And say, I am Revenge, sent from below, Enter TITUS above. [They knock. Tit. Who doth molest my contemplation? 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 did'st know me, thou would'st talk with me. Tit. I am not mad; I know thee well enough: 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; 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, stands; 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, Until his very downfall in the sea. 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 they 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, I will embrace thee in it by and by. [Exit TITUS, from above. Tam. This closing with him fits his lunacy: Whate'er I forge, to feed his brain-sick fits, "Are them thy, &c."- MALONE. Do you uphold and maintain in your speeches. Enter TITUS. Tit. Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee: Tam. What would'st thou have us do, Andronicus? And I am sent to be reveng'd on him. Tam. Show me a thousand, that have 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. But would it please thee, good Andronicus, To send for Lucius, thy thrice valiant son, Who leads towards Rome a band of warlike Goths, And bid him come and banquet at thy house: Tit. Marcus, my brother!-'tis sad Titus calls. Enter MARCUS. Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius : As he regards his aged father's life. Mar. This will I do, and soon return again. [Exit. 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 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. And tarry with him, till I come again. [Aside. 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. [Aside. Dem. Madam, depart at pleasure, leave us here. Tam. Farewell, Andronicus: Revenge now goes To lay a complot to betray thy foes. [Exit TAMORa. 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? Know you these two? Th' empress' sons, Tit. Pub. 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 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 ! |