Mar. Lord Baffianus lies embrewed here, All on a heap, like to a flaughter'd lamb. In this detefted, dark, blood-drinking pit. Quin. If it be dark, how doft thou know 'tis he? Mar. Upon his bloody finger he doth wear A precious ring, that lightens all the hole: Which, like a taper in fome monument, Doth fhine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks; And fhews the ragged entrails of this pit. So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus, When he by night lay bath'd 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. Quin. Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out, Or, wanting ftrength to do thee fo much good, I may be pluck'd into the fwallowing womb Of this deep pit, poor Bafianus' grave. I have no ftrength to pluck thee to the brink. Mar. And I no ftrength to climb without thy help. Quin. Thy hand once more; I will not loofe again, 'Till thou art here aloft, or I below. Thou canst not come to me, I come to thee. [Fall in. Enter the Emperor, and Aaron. Sat. Along, with me;-I'll fee what hole is here, And what he is, that now is leap'd into't. Say, who art thou, that lately didft defcend Into this gaping hollow of the earth? Mar. Th' unhappy fon of old Andronicus. Brought hither in a moft unlucky hour, Sat. My brother dead? I know thou dost but jeft: Mar. We know not where you left him all alive. But out, alas! here have we found him dead. Enter Enter Tamora with Attendants; Andronicus, and Lucius. Tam. Where is my Lord the King? Sat. Here, Tamora; though griev'd with killing grief. Tam. Where is thy brother Baffianus ? Sat. Now to the bottom doft thou search my wound; Poor Baffianus here lies murdered. Tam. Then all too late I bring this fatal writ, And wonder greatly, that man's face can fold [She gives Saturninus a letter. Saturninus reads the letter. And if we mifs to meet him handfomely, Which over-fhades the mouth of that fame pit, Do this, and purchafe us thy lafting friends. Oh, Tamora! was ever heard the like ? Aar. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold. Sat. Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kind, Have here bereft my brother of his life. [To Titus. Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prifon, There let them bide, until we have devis'd Tam. What, are they in this pit? oh wondrous thing! How easily murder is difcovered? Tit. High Emperor, upon my feeble knee Sat. Sat. If it be prov'd? you fee, it is apparent. Tit. I did, my lord: yet let me be their bail. Sat. Thou shalt not bail them: fee thou follow me: Some bring the murder'd body, fome the murderers. Let them not speak a word, the guilt is plain; For by my foul, were there worfe end than death, That end upon them fhould be executed. Tam. Andronicus, I will intreat the King; Fear not thy fons, they fhall do well enough. Tit. Come, Lucius, come, ftay not to talk with them. [Exeunt feverally. Enter Demetrius and Chiron, with Lavinia, ravis'd; her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out. Dem. So, now go tell (an if thy tongue can speak) Who 'twas that cut thy tongue, and ravifh'd thee. Chi. Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning fo; And (if thy ftumps will let thee) play the fcribe. Dem. See, how with figns and tokens the can fcrowle. Chi. Go home, call for fweet water, wash thy hands. Dem. She has no tongue call, nor hands to wash; And fo let's leave her to her filent walks. Chi. If 'twere my cafe, I fhould go hang myself. Dem. If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord. [Exeunt Dem. and Chiron. Enter Marcus to Lavinia. Mar. Who's this, my niece, that flies away so fast ? Coufin, a word; where is your husband? If I do dream, would all my wealth would wake me! Speak, gentle niece, what ftern ungentle hands Of Of her two branches, thofe fweet ornaments, (14) As have thy love! why doft not speak to me? Like to a bubling fountain flirr'd with wind, (14) As half thy love! As half her love? But might they gain any part of her love? or would fhe not confent to embrace 'em fo much as with one arm? The poet had no fuch stuff in his thoughts. My correction restores the true meaning; that tho' Princes languish'd to fleep in her arms, they could not obtain their fuit, or have her love. The very fame corruption has obtain'd in our author's tale of Cephalus and Procris: And looks, as do the trees by winter nipt, For grammar fhews, that we must likewise read here--have stript. He He would not then have touch'd them for his life.. Which that fweet tongue hath made; He would have dropt his knife, and fell asleep, [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE, a Street in Rome. Enter the Judges and Senators, with Marcus and Quintus bound, paffing on the stage to the place of execution, and Titus going before, pleading. H TITUS. Ear me, grave fathers; noble tribunes, ftay, Whofe fouls are not corrupted, as 'tis thought. [Andronicus lieth down, and the Judges pafs by him. For thefe, these, tribunes, in the duft I write My fons fweet blood will make it shame and blush: [Exe. That |