Receive the blood: and, when that they are dead, Let me go grind their bones to powder small, To make this banquet; which I wish may prove Luc. Uncle Marcus, since 'tis my father's That I repair to Rome, I am content. [mind 1 Goth. And ours with thine, befall what fortune will. [Moor, Luc. Good uncle, take you in this barbarous This ravenous tiger, this accursed devil; Let him receive no sustenance, 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. Aar. Some devil whisper curses in mine ear, And prompt me, that my tongue may utter forth The venomous malice of my swelling heart! Luc. Away, inhuman dog! unhallow'd slave!Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in. [Exeunt Goths, with AAR. Flourish. The trumpets show the emperor is at hand. Enter SATURNINUS and TAMORA, with Tribunes, Senators, and Others. Sat. What, hath the firmament more suns These quarrels must be quietly debated. For peace, for love, for league, and good to [Hautboys sound. The Company sit down at Enter TITUS, dressed like a Cook, LAVINIA, veiled, young LUCIUS, and Others. places the Dishes on the Table. TITUS Tit. Welcome, my gracious lord; welcome, dread queen; Welcome, ye warlike' Goths; welcome, Lucius; And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor, 'Twill fill your stomachs; please you eat of it. Sat. Why art thou thus attir'd, Andronicus? Tit. Because I would be sure to have all well, To entertain your highness, and your empress. Tam. We are beholden to you, good Andronicus. [were. Tit. An if your highness knew my heart, you 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 enfórc'd, stain'd, and deflour'd? Sat. It was, Andronicus. Tit. Your reason, mighty lord! [shame, Sat. Because the girl should not survive her And by her presence still renew his sorrows. * Of what advantage is it? ti. e. Begin the parley. Tit. 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; [He kills LAY. And, with thy shame, thy father's sorrow die! Sat. What hast thou done, unnatural, and unkind? [me blind. Tit. Kill'd her, for whom my tears have made I am as woful as Virginius was: And have a thousand times more cause than he To do this outrage;-and it is now done. Sat. What, was she ravish'd? tell, who did the deed. Tit. Will't please you eat? will 't please your highness feed? Tam. Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus ? Tit. Not I; 'twas Chiron, and Demetrius : They ravish'd her, and cut away her tongue, And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong. Sat. Go, fetch them hither to us presently. Tit. Why, there they are both, baked in that Whereof their mother daintily hath fed; [pie; Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. 'Tis true, 'tis true; witness my knife's sharp point. [Killing TAM. Sat. Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed. [Killing Trr. Luc. Can the son's eye behold his father bleed? There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed. [Kills SAT. A great Tumult. The People in confusion disperse. MARC., Luc., and their Partisans ascend the Steps before Tirus's House. Marc. You sad-fac'd men, people and sons of By uproar sever'd, like a flight of fow! Sen. Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself; When with his solemn tongue he did discourse Tell us, what Sinon hath bewitch'd our ears, My heart is not compact of flint, nor steel; Here is a captain, let him tell the tale; [speak. Luc. Then, noble auditory, be it known to you, That cursed Chiron and Demetrius Were they that murdered our emperor's brother; And they it were that ravish'd our sister: For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded; Our father's tears despis'd; and basely cozen'd Of that true hand that fought Rome's quarrel And sent her enemies unto the grave. [out, Lastly, myself unkindly banished, The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out, My scars can witness, dumb although they are, Marc. Now is my turn to speak; Behold this child! [Pointing to the Child in the arms of an Of this was Tamora delivered; Have we done aught amiss? Show us wherein, Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down, Emil. Come, come, thou reverend man of And bring our emperor gently in thy hand, [face, These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd To melt in showers: Thy grandsire lov'd thee Because kind nature doth require it so: Boy. O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart 'Would I were dead, so you did live again! Good heaven, I cannot speak to him for weeping; My tears will choke me if I ope my mouth. Enter Attendants, with AARON. 1 Rom. You sad Andronici, have done with woes; Give sentence on this execrable wretch, Luc. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him; There let him stand, and rave and cry for food: For the offence he dies. This is our doom: I am no baby, I, that, with base prayers, Luc. Some loving friends convey the emperor hence, And give him burial in his father's grave: THE END. PRINTED BY THE LONDON PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED. |