Titus Andronicus & Timon of Athens

by William Shakespeare

  She laughed and told the Moor he should not choose

  But give them to his master for a present.

  TITUS Why, there it goes:77 God give his lordship joy!

  Enter the Clown with a basket and two pigeons in it

  News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post78 is come.--

  Sirrah, what tidings? Have you any letters?

  Shall I have justice? What says Jupiter?

  CLOWN Ho, the gibbet-maker! He says that he hath taken81

  them down again, for the man must not be hanged till the

  next week.

  TITUS But what says Jupiter, I ask thee?

  CLOWN Alas, sir, I know not Jupiter: I never drank with him in all my life.

  TITUS Why, villain, art not thou the carrier?87

  CLOWN Ay, of my pigeons, sir, nothing else.

  TITUS Why, didst thou not come from heaven?

  CLOWN From heaven? Alas, sir, I never came there: God forbid I should be so bold to press91 to heaven in my young days. Why, I am going with my pigeons to the tribunal plebs92

  to take up93 a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and one of the emperial's94 men.

  To Titus

  MARCUS Why, sir, that is as fit as can be to serve for your oration96, and let him deliver the pigeons to the emperor from you.

  TITUS Tell me, can you deliver an oration to the emperor with a grace?99

  CLOWN Nay, truly, sir, I could never say grace in all my life.

  TITUS Sirrah, come hither: make no more ado,101

  But give your pigeons to the emperor.

  By me thou shalt have justice at his hands.

  Hold, hold -- meanwhile here's money for thy charges.104

  Give me pen and ink.

  Writes

  Sirrah, can you with a grace deliver a supplication?106

  CLOWN Ay, sir.

  Gives the letter

  TITUS Then here is a supplication for you, and when you come to him, at the first approach you must

  kneel, then kiss his foot, then deliver up your pigeons, and

  then look for111 your reward. I'll be at hand, sir: see you do it bravely.112

  CLOWN I warrant you, sir, let me alone.113

  TITUS Sirrah, hast thou a knife? Come, let me see it.--

  Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration--

  To the Clown

  For thou must take it like an humble suppliant.

  And when thou hast given it the emperor,

  Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.

  CLOWN God be with you, sir. I will.

  Exit

  TITUS Come, Marcus, let us go.-- Publius, follow me.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 4]

  running scene 8 continues

  Enter Emperor and Empress and her two sons [and Attendants]. The Emperor brings the arrows in his hand that Titus shot at him

  SATURNINUS Why, lords, what wrongs are these? Was ever seen An emperor in Rome thus overborne,2

  Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent3

  Of equal justice, used in such contempt?

  My lords, you know, as know the mightful5 gods, However these disturbers of our peace

  Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath passed7

  But even8 with law against the wilful sons Of old Andronicus. And what an if

  His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits,

  Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,11

  His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness?

  And now he writes to heaven for his redress.

  See, here's 'To Jove', and this 'To Mercury',

  This 'To Apollo', this 'To the god of war':

  Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!

  What's this but libelling against the senate

  And blazoning18 our injustice everywhere?

  A goodly humour19, is it not, my lords?

  As who would say, in Rome no justice were.

  But if I live, his feigned ecstasies

  Shall be no shelter to these outrages,

  But he and his shall know that justice lives

  In Saturninus' health, whom, if she24 sleep, He'll so awake as she in fury shall

  Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.

  TAMORA My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine, Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,

  Calm thee and bear the faults of Titus' age,

  Th'effects of sorrow for his valiant sons

  Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarred his heart;

  And rather comfort his distressed plight

  Than prosecute the meanest33 or the best

  Aside

  For these contempts.-- Why, thus it shall become

  High-witted Tamora to gloze withal.35

  But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick,

  Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,

  Then is all safe, the anchor's in the port.--

  Enter Clown

  How now, good fellow, wouldst thou speak with us?

  CLOWN Yea, forsooth40, an your mistership be emperial.

  TAMORA Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.

  CLOWN 'Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you good e'en42. I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.

  Saturninus reads the letter

  SATURNINUS Go, take him away and hang him presently.

  CLOWN How much money must I45 have?

  TAMORA Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.

  CLOWN Hanged? By'r lady, then I have brought up a neck47 to a fair end.48

  Exit [guarded]

  SATURNINUS Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!

  Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?

  I know from whence this same device51 proceeds.

  May this be borne as if his traitorous sons,

  That died by law for murder of our brother,

  Have by my means been butchered wrongfully?

  Go, drag the villain hither by the hair:

  Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege.56

  For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughterman,57

  Sly frantic wretch that holp'st58 to make me great In hope thyself should govern Rome and me.

  Enter a Messenger, Emillius

  What news with thee, Emillius?

  EMILLIUS Arm, my lords! Rome never had more cause: The Goths have gathered head, and with a power62

  Of high-resolved men bent to the spoil63

  They hither march amain, under conduct64

  Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus,

  Who threats in course of this revenge to do

  As much as ever Coriolanus67 did.

  SATURNINUS Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?

  These tidings nip me69 and I hang the head As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms.

  Ay, now begins our sorrows to approach:

  'Tis he the common people love so much.

  Myself hath often heard them say,

  When I have walked like a private man,74

  That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,75

  And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor.

  TAMORA Why should you fear? Is not our city strong?

  SATURNINUS Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius, And will revolt from me to succour him.

  TAMORA King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name.80

  Is the sun dimmed, that gnats do fly in it?

  The eagle suffers82 little birds to sing, And is not careful83 what they mean thereby, Knowing that with the shadow of his wings

  He can at pleasure stint85 their melody: Even so mayst thou the giddy86 men of Rome.

  Then cheer thy spirit, for know thou, emperor,

  I will enchant the old Andronicus

  With words more sweet and yet more dangerous

  Than baits to fish or honey-stalks90 to sheep, When as the one is wounded with the bait,

  The other rotted92 with delicious food.

  SATURNINUS But he will not entre
at his son for us.

  TAMORA If Tamora entreat him, then he will, For I can smooth95 and fill his aged ear With golden promises that, were his heart

  Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,

  Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.

  To Emillius

  Go thou before to be our ambassador:

  Say that the emperor requests a parley100

  Of warlike Lucius, and appoint101 the meeting Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.

  SATURNINUS Emillius, do this message honourably: And if he stand in104 hostage for his safety, Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

  EMILLIUS Your bidding shall I do effectually.106

  Exit

  TAMORA Now will I to that old Andronicus,

  And temper108 him with all the art I have, To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.

  And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,

  And bury all thy fear in my devices.

  SATURNINUS Then go successantly112, and plead to him.

  Exeunt

  Act 5 [Scene 1]

  running scene 9

  Flourish. Enter Lucius with an army of Goths with Drum and Soldiers

  LUCIUS Approved1 warriors and my faithful friends, I have received letters from great Rome

  Which signifies what hate they bear their emperor,

  And how desirous of our sight they are.

  Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,5

  Imperious and impatient of your wrongs,

  And wherein Rome hath done you any scathe7

  Let him make treble satisfaction.

  FIRST GOTH Brave slip9 sprung from the great Andronicus, Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort,

  Whose high exploits and honourable deeds

  Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,

  Be bold13 in us. We'll follow where thou lead'st, Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day

  Led by their master15 to the flowered fields, And be avenged on cursed Tamora.

  ALL THE GOTHS And as he saith, so say we all with him.

  LUCIUS I humbly thank him, and I thank you all.

  But who comes here, led by a lusty19 Goth?

  Enter a Goth, leading of Aaron with his child in his arms

  SECOND GOTH Renowned Lucius, from our troops I strayed To gaze upon a ruinous monastery,

  And as I earnestly22 did fix mine eye Upon the wasted building, suddenly

  I heard a child cry underneath a wall.

  I made unto the noise, when soon I heard

  The crying babe controlled26 with this discourse: 'Peace, tawny27 slave, half me and half thy dam!

  Did not thy hue bewray whose brat28 thou art, Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look,

  Villain, thou mightst 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!' -- even thus he rates33 the babe --

  'For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth

  Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe,

  Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake.'

  With this, my weapon drawn, I rushed upon him,

  Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither

  To use as you think needful of the man.39

  LUCIUS O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil That robbed Andronicus of his good hand,

  This is the pearl that pleased your empress' eye,42

  And here's the base fruit43 of his burning lust.--

  To Aaron

  Say, wall-eyed44 slave, whither wouldst thou convey This growing image of thy fiend-like face?

  Why dost not speak? What, deaf? Not a word?

  A halter, soldiers! Hang him on this tree,

  And by his side his fruit of bastardy.

  AARON Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood.

  LUCIUS Too like the sire50 for ever being good.

  First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl:51

  A sight to vex the father's soul withal.52

  Get me a ladder.

  A ladder is brought, which Aaron is made to climb

  A Goth takes the child

  AARON Lucius, save the child,

  And bear it from me to the emperess.

  If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things

  That highly may advantage thee to hear.

  If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,

  I'll speak no more but 'Vengeance rot you all!'

  LUCIUS Say on, an if it please me which thou speak'st, Thy child shall live and I will see it nourished.

  AARON An if it please thee? Why, assure thee, Lucius, 'Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak,

  For I must talk of murders, rapes and massacres,

  Acts of black night, abominable deeds,

  Complots of mischief66, treason, villainies Ruthful to hear yet piteously performed:67

  And this shall all be buried by my death

  Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.

  LUCIUS Tell on thy mind, I say thy child shall live.

  AARON Swear that he shall and then I will begin.

  LUCIUS Who should I swear by? Thou believest no god: That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?

  AARON What if I do not? -- As indeed I do not --

  Yet for75 I know thou art religious And hast a thing within thee called conscience,

  With twenty popish77 tricks and ceremonies Which I have seen thee careful to observe:

  Therefore I urge thy oath, for that I know

  An idiot holds his bauble80 for a god And keeps the oath which by that god he swears,

  To that I'll urge him: therefore thou shalt vow

  By that same god, what god soe'er it be,

  That thou ador'st and hast in reverence,

  To save my boy, to nourish and bring him up,

  Or else I will discover86 nought to thee.

  LUCIUS Even by my god I swear to thee I will.

  AARON First know thou I begot him on the empress.

  LUCIUS O most insatiate, luxurious89 woman!

  AARON Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity To91 that which thou shalt hear of me anon.

  'Twas her two sons that murdered Bassianus,

  They cut thy sister's tongue and ravished her

  And cut her hands off and trimmed94 her as thou saw'st.

  LUCIUS O detestable villain! Call'st thou that trimming?

  AARON Why, she was washed and cut and trimmed96, and 'twas Trim97 sport for them that had the doing of it.

  LUCIUS O barbarous, beastly villains, like thyself!

  AARON Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them.

  That codding100 spirit had they from their mother, As sure a card as ever won the set:101

  That bloody102 mind, I think, they learned of me, As true a dog as ever fought at head.103

  Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth.

  I trained105 thy brethren to that guileful hole Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay:

  I wrote the letter that thy father found,

  And hid the gold within the letter mentioned,

  Confederate109 with the queen and her two sons: And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue

  Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it?

  I played the cheater112 for thy father's hand, And when I had it, drew myself apart

  And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter:

  I pried me115 through the crevice of a wall When for his hand he had his two sons' heads,

  Beheld his tears and laughed so heartily

  That both mine eyes were rainy like to his.

  And when I told the empress of this sport,

  She swooned almost at my pleasing tale

  And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses.

  A GOTH What, canst thou say all this and never blush?

  AARON Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.123
<
br />   LUCIUS Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds?

  AARON Ay, that I had not done a thousand more.

  Even now I curse the day -- and yet I think

  Few come within the compass of my curse --

  Wherein I did not some notorious ill,

  As kill a man or else devise his death,

  Ravish a maid or plot the way to do it,

  Accuse some innocent and forswear myself,131

  Set deadly enmity between two friends,

  Make poor men's cattle break their necks,

  Set fire on barns and haystacks in the night

  And bid the owners quench them with their tears.

  Oft have I digged up dead men from their graves

  And set them upright at their dear friends' door,

  Even when their sorrows almost was forgot,

  And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,

  Have with my knife carved in Roman letters,

  'Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.'

  Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things

  As willingly as one would kill a fly,

  And nothing grieves me heartily indeed

  But that I cannot do ten thousand more.

  LUCIUS Bring down the devil, for he must not die So sweet a death as hanging presently.147

  Aaron is made to climb down

  AARON If there be devils, would I were a devil, To live and burn in everlasting fire,

  So I might have your company in hell,

  But to torment you with my bitter tongue.

  Aaron is gagged

  LUCIUS Sirs, stop his mouth and let him speak no more.

  Enter Emillius

  A GOTH My lord, there is a messenger from Rome Desires to be admitted to your presence.

  LUCIUS Let him come near.

  Welcome, Emillius what's the news from Rome?

  EMILLIUS Lord Lucius, and you princes of the Goths, The Roman emperor greets you all by me,

  And for159 he understands you are in arms, He craves a parley at your father's house,

  Willing you to demand your hostages,161

  And they shall be immediately delivered.

  A GOTH What says our general?

  LUCIUS Emillius, let the emperor give his pledges Unto my father and my uncle Marcus,

  And we will come. March away.

  Flourish. Exeunt

  [Act 5 Scene 2]

  running scene 10

  Enter Tamora and her two sons [Demetrius and Chiron,] disguised

  TAMORA Thus, in this strange and sad habiliment,1

  I will encounter with Andronicus

  And say I am Revenge, sent from below

  To join with him and right his heinous wrongs:

  Knock at his study, where they say he keeps,5

  To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge:

  Tell7 him Revenge is come to join with him And work confusion8 on his enemies.