But even with law, against the wilful fons
Of old Andronicus. And what an if
His forrows have fo overwhelm'd his wits,
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks?
His fits, his phrenzy, and his bitterness?
And now he writes to heav'n for his redress.
See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury,
This to Apollo, this to the god of war:
Sweet fcrowls, to fly about the streets of Rome!
What's this but libelling against the Senate,
And blazoning our injustice ev'ry where?
A goodly humour, is it not, my Lords?
As who would fay, in Rome no juftice were..
But, if I live, his feigned ecstasies

Shall be no fhelter to these outrages;
But he and his fhall know that Juftice lives
In Saturninus' health; whom, if she sleep,
He'll fo awake as fhe in fury shall

Gut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.

Tam. My gracious Lord, most lovely Saturnine, Lord of my life, commander of my thought, Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age, Th' effects of forrow for his valiant fons, Whose lofs hath pierc'd him deep, and scarr'd his heart;

And rather comfort his diftreffed plight,

Than profecute the meanest or the best,

For these contempts. Why, thus it fhall become
High-witted Tamora to glofe with all: [Afide.
But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,
Thy life blood out: if Aaron now be wife,
Then all is fafe, the anchor's in the port.

Enter Clown.

How now, good fellow, wouldst thou speak with us? Clo. Yes, forfooth, an your mistressship be Emperial.

Tam. Emprefs I am, but yonder fits the Emperor. Clo. 'Tis he. God and St Stephen give you good

even:

I have brought you a letter and a couple of pidgeons here. [The Emperor reads the letter.

Sat. Go, take him away, and hang him presently. Clo. How much money must I have?

Tam. Come, firrah, thou must be hang'd.

Clo. Hang'd! by'r lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end. [Exit:

Sat. Defpightful and intolerable wrongs!
Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?

I know from whence this fame device proceeds.
May this be borne? as if his traiterous fons,
That dy'd by law for murder of our brother,
Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully?
Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
Nor age nor honour fall fhape privilege.
For this proud mock I'll be thy flaughter-man,
Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great, -
In hope thyfelf fhould govern Rome and me.

Enter Emilius.

Sat. What news with thee, Æmilius?

Emil. Arm, arm, my Lords; Rome never had more caufe;

The Goths have gather'd head, and with a power-
Of high-refolved men, bent to the spoil,

They hither march amain, under the conduct
Of Lucius, fon to old Andronicus,

Who threats,, in courfe of his revenge, to do
As much as ever Coriolanus did.

Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?
Thefe tidings nip me, and I hang the head,
As flowers with froft, or grafs beat down with ftorms.
Ay, now begin our forrows to approach :
'Tis he the common people love fo much;
Myfelf hath often over-heard them fay,
When I have walked like a private man,
That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully;

And they have wifh'd that Lucius were their Emperor.

Tam. Why fhould you fear? is not our city ftrong?

Sat. Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius, And will revolt from me to. fuccour him.

Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious like thy

name.

Is the fun dim'd, that gnats do fly in it?
The eagle fuffers little birds to fing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby,
Knowing that with the fhadow of his wings
He can at pleasure stint their melody;
Ev'n fo may'st thou the giddy men of Rome.
Then chear thy fpirit; for know thou, Emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus

With words more fweet, and yet more dangerous,
Than baits to fifh, or honey-stalks to fheep*
When as the one is wounded with the bait,
The other rotted with delicious food.

Sat. But he will not entreat his fon for us.
Tam. If Tamora intreat him, then he will;
For I can smooth and fill his aged ear
With golden promises; that were his heart
Almoft impregnable, his old ears deaf,
Yet fhould both ear and heart obey my tongue.
Go thou before as our ambassador; [To Æmilius,
Say that the Emperor requests a parley

Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting.
Sat. Emilius, do this meffage honourably;
And if he stand on hostage for his fafety,
Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.
Emil. Your bidding fhall I do effectually.

[Exit.

Tam. Now will I to that old Andronicus, And temper him with all the art I have, To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. And now, fweet Emperor, be blith again, And bury all thy fear in my devices.

Sat. Then go fuccefsfully, and plead to him.

[Exeunt.

Honey-ftalks are clover flowers which contain a fweet juice. It is common for cattle to overcharge themselves with clover, and die. Johnson.

ACT V.

SCENE

I.

The Camp, at a fmall distance from Rome.

Enter Lucius with Goths, with drum and foldiers.

Lucius.

Approved warriors, and my faithful friends,

have received letters from great Rome,

Which fignify what hate they bear their Emp'ror,
And how defirous of our fight they are.
Therefore, great Lords, be as your titles witness,
Imperious and impatient of your wrongs;
And wherein Rome hath done you any fcathe,
Let him make treble fatisfaction.

Goth. Brave flip fprung from the great Andronicus,

Whofe name was once our terror, now our comfort;
Whofe high exploits and honourable deeds
Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,
Be bold in us; we'll follow where thou lead'it,
Like ftinging bees in hotteft fummer's day,
Led by their mafter to the flower'd fields,
And be aveng'd on curfed Tamora.

Omnes. And, as he faith, fo fay we all with him. Luc. I humbly thank him, and I thank you all. But who comes here, led by a lufty Goth?

Enter a Goth, leading Aaron, with his child in

his arms.

Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd To gaze upon a ruinous monastery; And as I earnestly did fix mine eye Upon the wafted building, fuddenly I heard a child cry underneath a wall; I made unto the noife, when foon I heard The crving babe control'd with this discourse:

Peace, tawny flave, half me and half thy dam.

"Did not thy hue bewray whofe brat thou art, "Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look, “Villain, thou might'st have been an Emperor; "But where the bull and cow are both milk-white, "They never do beget a coal-black calf.

"Peace, villain, peace! (ev'n thus he rates the babe)

"For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth;

"Who, when he knows thou art the Emprefs' babe, "Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's fake." With this, my weapon drawn, I rufh'd upon him, Surpriz'd him fuddenly, and brought him hither, To ufe as you think needful of the man.

Luc. O worthy Goth, this is th' incarnate devil That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand; This is the pearl that pleas'd your Emprefs' eye; And here's the base fruit of his burning luft. Say, wall-ey'd flave, whither would't thou convey This growing image of thy fiend-like face? Why doft not fpeak? what! deaf? no, not a word? A halter, foldiers; hang him on this tree, And by his fide his fruit of baftardy.

Aar. Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood. Luc. Too like the fire, for ever being good. First hang the child, that he may fee it fprawl, A fight to vex the father's foul withal. Get me a ladder,

Aar. Lucius, fave the child,

And bear it from me to the Emperefs

If thou do this, I'll fhew thee wond'rous things,
That highly may advantage thee to hear;
If thou wilt not, befall what may bafaii,

I'll speak no more; but vengeance rot you all! Luc. Say on, and if it please me which thou fpeak'ft,

Thy child fhall live, and I will fee it nourish'd. Aar. An if it please thee? why, affure thee, Lucius,

'Twill vex thy foul to hear what I fhall speak; For I must talk of murders, rapes and maffacres, Acts of black night, abominable deeds,

Complots of mischief, treason, villainies,
VO L. VIII.
F