Tam. Titus, I am come to talk with thee.(91) 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. Witness this wretched stump, witness these crimson lines; Tam. Know, thou sad man, I am not Tamora ; I am Revenge; sent from the infernal kingdom, 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. And whirl along with thee about the globe. (92) And find out murderers in their guilty caves: (94) Trot, like a servile footman, all day long, And day by day I'll do this heavy task, So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there. Tam. These are my ministers, and come with me. Tit. Are these (96) thy ministers? what are they call'd? Tam. Rapine and Murder; therefore called so, 'Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men. Tit. Good Lord, how like the empress' sons they are! And you, the empress! but we worldly men Have miserable, mad, mistaking eyes. O sweet Revenge, now do I come to thee; And, if one arm's embracement will content thee, Tam. This closing with him fits his lunacy: Enter TITUS below. [Exit above. Tit. Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee: VOL. V. What shall we do? F Tam. What wouldst thou have us do, Andronicus? Dem. Show me a murderer, I'll deal with him. Chi. Show me a villain that hath done a rape, And I am sent to be reveng'd on him. Tam. Show me a thousand that have done thee wrong, And I will be revengèd on them all. Tit. Look round about the wicked streets of Rome; And when thou find'st a man that's like thyself, Good Murder, stab him; he's a murderer.Go thou with him; and when it is thy hap To find another that is like to thee, Good Rapine, stab him; he's a ravisher.- Well mayst thou know her by thy own proportion, I pray thee, do on them some violent death; They have been violent to me and mine. Tam. Well hast thou lesson'd us; this shall we do. But would it please thee, good Andronicus, To send for Lucius, thy thrice-valiant son, Who leads towards Rome a band of warlike Goths, Tit. Marcus, my brother! 'tis sad Titus calls. Enter MARCUS. Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius; This do thou for my love; and so let him, As he regards his aged father's life. Marc. This will I do, and soon return again. [Exit. Tam. Now will I hence about thy business, And take my ministers along with me. 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 bide with him,(97) 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 to them. Tit. I know them all, though they suppose me mad; Dem. Madam, depart at pleasure; leave us here. To lay a complot to betray thy foes. [Aside. Tit. I know thou dost; and, sweet Revenge, farewell. [Exit Tamora. 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 is your will? Tit. Know you these two? I take them, Chiron and (98) Demetrius. Tit. Fie, Publius, fie! thou art too much deceiv'd,— [Exit. [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, with LAVINIA; he bearing a knife, and she a basin. 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.- 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 And make two pasties of your shameful heads; [He cuts their throats.(99) Receive the blood: and when that they are dead, |