This, before all the world, do I prefer ; Dem. By this our mother is for ever sham'd. Chi. I blush to think upon this ignomy t. Aar. Why, there's the privilege your beauty bears: Fye, treacherous hue! that will betray with blushing The close enacts and counsels of the heart! Here's a young lad fram'd of another leert: Of that self-blood that first gave life to you: Nay, he's your brother by the surer side, Nur. Aaron, what shall I say unto the empress ? Aar. Then sit we down, and let us all consult. My son and I will have the wind of you : Keep there: Now talk at pleasure of your safety. [They sit on the ground. Dem. How many women saw this child of his? I am a lamb but if you brave the Moor, Nur. Cornelia the midwife, and myself, • In spite of. t. e. Ignominy. Aar. The emperess, the midwife, and yourself: Two may keep counsel, when the third's away: Go to the empress; tell her, this I said : [Stabbing her. Weke, weke !-so cries a pig, prepar'd to the spit. Dem. What mean'st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this? Aar. O, lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy: Go pack with him, and give the mother gold, To calm this tempest whirling in the court; Hark ye, lords; ye see, that I have given her phy. [Pointing to the Nurse. And you must needs bestow her funeral; sick, The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: The midwife, and the nurse, well made away, Chi. Aaron, I see, thou wilt not trust the air Dem. For this care of Tamora, Herself, and hers, are highly bound to thee. [Exeunt Dem. and Chi. bearing off the Nurse. Aar. Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies; There to dispose this treasure in mine arms, And secretly to greet the empress' friends.Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence; * Contrive, bargain with. For it is you that puts us to our shifts: I'll make you feed on berries, and on roots, To be a warrior, and command a camp. [Exit. SCENE III. The same. A publick place. Enter Titus, bearing arrows, with letters at the ends of them; with him Marcus, Young Lucius, and other Gentlemen, with bows. Tit. Come, Marcus, come;-Kinsmen, this is the way: Sir boy, now let me see your archery; Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there straight: Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled. No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it; This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her hence, And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice. Mar. O, Publius, is not this a heavy case, To see thy noble uncle thus distract? Pub. Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns, By day and night to attend him carefully; And feed his humour kindly as we may, Till time beget some careful remedy. Mar. Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy. Join with the Goths; and with revengeful war Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude, And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine. Tit. Publius, how now? how now, my masters? What, Have you met with her? Pub. No, my good lord; but Pluto sends you word, If you will have revenge from hell, you shall: He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else, Tit. He doth me wrong, to feed me with delays. I'll dive into the burning lake below, And pull her out of Acheron by the heels.- Yet wrung* with wrongs, more than our backs can bear: And sith + there is no justice in earth nor hell, We will solicit heaven; and move the gods, To send down justice for to wreak † our wrongs: Come, to this gears. You are a good archer, Mar[He gives them the arrows. cus. Ad Jovem, that's for you:-Here, ad Apollinem :— Ad Martem, that's for myself; * Strained. $ Dress, furniture. + Since. Revenge. Here, boy, to Pallas-Here, to Mercury: You were as good to shoot against the wind.- O' my word, I have written to effect; 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 am 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 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? |