And all my study be to no effect? You are deceiv'd: for what I mean to do, Tam. Titus, I am come to talk with thee. Tit. No; not a word: How can I grace my talk, Wanting a hand to give it action? Thou hast the odds of me, therefore no more. Tam. If thou didst know me, thou wouldst talk with me. Tit. I am not mad; I know thee well enough : Witness this wretched stump, these crimson lines; Witness these trenches, made by grief and care; Witness the tiring day, and heavy night; Witness all sorrow, that I know thee well For our proud empress, mighty Tamora : Is not thy coming for my other hand? Tam. Know thou, sad man, I am not Tamora ; I am Revenge; sent from the infernal kingdom, By working wreakful vengeance on thy foes. No vast obscurity, or misty vale, Where bloody murder, or detested rape, Can couch for fear, but I will find them out; Tit. Art thou Revenge? and art thou sent to me, Tam. I am; therefore come down, and welcome me. Tit. Do me some service, ere I come to thee. Lo, by thy side where Rape, and Murder, stand; Now give some 'surance that thou art Revenge, Stab them, or tear them on thy chariot wheels ; And then I'll come, and be thy waggoner, And whirl along with thee about the globes. Provide thee proper palfries, black as jet, To hale thy vengeful waggon swift away, And find out murderers in their guilty caves : And, when thy car is loaden with their heads, I will dismount, and by the waggon wheel Trot, like a servile footman, all day long; Even from Hyperion's rising in the east, So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there." Tam. These are my ministers, and come with me. Tit. Good lord, how like the empress' sons they are! O sweet Revenge, now do I come to thee: [Exit TITUS, from above Tit. Long have I been forlorn and all for thee: [5] I do not know of any instance that can be brought to prove that rape and rapine were ever used as synonymous terms. The word rapine has always been employed for a less fatal kind of blunder, and means the violent act of deprivation of any good, the honour here alluded to being always excepted. STEEVENS. Chi. Show me a villain, that has done a rape, And I am sent to be reveng'd on him. Tam. Show me a thousand, that hath done thee wrong, And I will be revenged on them all. Tit. Look round about the wicked streets of Rome ; Well may'st thou know her by thy own proportion, I pray thee, do on them some violent death, Tam. Well hast thou lesson'd us; this shall we do. Who leads towards Rome a band of warlike Goths, Tit. Marcus, my brother!-'tis sad Titus calls. Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius ; Mar. This will I do, and soon return again. And take my ministers along with me. [Exit Tit. Nay, nay, let Rape and Murder stay with me ; Or else I'll call my brother back again, And cleave to no revenge but Lucius. Tam. What say you, boys? will you abide with him, Whiles I go tell my lord the emperor, How I have govern'd our determin'd jest? Yield to his humour, smooth and speak him fair, [Aside.. And tarry with him, till I come again. Tit. I know them all, though they suppose me mad; And will o'er-reach them in their own devices, A pair of cursed hell-hounds, and their dam. Dem. Madam, depart at pleasure, leave us here. Tam. Farewell, Andronicus; Revenge now goes To lay a complot to betray thy foes. [Aside. [Exit TAM, Tit. I know, thou dost; and, sweet Revenge, farewell, Chi. Tell us, old man, how shall we be employ'd? Tit. Tut, I have work enough for you to do.Publius, come hither, Caius, and Valentine! Enter PUBLIUS, and Others, Pub. What's your will? Tit. Know you these two? 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 : And therefore bind them, gentle Publius; Caius, and Valentine, lay hands on them: Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour, And now I find it; therefore bind them sure; And stop their mouths, if they begin to cry. [Exit TITUS. PUBLIUS, &c. lay hold on: CHIRON and DEMETRIUS. Chi. Villains, forbear; we are the empress' sons. Pub. And therefore do we what we are commanded.--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 bearing a Basin, 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, Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that, more dear And make two pasties of your shameful heads; [He cuts their throats. To make this banquet; which I wish may prove The same. [Exeunt, bearing the dead bodies. SCENE III. 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. [6] A coffin is the term of art for the cavity of a raised pye. JOHNSON. |