Then which way shall I find revenge's cave? Lavinia, thou shalt be employed in these things; Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth. As for thee, boy, go, get thee from my sight; [Exeunt TITUS, MARCUS, and LAVINIA. O, 'would, thou wert as thou 'tofore hast been! But in oblivion, and hateful griefs, If Lucius live, he will requite your wrongs; [Exit. SCENE II1. A Room in Titus's House. A Banquet set out. Enter TITUS, MARCUS, LAVINIA, and young LUCIUS, a Boy. Tit. So, so; now sit: and look, you eat no more And when my heart, all mad with misery, Then thus I thump it down. Thou map of woe, that thus dost talk in signs! [TO LAVINIA. When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating, 1 This scene, which does not contribute any thing to the action, yet seems to be by the same author as the rest, is wanting in the quarto copies of 1600 and 1611, but found in the folio of 1623. sitting, His arms in this sad knot.' 3 This obsolete verb is likewise found in Spenser: 'Great pleasure mix'd with pitiful regard, That godly king and queen did passionate.' Mar. Fye, brother, fye! teach her not thus to lay Such violent hands upon her tender life. Tit. How now! has sorrow made thee dote already? How Troy was burnt, and he made miserable? If Marcus did not name the word of hands!- says; She says, she drinks no other drink but tears, Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven, And, by still practice, learn to know thy meaning. Boy. Good grandsire, leave these bitter deep laments: Make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale. Tit. Peace, tender sapling: thou art made of tears, 4 So in Troilus and Cressida : Handlest in thy discourse, O that her hand.' 5 A very coarse allusion to brewing. And tears will quickly melt thy life away.- Mar. Alas, my lord, I have but kill'd a fly. Poor harmless fly! That, with his pretty buzzing melody, Came here to make us merry; and thou hast kill'd him. Mar. Pardon me, sir; 'twas a black ill favour'd fly, Like to the empress' Moor; therefore I kill'd him. Tit. 0, 0, 0, Then pardon me for reprehending thee, Yet I do think we are not brought so low, 6 Steevens conjectures that the words and mother' should be omitted. Ritson proposes to read the line thus: 'But! How if that fly had a father, brother?' 7 This was formerly not a disrespectful expression. Poins uses the same address to the Prince of Wales in King Henry IV. Part 1. Act i. Sc. 2. Mar. Alas, poor man! grief has so wrought on him, He takes false shadows for true substances. Tit. Come, take away.—Lavinia, go with me: I'll to thy closet; and go read with thee Sad stories, chanced in the times of old.Come, boy, and go with me; thy sight is young, And thou shalt read, when mine begins to dazzle. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. The same. Before Titus's House. Enter TITUS and MARCUS. Then enter Youn LUCIUS, LAVINIA running after him. Boy. Help, grandsire, help! my aunt Lavinia Follows me every where, I know not why: Good uncle Marcus, see how swift she comes! Alas, sweet aunt, I know not what you mean. Mar. Stand by me, Lucius; do not fear thine aunt. Tit. She loves thee, boy, too well to do thee harm. Boy. Ay, when my father was in Rome, she did. Mar. What means my niece Lavinia by these signs? Tit. Fear her not, Lucius:-Somewhat doth she mean: See, Lucius, see, how much she makes of thee: Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus? 1 Tully's Treatise on Eloquence, entitled Orator. |