Tit. Your 'reason, mighty lord? Sat. Because the girl should not 'survive her shame, A pattern, precedent, and lively warrant He stabs Lavinia. Die, die, Lavinia, and 'thy shame with thee; And 'with thy shame thy father's 'sorrow die! And have a thousand times more 'cause than he [T]Will 't please you eat? will 't please your 'highness The Empress asks in amazement: Tam. 'Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus? And they, 't was 'they, that did her 'all this wrong! Sat. Go, fetch them hither to us presently. Tit.... Why, 'there they are--both, baked within that pie; The Emperor stabs Titus. Lucius exclaims: There's meed 'for meed;-death for a deadly deed! Lucius kills Saturninus. A great tumult ensues. The people in terror are about to disperse, when Marcus and Lucius hasten to address them: 1 Rom. You sad-faced men, people and sons of Rome! My heart is not compact of flint, nor steel; Nor can I utter all our bitter grief; But floods of 'tears will drown my oratory, And break my very utterance; even in the time Your hearts will throb, and weep to hear him speak. Lucius advances: Luc. Then, noble auditory, be it known to you That cursed Chiron and Demetrius Were they that murdered our late Emperor's brother; For 'their fell" faults, 'our brothers were beheaded; Lastly, myself unkindly banished hence; And oped their arms to embrace me as a friend.... Old Marcus comes forward: Marc. Now is 'my turn to speak. Behold this child, (Of this was 'Tamora the wicked mother)— The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes. To witness this is true. What say you, Romans? Æmilius addresses old Marcus the Tribune: The common voice will cry, It shall be so! To Marcus says: Marc. Lucius, all hail! Rome's royal Emperor !- Exeunt attend [Exeun To be adjudged some direful 'slaughtering death, ants. & fearful. b O. R. and. c cheated. d race, family. e O. R. sorrowful. Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans! May I govern so, 1 Rom. You sad Andronici, have done with woes! That hath been 'breeder of these dire events. Luc. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him; There let him stand, and rave, and cry for food: If any one relieves or pities him, For the offence he 'dies. This is our doom! I should 'repent the evils I have done: I do repent it from my very soul. Luc. Some loving friends convey the Emperor hence, Be closed within our household's monument.— No 'funeral rite, nor man in 'mournful weeds, But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey: END OF TITUS ANDRONICUS. [Exeunt. a O. R. to. b mishaps. c bring to ruin. ROMEO AND JULIET. The Tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet" is generally admired as the dramatic representation of a passion in which all men and women either have been, are, or hope to be, interested-Love; sudden, as it sometimes is; indiscreet, as it often is; unhappy, as it too frequently is; ardent and variable, as it always is. The story of Romeo and Juliet has been frequently told in prose and poetry: Dante, in his "Divine Comedy," refers to this family feud of the Capulets and the Montagues; it was the subject of an English Poem by Arthur Brooke in 1562; and it is included in the Collection of Tales known as "The Palace of Pleasure," published in 1567, by William Painter. Shakespeare's was not the first dramatic composition on this subject. Arthur Brooke's Poem is entitled, "The Tragicalle Historye of Romeus and Juliet, containing a rare example of true constansie; with the subtill counsels and practices of an old Fryer and their ill event." In the preface the author says: "I saw the same argument lately set forth on the stage with more commendation than I can look for, being there much better set forth than I have, or can do." This high praise belongs to a dramatist of an earlier date, as these words were printed in 1562-two years before Shakespeare was born. But no copy of the play is extant now. Shakespeare's Tragedy must have been written in 1596. It was printed in 1597, and again in 1599, but the author's name is not on either title-page. The second version is stated to be "newly corrected, augmented and amended," and differs very little from the folio of 1623. The Time of the action is about a week in the beginning of the 14th century (1303) and the Scene is, during the greater part of the play, in Verona; once, in the fifth act, in Mantua. The Tragedy is preceded by a Prologue, spoken by the Chorus: 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona where we lay our scene, From forth the fatal sires of these two foes, Do, with their 'death, bury their 'parents' strife. The which, if you with patient ears attend, What here shall 'miss, our toil shall strive to 'mend. [Exit. Among the noble families in the city of Verona were those of Capulet and Montague-rivals and enemies. The mediation of friends, and the power of their rulers, had been vainly exerted to pacify them. On one occasion, the foolish wrangling of the servants of Lord Capulet with those of Lord Montague, had called for the joint interference of Benvolio, (a kinsman of Montague,) and Tybalt, (a nephew of Capulet). The Chiefs of the rival families met in the midst of the fierce outbreak, which was with difficulty quelled by the Prince of Verona himself: Prin. 'Rebellious subjects! enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,- Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our town : Exeunt Once more, on pain of 'death! all men depart. [Prince, &c. The family feud thus allayed for a time, Lady Montague anxiously inquires of Benvolio for her son: La. Mon. O, where is 'Romeo? saw you him 'to-day? Peered forth the golden window of the east, a O. R. loins. b angry. CO. R. streets. d came in sight, appeared. |