What time I threw the people's suffrages Pub. Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns, Mar. Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy. And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine. Tit. Publius, how now? how now, my masters? What, Have you met with her? If Pub. No, my good lord; but Pluto sends you word He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else, Tit. He doth me wrong, to feed me with delays. And pull her out of Acheron by the heels. Yet wrung with wrongs, more than our backs can bear. Here, boy, to Pallas :-Here, to Mercury You were as good to shoot against the wind.- There's not a god left unsolicited. -- [8] To wring a horse is to press or strain his back. JOHNSON. Mar. Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court: We will afflict the emperor in his pride. Tit. Now, masters, draw. [They shoot.] O, well said, Lucius! Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas. Mar. My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon ; Your letter is with Jupiter by this. 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 gall'd, 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 laugh'd, 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. News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post is come. -Sirrah, what tidings? have you any letters ? Shall I have justice? what says Jupiter? 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 emperial'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. [9] I suppose the clown means to say, plebeian tribune, tribune of the people; for none could fill this office but such as were descended form plebeian ancestors. STEEVENS. Tit. Sirrah, come hither: make no more ado, But give your pigeons to the emperor : By me thou shalt have justice at his hands. Hold, hold; mean while, 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 you do it bravely. Clo. I warrant you, sir; let me alone. Tit. Sirrah, hast thou a knife? Come, let me see it. Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration; For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant :- Tit. Come, Marcus, let's go :-Publius, follow me. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. The same. Before the Palace. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, Lords, and others; SATURNI NUS 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 legal justice, us'd in such contempt ? My lords, you know, as do the mightful gods, Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd, ind blazoning our injustice every where ? goodly humour, is it not, my lords? is who would say, in Rome no justice were. But, if I live, his feigned ecstasies Shall be no shelter to these outrages: But he and his shall know, that justice lives In Saturninus' health; whom, if she sleep, He'll so awake, as she in fury shall Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives. Tam. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine, Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts, Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age, The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons, Whose loss hath pierc'd him deep, and scarr'd his heart ; And rather comfort his distressed plight, Than prosecute the meanest, or the best, For these contempts.-Why, thus it shall become 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. [SATURNINUS 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 hang'd. Clo. Hang'd! By'r lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end. Sat. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! Shall I endure this monstrous villany? [Exit, guarded. I know from whence this same device proceeds ? In hope thyself should govern Rome and me. Enter EMILIUS. -What news with thee, Emilius ? Em. Arm, arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause! They hither march amain, under conduct Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths? And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor. Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name. And is not careful what they mean thereby ; emperor, With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, The other rotted with delicious feed. Sat. But he will not entreat his son for us. Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.- [To ÆMIL. [1] Honey-stalks are clover flowers, which contain a sweet juice. It is common for cattle to overcharge themselves with clover, and die. JOHNSON. |