her husband ; Chi. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth:-Bring thou [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, And let my spleenful sons this trull deflour. [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, Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briars; Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall? Aar. [aside.] Now will I fetch the king to find them here; †"object hurt "- MALONE. That he thereby may give a likely guess, How these were they that made away his brother. [Exit AARON. Mart. Why dost not comfort me, and help me out Quin. I am surprized with an uncouth fear: Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart Mart. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here, Quin. If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he? As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth. Quin. Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out; Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good, +"who it is ;"-MALONE. 3 A precious ring,] There is supposed to be a gem called a carbuncle, which emits not reflected but native light. Mr. Boyle believes the reality of its existence. JOHNSON. VOL. VII. D d I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb 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 and AARON. [Falls in. Sat. Along with me:-I'll see what hole is here, Mart. The unhappy son of old Andronicus; 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, The complot of this timeless tragedy; [Giving a Letter. And wonder greatly, that man's face can fold In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny. 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. Aar. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold. [Showing it. Sat. Two of thy whelps, [to TIT.] fell curs of bloody kind, Have here bereft my brother of his life:- Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them. Tam. What, are they in this pit? O wond'rous thing How easily murder is discover'd! Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee Sat. Thou shalt not bail them; see, thou follow me. 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. SCENE V. The same. [Exeunt severally. Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, with LAVINIA, ravished; 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 ravish'd thee. Chi. Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning so; And if thy stumps will let thee, play the scribe. Dem. See, how with signs and tokens she can scowl †. Chi. Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands. Dem. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash; And so let's leave her to her silent walks. Chi. An 'twere my case, I should go hang myself. Dem. If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord. [Exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON. Enter MARCUS. Mar. Who's 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 in eternal sleep!— Speak, gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands +"scrowl."-MALONE. 5 If I do dream, 'would all my wealth would wake me!] If this be a dream, I would give all my possessions to be delivered from it by waking. JOHNSON. |