Into this gaping hollow of the earth? Mart. The unhappy son of old Andronicus; Brought hither in a most unlucky hour, To find thy brother Bassianus dead. 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 grieved 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, 1 [giving a letter. The complot of this timeless 1 tragedy; 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,― 1 Untimely. Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 'tis, we mean,- Which overshades the mouth of that same pit, Where we decreed to bury Bassianus. 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. Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison; There let them bide, until we have devised Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them. Tam. What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing! How easily murder is discovered! Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee Sat. If it be proved? you see, it is apparent.- 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 them. [Exeunt severally. CHIRON, with LAVINIA, ravished; her hands cut off, and her tongue cut 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 1 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, "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; He would have dropp'd his knife, and fell asleep, 1 Come, let us go, and make thy father blind; |