Pub. Th' empress' sons, I take them, Chiron and Demetrius. Tit. Fye, Publius, fye! thou art too much deceiv'd; The one is Murder, Rape is the other's name: [Exit Titus.-Publius, &c. lay hold on Chiron Chi. Villains, forbear; we are the empress' sons. Pub. And therefore do we what we are command ed. Stop close their mouths, let them not speak a word: Is he sure bound? look, that you bind them fast. Re-enter Titus Andronicus, with Lavinia; she bear. ing a bason, and he a knife. Tit. Come, come, Lavinia; look, thy foes are bound ; Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me; But let them hear what fearful words I utter. O villains, Chiron and Demetrius! Here stands the spring whom you have stain'd with mud; This goodly summer with your winter mix'd. You kill'd her husband; and, for that vile fault, My hand cut off, and made a merry jest: Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that, more dear Than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity, This one hand yet is left to cut your throats; Whilst that Lavinia 'tween her stumps doth hold The bason, that receives your guilty blood. You know, your mother means to feast with me, And make two pasties of your shameful heads; And in that paste let their vile heads be bak'd. To make this banquet; which I wish may prove [Exeunt, bearing the dead bodies. Crust of a raised pye. SCENE III. The same. A pavilion, with tables, &c. Enter Lucius, Marcus, and Goths, with Aaron, prisoner. Luc. Uncle Marcus, since 'tis my father's mind, That I repair to Rome, I am content. 1 Goth. And ours, with thine, befall what fortune will. Luc. Good uncle, take you in this barbarous This ravenous tiger, this accursed devil; Aar. Some devil whisper curses in mine ear, Luc. Away, inhuman dog! unhallow'd slave!— Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in. [Exeunt Goths, with Aaron. Flourish. The trumpets show, the emperor is at hand. Enter Saturninus and Tamora, with Tribunes, Senators, and others. Sat. What, hath the firmament more suns than one? Luc. What boots* it thee, to call thyself a sun? Mar. Rome's emperor, and nephew, break† the parle ; * Advantage benefit. ti. e. Begin the parley. These quarrels must be quietly debated. The feast is ready, which the careful Titus For peace, for love, for league, and good to Rome: Please you, therefore, draw nigh, and take your places. Sat. Marcus, we will. [Hautboys sound. The company sit down at table. Enter Titus, dressed like a cook, Lavinia, veiled, Young Lucius, and others. Titus places the dishes on the table. Tit. Welcome, my gracious lord: welcome, dread queen; Welcome, ye warlike Goths; welcome, Lucius; And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor, 'Twill fill your stomachs; please you eat of it. Sat. Why art thou thus attir'd, Andronicus? Tit. Because I would be sure to have all well, To entertain your highness, and your empress. Tam. We are beholden to you, good Andronicus. Tit. An if your highness knew my heart, you were. My lord the emperor, resolve me this; Was it well done of rash Virginius, To slay his daughter with his own right hand, Tit. Your reason, mighty lord? Sat. Because the girl shouid not survive her shame, And by her presence still renew his sorrows. Tit. A reason mighty, strong, and effectual; [He kills Lavinia. And, with thy shame, thy father's sorrow die! Sat. What hast thou done, unnatural, and un kind? Tit. Kill'd her, for whom my tears have made me blind. I am as woful as Virginius was: And have a thousand times more cause than he To do this outrage;-and it is now done. Sat. What, was she ravish'd? tell, who did the deed. Tit. Will't please you eat; will't please your highness feed? Tam. Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus? Tit. Not I; 'twas Chiron, and Demetrius: They ravish'd her, and cut away her tongue, And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong. Sat. Go, fetch them hither to us presently. Tit. Why, there they are both, baked in that pye; Whereof their mother daintily hath fed, Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. 'Tis true, 'tis true; witness my knife's sharp point. [Killing Tamora. Sat. Die, frantick wretch, for this accursed deed. [Killing Titus. Luc. Can the son's eye behold his father bleed? There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed. [Kills Saturninus. A great tumult. The people in confusion disperse. Marcus, Lucius, and their partisans, ascend the steps before Titus's house. Mar. You sad-fac'd men, people and sons of By uproar sever'd, like a flight of fowl These broken limbs again into one body. Sen. Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself; And she, whom mighty kingdoms court'sy to, Like a forlorn and desperate cast-away, |