Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 'tis, we mean,- Which overshades the mouth of that same pit, O Tamora! was ever heard the like? Aaron. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold. [showing it. Sat. Two of thy whelps, [to Titus.] fell curs of bloody kind, Have here bereft my brother of his life. How easily murder is discovered! Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee I beg this boon, with tears not lightly shed; That this fell fault of my accursed sons, Accursed, if the fault be proved in them, Sat. If it be proved? you see, it is apparent.Who found this letter? Tamora, was it you? Tam. Andronicus himself did take it up. Tit. I did, my lord: yet let me be their bail; For by my father's reverend tomb, I vow, Sat. Thou shalt not bail them; see, thou follow me. Some bring the murder'd body, some the mur derers: Let them not speak a word; the guilt is plain; For, by my soul, were there worse end than death, 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 [Exeunt severally. them. 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, bewray1 thy meaning so; And, if thy stumps will let thee, play the scribe. 1 Discover. 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, 66 66 That I may slumber in eternal sleep! Speak, gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands "Have lopp'd, and hew'd, and made thy body bare Of her two branches? those sweet ornaments, "Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in ; And might not gain so great a happiness, As half thy love? Why dost not speak to me? Alas, a crimson river of warm blood, "Like to a bubbling fountain stirr'd with wind, "Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips, "Coming and going with thy honey breath. 'But, sure, some Tereus hath defloured thee; And, lest thou shouldst detect him, cut thy tongue. Ah, now thou turn'st away thy face for shame! And make the silken strings delight to kiss them; Which that sweet tongue hath made, He would have dropp'd his knife, and fell asleep, 1 Come, let us go, and make thy father blind; For such a sight will blind a father's eye. One hour's storm will drown the fragrant meads ; What will whole months of tears thy father's eyes? Do not draw back; for we will mourn with thee: O, could our mourning ease thy misery! [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. Rome. A street. Enter Senators, Tribunes, and Officers of Justice, with MARTIUS and QUINTUS, bound, passing on to the place of execution; TITUS going before, pleading. "Tit. Hear me, grave fathers! noble tribunes, stay! "For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent "In dangerous wars, whilst you securely slept; For all my blood in Rome's great quarrel shed; "For all the frosty nights that I have watch'd ; "And for these bitter tears, which now you see Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheeks; "Be pitiful to my condemned sons, "Whose souls are not corrupted as 'tis thought. For these, good tribunes, in the dust I write [throwing himself on the ground. My heart's deep languor, and my soul's sad tears. |