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.

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.

Give me a pen and ink.

Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication? Clo. Ay, sir.

Tit. Then here is a supplication for you. And when you come to him, at the first approach, you nust kneel; then kiss his foot; then deliver up your pigeons; and then look for your reward, I'll be at hand 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:-
And when thou hast given it to the emperor,

Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.
Clo. God be with you, sir; I will.

Tit. Come, Marcus, let's go :- Publius, follow

me.

[Exeunt.

• The Clown means to say plebeian tribune ; i.e. tribune of the people.

SCENE IV.

The same. 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, us'd in such contempt?

My lords, you know, as do the mightful gods,
However these disturbers of our peace

Buz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd,
But even with law, against the wilful sons
Of old Andronicus. And what an if
His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits,
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,
His fits, his phrensy, and his bitterness?
And now he writes to heaven for his redress:
See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;
This to Apollo; this to the god of war:
Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
What's this, but libelling against the senate,
And blazoning our injustice every where?
A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
As 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,

* Equal.

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,

[Aside.

For these contempts. Why, thus it shall become
High-witted Tamora to gloze* with all:
But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,
Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,
Then is all safe, the anchor's in the port.-

Enter Clown.

How now, good fellow? would'st 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. [Exit, guarded.

Sat. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!

Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?

I know from whence this same device proceeds;
May this be borne?-as if his traitorous sons,
That died by law for murder of our brother,
Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully.-
Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
Nor age, nor honour, shall shape privilege :-

* Flatter.

For this proud mock, I'll be thy slaughter-man ; Sly frantick wretch, that holp'st to make me great, In hope thyself should govern Rome and me.

Enter Emilius.

What news with thee, Emilius?

Emil. Arm, arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause!

The Goths have gather'd 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
As much as ever Coriolanus did.

Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?
These tidings nip me; and I hang the head

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 wish'd that Lucius were their em. peror.

Tam. Why should you fear? is not your city strong?

Sat. Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius;

And will revolt from me, to succour him.

Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious*, like thy

name.

Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it?
The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby;
Knowing that with the shadow of his wings,
He can at pleasure stint + their melody:
Even so may'st thou the giddy men of Rome.

Then cheer thy spirit: for know, thou emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus,

With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous,
Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep;
When as the one is wounded with the bait,
The other rotted with delicious feed.

Sat. But he will not entreat his son for us.
Tam. If Tamora entreat him, then he will:
For I can smooth, and fill his aged ear
With golden promises; that, were his heart
Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,

Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.-
Go thou before, be our embassador;

[To Æmilius.

Say, that the emperor requests a parley
Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting,
Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.

Sut. Emilius, do this message honourably:
And if he stand on hostage for his safety,
Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.
Emil. Your bidding shall I do effectually.

[Exit Æmilius. Tam. Now will I to that old Audronicus; And temper him, with all the art I have, To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again, And bury all thy fear in my devices.

Sat. Then go successfully, and plead to him.

[Exeunt.