Chi. I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.— Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy That nice-preservèd honesty of yours. Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,- Lav. When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam? O, do not learn her wrath,—she taught it thee; The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble; Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny. Yet every mother breeds not sons alike: Do thou entreat her show a woman pity. [To Chiron. Chi. What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bas tard? Lav. 'Tis true,-the raven doth not hatch a lark: Yet have I heard,-O, could I find it now!— The lion, mov'd with pity, did endure To have his princely paws par'd all away : Some say that ravens foster forlorn children, The whilst their own birds famish in their nests: Tam. I know not what it means:-away with her! Tam. Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me, Even for his sake am I pitiless. Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain, To save your brother from the sacrifice; Therefore, away with her, and use her as you will; Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen, Poor I was slain when Bassianus died. Tam. What begg'st thou, then? fond woman, let me go. O, keep me from their worse than killing lust, Do this, and be a charitable murderer. body: Tam. So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee: No, let them satisfy their lust on thee. Dem. Away! for thou hast stay'd us here too long. Lav. No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature! The blot and enemy to our general name! Confusion fall Chi. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth.-Bring thou her husband: This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [Demetrius throws the body of Bassianus into the pit; then exeunt Demetrius and Chiron, dragging off Lavinia. make her sure: Tam. Farewell, my sons: see that you Re-enter AARON, with QUINTUS and MARTIUS. Aar. Come on, my lords, the better foot before: Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit Where I espied the panther fast asleep. Quin. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes. [Exit. Mart. And mine, I promise you; were't not for shame, Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile. [Falls into the pit. Quin. What, art thou fall'n ?-What subtle hole is this, Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers, Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood As fresh as morning's dew distill'd on flowers? A very fatal place it seems to me.— Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall? Mart. O brother, with the dismall'st object hurt That ever eye with sight made heart lament! Aar. [aside] Now will I fetch the king to find them here, That he thereby may give a likely guess How these were they that made away his brother. Mart. Why dost not comfort me, and help me out Quin. I am surprised with an uncouth fear; Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart Mart. Lord Bassianus lies embrewèd here, Quin. If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he? As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth. [Exit. Quin. Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out; Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good, I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus' grave. I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink. Mart. Nor I no strength to climb without thy help. Quin. 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. Enter SATURNINUS with AARON. Sat. Along with me: I'll see what hole is here, And what he is that now is leap'd into it.— Say, who art thou that lately didst descend Mart. The unhappy son of old Andronicus; To find thy brother Bassianus dead. [Falls in. Sat. 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 him there. Mart. We know not where you left him all alive; But, out, alas! here have we found him dead. Re-enter TAMORA, with Attendants; TITUS ANDRONICUS, and LUCIUS. Tam. Where is my lord the king? Sat. Here, Tamora; though griev'd with killing grief. Sat. Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound: Tam. 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. [Giving a letter. Sat. [reads] "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.”— Aar. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold. [Showing it. Sat. [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: Tam. What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing! How easily murder is discoverèd! Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee I beg this boon, with tears not lightly shed, Sat. If it be prov'd! you see it is apparent.- They shall be ready at your highness' will To answer their suspicion with their lives. Sat. Thou shalt not bail them: see thou follow me.- That end upon them should be executed. Tam. Andronicus, I will entreat the king: Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough. Tit. Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them. ants, with Quintus, Martius, and the body of |