Tit. Ha! Publius, Publius, what hast thou done? See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns. Mar. This was the sport, my lord. When Publius shot, The bull, being galled, gave Aries such a knock, That down fell both the ram's horns in the court; And who should find them but the empress' villain? She laughed, and told the Moor, he should not choose But give them to his master for a present. Tit. Why, there it goes; God give your lordship joy. Enter a Clown, with a basket and two pigeons. Clo. Ho! the gibbet-maker? He says, that he hath taken them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the next week. Tit. But what says Jupiter, I ask thee? Clo. Alas, sir, I know not Jupiter; I never drank with him in all my life. Tit. Why, villain, art not thou the carrier? Clo. Ay, of my pigeons, sir; nothing else. Tit. Why, didst thou not come from heaven? Clo. From heaven? Alas, sir, I never came there. God forbid, I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young days. Why, I am going with my pigeons to the tribunal plebs, to take up a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and one of the imperial's men. Mar. Why, sir, that is as fit as can be, to serve for your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to the emperor from you. Tit. Tell me, can you deliver an oration to the emperor with a grace ? Clo. Nay, truly, sir, I could never say grace in all my life. But give your pigeons to the emperor; By me thou shalt have justice at his hands. Hold, hold;-meanwhile, here's money for thy charges. Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication? Tit. Then here is a supplication for you. And when you come to him, at the first approach, you must kneel; then kiss his foot; then deliver up your pigeons; and then look for your reward; I'll be at hand, sir. See See you do it bravely. Come, let me see it. Clo. I warrant you, sir; let me alone. For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant.- Tit. Come, Marcus, let's go;-Publius, follow me. SCENE IV. The same. [Exeunt. Before the Palace. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, Lords, and others; SATURNINUS with the arrows in his hand that TITUS shot. Sat. Why, lords, what wrongs are these? Was ever seen An emperor of Rome thus overborne, Troubled, confronted thus; and, for the extent Of egal justice, used in such contempt? My lords, you know, as do the mightful gods, Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath passed, Of old Andronicus. And what an if. His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits, Tam. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine, Whose loss hath pierced him deep, and scarred his heart; And rather comfort his distressed plight, Than prosecute the meanest, or the best, For these contempts. Why, thus it shall become But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick, Enter Clown. [Aside. How now, good fellow? Wouldst thou speak with us? Clo. Yes, forsooth, an your mistership be imperial. Tam. Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor. Clo. 'Tis he.-God, and saint Stephen, give you good. den. I have brought you a letter, and a couple of pigeons here. [SAT. reads the letter. Sat. Go, take him away, and hang him presently. Clo. How much money must I have? Tam. Come, sirrah, you must be hanged. Clo. Hanged! by'r lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end. [Exit, guarded. Sat. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! I know from whence this same device proceeds; Enter EMILIUS. What news with thee, Æmilius? Emil. Arm, arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause! The Goths have gathered head; and with a power Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil, They hither march amain, under conduct Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus; Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths? As flowers with frost, or grass beat down with storms. Ay, now begin our sorrows to approach. 'Tis he the common people love so much; Myself hath often overheard them say, (When I have walked like a private man,) That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully, And they have wished that Lucius was their emperor. Tam. Why should you fear? Is not your city strong? Sat. Ay, but the citizens favor Lucius; And will revolt from me, to succor him. Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name. And is not careful what they mean thereby; With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, Sat. But he will not entreat his son for us. Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.- Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting, [To ÆMIL. Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus. [Exit EMILIUS. Tam. Now will I to that old Andronicus, And bury all thy fear in my devices. Sat. Then go successfully, and plead to him. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Plains near Rome. Enter LUCIUS and Goths, with drum and colors. Luc. Approved warriors, and my_faithful friends, Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, 1 Goth. Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus, Goths. And, as he saith, so say we all with him. Enter a Goth, leading AARON, with his Child in his arms. I heard a child cry underneath a wall. I made unto the noise; when soon I heard The crying babe controlled with this discourse: Peace, villain, peace!-even thus he rates the babe- Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe, Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake. With this my weapon drawn, I rushed upon him, |