Tam. Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me, Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain, Tam. What begg'st thou then? fond woman, let me go. Lav. "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, Tam. So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee : No, let them satisfy their lust on thee. Dem. Away, for thou hast staid 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; [Dragging off Lavinia. This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [Exeunt. Tam. Farewell, my sons: see, that you make her sure: Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed, Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor, And let my spleenful sons this trull deflow'r. [Exit. SCENE IV. The same. 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 espy'd the panther fast asleep. Quin. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes. Mart. And mine, I promise you; wer't not for shame, Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile. [Martius falls into the pit.. Quin. What, art thou fallen? What subtle hole is this, A very fatal place it seems to me:-- Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall? That he thereby may give a likely guess, out From this unballow'd and blood-stained hole? Quin. I am surprised with an uncouth fear : A chilling sweat o'er-runs my trembling joints; My heart suspects more than mine eye can see. Mart. 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. Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart Will not permit mine eyes once to behold Quin. If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he? Mart. Upon his bloody finger he doth wear A precious ring, that lightens all the 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 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 theeTM out; Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good, I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink. 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 and AARON. [Falls in. 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 Into this gaping hollow of the earth? Mart. The unhappy son of old Andronicus; Brought hither in a most unlucky hour, To find thy brother Bassianus dead. 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. Enter TAMORA, with Attendants; TITUS ANDRONICUS, and Lucius. Tam. Where is my lord the king? Sat. Here, Tamora; though griev'd with killing. grief. Tam. Where is thy brother Bassianus ? Sat. Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound; Poor Bassianus here lies murdered. Tam. Then all too late I bring this fatal writ, [Giving a letter. The complot of this timeless tragedy; And wonder greatly that man's face can fold 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 Which overshades the mouth of that same pit, Do this, and purchase us thy lasting friends. Look, sirs, if you can find the huntsman out, bloody kind, Have here bereft my brother of his life :— How easily murder is discovered! Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee Sat. Thou shalt not bail them; see, thou follow me. Some bring the murder'd body, some the murderers: Tam. Andronicus, I will entreat the king; them. |