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| <title>SCENE III. A lonely part of the forest. | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">Titus Andronicus | |
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| | <A href="/Shakespeare/titus/">Titus Andronicus</A> | |
| | Act 2, Scene 3 | |
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| <H3>SCENE III. A lonely part of the forest.</h3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter AARON, with a bag of gold</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>AARON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>He that had wit would think that I had none,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>To bury so much gold under a tree,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>And never after to inherit it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>Let him that thinks of me so abjectly</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>Know that this gold must coin a stratagem,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Which, cunningly effected, will beget</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>A very excellent piece of villany:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Hides the gold</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=9>That have their alms out of the empress' chest.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter TAMORA</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=10>My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>The birds chant melody on every bush,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>And, whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>As if a double hunt were heard at once,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>Let us sit down and mark their yelping noise;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>And, after conflict such as was supposed</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>When with a happy storm they were surprised</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>Be unto us as is a nurse's song</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>AARON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=30>Madam, though Venus govern your desires,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Saturn is dominator over mine:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>What signifies my deadly-standing eye,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>My silence and my cloudy melancholy,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Even as an adder when she doth unroll</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>To do some fatal execution?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>No, madam, these are no venereal signs:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>Hark Tamora, the empress of my soul,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>This is the day of doom for Bassianus:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>His Philomel must lose her tongue to-day,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>Thy sons make pillage of her chastity</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=46>Seest thou this letter? take it up, I pray thee,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=47>And give the king this fatal plotted scroll.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=48>Now question me no more; we are espied;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=51>Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>AARON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=52>No more, great empress; Bassianus comes:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=53>Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sons</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=54>To back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| <p><i>Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>BASSIANUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=55>Who have we here? Rome's royal empress,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>Or is it Dian, habited like her,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=58>Who hath abandoned her holy groves</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=59>To see the general hunting in this forest?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=60>Saucy controller of our private steps!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=61>Had I the power that some say Dian had,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=62>Thy temples should be planted presently</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>With horns, as was Actaeon's; and the hounds</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=64>Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=65>Unmannerly intruder as thou art!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=66>Under your patience, gentle empress,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=67>'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=68>And to be doubted that your Moor and you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>Are singled forth to try experiments:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>'Tis pity they should take him for a stag.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>BASSIANUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=72>Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>Doth make your honour of his body's hue,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=74>Spotted, detested, and abominable.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=75>Why are you sequester'd from all your train,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=77>And wander'd hither to an obscure plot,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=79>If foul desire had not conducted you?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=80>And, being intercepted in your sport,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=81>Great reason that my noble lord be rated</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=82>For sauciness. I pray you, let us hence,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>And let her joy her raven-colour'd love;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>This valley fits the purpose passing well.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>BASSIANUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=85>The king my brother shall have note of this.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=86>Ay, for these slips have made him noted long:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=87>Good king, to be so mightily abused!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=88>Why have I patience to endure all this?</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=89>How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>Why doth your highness look so pale and wan?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=91>Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=92>These two have 'ticed me hither to this place:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=93>A barren detested vale, you see it is;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>And when they show'd me this abhorred pit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>They told me, here, at dead time of the night,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=101>Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=102>Would make such fearful and confused cries</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>As any mortal body hearing it</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>No sooner had they told this hellish tale,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>But straight they told me they would bind me here</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=107>Unto the body of a dismal yew,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>And leave me to this miserable death:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>And then they call'd me foul adulteress,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=110>Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=111>That ever ear did hear to such effect:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=112>And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=113>This vengeance on me had they executed.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=114>Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=115>Or be ye not henceforth call'd my children.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=116>This is a witness that I am thy son.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Stabs BASSIANUS</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>CHIRON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=117>And this for me, struck home to show my strength.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Also stabs BASSIANUS, who dies</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=118>Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>For no name fits thy nature but thy own!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=120>Give me thy poniard; you shall know, my boys</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=121>Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=122>Stay, madam; here is more belongs to her;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=123>First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=124>This minion stood upon her chastity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=126>And with that painted hope braves your mightiness:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=127>And shall she carry this unto her grave?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>CHIRON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=128>An if she do, I would I were an eunuch.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=129>Drag hence her husband to some secret hole,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=130>And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=131>But when ye have the honey ye desire,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=132>Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>CHIRON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=133>I warrant you, madam, we wil l make that sure.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=134>Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=135>That nice-preserved honesty of yours.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=136>O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech25><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=137>I will not hear her speak; away with her!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech26><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=138>Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech27><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=139>Listen, fair madam: let it be your glory</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=140>To see her tears; but be your heart to them</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=141>As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech28><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=142>When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=143>O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=144>The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=145>Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>Yet every mother breeds not sons alike:</A><br> | |
| <p><i>To CHIRON</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=147>Do thou entreat her show a woman pity.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech29><b>CHIRON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=148>What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech30><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=149>'Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>Yet have I heard,--O, could I find it now!--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=151>The lion moved with pity did endure</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=152>To have his princely paws pared all away:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=153>Some say that ravens foster forlorn children,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=154>The whilst their own birds famish in their nests:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=155>O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=156>Nothing so kind, but something pitiful!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech31><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=157>I know not what it means; away with her!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech32><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=158>O, let me teach thee! for my father's sake,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=159>That gave thee life, when well he might have</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=160>slain thee,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=161>Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech33><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=162>Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=163>Even for his sake am I pitiless.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=164>Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=165>To save your brother from the sacrifice;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=166>But fierce Andronicus would not relent;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=167>Therefore, away with her, and use her as you will,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=168>The worse to her, the better loved of me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech34><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=169>O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>And with thine own hands kill me in this place!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=171>For 'tis not life that I have begg'd so long;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=172>Poor I was slain when Bassianus died.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech35><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=173>What begg'st thou, then? fond woman, let me go.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech36><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=174>'Tis present death I beg; and one thing more</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=175>That womanhood denies my tongue to tell:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=176>O, keep me from their worse than killing lust,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=177>And tumble me into some loathsome pit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=178>Where never man's eye may behold my body:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=179>Do this, and be a charitable murderer.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech37><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=180>So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=181>No, let them satisfy their lust on thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech38><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=182>Away! for thou hast stay'd us here too long.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech39><b>LAVINIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=183>No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=184>The blot and enemy to our general name!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=185>Confusion fall--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech40><b>CHIRON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=186>Nay, then I'll stop your mouth. Bring thou her husband:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=187>This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>DEMETRIUS throws the body of BASSIANUS into the pit; then exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, dragging off LAVINIA</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech41><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=188>Farewell, my sons: see that you make her sure.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=189>Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=190>Till all the Andronici be made away.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=191>Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=192>And let my spleenful sons this trull deflow'r.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter AARON, with QUINTUS and MARTIUS</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech42><b>AARON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=193>Come on, my lords, the better foot before:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=194>Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=195>Where I espied the panther fast asleep.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech43><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=196>My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech44><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=197>And mine, I promise you; were't not for shame,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=198>Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Falls into the pit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech45><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=199>What art thou fall'n? What subtle hole is this,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=200>Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=201>Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=202>As fresh as morning dew distill'd on flowers?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=203>A very fatal place it seems to me.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=204>Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech46><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=205>O brother, with the dismall'st object hurt</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=206>That ever eye with sight made heart lament!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech47><b>AARON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=207>[Aside] Now will I fetch the king to find them here,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=208>That he thereby may give a likely guess</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=209>How these were they that made away his brother.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech48><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=210>Why dost not comfort me, and help me out</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=211>From this unhallowed and blood-stained hole?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech49><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=212>I am surprised with an uncouth fear;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=213>A chilling sweat o'er-runs my trembling joints:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=214>My heart suspects more than mine eye can see.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech50><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=215>To prove thou hast a true-divining heart,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=216>Aaron and thou look down into this den,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=217>And see a fearful sight of blood and death.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech51><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=218>Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=219>Will not permit mine eyes once to behold</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=220>The thing whereat it trembles by surmise;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=221>O, tell me how it is; for ne'er till now</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=222>Was I a child to fear I know not what.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech52><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=223>Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=224>All on a heap, like to a slaughter'd lamb,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=225>In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech53><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=226>If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech54><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=227>Upon his bloody finger he doth wear</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=228>A precious ring, that lightens all the hole,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=229>Which, like a taper in some monument,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=230>Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=231>And shows the ragged entrails of the pit:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=232>So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=233>When he by night lay bathed in maiden blood.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=234>O brother, help me with thy fainting hand--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=235>If fear hath made thee faint, as me it hath--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=236>Out of this fell devouring receptacle,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=237>As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech55><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=238>Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=239>Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=240>I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=241>Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus' grave.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=242>I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech56><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=243>Nor I no strength to climb without thy help.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech57><b>QUINTUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=244>Thy hand once more; I will not loose again,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=245>Till thou art here aloft, or I below:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=246>Thou canst not come to me: I come to thee.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Falls in</i></p> | |
| <p><i>Enter SATURNINUS with AARON</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech58><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=247>Along with me: I'll see what hole is here,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=248>And what he is that now is leap'd into it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=249>Say who art thou that lately didst descend</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=250>Into this gaping hollow of the earth?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech59><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=251>The unhappy son of old Andronicus:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=252>Brought hither in a most unlucky hour,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=253>To find thy brother Bassianus dead.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech60><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=254>My brother dead! I know thou dost but jest:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=255>He and his lady both are at the lodge</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=256>Upon the north side of this pleasant chase;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=257>'Tis not an hour since I left him there.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech61><b>MARTIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=258>We know not where you left him all alive;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=259>But, out, alas! here have we found him dead.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter TAMORA, with Attendants; TITUS ANDRONICUS, and Lucius</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech62><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=260>Where is my lord the king?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech63><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=261>Here, Tamora, though grieved with killing grief.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech64><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=262>Where is thy brother Bassianus?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech65><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=263>Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=264>Poor Bassianus here lies murdered.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech66><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=265>Then all too late I bring this fatal writ,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=266>The complot of this timeless tragedy;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=267>And wonder greatly that man's face can fold</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=268>In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>She giveth SATURNINUS a letter</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech67><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=269>[Reads] 'An if we miss to meet him handsomely--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=270>Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 'tis we mean--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=271>Do thou so much as dig the grave for him:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=272>Thou know'st our meaning. Look for thy reward</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=273>Among the nettles at the elder-tree</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=274>Which overshades the mouth of that same pit</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=275>Where we decreed to bury Bassianus.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=276>Do this, and purchase us thy lasting friends.'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=277>O Tamora! was ever heard the like?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=278>This is the pit, and this the elder-tree.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=279>Look, sirs, if you can find the huntsman out</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=280>That should have murdered Bassianus here.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech68><b>AARON</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=281>My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech69><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=282>[To TITUS] Two of thy whelps, fell curs of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=283>bloody kind,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=284>Have here bereft my brother of his life.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=285>Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=286>There let them bide until we have devised</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=287>Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech70><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=288>What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=289>How easily murder is discovered!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech71><b>TITUS ANDRONICUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=290>High emperor, upon my feeble knee</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=291>I beg this boon, with tears not lightly shed,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=292>That this fell fault of my accursed sons,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=293>Accursed if the fault be proved in them,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech72><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=294>If it be proved! you see it is apparent.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=295>Who found this letter? Tamora, was it you?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech73><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=296>Andronicus himself did take it up.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech74><b>TITUS ANDRONICUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=297>I did, my lord: yet let me be their bail;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=298>For, by my father's reverend tomb, I vow</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=299>They shall be ready at your highness' will</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=300>To answer their suspicion with their lives.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech75><b>SATURNINUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=301>Thou shalt not bail them: see thou follow me.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=302>Some bring the murder'd body, some the murderers:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=303>Let them not speak a word; the guilt is plain;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=304>For, by my soul, were there worse end than death,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=305>That end upon them should be executed.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech76><b>TAMORA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=306>Andronicus, I will entreat the king;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=307>Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech77><b>TITUS ANDRONICUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=308>Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
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