Unto the body of a dismal yew, And leave me to this miserable death: [Stabs BASSIAN US. Chi. And this for me, struck home to show my strength. [Also stabs BAS., who dies. Lav. Ay, come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous Tamora, For no name fits thy nature but thy own! Tam. Give me thy poniard; you shall know, my boys, Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong. Dem. Stay, madam; here is more belongs to her; First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw: Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty, And with that painted hope braves your mightiness: Chi. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch. Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting. Chi. I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure. Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy That nice-preserved honesty of yours. Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,- As unrelenting flint to drops of rain. Lav. When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam? O, do not learn her wrath,-she taught it thee; The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble; Yet every mother breeds not sons alike: Do thou entreat her show a woman pity. [TO CHIRON. Chi. What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard? Lav. 'Tis true, the raven doth not hatch a lark: Yet have I heard,-O, could I find it now! The lion, mov'd with pity, did endure Tam. I know not what it means:-away with her! Tam. Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me, Even for his sake am I pitiless. Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain To save your brother from the sacrifice; Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen, Poor I was slain when Bassianus died. Tam. What begg'st thou, then? fond woman, let me go. Lav. 'Tis present death I beg; and one thing more, That womanhood denies my tongue to tell : O, keep me from their worse than killing lust, Where never man's eye may behold my body: Tam. So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee: No, let them satisfy their lust on thee. Dem. Away! for thou hast stay'd us here too long. Lav. No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature! The blot and enemy to our general name! Confusion fall,— Chi. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth:-bring thou her This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him. [husband: [DEM. throws BAS.'s body into the pit; then exit with CHI., dragging off LAV. Tam. Farewell, my sons: see that you make her sure: Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed Till all the Andronici be made away. Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor, Re-enter AARON, with QUINTUS and MARTIUS. [Exit. Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit Quin. My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes. Mart. And mine, I promise you; were't not for shame, Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile. [Falls into the pit. Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall? That ever eye with sight made heart lament! Aar. [aside.] Now will I fetch the king to find them here, That he thereby may give a likely guess How these were they that made away his brother. Quin. I am surprised with an uncouth fear; Quin. Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart Was I a child to fear I know not what. Mart. Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here, [Exit. Quin. Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out; I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink. Mart. Nor I no strength to climb without thy help. Quin. Thy hand once more; I will not lose again, Till thou art here aloft or I below: Thou canst not come to me,-I come to thee. Enter SATURNINUS with AARON. Sat. Along with me: I'll see what hole is here, Mart. The unhappy son of old Andronicus, [Falls in. Sat. My brother dead! I know thou dost but jest: He and his lady both are at the lodge Upon the north side of this pleasant chase; "Tis not an hour since I left him there. Mart. We know not where you left him all alive; But, out, alas! here have we found him dead. Re-enter TAMORA, with Attendants; TITUS ANDRONICUS and LUCIUS. T'am. Where is my lord the king? Sat. Here, Tamora; though griev'd with killing grief. Tam. Where is thy brother Bassianus? Sat. Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound: Poor Bassanius here lies murdered. Tam. Then all too late I bring this fatal writ, The complot of this timeless tragedy; [Giving a letter. And wonder greatly, that man's face can fold In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny. Sat. [reads.] An if we miss to meet him handsomely, Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 'tis we mean, Do thou so much as dig the grave for him: Thou know'st our meaning. Look for thy reward Which overshades the mouth of that same pit Do this, and purchase us thy lasting friends. This is the pit and this the elder tree :— Aar. My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold. [Showing it. Sat. [to TITUS.] Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody Have here bereft my brother of his life. [kind, Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison: There let them bide until we have devis'd Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them. Tam. What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing! How easily murder is discovered! Tit. High emperor, upon my feeble knee Sat. If it be prov'd! you see it is apparent.- Sat. Thou shalt not bail them: see thou follow me.— For, by my soul, were there worse end than death, Tam. Andronicus, I will entreat the king: Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough. Tit. Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them. [Exeunt severally. Attendants bearing the body. SCENE IV.-Another part of the Forest. Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, with LAVINIA ravished; her hands cut off and her tongue cut out. Dem. So, now go tell, an if thy tongue can speak, An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe. Dem. See, how with signs and tokens she can scrowl. Chi. Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands. Dem. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash; And so let's leave her to her silent walks. |