The Tragedy Of Titus Andronicus

1 Enter Emperor Saturninus and Empress Tamora and her two sons Chiron and
2 Demetrius, with Attendants. The Emperor brings the arrows in his hand
3 that Titus shot at him.
4 SATURNINUS.
5 Why, lords, what wrongs are these! Was ever seen
6 An emperor in Rome thus overborne,
7 Troubled, confronted thus; and, for the extent
8 Of legal justice, used in such contempt?
9 My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,
10 However these disturbers of our peace
11 Buzz in the people’s ears, there naught hath passed
12 But even with law against the wilful sons
13 Of old Andronicus. And what an if
14 His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits?
15 Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,
16 His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness?
17 And now he writes to heaven for his redress!
18 See, here’s “to Jove,” and this “to Mercury,”
19 This “to Apollo,” this to the god of war.
20 Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
21 What’s this but libelling against the senate,
22 And blazoning our injustice everywhere?
23 A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
24 As who would say, in Rome no justice were.
25 But if I live, his feigned ecstasies
26 Shall be no shelter to these outrages;
27 But he and his shall know that justice lives
28 In Saturninus’ health; whom, if she sleep,
29 He’ll so awake as he in fury shall
30 Cut off the proud’st conspirator that lives.
31 TAMORA.
32 My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,
33 Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,
34 Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus’ age,
35 Th’ effects of sorrow for his valiant sons,
36 Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarred his heart;
37 And rather comfort his distressed plight
38 Than prosecute the meanest or the best
39 For these contempts. [_Aside_.] Why, thus it shall become
40 High-witted Tamora to gloze with all.
41 But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick;
42 Thy life-blood out, if Aaron now be wise,
43 Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.
44 Enter Clown.
45 How now, good fellow, wouldst thou speak with us?
46 CLOWN.
47 Yes, forsooth, an your mistresship be emperial.
48 TAMORA.
49 Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.
50 CLOWN.
51 ’Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you good e’en. I have brought you a
52 letter and a couple of pigeons here.
53 [_Saturninus reads the letter._]
54 SATURNINUS.
55 Go take him away, and hang him presently.
56 CLOWN.
57 How much money must I have?
58 TAMORA.
59 Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.
60 CLOWN.
61 Hanged! by’r Lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end.
62 [_Exit guarded._]
63 SATURNINUS.
64 Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!
65 Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?
66 I know from whence this same device proceeds.
67 May this be borne as if his traitorous sons,
68 That died by law for murder of our brother,
69 Have by my means been butchered wrongfully?
70 Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
71 Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege.
72 For this proud mock I’ll be thy slaughterman,
73 Sly frantic wretch, that holp’st to make me great,
74 In hope thyself should govern Rome and me.
75 Enter Aemilius.
76 What news with thee, Aemilius?
77 AEMILIUS.
78 Arm, my lord! Rome never had more cause.
79 The Goths have gathered head, and with a power
80 Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil,
81 They hither march amain, under conduct
82 Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus;
83 Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do
84 As much as ever Coriolanus did.
85 SATURNINUS.
86 Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?
87 These tidings nip me, and I hang the head
88 As flowers with frost, or grass beat down with storms.
89 Ay, now begins our sorrows to approach.
90 ’Tis he the common people love so much;
91 Myself hath often overheard them say,
92 When I have walked like a private man,
93 That Lucius’ banishment was wrongfully,
94 And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor.
95 TAMORA.
96 Why should you fear? Is not your city strong?
97 SATURNINUS.
98 Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,
99 And will revolt from me to succour him.
100 TAMORA.
101 King, be thy thoughts imperious like thy name.
102 Is the sun dimmed, that gnats do fly in it?
103 The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
104 And is not careful what they mean thereby,
105 Knowing that with the shadow of his wings
106 He can at pleasure stint their melody;
107 Even so mayest thou the giddy men of Rome.
108 Then cheer thy spirit; for know, thou emperor,
109 I will enchant the old Andronicus
110 With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous,
111 Than baits to fish or honey-stalks to sheep,
112 Whenas the one is wounded with the bait,
113 The other rotted with delicious feed.
114 SATURNINUS.
115 But he will not entreat his son for us.
116 TAMORA.
117 If Tamora entreat him, then he will,
118 For I can smooth and fill his aged ears
119 With golden promises, that, were his heart
120 Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,
121 Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.
122 [_to Aemilius_] Go thou before, be our ambassador.
123 Say that the emperor requests a parley
124 Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting
125 Even at his father’s house, the old Andronicus.
126 SATURNINUS.
127 Aemilius, do this message honourably,
128 And if he stand on hostage for his safety,
129 Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.
130 AEMILIUS.
131 Your bidding shall I do effectually.
132 [_Exit._]
133 TAMORA.
134 Now will I to that old Andronicus,
135 And temper him with all the art I have,
136 To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.
137 And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
138 And bury all thy fear in my devices.
139 SATURNINUS.
140 Then go successantly, and plead to him.
141 [_Exeunt._]