand thou sent’st the Emperor. Here are the heads of thy two noble sons, And here’s thy hand in scorn to thee sent back. Thy grief their sports, thy resolution mocked, That woe is me to think upon thy woes More than remembrance of my father’s death.

He exits.

Marcus Andronicus:Now let hot Etna cool in Sicily, And be my heart an everburning hell! These miseries are more than may be borne. To weep with them that weep doth ease some deal, But sorrow flouted at is double death.

Lucius:Ah, that this sight should make so deep a wound And yet detested life not shrink thereat! That ever death should let life bear his name, Where life hath no more interest but to breathe.

Lavinia kisses Titus.

Marcus Andronicus:Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless As frozen water to a starvèd snake.

Titus Andronicus:When will this fearful slumber have an end?

Marcus Andronicus:Now farewell, flatt’ry; die, Andronicus. Thou dost not slumber. See thy two sons’ heads, Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here, Thy other banished son with this dear sight Struck pale and bloodless; and thy brother, I, Even like a stony image cold and numb. Ah, now no more will I control thy griefs. Rent off thy silver hair, thy other hand, Gnawing with thy teeth, and be this dismal sight The closing up of our most wretched eyes. Now is a time to storm. Why art thou still?

Titus Andronicus:Ha, ha, ha!

Marcus Andronicus:Why dost thou laugh? It fits not with this hour.

Titus and Lavinia rise.

Titus Andronicus:Why, I have not another tear to shed. Besides, this sorrow is an enemy And would usurp upon my wat’ry eyes And make them blind with tributary tears. Then which way shall I find Revenge’s cave? For these two heads do seem to speak to me And threat me I shall never come to bliss Till all these mischiefs be returned again Even in their throats that hath committed them. Come, let me see what task I have to do. You heavy people, circle me about That I may turn me to each one of you And swear unto my soul to right your wrongs. The vow is made. Come, brother, take a head, And in this hand the other will I bear.— And, Lavinia, thou shalt be employed in these arms. Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth.— As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight. Thou art an exile, and thou must not stay. Hie to the Goths and raise an army there. And if you love me, as I think you do, Let’s kiss and part, for we have much to do.

All but Lucius exit.

Lucius:Farewell, Andronicus, my noble father, The woefull’st man that ever lived in Rome. Farewell, proud Rome, till Lucius come again. He loves his pledges dearer than his life. Farewell, Lavinia, my noble sister. O, would thou wert as thou tofore hast been! But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives But in oblivion and hateful griefs. If Lucius live he will requite your wrongs And make proud Saturnine and his empress Beg at the gates like Tarquin and his queen. Now will I to the Goths and raise a power To be revenged on Rome and Saturnine.

Lucius exits.

Scene 2

A banquet. Enter Titus Andronicus, Marcus, Lavinia, and the boy Young Lucius, with Servants.

Titus Andronicus:So, so. Now sit, and look you eat no more Than will preserve just so much strength in us As will revenge these bitter woes of ours. Marcus, unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot. Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands And cannot passionate our tenfold grief With folded arms. This poor right hand of mine Is left to tyrannize upon my breast, Who, when my heart, all mad with misery, Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh, Then thus I thump it down.— Thou map of woe, that thus dost talk in signs, When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating, Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still. Wound it with sighing, girl, kill it with groans; Or get some little knife between thy teeth And just against thy heart make thou a hole, That all the tears that thy poor eyes let fall May run into that sink and, soaking in, Drown the lamenting fool in sea-salt tears.

Marcus Andronicus:Fie, brother, fie! Teach her not thus to lay Such violent hands upon her tender life.

Titus Andronicus:How now! Has sorrow made thee dote already? Why, Marcus, no man should be mad but I. What violent hands can she lay on her life? Ah, wherefore dost thou urge the name of hands, To bid Aeneas tell the tale twice o’er How Troy was burnt and he made miserable? O, handle not the theme, to talk of hands, Lest we remember still that we have none.— Fie, fie, how franticly I square my talk, As if we should forget we had no hands If Marcus did not name the word of hands! Come, let’s fall to, and, gentle girl, eat this. Here is no drink!—Hark, Marcus, what she says. I can interpret all her martyred signs. She says she drinks no other drink but tears Brewed with her sorrow, mashed upon her cheeks.— Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought. In thy dumb action will I be as perfect As begging hermits in their holy prayers. Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven, Nor wink, nor nod, nor kneel, nor make a sign, But I of these will wrest an alphabet And by still practice learn to know thy meaning.

Young Lucius:[weeping] Good grandsire, leave these bitter deep laments. Make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale.

Marcus Andronicus:Alas, the tender boy, in passion moved, Doth weep to see his grandsire’s heaviness.

Titus Andronicus:Peace, tender sapling. Thou art made of tears, And tears will quickly melt thy life away. [Marcus strikes the dish with a knife.] What dost thou strike at, Marcus, with thy knife?

Marcus Andronicus:At that that I have killed, my lord, a fly.

Titus Andronicus:Out on thee, murderer! Thou kill’st my heart. Mine eyes are cloyed with view of tyranny; A deed of death done on the innocent Becomes not Titus’ brother. Get thee gone. I see thou art not for my company.

Marcus Andronicus:Alas, my lord, I have but killed a fly.

Titus Andronicus:"But"? How if that fly had a father and mother? How would he hang his slender gilded wings And buzz lamenting doings in the air! Poor harmless fly, That, with his pretty buzzing melody, Came here to make us merry! And thou hast killed him.

Marcus Andronicus:Pardon me, sir. It was a black, ill-favored fly, Like to the Empress’ Moor. Therefore I killed him.

Titus Andronicus:O, O, O! Then pardon me for reprehending thee, For thou hast done a charitable deed. Give me thy knife. I will insult on him, Flattering myself as if it were the Moor Come hither purposely to poison me. There’s for thyself, and that’s for Tamora. Ah, sirrah! Yet I think we are not brought so low But that between us we can kill a fly That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor.

Marcus Andronicus:Alas, poor man, grief has so wrought on him He takes false shadows for true substances.

Titus Andronicus:Come, take away.—Lavinia, go with me. I’ll to thy closet and go read with thee Sad stories chancèd in the times of old.— Come, boy, and go with me. Thy sight is young, And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.

They exit.

Act 4

Scene 1

Enter Lucius’ son and Lavinia running after him, and the boy flies from her with his books under his arm. Enter Titus and Marcus.

Young Lucius:Help, grandsire, help! My aunt Lavinia Follows me everywhere, I know not why.— Good uncle Marcus, see how swift she comes!— Alas, sweet aunt, I know not what you mean.

Marcus Andronicus:Stand by me, Lucius. Do not fear thine aunt.

Titus Andronicus:She loves thee, boy, too well to do thee harm.

Young Lucius:Ay, when my father was in Rome she did.

Marcus Andronicus:What means my niece Lavinia by these signs?

Titus Andronicus:Fear her not, Lucius. Somewhat doth she mean. See, Lucius, see, how much she makes of thee. Somewhither would she have thee go with her. Ah, boy, Cornelia never with more care Read to her sons than she hath read to thee Sweet poetry and Tully’s Orator.

Marcus Andronicus:Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus?

Young Lucius:My lord, I know not, I, nor can I guess, Unless some fit or frenzy do possess her; For I have heard my grandsire say full oft, Extremity of griefs would make men mad, And I have read that Hecuba of Troy Ran mad for sorrow. That made me to fear, Although, my lord, I know my noble aunt Loves me as dear as e’er my mother did, And would not but in fury fright my youth, Which made me down to throw my books and fly, Causeless, perhaps.—But pardon me, sweet aunt. And, madam, if my uncle Marcus go, I will most willingly attend your Ladyship.

Marcus Andronicus:Lucius, I will.

Titus Andronicus:How now, Lavinia?—Marcus, what means this? Some book there is that she desires to see.— Which is it, girl, of these?—Open them, boy.— [To Lavinia.] But thou art deeper read and better skilled. Come and take choice of all my library, And so beguile thy sorrow till the heavens Reveal the damned contriver of this deed.— Why lifts she up her arms in sequence thus?

Marcus Andronicus:I think she means that there were more than one Confederate in the fact. Ay, more there was, Or else to heaven she heaves them for revenge.

Titus Andronicus:Lucius, what book is that she tosseth so?

Young Lucius:Grandsire, ’tis Ovid’s Metamorphosis. My mother gave it me.

Marcus Andronicus:For love of her that’s gone, Perhaps, she culled it from among the rest.

Titus Andronicus:Soft! So busily she turns the leaves. Help her! What would she find?—Lavinia, shall I read? This is the tragic tale of Philomel, And treats of Tereus’ treason and his rape. And rape, I fear, was root of thy annoy.

Marcus Andronicus:See, brother, see! Note how she quotes the leaves.

Titus Andronicus:Lavinia, wert thou thus surprised, sweet girl, Ravished and wronged as Philomela was, Forced in the ruthless, vast, and gloomy woods? See, see! Ay, such a place there is where we did hunt— O, had we never, never hunted there!— Patterned by that the poet here describes, By nature made for murders and for rapes.

Marcus Andronicus:O, why should nature build so foul a den, Unless the gods delight in tragedies?

Titus Andronicus:Give signs, sweet girl, for here are none but friends, What Roman lord it was durst do the deed. Or slunk not Saturnine, as Tarquin erst, That left the camp to sin in Lucrece’ bed?

Marcus Andronicus:Sit down, sweet niece.—Brother, sit down by me. [They sit.] Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury Inspire me, that I may this treason find.— My lord, look here.—Look here, Lavinia. [He writes his name with his staff and guides it with feet and mouth.] This sandy plot is plain; guide, if thou canst, This after me. I have writ my name Without the help of any hand at all. Cursed be that heart that forced us to this shift! Write thou, good niece, and here display at last What God will have discovered for revenge. Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain, That we may know the traitors and the truth. [She takes the staff in her mouth, and guides it with her stumps and writes.] O, do you read, my lord, what she hath writ?

Titus Andronicus:"Stuprum. Chiron, Demetrius."

Marcus Andronicus:What, what! The lustful sons of Tamora Performers of this heinous, bloody deed?

Titus Andronicus:Magni Dominator poli, Tam lentus audis scelera, tam lentus vides?

Marcus Andronicus:O, calm thee, gentle lord, although I know There is enough written upon this earth To stir a mutiny in the mildest thoughts And arm the minds of infants to exclaims. My lord, kneel down with me.—Lavinia, kneel.— And kneel, sweet boy, the Roman Hector’s hope, [They all kneel.] And swear with me—as, with the woeful fere And father of that chaste dishonored dame, Lord Junius Brutus swore for Lucrece’ rape— That we will prosecute by good advice Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths, And see their blood or die with this reproach.

They rise.

Titus Andronicus:’Tis sure enough, an you knew how. But if you hunt these bearwhelps, then beware; The dam will wake an if she wind you once. She’s with the lion deeply still in league, And lulls him whilst she playeth on her back; And when he sleeps will she do what she list. You are a young huntsman, Marcus; let alone. And come, I will go get a leaf of brass, And with a gad of steel will write these words, And lay it by. The angry northern wind Will blow these sands like Sibyl’s leaves abroad, And where’s our lesson then?—Boy, what say you?

Young Lucius:I say, my lord, that if I were a man, Their mother’s bedchamber should not be safe For these base bondmen to the yoke of Rome.

Marcus Andronicus:Ay, that’s my boy! Thy father hath full oft For his ungrateful country done the like.

Young Lucius:And, uncle, so will I, an if I live.

Titus Andronicus:Come, go with me into mine armory. Lucius, I’ll fit thee, and withal my boy Shall carry from me to the Empress’ sons Presents that I intend to send them both. Come, come. Thou ’lt do my message, wilt thou not?

Young Lucius:Ay, with my dagger in their bosoms, grandsire.

Titus Andronicus:No, boy, not so. I’ll teach thee another course.— Lavinia, come.—Marcus, look to my house. Lucius and I’ll go brave it at the court; Ay, marry, will we, sir, and we’ll be waited on.

All but Marcus exit.

Marcus Andronicus:O heavens, can you hear a good man groan And not relent, or not compassion him? Marcus, attend him in his ecstasy, That hath more scars of sorrow in his heart Than foemen’s marks upon his battered shield, But yet so just that he will not revenge. Revenge the heavens for old Andronicus!

He exits.

Scene 2

Enter Aaron, Chiron, and Demetrius at one door, and at the other door young Lucius and another, with a bundle of weapons and verses writ upon them.

Chiron:Demetrius, here’s the son of Lucius. He hath some message to deliver us.

Aaron:Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.

Young Lucius:My lords, with all the humbleness I may, I greet your Honors from Andronicus— [Aside.] And pray the Roman gods confound you both.

Demetrius:Gramercy, lovely Lucius. What’s the news?

Young Lucius:[aside] That you are both deciphered, that’s the news, For villains marked with rape.—May it please you, My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me The goodliest weapons of his armory To gratify your honorable youth, The hope of Rome; for so he bid me say, And so I do, and with his gifts present Your Lordships, that, whenever you have need, You may be armèd and appointed well, And so I leave you both— [(aside)] like bloody villains.

He exits, with Attendant.

Demetrius:What’s here? A scroll, and written round about. Let’s see: [He reads:] "Integer vitae, scelerisque purus, Non eget Mauri iaculis, nec arcu."

Chiron:O, ’tis a verse in Horace; I know it well. I read it in the grammar long ago.

Aaron:Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it. [Aside.] Now, what a thing it is to be an ass! Here’s no sound jest. The old man hath found their guilt And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick. But were our witty empress well afoot, She would applaud Andronicus’ conceit. But let her rest in her unrest awhile.— And now, young lords, was ’t not a happy star Led us to Rome, strangers, and, more than so, Captives, to be advancèd to this height? It did me good before the palace gate To brave the tribune in his brother’s hearing.

Demetrius:But me more good to see so great a lord Basely insinuate and send us gifts.

Aaron:Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius? Did you not use his daughter very friendly?

Demetrius:I would we had a thousand Roman dames At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.

Chiron:A charitable wish, and full of love!

Aaron:Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.

Chiron:And that would she, for twenty thousand more.

Demetrius:Come, let us go and pray to all the gods For our belovèd mother in her pains.

Aaron:[aside] Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.

Trumpets sound offstage.

Demetrius:Why do the Emperor’s trumpets flourish thus?

Chiron:Belike for joy the Emperor hath a son.

Demetrius:Soft, who comes here?

Enter Nurse, with a blackamoor child in her arms.

Nurse:Good morrow, lords. O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?

Aaron:Well, more or less, or ne’er a whit at all, Here Aaron is. And what with Aaron now?

Nurse:O, gentle Aaron, we are all undone! Now help, or woe betide thee evermore.

Aaron:Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep! What dost thou wrap and fumble in thy arms?

Nurse:O, that which I would hide from heaven’s eye, Our empress’ shame and stately Rome’s disgrace. She is delivered, lords, she is delivered.

Aaron:To whom?

Nurse:I mean, she is brought abed.

Aaron:Well, God give her good rest. What hath he sent her?

Nurse:A devil.

Aaron:Why, then she is the devil’s dam. A joyful issue!

Nurse:A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue! Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad Amongst the fair-faced breeders of our clime. The Empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal, And bids thee christen it with thy dagger’s point.

Aaron:Zounds, you whore, is black so base a hue? [To the baby.] Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous blossom, sure.

Demetrius:Villain, what hast thou done?

Aaron:That which thou canst not undo.

Chiron:Thou hast undone our mother.

Aaron:Villain, I have done thy mother.

Demetrius:And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone her. Woe to her chance, and damned her loathèd choice! Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!

Chiron:It shall not live.

Aaron:It shall not die.

Nurse:Aaron, it must. The mother wills it so.

Aaron:What, must it, nurse? Then let no man but I Do execution on my flesh and blood.

Demetrius:I’ll broach the tadpole on my rapier’s point. Nurse, give it me. My sword shall soon dispatch it.

Aaron:[taking the baby] Sooner this sword shall plow thy bowels up! Stay, murderous villains, will you kill your brother? Now, by the burning tapers of the sky That shone so brightly when this boy was got, He dies upon my scimitar’s sharp point That touches this my firstborn son and heir. I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus With all his threat’ning band of Typhon’s brood, Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war Shall seize this prey out of his father’s hands. What, what, you sanguine, shallow-hearted boys, You white-limed walls, you alehouse painted signs! Coal-black is better than another hue In that it scorns to bear another hue; For all the water in the ocean Can never turn the swan’s black legs to white, Although she lave them hourly in the flood. Tell the Empress from me, I am of age To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.

Demetrius:Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?

Aaron:My mistress is my mistress, this myself, The vigor and the picture of my youth. This before all the world do I prefer; This maugre all the world will I keep safe, Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.

Demetrius:By this our mother is forever shamed.

Chiron:Rome will despise her for this foul escape.

Nurse:The Emperor in his rage will doom her death.

Chiron:I blush to think upon this ignomy.

Aaron:Why, there’s the privilege your beauty bears. Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing The close enacts and counsels of thy heart. Here’s a young lad framed of another leer. Look how the black slave smiles upon the father, As who should say "Old lad, I am thine own." He is your brother, lords, sensibly fed Of that self blood that first gave life to you, And from that womb where you imprisoned were He is enfranchisèd and come to light. Nay, he is your brother by the surer side, Although my seal be stampèd in his face.

Nurse:Aaron, what shall I say unto the Empress?

Demetrius:Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done, And we will all subscribe to thy advice. Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.

Aaron:Then sit we down, and let us all consult. My son and I will have the wind of you. Keep there. Now talk at pleasure of your safety.

Demetrius:[to the Nurse] How many women saw this child of his?

Aaron:Why, so, brave lords! When we join in league, I am a lamb; but if you brave the Moor, The chafèd boar, the mountain lioness, The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms. [To the Nurse.] But say again, how many saw the child?

Nurse:Cornelia the midwife and myself, And no one else but the delivered Empress.

Aaron:The Empress, the midwife, and yourself. Two may keep counsel when the third’s away. Go to the Empress; tell her this I said. [He kills her.] "Wheak, wheak"! So cries a pig preparèd to the spit.

Demetrius:What mean’st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this?

Aaron:O Lord, sir, ’tis a deed of policy. Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours, A long-tongued babbling gossip? No, lords, no. And now be it known to you my full intent: Not far one Muliteus my countryman His wife but yesternight was brought to bed. His child is like to her, fair as you are. Go pack with him, and give the mother gold, And tell them both the circumstance of all, And how by this their child shall be advanced And be receivèd for the Emperor’s heir, And substituted in the place of mine, To calm this tempest whirling in the court; And let the Emperor dandle him for his own. Hark you, lords, you see I have given her physic, [indicating the Nurse] And you must needs bestow her funeral. The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms. This done, see that you take no longer days, But send the midwife presently to me. The midwife and the nurse well made away, Then let the ladies tattle what they please.

Chiron:Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air With secrets.

Demetrius:For this care of Tamora, Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.

Demetrius and Chiron exit, carrying the Nurse’s body.

Aaron:Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies, There to dispose this treasure in mine arms And secretly to greet the Empress’ friends.— Come on, you thick-lipped slave, I’ll bear you hence, For it is you that puts us to our shifts. I’ll make you feed on berries and on roots, And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat, And cabin in a cave, and bring you up To be a warrior and command a camp.

He exits with the baby.

Scene 3

Enter Titus, old Marcus, his son Publius, young Lucius, and other gentlemen (Caius and Sempronius) with bows, and Titus bears the arrows with letters on the ends of them.

Titus Andronicus:Come, Marcus, come. Kinsmen, this is the way.— Sir boy, let me see your archery. Look you draw home enough and ’tis there straight.— Terras Astraea reliquit. Be you remembered, Marcus, she’s gone, she’s fled.— Sirs, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shall Go sound the ocean and cast your nets; Happily you may catch her in the sea; Yet there’s as little justice as at land. No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it. ’Tis you must dig with mattock and with spade, And pierce the inmost center of the Earth. Then, when you come to Pluto’s region, I pray you, deliver him this petition. Tell him it is for justice and for aid, And that it comes from old Andronicus, Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome. Ah, Rome! Well, well, I made thee miserable What time I threw the people’s suffrages On him that thus doth tyrannize o’er me. Go, get you gone, and pray be careful all, And leave you not a man-of-war unsearched. This wicked emperor may have shipped her hence, And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice.

Marcus Andronicus:O Publius, is not this a heavy case To see thy noble uncle thus distract?

Publius:Therefore, my lords, it highly us concerns By day and night t’ attend him carefully, And feed his humor kindly as we may, Till time beget some careful remedy.

Marcus Andronicus:Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy But Join with the Goths, and with revengeful war Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude, And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.

Titus Andronicus:Publius, how now? How now, my masters? What, have you met with her?

Publius:No, my good lord, but Pluto sends you word, If you will have Revenge from hell, you shall. Marry, for Justice, she is so employed, He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else, So that perforce you must needs stay a time.

Titus Andronicus:He doth me wrong to feed me with delays. I’ll dive into the burning lake below And pull her out of Acheron by the heels. Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we, No big-boned men framed of the Cyclops’ size, But metal, Marcus, steel to the very back, Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear; And sith there’s no justice in Earth nor hell, We will solicit heaven and move the gods To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs. Come, to this gear. You are a good archer, Marcus. [He gives them the arrows.] "Ad Jovem," that’s for you;—here, "Ad Apollinem";— "Ad Martem," that’s for myself;— Here, boy, "to Pallas";—here, "to Mercury";— "To Saturn," Caius—not to Saturnine! You were as good to shoot against the wind. To it, boy!—Marcus, loose when I bid. Of my word, I have written to effect; There’s not a god left unsolicited.

Marcus Andronicus:Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court. We will afflict the Emperor in his pride.

Titus Andronicus:Now, masters, draw. [(They shoot.)] O, well said, Lucius! Good boy, in Virgo’s lap! Give it Pallas.

Marcus Andronicus:My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon. Your letter is with Jupiter by this.

Titus Andronicus:Ha, ha! Publius, Publius, what hast thou done? See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus’ horns!

Marcus Andronicus:This was the sport, my lord; when Publius shot, The Bull, being galled, gave Aries such a knock That down fell both the Ram’s horns in the court, And who should find them but the Empress’ villain? She laughed and told the Moor he should not choose But give them to his master for a present.

Titus Andronicus:Why, there it goes. God give his Lordship joy! [Enter a country fellow with a basket and two pigeons in it.] News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post is come.— Sirrah, what tidings? Have you any letters? Shall I have Justice? What says Jupiter?

Country Fellow:Ho, the gibbet-maker? He says that he hath taken them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the next week.

Titus Andronicus:But what says Jupiter, I ask thee?

Country Fellow:Alas, sir, I know not Jubiter; I never drank with him in all my life.

Titus Andronicus:Why, villain, art not thou the carrier?

Country Fellow:Ay, of my pigeons, sir; nothing else.

Titus Andronicus:Why, didst thou not come from heaven?

Country Fellow:From heaven? Alas, sir, I never came there. God forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young days. Why, I am going with my pigeons to the tribunal plebs, to take up a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and one of the Emperal’s men.

Marcus Andronicus:[to Titus] Why, sir, that is as fit as can be to serve for your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to the Emperor from you.

Titus Andronicus:Tell me, can you deliver an oration to the Emperor with a grace?

Country Fellow:Nay, truly, sir, I could never say grace in all my life.

Titus Andronicus:Sirrah, come hither. Make no more ado, But give your pigeons to the Emperor. By me thou shalt have justice at his hands. Hold, hold; meanwhile here’s money for thy charges.—Give me pen and ink.—Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver up a supplication?

He writes.

Country Fellow:Ay, sir.

Titus Andronicus:Then here is a supplication for you, and when you come to him, at the first approach you must kneel, then kiss his foot, then deliver up your pigeons, and then look for your reward. I’ll be at hand, sir. See you do it bravely.

He hands him a paper.

Country Fellow:I warrant you, sir. Let me alone.

Titus Andronicus:Sirrah, hast thou a knife? Come, let me see it.— [He takes the knife and gives it to Marcus.] Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration, For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant.— And when thou hast given it to the Emperor, Knock at my door and tell me what he says.

Country Fellow:God be with you, sir. I will.

He exits.

Titus Andronicus:Come, Marcus, let us go.—Publius, follow me.

They exit.

Scene 4

Enter Emperor Saturninus and Empress Tamora and her two sons Chiron and Demetrius, with Attendants. The Emperor brings the arrows in his hand that Titus shot at him.

Saturninus:Why, lords, what wrongs are these! Was ever seen An emperor in Rome thus overborne, Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent Of equal justice, used in such contempt? My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods, However these disturbers of our peace Buzz in the people’s ears, there naught hath passed But even with law against the willful sons Of old Andronicus. And what an if His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits? Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks, His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness? And now he writes to heaven for his redress! See, here’s "to Jove," and this "to Mercury," This "to Apollo," this to the god of war. Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome! What’s this but libeling against the Senate And blazoning our unjustice everywhere? A goodly humor is it not, my lords? As who would say, in Rome no justice were. But if I live, his feignèd ecstasies Shall be no shelter to these outrages, But he and his shall know that justice lives In Saturninus’ health, whom, if he sleep, He’ll so awake as he in fury shall Cut off the proud’st conspirator that lives.

Tamora:My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine, Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts, Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus’ age, Th’ effects of sorrow for his valiant sons, Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarred his heart, And rather comfort his distressèd plight Than prosecute the meanest or the best For these contempts. [(Aside.)] Why, thus it shall become High-witted Tamora to gloze with all. But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick. Thy lifeblood out, if Aaron now be wise, Then is all safe, the anchor in the port. [Enter Country Fellow.] How now, good fellow, wouldst thou speak with us?

Country Fellow:Yea, forsooth, an your Mistresship be emperial.

Tamora:Empress I am, but yonder sits the Emperor.

Country Fellow:’Tis he!—God and Saint Stephen give you good e’en. I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.

Saturninus reads the letter.

Saturninus:Go, take him away, and hang him presently.

Country Fellow:How much money must I have?

Tamora:Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.

Country Fellow:Hanged! By ’r Lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end.

He exits with Attendants.

Saturninus:Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! Shall I endure this monstrous villainy? I know from whence this same device proceeds. May this be borne?—as if his traitorous sons, That died by law for murder of our brother, Have by my means been butchered wrongfully! Go, drag the villain hither by the hair. Nor age nor honor shall shape privilege. For this proud mock, I’ll be thy slaughterman, Sly, frantic wretch, that holp’st to make me great In hope thyself should govern Rome and me.

Enter nuntius, Aemilius.

Saturninus:What news with thee, Aemilius?

Aemilius:Arm, my lords! Rome never had more cause. The Goths have gathered head, and with a power Of high-resolvèd men bent to the spoil, They hither march amain under conduct Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus, Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do As much as ever Coriolanus did.

Saturninus:Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths? These tidings nip me, and I hang the head As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms. Ay, now begins our sorrows to approach. ’Tis he the common people love so much. Myself hath often heard them say, When I have walkèd like a private man, That Lucius’ banishment was wrongfully, And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor.

Tamora:Why should you fear? Is not your city strong?

Saturninus:Ay, but the citizens favor Lucius And will revolt from me to succor him.

Tamora:King, be thy thoughts imperious like thy name. Is the sun dimmed that gnats do fly in it? The eagle suffers little birds to sing And is not careful what they mean thereby, Knowing that with the shadow of his wings He can at pleasure stint their melody. Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome. Then cheer thy spirit, for know, thou emperor, I will enchant the old Andronicus With words more sweet and yet more dangerous Than baits to fish or honey-stalks to sheep, Whenas the one is wounded with the bait, The other rotted with delicious feed.

Saturninus:But he will not entreat his son for us.

Tamora:If Tamora entreat him, then he will, For I can smooth and fill his agèd ears With golden promises, that were his heart Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf, Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue. [To Aemilius.] Go thou before to be our ambassador. Say that the Emperor requests a parley Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting Even at his father’s house, the old Andronicus.

Saturninus:Aemilius, do this message honorably, And if he stand in hostage for his safety, Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

Aemilius:Your bidding shall I do effectually.

He exits.

Tamora:Now will I to that old Andronicus And temper him with all the art I have To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again, And bury all thy fear in my devices.

Saturninus:Then go successantly, and plead to him.

They exit.

Act 5

Scene 1

Flourish. Enter Lucius with an army of Goths, with Drums and Soldiers.

Lucius:Approvèd warriors and my faithful friends, I have receivèd letters from great Rome Which signifies what hate they bear their emperor And how desirous of our sight they are. Therefore, great lords, be as your titles witness, Imperious, and impatient of your wrongs, And wherein Rome hath done you any scathe, Let him make treble satisfaction.

First Goth:Brave slip sprung from the great Andronicus, Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort, Whose high exploits and honorable deeds Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt, Be bold in us. We’ll follow where thou lead’st, Like stinging bees in hottest summer’s day Led by their master to the flowered fields, And be avenged on cursèd Tamora.

First Goth, Second Goth:And as he saith, so say we all with him.

Lucius:I humbly thank him, and I thank you all. But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth?

Enter a Goth, leading of Aaron with his child in his arms.

Second Goth:Renownèd Lucius, from our troops I strayed To gaze upon a ruinous monastery, And as I earnestly did fix mine eye Upon the wasted building, suddenly I heard a child cry underneath a wall. I made unto the noise, when soon I heard The crying babe controlled with this discourse: "Peace, tawny slave, half me and half thy dame! Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art, Had nature lent thee but thy mother’s look, Villain, thou mightst have been an emperor. But where the bull and cow are both milk white, They never do beget a coal-black calf. Peace, villain, peace!"—even thus he rates the babe— "For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth Who, when he knows thou art the Empress’ babe, Will hold thee dearly for thy mother’s sake." With this, my weapon drawn, I rushed upon him, Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither To use as you think needful of the man.

Lucius:O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil That robbed Andronicus of his good hand; This is the pearl that pleased your empress’ eye; And here’s the base fruit of her burning lust.— Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey This growing image of thy fiendlike face? Why dost not speak? What, deaf? Not a word?— A halter, soldiers! Hang him on this tree, And by his side his fruit of bastardy.

Aaron:Touch not the boy. He is of royal blood.

Lucius:Too like the sire for ever being good. First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl, A sight to vex the father’s soul withal. Get me a ladder.

A ladder is brought, which Aaron is made to climb.

Aaron:Lucius, save the child And bear it from me to the Empress. If thou do this, I’ll show thee wondrous things That highly may advantage thee to hear. If thou wilt not, befall what may befall, I’ll speak no more but "Vengeance rot you all!"

Lucius:Say on, and if it please me which thou speak’st, Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourished.

Aaron:And if it please thee? Why, assure thee, Lucius, ’Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak; For I must talk of murders, rapes, and massacres, Acts of black night, abominable deeds, Complots of mischief, treason, villainies, Ruthful to hear, yet piteously performed. And this shall all be buried in my death, Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.

Lucius:Tell on thy mind. I say thy child shall live.

Aaron:Swear that he shall, and then I will begin.

Lucius:Who should I swear by? Thou believest no god. That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?

Aaron:What if I do not? As indeed I do not. Yet, for I know thou art religious And hast a thing within thee callèd conscience, With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies Which I have seen thee careful to observe, Therefore I urge thy oath; for that I know An idiot holds his bauble for a god And keeps the oath which by that god he swears, To that I’ll urge him. Therefore thou shalt vow By that same god, what god soe’er it be That thou adorest and hast in reverence, To save my boy, to nourish and bring him up, Or else I will discover naught to thee.

Lucius:Even by my god I swear to thee I will.

Aaron:First know thou, I begot him on the Empress.

Lucius:O, most insatiate and luxurious woman!

Aaron:Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity To that which thou shalt hear of me anon. ’Twas her two sons that murdered Bassianus. They cut thy sister’s tongue, and ravished her, And cut her hands, and trimmed her as thou sawest.

Lucius:O detestable villain, call’st thou that trimming?

Aaron:Why, she was washed, and cut, and trimmed; and ’twas Trim sport for them which had the doing of it.

Lucius:O, barbarous beastly villains, like thyself!

Aaron:Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them. That codding spirit had they from their mother, As sure a card as ever won the set; That bloody mind I think they learned of me, As true a dog as ever fought at head. Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth. I trained thy brethren to that guileful hole Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay. I wrote the letter that thy father found, And hid the gold within that letter mentioned, Confederate with the Queen and her two sons. And what not done that thou hast cause to rue, Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it? I played the cheater for thy father’s hand, And, when I had it, drew myself apart And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter. I pried me through the crevice of a wall When, for his hand, he had his two sons’ heads, Beheld his tears, and laughed so heartily That both mine eyes were rainy like to his. And when I told the Empress of this sport, She sounded almost at my pleasing tale, And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses.

Goth:What, canst thou say all this and never blush?

Aaron:Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.

Lucius:Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds?

Aaron:Ay, that I had not done a thousand more. Even now I curse the day—and yet, I think, Few come within the compass of my curse— Wherein I did not some notorious ill, As kill a man, or else devise his death; Ravish a maid or plot the way to do it; Accuse some innocent and forswear myself; Set deadly enmity between two friends; Make poor men’s cattle break their necks; Set fire on barns and haystalks in the night, And bid the owners quench them with their tears. Oft have I digged up dead men from their graves And set them upright at their dear friends’ door, Even when their sorrows almost was forgot, And on their skins, as on the bark of trees, Have with my knife carvèd in Roman letters "Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead." But I have done a thousand dreadful things As willingly as one would kill a fly, And nothing grieves me heartily indeed But that I cannot do ten thousand more.

Lucius:Bring down the devil, for he must not die So sweet a death as hanging presently.

Aaron is brought down from the ladder.

Aaron:If there be devils, would I were a devil, To live and burn in everlasting fire, So I might have your company in hell But to torment you with my bitter tongue.

Lucius:Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more.

Enter Aemilius.

Goth:My lord, there is a messenger from Rome Desires to be admitted to your presence.

Lucius:Let him come near. [Aemilius comes forward.] Welcome, Aemilius. What’s the news from Rome?

Aemilius:Lord Lucius, and you princes of the Goths, The Roman Emperor greets you all by me; And, for he understands you are in arms, He craves a parley at your father’s house, Willing you to demand your hostages, And they shall be immediately delivered.

Goth:What says our general?

Lucius:Aemilius, let the Emperor give his pledges Unto my father and my uncle Marcus, And we will come. March away.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Tamora and her two sons, disguised.

Tamora:Thus, in this strange and sad habiliment I will encounter with Andronicus And say I am Revenge, sent from below To join with him and right his heinous wrongs. Knock at his study, where they say he keeps To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge. Tell him Revenge is come to join with him And work confusion on his enemies.

They knock, and Titus (above) opens his study door.

Titus Andronicus:Who doth molest my contemplation? Is it your trick to make me ope the door, That so my sad decrees may fly away And all my study be to no effect? You are deceived, for what I mean to do, See here, in bloody lines I have set down, And what is written shall be executed.

Tamora:Titus, I am come to talk with thee.

Titus Andronicus:No, not a word. How can I grace my talk, Wanting a hand to give it action? Thou hast the odds of me; therefore, no more.

Tamora:If thou didst know me, thou wouldst talk with me.

Titus Andronicus:I am not mad. I know thee well enough. Witness this wretched stump; witness these crimson lines; Witness these trenches made by grief and care; Witness the tiring day and heavy night; Witness all sorrow that I know thee well For our proud empress, mighty Tamora. Is not thy coming for my other hand?

Tamora:Know, thou sad man, I am not Tamora. She is thy enemy, and I thy friend. I am Revenge, sent from th’ infernal kingdom To ease the gnawing vulture of thy mind By working wreakful vengeance on thy foes. Come down and welcome me to this world’s light. Confer with me of murder and of death. There’s not a hollow cave or lurking-place, No vast obscurity or misty vale Where bloody murder or detested rape Can couch for fear but I will find them out, And in their ears tell them my dreadful name, Revenge, which makes the foul offender quake.

Titus Andronicus:Art thou Revenge? And art thou sent to me To be a torment to mine enemies?

Tamora:I am. Therefore come down and welcome me.

Titus Andronicus:Do me some service ere I come to thee. Lo, by thy side, where Rape and Murder stands, Now give some surance that thou art Revenge: Stab them, or tear them on thy chariot wheels, And then I’ll come and be thy wagoner, And whirl along with thee about the globe, Provide thee two proper palfreys, black as jet, To hale thy vengeful wagon swift away, And find out murderers in their guilty caves. And when thy car is loaden with their heads, I will dismount and by thy wagon wheel Trot like a servile footman all day long, Even from Hyperion’s rising in the east Until his very downfall in the sea. And day by day I’ll do this heavy task, So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there.

Tamora:These are my ministers and come with me.

Titus Andronicus:Are they thy ministers? What are they called?

Tamora:Rape and Murder; therefore callèd so ’Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men.

Titus Andronicus:Good Lord, how like the Empress’ sons they are, And you the Empress! But we worldly men Have miserable, mad, mistaking eyes. O sweet Revenge, now do I come to thee, And if one arm’s embracement will content thee, I will embrace thee in it by and by.

He exits above.

Tamora:This closing with him fits his lunacy. Whate’er I forge to feed his brainsick humors, Do you uphold and maintain in your speeches, For now he firmly takes me for Revenge; And, being credulous in this mad thought, I’ll make him send for Lucius his son; And whilst I at a banquet hold him sure, I’ll find some cunning practice out of hand To scatter and disperse the giddy Goths, Or, at the least, make them his enemies. See, here he comes, and I must ply my theme.

Enter Titus.

Titus Andronicus:Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee. Welcome, dread Fury, to my woeful house.— Rapine and Murder, you are welcome too. How like the Empress and her sons you are! Well are you fitted, had you but a Moor. Could not all hell afford you such a devil? For well I wot the Empress never wags But in her company there is a Moor; And, would you represent our queen aright, It were convenient you had such a devil. But welcome as you are. What shall we do?

Tamora:What wouldst thou have us do, Andronicus?

Demetrius:Show me a murderer; I’ll deal with him.

Chiron:Show me a villain that hath done a rape, And I am sent to be revenged on him.

Tamora:Show me a thousand that hath done thee wrong, And I will be revengèd on them all.

Titus Andronicus:[to Demetrius] Look round about the wicked streets of Rome, And when thou findst a man that’s like thyself, Good Murder, stab him; he’s a murderer. [To Chiron.] Go thou with him, and when it is thy hap To find another that is like to thee, Good Rapine, stab him; he is a ravisher. [To Tamora.] Go thou with them; and in the Emperor’s court There is a queen attended by a Moor. Well shalt thou know her by thine own proportion, For up and down she doth resemble thee. I pray thee, do on them some violent death. They have been violent to me and mine.

Tamora:Well hast thou lessoned us; this shall we do. But would it please thee, good Andronicus, To send for Lucius, thy thrice-valiant son, Who leads towards Rome a band of warlike Goths, And bid him come and banquet at thy house? When he is here, even at thy solemn feast, I will bring in the Empress and her sons, The Emperor himself, and all thy foes, And at thy mercy shall they stoop and kneel, And on them shalt thou ease thy angry heart. What says Andronicus to this device?

Titus Andronicus:[(calling)] Marcus, my brother, ’tis sad Titus calls. [Enter Marcus.] Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius. Thou shalt inquire him out among the Goths. Bid him repair to me and bring with him Some of the chiefest princes of the Goths. Bid him encamp his soldiers where they are. Tell him the Emperor and the Empress too Feast at my house, and he shall feast with them. This do thou for my love, and so let him, As he regards his agèd father’s life.

Marcus Andronicus:This will I do, and soon return again.

Marcus exits.

Tamora:Now will I hence about thy business And take my ministers along with me.

Titus Andronicus:Nay, nay, let Rape and Murder stay with me, Or else I’ll call my brother back again And cleave to no revenge but Lucius.

Tamora:[aside to Chiron and Demetrius] What say you, boys? Will you abide with him Whiles I go tell my lord the Emperor How I have governed our determined jest? Yield to his humor, smooth and speak him fair, And tarry with him till I turn again.

Titus Andronicus:[aside] I knew them all, though they supposed me mad, And will o’erreach them in their own devices— A pair of cursèd hellhounds and their dam!

Demetrius:[aside to Tamora] Madam, depart at pleasure. Leave us here.

Tamora:Farewell, Andronicus. Revenge now goes To lay a complot to betray thy foes.

Titus Andronicus:I know thou dost; and, sweet Revenge, farewell.

Tamora exits.

Chiron:Tell us, old man, how shall we be employed?

Titus Andronicus:Tut, I have work enough for you to do.— Publius, come hither; Caius, and Valentine.

Publius, Caius, and Valentine enter.

Publius:What is your will?

Titus Andronicus:Know you these two?

Publius:The Empress’ sons, I take them—Chiron, Demetrius.

Titus Andronicus:Fie, Publius, fie, thou art too much deceived. The one is Murder, and Rape is the other’s name; And therefore bind them, gentle Publius. Caius and Valentine, lay hands on them. Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour, And now I find it. Therefore bind them sure, And stop their mouths if they begin to cry.

Titus exits.

Chiron:Villains, forbear! We are the Empress’ sons.

Publius:And therefore do we what we are commanded.— Stop close their mouths; let them not speak a word. Is he sure bound? Look that you bind them fast.

Enter Titus Andronicus with a knife, and Lavinia with a basin.

Titus Andronicus:Come, come, Lavinia. Look, thy foes are bound.— Sirs, stop their mouths. Let them not speak to me, But let them hear what fearful words I utter.— O villains, Chiron and Demetrius! Here stands the spring whom you have stained with mud, This goodly summer with your winter mixed. You killed her husband, and for that vile fault Two of her brothers were condemned to death, My hand cut off and made a merry jest, Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dear Than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity, Inhuman traitors, you constrained and forced. What would you say if I should let you speak? Villains, for shame you could not beg for grace. Hark, wretches, how I mean to martyr you. This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, Whiles that Lavinia ’tween her stumps doth hold The basin that receives your guilty blood. You know your mother means to feast with me, And calls herself Revenge, and thinks me mad. Hark, villains, I will grind your bones to dust, And with your blood and it I’ll make a paste, And of the paste a coffin I will rear, And make two pasties of your shameful heads, And bid that strumpet, your unhallowed dam, Like to the earth swallow her own increase. This is the feast that I have bid her to, And this the banquet she shall surfeit on; For worse than Philomel you used my daughter, And worse than Procne I will be revenged. And now prepare your throats.—Lavinia, come, Receive the blood. [He cuts their throats.] And when that they are dead, Let me go grind their bones to powder small, And with this hateful liquor temper it, And in that paste let their vile heads be baked. Come, come, be everyone officious To make this banquet, which I wish may prove More stern and bloody than the Centaurs’ feast. So. Now bring them in, for I’ll play the cook And see them ready against their mother comes.

They exit, carrying the dead bodies.

Scene 3

Enter Lucius, Marcus, and the Goths, with Aaron, Guards, and an Attendant carrying the baby.

Lucius:Uncle Marcus, since ’tis my father’s mind That I repair to Rome, I am content.

First Goth:And ours with thine, befall what fortune will.

Lucius:Good uncle, take you in this barbarous Moor, This ravenous tiger, this accursèd devil. Let him receive no sust’nance. Fetter him Till he be brought unto the Empress’ face For testimony of her foul proceedings. And see the ambush of our friends be strong. I fear the Emperor means no good to us.

Aaron:Some devil whisper curses in my ear And prompt me that my tongue may utter forth The venomous malice of my swelling heart.

Lucius:Away, inhuman dog, unhallowed slave!— Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in. [Sound trumpets.] The trumpets show the Emperor is at hand.

Guards and Aaron exit.

Enter Emperor Saturninus and Empress Tamora with Aemilius, Tribunes, Attendants, and others.

Saturninus:What, hath the firmament more suns than one?

Lucius:What boots it thee to call thyself a sun?

Marcus Andronicus:Rome’s emperor, and nephew, break the parle. These quarrels must be quietly debated. The feast is ready which the careful Titus Hath ordained to an honorable end, For peace, for love, for league and good to Rome. Please you therefore draw nigh and take your places.

Saturninus:Marcus, we will.

Trumpets sounding, enter Titus like a cook, placing the dishes, with young Lucius and others, and Lavinia with a veil over her face.

Titus Andronicus:Welcome, my lord;—welcome, dread queen;— Welcome, you warlike Goths;—welcome, Lucius;— And welcome, all. Although the cheer be poor, ’Twill fill your stomachs. Please you eat of it.

They begin to eat.

Saturninus:Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?

Titus Andronicus:Because I would be sure to have all well To entertain your Highness and your empress.

Tamora:We are beholding to you, good Andronicus.

Titus Andronicus:An if your Highness knew my heart, you were.— My lord the Emperor, resolve me this: Was it well done of rash Virginius To slay his daughter with his own right hand Because she was enforced, stained, and deflowered?

Saturninus:It was, Andronicus.

Titus Andronicus:Your reason, mighty lord?

Saturninus:Because the girl should not survive her shame, And by her presence still renew his sorrows.

Titus Andronicus:A reason mighty, strong, and effectual; A pattern, precedent, and lively warrant For me, most wretched, to perform the like. Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee, And with thy shame thy father’s sorrow die.

He kills Lavinia.

Saturninus:What hast thou done, unnatural and unkind?

Titus Andronicus:Killed her for whom my tears have made me blind. I am as woeful as Virginius was, And have a thousand times more cause than he To do this outrage, and it now is done.

Saturninus:What, was she ravished? Tell who did the deed.

Titus Andronicus:Will ’t please you eat?—Will ’t please your Highness feed?

Tamora:Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus?

Titus Andronicus:Not I; ’twas Chiron and Demetrius. They ravished her and cut away her tongue, And they, ’twas they, that did her all this wrong.

Saturninus:Go fetch them hither to us presently.

Titus Andronicus:Why, there they are, both bakèd in this pie, Whereof their mother daintily hath fed, Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. ’Tis true, ’tis true! Witness my knife’s sharp point.

He stabs the Empress.

Saturninus:Die, frantic wretch, for this accursèd deed.

He kills Titus.

Lucius:Can the son’s eye behold his father bleed? [He kills Saturninus.] There’s meed for meed, death for a deadly deed.

A great tumult. Lucius, Marcus, and others go aloft to the upper stage.

Marcus Andronicus:You sad-faced men, people and sons of Rome, By uproars severed as a flight of fowl Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts, O, let me teach you how to knit again This scattered corn into one mutual sheaf, These broken limbs again into one body, Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself, And she whom mighty kingdoms curtsy to, Like a forlorn and desperate castaway, Do shameful execution on herself. But if my frosty signs and chaps of age, Grave witnesses of true experience, Cannot induce you to attend my words, [He turns to Lucius.] Speak, Rome’s dear friend, as erst our ancestor, When with his solemn tongue he did discourse To lovesick Dido’s sad-attending ear The story of that baleful burning night When subtle Greeks surprised King Priam’s Troy. Tell us what Sinon hath bewitched our ears, Or who hath brought the fatal engine in That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound.— My heart is not compact of flint nor steel, Nor can I utter all our bitter grief, But floods of tears will drown my oratory And break my utterance even in the time When it should move you to attend me most And force you to commiseration. Here’s Rome’s young captain. Let him tell the tale, While I stand by and weep to hear him speak.

Lucius:Then, gracious auditory, be it known to you That Chiron and the damned Demetrius Were they that murderèd our emperor’s brother, And they it were that ravishèd our sister. For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded, Our father’s tears despised, and basely cozened Of that true hand that fought Rome’s quarrel out And sent her enemies unto the grave; Lastly, myself unkindly banishèd, The gates shut on me, and turned weeping out To beg relief among Rome’s enemies, Who drowned their enmity in my true tears And oped their arms to embrace me as a friend. I am the turned-forth, be it known to you, That have preserved her welfare in my blood And from her bosom took the enemy’s point, Sheathing the steel in my advent’rous body. Alas, you know I am no vaunter, I; My scars can witness, dumb although they are, That my report is just and full of truth. But soft, methinks I do digress too much, Citing my worthless praise. O, pardon me, For when no friends are by, men praise themselves.

Marcus Andronicus:Now is my turn to speak. Behold the child. Of this was Tamora deliverèd, The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes. The villain is alive in Titus’ house, And as he is to witness, this is true. Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge These wrongs unspeakable, past patience, Or more than any living man could bear. Now have you heard the truth. What say you, Romans? Have we done aught amiss? Show us wherein, And from the place where you behold us pleading, The poor remainder of Andronici Will, hand in hand, all headlong hurl ourselves, And on the ragged stones beat forth our souls, And make a mutual closure of our house. Speak, Romans, speak, and if you say we shall, Lo, hand in hand, Lucius and I will fall.

Aemilius:Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome, And bring our emperor gently in thy hand, Lucius our emperor, for well I know The common voice do cry it shall be so.

Roman:Lucius, all hail, Rome’s royal emperor!

Marcus Andronicus:[to Attendants] Go, go into old Titus’ sorrowful house, And hither hale that misbelieving Moor To be adjudged some direful slaught’ring death As punishment for his most wicked life.

Attendants exit. Lucius and Marcus come down from the upper stage.

Roman:Lucius, all hail, Rome’s gracious governor!

Lucius:Thanks, gentle Romans. May I govern so To heal Rome’s harms and wipe away her woe! But, gentle people, give me aim awhile, For nature puts me to a heavy task. Stand all aloof, but, uncle, draw you near To shed obsequious tears upon this trunk. [He kisses Titus.] O, take this warm kiss on thy pale cold lips, These sorrowful drops upon thy bloodstained face, The last true duties of thy noble son.

Marcus Andronicus:Tear for tear, and loving kiss for kiss, Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips. [He kisses Titus.] O, were the sum of these that I should pay Countless and infinite, yet would I pay them.

Lucius:[to Young Lucius] Come hither, boy. Come, come, and learn of us To melt in showers. Thy grandsire loved thee well. Many a time he danced thee on his knee, Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow; Many a story hath he told to thee, And bid thee bear his pretty tales in mind And talk of them when he was dead and gone.

Marcus Andronicus:How many thousand times hath these poor lips, When they were living, warmed themselves on thine! O, now, sweet boy, give them their latest kiss. Bid him farewell; commit him to the grave. Do them that kindness, and take leave of them.

Young Lucius:O grandsire, grandsire, ev’n with all my heart Would I were dead so you did live again! [He kisses Titus.] O Lord, I cannot speak to him for weeping. My tears will choke me if I ope my mouth.

Enter Aaron with Guards.

Roman:You sad Andronici, have done with woes. Give sentence on this execrable wretch That hath been breeder of these dire events.

Lucius:Set him breast-deep in earth and famish him. There let him stand and rave and cry for food. If anyone relieves or pities him, For the offense he dies. This is our doom. Some stay to see him fastened in the earth.

Aaron:Ah, why should wrath be mute and fury dumb? I am no baby, I, that with base prayers I should repent the evils I have done. Ten thousand worse than ever yet I did Would I perform, if I might have my will. If one good deed in all my life I did, I do repent it from my very soul.

Aaron is led off by Guards.

Lucius:Some loving friends convey the Emperor hence, And give him burial in his fathers’ grave. My father and Lavinia shall forthwith Be closèd in our household’s monument. As for that ravenous tiger, Tamora, No funeral rite, nor man in mourning weed; No mournful bell shall ring her burial; But throw her forth to beasts and birds to prey. Her life was beastly and devoid of pity, And being dead, let birds on her take pity.

They exit, carrying the dead bodies.