Flattering myself, as if it were the Moor, Yet I do think we are not brought so low, That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor. Mar. Alas, poor man! grief has so wrought on him, He takes false shadows for true substances. Tit. Come, take away.—Lavinia, go with me: Come, boy, and go with me; thy sight is young, The same. Before Titus's house. Enter TITUS and MARCUS. Then enter YOUNG LUCIUS, Boy. Help, grandsire, help! my aunt Lavinia Mar. Stand by me, Lucius; do not fear thine Tit. She loves thee, boy, too well to do thee harm. Boy. Ay, when my father was in Rome, she did. Mar. What means my niece Lavinia by these signs? Tit. Fear her not, Lucius. Somewhat doth she mean. See, Lucius, see, how much she makes of thee : Read to her sons, than she hath read to thee, Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus ? her: For I have heard my grandsire say full oft, Ran mad through sorrow: that made me to fear; Loves me as dear as e'er my mother did, And would not, but in fury, fright my youth : I will most willingly attend your ladyship. [Lavinia turns over the books 1 Cicero's Treatise on Eloquence, entitled Orator. Tit. How now, Lavinia ?-Marcus, what means this? Some book there is that she desires to see. Confederate in the fact;-ay, more there was : Mar. For love of her that's gone, Perhaps she cull'd it from among the rest. Tit. Soft! see, how busily she turns the leaves ! Help her. What would she find ?-Lavinia, shall I read? This is the tragic tale of Philomel, And treats of Tereus' treason, and his rape; And rape, I fear, was root of thine annoy. Mar. See, brother, see; note, how she quotes 1 the leaves. Tit. Lavinia, wert thou thus surprised, sweet girl, Ravish'd, and wrong'd, as Philomela was, 1 Observes. Forced in the ruthless,1 vast, and gloomy woods? Ay, such a place there is, where we did hunt, Unless the gods delight in tragedies? Tit. Give signs, sweet girl,-for here are none What Roman lord it was durst do the deed: That left the camp to sin in Lucrece' bed? Mar. Sit down, sweet niece ;-brother, sit down by me. Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury, Inspire me, that I may this treason find! [he writes his name with his staff, and 1 Pitiless. |