good den. I have brought you a letter, and a couple of pigeons here. [SAT. reads the letter. Sat. Go, take him away, and hang him presently. Clo. How much money must I have? Tam. Come, sirrah, you must be hanged. Clo. Hanged! by'r lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end. [Exit, guarded. Sat. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! Shall I endure this monstrous villany? I know from whence this same device proceeds; Enter EMILIUS. What news with thee, Æmilius? Emil. Arm, arm, my lords; Rome never had more cause! The Goths have gathered head; and with a power They hither march amain, under conduct Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus; Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do As much as ever Coriolanus did. Sat. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths? These tidings nip me; and I hang the head, As flowers with frost, or grass beat down with storms. Ay, now begin our sorrows to approach. 'Tis he the common people love so much; Myself hath often overheard them say, (When I have walked like a private man,) That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully, And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor. Tam. Why should you fear? Is not your city strong? Sat. Ay, but the citizens favor Lucius; And will revolt from me, to succor him. Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious,' like thy name. Is the sun dimned, that gnats do fly in it? With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, Sat. But he will not entreat his son for us. [To ÆMIL. Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.- [Exit EMILIUS. 1 i. e. imperial. 2 i. e. stop their melody. So in Romeo and Juliet: it stinted, and cried-ay." 3 If by honey-stalks clover flowers are meant, it is an error to suppose that they produce the rot in sheep. Cows and oxen will indeed overcharge themselves with clover, and die. And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again, And bury all thy fear in my devices. Sat. Then go successfully, and plead to him. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Plains near Rome. Enter LUCIUS and Goths, with drum and colors. Luc. Approved warriors, and my faithful friends, Which signify what hate they bear their emperor, Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, 1 Goth. Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus, Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort; Goths. And, as he saith, so say we all with him. Enter a Goth, leading AARON, with his Child in his arms. 2 Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I strayed, To gaze upon a ruinous monastery; 1 Scath is harm. 2 2 "Shakspeare has so perpetually offended against chronology, that no And as I earnestly did fix mine eye I made unto the noise; when soon I heard Peace, villain, peace!-even thus he rates the babe- Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe, Luc. O worthy Goth! this is the incarnate devil, Why dost not speak? What! deaf? No; not a word? A halter, soldiers; hang him on this tree, Aar. Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood. Get me a ladder. [A ladder is brought, which AARON is obliged to ascend. very conclusive argument can be deduced from the particular absurdity of these anachronisms relative to the authenticity of Titus Andronicus."Steevens. 1 Alluding to the proverb, "A black man is a pearl in a fair woman's eye." Aar. Lucius, save the child; And bear it from me to the emperess. If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things, If thou wilt not, befall what may befall, I'll speak no more; but vengeance rot you all! Luc. Say on; and, if it please me which thou speak'st, Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourished. Aar. An if it please thee? why, assure thee, Lucius, And hast a thing within thee, called conscience; And keeps the oath which by that god he swears; Luc. Even by my god, I swear to thee I will. 1 i. e. performed in a manner exciting commiseration. 2 i. e. lascivious. |